Thanks to Ubisoft's insidious "always-on" DRM, legitimate copies of several Ubisoft titles will be unplayable next week. The publisher is shifting its servers, which would usually only affect multiplayer games, but will instead cut off access to a number of single-player titles that require Orwellian checkups via an Internet connection.
The affected PC games are HAWX 2, Might & Magic: Heroes 6, The Settlers 7. Those using a Mac will be unable to play The Settlers, Assassin's Creed and Splinter Cell: Conviction. Most other games will have their online modes unreachable for the day, although Just Dance 3 and Driver: San Francisco are said to be unaffected.
It's one of those problems that might not be a huge deal on its own, but is thoroughly unacceptable for the fact that it's a problem entirely of Ubisoft's own make. The DRM never needed to be there, so this is an issue that has no justifiable reason to exist.
Being unable to play a single-player game because servers are down is just a ludicrous scenario.
Assassin's Creed, Might and Magic, Settlers unplayable during Ubisoft server switch [Eurogamer]
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Contest:
9:20 AM on 02.02.2012 | 
The corgi is sad too.
It might even stop some pirates from cracking the game since it will be DRM-free in only a few weeks.
If they can cut down piracy in the release window, it might increase sales.
I don't like DRM at all, but if it has to be there, they need to make sure they're not screwing over the legit buyers like they are right here.
That or they legitimately suffer from Chrematophobia.
I guess someone's gotta continuously get it wrong though, otherwise how would anyone else ever look over and think to themselves "god I'm glad I'm not hellbent on fucking myself into a hole."
DRM should exist for no longer than it takes the pirates to crack it especially this kind of DRM which requires an internet connection
Fuck DRM.
they should rename themselves trollbisoft, christ
"fuck"
Stupid dipsticks.
Hell they're not even worth pirating.
According to the EULAs, we've been "renting" some software for at least a decade.
by Ubisoft.
I hadn't thought of it like that.
That's actually pretty funny when you put it that way.
More like Ubibroke.
And THAT'S why DRM SUCKS.
Seriously, it's one day... We'll all get through it, I promise.
People said, "Hey, you can trust us" so Ubisoft announces they will go DRM free for one holiday season.
Games that went DRM free had much higher piracy rates than those loaded with Stardock. Including casual piracy increased dramatically and they still connected to Ubi servers in overwhelming numbers.
Ubisoft announces always on DRM and gamers once again complain. Yet the piracy rates went down dramatically while sales actually increased. Despite this, Rayman Origins will be released DRM free.
Gamers claim always on DRM only hurts consumers, piracy offers better version, etc and so forth yet completely ignore the time where Ubisoft unlocked their software and their reward was a MASSIVE uptick in piracy. In other words, Jim, and many like him, completely forget their roles in why this shit exists. DRM sucks, no doubt. But the illusion that people won't steal the game if these companies are "nice" about it is a fabrication. The opposite has been proven true time and time again. So tell you what, every gamer bitching about Ubisoft right now needs to start leaving all their shit unlocked. As in credit card numbers on forums, car doors unlocked, no computer protection, because it IS what we are expecting of Ubisoft and other companies. Of course gamers, especially on PC, can quit being self-entitled thieving fucks. Then MAYBE I could buy a video game in a store without waiting for the stoner with the key to the glass case...
"But the illusion that people won't steal the game if these companies are "nice" about it is a fabrication."
No, you're completely missing the point. First, DRM does not reduce piracy in any meaningful way. Second, people will steal the game REGARDLESS, and DRM only hampers and harms those who buy legit copies.
I want to see these numbers. Post a link. I don't believe that piracy goes up when drm goes byebye. People who pirate on a ragular basis will pirate with or without the retail copy having drm. On the other hand, people who usually buy retail (or online) are more likely to pirate if they can't play the game they paid money for, even if they pirate a game they already bought. So it seems to me that drm increases piracy.
Between drm for pc and online passes for consoles, the games worth buying are getting hard to find.
i would also like to see the numbers to support your claim.
speaking personally, i only buy games that are DRM-free.
..... and the illusion that people won't steal the game if these companies pack them to the brim with DRM is also a fabrication.
All the talk you did about how we should just put our money where out mouths are and leave everything we own unlocked because that is "what we are asking developers to do" .... see the thing is locks only keep honest people honest. If someone really wanted to break into my house or my car or walk off with a stack of games from (insert retailer).... much like DRM a lock isn't going to do a damn thing to stop them.
Since their problem isn't with honest people all DRM does by inconveniencing the hell out of Honest people is cause them to look elsewhere for entertainment. Meaning that DRM is costing companies sales and the more inconvenience it bestows the more Honest people are going to migrate elsewhere. Leaving them with ... well pirates.
But, yeah totally fuck those self-entitled thieving fucks for expecting to be able to play a game they bought...... how fucking dare they....
@ima420r
I wouldn't be surprised if removing DRM caused a spike in piracy much like I wouldn't be surprised that legalizing marijuana would undoubtedly cause a spike in its use (alt. ending prohibition prolly spiked the hell out of alcohol consumption for a time). In each cases it would ramp down and reach a balance, that spike would be considered an aberration unless you specifically wanted to skew some figures.
Tho I would be interested in both the numbers and the games involved as the games are just as important as the numbers.
I wouldn't be surprised if the game that added DRM and supposedly saw increased sales .... come to think of it how do you see increased sales on a new product that has not been sold until that time as there is no baseline to compare it to? were they working off projected piracy and projected sales .... both of which hold little meaning ... so they got closer to their guestimate than they guestimated they would?
>Implying there is anything that can be done to ever stop piracy
As far as I'm concerned, video game publishers that have such a big deal with piracy should just close shop and move on. Wait, you don't want to leave behind all that money you make anyway? YOU DON'T SAY.
Protip: If a game cannot be pirated, it does not mean it will be bought. Pirates will just move on and not a single fuck would be given. Pirated copies do not equal lost sales.
This is like people going into a movie theater to watch a movie, you buy your ticket, and then the manager comes over and injects you with AIDS for having supported his business. Then he sees pirates with video cameras who are obviously there to steal the movie, and he waves them through like fucking VIP's. No purchase necessary.
Wow...
Simply uninstall the entire game, then proceed to install HOMM III Complete; problem solved.
Fucking Ubisoft.