Ubisoft's DRM Policy Is A Bad Business

[JohnTC02]

Looks like more bad press for Ubi, don't get me wrong here I'm not against the DRM system but what I do want is a game I can play out of the box, it's a shame that Ubi seems to have it's head stuck in the sand over this to the point of loosing valuable customers.

Why can't they see what's happening here, they need to sort the DRM issue out and give us reliable severs to play the games on, it isn't like this is something new, it's happened with at least two other games which lead to Ubi offering free game by way of compensation, this alone must tell them something is not quite right, it must be possible to upgrade their systems to cope with the high demands on the servers or to sort out the issues that is causing these problems, I mean, how hard can it be?

I just hope that something is done before the release of GR:FS, I really want this game to be a big hit for Ubi!

I firmly believe that game publishers face a difficult battle on the PC. Piracy is rampant, and video gaming, at the end of the day, is a multi-billion dollar business. Video game publishers lose money through piracy, and so they should take measures to prevent it. But is there a point where a company takes so many steps against piracy that it begins to alienate those who purchase a game legally? Is there a point where, in the sake of preventing piracy, companies lose business?

http://www.kombo.com/article.php?artid=14449

Ubi is saying that the DRM system is vital to the success of it's games on the PC.

Splinter Cell: Conviction creative director Max Béland has told VG247 that Ubisoft’s DRM software is considered “vital” to the success of its games on PC.

http://www.vg247.com/2010/04/16/ubisoft-drm-software-vital-to-our-business-says-conviction-creative-lead/

[WhiteKnight77]

That article also shows how far Ubi has dumbed down it's games and their contempt for gamers with the 20' tall INFILTRATE THE MANSION on the side of the building in the new Splinter Cell screen. Those hints are all through the game from what I have read from those who bought it. It reminds me of the new magic range extendable torpedoes in SH5.

[petsfed]

I fired up Dirt the other day. Good game, though I take umbrage at the mandatory-restart to get their stupid DRM drivers to work. I actually looked for the [Thing that should not be spoken of here IAW Forum Rule 3.7] hack specifically so I could avoid that issue. But unfortunately, the patches for Dirt consistently attacked the DRM removal schemes of the [Thing that should not be spoken of here IAW Forum Rule 3.7] hacks, rather than actually addressing issues with the game, like the persistent hang during saving.

Meanwhile, for those who simply torrented the game, there never was this issue. Sure, the bugs and instability were still there, but programs that may very well brick parts of my computer aren't.

I think the "always connected" system is even more invasive. I only buy games for the single-player experience. I spent a grand total of 20 minutes playing Call of Duty 4 online. I've never played GR, or R6, or Splinter Cell online. I've spent less than 24 hours playing online games in my entire life. And I've been playing for 14 years.

I understand the need for some sort of piracy deterrent. I actually kind of like the one-time activation idea (or upon each new installation, another activation) although it can be a problem for some people. Steam has rarely given me issues (although I'm aware of the issues that do exist, namely the limited time allotted for off-line play, and the near impossibility of resale of games), but I think its only a step in the right direction. Yes, theft is a problem, a huge one. But if you're not willing to make the game worth paying for, or create DRM schemas that only actually interfere with legit copies of the game, then you can expect people to steal the game because they aren't getting their money's worth.

[NoQuarter]

Looks like more bad press for Ubi,

Yep. May they lead interesting lives. They've earned it.

...don't get me wrong here I'm not against the DRM system but what I do want is a game I can play out of the box, it's a shame that Ubi seems to have it's head stuck in the sand over this to the point of loosing valuable customers.

They are lucky to have you, and they will need more of those like you -heads stuck in the sand- right up until the day they implement something in the OSP that you do finally object to.

____

It is a sad state of affairs when you find yourself actually rooting for Ubi to have continued server/end user problems as well as for the pirates to knock these DRMs down -one by one, particularly of titles in which you have absolutely no interest in to begin with.

[JohnTC02]

They are lucky to have you, and they will need more of those like you -heads stuck in the sand- right up until the day they implement something in the OSP that you do finally object to.

I stand by what I said in as much that I am not against the DRM system, if correctly implemented it might be the best deterrent we have seen so far against piracy, I realise that with enough effort the someone will eventually crack the system but up to now, AFAIK, no one has succeeded.

What I don't like is the way Ubi has handled all the problems that have come to light, they seem unable to acknowledge the fact there are major issues with the OSP, Ubi seem to have the misconception that giving out "freebies" will make things ok and the public will be happy to accept these handouts.

With all those millions that Ubi put into promoting GR:FS couldn't some of the cash be better spent on improving the OSP giving the paying customer a game that is playable out of the box, is this to much to ask for?

IMO, Ubi is shooting itself in the foot by not wanting (or unable) to fix these issues, if this problem is not fixed then the day that GR:FS hits the shelves the first thing the paying customer will do is go online to find the nearest hack to bypass the OSP, assuming there is one out there when it's released, if there is no hack by then or the OSP is not fixed I don't think there will be many people that will be buying this game.

What I am saying here is that in an ideal world the DRM system could work, but that's just me, ever the optimist.

[Harelip]

[...]I realise that with enough effort the someone will eventually crack the system but up to now, AFAIK, no one has succeeded.[...]

Assassin's Creed 2's DRM can now be circumvented. I'm personally not sure about Silent Hunter 5, but since AC2 is done, you should be able to do the same with SH5.

[WhiteKnight77]

John, you have just stated what some of us here have been stating for some time. Ubi does not care about it's customers and are willing to spend millions of something that will not work and not where it really needs to be, the games. Give customers games that are solid and have support with a demo before release and they will be bought. One of the biggest reasons given for piracy is that there is no demo so people can try the game before they buy. The simple fact that Ubi management has yet to reply directly to the many customers who have been asking for a comment from them shows that they do not care about their customers. Instead, low level employees are stuck incurring the wrath of potential customers who would buy a game save for the fact that the OSP is used on said games.

As far as the "freebies," even that was insulting to gamers even though it was a nice gesture. Ubi's disdain shows when gamers of a military game were offered nonmilitary games even though the freebie military games for a different game all carried the same rating of Teen as does the military based game.