Ubisoft: Our DRM will "evolve, improve"

By Robert Purchese Published 9 April, 2010

And "most" of PC line-up will use it.

Ubisoft's told Eurogamer that its "online services platform" for PC games will "evolve and improve" and is most certainly here to stay.

"Most forthcoming Ubisoft PC titles will use our online services platform," a spokesperson explained, adding, "As with any online technology, we are constantly working to evolve and improve it."

Ubisoft's online platform requires PC gamers to be connected to the internet while they play. But problems arise when authentication servers are unavailable or unresponsive. This was felt first with Assassin's Creed II and Silent Hunter V and then more recently with Settlers 7.

The result has been fans unable to play games they've purchased, sometimes for days at a time.

Upcoming Ubisoft PC titles include Splinter Cell Conviction, Pure Football, R.U.S.E., I Am Alive TrackMania 2, Prince of Persia: Forgotten Sands and Ghost Recon Future Soldier.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (165) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • sneetch #1 2 years ago

    If they "evolve and improve it" so that you don't need to be online constantly then that'd be great. Otherwise, bye bye Ubisoft, it was fun while it lasted.

  • cianchristopher #2 2 years ago

    It might be shit, but this is the future of DRM...

    Ubi just took the first step, but in 2/3 years they'll all be doing it...

  • Santino #3 2 years ago

    stupid bloody company,

    its a good thing I cant think of a single game of theirs I would want to play in the first place.

  • Lord_Gremlin #4 2 years ago

    Thank God most their titles available for consoles.

  • stuarty_2003 #5 2 years ago

    As long as it evolves to have an Offline Mode.

  • Sunyavadin #6 2 years ago

    It might be shit, but this is the future of DRM...
    Ubi just took the first step, but in 2/3 years they'll all be doing it...

    Which is great by me, because it means all my games will be free in the future.

  • magicpanda #7 2 years ago

    Fuck off Ubisoft.

  • telboy007 #8 2 years ago

    WHERE THE FUCK IS BG&E 2!

  • Jdoki #9 2 years ago

    I'm just moving house and gonna be without internet connection for about 3 weeks... So in that time I'm apparently not allowed to play some single player Ubisoft titles.

    Shame, I liked the look of Settlers 7.

  • kingmong #10 2 years ago

    what a load of hoop. I would actually give settlers a shot, but my gaming time is an occasion block of a few hours when I have the place to myself. since my connection has been known to drop there's no way I'm throwing cash at a game I may-or-may-not be able to play when I manage to get some free time.

    to summarise: fuck ubisoft and the drm they rode in on :)

  • Segnit #11 2 years ago

    I am sorry but no compromises can be made. I will never buy "Online Only" offline single player games.

  • Xabarin #12 2 years ago

    I take this statement as a proof that this DRM has taken some toll on Ubi's sales. Why this sudden need to justify themselves when they did such a poor job at it when it was most needed (at launch)? Not only that, but instead of "change" they use such a fancy word: "evolve". Beautiful.

  • linksdad #13 2 years ago

    If they are still in business long enough...

  • Skurmedel #14 2 years ago

    Jdoki: Get Anno 1404 instead. Not the same thing, but much less intrusive DRM.

    I can do without Ubisoft, all I'm worried for is the Il-2 sequel, whenever they release it, if they ever do. I think it's rather weird that the Steam page for their DRM:ed games states that they can kill off their servers for their games with 30 days prior notice. Wouldn't that make your copy of the game a virtual brick?
    Edited by 3 at 09/04/10 @ 17:26

  • M4RV #15 2 years ago

    I have been playing AC2 and even though I had some issues with it on the PC, going so far as to disabling to cores, I'm still loving the game thus far. I must admit though, there's not a single time I forget the price one must pay, in order to to have access to such awesomeness... Still, peace of mind I assume, since I'm not in favor of piracy.

  • sneetch #16 2 years ago

    @Xabarin
    I take this statement as a proof that this DRM has taken some toll on Ubi's sales.

    One can only hope that is the case.

    Why this sudden need to justify themselves when they did such a poor job at it when it was most needed (at launch)? Not only that, but instead of "change" they use such a fancy word: "evolve". Beautiful.

    "Fix" or "work" would have been better choices. ;)

  • Stupid_Fat_Hobbit #17 2 years ago

    I hope it evolves just like the dinosaurs.

    (Er, not in the "dominating the Earth for millions of years" sense, in the "going extinct" sense. Just to be clear.)

  • sneetch #18 2 years ago

    @M4RV
    Still, peace of mind I assume, since I'm not in favor of piracy.

    Actually, it doesn't seem to have stopped the pirates, merely inconvenienced them: I've seen a lot of claims that there are fully working torrents now. It was never going to have stopped them for long.

  • M4RV #19 2 years ago

    @sneetch:

    I wasn't trying to imply otherwise rest assured; I was only refering to myself, when it comes to peace of mind so to speak. Personally, I lack the time to fully invest on the ones I purchase, let alone wasting time on piracy. To each his own though... It was a bad idea from day one this whole DRM.

  • Whizzo #20 2 years ago

    I didn't think a comments thread about Ubisoft's idiotic DRM would make me laugh but Stupid_Fat_Hobbit I salute you! :-)

  • Dylbot #21 2 years ago

    And "most" of the PC gaming crowd will boycott if they have any sense.

  • sarcasmoidosis #22 2 years ago

    "I've seen a lot of claims that there are fully working torrents now"

    Yep.

  • karaokequeen3 #23 2 years ago

    Hahaha, great April Fools punchline.

    Wait.....but the 1st a long time ago....!

  • Sulphur #24 2 years ago

    Ubi can forget about me getting any of their games for the PC. I was looking forward to Splinter Cell, PoP and I Am Alive, but they can kiss it now.

    When a company's new anti-piracy system makes me think that bundling a dongle would be more convenient, it's time their rights-impinging ass was set on fire. This is a ridiculous idea for people with regulated bandwidth caps. Maybe in the future when bandwidth is free and the internet is ubiquitous, this would be a good idea. For now, why they couldn't strike a deal with Valve/get Steamworks is beyond me.
    Edited by 1 at 09/04/10 @ 17:51

  • immateriaux #25 2 years ago

    I think anyone who just blithely agrees with this - "it's okay for me", "oh well they have to do it" - is either plain selfish or ludicrously stupid. On the one hand: how are people who have laptops, who use them when travelling, going to play games with this type of DRM? How are people behind certain types of firewalls going to play? How are people in the process of switching ISPs going to play? People whose broadband cap has been exceeded too? And so on. That's the plain selfish option.

    The other one is the stupid one: the fact that there is a considerable amount of people who simply cannot, legitimately, play these games means if they want to play, the only way they can do so is through illegitimate copies. Thereby forcing people into piracy where they might discover there's lots of other games out there they don't have to pay for that way.

    Personally, it's no more buying Ubisoft games from here on in, I won't authenticate this ridiculously inferior DRM by just sticking my head in the sand and pretending nothing can be done.
    Edited by 1 at 09/04/10 @ 17:58

  • Tangled #26 2 years ago

    Ubisoft: Our DRM will "evolve, improve"

    Just like Skynet then?

  • HenryFitz #27 2 years ago

    The Crash to Desktop feature could use refining, so that it doesn't seem so much like a bug. Maybe if it played some soothing harp music, and had a test screen saying We Regret This Interruption to Your Gaming, Please Try Again Shortly.

    But seriously, I hope everyone involved in the decision to sell fewer games and enrage their customers gets a raise. Such innovative thinking deserves to be rewarded. Who in the staid, conformist world of business would have even considered actively trying to make less money? The lads are geniuses.
    Edited by 1 at 09/04/10 @ 17:59

  • coolbritannia #28 2 years ago

    It doesn't work, will never work, and will kill their pc market.

  • TheTingler #29 2 years ago

    "Improve" is the word. It's currently totally broken and most of the world is having trouble playing Settlers 7 two weeks after launch, so they better fucking improve it.

    Or ditch it altogether for a less insane alternative, which is better.

  • doctorgonzo #30 2 years ago

    Well. There's a list of games I'm not going to buy.

  • LazyNinjaUk #31 2 years ago

    Quite funny how no other developer is jumping on the "Let's piss off our entire user-base" band wagon.

    Probably because no other developer thinks such an oppressive Anti-piracy policy like Ubisoft's is a good idea...

  • blod74 #32 2 years ago

    And that's why I won't buy any more ubi titles, if I really want them. this will drive me to piracy!

  • Orihalcon19 #33 2 years ago

    Indeed. Assassins Creed 2 has now been "fully" cracked - the main quest 100% and side missions till sequence 11 I believe. The rest of the side quest information should be done in the next week. Then it will truly be fully cracked. No matter what you do or attempt to do, a group or an individual with know-how will take it as a challenge to get past ANY kind of DRM and given time succeed.

  • M4RV #34 2 years ago

    @LazyNinjaUk:

    You mean other publishers shirley, since when it comes to developers, Infinity Ward comes to mind when it comes to screwing most, if not their WHOLE PC user-base.

    @blod74:

    That's the lamest f**king excuse ever, no offense... I can honestly imagine that even if every single game out there was available for free, there would simply exist some sort of piracy, if only for the sake of juvenile rebellion or anything like that.
    Edited by 1 at 09/04/10 @ 18:15

  • Killian_UK #35 2 years ago

    They are going to "evolve and improve" themselves into administration. Like many others, whilst enjoy many UBI games I won't buy them with this god awful DRM. Morons.............

  • Eraysor #36 2 years ago

    As I've said before, I am now pretty gutted that Ubi bought out Massive Entertainment, because if World in Conflict 2 ever appears it will be saddled with this crap.

  • ISeeEverything #37 2 years ago

    "To evolve and improve" , but why , what's the point , pirates already fully cracked this DRM , AC2 is playable full with all quests and side-quests without internet connection , pirates are enjoying it right now , while legal customers need to take this sh*t from Ubimorons , what a waste of money , resources and players nerves .

  • sneetch #38 2 years ago

    @M4RV
    I wasn't trying to imply otherwise rest assured; I was only refering to myself, when it comes to peace of mind so to speak. Personally, I lack the time to fully invest on the ones I purchase, let alone wasting time on piracy. To each his own though... It was a bad idea from day one this whole DRM.

    Ah, I'm right behind you there. In fact driving home I reflected on the fact that this is probably a blessing in disguise for me: I would have bought at least 4 of their upcoming games over the next few months if not for this DRM, not doing so will allow me to complete other games I already have. :)

  • LazyNinjaUk #39 2 years ago

    @M4RV

    I meant more in reference to anti-piracy policy, than just annoying fans in general.

  • curtlikesmeat #40 2 years ago

    I won't ever buy an offline 'online only' game - I made this exception once when I got swept up in the hype for Half Life 2 but it won't ever be happening again.

  • cyacomini #41 2 years ago

    MS have been doing this for years with WGA - ok so you don't need to be online when using Windows, but online activations are here to stay.

  • galerian86 #42 2 years ago

    Well then, I know what PC titles I won't be getting in the near future.

  • M4RV #43 2 years ago

    @sneetch:

    Never thought of that... Actually, I wish I had that same resolve; However, I must admit I'm week, especially when it comes to Assassin's Creed. :\

    @LazyNinjaUk:

    I stand corrected then. :)

  • Red-Moose #44 2 years ago

    Red Moose: My game purchases will "be from other publishers, on other platforms".

  • Redeye #45 2 years ago

    Good job I'm not planning on buying any Ubi titles for the forseeable future, then.

    *adds Ubi to Activision on the 'never again' list*

  • bad09 #46 2 years ago

    "Ubisoft's told Eurogamer that its "online services platform" for PC games will "evolve and improve" and is most certainly here to stay. "

    bad09 told Ubisoft that his "money" for PC games will "evolve to other publishers" and is most certainly there to stay.

    If you keep it Ubi just piss off to the consoles. Thanks bye now.
    Edited by 1 at 09/04/10 @ 19:07

  • Shikasama #47 2 years ago

    cianchristopher is right, soon this will be the norm.

    I don't even think it's that long before we see something similar on consoles. COmpanies now, with half of the game coming out as DLC and and EA's 'Project: Consumer Rights' already assume your console to be connected to the internet.

  • paketep #48 2 years ago

    It may evolve, but it will certainly not improve. It will still be a smelling POS.

    You're not getting my money, Ubi. Fuck you.

  • GamesConnoisseur #49 2 years ago

    So Ubisoft acknowledging that their DRM system is a mess essentially and that they are needing to do a much better and workable digitial rights management to protect their softwares, but that is still not the right move?

    I know I get negged with my posts the past couple of days re this damned piracy, DRM and Digitial Economy Bill. But these all are relative and at the core are the same issues.

    People have rights to walk away from Ubi's product (PC at least) and choose how they wish to use their purchases and it seemed to me that by stating as they did, Ubi is telling everyone they are not gonna quits on DRM but finding an alternative to the problematic ones they have.

    I m just stating the obvious.

  • dsmx #50 2 years ago

    Well it will improve simply because it can't possible get any worse as it stops people playing the game. But regardless of how it evolves it will still be useless and only serve to piss people off and stop them from buying it.

  • Freek #51 2 years ago

    Oh FFS, I really like Track Mania. Would be nice if they diden't sabotage it with thier dreadfull DRM :(

  • doulema #52 2 years ago

    They need to make it function before they improve and evolve it.

    Oh btw, f**k you and your online DRM Ubisoft.

  • faselei #53 2 years ago

    @GamesConnoisseur

    And you deserve to be 'negged'. The problem is i have been a fan of settlers since i had an amiga and this is a 'franchise' i quite like.

    However wishing to play on a laptop etc away from a connection means that i cannot play one of my favourite series. At least not without resorting the exact type of thing they are apparently trying to stop.

    Its niave to say its a simple as not buying there products, they have a monopoly on the settlers series. It makes me sad i cannot play one of my favourite games.

    If other PC game companies follow suit. Thats' it, i think PC gaming is pretty much doomed.

  • mooseman721 #54 2 years ago

    Well that's great news then, i'll just wait until you do.

  • login_name #55 2 years ago

    /sigh

    Just admit it was a fucking stupid idea and be done with it. It'll save you a year or so of "evolving and improving" before you eventually remove it and we can all go back to buying your games a lot sooner. I for one will not buy a single Ubi game on PC, 360, PS3, Wii or any other format until this is removed. Simples.

  • Inigo #56 2 years ago

    I've an almost perfect 100% internet connection but i would never get these games on principle. You have to draw a line in the sand some where.

    If the big publishers do this then i will just have to get my PC games from somewhere else. There will aways be someone making good PC games, its what makes the PC so awsome.

  • UberFrog #57 2 years ago

    Your shit will die in hell

  • George-Roper #58 2 years ago

    Ubi, if any of your community bods are reading these articles, take note.

    I'm a gamer since the heady 8bit days of the Spectrum and C64. I've bought pretty much every gaming system released. I currently own a bewildering array of games for pretty much all the major platforms, those being PC, 360, PS3 and Wii, plus DS. My main passion, however is PC gaming.

    I spend a substantial amount of money on my hobby, make no mistake. However, you will never see a penny of it until you drop this DRM. I'll be honest, you have games that i'd dearly like to play, Settlers 7 being the current but whilst this DRM persists, i'll simply do without.

    I can only hope that enough other PC gamers take the same stance that I do.

    And before anyone cuts in with "Cool story, but why not just send an email?", I already have. I'll continue to press the point, whenever I see the opportunity, though.
    Edited by 1 at 09/04/10 @ 20:13

  • Windsong #59 2 years ago

    I'm surprised no one has thrown a molotov cocktail at their building.

  • Geordiemp #60 2 years ago

    What about laptop games players ubisoft ?

    In UK you just cant travel around an dbe connected to internet.

    Laptops can play games now and have fair graphics cards, mine can play crysis on med settings, 720P quite well, an dthere is a market trend for laptops with good graphics processors.

    Ubisoft obviously thinks those games will only use the laptop at home (LOL)

  • space_ace #61 2 years ago

    it's official: ubi have lost it completely

  • Lord_BeeJee #62 2 years ago

    No more ubi games for me I guess

  • photoboy #63 2 years ago

    For as long as Ubisoft stick that egregious DRM in their PC games, I won't be buying them. So far they've lost a sale for Assassin's Creed II. When Splinter Cell Conviction and PoP Forgotten Sands come out, they will lose two sales there as well.

    I refuse to buy games that will only work when I'm connected to the internet. I have a gaming laptop and there are plenty of occasions where it's not connected to the net and I play games on it. Ubisoft can fuck off until they stop doing this.

  • George-Roper #64 2 years ago

    Ubisoft are, quite simply, looking for a reason to stop developing PC games. They knew how this would be received and it wouldn't surprise me if they were caring less when their server issues arise. They know it will be cracked, eventually, and that will give them the perfect reason to close the curtains with a 'thank you & goodnight, we hope you enjoyed stealing our show'.

    I don't follow. Can you explain how them implementing what was probably an expensive DRM system and potentially losing money on at least the three games that we're aware of that use the DRM, is in their interests?

    If they wanted out of PC game development, why wouldn't they simply make a statement that they're no longer in that market? Why drag your company through the gutter, with all the bad press to go with?

  • webcider #65 2 years ago

    Lovely comment ^^

    You gotta love the desperate attitude they proclaim with such statements.


    Anyways its not like i care i have long ago lost interest in the modern gaming world "retro gamer" FTW at least they knew how to make games at that time ^^

    Edit: Fuck Ubisoft for sabotaging Trackmania 2:@ This bullshit just got real GRrrrrrrrRRR
    Edited by 1 at 10/04/10 @ 00:28

  • Melan #66 2 years ago

    Well i wont be buying UBI-games until they start to treat their custumer with a little respect. It will be a lost sale. Im not even going to bother buying it for my consoles.

    Respect for your paying customers UBI. They remember how they were threated, it is not only technical problem (otherwise people would just buy the console version), it is about being decent. Dont be evil.

  • hollowroom #67 2 years ago

    Shame. After playing R.U.S.E beta on steam, I was thinking of buying it, but I didn't realise it was Ubisoft.

  • yagisencho #68 2 years ago

    Dear Ubisoft,

    I never pirate games. And I will never purchase one of your titles that uses this DRM scheme. As in, I will purchase neither the PC edition nor a console edition of the title. Instead, my money will go to your competitors.

    Sincerely,
    Me

  • AOFanboi #69 2 years ago

    Dear Ubisoft,

    I will go back to buying your games when you stop hating your paying customers.

    *waves goodbye to Civilization V*

  • Rack #70 2 years ago

    "When Splinter Cell Conviction and PoP Forgotten Sands come out, they will lose two sales there as well."

    Forgotten Sands is apparently free of this monster, so you could conceivably get that. Good on you though.

  • Pirotic #71 2 years ago

    How do they plan to evolve it? so it's not hacked by the crackers on day one? or to let the people who buy it on day one actually play it? My guess is they care more about the prior.

  • the_mtfr #72 2 years ago

    NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO not Trackmania too!!!!!!!

  • the_mtfr #73 2 years ago

    @AOFanboi, Civ 5 ain't Ubisoft's, it's 2K's since they wholly own Firaxis.

  • oceanclub #74 2 years ago

    It might have been better if they admited they were going to cancel it because it was a load of rubbish and had fed the people responsible to a pond of crocodiles.

    I wanted to buy AC2; shame. Ah well, still have the Witcher, Dragon Ages, the addon Awakenings, Just Cause 2, etc...

    P.

  • Salaminizer #75 2 years ago

    fuck this shit.

  • beef_spread #76 2 years ago

    Destroy, Erase, Improve. Messhuggah

  • Transcendent #77 2 years ago

    I will play all these games offline with the help of unofficial "patches".

  • daftshadow #78 2 years ago

    If this DRM involves staying online to play the game, I'm not buying that shit. No matter what game it is.
    Edited by 1 at 10/04/10 @ 01:15

  • actionfitz #79 2 years ago

    "Most forthcoming Ubisoft PC titles will use our online services platform," ...

    ...and henceforth your forthcoming PC titles will not be bought buy anyone i know. congrats.

  • GamesConnoisseur #80 2 years ago

    I m able to know when to gracefully quits or simply accept that I m clearly on the wrong side of argument. My contributions in EG been fairly not so noisesome in the years I have been here.

    A simple reason for playing devil's advocate was that I was getting not any sense of open debate on this matter, it was all 'damn evil Ubi for doing evil things to us','boycott Ubi and see them crash n burn' and so on.

    Rather than neg all these views I found to be too simplistic, try to engage in a discussion by referring to the factors which leads to such system being in place.

    a) Moans and do nothing
    b) Moans and boycott
    c) Moans and pirate said game off torrents
    d) Contact Ubi and email them your views
    e) Engage in discussion with other likeminded gamers and online petition or alternatives
    f) Pressuries EG to do a full interview with Ubi/others on DRM and ask for live Q/A discussions with EG readers n hosted by EG

    all of above seems to give a suggestion that there are range of options to consider, rather than just moanings/ flamings/ neggings won't really change anything will they?!

    Perhaps next time I should just leave any kind of drm/ piracy issues alone, as clearly a great majority all think and feel the same. Down with Ubi! How dare you interferes with my gaming by putting on your attempts to protect your games?

  • TheTingler #81 2 years ago

    @curtlikesmeat: Half-Life 2 isn't online-only. Once you've installed/downloaded it and authorised it once you can go offline and play it forever.

  • smelly #82 2 years ago

    Blame the pirates - if it wasnt for them drm wouldnt be needed.

    >c) Moans and pirate said game off torrents

    So you become part of the problem?


    >After playing R.U.S.E beta on steam

    Shhh.. dont mention steam.. people might figure out thats drm too!

  • hahayou #83 2 years ago

    urcchhgg.... someone stabbed me right in the trackmania

    (dies)

  • bad09 #84 2 years ago

    Smelly your PC trolling is not up to the standard of your Ninty defense ;)

    Seriously though, people know Steam is a form of DRM. It's just one that doesn't restrict you Ubisoft's DRM is completely different to Steam.

    As for blaming someone, I am a customer Ubisoft is a business, their products by THEIR choice use this silly system, I blame them. Non one else feels the need to tie down paying customers in this way in the name of make believe sales (well apart from EA trying the water with "no DRM" C&C4 - which has gone down as well as this).

    Besides, it's no secret pirates don't worry about DRM anyway (including this one) so once again we paying people get screwed because we are stupid enough to actually want to pay for games. If DRM actually did anything to stop piracy yeah I might blame pirates but it doesn't so I blame the companies who do nothing but mess with paying customers.
    Edited by 1 at 10/04/10 @ 07:59

  • ScottyXTUK #85 2 years ago

    Well done Ubisoft, here's another customer you have lost. I will never buy any of your games whilst you force this DRM crap on us. The way you are going, you will be out of business and it will be your own fault.

  • Lobosolitario #86 2 years ago

    Simple choice for me. As a laptop gamer this kind of DRM basically excludes me from their market whether I want to give them my money or not. Nothing new there though, it never fails to amaze me how many companies seem to have a sales plan of making it nigh on impossible to give them your money...

  • tiny_Eggy #87 2 years ago

    They have every right to protect their IP as they see fit, I have every right to not buy a single game from them again as long as they use this DRM model.

  • MaxiSleep #88 2 years ago

    Hello Ubi

    Wont be buying your games. Period.

    Please understand that things like WoW (which I have been playing since launch ) justify their requirement for a net connection because they are inherently online multiplayer.

    Requiring a net connection for single player increases the chance of not being able to play, increases the chance of loosing progress, increases your costs and **does not reduce piracy**.

    Shame to miss on civ (owned every version since the 4 disk amiga 500 one) but i cannot imagine a worse game to have the restrictions you want to impose

    Please stop being fucking retards.

  • MaxiSleep #89 2 years ago

    @smelly

    You may not be aware of the substantial differences between steam (an excellent product/platform) and Ubisofts abomination.

    The chief one is that once activated you do not need to connect to the net and you saves are local. So if i am traveling I can switch power draining wifi off and get longer gameplay on a laptop, without worrying about connectivity or carting around game dvd's. Thats why I buy most of my pc games on steam (or the other digital distributors) these days.

  • silversun #90 2 years ago

    Im not the gamer to start orangised protest about drm but ive had a good idea that some gamers might want think about, theres a good website called gog that sell drm free games and one of the games is settlers 2 gold edition , maybe gamers who hate this drm should go talk with money and go buy a copy of this , it might not work but i think settlers 2 is great game anyway and i think i going go buy it now myself.

    on the whole issue of ubi drm , i dont like drm but can put up with stuff like steam because they do it well, but ubi drm is terrible, to point where im getting pop on playstation 3 version instead and am not going pick up splinter cell which i might have got on pc , i could get on 360 but with my backlog probley wont bother now.
    Edited by 1 at 10/04/10 @ 12:29

  • Pablo2k5 #91 2 years ago

    @ LazyNinjaUk You said... "Quite funny how no other developer is jumping on the "Let's piss off our entire user-base" band wagon."

    Wrong. Haven't you heard? EA plan on using a similar system...

    [link url=http://www.tomshardware.com/ne ws/drm-copy-protection-command-conquer-c-c,9925.html
    ]http://ww w.tomshardware.com/news/drm-cop...[/link]

  • TheJuriel #92 2 years ago

    I hope people vote against draconian DRM experiments with their wallets.

  • magicpanda #93 2 years ago

    You just know there's some fuckwit at Ubisoft saying "Oh but Steam was hated when it first launched, people will come round".

    They are so very very wrong.

  • carbonic #94 2 years ago

    Oh well, guess I will not be buying Ubisoft games.

  • George-Roper #95 2 years ago

    Developing their current DRM solution would have been far cheaper then continuing to let their PC sales revenue slide further into the gutter. Let's face it, if the press is to be believed then things are only getting worse for boxed copy sales. As Steam has also turned up it's nose, in the
    UK at least, at the DRM then selling boxes is the only way they're going to make money, hence the need to invest money to save money (in their eyes).

    Imagine the uproar if UBI came out and said "Fuck you PC guys, you're all pirates that steal the food from our mouths so we're not going to make our games for you any more". Surely that's a shit-ton more bad press than trying DRM this horrendous that's meant to show they care about the PC players before playing the "Fuck you, we tried, no more PC games for you robbers!". Plus, we're very much the vocal minority in the scheme of things, almost not worth listening to when it comes to their bottom line. Sad but true.

    They must surely know that even their legitimate customers that have bought in to this DRM solution will, at the drop of a hat, use a fully working crack to remove the need for constant online authentication, thus creating more awareness of how to side-step security methods for all/most software.

    What are you going on about?

    If they really did want to halt PC development, they didn't need to slag PC gamers off. Just make a simple statement along the lines of "As of QTR 3, 2010 we will no longer be developing for the PC platform and will instead focus on 360/PS3/Wii". There is no bad press, because the market they're dropping (PC) won't have any choice. Conversely, if you're also console gamer you can still get their games via that method. Sure, it wouldn't be great for PC gamers but how would they vote? With their wallets? Oh yeah, they can't buy the new Ubi games anyway....

    Fact is, Ubi have done themselves immeasurably more damage with the debacle that has hit SH5, AC2 and S7, than if they'd simply not released them on the PC. I won't touch those games with a bargepole but what's more, i'll now seriously consider any of their future releases, even if they have no DRM. I will not willingly support a company that has such huge amount of disrespect for legitimate customers, like me. They need to do a hell of a lot of back-peddling to gain my trust.

    Also, if they really do want to halt PC development, why have they stated another 5-6 games released in the future that will also use this DRM?

    You're reading far too much into this. It's not nearly as dubious or shady as you want it to be. It's very simply an attempt to protect their PC games from piracy, that has gone one step too far. That's the be all and end all of it. The reason why they won't backtrack yet is that they've obviously invested a serious amount of money into the infrastructure to support the DRM. They're not willing to scrap it until they've had chance to 'test' it out some more. Short-sightedness like that, though is what will hurt their bottom line.

    Oh, and whilst I trust your wisdom on how PC gamers are almost not worth listening to, regards their bottom line from PC game sales, I think i'll trust that their money counters have a different perspective. Businesses don't arbitrarily throw money away on avenues of income that don't return enough. Simple business fact, my friend.

  • TitusCrow #96 2 years ago

    I saw a video of Settlers 7 a few days back and resolved to purchase this game. Then I went to Amazon and read the grim stories about it and the always connected DRM. To hell with that... I checked steam out, but of course steam seem to have issue with this title to at the moment. So went to the pirate bay, read the comments there and about 3-4 days ago it’s still not working.

    I will wait till I see a working cracked version and happily play it for free. I used to DL games when I was younger pirate style. For a goodly amount of years now I have bought all my games original. It’s just generally less hassle to be honest – and even less on steam, which has become my platform of choice if at all possible.
    The last game I DL for free before this was spore – I’m glad I did, as I played it for about 4 hours in total. The DL of that game too was because of being advised of a harsh DRM that would slow my system down. I have no problem buying games that have value and are excellent titles. Generally if I am going to commit the time to playing a game I commit the money to buying it. The only spanner in these works is when companies try to pull something like this crap.

    I have a fairly stable internet connection (50mg cable) but I have heard that this kind of thing doesn’t matter and that people were getting intermittent pausing, lag, hell all sorts of crap happening... This is not the way to do things. Any time a company gives me no choice but play a game this way – they really have lost a sale. I hope they lose enough to not be able to push on through with this ridicules way of trying to safeguard games – at the expense of the game’s stability and functionality.

  • kaya08 #97 2 years ago

    The unfortunate thing about this is that the pirates will 'evolve and improve' and the only people who will suffer are the legitimate customers.
    Does any other developer have a more miguided anti-piracy policiy?
    Meh I was never a huge fan anyway so I'll live. Though any temptation whatsoever to try any of their games evaporated with the introduction of this DRM.

  • captain-future #98 2 years ago

    yeah, and if they're smart they evolve it SOON to "DRM is obsolete".

  • himynameisnathan #99 2 years ago

    @telboy007

    HEAR HEAR!

  • uzivatel #100 2 years ago

    Being the best copy-protection out there, I can see why Ubisoft wants to use it in its future games. I like my disc based games without DRM, but I guess this is the future.
    Microsoft uses somewhat similar DRM on Xbox LIVE and it never caused me any trouble (many people probably dont even realize there is DRM). As long as Ubisoft can keep its servers online most of the time, majority of the consumers is going to be fine - being able to play their game without any problems is all they care about.
    Ubisoft should "improve" it to make sure people can play its games and "evolve" it to keep the DRM effective.
    Come to think of it, the glorified console killing OnLive service is even worse, yet no-one seems to really care.
    Edited by 1 at 10/04/10 @ 17:34

  • Mark1412 #101 2 years ago

    It might (or might not, I don't know) be the best copy protection out there but as has been said time and time again, this isn't stopping pirates AT ALL. It's just punishing those who legitimately purchase Ubisoft games and as a result convincing many of them to pirate whatever the game is in question. I don't play PC games often enough for this to impact me but if I did I sure as hell wouldn't be buying Ubisoft games knowing I couldn't play them anywhere without a very reliable internet connection.

    It's principle as much as it is avoiding a totally brainless means of combating a problem that is inadvertently being fuelled by the so called cure.
    Edited by 1 at 10/04/10 @ 19:50

  • immateriaux #102 2 years ago

    @uzivatel
    How on earth is it the "best copy protection out there"? It's like saying the best anti-theft device for a car is not putting any fuel in it. Copy protecting to the extent of preventing it working is not the "best" solution, it's the stupidest solution.

  • uzivatel #103 2 years ago

    @Mark1412: It doesnt have to stop pirates forever (I doubt thats even possible), it just needs to stop them for some time.
    How long did it take pirates to be able to play ACII? and afaik its not perfect even by now. Now lets compare it to all those games playable from torrents days prior release.
    Again, if they want to succeed, they need to make sure the legitimate customers can play the game most of the time. I realize some people without stable internet connection wont buy the game even then, but many others wont buy it because they dont meet some of the other requirements like RAM, CPU, GPU or even OS. I dont think thats a problem (as long as they were warned).
    Many people dont like this DRM and thats fine, its not like we need to play Ubisoft games. That said, I wonder how many of them are actually fighting principles and how many are simply pirates, who want to play future Ubisoft games on launch day.

    @immateriaux: The local police does advise people against leaving precious objects inside cars, which is somewhat similar.
    That said, you should read the whole post.
    Edited by 1 at 10/04/10 @ 18:31

  • George-Roper #104 2 years ago

    It doesnt have to stop pirates forever (I doubt thats even possible), it just needs to stop them for some time
    How long did it take pirates to be able to play ACII? and afaik its not perfect even by now. Now lets compare it to all those games playable from torrents days prior release.
    Again, if they want to succeed, they need to make sure the legitimate customers can play the game most of the time. I realize some people without stable internet connection wont buy the game even then, but many others wont buy it because they dont meet some of the other requirements like RAM, CPU, GPU or even OS. I dont think thats a problem (as long as they were warned).
    Many people dont like this DRM and thats fine, its not like we need to play Ubisoft games. That said, I wonder how many of them are actually fighting principles and how many are simply pirates, who want to play future Ubisoft games on launch day.

    Wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong.

    Any measure they take to try, keyword try to stop piracy, that adversely affects legitimate customers like me is entirely the wrong approach. Why? Because they don't have my custom.

    Your analogy about other requirements to play the game is also wrong, because when I purchase a GPU, or a CPU or even an OS, those items will fulfill their role. There is no continual, external, unstable element that will kill my GPU, CPU or OS in the same way that a net connection can be dropped and if my PC hardware goes tits up, I have more to worry about than being able to load up Settlers 7...
    Edited by 1 at 10/04/10 @ 19:22

  • Macdory #105 2 years ago

    My wallet is "evolving and improving" too - not having to waste my cash on your crap ...

  • E_Goldstein #106 2 years ago

    Statch one bogey. I'm sure as hell not buying ay Ubisoft products while this is in place.

    Et tu brute..et tu

  • immateriaux #107 2 years ago

    @uzivatel "they need to make sure the legitimate customers can play the game most of the time"

    Most of the time? Is that 80% of the time? 60% of the time? Are you "mostly" a moron or what?

  • uzivatel #108 2 years ago

    @George Roper: If you internet connection sucks, you probably dont want to buy game that requires you to be connected to internet. You probably dont want to subscribe to MMO either.

    @immateriaux: Something like 24/7 except for announced maintenance, which should not last more than few hours per month. You know, something you would expect from modern online service.
    Oh, and thank you for your kind words.

  • Xabarin #109 2 years ago

    Perhaps the most intelligent thing that Ubisoft has done regarding this whole DRM mess is that, however much this has pissed PC gamers (quite legitimately in my opinion, for reasons already commented everywhere), it has had a very desirable effect: it draw everybody's attention away from the fact that th games are permanently tied to your account, and no other.

    To those that say "that's bullshit, every other game does that", I say "Bioware". I can bind and unbind my Mass Effect/Dragon Age key from my account as many times as I want. Online services such as Steam have pretty much the right to do this, since it's their servers your are using to download the game, and they have added values to it. Hell, you can even do it with GfWL games.

    Everybody has ignored this in favour of the legitimate complaints about always-online single player gaming. Basically it destroys any possibility to trade your own games, paid with your money.
    Edited by 2 at 10/04/10 @ 22:37

  • George-Roper #110 2 years ago

    @George Roper: If you internet connection sucks, you probably dont want to buy game that requires you to be connected to internet. You probably dont want to subscribe to MMO either.

    Nicely dodged the point about the other system requirements. Well done.

    Your MMO analogy fails spectacularly, because if my net connection goes down whilst playing an MMO I won't lose potentially hours of gameplay. I may affect the Raid im in and I may find myself dead when I log back in but I won't 'lose' progress.

    Also, what about the other end of the stick. I buy a game based on this DRM then for whatever reason, I lose my broadband. Completely. Perhaps I move house, perhaps I can't afford it any longer. What happens to my Ubisoft games then?

    There is no defending this DRM. It's one step too far. I can deal with online activations. I can deal with Steam (fucking love the thing actually). I can even deal, to an extent, with limited installs. I cannot and will not support this, though. They've gone too far.

  • TheGuvernor #111 2 years ago


    Does this mean they'll fuck up FarCry3?
    Fuckwits...

  • uzivatel #112 2 years ago

    @George Roper: Or maybe your Windows PC is stolen. Or maybe you convert to Mac/Linux. What happens to all your Windows games?
    Edited by 1 at 10/04/10 @ 23:31

  • George-Roper #113 2 years ago

    @George Roper: Or maybe your Windows PC is stolen. Or maybe you convert to Mac/Linux. What happens to all your Windows games?

    Don't be so fucking stupid. If things happen outside of my control, like my PC is stolen then there's sweet FA I can do about it. A decision to switch to Mac/Linux is entirely my decision and therefore I weigh the pros and cons, appropriately.

    If I did move house and couldn't get broadband, or need to discontinue the service, the majority of my games would still work. In fact, the only ones where I might have a problem are those that use GFWL and even that might have an offline mode.

    But any Ubi games with this DRM are completely unplayable and that's not acceptable.

  • uzivatel #114 2 years ago

    @George Roper: Stolen PC would be pretty bad, but buying another one is under your control. The same goes for moving inside house without internet connection or discontinuing your internet connection, its not like you dont have any say about things like that. Well, unless you are underage, you sure sound that way here and there.

  • George-Roper #115 2 years ago

    @George Roper: Stolen PC would be pretty bad, but buying another one is under your control. The same goes for moving inside house without internet connection or discontinuing your internet connection, its not like you dont have any say about things like that. Well, unless you are underage, you sure sound that way here and there.

    Sigh...

  • Silvervein #116 2 years ago

    @uzivatel
    Just one thing. When I *buy* a game, it belongs to me. I can do with it what I want, when I want, without any restrictions. When I lend a game, it's not mine, and I can use it only with whatever restrictions apply.

    Why does ubi charge full price for games they are, for all practical purposes, only leasing to people?
    Edited by 1 at 11/04/10 @ 01:06

  • webcider #117 2 years ago

    uzivatel:

    You shouldn't by any chance have been brainwashed by some religion ?

    sorry just asking ^^

    EDIT:

    TigerCrow and George has already delivered many of the most loyal cases and scenarios hats off for them.

    Attacking by asking age is just stupid and makes you look like you lost the argument already so stop before it hurts you anymore okay?
    Edited by 1 at 11/04/10 @ 01:38

  • alcides #118 2 years ago

    you know what's the ultimate, absolute climax and end to all evolution? Extinction.

  • lavalant #119 2 years ago

    Punish people that buy the game? what a great way to combat piracy!

  • smelly #120 2 years ago

    quote " You may not be aware of the substantial differences between steam (an excellent product/platform) and Ubisofts abomination. "


    Oh.. i see.. but didnt the first release of steam require you to be connected to the internet.. until they "evolved and improved" it?

    See?

    Probably not, you're still probably too busy trying to justify your piracy while wondering why hardly anyone makes pc games any more.

  • smelly #121 2 years ago

    I also like how "uzivatel" makes some valid, well reasoned thoughts - and just gets negated into obscurity for daring to think something different than the internet mob who've all decided drm is evil because everyone says it is (except for steam apparently which can do no wrong)

    "boohoo, i can only play a game when i'm connected to the internet.. which just so happens to be .. erm.. 24/7"

    HOW DARE THEY!!!!

    How DARE microsoft insist i need an internet connection to paly halo odst online? I sure as hell didnt buy it for the single player!

    But the reality here is this is just the pirates who disagree isnt it?

  • bad09 #122 2 years ago

    "Oh.. i see.. but didnt the first release of steam require you to be connected to the internet.. until they "evolved and improved" it?

    See?"

    Yeah I see, I see Ubisoft are so out of touch with customers it repeats the huge errors of the past in blind ignorance.

    Besides IF this piece of crap that is doing NOTHING to stop piracy but delay it a while "evolved" an offline mode like the superb Steam those of us complaining would actually be happy!

    Oh sorry we are apparently pirates from your stupid trolling attempts like this one

    "Probably not, you're still probably too busy trying to justify your piracy while wondering why hardly anyone makes pc games any more"

    It may be hard for you to understand but people are not condoning piracy, they are condemning this draconian DRM. Notice the word THIS, no one is saying Ubi should not use some kind of DRM, but this garbage is to far.

    But then why am I explaining? You already know this and are just stirring because you troll, what's wrong Smelly finally got bored with the brown FPS line?
    Edited by 2 at 11/04/10 @ 06:48

  • kentmonkey #123 2 years ago

    I've never pirated. I don't agree with it. But I can categorically state that I would never, ever, buy a product that forces me to have a full-time web connection established, or all other sorts of restricted crap.

    I understand that they probably want to do something to protect their investment. I find it shocking how many people, including some on here, act like they love videogames, and the industry, and bemoan developers not investing in something different and instead rolling out easy sequels, but then go on to damage the industry by copying and thinking that's fine. But this is not the way to do it, and they're not listening to feedback. If they had listened to feedback, they wouldn't have gone live with this iteration of the service in the first place.

  • login_name #124 2 years ago

    Congrats Smelly, you've just won Cock of the Comments.

  • smelly #125 2 years ago

    >Congrats Smelly, you've just won Cock of the Comments.

    Yip... because being online to play a game is soo hard in this day and age...

    isnt drm EVIL! And isnt smelly a COMPLETE cock for disagreeing with you dicks who dont even buy games?

    Whatever next? actually considering giving money to the people who spent years making the games you guys love so much that you go to a website to read up on them? Oh no.. Who'd EVER want to give THOSE assholes money? After all, they're the ones who MAKE the games this site is devoted to!

    Yeah.. They're ASSHOLES!!! Fuck giving THEM money...They're EVIL!!!

    *sigh*

  • uzivatel #126 2 years ago

    @webcider: I was bit drunk and he called me studpid ... attacking his age seemed pretty reasonable yesterday ;-)
    That said, I dont think your religion comment is very mature as well.

    @Silvervein: And here I thought we only buy licenses.

  • hollowroom #127 2 years ago

    "isnt drm EVIL! And isnt smelly a COMPLETE cock for disagreeing with you dicks who dont even buy games?"

    Yes it is, and I don't care whether you agree with me or not. I reckon I spend about 150 to 200 euros a month on games, I don't pirate and I realise that this DRM is fucking awful, and more significantly impacts honest punters more than pirates.

    By lumping everyone who disagrees with you as a pirate, you are being a bit of a cock.

  • login_name #128 2 years ago

    actually considering giving money to the people who spent years making the games

    I am one of them people who spends years making games. Labeling every PC gamer, or at least the ones that don't agree to this particular DRM method, as a pirate makes you a cock. If you can't see why, that makes you a bigger cock.

    There are people out there that would like to play SINGLE player titles that do not have an internet connection, there are many more with unreliable connections. The attitude of, "I'm alright fuck you guys" or "Get with the times losers!", is another reason why you're a cock.

  • bad09 #129 2 years ago

    @ notmyrealname

    See that's the sad thing for me, I was actually interested in many of UBis titles this year. They would of done well out of me to with AC2, SH5, SC: Conviction (yes I hear it's shit but I still would of given it a go), GR, FC3. 5 games all dead cert buys (BUYS you hear that smelly you cock). All gone, still it's not all bad as it got me buying games I wouldn't. Last month instead of AC and SH5 I got Metro and the Total Wars, instead of SC this month I will hunt around what else is on offer.

    TBH I think the other publishers must be sending Ubi, muffin baskets and thank you cards, SEGA are already quite happy with how 2010 is going on PC for them :)

    Actually speaking of Silient Hunter, I'm quite up for some sub sim as I never played one before but I'm boycotting ALL Ubi titles so not even touching their older games until they are sorted. Anyone recommend a good one other than SH?

  • sneetch #130 2 years ago


    @smelly
    >Congrats Smelly, you've just won Cock of the Comments.

    Yip... because being online to play a game is soo hard in this day and age...

    isnt drm EVIL! And isnt smelly a COMPLETE cock for disagreeing with you dicks who dont even buy games?

    It is impossible for some people, especially those who game on the move, or those who don't have reliable broadband but no, everyone who disagrees with this must be a pirate because that suits your narrow view of the world. I personally buy games, loads of games, all my games, too many actually.

    There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio,
    Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.

  • George-Roper #131 2 years ago

    @Smelly

    I also like how "uzivatel" makes some valid, well reasoned thoughts - and just gets negated into obscurity for daring to think something different than the internet mob who've all decided drm is evil because everyone says it is (except for steam apparently which can do no wrong)

    "boohoo, i can only play a game when i'm connected to the internet.. which just so happens to be .. erm.. 24/7"

    HOW DARE THEY!!!! How DARE microsoft insist i need an internet connection to paly halo odst online? I sure as hell didnt buy it for the single player!

    But the reality here is this is just the pirates who disagree isnt it?

    Nintendo fanboi in "PC gamers are pirating scum!" shocker...ignoring that the Wii is also plagued with piracy.

    /golfclap

    No, my dear Smelly. I spend more on my hobby in a few months than you probably spend in a year, so kindly take your generalizations and go play with your SD, shovel-ware infested, dust-collecting, waggle-console.

  • smelly #132 2 years ago

    >Nintendo fanboi in "PC gamers are pirating scum!" shocker.

    Oh, im a nintendo fanboy now, and that makes my comments irrelevant... hoookaaay...

    Besides i'm agreeing with you.. i'm currently writing a nasty letter to activision because i have to be online to play WoW.. Talk about evil drm!

  • immateriaux #133 2 years ago

    Well, one thing that this debate has proved beyond all doubt is that the people who agree with Ubisoft here and the UbiSoft execs who agreed to this daft way of stopping people playing their games share the same brain cell.

  • George-Roper #134 2 years ago

    @Smelly

    Besides i'm agreeing with you.. i'm currently writing a nasty letter to activision because i have to be online to play WoW.. Talk about evil drm!

    Being online in order to play a Massively Multiplayer Online Game is not DRM. It is not Vivendi 'protecting' their game. It is a requirement of the game, it being a Massively Multiplayer Online Game.

    Then again, i'd not expect a fucking Wii fanboi to understand much about online gaming.

  • kentmonkey #135 2 years ago

    One good thing has come out of this debate...none of smelly's comments are visible anymore as they don't meet the threshold.

    Ubisoft's shit DRM was good for something after all.

  • ISeeEverything #136 2 years ago

    @Smelly

    C'mon man can't you see that you and you alone here supports Ubisoft's DRM , why you're at war with everyone else here , in the end your talking nonsense by comparing MMO ( Massively multiplayer online ) games like WOW , EVE etc. with Single Player game like Assassins Creed 2 which in any point does not need to be online .

  • smelly #137 2 years ago

    >C'mon man can't you see that you and you alone here

    Yeah.. funny how that happens isnt it? Gaming forums seem to have 1 big group voice where everyone thinks the exact same in a weird borg-like method of thinking. At the moment for example, hating drm is cool (but not steam), hating nintendo is cool, and anyone who dares to say they like a nintendo game is a fanboy and as such their opinion means nothing even if the topic is nothing nintendo related, etc etc.

    A few years back it was hating the original xbox was cool (i was labelled a microsoft fanboy on this site for daring to argue on the contrary) .. funny how things change isnt it?

    My original point stands.. Steam started out similar to ubisofts drm, but "evolved and improved".. And now everyone likes it. Why is it such a stretch of the imagination to think that ubisofts wont do the same? Also why is it such a stretch of the thought process to understand that piracy is so rife on the pc thanks to a-holes, that most games companies are just not releasing pc versions at all.. And that for a company to try to release a pc version while trying to protect themsleves is actually a good thing for pc gamers?

    Sure you could boycott these games.. you could just pirate them like a complete dick and be part of the problem... And ubisoft could just say "well fuck it then" and do what every other game publisher is doing and just ignore the pc market..

    And yet again gamers shoot themselves in the foot - while ignoring that they're their own worst enemies and continuing to shout down people who dont just follow what the heard mentality is thinking.

    As for my WoW comment. Wow is one of the most popular pc games of all time, and certainly the most profitable. At any one time millions of people are playing it - from casual gamers to hardcore. They dont have a problem with needing to be online to play that game.. Why is it so hard for you (so called) "hardcore" gamers who bitch and moan on forums (which coincidentally actually needs a net connection) to connect to the internet to play a single player game?

    Common sense isnt very popular amongst gamers on forums is it? Just jump into the pack mentality without actually engaging brain.
    Edited by 1 at 11/04/10 @ 21:02

  • bad09 #138 2 years ago

    Smelly you talk so much shit it's unreal :)

  • smelly #139 2 years ago

    >Smelly you talk so much shit it's unreal

    At least i have the ability to think for myself. And interesting you wont/cant actually respond to my discussion points..
    Edited by 1 at 11/04/10 @ 21:12

  • Rajin #140 2 years ago

    @Smelly

    Then again i never liked steam either(and still find it rubbish considering that offline-mode isn't perfect like some seem to presume)

    But the on-line service they give fairs better for quit some games(can't say that about SP games like Prince of Persia can you now?)

    Most people complain about it since it requires stable internet connection at all times, and that is a valid point you musn't neglect. And the one thing i don't really hear you say is this: Will this ever help Uibisoft regarding sales on the PC. Regarding profits from their PC games?

    The awnser is most likely: No, perhaps they'll evolve and win back customers, but that won't happen within the first 1-2 years. And anyone who remembers Half-Life 2 at launch on steam knows that it won't be all sunshine that quickly(and it had a huge impact on sales as well)

    Edited by 1 at 11/04/10 @ 21:11

  • smelly #141 2 years ago

    @Rajin : But without any attempt to protect their games - they may as well just be giving the thing away. Now that may not be a bad idea (by utilising things like in game ads), but that's another discussion (as forum gamers being the predictable sheep that they are will inevitably be opposed to that too)

  • immateriaux #142 2 years ago

    I was going to write something in reply to Smelly too but I don't think I can reach down to that low a level of consciousness.

  • bad09 #143 2 years ago

    @ Smelly

    OK mr smartypants I'm bored as the Mrs nabbed the telly, HOW exactly can I not think for myself? Because I don't like this crap from Ubi? Let me tell you I was still gonna buy AC2 even after reading about Ubi's plan to become the most hated publisher on the planet but the moment I saw a video of the game cutting out and heard of the trouble PAYING customer had I decided MYSELF that Ubi cares more about make-believe lost sales than the more important people...you know the ones that have money and you know spend it on games.

    And what is your obsession with Steam anyway? I see you bring it up every time you troll the UBi DRM articles. It is an online distribution platform (a good one at that) that restricts in no way other than running Steam in the background, that's it you have to run Steam no online rubbish (well obviously you need to activate the game online but most of us can live with that) games using Steamworks can even unlock retail discs through Steam. The publishers own DRM on top of Steam is more troublesome, limited installs, activations or the endless accounts we must set up. You know the other crap those "evil" pirates don't need to put up with.

    Oh and for companies leaving PC people like SEGA the 2nd biggest PC publisher in 2009 (and so far in 2010) who came out recently to say PC is doing good. Or EA very happy with ME2's and DA:o's millions of sales on PC. Or Valve themselves they seem to think PC is good. Or Capcom, last year they said PC is important to them. What about all the indies, casual gaming, MMOs. Are all these companies wrong and you're right? Is that what you are saying?
    Edited by 2 at 11/04/10 @ 21:40

  • TitusCrow #144 2 years ago

    I'll bite - Smelly, apart from your siege mentality which could become problematic for you if not kept in check. The point you make about steam is fairly true: with a caveat or two. 1st, the times have changed; steam was a very dicey proposition when it came out at 1st. I think anyone who got steam at inception would have been ( as I was ) a slightly bemused half life 2 purchaser, who then had to install this steam thing and wait till the title unlocked and updated.

    I was very dubious about it at 1st, in fact, had it not been a valve product I wanted more than life it's self at the time I would not have installed at all. The fact it was valve who had a massive store of gamers goodwill from past efforts helped here as well.
    I remember the friends list flat out not working. I was on TS with my friends and none of us could see the other on steam. Constant outages as well as other niggles meant that for about 2-3 years steam was left well alone. Of course it improved; It became slick and reliable, it became ( with sales ) sometimes easier to buy games you already had on steam as it would mean you could get them again when you updated your computer. I would say about 90% of the PC games I have bought in the last year have been on steam.

    As I said times have changed; if Ubisoft wish to release this system in 2010, now, then it has to compete with steam - as it is today. Just as any MMO being released now has to compete with Wow in its current incarnation of functionality and accessibility, not with the game that came out in 2005 with many flaws etc.

    So while it might be slightly hypocritical to bemoan one system and not the other, it can never be forgotten than the market never stays still. Paradigms change as the bar is raised by the perfection of systems through re-iteration. While they might wish to put customers 1st, the present system does not do so, they need to get it right out the door - in todays market - not in two years..

    In the meantime people have what is there, a system that does not allow people to play their games, that they bought, when they want to play them. The are instead punished as Ubisoft tries to update and perfect their system on live customers, who have paid full price for this dubious honor. Who would blame people for wishing to play when they wanted 100% the games they have bought? Is this an unreasonable thing to expect? I think not.

  • ISeeEverything #145 2 years ago

    @Smelly

    "And ubisoft could just say "well fuck it then" and do what every other game publisher is doing and just ignore the pc market.."

    Ok , I'm not a mathematical wizard but you have a flow with your math , let me show you how I see on things in a simple way , for example I'll take the most pirated game in history "Modern Warfare 2" , and present to you why they will release MW3 on PC beside everything , and that goes for every game publisher :

    1. Situation One : MW2 is released for PC , result: they sold over 3 million copies for PC .
    60$ x 3 mill thats 180.000.000 $
    MW2 is released for PC , result: over 5 million copies was pirated .
    0 $ x 5 mill thats 0.000.000 $
    TOTAL is 180.000.000 $

    2. Situation Two : MW2 is not release for PC , result: they sold 0 copies for PC.
    0$ x 0 thats 0.000.000 $
    MW2 is not released for PC , result: 0 copies was pirated .
    0$ x 0 thats 0.000.000 $
    TOTAL is 0.000.000 $

    The numbers may not be accurate , but the situation stays , and the whole point is that Ubisoft with this DRM is just losing legal customers and in the end may really abandon PC , but because of their own fault , not pirates .

  • smelly #146 2 years ago

    seems like people get upset if you have a different opinion to them, i thought that was the whole point of discussion forums? it'd be a bit dull if everyone just went into a thread and said the same thing - without any actual form of discussion wouldnt it?

    But back onto the topic, some of you are now contesting that publishers have been leaving the pc market in droves. Of course publishers are releasing SOME games on the pc - but those all have major online components to boost their sales. MW2 was mentioned above, it's no accident that sold so well on pc, when the single player lasts for 5 hours and the multiplayer is the prime selling point (i.e. you need to be online to really play it). And someone above even mentioned MMOs - way to miss the point there! Sheesh!


    Quote : "In the meantime people have what is there, a system that does not allow people to play their games, that they bought, when they want to play them."

    What complete and utter nonsense. Apart from that ONE time where they had server problems - caused by an irate hacker who was probably a pirate upset at this new system making his life harder... They are not "not allowing" people to play their games when they want to play them. That's just complete and utter fallacy scare mongering. That's the "anti-drm" equivalent of sarah palin going on about "death panels"

  • immateriaux #147 2 years ago

    "What complete and utter nonsense"

    There are loads of different examples already on this thread that explain that this is not nonsense at all. People are not referring to the single incident you've dragged up and basing their opinion on that. Though I'm pretty sure you are well aware of that and are just being typically disingenuous.

  • George-Roper #148 2 years ago

    @Smelly

    seems like people get upset if you have a different opinion to them, i thought that was the whole point of discussion forums? it'd be a bit dull if everyone just went into a thread and said the same thing - without any actual form of discussion wouldnt it?

    But back onto the topic, some of you are now contesting that publishers have been leaving the pc market in droves. Of course publishers are releasing SOME games on the pc - but those all have major online components to boost their sales. MW2 was mentioned above, it's no accident that sold so well on pc, when the single player lasts for 5 hours and the multiplayer is the prime selling point (i.e. you need to be online to really play it). And someone above even mentioned MMOs - way to miss the point there! Sheesh!


    Quote : "In the meantime people have what is there, a system that does not allow people to play their games, that they bought, when they want to play them."

    What complete and utter nonsense. Apart from that ONE time where they had server problems - caused by an irate hacker who was probably a pirate upset at this new system making his life harder... They are not "not allowing" people to play their games when they want to play them. That's just complete and utter fallacy scare mongering. That's the "anti-drm" equivalent of sarah palin going on about "death panels"

    You seem unable to grasp a simple point. Multiplayer-based games are not DRM.

    The massive problem with this DRM, aside from the inherently flaky nature of 'always on' internet, is that its a 100% requirement for the single player game. That is whats unacceptable.

    Oh and BTW, seeing as you clearly do not use Steam, the service has an offline mode. That means you can be 'offline' and still play your games. That is why the Steam service allows you to access your games, whenever you want. Is that clear enough?

    Discussion is fine but attempting to put any positive spin on this frankly outrageous DRM , does not and will not ever make it 'ok'.
    Edited by 1 at 11/04/10 @ 23:23

  • kentmonkey #149 2 years ago

    What you're not getting, and what you're not even acknowledging, is that people want to play when they're not connected to the web.

    I often play on the laptop without it connected to the web, as I don't see the point in having the router on when I'm not using it. I couldn't game on the train, something many commuters do every morning. I also couldn't game if I didn't have internet (a problem in some areas of Kent, where even new builds can't get anything more than 0.5mb broadband due to the cabling, and have to therefore connect at 0.5mb or pay for expensive wireless/satellite options).

    I have a friend who is an extremely avid gamer - she used to be a games journalist for a while. She has moved into one of these properties and doesn't pay to have internet at home as it's not worth it to her for 0.5mb. She does everything she needs to do at work on the internet. She has been incredibly vocal about the DRM to me as it has ruled out Ubisoft games for her.

    My nephew, 11 years old, will not be able to play these games as he isn't allowed internet in his room. He can use the internet in the living room, but that's it.

    You seem to think that if somebody doesn't have internet connection they're not worth bothering with. You'll be surprised at the amount of people that, if they don't have broadband, at the very least want to play when they're not connected, and this DRM is restricting that choice.

    That's what people are talking about when they say it is restrictive and they can't play when they choose.

  • bad09 #150 2 years ago

    "seems like people get upset if you have a different opinion to them, i thought that was the whole point of discussion forums?"

    Well when you post crap like you normally do what do you expect Smelly? You come in calling everyone pirates (which you do EVERY Ubi DRM article), and say SINGLE PLAYER games are the same as MMOs (although why you think people can play MMOs offline is...well strange).

    MW2 also has single player I can play it no problem offline, again I do not see where you are going comparing SP to MP or MMOs. I only play AvP or L4D online these days (3 games) if my connection goes and I can't play MP what do I do? That's right I play single player...shame I can't do that with Ubi. Seriously I'm moving to a rather choppy connection in a few weeks and like hell I'd waste money on SP games I can't play or keeps getting interrupted.

    And Smelly like it or not people ARE having problems. Whether with servers, downtime, hackers or their own connection. Saying they don't won't change the fact that many factors are stopping people play single player games they paid hard earned money for. That is unacceptable and I find it unbelievable ANY PC gamer can seriously defend Ubi.

    Do you even game on PC out of curiosity Smelly? I ask as before this DRM I only ever saw you post on how great your Wii is and how the brown FPS consoles are for kiddies.
    Edited by 1 at 11/04/10 @ 23:28

  • smelly #151 2 years ago

    @kentmonkey - but without an internet connection at all, you wont be able to play steam games (which has been touted on this thread numerous times as being a better way to do it), download patches, etc. But i do see your point - and i accept that.


    @george Rooper - "You seem unable to grasp a simple point. Multiplayer-based games are not DRM. "

    Of course not. But there's also a reason why multiplayer pc games sell better than single player ones which can be easily pirated .
    Edited by 1 at 11/04/10 @ 23:28

  • George-Roper #152 2 years ago

    @Smelly

    Of course not. But there's also a reason why multiplayer pc games sell better than single player ones which can be easily pirated .

    Where did you pull that little fact from, then? I've recently wrapped up Mass Effect 2 and Just Cause 2. Two single player games, both of which rode (riding) high on the charts. Where's the evidence that MP games sell better than SP games?

    It seems to me that you're still continuing to get MP games and DRM confused.

  • smelly #153 2 years ago

    Best selling pc games of 2009 follows (from edge-online). Note that sims 3 required online registration to get past it's drm, as did spore (rememeber when everyone moaned about the drm in that?).

    Apart from those the remaining top ten either are online or have online as the major selling point.

    01. The Sims 3
    02. World Of Warcraft: Wrath Of The Lich King
    03. The Sims 2 Double Deluxe
    04. World Of Warcraft: Battle Chest
    05. Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
    06. World Of Warcraft
    07. The Sims 3: World Adventures
    08. Spore
    09. Dragon Age: Origins
    10. Empire: Total War


    Now i UNDERSTAND that online play isnt drm... But there's a good reason why single player experiences which dont have any online play dont sell on the pc, and that's because they're easy to pirate, and have no restrictions. If MW2 had no online component and was just a REALLY good single player game, i doubt it wouldve sold a small percentage of as many. Obviously i have no proof to this, but time and time again - single player only pc games TEND TO (with exceptions) bomb commercially, whereas ones with online play which are harder to play online with a pirated version TEND TO sell well.

    My point being here is that by forcing you online for single player games and if they manage to make it so pirates cant bypass it (it's possible - no-ones cracked ps3 games yet!), then that WILL increase sales.

  • George-Roper #154 2 years ago

    @Smelly

    01. The Sims 3
    02. World Of Warcraft: Wrath Of The Lich King
    03. The Sims 2 Double Deluxe
    04. World Of Warcraft: Battle Chest
    05. Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
    06. World Of Warcraft
    07. The Sims 3: World Adventures
    08. Spore
    09. Dragon Age: Origins
    10. Empire: Total War

    01. The Sims 3 - SP Mode
    02. World Of Warcraft: Wrath Of The Lich King - MMO - Online Only
    03. The Sims 2 Double Deluxe - SP Mode
    04. World Of Warcraft: Battle Chest - SP Mode
    05. Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 - SP Mode
    06. World Of Warcraft - MMO - Online Only
    07. The Sims 3: World Adventures - SP Mode
    08. Spore - SP Mode
    09. Dragon Age: Origins - SP Only
    10. Empire: Total War - SP Mode

    Apart from WoW and WotLK, almost all of the above have single player modes and one is SP only. You cannot state that all those with a SP and MP component were bought purely for MP, because you have zero proof.

    Only one on that list is very likely and thats MW2 but even that had a SP component and there are plenty of people that will have gone for that. I did.

    So, of that 10 you've listed, only 1 supports your point. That's hardly compelling, is it....

  • Sunyavadin #155 2 years ago

    I also couldn't game if I didn't have internet (a problem in some areas of Kent, where even new builds can't get anything more than 0.5mb broadband due to the cabling, and have to therefore connect at 0.5mb or pay for expensive wireless/satellite options).

    Made worse by the fact that they CUT from the (preventing britain from developing a)digital economy bill the ONLY good thing - namely the tax of LESS THAN 14p PER WEEK on phone lines (That's LESS than most providers raise your bill by every year anyway) which would have paid for installing broadband to these areas which private companies will NEVER run broadband to as it's not profitable enough...
    Edited by 1 at 12/04/10 @ 05:30

  • smelly #156 2 years ago

    >Apart from WoW and WotLK, almost all of the above have single player modes

    I didnt say they didnt. I said that most of them have strong online components, which is why sold well. Without the online components and ONLY the single player - then imho they would've been pirated and sold badly.

    As I stated, MW2 (For example) isnt bought for it's single player (if you did - you'd be pissed off once you beat it in a few hours), it's bought for it's multiplayer. If it only had single player mode, like (say) prince of persia - then i'm pretty convinced it would've sold badly.

    Not many of the games in that top 10 were pure single player experiences - with the exception of perhaps sims.
    Edited by 1 at 12/04/10 @ 05:53

  • Bloody-Hell #157 2 years ago

    Well, I for one am not supporting that DRM method by not buying any of their titles anymore until that DRM is dumped again.
    CD and DVD Media checking was ok, I could just "patch that away", but this is going too far.
    Even if you may have the most perfect internet line on this planet with a 100% availability QOS - UbiSoft's servers are down, unreachable or overloaded at least 10 times a day during which you can not play and even if these outages may just be in the seconds time-range the game hangs up or you'll be dropped to the desktop losing all your progress and there's no way to play games offline anymore.

    I surely would have bought "Silent Hunter 5", "Assassin's Creed 2", "Settlers7", "Splinter Cell - Conviction" and "R.U.S.E", because I'm a PC gamer at heart and love games, but not under these DRM restrictions.
    Vote with your wallet and let UbiSoft know that you are not going to put up with such a protection scheme and spread the word as wide as you can - There's way too many people buying their new DRM protected titles, not knowing that this is ruining PC gaming.

    The server emulators (reaction from the cracker scene) for these new DRM protected games is starting to take shape slowly and it won't take much longer and all their titles will be playable offline simply by emulating UbiSoft's server responses on the own PC by launching a small program before the main game, so on the long run (again) only the legal buying customers will be the ones who will be suffering under UbiSoft's server outages and restrictions of the DRM.

    Stardock and many other companies and Indie developers show us that games without any copy protection at all sell just as well, if not better, than unnecessarily complicatedly protected titles.
    What developers and publishers have to realise is that releasing the same generic game clone (shooter, racing, strategy, ... game) every year and dropping support shortly after release is not going to motivate a lot of people to spend their hard earned money on.
    If they would focus on quality titles with long ongoing support, mod-ability and building a strong community, I'd think they would sell a whole lot more than by milking series' dry by their names and investing more time, money and development resources into copy protection and marketing than the actual game itself.

    Sorry about the long comment, I had to vent this out.

  • login_name #158 2 years ago

    seems like people get upset if you have a different opinion to them, i thought that was the whole point of discussion forums?

    People got upset because you claimed they were thieves (and later, thoughtless morons). Any point you tried to make after that was lost. Next time, don't come into a comment thread insulting people and maybe you would get a better response.

  • gmjapan #159 2 years ago

    I was indecisive about getting some of these games but the DRM has made up my mind to just not go there. This DRM goes too far. Its affecting how I make decisions on spending my money for gaming. It really is that simple for me.

  • ChaK #160 2 years ago

    maybe next time ubi sorry.

    You ruin anything you touch anyway, splinter, rainbow 6, ghost recon...

    no money for you

  • smelly #161 2 years ago

    Quote : "Well, I for one am not supporting that DRM method by not buying any of their titles anymore until that DRM is dumped again. "

    Good call.. Make sure you also bitch and moan when the latest games stop appearing on the pc...


  • George-Roper #162 2 years ago

    @Smelly

    Good call.. Make sure you also bitch and moan when the latest games stop appearing on the pc...

    But only games made by Ubi, unless other publishers see this DRM as a 'success' due to witless retards blindly buying into essentially loaning their single player games. In which case they copy it and kick off the PCpocalypse.

    Resistance has to start somewhere, or would you be happy to stumble into DRM that actually affects you next time? Perhaps the inability to play Blu Rays unless the players are 'online' 100% of the time? Where does it end, Smelly?

  • summitus #163 2 years ago

    As alot of other people have said ... " Fuck Ubisoft " , and anyone that buys their shit is basically taking up the Ass,

    sadly thought there will still be a shit load of fucking Ubisoft dimwit sycophantic fanboys that will take any sized shit stick that shoved up their Ass's.............

  • Barra1 #164 2 years ago

    @ Ubisoft

    I just registered on this website to tell you that I own over a dozen Ubisoft titles bought before DRM. Now I would like to take those dozen titles and shove them up your ass one by one sideways. You guys suck and I will never buy another Ubisoft title ever again, and frankly I am sorry I ever did. Rot in hell you bastards!

  • antidrm #165 2 years ago

    They apparently do not love gamers but only love the money. I have bought games since my first PC in 1995 and have spent thousands on games. I have never downloaded a pirate game but I am being treated as a potential criminal. They do not trust me. Pc gaming is being strangled by this DRM. If you love games then don't buy DRM games, fight back and hit them where it hurts. Spread the word guys and lets kill this thing.
    Edited by 1 at 16/04/10 @ 19:14