Always-on internet DRM: will you be boycotting Ubisoft?

[qubit]

I certainly will. Starting with the upcoming Driver: San Francisco, all Ubisoft games will be saddled with their always-on internet-based DRM. So the instant your internet connection goes down the game stops. This is really taking the piss.

Here's an article on it for those who aren't familiar with this:

http://www.reghardware.com/2011/07/29/ubisoft_insists_drm_measures_are_successful/

PLEASE NOTE: I don't want this thread to get shut down, so please don't discuss the pros and cons of 'piracy'. Just say whether you'll be boycotting them or not and vote in the public poll (others can see your vote).

EDIT

More useful links about this from Techdirt:

Ubisoft Learns Nothing From Its DRM Past; Condemns Paying Customers To Repeat It Crucially, Ubisoft are keeping terribly quiet about how this has affected their sales. If they'd gone up, you'd expect them to shout about it, wouldn't you?

Ubisoft's 'You Must Be Connected To This Server' Annoying DRM Servers Go Down

 

[psyko12]

Started to boycott them with Splinter Cell Conv and Assassins Creed 2... IDK but eversince I had steam, I guess thats the only online DRM I would be happy with.. Although some of it's game have dormant DRMs with in them.

 

[qubit]

Started to boycott them with Splinter Cell Conv and Assassins Creed 2... IDK but eversince I had steam, I guess thats the only online DRM I would be happy with.. Although some of it's game have dormant DRMs with in them.

Yeah, me too. Steam is the only DRM that I'll tolerate.

For DRM-free classic games, see www.gog.com

 

[FordGT90Concept]

I don't support always-on DRM because my internet connection is not stable but the quality of the game itself is what ultimately decides if it is worth putting up with. Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, for example, no; Splinter Cell: Conviction, no; Settlers 7, yes; Driver: Parallel Lines, probably no. Don't get me wrong, Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood and Splinter Cell: Conviction are good games but they aren't good enough to put up with the Ubisoft's paranoid nonsense.

 

[1Kurgan1]

Since I love the interwebz I doubt I will be without internet. So boycotting a game I might enjoy doesn't make much sense for me personally.

 

[psyko12]

I don't support always on DRM because my internet connection is not stable but the quality of the game itself is what ultimately decides if it is worth putting up with. Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, for example, no; Splinter Cell: Conviction, no; Settlers 7, yes; Driver: Parallel Lines, probably no. Don't get me wrong, Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood and Splinter Cell: Conviction are good games but they aren't good enough to put up with the Ubisoft's paranoid nonsense.

+1 QFT! Also have iffy interwebz, but the game quality is most likely what I look into then DRM...

 

[qubit]

I don't support always on DRM because my internet connection is not stable but the quality of the game itself is what ultimately decides if it is worth putting up with. Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, for example, no; Splinter Cell: Conviction, no; Settlers 7, yes; Driver: Parallel Lines, probably no. Don't get me wrong, Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood and Splinter Cell: Conviction are good games but they aren't good enough to put up with the Ubisoft's paranoid nonsense.

So you'll decide depending on how good the game is when it's released? Yeah, I can see the logic in that.

You might remember that I returned the Steam version of Crysis 2 a few months back over the hidden DRM fiasco, even though I really liked it. However, I have to confess that with the fantastic new DX11 makeover, it does tempt me... but so far not enough to actually compromise my principles and infect my PC with it's DRM.

 

[Mussels]

i boycotted them the moment they started with this crap.

 

[streetfighter 2]

I already have been. I haven't bought an ubisoft game since Splinter Cell had always on DRM. I've discussed this with my gaming friends and all of them have followed suit. ***k Ubisoft.

 

[scaminatrix]

I don't know whether I have an opinion mainly due to ignorance I don't buy Steam games, I only buy physical copies. Would this affect me since I don't partake in these digital downloads?

I suppose what I'm asking is - do any physical copies of games have any always-on DRM?

 

[qubit]

I don't know whether I have an opinion mainly due to ignorance I don't buy Steam games, I only buy physical copies. Would this affect me since I don't partake in these digital downloads?

I suppose what I'm asking is - do any physical copies of games have any always-on DRM?

AFAIK only Ubisoft implements this - for now.

Thing is, all the disc-based games have some form of intrusive DRM like securom or similar. Steam's DRM is account based and doesn't infect your PC with anything.

Steam's DRM is actually the kindest out there and there's a lot of benefits to having a Steam account, such as auto game updates, social functions, cloud-based games saves, easy installation of your games and you play them on any machine without hassle.

 

[Delta6326]

This sounds awesome with my great dial up! Err oh wait this blows, its sad how they require internet but they don't pay attention to how many people in the USA have slow internet, us farmers cant do much.

 

[scaminatrix]

AFAIK only Ubisoft implements this - for now.

Thing is, all the disc-based games have some form of intrusive DRM like securom or similar. Steam's DRM is account based and doesn't infect your PC with anything.

Steam's DRM is actually the kindest out there and there's a lot of benefits to having a Steam account, such as auto game updates, social functions, cloud-based games saves, easy installation of your games and you play them on any machine without hassle.

My gaming rig's never connected to the net (I have no interest in multi-player games) so no Steam for me. That means I will be most definitely boycotting any company that requires you to stay conncted to the net just to play a single-player game.

 

[Batou1986]

Its the only reason i don't own HAWX 2 already

 

[bbmarley]

what about peoples who have no internet they going to lose them as customers?

 

[Melvis]

They keep using DRM ill keep pirating there games, its that simple.

 

[qubit]

My gaming rig's never connected to the net (I have no interest in multi-player games) so no Steam for me. That means I will be most definitely boycotting any company that requires you to stay conncted to the net just to play a single-player game.

So how do you get Windows updates? I'm curious why you don't connect it to the net. Is it to do with security? If so, there's no need to be so cautious: a basic hardware firewall in your router and a decent a/v like Kaspersky Internet Security will keep you safe. This is my personal setup.

Its the only reason i don't own HAWX 2 already

I have to confess that this muppet right here bought it a while back in a Steam sale, completely forgetting about this poxy DRM. <facepalm> As it was declared on the Steam store page, I had no grounds for a refund, silly me.

Note that I've never played it...

 

[Mussels]

what about peoples who have no internet they going to lose them as customers?

that, or foce you to game on console where they mistakenly think they can prevent piracy.

 

[Crap Daddy]

If you have a decent internet connection and you like a game published by UBi then why not buy it? Already the majority of the games if not all require an activation through the net. 90% of my games are bought through steam which requires internet connection so what's the big deal?

 

[RejZoR]

I already am boycotting them ever since they released this pile of rubbishness. I have bought Far Cry 2 and HAWX 1 in the last month but just because they were cheap and without this DRM crap.
HAWX 2 was also significantly cheaper at the same time, but i decided not to buy it because it contains this crap. Similar the last time they had Prince of Persia deal on Steam. Bought all the games that don't have always on DRM. And will continue to do so. If they'll only have always on DRM games in the future, this just means i won't buy anything from them anymore. It's as simple as that.
In fact i'd rather buy an EA game. It has stupid activation but at least once i activate the game i can be offline or online and i don't need to use the disc anymore. At least something. And their latest versions of protection are a bit more forgiving and easier to deactivate. As much as EA sucks in general, they at least have this better than Ubisoft. A tiny bit better...

Steam is the best DRM avaialble though. I just wish games that are released on it would be stripped of its original DRM. There is no need to have both if Steam is already a very good DRM protection. Also games with Games for Windows Live should be stripped of it as well. Why have 2 layers of the same thing? But still, Steam provides goodies that you start to like and want like Steam Cloud and community part which is cool and i can forgive the annoying DRM part because of it.

 

[scaminatrix]

So how do you get Windows updates? I'm curious why you don't connect it to the net. Is it to do with security? If so, there's no need to be so cautious: a basic hardware firewall in your router and a decent a/v like Kaspersky Internet Security will keep you safe.

Na nothing to do with security - just a personal choice really. I connect it to the net to do updates but since I don't play games online I don't see any reason why it should be connected if you know what I mean.
It's kinda the flip-side of what this thread's hinting on - I'm not going to be forced into connecting my gaming rig to the net just to play a single-player campaign.

I think the easiest way to see it is - I've got my internet PC for the net and my gaming rig for gaming. I don't see any point in mixing the two if I'm not going to play online.

I know, I'm a confusing mf'er!!

 

[qubit]

Na nothing to do with security - just a personal choice really. I connect it to the net to do updates but since I don't play games online I don't see any reason why it should be connected if you know what I mean.
It's kinda the flip-side of what this thread's hinting on - I'm not going to be forced into connecting my gaming rig to the net just to play a single-player campaign.

I think the easiest way to see it is - I've got my internet PC for the net and my gaming rig for gaming. I don't see any point in mixing the two if I'm not going to play online.

I know, I'm a confusing mf'er!!

Hmmm... that is a little confusing. I suspect that you may have a misconception or two, because you've never used it.

So the PC is connected to the net, therefore I don't see a problem with running Steam on it. Crucial thing is Steam doesn't force you to be online - it 100% supports offline mode. The only times to go online with it are:

- Game downloads
- Updates to games or the Steam client (and the Steam client doesn't have to be updated if it's running offline)
- Multiplayer, which you don't do
- It doesn't interfere with any other DRM from a disc-based game and doesn't add it's own to Windows. It's just a normal application as far as Windows is concerned

One of Steam's best features, is the way that it natively supports creating your own installation files, so you can install your game(s) on as many PCs as you want, with zero hassle.

Note that you can't sell on your Steam games. That's the one major negative I have with it and I feel it only fair to point it out to you. On the other hand, what with all these account hacks of major companies going around the internet nowadays, it also eliminates the possibility of your games being stolen, so it doesn't bother me so much any more.

Tell you what, why don't you sign up for a free Steam account and download one of the free games/demos/videos available on it, so you can try it out? I'll then be happy to friend you in it, too. I've got several friends from TPU on it now.

Get hooked here: www.steampowered.com

 

[Drone]

I never play/buy ubisoft games but if I did I would boycott them. Not all people have uber fast internet.

 

[scaminatrix]

Hmmm... that is a little confusing. I suspect that you may have a misconception or two, because you've never used it.
So the PC is connected to the net, therefore I don't see a problem with running Steam on it. Crucial thing is Steam doesn't force you to be online - it 100% supports offline mode. The only times to go online with it are:
- Game downloads
- Updates to games or the Steam client (and the Steam client doesn't have to be updated if it's running offline)
- Multiplayer, which you don't do
- It doesn't interfere with any other DRM from a disc-based game and doesn't add it's own to Windows. It's just a normal application as far as Windows is concerned
One of Steam's best features, is the way that it natively supports creating your own installation files, so you can install your game(s) on as many PCs as you want, with zero hassle.
Note that you can't sell on your Steam games. That's the one major negative I have with it and I feel it only fair to point it out to you. On the other hand, what with all these account hacks of major companies going around the internet nowadays, it also eliminates the possibility of your games being stolen, so it doesn't bother me so much any more.
Tell you what, why don't you sign up for a free Steam account and download one of the free games/demos/videos available on it, so you can try it out? I'll then be happy to friend you in it, too. I've got several friends from TPU on it now.
Get hooked here: www.steampowered.com

Honestly mate, it's like me trying to convince you to buy Crysis 2; it ain't gonna happen

I've got a Steam account, just never used it. And again, I only like physical copies. If I can't get a game on disc, I won't buy it.

If there was a game that reminds me of my childhood, that I haven't played in over 10 years or w/e, that I was gagging to play again and only available on Steam, then maybe, just maybe.

 

[qubit]

Honestly mate, it's like me trying to convince you to buy Crysis 2; it ain't gonna happen

I've got a Steam account, just never used it. And again, I only like physical copies. If I can't get a game on disc, I won't buy it.

If there was a game that reminds me of my childhood, that I haven't played in over 10 years or w/e, that I was gagging to play again and only available on Steam, then maybe, just maybe.

Hey, ok no problem. You've got that account so you know what it's like; fair enough.

Would you be interested in DRM-free games from www.gog.com then? They're download only too and you can download them as many time as you like, too. (For a moment, put aside the fact that you may not actually want to play those old games, it's the delivery method I'm concentrating on here.)