Ubisoft Says Always-On DRM, "A Success"

[The Wooster]

Ubisoft Says Always-On DRM, "A Success"

Ubisoft's controversial "Always-On" DRM scheme has been dubbed "a success" by an Ubisoft representative.

The rep, talking to PC Gamer [http://www.pcgamer.com/2011/07/28/ubisoft-our-drm-is-a-success/], went on to say that Ubisoft has seen "a clear reduction in piracy of our titles which required a persistent online connection."

Ubisoft's DRM scheme, which requires players to be connected to an authentication server at all times while playing a game, was first introduced with Settlers 7 [http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=settlers+7&x=0&y=0] before being implemented in several high profile titles including Assassin's Creed 2 [http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=settlers+7&x=0&y=0#/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=assassins+creed+2&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Aassassins+creed+2], it did not, however, make an appearance in Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood [http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=settlers+7&x=0&y=0#/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=assassins+creed+brotherhood&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Aassassins+creed+brotherhood]. Just this morning, Ubisoft announced that the PC version of the upcoming Driver: San Francisco [http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=settlers+7&x=0&y=0#/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=driver+san+francisco&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Adriver+san+francisco] will also be using the same system [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/111915-Ubisofts-Always-On-DRM-Is-Back-In-Driver-San-Francisco]. The fan response to the DRM scheme has been, shall we say, unenthusiastic.

The chief argument against Ubisoft's particular system is that gamers have no direct control over their internet connections. A service outage, either on the player's end or on Ubisoft's, [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/98927-Ubisoft-DRM-Authentication-Servers-Go-Down] can leave a customer without access to a product they've paid for. Many argue that rascally pirate-types simply avoid or remove the DRM altogether, meaning the only people inconvenienced by the system are legitimate customers. Several developers, including Capcom and CD Projekt, have pulled DRM from their games in response to fan criticism.

Ubisoft hasn't detailed exactly where it's getting its numbers regarding game piracy (though it warms my heart to imagine idiot pirates filling out questionnaires. "Do you steal our games? Y/N") so it's hard to make any judgement calls regarding the "success" of the system, at least from a numerical standpoint. It is, however, worth noting that popular torrent site The Pirate Bay, lists a copy of Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, minus DRM, as one of its most popular PC game downloads.

Source: PC Gamer [http://www.pcgamer.com/2011/07/28/ubisoft-our-drm-is-a-success/]

Permalink

 

[MetroidNut]

THE STUPID IT BURNS

Oh, and the injustice burns, too. They're essentially saying, "You have no internet and want to play our games? HAHA FUCK YOU"

 

[ddq5]

Fail.

That's really all I can say. If they consider their terrible, draconian DRM system a "success", Ubisoft clearly exists on some other plane of reality where consumers are treated like criminals and owls can juggle Honda Civics.

 

[fanklok]

"Insane DRM reduces piracy" which seems strange considering that they probably count each legit purchaser that went DRM free piracy.

 

[tzimize]

Fail.

That's really all I can say. If they consider their terrible, draconian DRM system a "success", Ubisoft clearly exists on some other plane of reality where consumers are treated like criminals and owls can juggle Honda Civics.

Hehe! I had a hoot imagining the owls.

OT: Nothing special. A sigh in Ubisofts general direction.

 

[Sonicron]

So basically they've decided to stick their fingers in their ears and go "lalalalalala" for the rest of their lives?

 

[kyogen]

Always-on drm is a success: it has successfully persuaded me to stop buying Ubisoft products entirely. They don't care, of course, so fair's fair.

 

[teqrevisited]

At first I wasn't interested. Now I'm going to avoid it like the plague.

 

[Twilight_guy]

You know what I want to see? an actual discussion of what this DRM means. I've seen lots of people who instantly sputter a gut reaction and condemn it immediately but that's incredibly short sighted. There are lots of issues to discuss here, not the lest of which is why people hate it so much (and don't give me that crap about you just hate DRM or your internet connection sucks there is more to it and you know it). I want to know why people keep blasting DRM and why stories keep getting put it. Its not about simply hating the thing, this is on the level of a zealot crusade and I want to know why. As far as I'm concerned though, it's never going to happen because people are just too angry to talk all they can do is yell. Ah well, maybe DRM should treat use like means spirited children, we sure act like it.

 

[Dr. Pepper Unlimited]

A self-proclaimed success I might add. As far as my little inner circle goes, none of my friends, including myself, bought anything DRM-related after Ubisoft pulled that stunt. That's several hundred dollars lost just right there. It might not speak for the world as a whole, but I'm sure many followed suit to some degree. So...if by working, they mean it's not working, then I agree.

 

[Low Key]

Here's the deal Ubi, you are driving people away from your games.

The result is the same if someone pirates your game or if they don't pirate your game. You get $0 unless that person actually buys it. So while your games might see less piracy, you're not seeing greater sales.

So just because pirates don't feel it's worth their bandwidth to download your games, don't go thinking your DRM is a success.

 

[The Wooster]

You know what I want to see? an actual discussion of what this DRM means. I've seen lots of people who instantly sputter a gut reaction and condemn it immediately but that's incredibly short sighted. There are lots of issues to discuss here, not the lest of which is why people hate it so much (and don't give me that crap about you just hate DRM or your internet connection sucks there is more to it and you know it). I want to know why people keep blasting DRM and why stories keep getting put it. Its not about simply hating the thing, this is on the level of a zealot crusade and I want to know why. As far as I'm concerned though, it's never going to happen because people are just too angry to talk all they can do is yell. Ah well, maybe DRM should treat use like means spirited children, we sure act like it.

DRM is a pretty wide reaching term but usually when users condemn it they're talking about specific products, like SecuROM, Starforce or Ubisoft's DRM scheme. Quite often people's opinions on DRM doesn't extend to things like Steam or Battlenet, purely because they don't recognise them as such.

 

[Herbsk]

Why do I not believe.... at all... any official statements from Ubiderp that this anti-piracy software is actually working...

Especially considering I'm sure they lose sales on PC with this odd and annoying strategy. Example: Fans burned by the DRM software on AC2 will probably be less likely to buy any titles to contain the same idiotic solution. I myself do not face this problem because I play AC games on the XBOX - but you can be damn sure I will never buy any of these games from the PC.

 

[Hiphophippo]

It HAS been a success. It successfully...wait

Always-on drm is a success: it has successfully persuaded me to stop buying Ubisoft products entirely. They don't care, of course, so fair's fair.

Yea that. That right there. While I'm only one person, I refuse to buy an Ubisoft product on PC. If I really want to play it I'll get it on console or just do without. As long as I'm being treated like a criminal they can continue to cheekily eat from the underside of my ass.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

Completely out of touch. Not just two sandviches short of a picnic, but the basket, tea-cloth and even the refreshments.

They're actively praising their most hated point. Even Kotick doesn't do that.

 

[Lt. Vinciti]

This is pretty close when Kotick payed all those high up people to say he was a nice because eh sells the games and isnt afraid of anything.


Pretty close...

 

[Low Key]

You know what I want to see? an actual discussion of what this DRM means. I've seen lots of people who instantly sputter a gut reaction and condemn it immediately but that's incredibly short sighted. There are lots of issues to discuss here, not the lest of which is why people hate it so much (and don't give me that crap about you just hate DRM or your internet connection sucks there is more to it and you know it). I want to know why people keep blasting DRM and why stories keep getting put it. Its not about simply hating the thing, this is on the level of a zealot crusade and I want to know why. As far as I'm concerned though, it's never going to happen because people are just too angry to talk all they can do is yell. Ah well, maybe DRM should treat use like means spirited children, we sure act like it.

DRM is a pretty wide reaching term but usually when users condemn it they're talking about specific products, like SecuROM, Starforce or Ubisoft's DRM scheme. Quite often people's opinions on DRM doesn't extend to things like Steam or Battlenet, purely because they don't recognise them as such.

I don't know about Battle.net, but I know at least with Steam, a person doesn't have to be online to play the games they paid for.

 

[Togusa09]

Yes... A sucess... Which is why I own RUSE, but not assasins creed II, even though I've spent longer playing the latter. I did buy HAWX 2, but that was more to do with a price drop at the time, and my not having payed for the original HAWX...

We also obviously have a different form of success for Ubisoft than for Steam. Ubisoft discourages buyers, and reduces peoples desire to transition from pirated to legitimate copies later on, where as steam game sales grow like the plague... Brought most of the games I've pirated through it over the years, and gifted people things so they start using and buying games themselves... For which the lower prices and accessability helps.

Restrive DRM vs Addictive DRM I suppose...