Poll: Ubisoft DRM Petition

[Woodsey]

I think its fair to say that anyone who plays games on the PC has had a run-in with DRM that pisses the experience up the wall. No doubt, even if you haven't had said experience, you will have heard of Ubisoft's new DRM.

Although a petition didn't do much good with Activision/IW, this DRM is too far; a great number of people, myself thankfully not being one of them, suffer poor connection to the 'net. The game will be destroyed for these people, dropping them out of the game time and time again.

So, I am seriously considering putting together a petition (or getting someone else too), but I would like a "show of hands" to see who on here would sign it. I'd also like to say to console-exclusive gamers that, even though it doesn't affect you, you should be able to see the injustice of gamers willing to pay for their games being treated like the criminals. Hopefully, some of you would sign as well.

Here's the link to the PCG blog if you've missed the shit storm: http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=235290

EDIT: I've got the petition page open at the minute, I'll start filling it in soon. If anyone's got some good ideas on what to say and how to structure the petition statement, that'd be great.

EDIT NO. 2:

This is the petition statement, any changes/amendments that people would like to see then just quote me:

Dear Ubisoft Entertainment,

This petition has been created in response to the recent announcement of your DRM system, which will be used for all future PC games published by your studios.

Whilst the creation of this DRM is understandable, the method's by which it will counter piracy will only alienate those ready, willing and able to purchase your games through legal means. By using the planned version of DRM, people will likely not by games they wanted to, or simply pirate them. The latter not only harms Ubisoft, but PC gaming as a whole; something we don't wish to see.

Therefore, we ask:

1) That you seriously revise how the DRM works; in singeplayer games (such as the soon to be released Assassin's Creed 2) an internet connection should not be constantly required.

2) You look at other DRM functions of the past (by yourself and other companies) and see how easily they are broken by pirates, whilst legal gamers must suffer through servers going down, logins not working correctly, etc.

I would hope that those in charge of this DRM first take note of this petition, as well as the many articles published across the internet and the general response said articles have received.

EDIT: The petition is now active, here's the link:http://www.petitiononline.com/ew15dl94/petition.html

Send it to others, spread it around. We can at least try!

ANOTHER EDIT: If anyone has a Ubisoft forums account, please go to the AC forums and post the link to the petition in the relevant thread. I would but both my emails have been used but I can't remember my logins or passwords (d'oh!).

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

How often do these petitions really work?

Answer: Rarely, if ever. People even sign petitions for game sequels and remakes to be made. And they never work.

 

[FactualSquirrel]

Well, I'm a mainly console centric gamer, and most of my ubisoft titles are on consoles.

However, I shall still sign it, as the limited experience with DRM have been insufferable.

 

[Woodsey]

How often do these petitions really work?

Answer: Rarely, if ever. People even sign petitions for game sequels and remakes to be made. And they never work.

You're right, they rarely work.

But I think I've seen about 500 comments across 3 articles on this, telling Ubisoft they can go fuck themselves.

If there was a proper way to contact them, I'd do that as well.

 

[More Fun To Compute]

It might be a way to make more people aware of the DRM so I'm not against it.

 

[Kaymish]

of course i would sign the petition though its more likely that Ubisoft will not understand even if we vote with our wallets and not buy Ass2

 

[Ninjamedic]

Woodsey the ps3 side is with ya

I'll sign it, definitely. It won't do anything, but fuck it, I'm angry.

My plan is to wait until the DRM has been cracked, buy it legally, and bypass the DRM with a crack.

It's semi-illegal, but I wouldn't play that game normally, not with my internet connection.

Put a notice on the irish brigade, we have the amber line of death after all.

 

[Woodsey]

of course i would sign the petition though its more likely that Ubisoft will not understand even if we vote with our wallets and not buy Ass2

Yes; the problem I see with people just not buying it is then they'll say "well no one wants to buy our games on PC so we won't make them for the PC".

 

[Killerbunny001]

I`m signing too. The developers should understand that there is a limit to EULA. And once I purchase something I want to enjoy it with as little restrain from the developers as possible.

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

How often do these petitions really work?

Answer: Rarely, if ever. People even sign petitions for game sequels and remakes to be made. And they never work.

You're right, they rarely work.

But I think I've seen about 500 comments across 3 articles on this, telling Ubisoft they can go fuck themselves.

If there was a proper way to contact them, I'd do that as well.

Get a plane ticket. Fly to Ubisoft HQ. All for the low, low price of...whatever round trip airfare is to wherever the HQ is.

 

[Dys]

No, I wouldn't sign it, I'll simply vote with my wallet and continue not buying their games on PC (they've always been stupid with DRM).

 

[destroyer2k]

I am a pc gamer and I don't care. Ubisoft doesn't do anymore good pc games.

 

[Ninjamedic]

of course i would sign the petition though its more likely that Ubisoft will not understand even if we vote with our wallets and not buy Ass2

Yes; the problem I see with people just not buying it is then they'll say "well no one wants to buy our games on PC so we won't make them for the PC".

Unless you got the support of the console side, which you do.

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

of course i would sign the petition though its more likely that Ubisoft will not understand even if we vote with our wallets and not buy Ass2

Yes; the problem I see with people just not buying it is then they'll say "well no one wants to buy our games on PC so we won't make them for the PC".

That's probably what'll happen. Piracy has already made a huge cut PC sales. Hell, we should be thankful that ANYTHING still comes out on PC.

Besides, PC gamers (and I'm one, to an extent, with my shitty PC, and a ton of adventure games from Steam), are the minority now.

 

[Tethalaki]

I'm a PC Gamer.

I wouldn't sign a petition for this*. Ubisoft, in my own opinion, haven't made any good PC Games nor do they have any semi-interesting ones in production. Infact they screwed up one of my favourite series (Heroes of Might and Magic) - so for all I care, Ubisoft can go bankrupt.

* I also don't believe that this will set a new standard in the industry.

 

[Woodsey]

of course i would sign the petition though its more likely that Ubisoft will not understand even if we vote with our wallets and not buy Ass2

Yes; the problem I see with people just not buying it is then they'll say "well no one wants to buy our games on PC so we won't make them for the PC".

That's probably what'll happen. Piracy has already made a huge cut PC sales. Hell, we should be thankful that ANYTHING still comes out on PC.

Besides, PC gamers (and I'm one, to an extent, with my shitty PC, and a ton of adventure games from Steam), are the minority now.

Minority in which way?

That's a pretty tough thing to judge if you're basing it on sales, and Steam increased 25% in its user-base last year.

And, even if you don't think it'll work, it can't hurt just typing out your name can it?

You never know.

 

[yoyo13rom]

Stupid DRM like this make pirating an alternative. It's really ironic because their purpose is to stop pirating.
Let me explain: normal people have to suffer the DRM wrath for nothing, and pirates take that shit down in several days/weeks, and have no f***ing problem with the protection protocols.

So I ask you, what does a pissed of gamer do?
A) Buys the game and keeps sucking the b**ls of the game empire, but can sleep good at night knowing he didn't do anything immoral.
or
B)Pirates the game, gets all the fun free of charge and with no headaches from the DMR, and shows a huge protesting finger to the corporate mammoths.

It's ironic and sad.

OT: I'll sign the petition, even though the chances of it doing anything significant are null.

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

of course i would sign the petition though its more likely that Ubisoft will not understand even if we vote with our wallets and not buy Ass2

Yes; the problem I see with people just not buying it is then they'll say "well no one wants to buy our games on PC so we won't make them for the PC".

That's probably what'll happen. Piracy has already made a huge cut PC sales. Hell, we should be thankful that ANYTHING still comes out on PC.

Besides, PC gamers (and I'm one, to an extent, with my shitty PC, and a ton of adventure games from Steam), are the minority now.

Minority in which way?

That's a pretty tough thing to judge if you're basing it on sales, and Steam increased 25% in its user-base last year.

And, even if you don't think it'll work, it can't hurt just typing out your name can it?

You never know.

Give me a minute to find one that includes digital distribution sales. Until then:

http://forum.pcvsconsole.com/viewthread.php?tid=15831

for now, look at the 1.4 Billion of pc game spending in 2005 vs the 10.3 billion on consoles in 2005.

 

[Rednog]

I'll sign it, definitely. It won't do anything, but fuck it, I'm angry.

My plan is to wait until the DRM has been cracked, buy it legally, and bypass the DRM with a crack.

It's semi-illegal, but I wouldn't play that game normally, not with my internet connection.

I'm going the opposite route of this, I think while yours is a better alternative, having them sell a PC copy just proves to them that people will tolerate and buy it, they don't know you are bypassing their stupid check.
I bought a brand new 360 version for full price and I plan just to grab a pirated PC version when it comes out...though in retrospect it also encourages them to ignore the PC and continue creating for consoles...hmmm.

 

[Woodsey]

of course i would sign the petition though its more likely that Ubisoft will not understand even if we vote with our wallets and not buy Ass2

Yes; the problem I see with people just not buying it is then they'll say "well no one wants to buy our games on PC so we won't make them for the PC".

That's probably what'll happen. Piracy has already made a huge cut PC sales. Hell, we should be thankful that ANYTHING still comes out on PC.

Besides, PC gamers (and I'm one, to an extent, with my shitty PC, and a ton of adventure games from Steam), are the minority now.

Minority in which way?

That's a pretty tough thing to judge if you're basing it on sales, and Steam increased 25% in its user-base last year.

And, even if you don't think it'll work, it can't hurt just typing out your name can it?

You never know.

Give me a minute to find one that includes digital distribution sales. Until then:

http://forum.pcvsconsole.com/viewthread.php?tid=15831

for now, look at the 1.4 Billion of pc game spending in 2005 vs the 10.3 billion on consoles in 2005.

They're physical units, aren't they?

I think you'll find it pretty hard to find online sales figures.

Anyway, just because we're the minority doesn't mean we don't matter, nor does it mean they don't make money from us.