Why Are Game-Key Cards So Controversial?

[Pemalite]

sc94597 said:

Zippy6 said:

Yes digital is obviously more practical to install on modern systems. Especially when you get into issues with DRM like StarForce. I collected a lot of physical PC games in 2024 and got a Windows XP machine for retro pc gaming. But I'm not going to argue they're anywhere near as convenient and easy to use as digital games lol.

I also had to spend many hours getting patches for hundreds of games downloaded from old ass websites, whereas digital will sort all that out for you. It's much easier.

Yep, I have had similar experiences. Hell, even many digital games I've had from the mid-to-late 2000's and even early 2010's have some compatibility issues. I even remember trying to play Civ 5 on a Windows 10 system and having to spend hours to get it working, as an example, and that game released in 2010. Steam solved it for me eventually though. But it shouldn't be a problem because that game wasn't developed for DOS. 🙄 Oh and the fact that I can buy an optical drive somehow makes it as convenient to play games off one as to play digital games apparently.

That compatibility is likely due to the DRM itself, not the actual game, otherwise the game is fully compatible with modern Windows PC's.
https://forums.civfanatics.com/threads/civ5-will-not-run-on-windows-11-after-updating-to-version-24h2.693417/

SafeDisc DRM is incompatible with newer versions of Windows as Microsoft removed secdrv.sys driver from Windows 11.

I can run Civilization 3 just fine... In-fact all I need to do is disabling high DPI scaling and that game is older than Civilization 5. (Obviously.)
Civilization 2 (1996) is borked on modern Windows 64bit systems as it uses a 16bit executable, which I have already provided the evidence prior on why that is an issue, but also provided functional work around's.

Copy protection from the early 2000's is a bane in PC gaming in 2020's because of garbage like Safedisc, but you can work around it through batch file commands, executable cracks or modifying your install.
https://www.reddit.com/r/thesims1/comments/tzr007/how_to_bypass_safedisc_drm_to_install_or_digitize/

You are going to have to try harder than that to try and refute evidence that has been presented.

Cerebralbore101 said:

I'm still learning about retro PCs so I may have been wrong. Will respond in detail later on.

Just wanted to say that I am well aware of how essential a CRT is. I own a multi-format BVM with an FPGA clone card to output 480p, 720p and 1080i. Also have a GCDual mod and a bunch of other goodies. 

In fact join the new retro forum because I'm going to make a new hardware and software thread with pics quite often in there. Your knowledge of retro PCs would be more than welcome there. 

I have period correct PC's starting with Windows 98SE (Athlon+3dfx Voodoo 2+Radeon 9550), Windows Vista (Core 2 Quad, Radeon 7950), Windows 7 (Phenom 2 x6, Radeon RX 580).

Will eventually get a Windows 3.1 system to round things out. Just haven't gotten there yet.
Hardest part is finding decent CRT's in 2026 for PC's.

Will make an appearance in the retro forum soon. 

Last edited by Pemalite - on 09 February 2026