Ubisoft Apologizes for DRM Troubles With Free Games

[Treblaine]

Another Moment from the Madness of Ubisoft

Goon 1: Don't zeees Pirates make you so angry, non?

Goon 2: Oui, mon frere. It just makes my blood boil how even a TINY NUMBER of these pirates sink they can get our GAMES FOR FREE

Goon 1: Haw haw haw, isn't it a good sing zat we got this INCREDIBLY RESTRICTIVE DRM even though it is making our legitimate customers suffer ze most... sough, they suffer so much, what should we do to placate the masses?

Goon 2: Ahuuu, c'est simple, we give sem FREE GAMES!

Goon 1: Ahh perfect mon frere, we can justify our DRM campaign of PREVENTING PIRATES GETTING FREE COPIES OF OUR GAMES by the simply act of handing out FREE COPIES OF OUR GAMES!

...

Madness ladies and gentlemen... pure corporate psychosis. They have completely lost track of any original purpose of any Piracy Fighting aims and just trying to justify their own existence.

 

[Keava]

Have any of your people actually tried the new DRM? it's not THAT bad. I mean, I don't condone it or anything, but if it wasn't constantly scrutinised; I probably wouldn't have even noticed it was there.

It's a bad decision, but not one that ruins every single ubisoft release imo. Then again, all of my computers are connected to the internet so maybe I'm a little biased? *shrug*

Im not going to even try it. Why? Because if my internet dies, which can happen beause cables like to get cut by bored drunk kiddos (happned few times already) or any other reason i cant play the game i bought. I dont like that idea. When i get me a singleplayer game i want it to be avalible for me when im not able to connect to internet. Simple.

 

[xDHxD148L0]

Committing seppuku would also be accepted as an apology.

 

[Treblaine]

Have any of your people actually tried the new DRM? it's not THAT bad. I mean, I don't condone it or anything, but if it wasn't constantly scrutinised; I probably wouldn't have even noticed it was there.

It's a bad decision, but not one that ruins every single ubisoft release imo. Then again, all of my computers are connected to the internet so maybe I'm a little biased? *shrug*

You're new here aren't you?

...

you're not going to fit in with talk like that.

I mean you might as well go on a conservative talk show and say "have you ever actually been to China? It's pretty all right to spite the Communism"

 

[Bob_F_It]

Isn't giving free games out for server outages going to encourage denial of service attcks?

 

[Bob_F_It]

DRM acceptance cannot be bought with free games. It can however be bought with a £10k bribe.

I can imagine it:

Hi. do you want to buy our barely functioning product? We'll give you 500 times your money back if you do.

 

[Treblaine]

Have any of your people actually tried the new DRM? it's not THAT bad. I mean, I don't condone it or anything, but if it wasn't constantly scrutinised; I probably wouldn't have even noticed it was there.

It's a bad decision, but not one that ruins every single ubisoft release imo. Then again, all of my computers are connected to the internet so maybe I'm a little biased? *shrug*

Im not going to even try it. Why? Because if my internet dies, which can happen beause cables like to get cut by bored drunk kiddos (happned few times already) or any other reason i cant play the game i bought. I dont like that idea. When i get me a singleplayer game i want it to be avalible for me when im not able to connect to internet. Simple.

Your internet doesn't even have to die, Ubisoft just has to lose interest

As long as you own that game Ubisoft can pull the plug at any time or they may simply not consider it economically feasible to keep supporting the game.

What if they don't like a particular user mod... they can pull the plug. What if some religious group objects to a certain character, they can pull the plug and force a patch to remove a section of the game. What if some patent or copyright infringement forces the game to be pulled from retail, in the past you could keep the game, NO, now they have a power to take away your own god down game.

What if in re-booting the series they want to "de-emphasise" the old series and just... shut down the servers. They clearly don't give a flying fuck about consumers.

ABSOLUTELY NO OTHER MEDIA IN THE WORLD has had this kind of control by a corporation that they ever dare to sell as a product which you can "own"!!!

You haven't bought shit, you just paid for a $60 rental.

And lets not forget, even if Ubisoft hold up their end of the deal, (and why should they?) there are dozens or circumstances which won't allow "gaming" on a network. Many universities and workplaces ban it, which is acceptable but do you think they will give a damn about a technicality like "it's not multiplayer"? Especially when it uses almost the same amount of data flow!

OK, one common problem is the internet gets slow and buggy and the only solution is to reset the router... that crashes the fucking game. Most people have WIFI! All the time the signal gets interrupted by all sorts of interference, it's not like there is a solid connection.

 

[DarkSaber]

Isn't giving free games out for server outages going to encourage denial of service attcks?

Best comment by far!

 

[squid5580]

So Ubi how is that DRM thing workin out for you? Getting those record profits since you have ended piracy for your games? Oh and speaking of piracy how much have you made off of them? Enough to cover the free games you are giving everyone because of your DRM that stops piracy?

Now what is that taste in my mouth?? Oh I know it's IRONY.

 

[ark123]

They should give out candy too, that makes their draconian DRM fine, right?

 

[Callex]

Have any of your people actually tried the new DRM? it's not THAT bad. I mean, I don't condone it or anything, but if it wasn't constantly scrutinised; I probably wouldn't have even noticed it was there.

It's a bad decision, but not one that ruins every single ubisoft release imo. Then again, all of my computers are connected to the internet so maybe I'm a little biased? *shrug*

You're new here aren't you?

...

you're not going to fit in with talk like that.

I mean you might as well go on a conservative talk show and say "have you ever actually been to China? It's pretty all right to spite the Communism"

Don't get me wrong; I'm against the whole DRM thing too, I just think it's being blown out of proportion (as these things usually are).

Has ANYONE else in this thread actually tried the DRM?

 

[mikecoulter]

Wow, that's pretty nice of them. I suppose everyone is going to be online 24/7 somehow in a few years. maybe this form of DRM will make more sense then...

 

[ark123]

Have any of your people actually tried the new DRM? it's not THAT bad. I mean, I don't condone it or anything, but if it wasn't constantly scrutinised; I probably wouldn't have even noticed it was there.

It's a bad decision, but not one that ruins every single ubisoft release imo. Then again, all of my computers are connected to the internet so maybe I'm a little biased? *shrug*

You're new here aren't you?

...

you're not going to fit in with talk like that.

I mean you might as well go on a conservative talk show and say "have you ever actually been to China? It's pretty all right to spite the Communism"

Don't get me wrong; I'm against the whole DRM thing too, I just think it's being blown out of proportion (as these things usually are).

Has ANYONE else in this thread actually tried the DRM?

Yeah, I've had the displeasure. AC2 isn't that bad because there are so many checkpoints, but people don't talk about a couple of things they should when they mention this: when your internet speed fluctuates, sometimes their server will disconnect you and you get shut out until you relog. I only played my original version for ten hours or so, after that I got a copy that could save locally because it's faster that way

 

[Callex]

Yeah, I've had the displeasure. AC2 isn't that bad because there are so many checkpoints, but people don't talk about a couple of things they should when they mention this: when your internet speed fluctuates, sometimes their server will disconnect you and you get shut out until you relog. I only played my original version for ten hours or so, after that I got a copy that could save locally because it's faster that way

Ok now that does sound pretty terrible. I know in the The Settlers 7, they've changed it so it only pauses if it loses connection (hasn't happened to me yet though). Even so, I'll probably acquire a DRM-free version after purchasing.

 

[Treblaine]

Have any of your people actually tried the new DRM? it's not THAT bad. I mean, I don't condone it or anything, but if it wasn't constantly scrutinised; I probably wouldn't have even noticed it was there.

It's a bad decision, but not one that ruins every single ubisoft release imo. Then again, all of my computers are connected to the internet so maybe I'm a little biased? *shrug*

You're new here aren't you?

...

you're not going to fit in with talk like that.

I mean you might as well go on a conservative talk show and say "have you ever actually been to China? It's pretty all right to spite the Communism"

Don't get me wrong; I'm against the whole DRM thing too, I just think it's being blown out of proportion (as these things usually are).

Has ANYONE else in this thread actually tried the DRM?

I don't know BUDDY, if you're willing to pay for it then I might try it but right now it seems like a waste of $60/£30. And I really wanted to play Assassin's Creed 2.

Its not enough just to say "oh I tried it for a few minutes, seems fine" what about the long term! It's like those douche-bags in school who said, "I smoke, I'm fine, don't be a pussy and light up". Yeah, sage advice that was.

Then there is the god damn principal, why should I even pay for this or tolerate anybody paying for this when that just sends Ubisoft the message that they can get away with these draconian measures?

Why am I taking you seriously, you know the arguments against this, and it IS NOT down to how it will play at any given moment.

This completely and fundamentally undermines the rights and liberties of the consumer, it is UTTERLY POINTLESS. Nothing at ALL is stopping me downloading the pirated copy, not their DRM, nothing, except my god damn pride. Pride to say when all these dickless companies justify another wave of DRM with the tired old "oh there's so much piracy" I'll know I wasn't any part of it.

But The sheer IDIOCY of this DRM is that it just pushes people towards piracy. I WANT to buy from Ubisoft but this bullshit is TOO MUCH! I am not going to WASTE any amount of money on a game that can be taken away at the tiniest thing.

 

[Treblaine]

Wow, that's pretty nice of them. I suppose everyone is going to be online 24/7 somehow in a few years. maybe this form of DRM will make more sense then...

No one is "anything" 24/7 and certainly not everywhere. many places this simply will not work at all.

This is the way they treat sex offenders when they are released from prison, tag them and constantly monitor their position... not your own fucking customers?!?? Where is the trust and confidence? What does this DRM POSSIBLY prevent?!?!? Nothing, absolutely nothing.

DRM HAS NEVER PREVENTED A SINGLE COPYRIGHT VIOLATION!!!

All those pirated copies out there? Not affected at all.

In fact, once Ubisoft has had my money, WHY do they care? What, do they think somehow as soon as they "lose track of me" when the game gets disconnected from the internet, somehow the $60 I PAID FOR THE GAME gets syphoned out of their bank account?!? No I paid the price it was sold for, I cannot POSSIBLY be a Pirate now.

Once I have bought the game HOW CAN I POSSIBLY BE A PIRATE!?!?!? Copying and cracking the game to post online is done when the game isn't running and is traceless, so it doesn't solve that either. Plus it only has to be done ONCE! A single crack! It's going to happen! so WHY OH FUCKING WHY are they restricting us legitimate customers!!?!?!?

24/7 internet is a terrible technological imperative justifications, the idea that "because you can then you should".

The list of limitations from this are endless, internet is no where near that pervasive or stable. Then there are consumer rights, since each copy of this game is TOTALLY DEPENDANT on the consent and support of Ubisoft to play their game that they have paid for.

What if Ubisoft has cutbacks or goes bankrupt, or the studio goes bankrupt or ANYTHING while means they can no longer afford to run those many... MANY authentication servers which can all get very expensive to run. Old games from Ubisoft, even 3-4 years old will lose support and just get cut off, I can guarantee that.

Everyone needs to get this absolutely clear.

DO NOT ACCEPT THIS!

 

[ScottocS]

I got an email for the content when i bought the Black Edition.

Well done Ubisoft you fucked up again!

^^ This.
I already preordered the Black Editioin and have this content. So what's the point in me having it again? :O

 

[TechNoFear]

Have any of your people actually tried the new DRM? it's not THAT bad. I mean, I don't condone it or anything, but if it wasn't constantly scrutinised; I probably wouldn't have even noticed it was there.

I play single player games when on-site or travelling.

Assuming that I am in an area with mobile phone coverage (very often I am not),
that the Ubi servers are working,
and reception is good enough so I can use my 3G phone for data without constant dropouts;

How much will it cost me to play per hour at Au$2 / Mb (upload + download)?

 

[Denamic]

Thing is, I want none of those games.

 

[Nesrie]

Yeah because the answer to DRM schemes that punish customers and doesn't work against pirates is to give customers games that cost the company almost nothing to give and not change the DRM system that caused the problem in the first place. Awesome.