I know this isnt a perfect solution... but what if the game companies banded together and you could buy a hardware key, you activate your software online and your hardware key is updated. Then you can play offline all you want as long as your hardware key is installed. You can then install the software anywhere you want you just have to have your hardware key plugged in to play it. The drm would be fairly effective and harder to break since it would be hardware. You wouldnt have to worry about their servers being taken offline too. You put a 1gb chip in there and you could hold the drm keys for 1000's of games on a single key. You could even build in temporary drm keys for demos... (example: Your temporary key lets you play the game unfettered for 30 minutes without the option to save or continue. Then you can make the decision to buy. The iso is available to download and burn yourself or go pick it up retail). If you keep the price of the key down to 10-15 dollars as a one time purchase or free with certain new releases, then the only people looking for the pirated copies are the people who never have any intention of playing anyway. Thoughts?