Ubisoft's New PC DRM Really Requires Net Access, Ends Game If Disconnected

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mmntech

mmntech

Lifer
Sep 20, 2007
17,501
12
0
pmv said:
I've seen plenty. Though some don't. Not sure why some let you skip and some don't. The bit that annoys me (here in Europe) is endlessly getting the same stupid warning about not watching it on an oil rig or a prison, only in 20 different languages.
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Depends on the studio. FOX lets you skip everything.


Apparently Assassin's Creed II is selling for PC, with it's draconian DRM and all. #5 on Steam. Disgusting really.
http://kotaku.com/5486293/pc-sales-charts-bringin-out-the-big-guns
 
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HeXen

HeXen

Diamond Member
Dec 13, 2009
7,837
38
91
You know it may depend on DVD Player. I noticed some dvd's that skip or wont play at all will play on another. Even my expensive Panasonic has some DVD's it wont play but the $30 cheapo Craig DVD downstairs plays them fine sometimes vise versa.

So maybe the skip to root menu works better on some than others. I know on PC the best way to skip everything is to click directly on the .VOB file that has intro to movie. I do it all the time, have to use Slysoft Anydvd though to play most.

I dont have BluRay except PS3, a crisper picture isnt worth the price to me plus i never even notice a moment after movie starts.
 
L

lsquare

Senior member
Jan 30, 2009
749
1
81
I generally don't advocate piracy, but in cases like this, it may be justified to pirate the game or get the console version if it's available. I see absolutely no reason why people have to put up this with BS. What if I'm travelling and want to play this game on my laptop? Without an internet connection then that won't be possible. Why should someone that pirate this game have more rights than me? It's fucking BS. I've made up my mind and going to boycott Ubisoft games on the PC or any platform that implements an draconian style DRM like this.
 
NoSoup4You

NoSoup4You

Golden Member
Feb 12, 2007
1,253
6
81
I'll probably wait awhile before purchasing this, I have enough games to keep me entertained for a long time anyway. But I really liked the original Assassins Creed and the sequel got incredible reviews, so I may bite anyway. We'll see.

This is an awful decision on their part, very disappointed.
 
reallyscrued

reallyscrued

Platinum Member
Jul 28, 2004
2,618
5
81
lsquare said:
I generally don't advocate piracy, but in cases like this, it may be justified to pirate the game or get the console version if it's available.
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Seriously. Those fucking game devs.

You know what you should do to really burn their butter? Download the torrent, burn it to DVDs and sell it on Craigslist for 5 bucks a pop.

That'll teach those scumbags.
 
KaOTiK

KaOTiK

Lifer
Feb 5, 2001
10,877
8
81
lsquare said:
I generally don't advocate piracy, but in cases like this, it may be justified to pirate the game or get the console version if it's available. I see absolutely no reason why people have to put up this with BS. What if I'm travelling and want to play this game on my laptop? Without an internet connection then that won't be possible. Why should someone that pirate this game have more rights than me? It's fucking BS. I've made up my mind and going to boycott Ubisoft games on the PC or any platform that implements an draconian style DRM like this.
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Don't pirate it, simply don't play it. Plenty of other great games out that missing out on this one isn't a big deal. I myself wouldn't even give them money buying the console version.
 
Y

you2

Diamond Member
Apr 2, 2002
6,906
1,973
136
Thanks for the pointer; trying to read it but the site is overwhelmed :)

It is not surprising that there are roll out issues. Steam was one of the better implementation but it was developed by developers not publisher.

Anyways the insanity here is not allowing any sort of off line mode (esp for single player campaign). I *think* EA is doing a simliar thing with C&C but not sure - maybe it will change when it is published.

I'm sure if this impacts UBI's bottom line they will blame piracy and not managerial decisions around DRM :)


KaOTiK said:
Fixed it, Ubi deleted the two threads in question, there is one over there now that seems to be the they are allowing now
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dualsmp

dualsmp

Golden Member
Aug 16, 2003
1,627
45
91
EA and Ubisoft are now both on my shortlist of companies to avoid, I'll buy from more independent game developers who aren't so greedy. I'm happy I don't have one Ubisoft or EA game on my Steam list. :)
 
KaOTiK

KaOTiK

Lifer
Feb 5, 2001
10,877
8
81
dualsmp said:
EA and Ubisoft are now both on my shortlist of companies to avoid, I'll buy from more independent game developers who aren't so greedy. I'm happy I don't have one Ubisoft or EA game on my Steam list. :)
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To be fair though, EA has really turned around lately. ME2 and DAO had simple disc checks for DRM and that was it I believe. Granted the new C&C4 needs to be online all the time due to the way they tied single player progress to multiplayer progress but C&C sucks balls now anyways :p

But they have gotten a lot better, Ubi is just sucking more then the neighborhood whore on payday now though, with activison right beside them giving a reach around.
 
coloumb

coloumb

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
4,069
0
81
100% uptime...er...well... maybe not so much :)

http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/07/ubisoft-drm-authentification-server-is-down-assassins-creed-2/

For the linky impaired [who knows - it may be blocked at work]:

Earlier today, our tips inbox and the official Assassin's Creed 2 forum were set ablaze by incensed owners of the PC version of the aforementioned Italian revenge epic. According to numerous reports from prospective players of the game, Ubisoft's DRM authentification servers have crashed, forcing some players to suffer lengthy login periods when booting up Assassin's Creed 2, and locking some folks out of the game entirely.

A Ubisoft representative responded to a particularly rage-filled forum thread, stating "clearly the extended downtime and lengthy login issues are unacceptable, particularly as I've been told these servers are constantly monitored." The representative added "I'll do what I can to get more information on what the issue is here first thing tomorrow and push for a resolution and assurance this won't happen in the future." We've got a really great suggestion for how to make such an assurance: Find a less abominable DRM policy.
 
A

Arglebargle

Senior member
Dec 2, 2006
892
1
81
Good! There needed to be something like this to underscore just how stoopid this DRM was. Because apparantly you can't trust the publishers to have a reasonably robust system set up to handle things. It sucks for the players who have anticipated these titles (does not include me).

Maybe they will (eventually) get this working efficiently. Or maybe not. Hope it hits them in that first flush of sales, something that more and more of the game companies seem to be shooting for. It helps when the games aren't really up to snuff, if you make your profits before everyone has a chance to find out and warn others.
 
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Elixer

Elixer

Lifer
May 7, 2002
10,371
762
126
coloumb said:
100% uptime...er...well... maybe not so much :)

http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/07/ubisoft-drm-authentification-server-is-down-assassins-creed-2/

For the linky impaired [who knows - it may be blocked at work]:

Earlier today, our tips inbox and the official Assassin's Creed 2 forum were set ablaze by incensed owners of the PC version of the aforementioned Italian revenge epic. According to numerous reports from prospective players of the game, Ubisoft's DRM authentification servers have crashed, forcing some players to suffer lengthy login periods when booting up Assassin's Creed 2, and locking some folks out of the game entirely.

A Ubisoft representative responded to a particularly rage-filled forum thread, stating "clearly the extended downtime and lengthy login issues are unacceptable, particularly as I've been told these servers are constantly monitored." The representative added "I'll do what I can to get more information on what the issue is here first thing tomorrow and push for a resolution and assurance this won't happen in the future." We've got a really great suggestion for how to make such an assurance: Find a less abominable DRM policy.
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The people playing the deprotected version of this game must be laughing their heads off.
I wonder just how many ways Ubi can screw the customer on this epic FAIL of a DRM scheme they thought up.

I also bet they are going to blame it on DDOS attacks...
 
W

wanderer27

Platinum Member
Aug 6, 2005
2,173
15
81
coloumb said:
100% uptime...er...well... maybe not so much :)

http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/07/ubisoft-drm-authentification-server-is-down-assassins-creed-2/

For the linky impaired [who knows - it may be blocked at work]:

Earlier today, our tips inbox and the official Assassin's Creed 2 forum were set ablaze by incensed owners of the PC version of the aforementioned Italian revenge epic. According to numerous reports from prospective players of the game, Ubisoft's DRM authentification servers have crashed, forcing some players to suffer lengthy login periods when booting up Assassin's Creed 2, and locking some folks out of the game entirely.

A Ubisoft representative responded to a particularly rage-filled forum thread, stating "clearly the extended downtime and lengthy login issues are unacceptable, particularly as I've been told these servers are constantly monitored." The representative added "I'll do what I can to get more information on what the issue is here first thing tomorrow and push for a resolution and assurance this won't happen in the future." We've got a really great suggestion for how to make such an assurance: Find a less abominable DRM policy.
Click to expand...

Authentication Servers down?

Nah, that'll never happen.

Just like you'll never lose your high speed Internet connect - like mine that didn't go out all last Thursday night (yeah, it & Cable was dead).
I live in town in a fairly new Housing division and I can assure you, I still have issues with Cable services.


I had really hoped their DRM would hold out for a while and that their sales would tank . . . . wishful thinking I guess.
 
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Qbah

Qbah

Diamond Member
Oct 18, 2005
3,754
10
81
Seems like Ubisoft forums are down :p If this DRM was to succeed it needed a flawless start - and this situation is definitely not acceptable (let alone flawless). The concept isn't really that bad (it was the point of my argument in this thread - the concept), however with this execution I'd say - let them burn :p
 
C

crownjules

Diamond Member
Jul 7, 2005
4,858
0
76
Qbah said:
Seems like Ubisoft forums are down :p If this DRM was to succeed it needed a flawless start - and this situation is definitely not acceptable (let alone flawless). The concept isn't really that bad (it was the point of my argument in this thread - the concept), however with this execution I'd say - let them burn :p
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True at some point the technology might support such a DRM scheme that it won't create problems such as these. But it doesn't exist right now and connections can be unreliable. The end result is Ubisoft's new DRM format blows up in their face like this and becomes a PR nightmare.
 
R

Rezident

Senior member
Nov 30, 2009
283
5
81
20svrlj.jpg
 
KaOTiK

KaOTiK

Lifer
Feb 5, 2001
10,877
8
81
mindcycle

mindcycle

Golden Member
Jan 9, 2008
1,901
0
76
Ubisoft has tweeted that the servers are being attacked again and that some players may experience issues with connecting to multiplayer etc.

This is the second known attack so far for today, the other attack was early this morning. Ubiosoft has not released on how they are attacking the servers but my guesses are it is being ddos (aka whole bunch of random hits to try and shut the server down by overloading it).
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http://e4g.info/5099/ubisoft-servers-under-attack-again.html

This just keeps getting better and better. If a DDoS attack is bringing down their servers, they obviously don't have things setup properly over there. This whole thing is pretty ridiculous IMO and just shows how DRM only negatively affects legit customers.
 
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mindcycle

mindcycle

Golden Member
Jan 9, 2008
1,901
0
76
KaOTiK said:
Of course they can't come out and say the truth "Sorry our Tandy 2000 in the lunch room closet couldn't handle the load from the suckers, errr scratch that, customers from the overwhelming sales and we will keep inconveniencing them at every turn possible"
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From the article:

We're happy to say ACII & SH5 are withstanding the efforts to crack them. We see the rumors but still confirm no valid cracked versions exist
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Haha. I just read that. "We "won the war on piracy" and all we had to do was use this shitty DRM!" I guess stopping people who wouldn't have bought your game in the first place totally makes up for all the people who did buy it and are getting screwed now. lol
 
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