Ubisoft's new DRM

[Ed Anger]

http://support.uk.ubi.com/online-services-platform/

Is there an "off-line" option?
No. The added services to the game (unlimited installs, online storage of saved games and the fact that you don't need the game disc to play) require you to have an online connection while playing the game.

Will I need to be online the whole time when I play the game? Including for single player?
Yes. You will need to have an active Internet connection to play the game, for all game modes.

LOLZ.

[Syt]

Added services!

[katmai]

Well i can be content in knowing they haven't made any games I am remotely interested in playing

[Ed Anger]

I was sorta interested in SH5.

Me likey to blow up ships.

[Cerr]

Yeah it's awful.
I was interested in Ruse and AssCreed 2 but not anymore due to this crap.

More about it here:
http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2010/02/17/you-maniacs/

[Neil]

Meh.  I have an internet connection.

[Cecil]

I predict the pirates will break it within 1 month.

[Syt]

I predict the pirates will break it within 1 month.

Indeed. Probably run a small server program on your machine and route the DRM there.

It's silly, though, that playing a pirated game becomes a lot more convenient than buying a legit copy.

[sbr]

I predict the pirates will break it within 1 month.

That long?  Most are cracked and torrented before release.

[Razgovory]

We should blame Slargos and Tamas.  The thing is, a game that has these DRM protections is more likely to profit then one that does not.  I imagine that we will see a lot more of this.

Personally I find this shit annoying, but I don't begrudge them for it.  It's got to hurt when a you work two years on a game only to see it pirated before the release date and destroy sales.

[Grey Fox]

Broken before street release.

[Neil]

It's silly, though, that playing a pirated game becomes a lot more convenient than buying a legit copy.

That's where there at though.  Given the expense of modern big-name releases, are you really surprised?

This sounds like it'd be more difficult to beat, given that the program will be in constant contact with Ubisoft's servers.

[Alexandru H.]

Is there an "off-line" option?
No. The added services to the game (unlimited installs, online storage of saved games and the fact that you don't need the game disc to play) require you to have an online connection while playing the game.

So because they're nice enough to allow us to play without a gamedisc, we're forced to have an online connection while playing... I don't get this line of thought.

[Alatriste]

Is there an "off-line" option?
No. The added services to the game (unlimited installs, online storage of saved games and the fact that you don’t need the game disc to play) require you to have an online connection while playing the game.

So because they're nice enough to allow us to play without a gamedisc, we're forced to have an online connection while playing... I don't get this line of thought.

Don't you?  Ask yourself.. why would they want to store in their server your saved games? Why would they want to pay for such servers, actually?

Because with this system (some have called it SPOG, single-player online gaming), you no longer own the game you bought - or rather, leased. You just bought the right to log in those Ubi servers. That's why.

If Ubi decide, two or three years in the future, to discontinue support, we are screwed.
If Ubi decide to charge a monthly fee 'to finance server maintenance', we are screwed.
If Ubi closes doors, we are screwed.
If Ubi decides it won't allow second hand games, we are screwed.

In short, this means a massive transfer of power from buyers to software sellers like Ubi. And I, at least, won't have none of it.

[Warspite]

I predict the pirates will break it within 1 month.

Indeed. Probably run a small server program on your machine and route the DRM there.

It's silly, though, that playing a pirated game becomes a lot more convenient than buying a legit copy.

The reasonable solution is surely to buy it and then crack it.

Bad DRM does not confer moral license to illegally pirate it.