RYG In A Nutshell

LISA ARNOLD (Managing Partner)
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After working with Site Maintenance and Communications Supervisor for RYG for over 12 months, she was offered the position of leading RYG as Site Manager back in October 2009. During her time she’s been heavily involved with consumers and their DRM-related issues, particularly with SecuROM, which has led her to become one of RYG’s prominent DRM removal specialists. In addition, Lisa has been an active voice with the development, implementation and management of RYG’s Independent DRM Testing Regimen, Project RYG, ensuring DRM Vendors, such as ByteShield and StarForce, are given in-depth analyses with regards to their DRM products and services. Her professional care and understanding of the end-user effects of DRM within the PC Gaming industry has also been well-received by a number of DRM Industry gurus, journalists as well as developers advocating DRM-Free practices. Her long-term goals and aspirations, which includes her ambition to place RYG at the forefront of consumer advocacy against invasive DRM practices, is to find feasible ways of flooding the market with end-user DRM schemes and practices which only serves to benefit all consumers.


MARTIN PHAM (Managing Partner)
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Like Lisa, Martin dedicated his time with RYG back in June 2009, initially working as a Communications Assistant and then later collaborating with Lisa as a Projects Leader with “Project RYG” being their largest and ambitious venture to date. Much of the conceptualisation, design and implementation he pioneered within Project RYG is also credited to his time and experiences spent working with Risk Assessors & Managers as well as consulting with a number of DRM industry figures who are as keen on seeing this “consumer-focus” report through as RYG are. If he’s not working on Project RYG, he’s either working in consultation with other staff members with some of their [writing] projects or he’s working with Lisa on exploring pathways and avenues in spreading the message about RYG to other online-based communities and organizations. Currently, Martin is working both as RYG’s External Spokesperson between Journalists, Game Developers, DRM Vendors and Industry Figureheads and as Lisa’s Managing Partner in starting up and maintaining the business-end of RYG.


MARYH (Communications Manager)
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While her work centered around her editorial and critiques against companies implementing bad DRM practices, Mary’s position as Communications Manager is both her recent and most ambitious yet. In charge of RYG’s front-end, Mary’s role is, at the very least, expansive. She’s in charge of managing her small team of assistants and editors as well as ensuring the articles published by RYG are done so with accuracy and integrity. Not only is she handling and liaising with other staff members who are handling the various social networking sites for RYG, she is also RYG’s go-to woman for all correspondences ensuring the smooth flow of communication between RYG and their external contacts are kept exactly that: Smooth. Currently, she’s working on updating RYG’s website proper as well as developing ways of handling and publishing newer data relating to current DRM methods for RYG.


CHOKLAD (Communications Assistant)
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She may be RYG’s youngest staff member who loves her RPG, but there’s no question into Choklad’s expertise and her reliability in ensuring RYG’s articles are screened and edited with the highest standard. She’s also willing to help RYG out if ever an urgent article is required and has taken up the role of managing one of RYG's social networking sites, Twitter. At present she splits her time between studying her Bachelor's Degree in English and volunteering with RYG with the life-long aim of becoming a Linguist.

SBLADE (Site Maintenance & Security)
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A tireless advocate against the invasive effects of SecuROM even before RYG was ever conceived, SBlade has been working with RYG for almost two years in both creating and maintaining the integrity and security of RYG’s website and its forum’s infrastructure. His persistence in keeping up the pressure against DRM Vendors who employ invasive DRM schemes, such as SecuROM, has given RYG valuable insight into analysing its DRM effects upon PCs as well as provided RYG with tutorials on SecuROM Removal and even as far as contributing to a automated batch removal tool first devised by Midfingr. His most recent project, apart from being the proponent in pursuing Atari/Obsidian to patch out SecuROM from Neverwinter Nights 2 as well as help build Project RYG with his technical expertise, is working with DRM Vendors such as ByteShield and StarForce as an end-user DRM tester, ensuring their products remain up to the standard that RYG constantly prescribes.

Our love and passion are PC Games and it is our hope to see these games released free from restrictive and invasive DRM schemes. Our commitment in working with Publishers, DRM Vendors and Consumers on user-friendly DRM practices is matched by the faith in our expert and honest advice. We trust this endeavour will one day bring a level of honest consumer enjoyment and happiness – one that means they will not be treated like criminals and pirates.

With RYG’s sights set solely on DRM and its prevalence in the PC Gaming Industry, it’s essential that the information and services RYG provides reflects its area of expertise. This includes:

* PROJECT RYG - Our Independent DRM Testing Programme
* Endorsing End-User Friendly DRM Schemes With "RYG's Gold Seal of Approval"
* An Information Database & Resource On Past/Present DRM Schemes
* PC Tutorials, Maintenance & DRM Removal Guidelines
* DRM and/or Game News & Updates
* Cultivating A Community Advocating Against Invasive DRM Schemes


A ) PROJECT RYG – OUR INDEPENDENT DRM TESTING PROGRAM

The idea was simple: test a DRM scheme with impartial eyes, provide an honest assessment and rate it according to their ‘End User Friendliness’. With such a large undertaking on an ambitious testing program developed since January 2010 it’s imperative that we:

* Keep abreast and evaluate all current and future DRM and ‘Content Distribution’ schemes and implemented within the [PC] gaming market,
* Ensure we can provide detailed analyses and results of all DRM schemes for all consumers,
* Maintain the pressure against Publishers who use invasive DRM schemes, and
* Send a message to the gaming community that poor DRM practices and schemes must never be tolerated.

If you would like more information regarding Project RYG you can:

* Download our testing methodologies and procedures HERE
* Download our comprehensive testing reports HERE
* Find our published reports on ByteShield, StarForce HERE and HERE
* Find our independent testing reports done on 2K’s Borderlands HERE
* Visit our forums for more information HERE and HERE, or
* Contact Lisa Arnold or Martin Pham at administrator@reclaimyourgame.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it if you have any questions regarding Project RYG


B ) ENDORSING END-USER FRIENDLY DRM SCHEMES WITH ‘RYG’s GOLD SEAL OF APPROVAL’

DRM schemes that reflected and executed many of the core principles in which RYG firmly believes is awarded with “RYG’s Gold Seal of Approval”. It is our highest endorsement and support to DRM Vendors and Publishers who implement “End-User Friendly” DRM schemes. However, there is whole lot more about what RYG’s Gold Seal of Approval represents:

* RYG’s ambition to grade ALL DRM schemes implemented in the current market (including content distribution services) based on their end-user friendliness
* It shows RYG’s endorsement and support for DRM schemes that pass our DRM Testing Regimen, Project RYG
* It credits the willingness of DRM Vendors, Game Developers and/or Publishers in adopting End-User Friendly DRM schemes and practices, and
* It sends a clear message to companies who refuse to adopt End-User Friendly DRM schemes and practices - That RYG will absolutely refuse to tolerate, endorse or accept such DRM schemes and practices

If you would like to find out more about RYG’s Gold Seal of Approval you can:

* Find RYG’s DRM Rating System HERE
* Download our testing methodologies and procedures HERE
* Download our comprehensive testing reports HERE
* Find an updated list of games protected with DRM endorsed by RYG on our forums HERE and HERE
* Contact Lisa Arnold or Martin Pham at administrator@reclaimyourgame.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it if you have any questions regarding RYG’s Gold Seal of Approval


C ) AN INFORMATION RESOURCE & DATABASE ON PAST/PRESENT DRM SCHEMES

With so much information on past and present DRM schemes scattered across websites and community forums it’s difficult to navigate and tell what information you can trust, rely as well as depend upon particularly from a factual and technical perspective. Our aim is simple:

* Provide a single point of reference for everyone enquiring about past and present DRM and ‘Content Distribution’ schemes
* Build detailed profiles of each DRM and ‘Content Distribution’ scheme
* Highlight key areas of concern, targeting specific references to the End User License Agreements (or EULA) and Terms of Service
* Characterize the positive and negative aspects of these DRM, making references to recommendations and precautions
* Update the information on a regular basis on all DRM and Content Distribution Schemes, and
* Allow all consumers to make informed choices and decisions based on our DRM Information Resource

If you would like more information regarding RYG’s assessment on each DRM schemes or become actively involved in RYG’s research you can:

* Become a member of RYG through our forums HERE and enquire about being an RYG researcher
* Contact Lisa Arnold or Martin Pham at administrator@reclaimyourgame.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it


D ) DRM and/or GAME NEWS & UPDATES

In maintaining the consistency to keeping abreast with current and future DRM and ‘Content Distribution’ schemes and implemented within the [PC] gaming market, RYG is also committed in:

* Delivering regular news feeds on what’s going on in the DRM Industry
* Ensuring the information reported is both accurate and to-the-point
* Capturing those one-on-one interviews with emerging and prominent members within the gaming industry, as well as
* Review [PC] games both mainstream or independently made, DRM-friendly or otherwise

If you have something which you think is newsworthy to RYG’s main site or if you wish to promote your (gaming) or DRM products under the proviso that your company will develop end-user friendly DRM schemes you can:

* Become a member of RYG through our forums HERE and gain our attention there, or
* Publish your open letters in protest against invasive DRM schemes and those who use them
* Contact MaryH, RYG’s Communications Supervisor at administrator@reclaimyourgame.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it


E ) A COMMUNITY ADVOCATING AGAINST INVASIVE DRM

Not only does RYG self-manage their parent forum, The PRISM, but RYG is also committed to branching out and spreading the word on DRM and its prevalence in the PC Gaming Industry in areas where users tend to regularly visit. Currently, RYG has social networking sites set up on Facebook and Twitter as well as a mini-blogging site on Tumblr. And with interest gaining on setting up a YouTube Group it’s important that we keep sending the message to DRM Vendors, Developers, Publishers, Journalists and other Industry and Advocacy groups that RYG intends to play a leading role in ensuring everyone is adopting and using end-user friendly DRM strategies, schemes and solutions.

All information, text, graphics, photographs and files on this web site are Copyright © Reclaim Your Game (RYG) Pty Ltd 2010. It is intended for general use and information. Information and files may be downloaded, stored in cache, displayed and printed. Content must not be modified, copied, reproduced, or republished except with the [written] authorization of Reclaim Your Game. The Copyright of any Excerpted Content published on Reclaim Your Game are held by the original publisher(s).

If you want to be a part of RYG's move to push for end-user friendly DRM schemes you can:

**** Become a member of RYG through our forums HERE
**** Become a member of RYG through our Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr or YouTube sites

**** Enquire either through our forum HERE or via email HERE if you wish to:
- ** Become a DRM Tester
- ** Work with our Communications and Research Team
- ** Submit articles, open letters, podcasts, videos and reviews

**** Help spread the word about RYG through your websites, newsgroups, forums, blogs and the like

We appreciate your continued support and hope it continues as we continue our fight against invasive DRM schemes and those who choose to employ them.

As we continue the fight against invasive DRM schemes and promote companies and developers who employ end-user friendly DRM schemes and practices, so too does our image and reputation be it for the better or for the worse. In here you will find articles, criticisms and the like about RYG sourced from other sites.

ByteShield DRM Gets Reclaim Your Game Seal of Approval
Copyright and Technology | Bill Rosenblatt | Jan 26, 2010

Quote:
"It is truly refreshing to see an organization like this conduct what appears to be rigorous testing of the consumer-friendliness of DRMs rather than just declaring DRM to be unacceptable in any form. RYG deserves much credit: it attracted lots of attention in its initial days with a site called “SecuROM Must Be Destroyed,” then parlayed the traffic into something of practical value for the industry instead of yet another source of cheap ranting."

Read full article here.


Digital Rights and Wrongs: The state of DRM
SavyGamer | Dmitry Guseff | Feb 1, 2010

Quote:
Nevermind, StarForce is aimed to make a real comfortable solution for gamers without slide of protection performance for publishers. And I’m sure we managed to do it. Recently we’ve passed our protection for testing on ReclaimYourGame.com (which call themselves – “drm watchdogs”). In a few days they promise to make a public report, that, as their testers said, will impress public. StarForce has changed and I want to say thank you all the game community, for criticism, for feedback – you really helped us to became better.

Read full article here


Analysis: Digital Rights Management in PC gaming
GamePro | Alex Wawro | Feb 25, 2010

Quote:
Reclaim Your Game (RYG) is a consumer advocacy group formed in the wake of EA's announcement that the original Mass Effect would require online verification every ten days. The group has quickly become the premiere DRM testing community and works with DRM vendors like StarForce and ByteShield to evaluate various copy protection schemes.

"The plan right now is to continue to provide clear and precise updates on DRM and DRM systems provided within the gaming industry," RYG representative Ulysses Mockett tells GamePro. "We believe in the need for the industry to provide fair and end-user friendly DRM schemes which strikes a balance between protecting [publisher's] games and providing gamers with a stress-free and enjoyable experience, and we invite Ubisoft to have their product independently evaluated by RYG."

Read full article here

I'd like to announce that RYG has been recognised in a Swedish news paper. One of our members replied to an article HERE and was contacted by Sam Sundberg, Games Editor for Svenska Dagbladet, resulting in the publication of THIS (it's in Swedish) - the translated version is HERE for you to read.
This is another great step forward for us all and we hope to be able to continue spreading the word even further across the world.