Ubisoft Bemoans 95% Piracy Rate
- Thread starter BloatedGuppy
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Ubisoft make me very very sad. I want so hard to play some of their games: I've always been a massive fan of the Heroes of Might & Magic series for example, I want to play the newest game in that series. But the way Ubisoft handle seemingly everything PC related just rubs me the wrong way and I'm left sadly waving farewell to games I otherwise would have bought.
Incidentally the 95% piracy rate isn't that out there. As mentioned previously in this topic 2D boy were able to prove a piracy rate in the high 80's and they're an indie developer. It's just Ubisofts response that's so offsetting. I realize not every developer can be CDProjekt, but still Ubisoft is seemingly determined to make things as difficult as possible for legitimate PC customers as possible.
Incidentally the 95% piracy rate isn't that out there. As mentioned previously in this topic 2D boy were able to prove a piracy rate in the high 80's and they're an indie developer. It's just Ubisofts response that's so offsetting. I realize not every developer can be CDProjekt, but still Ubisoft is seemingly determined to make things as difficult as possible for legitimate PC customers as possible.
If you're interested, here [http://www.tweakguides.com/Piracy_1.html] is something to provide even more food for thought. It is a pretty good overview of piracy, maybe not entirely accurate but still a nice read.Wayneguard said:DoPo said:DrOswald said:Thanks for the replies. Food for thoughtScrabbitRabbit said:
Thank you VERY much for this. This is exactly what I was looking for. I think his analyses of the free-rider problem and economies of scale are a little incorrect; but otherwise, this is very good stuff.DoPo said:If you're interested, here [http://www.tweakguides.com/Piracy_1.html] is something to provide even more food for thought. It is a pretty good overview of piracy, maybe not entirely accurate but still a nice read.Wayneguard said:DoPo said:DrOswald said:Thanks for the replies. Food for thoughtScrabbitRabbit said:
Yeah, as I said, it may not be entirely accurate but overall it's the best article I've found that connects as many things together as possible. Informative, although you would need to do some research of your own, not just take everything for granted. It is a very good starting point, at least.Wayneguard said:Thank you VERY much for this. This is exactly what I was looking for. I think his analyses of the free-rider problem and economies of scale are a little incorrect; but otherwise, this is very good stuff.DoPo said:If you're interested, here [http://www.tweakguides.com/Piracy_1.html] is something to provide even more food for thought. It is a pretty good overview of piracy, maybe not entirely accurate but still a nice read.Wayneguard said:DoPo said:DrOswald said:Thanks for the replies. Food for thoughtScrabbitRabbit said:
Let's see Ubisoft games I own...AC1, AC2, ACB, ACR
I used to have PoP:SoT but sold it. Rented PoP 2/3. They were ok.
I payed money for all of them, so I guess I'm in the 5%.
Ubisoft games I will pirate: None.
Ubisoft Games I'm planning on buying: None
Was an AC fan, but AC3 is one I have no trouble passing up.
My opinion of Ubisoft has gotten pretty low, and I don't even factor in DRM (PS3).
I used to have PoP:SoT but sold it. Rented PoP 2/3. They were ok.
I payed money for all of them, so I guess I'm in the 5%.
Ubisoft games I will pirate: None.
Ubisoft Games I'm planning on buying: None
Was an AC fan, but AC3 is one I have no trouble passing up.
My opinion of Ubisoft has gotten pretty low, and I don't even factor in DRM (PS3).
There's also the consideration of needing multiple sources, bad downloads, etc. Well, maybe not "also," but clarification of reasons people might download multiple times.DoPo said:
And further, it sure is doing its job!mrdude2010 said:
I am so afraid. Ubisoft owns some of my favourite franchises that I love. Anno, Assassin's Creed, and they're also making the game I'm looking forward to the most, Watch Dogs. I am so, so afraid that they will screw it up. Big time. Specially because I play on PC, even worse. Oh I weep...
Although I love the AssCreed series it has been shown time and time again that Ubisoft is run by morons when it comes to its PC customers. Always delaying games versus the console version(and still shipping them with problems - see multiplayer BSOD in Revelations after a few minutes for those with realtek sound cards), implementing bullshit DRM(that almost ruined AC2 - the best AC game), moaning about piracy rates but doing nothing to appease their customers etc.
Even recently, for AC3, they said that the controls won't probably work with a M+KB, even though I had no such problems in previous AC games(they worked fine with a M+KB). So they will make me buy a controller to play the game on my PC. Brilliant.
Ubisoft has no idea that it has to draw pirates to them(to make them customers), not bemoan the situation. There are other companies, that have pc releases, which managed to get pirated to high hell but they still have very good sales and most important, customer loyalty and maybe even respect. The Witcher 2 was very pirated but it sold 1,7 million units on pc alone and 4 million overall.
And CDProjekt has a f**kton more respect among gamers(even console gamers) than Ubisoft.
I know people that pirated TW2 and went and bought it 2 weeks later to do a second run. I personally gifted a TW2 game to a friend just to support CDProjekt even further.
I also know people that pirate Ubisoft product just to spite them, they don't even care about the games that much(so it's not a case of I really really wanted that game). Same with EA games.
Even recently, for AC3, they said that the controls won't probably work with a M+KB, even though I had no such problems in previous AC games(they worked fine with a M+KB). So they will make me buy a controller to play the game on my PC. Brilliant.
Ubisoft has no idea that it has to draw pirates to them(to make them customers), not bemoan the situation. There are other companies, that have pc releases, which managed to get pirated to high hell but they still have very good sales and most important, customer loyalty and maybe even respect. The Witcher 2 was very pirated but it sold 1,7 million units on pc alone and 4 million overall.
And CDProjekt has a f**kton more respect among gamers(even console gamers) than Ubisoft.
I know people that pirated TW2 and went and bought it 2 weeks later to do a second run. I personally gifted a TW2 game to a friend just to support CDProjekt even further.
I also know people that pirate Ubisoft product just to spite them, they don't even care about the games that much(so it's not a case of I really really wanted that game). Same with EA games.
Bwahahahahahahahaha!
Okay, now that that's out of my system, the explanation for my mirth, a rational human being, upon finding out, whether through actual research or just pulling numbers from their ass (We wouldn't want to accuse the poor company of possessing intelligence) that their sales were taking a 95% cut from piracy alone, would assume that their "Anti-Piracy" measures, like always on DRM, was clearly not performing as advertising, and a rational, sane human being would begin looking at that system to figure out how it could be improved.
But no, they look at the number and decide "screw it, we give up." to which I say, "Good F---ing riddance," I can only hope that Ubisoft's abysmal turn will serve as an example to -other- companies who seem to believe that they can force people to buy their games.
Okay, now that that's out of my system, the explanation for my mirth, a rational human being, upon finding out, whether through actual research or just pulling numbers from their ass (We wouldn't want to accuse the poor company of possessing intelligence) that their sales were taking a 95% cut from piracy alone, would assume that their "Anti-Piracy" measures, like always on DRM, was clearly not performing as advertising, and a rational, sane human being would begin looking at that system to figure out how it could be improved.
But no, they look at the number and decide "screw it, we give up." to which I say, "Good F---ing riddance," I can only hope that Ubisoft's abysmal turn will serve as an example to -other- companies who seem to believe that they can force people to buy their games.
I was going to buy moar ubisoft games (they do make a few that are fun after all) but,,, If that's how they regard us, I'l just skip em, not like they have "amazing" games... Sides, I has AI-Wars by Arcen Games, the game that gets patched/expanded faster than you have time to finish a game ^^*.
UBISOFT.
STOP YOUR IDIOCY.
You have crazy fun games, but you insist of this bullshit that no one but you thinks is a good idea.
Someone did the math, if this were true that 95% of people pirate their games, then there would be half a billion people playing AC:R
Do you expect us to believe that? And hold up a sec, didn't you say that your anti piracy measures were a good thing? Here's a tip ubisoft, if you put this bullshit into your games, it encourages people to pirate. If you made your games less fucking annoying to play, then you probably wouldn't get so much piracy.
STOP YOUR IDIOCY.
You have crazy fun games, but you insist of this bullshit that no one but you thinks is a good idea.
Someone did the math, if this were true that 95% of people pirate their games, then there would be half a billion people playing AC:R
Do you expect us to believe that? And hold up a sec, didn't you say that your anti piracy measures were a good thing? Here's a tip ubisoft, if you put this bullshit into your games, it encourages people to pirate. If you made your games less fucking annoying to play, then you probably wouldn't get so much piracy.
Objectively speaking, they do tend to get a bit more flak than deserved. I can't really say though I'm feeling sorry for them, as downright retarded comments like this are the equivalent of painting a bulls-eye on their arses and bending over.erttheking said:
One of my friends actually need to download a cracked copy of AC:R in order to be able to play it at all. So not only did the DRM do nothing to stop the game from being cracked, it forced a legitimate customer to download a cracked version.not_you said:
Now, I'm no expert, but isn't that the opposite of what DRM is meant to do?
I've purchased every Assassins Creed game on PC.
I own Farcry 1 and 2, many Tom Clancy games and Ubisoft published games like the last two Heroes of Might and Magic games and all the expansions on PC.
I plan to buy Assassins Creed 3 and Watch Dogs on PC.
Yet:
1) The copy of Assassins Creed 2 I legitimately purchased was unplayable every time my internet dropped out. I could NOT play offline. A pirated version would not have had these problems.
2) I've been forced to endure constant delays as a PC user. Every Assassins Creed game has come out much later on PC despite initial 'plans' for a simultaneous release.
3) Ubisoft charges me double because I live in Australia. Assassins Creed Revelations is currently $60USD on steam due to my geographical location compared to $30USD in the US. Ubisoft has blocked Australia from purchasing at cheaper sites like greenmangaming.
4) PC games purchased on Steam during the summer sales could not be played for a number of days due to activation issues with the UPlay client. Pirated versions would be playable instantly.
5) My computer was placed at risk by the Uplay browser plugin that was installed alongside the Uplay client without my knowledge. You expect that risk from pirating, not from buying a lrgitimate copy of the game.
6) PC users are forced to put up with draconian drm. Legitimate owners are treated like criminals. Even copies purchased from steam are bundled with additional Ubisoft drm. If piracy is at '95%' why do they even bother? The drm clearly isn't working and it only hinders the genuine owners.
7) PC gamers are constantly insulted by Ubisoft. We are labelled as criminals, as pirates. We are threatened with games being withheld (Future Soldier), treated as second class gamers and it is implied that we are barely worth their time.
While I don't do it myself I completely understand why PC gamers would want to pirate Ubisoft games and it doesn't bother me one bit. Ubisoft is possibly the only company I am comfortable saying this about.
I own Farcry 1 and 2, many Tom Clancy games and Ubisoft published games like the last two Heroes of Might and Magic games and all the expansions on PC.
I plan to buy Assassins Creed 3 and Watch Dogs on PC.
Yet:
1) The copy of Assassins Creed 2 I legitimately purchased was unplayable every time my internet dropped out. I could NOT play offline. A pirated version would not have had these problems.
2) I've been forced to endure constant delays as a PC user. Every Assassins Creed game has come out much later on PC despite initial 'plans' for a simultaneous release.
3) Ubisoft charges me double because I live in Australia. Assassins Creed Revelations is currently $60USD on steam due to my geographical location compared to $30USD in the US. Ubisoft has blocked Australia from purchasing at cheaper sites like greenmangaming.
4) PC games purchased on Steam during the summer sales could not be played for a number of days due to activation issues with the UPlay client. Pirated versions would be playable instantly.
5) My computer was placed at risk by the Uplay browser plugin that was installed alongside the Uplay client without my knowledge. You expect that risk from pirating, not from buying a lrgitimate copy of the game.
6) PC users are forced to put up with draconian drm. Legitimate owners are treated like criminals. Even copies purchased from steam are bundled with additional Ubisoft drm. If piracy is at '95%' why do they even bother? The drm clearly isn't working and it only hinders the genuine owners.
7) PC gamers are constantly insulted by Ubisoft. We are labelled as criminals, as pirates. We are threatened with games being withheld (Future Soldier), treated as second class gamers and it is implied that we are barely worth their time.
While I don't do it myself I completely understand why PC gamers would want to pirate Ubisoft games and it doesn't bother me one bit. Ubisoft is possibly the only company I am comfortable saying this about.
I think its more like Publishers than Developers, if your going to get specific. But then the Escapist community spent a month burning BioWare at the stake so... my arguments invalid I suppose.erttheking said:
Oh great, the one developer you admit to liking, and I can't play 90% of their games. And I'm not the type of person that goes "play a playstation game? Never! Praise MS!". I seriously want to play some sony games, (I have wanted to play Infamous for a LONG time) I'm just not in a position to fork out that kind of cash. And it didn't help that a friend of a friend told me how awesome persona is, which was one of several factors that made me kind of depressed and caused me to have an emotional meltdown on this very website. "sigh"... Life can be a little sadistic sometimes huh?RedEyesBlackGamer said:Hey, to be fair, we love Atlus too.erttheking said: