If you haven't noticed, a little issue has occurred with the launch of the latest SimCity reboot, named SimCity (not 5, it's cool to make a reboot now and name it as if the first one didn't exist!). That issue is a bug or two, sometimes saves don't sync up to the server so you lose a bit of progress, but mostly, It's that no one can play the game that has everyone so angry. Rightly so, they paid for the game and SHOULD be able to play it. I'm not going to argue that what is happening isnt wrong, but rather that no one seems to be blaming the right people, the ones REALLY responsible for this game's current state, the ones REALLY pushing the AODRM.

It's not Maxis, nor EA, it's the consumer! You, me, that other guy you hate who lives across the street. Us. We did it.

No purchaser was honestly surprised when SimCity would always require an internet connection unless they were an idiot unable to google what they were about to buy. Yet everyone still bought it knowing it could, more than likely, follow in Diablo 3's glorious footsteps. Why then, are people so vehemently upset towards EA? Because, it's easier to blame the other guy and not the one actually responsible, themselves. Tomorrow, or the next day, when a different game releases with AODRM and people can't play their $60 game this will repeat...again (and probably again). Each time this happens, people will continue to blame EA, Activision, Ubisoft, or whoever it may be, because they honestly believe that company FORCED the consumer to hand them their money in exchange for a faulty product that they always knew they couldn't support ethically. 

This isn't the first time this has happened, and I make absolutely no illusion to being guilt free myself, but it COULD be the last if we the consumers open our eyes. I bought Diablo 3 knowing what it was and I hated it, I blindly accused Blizzard for destroying the franchise for months until I realized I gave them every reason to destroy it, I handed them the loaded gun and even aimed it for them. By giving Blizzard my money, I gave them a reason to do it again. I also gave EA a great idea, AODRM in SimCity because it sells(genius! And your welcome EA!). I showed the evil corporations destroying the gaming industry that my nostalgia need greatly outweighs my common sense and hatred of AODRM (The evil corporations arent destroying gaming, I am!). To be honest, I'm probably to blame more than most because not long before D3 I was still boycotting Ubisoft for their atrocious DRM but I ignored it because it was Diablo. Thankfully, i learned from D3 and was able to skip the SimCity incident, i beg of you, please learn from this. Stop throwing your money at things you know you hate.

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Fool me three times, dear god I'm a moron! 

At the end of the day, gaming is a business. it's easy to think that the big publishers hold all the power, but they don't. Like the rulers of an empire, the "king" has no power unless the masses allow it, and we the masses gave EA all the power this time. History, unfortunately, has a tendency to repeat itself and this is no different. Diablo 3 wasn't the first time, Simcity wasn't the first time, it could be the last though, however unlikely, we could end it here. If we accept our role in this business as the people with the money, because that's where EA gets their money, and refuse to buy into another AODRM game there will be no more AODRM. No one will release another game with it if we don't buy it. However, in order for this to happen, we have to accept that we allowed AODRM and that EA gave us what we wanted.

If you know someone who wants to buy the next SimCity, persuade them not to buy it if you can, remind them of what their money is going to support. If you dont want to go that far, just remember yourself. Ill ask you one question before i end this, extra points if you guess what game recently used it. Do you know the definition of insanity? 

"Hate me, but do it honestly." - Kain, "Legacy of Kain: Soulreaver"