Ubisoft shaft PC gamers yet again!

[Yopaz]

Ubisoft is in charge of publishing the game. That means they are the ones paying the developer to make the game and discover bugs and make sure that the game is fit for release. When the product is done they pay a manufacturer to print the game, cover and manual. They pay the manufacturer to do the manufacturer to do a quality check to make sure they aren't shipping out defective discs, covers with damages and that all is included. These errors happen once in a while because not every copy is checked, how many is checked all depends on the product and company.

Now do you understand that Ubisoft has nothing to do with the manufacturing process itself? That they have lost money on this and not received the service they paid for? If you do, please explain how Ubisoft is still to blame, because if we're going to blame companies not involved in the manufacturing process we could just as well have blamed EA or Nintendo.

I think your misunderstanding the role of a publisher...

The publisher PUBLISHES the game I.E. once the game is made they are in control of Manufacturing, advertising and distribution!!!

Otherwise they would simply just be an investor.

Do you really think Ubisoft just throw money at developers and leave it all up to them?

The developer develops the game.

The publisher pays for development costs and manufacturing costs.

The manufacturers manufactures the game.

Yes, the publisher oversees how the developers spend the money, but once the game is finished and approved it gets sent to the manufacturers where they are supposed to make sure the game manufactured. I have not once said that the publisher throws money at the developer and leave it to them. What I have been saying is that the publisher is not the one to manufacture the game. Complain all you want about me not understanding, but that doesn't change the facts.

The publisher pays the development and the manufacturing while doing neither if these things.

 

[BrotherRool]

Snip!

I agree doing it the way they are doing it is a logistical nightmare, however patching it so that the CD Key is not required would be a very fast and simple solution. a couple of hours work and the problem has gone away. The cable itself is all the DRM the game needs. I dont believe the licensed music is protected by the DRM anyway as they've encrypted the files even once the game is installed.

This is all beside the point anyway as they should not have made an error of this magnitude in the first place!! Its the fact that they have that's a complete disregard of there paying customers.

Well I feel we've reached a place with the first half where we can agree to disagree. I think whatever the case they would need a lawyer to look over everything first to check it's okay. Contracts aren't loose things when you're playing amongst the big people and things which shouldn't matter can still be contracted down tight. Apart from anything else, you can make a lot of money/it gives you options if you can find someone in breach of contract so making terms about ultimately unnecessary things isn't too out there.

The second half is where I'm still struggling to get along side of you. I don't think this error shows a complete disregard of their consumers at all, I think they've done exactly what every company in the industry does and most companies out of the industry too. And if we put it in scale, it's not the incompetence of Apple and iOS maps, it's not the calculating damage of Microsoft and the 360 Red Ring of Death. It's not even Capcom and the typos in the game name. At least that was a mistake made at marketing. If they put any less effort into regulating their factory line than anyone else they would have had more instances of this. If this was the second time (like Capcom's typos) it would be a big deal, since it's a one off, it's really not, we don't have any evidence at all that they care less than anyone else, just that they were unlucky this time.

That they aren't offering compensation is different, but most people in this thread and you in this post have directed your anger more at the fact that this happened, which I just can't see as justified.

 

[clippen05]

Digital Distribution on PC FTW. Also, avoid Ubisoft in general FTW, at least on PC. I do have the Assassin's Creed games and some Tom Clancy games on Xbox though.

 

[Yopaz]

Wow your lack of comprehension is astonishing are you really that dense? Sorry for being rude but really?

http://www.bruceongames.com/2009/09/04/what-do-game-publishers-do-and-is-there-any-need-for-them/ here is some reading for you. maybe they explain it better than me, Because clearly you don't comprehend what I'm saying.

Sure Ubisoft may not be burning the discs themselves but that does not mean they are not accountable and in charge of the process.

You're actually are saying just that (blinding throwing money). Put yourself in Ubisoft's shoes for a second. You're spending millions of pounds on publishing a product and you think you're just going to pay somebody else to manufacture, then not check on the quality of what they are doing. and ship hundreds of thousands of your product to retail outlets, still without having checked for yourself? Get real Ubisoft are there 100% of the way making sure there money isn't wasted.


Anyway if your not going to listen to actual fact then its points discussing this you.

Hope you have a good day!

I don't know if you're intentionally ignoring what I have been saying all along, or if you just don't understand it, but either way I that all my effort in explaining this to you has been wasted so I don't feel like trying again.

 

[snowbear]

Wow your lack of comprehension is astonishing are you really that dense? Sorry for being rude but really?

http://www.bruceongames.com/2009/09/04/what-do-game-publishers-do-and-is-there-any-need-for-them/ here is some reading for you. maybe they explain it better than me, Because clearly you don't comprehend what I'm saying.

Sure Ubisoft may not be burning the discs themselves but that does not mean they are not accountable and in charge of the process.

You're actually are saying just that (blinding throwing money). Put yourself in Ubisoft's shoes for a second. You're spending millions of pounds on publishing a product and you think you're just going to pay somebody else to manufacture, then not check on the quality of what they are doing. and ship hundreds of thousands of your product to retail outlets, still without having checked for yourself? Get real Ubisoft are there 100% of the way making sure there money isn't wasted.



Hope you have a good day!

I don't know if you're intentionally ignoring what I have been saying all along, or if you just don't understand it, but either way I that all my effort in explaining this to you has been wasted so I don't feel like trying again.

Right back at you buddy
I haven't ignored you, quite the opposite.

Perhaps if you read the link I gave you will notice that you are completely wrong. However I cant force you to understand if you don't want to.

 

[kasperbbs]

I have said this many times, but the best thing that DRM SOMETIMES manages to do is prevent online play with pirated copies, other than that it's useless, perhaps they will find a way to keep their games from getting hacked in a day or two after release, but right now all it does is annoy paying customers and stupid people who can't figure out how to copy/paste cracked content into game directory.

 

[Yopaz]

Wow your lack of comprehension is astonishing are you really that dense? Sorry for being rude but really?

http://www.bruceongames.com/2009/09/04/what-do-game-publishers-do-and-is-there-any-need-for-them/ here is some reading for you. maybe they explain it better than me, Because clearly you don't comprehend what I'm saying.

Sure Ubisoft may not be burning the discs themselves but that does not mean they are not accountable and in charge of the process.

You're actually are saying just that (blinding throwing money). Put yourself in Ubisoft's shoes for a second. You're spending millions of pounds on publishing a product and you think you're just going to pay somebody else to manufacture, then not check on the quality of what they are doing. and ship hundreds of thousands of your product to retail outlets, still without having checked for yourself? Get real Ubisoft are there 100% of the way making sure there money isn't wasted.



Hope you have a good day!

I don't know if you're intentionally ignoring what I have been saying all along, or if you just don't understand it, but either way I that all my effort in explaining this to you has been wasted so I don't feel like trying again.

Right back at you buddy
I haven't ignored you, quite the opposite.

Perhaps if you read the link I gave you will notice that you are completely wrong. However I cant force you to understand if you don't want to.

I read the link and it didn't mention that the manufacturers often are companies that are hired to manufacture the game, but aren't themselves owned by the publisher.

Now you have ignored pretty much all I have said with the exception that I don't blame Ubisoft. So please go ahead and keep hating Ubisoft. I don't care.

 

[shrekfan246]

And nobody was surprised.

Okay, maybe that's not fair. I'm sure Ubisoft didn't plan on this happening, so I don't think it's really fair to blame them for it.

Apparently people expect that the main branches in France and Montreal are going to be hand-checking every copy to make sure it has a CD Key in it before shipping it out?

Is it absolutely terrible that this happened in the first place? Yes.

Does that mean it's okay to vilify Ubisoft over it? Only if they tell PC gamers who bought the game that they're out of luck and should just purchase it again.

 

[snowbear]

I read the link and it didn't mention that the manufacturers often are companies that are hired to manufacture the game, but aren't themselves owned by the publisher.

Now you have ignored pretty much all I have said with the exception that I don't blame Ubisoft. So please go ahead and keep hating Ubisoft. I don't care.

You sir are impossible to reason with so I wont bother when its so clear to everyone else.

And nobody was surprised.

Okay, maybe that's not fair. I'm sure Ubisoft didn't plan on this happening, so I don't think it's really fair to blame them for it.

Apparently people expect that the main branches in France and Montreal are going to be hand-checking every copy to make sure it has a CD Key in it before shipping it out?

Is it absolutely terrible that this happened in the first place? Yes.

Does that mean it's okay to vilify Ubisoft over it? Only if they tell PC gamers who bought the game that they're out of luck and should just purchase it again.

That is precisely what they are telling customers that didn't hang on to their receipts. While its stupid not to keep it, some people don't and mistakes can be made, receipts can be lost.

 

[shrekfan246]

Does that mean it's okay to vilify Ubisoft over it? Only if they tell PC gamers who bought the game that they're out of luck and should just purchase it again.

That is precisely what they are telling customers that didn't hang on to their receipts. While its stupid not to keep it, some people don't and mistakes can be made, receipts can be lost.

...

Can I get a source on that?

I'd just love to actually be justified in getting angry over something.

EDIT: Derped up the quote.

 

[Treblaine]

So now I am FORCED to download a crack (this counts for a pirated copy in ubi's eyes) for the game that I legally own

Hugely disingenuous of Ubisoft if they do claim that.

A crack is exactly that, a crack, all it does is remove DRM, it alone CANNOT be taken as an indication that any copyright violation has occurred, the copy may have been bought and acquired fair and square.

Downloading and applying a crack is not the slightest bit illegal or even immoral. No part of international copyright law depends on you purchasing a copy and only using it in a certain state. Correct me if I am wrong someone, please.

In fact it's also illegal (I am told) to ban someone from being able to play a game online because they cheat. Legally, the only thing you can do is segregate the cheaters from the non-cheaters. That would be interesting, having a designated cheater server where the cheats fight cheaters.

 

[snowbear]

Does that mean it's okay to vilify Ubisoft over it? Only if they tell PC gamers who bought the game that they're out of luck and should just purchase it again.

That is precisely what they are telling customers that didn't hang on to their receipts. While its stupid not to keep it, some people don't and mistakes can be made, receipts can be lost.

...

Can I get a source on that?

I'd just love to actually be justified in getting angry over something.

EDIT: Derped up the quote.

Well ok Im may have exaggerated a little bit. They aren't actively telling customers that, But you do indeed need proof of purchase in order to be sent a serial key. Meaning if you don't have one your S.O.O.L

Quote from a Ubi rep on their forum

?We?re aware that some physical copies of the PC version of Rocksmith in EMEA territories have been shipped without the needed unique activation code. Any consumers that are affected should contact their local Ubisoft consumer support at www.support.ubi.com or by dialing 0871 664 1000 with proof of purchase to receive their code. We apologise for the inconvenience caused and will provide any affected consumers with the ?Guitarcade timesaver,? which gives players instant access to all the Rocksmith mini-games.?

so it seems they are now offering compensation to customers. The compensation is that you no longer have to play the game to unlock anything... Great

So now I am FORCED to download a crack (this counts for a pirated copy in ubi's eyes) for the game that I legally own

Hugely disingenuous of Ubisoft if they do claim that.

A crack is exactly that, a crack, all it does is remove DRM, it alone CANNOT be taken as an indication that any copyright violation has occurred, the copy may have been bought and acquired fair and square.

Downloading and applying a crack is not the slightest bit illegal or even immoral. No part of international copyright law depends on you purchasing a copy and only using it in a certain state. Correct me if I am wrong someone, please.

In fact it's also illegal (I am told) to ban someone from being able to play a game online because they cheat. Legally, the only thing you can do is segregate the cheaters from the non-cheaters. That would be interesting, having a designated cheater server where the cheats fight cheaters.

I cant find the quote now but it was at the same time as the 95% piracy rate fiasco, in an interview one of the quotes mentioned people cracking the games. whether that was included in there made up stat or not 100% sure.

 

[shrekfan246]

Well ok Im may have exaggerated a little bit. They aren't actively telling customers that, But you do indeed need proof of purchase in order to be sent a serial key. Meaning if you don't have one your S.O.O.L

Quote from a Ubi rep on their forum

?We?re aware that some physical copies of the PC version of Rocksmith in EMEA territories have been shipped without the needed unique activation code. Any consumers that are affected should contact their local Ubisoft consumer support at www.support.ubi.com or by dialing 0871 664 1000 with proof of purchase to receive their code. We apologise for the inconvenience caused and will provide any affected consumers with the ?Guitarcade timesaver,? which gives players instant access to all the Rocksmith mini-games.?

so it seems they are now offering compensation to customers. The compensation is that you no longer have to play the game to unlock anything... Great

"We messed up, so have all the mini-games instantly!"

Beautiful.

I can understand needing proof-of-purchase to receive a code, they can't just send out codes to everyone calling in that their game isn't working.

As long as they're giving legitimate codes to the people who bought the game, I've got no problem with anything going on here, except that this sort of slip-up happened in the first place. But again, not really something I am going to blame on Ubisoft, because it could happen to literally anyone.

 

[snowbear]

Well ok Im may have exaggerated a little bit. They aren't actively telling customers that, But you do indeed need proof of purchase in order to be sent a serial key. Meaning if you don't have one your S.O.O.L

Quote from a Ubi rep on their forum

?We?re aware that some physical copies of the PC version of Rocksmith in EMEA territories have been shipped without the needed unique activation code. Any consumers that are affected should contact their local Ubisoft consumer support at www.support.ubi.com or by dialing 0871 664 1000 with proof of purchase to receive their code. We apologise for the inconvenience caused and will provide any affected consumers with the ?Guitarcade timesaver,? which gives players instant access to all the Rocksmith mini-games.?

so it seems they are now offering compensation to customers. The compensation is that you no longer have to play the game to unlock anything... Great

"We messed up, so have all the mini-games instantly!"

Beautiful.

I can understand needing proof-of-purchase to receive a code, they can't just send out codes to everyone calling in that their game isn't working.

As long as they're giving legitimate codes to the people who bought the game, I've got no problem with anything going on here, except that this sort of slip-up happened in the first place. But again, not really something I am going to blame on Ubisoft, because it could happen to literally anyone.

While normally I would agree with you, handing out codes to anyone would drastically hurt sales. This is a special case though as the official cable is required to play the game so at most ubisoft would loose is £10 per key given out.

This would have been a great chance to show a bit of good will to customers and actually prove they do care.

Doesn't matter anyway the pirates beat them to it ;P

 

[Amaror]

Of course it wasn't intended. Does that make it acceptable? Hell, no! And don't come to me with: People make mistakes, it happens.
This is a big company, things like that are not supposed to happen. They should have noticed that the cd - keys were missing.
And about that receipt "fix". I didn't buy this game, but not everyone keeps his receipt when he buys something. I do now, when i buy something more expensive, but i know i didn't do that when i was younger.
This think will most likely lead to some people not being able to play a game legally, which they bought legally.

No I'm really still not following you, it's not like they've been negligent, it's not like this is a repeat occurence. It's not like this is even Ubisoft, this is the mistake of some factory in east asia printing out boxes, you know what, Apple had factories with conditions so bad the workers were committing suicide. That is gross negligence and something to get angry about, here we just had a factory who forgot to stick in the CD Keys.

Yeah it was the mistake of that factory, which is owned by Ubisoft. Of course it's Ubisofts fault! I am not saying we should go and burn Ubisofts offices down over this, but it's still their fault.

 

[aguspal]

Well I think this is actually pretty funny, maybe Ubisoft belives this too XD.


But really... Its kinda retarded to do that, too.

 

[BrotherRool]

Yeah it was the mistake of that factory, which is owned by Ubisoft. Of course it's Ubisofts fault! I am not saying we should go and burn Ubisofts offices down over this, but it's still their fault.

The factory probably isn't owned by Ubisoft, they're probably only commissioning work from it, still, I think I'm being a bit harsh in this thread, it started right at the beginning with being annoyed that a company is possibly forcing them to do something which is similar piracy, but completely justified . In the scale of things that earns people the right to hate whatever they like irrational or no because on the bigger issue they are completely in favour of actually doing the right thing.

But I think my point is, even if Ubisoft owned the factory/sublet or whatever, it's still not their fault really if they're just doing what everyone else does, but this one time in 30/40/100/1000 whatever times, it's gone bad and it happened to go bad on Ubisoft. If their practices are the same then Sony and Apple and Microsoft and Nintendo and Kodak and Panasonic are just as culpable because their actions are identical, it just happens that the factory that screwed up was working on Ubisofts game

 

[Wolfhowl the shadow lurker]

Ubisoft did something mindless that hurts the people who pay their games? while leting people who did not pay them get off with a better deal? haha yeah sure next you'll be telling me that EA puts online passes in everything

wait...

 

[Nieroshai]

Production accident /= intentional shafting. I'm sorry for your situation, but they weren't being malicious.

I'm fairly sure it was. If they announced officially they were going to do this they would be mobbed and lynched by people outside the gaming community as a violation of consumer rights.
As an "accident" they can apologize for free and only get some bad press from within the minority that bought it or cares about such things while being defended by others.

They automatically lose credibility due to draconian DRM practices as well as outlandish claims against the gaming populace.

I personally believe that I should behave as the corporation treats me, if they treat me like a thief I should act like one since thats the social contract they want with their customers. Now if only they would make something worth playing so that I could get started twirling my snidely whiplash mustache.

I'm folding myself a tinfoil hat now. Thanks for correcting me. How silly of me to think CD keys not making it into packaging wasn't a form of DRM.

 

[Nieroshai]

Production accident /= intentional shafting. I'm sorry for your situation, but they weren't being malicious.

How dare you approach this situation with common sense and empathy.
You son of a *****(!)

You'd be surprised how often I hear that unironically...