Ubisofts new DRM

http://www.electronictheatre.co.uk/...ft-reveal-pc-online-services-platform-details

Key point - u cant play the game unless ur online


What do you guys think about this sort of anti piracy measure? is it acceptable to presume every possible consumer has constant internet connection? And what about the gamesaves which are stored on servers at ubisoft?


personally i can see this becoming a problem if internet connection messes up, but beyond that is this the way pc gaming should face piracy?

 

Somebody will find a hack.
Ubisoft will cry about the millions of dollar they spent on developing this DRM

 

yep, there will be a crack. Since the game is still installed onto your comp.

 

Punishing the legitimate players by making them jump through hoops, while the pirates just get on with the playing, is such an excellent anti-piracy measure.

/sarcacm.

 

Much rather have the drm system Steam uses instead.
At least there you can use "Offline mode".

 

cracks are great and all, but i still feel that we shudnt have to resort to cracks if we paid for the game

 

Still, you have to plan ahead when you use Steam offline mode. What happens if your internet suddenly goes down (whole neighborhood as well), you can't log in and you can't play.

 

I play offline SP most of the time so if a game had something like this implemented then I wouldn't be buying it period. If anything, this is likely to increase piracy.

 

Then i complain to my ISP, and demand them to fix it ASAP!

But never had that kind of problem with my new ISP.
One solution would be to connect your mobile phone to the computer so you can get internet access so Ubisoft can let you game. xD

 

You can start Steam in Offline mode. If you try and start it without a connection, it will try to update/connect for like 10 minutes, but it will eventually give up and ask you if you want to start in Offline mode instead. And if you're already in Online mode when your connection cuts out, you can switch to Offline mode.

 

none of those steam things will be required, as long as there will still be other cracks for it, there deffinalty will. Piracy will never die.

 

Thanks! Did not know that. Why don't they just give me the option to go offline during log-in. Anyways, thanks for the tip.

 

Maybe this DRM will be uncrackable?

 

Yeah, it's not perfect. It takes quite a while for it to realize there's no connection and give up.

Like the limit as x -> 0 of 1/x...uncrackable DRM does not exist.

 

The first ever uncrackable DRM? Why should it be?

 

Wow, this is shocking! a constant required internet connection to play a single player game? What if I'm riding down the road or sitting in an airport killing time waiting on a flight, and wanting to game a bit? This is absurd and unacceptable, and honestly, I've never pirated a game in my life, but if there ever was a reason, this is it.

Steam is great because it gives you all the benefits, but also includes an offline mode so I can always play when I want... Ubisoft is ruining that here. Also, what do they expect, I run Steam to launch the game, and then it logs into their UbiplayBS system as well for all their games? Unacceptable for singleplayer, which is 90% of what I play.

Fail.

 

Ubisoft have achieved one thing. With so many decent PC games coming out over the next few months (Mass Effect 2, Aliens Vs. Predator, Blazblue, Assassin's Creed 2, Lost Planet 2, Dead Rising 2...), I can't afford to buy them all and have been torn over which ones to buy. If they use this in Assassin's Creed 2, that's one down...

 

your limit tends to infinity.
edit: actually you're right, the two one sided limits are not equal, infinity and -infinity. so there is no limit.

 

After reading the report it sounds quite a bad copy of steam. Pause the game if the internet connection fails?

Basically if Steam can get the synchronization service it can beat Ubisoft's new system advantage.

 

lol, you had me nervous for a few minutes there...if I was wrong, then I'd pretty much have forgotten everything I learned in my first two years of calc.

 

oh wow, there is a serious problem on this forum, most people seems don't want piracy to end.

 

What are you on about?
History has shown us that drms like this only hurt legitimate buyers. Did you miss the spore fiasco?

 

you never know that until it comes out, if it succeeds it will save PC gaming, if not people will just go pirate it.

 

I hate piracy and purchase every game I play, on the simple fact that I want to support developers I like in any way I can...

But, a constant internet connection? Seriously? Where's the line that's too far?

 

That has absolutely nothing to do with it. I guarantee you the majority of us do not pirate games.

Anything that makes gaming more difficult for legitimate players while simultaneously making it easier for hackers and pirates is doing the exact opposite; it's ruining PC gaming.

This new DLC may prevent cracked games from working for a few days, but I guarantee you that within the week, if not earlier, pirates will have found a way to bypass the protection, meaning not only do they get access to the full game content, they don't even have to deal with stupid DRM to do it.

Piracy is not the problem with PC gaming; the increasingly stupid and restrictive anti-piracy measures are.

 

a program that would detect if the copy is legit or not, if it's not it will make the computer explode thus killing the guy sitting in front of it. that's where i'll draw the line lol

 

This is the most ridiculous implementation of all time. OF ALL TIME.

I can imagine who in the Ubi organization greenlit such an obnoxious policy.

 

that might be the case, but i'm willing to risk it. i think we'll just have to agree to disagree until there is more information on this DRM. we don't know how the server handles the save file, whether the game will write down the save file and upload it to the server or if it will simply sends information bit by bit and the server writes the save file.

sorry for the double post.

 

This is a real bummer. As said, it will only hurt us legitimate customers and PC gaming. You always have to be online, are you kidding me!? This DRM will most likely be in the Steam release as well, just use Steam's DRM. You darn pirates!

 

This is one of the reasons I'm not into new games, with all the stupid anti-piracy measures companies are using these days. For me, the height of my gaming was in the mid to late 90's. I haven't done any multiplayer since then, and I'm still of the belief that if I purchase a game, I own it and should be able to play it without having to get online and get permission to use software that I purchased.
That's one of the main reasons why I'm just not into new games. Unfortunately, I think we're at a point where most games are moving into the online arena (digital content delivered right to your computer), and single player games at some point will be a rarity. With everyone moving to multiplayer and online content distribution, it I believe makes piracy even more prevalent, and so although I can understand a company wishing to protect it's assets, I just chose not to be a part of it, and so I keep playing my old games.

 

That is exactly what my brother is doing, going back now and playing older, classic games and now I feel like doing that as well. I feel that the entire game industry is getting worse, consoles and PCs, absolutely more anti-consumer behavior. With the way things are going, I feel like I may actually give up on gaming altogether within a few years.

 

I still have hope. We still have amazing devs like Valve, for instance. They're not perfect, but they have yet to let me down. Their DRM (basic Steam activation) hasn't changed since Steam first came out, right up to their latest game, Left 4 Dead 2. And they make enormous profits out of it, too; just look at Modern Warfare 2. It's been out just a few months and it's already the most pirated PC game ever, surpassing any Valve games, including the ever-popular Counter-Strike: Source...hell, I'd bet MW2 has been pirated more than all Valve games combined.

And I guarantee that their upcoming releases (notably Half-Life 2: Episode Three and Portal 2) will follow suit; they will not implement ridiculous consumer-unfriendly DRM machinations, and they will sell millions of copies.

 

I think we can all relate to the cause to fight piracy, but let us think about the facts here.

1) DRM does not discourage piracy. Evidence? The face that piracy is stronger than ever, despite DRM being commonplace for some time now.

2) It creates a situation where the honest, legitimate customers are being penalised, whilst the pirates can just get on with playing the game. Why? Because the pirates will be playing their games whilst we're jumping through hoops trying to actually get the game working. DRM creates a situation where the pirated product is superior to the legitmate one. <--- this is the critical point here.

This DRM specifically has implications for us laptop users most of all, because we're the ones who are not necessarily going to be connected to the internet all of the time (given the portable nature of laptops).

 

Everytime i hear about MW2's success, i die a little inside.

 

There is so much wrong with this it is not even funny. It just proves even more that the business-heads of the world know absolutely NOTHING about their markets and they just play god until their messes totally fail. I have to deal with crap like this all the time at work. It's cleverly dubbed HiPPO syndrome or (Highest Paid Person's Opinion) syndrome.

If this is what Ubi wants go right ahead. I am sure their sales (or lack of) and constant flood of unhappy customer feedback will make them much money. Lord knows I won't be buying any titles with this attached on.

 

Its a real darn shame, I'd really like to try out Assassin's Creed 2 and Splinter Cell: Conviction for the PC. Perhaps I may have to dust off my un-used Xbox 360 and rent the games for that system.

I hope that there may be enough backlash for them to forgo this disgusting idea. Ubisoft did release a patch for Far Cry 2 which removed the DRM, as have some other companies. They have said that if their online authentication servers are decommissioned, they'd release a patch to let us continue playing the game.

Lord knows I won't pay $60 for a game and still not own it completely. That is where the game industry is going for PC and consoles.

 

Though I may sound like a hypocrite, I share this sentiment. I pre-ordered Modern Warfare 2 hoping for the best. As it is, it's generally quite playable and fun, but I am still quite disappointed in IWNet and the lack of dedicated servers and Infinity Ward's continuing "we know more about PC games than you PC gamers do" attitude. Unfortunately, Modern Warfare 2 outsold all of their previous games, which they take as a sign that they have the right idea.

*Sigh* I guess I am a fool for contributing another digit to that total.

 

The same goes for me as well.
I don't like the way the game industry is heading.

 

The hell?

Here's the deal, Judge.

I don't get the time to care as much about piracy as I should, when stupidity is also so widely present.

Some of us do care about playing offline, and not being tethered to the net 24/7, because, well, then we end up on forums like this one having bizzare illogical arguments with people making ludicrous claims, like the ones quoted above.

Anyway, internet - BAD! So if this is going to push me another step towards resorting to cracks and hacks, which are a staple of the piracy commune, then the DRM-method has failed to serve its purpose.

You get it now? Or do we need to make a math equation out of the scenario?

Cracks and hacks are the very things that pirates use, and this DRM is looking to twist sincere consumers into a state of gaming that they might not be comfortable with; therefore, pushing them towards exploring alternative means, such as cracks and other things used by the very 'pirates' that Ubisoft are trying to discourage. So you're potentially pushing a part of your own demographic of sincere clients to the wrong side of the fence.

 

The devil's advocate indeed. Anybody can use any means to justify what they do, right or wrong. Doesn't make it right or wrong. Piracy = bad, if the behavior of companies is pushing otherwise good clients to the "other side" as you state it, it's not the companies, but the client that chooses to pirate. All in all, I still think the best way is to vote with your wallet. Don't agree with the business practices of a company? Don't purchase their software, and don't use it. Only then does the honest consumer have a legitimate voice, none of this "pirate them cause we hate them" argument.

 

^I basically agree, though the reason why EA no longer use SecuROM is because of the vocal backlash after Spore and Mass Effect. So I think there is something to be said for voicing your opinion. Voting with our wallets is all well and good, but that's not the only form of expression.

Piracy isn't the way to go about it though - it just gives Ubisoft more justification (however broken that justification may be).

 

Of course, but I was arguing against the piracy justification, and I said that those who don't pirate the game have a legitimate voice to be heard, when they do voice their opinion.

 

I would never buy any game with this DRM on it, seriously..

 

all i'm saying is that at this stage of PC gaming, i'm willing to give up anything for a uncrackable DRM, whether this Ubi thing turns out to be the one remains to be seen,but that's another discussion. that's just my stand on this issue. and if you wanna call me stupid, don't use third person language, do it directly.

 

^Even if it means sacrificing any rights you have as a legitmate customer? Your choice, but rather you than me.

It's not piracy that's killing PC gaming, it's the simple fact that only a fraction of PCs have the capability of running the newest games, and PC developers consistantly target the higher specifications rather than making their games scalable. This is compacted by Intel's inability to produce a game-capable graphics chipset.

 

Don't blame Intel for that. There's plenty of pre-manufactured desktops and notebooks that come with dedicated graphics. Otherwise there's plenty of dedicated cards out there to choose from if you want to upgrade your desktop or build your own.

 

There has never been, is not, and never will be such a thing as uncrackable DRM. This Ubisoft DRM will be just another inconvenience to consumers and a minor obstacle for pirates and hackers. And once the pirates and hackers get around it, it will never be an obstacle for them again, but it will always remain a bloody inconvenience for those of us who bought the game.

 

good point, securom failed miserably yet some upcoming games are still using it, *cough* Bioshock 2 *cough*, i don't understand why companies won't recognize the failure of their DRMs and just remove it.

 

I guess they have to have something to tell their publishers. The publishers hear about piracy, and they ask the developers "what are you going to do to fix this?" So, developers can't truly prevent piracy, so they tack on more and more DRM to keep the publishers happy.

 

UBISOFT needs to take some rest. I wonder if there was any game in the past which was not cracked. So, this one will be the same. Its just a matter of time.