Ubisoft’s UK PR Manager has spoken out in defence of the company’s new anti-piracy plans.
After announcing that upcoming PC titles would require an always-on internet connection in order to play, the company received some criticism from fans. The main complaint was that a game is unusable should they lose or otherwise have no internet connection.
In response, UK PR Manager Stefano Petrullo made the following three points, when speaking to MCV:
- “We know this choice is controversial but we feel is justified by the gameplay advantages offered by the system and because most PCs are already connected to the internet.”
- “This platform also offers protection against piracy, an important business element for Ubisoft and for the PC market in general as piracy has an important impact on this market.”
- “Ubisoft’s number one goal is to provide added value that will facilitate and enrich the gaming experience of our PC customers.”
Three very solid points but we’d expect further criticism and await to see if any other companies take note or join Ubisoft in their anti-piracy campaign before passing judgement.
Source: MCV
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This shouldn’t be that big of an issue. What I have a problem with is DRM limited installs. I like to wipe my PC and do a fresh install every 6-8 months, so I choose to stay away from DRM-protected physical media. I’m glad Steam strips any Third-party games of DRM or whatever anti-piracy measures are used.
Gene Centanni (January 28th, 2010 @ 3:58 am)
I don’t pirate games, but I can’t see this as being anything more than a cheap ploy by Ubisoft to get some of that sweet free marketing that Spore and CoD:MW2 enjoyed by being the top pirated games.
@Gene: Steam doesn’t strip out the DRM on third party titles. Sometimes the titles are released on Steam without their original DRM, but a lot of titles still have their original DRM included. Bioshock 2 and Arkham Asylum on Steam still have SecureROM and Games for Windows Live DRM schemes in place.
Dave (January 28th, 2010 @ 5:16 am)
Ah I thought it was with every title, everything I’ve picked up off of Steam in the past 2-3 years hasn’t had DRM and I’ve reinstalled everything at least 6-7 times with no problems.
Gene Centanni (January 28th, 2010 @ 12:58 pm)
If it allowed for offline play (like Steam does), it’d be just perfect. But instead, they went for screwing with those that can’t afford a connection, or that want to have some fun when away from home, but there’s no internet where they are. This is madness, the world is not yet prepared for this kind of thing, because, as they said, “most PCs are already connected to the internet”, but not all of them. Besides… added value? enrich the gaming experience? Sounds as if they were making us a favour, but the only thing they’re doing is forcing us to be connected in order to play, with no other real avantadge, other than the fact we don’t need the CD anymore. And also to note is the fact that they introduce it in games where it isn’t really needed. For instance, Silent Hunter 5. A saga of simulator titles, with a relative reduced audience, most communities make it a must to buy the game in order to participate, lots of people even buy 2 copies. And in Spain, it costs just 20 bucks, so what’s the point? Can’t exceptions be made in pro of not upsetting loyal consumers?
This is nothing but a rushed and desperate decision to stop others from getting the money they want (like reselled used games). Funny thing is, they only inconvenience legit users. Pirates won’t probably be affected by all this.
Mix-martes86 (January 28th, 2010 @ 10:06 am)
To anyone complaining about this anti-piracy plan, you have no real valid reason to moan. It is true that most PCs have a internet connection and if you’re too cheap to have a net connection you’ll probably be too cheap to buy the games anyway. If you say “well I want to play it on long journeys”, then buy a bloody DS or PSP, PC games are for playing at home.
All Ubisoft are doing is trying to ensure they actually make money on the games and not have a load of people STEALING their product. It’s a lot better than the limited amount of installs that Spore had.
Stevie (January 28th, 2010 @ 8:11 pm)
Ubisoft can do whatever they chose. Stop people from taking the money is important. If you have a PC and no internet why have a PC.
Gsnk1 (January 28th, 2010 @ 8:18 pm)
This is a bunch of BS. The world is not connected, don’t they get this. I spend a good deal of my summer out at camp where there isn’t even a phone line, let alone internet. I bring my computer and xbox with me to play games, now if I want to play those on my PC I can’t because I don’t have internet, that’s the worst policy I’ve ever heard. Even if this is done, I seriously doubt it will stop hackers. The most it will do is slow them down, giving more time for sales, but it won’t be the only way to get the game. It will be hacked, I guarantee it. The way I see ANY form of anti-piracy is it was made by man, it WILL be hacked by man. Look at satellite TV, they changed the encryption, hackers found another way, it will be the same here.
ravyn (January 28th, 2010 @ 8:51 pm)
bad idea. wont stop pirates. turns away legitimate customers. I just wont play any of these games. isp are notorious for downtime. an (required) always on connection is realm of fantasy. unacceptable for single player experienc. saves being stored on ubisofts servers is outrageous.
don’t pirate games, if companies like ubisoft wont listen then don’t play there games.
they better served to lower the price of games so people can afford them.
personally I’m so disgusted by the crap that is farcry 2 I couldn’t care less what ubisoft does in the future. farcry 2 was ubis last boo-bi for me. blacklisted. done.
LordCancer (January 28th, 2010 @ 9:22 pm)