an open letter to the internet

douchebagatron

<div class="IPBDescription">boycott buying ubi pc games!</div>so i'm not a huge fan of DRM, but i rarely have a problem with it. I alway get my games legitimately, and don't really have any issues with it.

EXCEPT WITH UBISOFT. I run 64bit versions of windows. I also bought, and loved, splinter cell chaos theory. I tried to reinstall it to find that the DRM is not compatible with 64bit, and ubisoft outright refuses to update it to work on current machines. meanwhile, they actively work on ways to screw over the people who actually do buy their games, when those who download pirated versions don't have any issues at all.

Ubisoft has proven that their ultra-DRM is unreliable, the servers were down all day.

I'm never going to buy an ubisoft game until they stop with this crap. I'd much rather take my legal chances and get something i can actually play.

TychoCelchuuu

If it works fine for the pirates, why don't you just crack the game? You already own it so it's not like you're doing anything wrong.

lolfighter

Not down exactly (unless we use different servers over here than you do, which is quite possible), but slow - it took me 10-12 tries of restarting and quitting AC2 to get it to log in properly, though I never had any issues once I'd successfully gotten into the game. At any rate, very annoying. Not that I didn't know what I was getting into, but I feel like a bit of a fool for being an honest customer now.

Regardless, maybe you should try posting your open letter in the internet town square where more people will see it. Wherever that is.

lolfighter

<!--quoteo(post=1757974:date=Mar 8 2010, 06:43 AM:name=TychoCelchuuu)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (TychoCelchuuu @ Mar 8 2010, 06:43 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1757974"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->If it works fine for the pirates, why don't you just crack the game? You already own it so it's not like you're doing anything wrong.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
If he's a resident of the United States, I'm pretty sure that the DMCA forbids the circumvention of DRM. Which means that it would be a crime.

douchebagatron

eh, this is the internet. no one really cares anyways.

Panigg

<!--quoteo(post=1757977:date=Mar 8 2010, 07:04 AM:name=6john)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (6john @ Mar 8 2010, 07:04 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1757977"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->eh, this is the internet. no one really cares anyways.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Indeed.

I'm pretty sure they will stop this nonesense soon.

That or try an even harsher DRM next time.

You get a special camera with the game that films your face and sends it to ubisoft. If you smile that means the game works, so you cracked it and they will shut it down immediately by sending you cops that beat you with a large stick.

Quaunaut

At this point, I'm sure that publishers aren't stupid enough to actually think DRM is going to work. I think it's more that their shareholders are stupid enough to want them to keep trying.

Chris0132

I don't think there are any ubisoft games I would particularly want to buy anyway, although if I did I wouldn't avoid doing so on principle, I would buy them if they were good (and reliability is a factor in that) and not if they were bad.

Boycotts are silly things.

Retales

For me it was obvious not to buy any game with that kind of DRM, even before the servers (inevitably) went down. Apparently there's already a crack available for AC2, so who are the only ones who suffer from the DRM and crappy servers? The legit customers.

steppin'razor

Punishing customers is a good business plan.

puzl

They have a problem alright, and it's not like they can just download the crack from the internet and ship it to their customers. <_<

DRM is snake-oil, and I'm sure the suits believe what they want to, and I doubt anyone actually implementing DRM thinks it will work.. but.. it won't stop them from accepting their very large fee for mixing the oil with the secret ingredient.

Draco_2k

Boycotts can be extremely effective in certain scenarios, but I don't think this is one of them. Personally, I just don't buy games with "SF" on the cover, because the damn thing cuts my average FPS in half, and average stability to 1/10th... I think spreading the truth about StarForce and such is doing more to damage sales than any boycott ever could.

I think over the years it prevented me from buying ten or so games I'd like, and from playing two I legally own.

Yey, go crappy DRM!

Kouji_San

Steam has been around for years now and also had a rough start, these other then Valve devs just don't want steam to provide them with good DRM, because they have to pay for it? BFBC2 also has thirdparty DRM, what is up with tha.... Oh wait EA doesn't acknowledge Steam as DRM :P


But wouldn't you rather have a DRM that works then trying to reinvent the wheel and it turns out square...

lolfighter

Except Steam DRM gets circumvented all the time - just like any other DRM.

Update: Now the servers are completely down. Furthermore, attempting to reconnect causes the launcher to crash. Man do I ever feel like a chump.

Align

From what I heard their servers were DDoS'd by pirates trying to prove a point.

Cereal_KillR

<!--quoteo(post=1758016:date=Mar 8 2010, 12:35 PM:name=puzl)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (puzl @ Mar 8 2010, 12:35 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1758016"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->They have a problem alright, and it's not like they can just download the crack from the internet and ship it to their customers. <_<<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->


Why not? They have done it already before...
<a href="http://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/2008/07/ubisoft-drm-snafu-reminds-us-whats-wrong-with-pc-gaming.ars" target="_blank">http://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/2008/07...h-pc-gaming.ars</a>

puzl

<!--quoteo(post=1758064:date=Mar 8 2010, 03:44 PM:name=Cereal_KillR)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Cereal_KillR @ Mar 8 2010, 03:44 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1758064"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Why not? They have done it already before...
<a href="http://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/2008/07/ubisoft-drm-snafu-reminds-us-whats-wrong-with-pc-gaming.ars" target="_blank">http://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/2008/07...h-pc-gaming.ars</a><!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->


My my sarcasm needs more emoticons ;)

KungFuDiscoMonkey

I think for a boycott to be successful, people would need to not buy it AND NOT PIRATE IT. If no one was playing the game at all, I think that would send a stronger message. Though I'm not naive enough to think this will ever happen.

Jimmeh

<!--quoteo(post=1758075:date=Mar 8 2010, 04:28 PM:name=puzl)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (puzl @ Mar 8 2010, 04:28 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1758075"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->My my sarcasm needs more emoticons ;)<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

<img src="http://i47.tinypic.com/9rr85y.png" border="0" class="linked-image" />

snooggums

<!--quoteo(post=1758059:date=Mar 8 2010, 09:20 AM:name=Align)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Align @ Mar 8 2010, 09:20 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1758059"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->From what I heard their servers were DDoS'd by pirates trying to prove a point.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

A good point too: If the servers aren't up you can't play the game you bought. that means if UbiSoft goes under, decides not to pay for those servers, your internet goes out or is flaky or many other situations you can't play a game you purchased because UbiSoft won't let you and they won't refund your money.

That's right, you paid them to tell you when you can play. The pirates point is what would happen if any of those things happened and hopefully people will wake up.

Although I don't advocate their DDoS attack, a non-violent protest is the right way to go about it. This is an economic equivalent to the civil rights movement to stage sit ins at diners that kept other people from being able to order. Unfortunately many people who care still have to have the circumstances slapped in their face before they take action.

lolfighter

The newest gimmick the launcher is up to is an "incorrect username or password" message even with a correct username and password. This is getting so hilariously bad it's almost worth the price of admission.

locallyunscene

<!--quoteo(post=1758059:date=Mar 8 2010, 10:20 AM:name=Align)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Align @ Mar 8 2010, 10:20 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1758059"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->From what I heard their servers were DDoS'd by pirates trying to prove a point.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Don't confuse pirates with hackers. It demeans both.

<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->boycott buying ubi pc games<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Okay.

DiscoZombie

I wonder what would happen if pirates/hackers drove all the big publishers out of the PC games market entirely. I guess it would mean we'd only have indy games on the PC, which I guess wouldn't be all bad.

Cereal_KillR

You're aware that this is never going to happen though, right?
That's like saying divx and torrents killed the film industry, while knowing that 2009 was the most successful year ever for Hollywood.

Draco_2k

<!--quoteo(post=1758135:date=Mar 8 2010, 10:13 PM:name=DiscoZombie)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (DiscoZombie @ Mar 8 2010, 10:13 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1758135"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I wonder what would happen if pirates/hackers drove all the big publishers out of the PC games market entirely. I guess it would mean we'd only have indy games on the PC, which I guess wouldn't be all bad.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Except... Indie titles are even more rampantly pirated, aren't they? World of Goo almost went under because of it, I gather.

DiscoZombie

<!--quoteo(post=1758137:date=Mar 8 2010, 02:26 PM:name=Cereal_KillR)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Cereal_KillR @ Mar 8 2010, 02:26 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1758137"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->You're aware that this is never going to happen though, right?
That's like saying divx and torrents killed the film industry, while knowing that 2009 was the most successful year ever for Hollywood.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Well, you're right that it will never truly *kill* the PC games industry, but I believe it's a very large part of why PC games are an afterthought at best for most big publishers. The attitude seems to be, if it's an xbox game, it's probably an easy port to PC so we might as well give them our sloppy seconds. Otherwise, don't bother with a PC version. PC-only games, practically no one even considers making anymore. If there was no such thing as piracy scaring away publishers (and investors), I bet we'd have a lot more big games in the PC market. Unlike Hollywood, PC game retail sales have been <a href="http://vgsales.wikia.com/wiki/PC_gaming" target="_blank">declining since 2001</a> (though that doesn't track digital distribution).

Align

<!--quoteo(post=1758124:date=Mar 8 2010, 07:20 PM:name=snooggums)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (snooggums @ Mar 8 2010, 07:20 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1758124"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->A good point too: If the servers aren't up you can't play the game you bought.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Might've been more appropriate if it was something that happened naturally rather than forced from the outside.
<!--quoteo(post=1758132:date=Mar 8 2010, 08:07 PM:name=locallyunscene)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (locallyunscene @ Mar 8 2010, 08:07 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1758132"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Don't confuse pirates with hackers. It demeans both.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Why would random hackers do it if they weren't also pirates?

X_Stickman

A boycott wouldn't be effective because no one has any idea how to properly track pirate figures. What they'd see is "less sales than expected", which to the decision makers means "more people than expected are pirating this game", which means they either give up or use harsher DRM next time.

I don't think Ubisoft even cares. The AC2 DRM seemed almost like a final straw thing; "we'll try this and if it doesn't work, screw it". I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't do a PC version of whatever game they make next (although they probably will).


I've never really got the anti-DRM argument. Well, I get it in that DRM sucks and is useless, but I don't get what they expect the publishers to do. Just give up? Ubisoft isn't going to get a few thousand emails saying "this DRM sucks" and suddenly say "Okay, we'll get rid of it" and release their next game completely DRM free. That's not how they work.

Scythe

Here's a thought:

Put a cursory disk check in. Nothing else. Pirates can crack it just as they can with ANY other form of DRM, and legit customers aren't too disadvantaged.

For every iota of trouble you cause pirates, you cause your legitimate customers ten times as much hassle. Nobody's going to decide not to pirate something based on the fact that the DRM is too much trouble to crack. For the armchair pirate it means copying a few .exes out of the ISO. Whoop-de-frigging-do.

--Scythe--

X_Stickman

<!--quoteo(post=1758269:date=Mar 9 2010, 07:47 AM:name=Scythe)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Scythe @ Mar 9 2010, 07:47 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1758269"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Here's a thought:

Put a cursory disk check in. Nothing else. Pirates can crack it just as they can with ANY other form of DRM, and legit customers aren't too disadvantaged.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->


That's already been done, and it didn't work. So companies dedicated to DRM aren't going to go back to it.

Draco_2k

DRM/Piracy are actually amusing in a sense that they arise from very natural causes. Namely, artificial scarcity. No one pirates bread, because it's not physically possible, but the Internet and even physical media are simply overly abundant means of communicating information, distributing it everywhere at once is what it's meant to do... And so it's what it does. It's very organic that way.

It's a bit like inventing a perpetum mobile and then putting a clamp on it so it doesn't work like it's supposed to.