Hacker Group Claims Real Ubisoft DRM Crack

[goldenheart323]

This reminds me of blu-ray having "uncrackable" copy protection. Of course, that was cracked quickly too. They still try to make it "better", but that just means a lot of players need firmware updates. Avatar is the latest BD movie to wreak havoc on BD consumers. The movie came out before some of the firmware updates, so a lot of people couldn't watch it when they got home. They had to wait a few days.

As far as pirates and pirating and DRM: All I need to know is will the product function as it should. If it doesn't, if lots of people have problems with it, if I have to jump through technical hoops, I'm not going to buy the product. I think everyone is like that when you boil everything down.

 

[Arachon]

[HEADING=1]CRACKERS OR PIRATES, NOT HACKERS![/HEADING]
You media people make us hackers dislike you slightly when you say so.
Crackers are evil law-breakers who use computers to gain access to things they shouldn't ("cracking" an administrator password as an example.)
Hackers are law abiding (although radical-thinking) citizens who just likes to mess with computers.

Well... There's Hackers and then there's Hackers, if I manage to gain remote access to your system through an exploit or whatever, I'm a Hacker, the moment I touch or destroy anything, I become a Cracker.

Then there's Hackers who are pretty much "free-thinking programmers", often connected to the Free Software movement.

Skid Row are well... Password crackers at best, not hackers or "real" black hat Crackers.

 

[Kelethor]

No skid row, thank you for making Ubisoft realize that such stupid and incredibly annoying DRM is needed to at least try (fail, mind you) but try to stop idiots like you from taking things you don't deserve.

and now, im suddenly happy not being a PC gamer.

 

[Andy Chalk]

It really amazes me how far people will reach to justify happiness as a commodity.

And Ubisoft owes you happiness?

Posting panacea arguments about what videogame publishers "should" do and how games have no tangible value means nothing. People who pirates games do so because they don't want to pay for them. There's nothing more noble to it than that.

 

[Andy Chalk]

And Valve has been very outspoken saying DRM is a waste of time and effort, you need to offer the consumer some reason to get it on PC, not a reason against it. Steam may be DRM in the strictest sense, but it is also a perfect example of giving us more.

I'm not sure what this "in the strictest sense" business is about. Steam is DRM. Valve has done a fantastic job of selling it and it may be a more palatable form of DRM, but it's DRM nonetheless.

If you're completely against DRM on principle, then Steam is on that list. If you're okay with Steam, then you're okay with game publishers using technological measures to protect their IP. At that point, you're somewhere in the middle ground and maybe that's the point at which it's possible for people to start talking about this like grown-ups.

 

[Cynical skeptic]

It really amazes me how far people will reach to justify happiness as a commodity.

And Ubisoft owes you happiness?

Posting panacea arguments about what videogame publishers "should" do and how games have no tangible value means nothing. People who pirates games do so because they don't want to pay for them. There's nothing more noble to it than that.

You say all that like its a bad thing. Ubisoft doesn't owe anyone anything, but no one owes them anything either. If it's okay for ubisoft to demand money up front for products who's quality has become increasingly suspect, its okay for people to bypass the man with his hand out and try the product themselves. Its then up to the person whether they feel the product is worth the sticker price. The fact publishers are continually incorporating systems to prevent this type of action only serves to make me (at least) suspicious.

Also, there is a functional difference between corporate run digital distribution and simple DRM. The fact some games (perplexedly) have out-of-the-box steam tie-ins may blur the line a slight bit, but its still clearly defined. The functional difference being the placement of logins, online activations, and CD-key checks before buying a game. You log into steam, "Congratulations! you are not a criminal! Would you like to exchange currency for video games?" While DRM schemes usually pop up every step of the way after you've already laid down the sticker price and passing them successfully is a crapshoot.

Ubisoft deserves the guillotine for directly integrating DRM into gameplay... I mean, after the amount of heads that rolled the last time PC games tried that crap, they should've just known.

 

[Andy Chalk]

That "argument" is nothing but a value judgment. You don't get to say what's "okay" for people to do based on what companies do with their product. As always, there's nothing more to this than an overinflated sense of entitlement.

The Steam argument is tired and dull. "Steam isn't DRM" is the cry of people who reflexively knee-jerk against DRM but at the same time can't quite bring themselves to take Valve down off the pedestal. You know why games have out-of-the-box Steam? Because people are all too happy to let Steam dial home without a word of complaint. That's just great salesmanship at work.

 

[MercenaryCanary]

While this is the first traditional crack that has surfaced (And it is legit- Skidrow is tied for first as the leading cracking group), the game has been completable for weeks, albeit though server emulation, which is a little tricker than normal to set up.

I would like to point out the legit customers are STILL suffering through this horrible inconvenience, while everyone that was going to pirate it have only been delayed by this. Sure, Ubi gets a few more sales (VERY few), but realistically, pissing off all your customers, loosing gamer good will, and putting ridiculous amounts of cash into creating an inventive new DRM scheme can't possibly made it up, considering they will have to keep the servers running 24/7 FOREVER in order for people to continue playing the game. Not to mention the fact that it probably lost them more sales then it got them, considering the bad reputation the game has gotten as a direct result of this.

Words of wisdom by a ridiculously sensible person.
You really should send an e-mail the the head of Ubisoft, just to see how they'd respond.

 

[Motiv_]

I neither condone nor condemn piracy. There are times where it's actually useful, I.E lose a game disc, or in the case of Mercenaries 2 or Assassin's Creed 2, the developers give paying customers a very big "Fuck you".

I bought a legitimate copy of Mercenaries 2, and loved the co-op. I played it next to daily, until the servers were shut off. So now, I play on a cracked server. Does that make me a criminal? I hope not, I think I'm just enjoying my game that I paid money for.

It also annoys me how people treat pirates, generally speaking. I've seen responses along the lines of "I hope they die a horrible painful death" or "They are some of the lowest pieces of human filth I've ever seen, in rank with murderers or rapists." Really guys? You're comparing pirates to murderers? Really?

There are sides and points to every argument. No one is exactly right, and no one is exactly wrong. So stop acting like your side is completely right and every opinion that comes along is just wrong.

 

[Jennacide]

And Valve has been very outspoken saying DRM is a waste of time and effort, you need to offer the consumer some reason to get it on PC, not a reason against it. Steam may be DRM in the strictest sense, but it is also a perfect example of giving us more.

I'm not sure what this "in the strictest sense" business is about. Steam is DRM. Valve has done a fantastic job of selling it and it may be a more palatable form of DRM, but it's DRM nonetheless.

If you're completely against DRM on principle, then Steam is on that list. If you're okay with Steam, then you're okay with game publishers using technological measures to protect their IP. At that point, you're somewhere in the middle ground and maybe that's the point at which it's possible for people to start talking about this like grown-ups.

Steam is DRM for all of 30 seconds for any game you own. It validates it onto your account info, and never again checks. It's basically taking the old serials DRM and making it modern. But comparing it to the oppresive SecuROM or downright draconian Ubisoft DRM does it injustice. My point is people don't think of it as DRM for the most part, because it has so many features packed into it that you forget it even does that tiny little account validation. Not to mention it has no limitations on how you use it. Get a new computer or buy a laptop for travel? That's fine, Steam doesn't care. SecuROM does. And while Ubisoft's DRM won't care about the new computer, don't plan on playing your games while traveling, that is a no-no because you might be a pirate! Even though it's verified the game 12 times in the last 20 minutes. You could drop connection and suddenly be a pirate.

I understand the company's urge to protect thier material, but it goes back to my original point. Don't inconvience the consumer for fear they are a pirate. The pirates never need to deal with this crap, only the pirate groups do like Skid Row. Ubisoft thinks they won cause it took a month to break, but the pirates didn't magically give up and say "hey, no crack yet, guess I'll buy it." they continued to be greedy little buggers and ripped off other games while waiting for said crack. Which finally came.

 

[Cynical skeptic]

That "argument" is nothing but a value judgment. You don't get to say what's "okay" for people to do based on what companies do with their product. As always, there's nothing more to this than an overinflated sense of entitlement.

The Steam argument is tired and dull. "Steam isn't DRM" is the cry of people who reflexively knee-jerk against DRM but at the same time can't quite bring themselves to take Valve down off the pedestal. You know why games have out-of-the-box Steam? Because people are all too happy to let Steam dial home without a word of complaint. That's just great salesmanship at work.

Actually a lot of people are/were pissed about out-of-the-box steam tie-ins. As its insulting when a company starts instantly assuming you're a pirate, even after you've bought their game. Not to mention if they wanted steam, they would have already bought it through steam.

As for that first part, I'll clarify for you. Never trust a salesman.

 

[almostgold]

We just make their lifes [sic] easier.

Bullshit.

 

[Cynical skeptic]

Also, there is a functional difference between corporate run digital distribution and simple DRM....

Yes there is, there's also a difference between simple digital distribution and corporate run DRM. You're just mincing words and steam is DRM, it was originally introduced as DRM, and only has digital distribution because otherwise Valve would've gone under by now. You're raving against Ubisoft's intrusive DRM when Steam is just as bad, sure Steam looks nicer and has built in X-Fire, but anyone that tells me something which launches itself every time I want to play a game and phones home isn't DRM is a fucking liar.

I'm sorry, I wasn't aware steam kicked you out of games if your internet connection stuttered and forced all saves online. I'm also saddened to hear of the passing of steam's "offline" mode.

Steam is DRM in the sense piracy is theft. It takes extensive mental gymnastics to argue something without tangibly definable value can be stolen. "Because they said so" isn't a valid reason for anything.

Walking into a store and laying down money should be all the proof anyone needs that you are not a criminal. Which is exactly how steam works. Attempting to argue steam is DRM is the same as attempting to argue the little anti-shoplifting sensors on the entrance to your local retailer are also DRM... and the law enforcement officers who are summoned when you attempt to take a game through those sensors without first paying are also DRM. Or that arcade tokens and the physical weight of arcade games are also DRM. That mall cops are DRM... Its an statement that eventually has you arguing that capitalism in general is DRM.

 

[Whistler777]

Yes! The SKiDROWdies win again!

Honestly, Ubisoft, you never stood a chance against The Leading Force.

 

[Andy Chalk]

Steam is DRM in the sense piracy is theft. It takes extensive mental gymnastics to argue something without tangibly definable value can be stolen. "Because they said so" isn't a valid reason for anything.

Sounds like you're arguing that there's no difference between stealing a $100 bill and a blank page from a Post-It pad.

It's also interesting to hear you say that "Because I said so" isn't a valid reason for anything when that's the whole of your reason for denying that Steam is DRM.

 

[Cynical skeptic]

Multiple parties and systems agree upon and dictate the value of legal tender.

Publishers just dictate "big rigs" is worth [whatever]. Games have value before first hand experience the same way a post-it note with "iou" written on it has value. If the consumer doesn't trust [big publisher] to provide an experience worth $60-$120, then their products have no value until proven otherwise. No, reviews, videos, screencaps, demos and all the other horseshit people have come to confuse with reliable information do not count. Not even user reviews count, as most users can't formulate opinions beyond love/hate.

I've also explained multiple times and multiple ways in which steam is intrinsically different than out-of-the-box DRM schemes such as securom, tages, starforce, and ubisoft's folly. Encouraging further anti-steam quibbling would serve nothing.

 

[Haloperidol]

Oh thank God. I was just about to buy a 360 but now I guess I don't have to. Thank you Skidrow, you just saved me 300 bucks