DRM Case Study: Assassin's Creed 2 - Why you should not buy this game for the PC...

If you were an avid fan of Assassin's Creed, and plan on playing the follow on Assassin's Creed 2 on your PC...you might as well forget it.

According to an un-confirmed source, Ubisoft will be implementing a highly restrictive form of DRM on AC2. When they mean that Internet connectivity is required for game play, they really mean it.

Imagine this: you're happily playing AC2 on your laptop, and making quite a bit of progress. All of a sudden you have a crash to desktop and all your progress was lost. It isn't Window's problem, you did not blue screen...it is not even a game glitch.

It is a built in feature. Your computer disconnected from the internet, and because of that your game decided you were a criminal and shutdown. Ubisoft's server might have gone offline as well, you just do not know. Maybe there was even a DoS attack against the server, causing it to crash. Maybe your wireless router locked up, or your DSL service provider is having issues.

The game will shut down if, for any reason, it looses connection with Ubisoft's DRM server.

It almost seems like Ubisoft wants to kill the PC gaming market, because anyone who knows about this type of DRM will probably know enough to avoid this game. Or they'll just pirate it. We all know that this kind of DRM hurts only consumers...pirates can, and do, often get around these types of restrictions.

In the future, Ubisoft claims they will release a patch to clean the DRM out of the system if and when that expensive server is permanently shut down. My reply? Ubisoft is under NO legal requirement to do so, and as we all know promises can and often are broken.

Ubisoft can shove this game where they see most fit, because it is not going to be on my computer any time soon. Not if they keep this DRM in place.

 

That is a joke.

Fortunately, ubisoft cannot kill the PC gaming market. At worst, they can remove themselves from it (either by active choice or poor decisions which lead to poor sales)

 

Wow this is by far the worst DRM I've ever seen done to a game. Ubisoft alone won't affect the PC gaming market at all. Though they will see lost sales... a big one at that. I'm willing to bet if this does indeed become implemented, they'll release a patch that will remove it.

 

Let's hope that AC2 goes the route of Bioshock - DRM removed via consumer outcry.

That's the point of this thread. To get the word out.

 

Requiring a internet connection to play a predominantly single player game? That's just stupid. Hopefully they'll listen to players and remove this type of DRM from the game.

 

Do I sense a hitler rant video? lmao.

 

i don't really care to be honest. i don't think we need to get the word out to keep the developers / administrative folk at bay.

if anything, we should just tell people not to buy it. ubisoft will figure it out when they have no profits.

 

This isnt because of DRM but Dirt 2 is a GFWL game, and when I dont have my internet connection I cant access my save files because its all on GFWL I think...I can sometimes connect to GFWL in offline mode until internet comes back...But this? this is ridiculous...

I really was considering getting AC2...

 

Wow, this is ridiculous. I've been waiting for AC2 for a long time, and now this? I really hope somehow Ubisoft changes their mind on this right away or releases a patch pronto.

 

Huh. Thanks for the info. Will not buy.

And not in the "OMG CoD MW2 dosent hav dedicatd survers i will not buy!!!1!" and then go buy the game on release day kind of way. I mean in the "I actually will not shell out any cash, mine or someone else's, for a game that implements such BS" kind of way.

Also, did you know that I don't hold a very high opinion of CoD fans? /kidding

 

Well it is an unconfirmed source but if they do this then I simply will not be buying that game period. I was planning on buying it for sure but If this is true then it is goodbye for them.

 

with bioshock many people unwitingly bought the game not knowing about the drm.
now pc gamers are very aware to avoid games with restrictive drm's especially this kind.
i was really looking forward to playing this too. would have preordered it on steam if i could. good thing it wasnt available because if this info is factual i am definitely not getting this game.

 

So how does this affect Steam and "offline" mode?

 

I don't play ubisoft games. Never had either. None of their games every interested me. The company name itself is lame and fail.

 

non-sense, 10 char

 

Steam allows game developers to continue to use additional DRM techniques, so even if AC2 is offered on Steam chances are more likely than not that running AC2 on offline mode will not be an option.

 

And they said I was crazy when I mentioned that people wouldn't buy a good game if DRM was present...

 

It's not nonsense. I've never ever played an Ubisoft game. They all look crap to me.

 

oh well thats that then i will not be getting this when it come out and i was very looking forward to playing it as well

 

I can't even fathom a DRM worse than this right now. Is there any possible restriction that could be worse than this?

Whats next...if your computer installs a new device(ex USB drive), the game deactivates and uninstalls including deletion of save-file?

 

And then they will use the poor sales as an excuse not to develop for PC any more.

 

I don't know what Ubisoft is thinking, to be honest. But some of the previous posts are right - they're more than welcome to, and will probably succeed, in removing themselves from the PC gaming market.

Fine with me, if they think they can pull crap like this. Its unfortunate that it has to happen to AC2 though.

 

I'll still be buying it from STEAM, I always have internet connection, so it doesn't affect me at all.

 

Is your internet connection 100% stable? Regardless of if you use Steam or not, this DRM will be in there.

Even if your connection is stable, Ubisoft's might not be. So it does affect you, the moment Ubisoft's server goes down.

 

Not really. I live in a non 3rd world country, so high speed internet is readily available and rather cheap.

So yeah this has no affect on me.

 

Wrong. Just wait until Ubisoft's server goes down.

 

Maybe in your personal case, but even in your "non 3rd world country" broadband (and even just reliable internet) is highly sought after, even in many urban centers. My company has offices across the USA and many of them have very poor connections through no fault of our own.

And wait till you are stuck in an airport, hotel or other area with pay only internet. Or on a bus, airplane or train with no internet. Too bad no AC2 for you (or anyone in that situation). Or your router hiccups or your ISP is doing service in your area or there's a storm that takes out your internet etc etc etc... You are at Ubi's mercy. Welcome to paying to take it up the *** from corp giants.

I hope you realize by buying their product you are essentially renting it for a flat fee of ~$60. It's like having to show your receipt for your TV purchase everytime you want to watch TV. Not only that... this kind of restriction will only incite more piracy. So everything about this stinks. And if you buy into it... well I'll let you figure out how I'd finish this sentence.

 

I have never had a single issue with my RoadRunner 29.99$ cheap broadband. I live in a relatively large city ~1m people, so I really don't see the problem for anyone that lives in the US.

If you live in a coconut hut, and use a carrier pigeon as a cell phone, then yes you may have some issues.

 

It's not just your internet connection. Ubisoft's server goes down, so does your game. Servers tend to go down, in case you didn't know.

 

The point isn't really the internet connection, mostly the principle of the action. Ubisoft is basically saying that they need to watch you 24/7(symbolically speaking) after you've purchased something of then. That's like a retail store knocking at your door after you've bought a banana

 

Yes and Hard drives fail, and GPU's die. What's your point?

In the worse case scenario, if the Ubisoft server goes down, and their backup server(s) fail, then I guess I will play later. I mean it really is a minor inconvenience really. This isn't Darfur genocide people.

 

Still, the point is that this DRM is highly restrictive. I pay for a product, and I expect to be left alone at that point.

 

I am not talking about coconut huts and pigeons. Stop being so ignorant. Cities all over your country have poor internet. But if you want to pay to take it up the *** from Ubi, go right ahead.

 

It's now a confirmed source: http://games.slashdot.org/story/10/...m_campaign=Feed:+Slashdot/slashdot+(Slashdot)

 

Well I'm going to be nitpicky, but you don't expect to be left totally alone lol You still expect product support and patches if the need arises no?

 

Yeah, you're right on that point. But that is a bit different - they're somewhat legally responsible for ensuring their product performs as advertised.

Big difference between product support and this.

 

You need a soapbox?

Yeah I will be playing and enjoying the game, because I am going to assume the opposite of your pessimistic outlook of the fiasco that is the Ubisoft server, that will crash daily. I will assume it will be just fine.

Did Ubisoft hurt you??

 

Like I said earlier, it's not about the technical issues nor necessarily the [heavy] inconvenience, it's mostly the principle behind the action.

 

Agreed . I never think PC gaming market will die due to lack of game developers.

 

obviously you really want assassin's creed 2 and the heavy drm won't stop you.

still- you have to admit that it is stupidly restrictive. also, keep in mind, that stupidity does not transfer to you if you buy the game or want to play it. no one thinks that. the product is really popular, and that is why everyone is whining. so it isn't a personal attack against you they say that they don't want to buy the game because of its stupid drm.

 

Yes I understand that. A principle that doesn't bother me at all. Like I said, its not as if they are trying to make me torture someone. Many of you are blowing this WAY out of proportion, and already assuming a worst case scenario.

 

Would you be upset if the city put a big concrete pylon right outside your driveway? You can still drive around it, they're not stopping you from getting in and out. Just making it a LOT more difficult for you for no legitimate reason. Nothing to complain about there though, right?

 

i bet that hackers will just find a way to reroute that server connection need to 127.0.0.1 lol or something of the sort, i finished it on ps3 anyway great game but DRM sucks

 

Wow, that really is the dumbest thing I have read. I'll let you go ahead and edit that later when you have the opportunity of reviewing it and realizing how incredibly stupid it is.

 

You need to chill out.

 

agreed ^

in the end, you have to admit that sort of restriction is just stupid. the people who steal the game (and they will) will not have such restrictions. why should you, paying customer, be worse off than someone who stole the thing? i would like to imagine that I am at least as well of buying it as stealing it. I would prefer that I am better off buying it.

 

I'm still buying this game, but as soon as a *cough*fix*cough* is available, I'm jumping on it immediately.

I miss the days of CD Keys.

 

Yes it's just a game. But the principle is criminal. This will only feed piracy not circumvent it. In turn that will only inflate game publishers arguments for more restrictive DRM and/or ultimately hurt PC gaming in general. If that's what you want to support because your life cannot be fullfilled without playing AC2 go right ahead.

 

That will be really annoying. Net drop is usually out of your own control. Verizon always have internet problems. So does Comcast. The router freezes up occasionally.

This is a dumb move on Ubisoft's part.

PC gaming industry is just as dumb as the movie/music industry. They release so much material each month, it's unrealistic to expect consumers to spend full price to retail for everything, especially when your customers are on the younger side.

They ought to just provide a subscription service. $20 a month and play their games. Maybe Steam or some other online retailer will figure this out. Selling something at good value sells more and more profit than charging a premium $60 for everything and having half of the users pirating, copying and stealing it. It's hard to believe corporate hasn't caught onto this, considering how well Walmart has done in creating an empire on this philosophy.

 

Once again, a fine example of DRM making life harder for those of us who just want to play the damn game, while not really changing anything for those who illegally download it and crack the DRM.