Assassin's Creed II - DRM requires *constant* internet connection..

[usxhe190]

The Battlefield Heroes example I guess. The market uptake of that has been fairly telling though I think - when I was massively into BF2, I talked about it to quite a lot of people, but since it has been released I don't think I've heard it mentioned once. I still doubt that it's ever got the ability to overtake current gaming sales. BF2142 was supported with ads even thought it cost £25 to buy, so I don't think it generates that much money. Most of BF: Heroes income was meant to come from microtransactions, but personally I wouldn't get involved. Give me an option to pay £1 for a fluffy hat on my character, and I'll laugh. Give me an option to pay £1 for an amazing sniper rifle that beats all others, and I'll quit - because I'll instantly be at a disadvantage. I have to wonder how many people are prepared to buy those sorts of things in free games, although I could easily be wrong.

Actually EA is relative new in this area. The companies in Korea are a lot more experienced in this and there is quite a community or following on such free games (with microtransactions).

Some commentators have been thinking whether this will be the future of gaming but who knows.

[usxhe190]

All they have to do is remove the DRM.

It's simple. You can already download any game you want, cracked, patched and ready to go normally before the retail game is available on the shelves.....

So, just what is the point? I just do not get why they feel the need to annoy the people that will purchase......it's completely illogical, especially when most piracy is done online now and not the old "playground swaps" like back in the spectrum/c64 days!

And consoles aren't much of a safety net either, if they release solely on consoles, then the console piracy scene will explode even larger then it is currently........just look on USENET for XBox360 games.....yes, they are pretty much all there........and then you have the added complication: Microsoft/Sony/N will not be happy when they are selling consoles at a loss and are not getting any revenue from the software licenses!

I remember on the Internet, a game publisher did research on whether DRM helped increased sales. They concluded it did not as the level of piracy on the game (in DRM or non-DRM version) was very similar - around 90%.

Also agree on the console front. Piracy won't just stop at PC. Piracy just follows when there is demand. Consoles aren't privacy-proof.

[Rob_B]

I remember on the Internet, a game publisher did research on whether DRM helped increased sales. They concluded it did not as the level of piracy on the game (in DRM or non-DRM version) was very similar - around 90%.

Also agree on the console front. Piracy won't just stop at PC. Piracy just follows when there is demand. Consoles aren't privacy-proof.

Except the PS3...so far...which is pretty damn good going!

[shaithis]

Except the PS3...so far...which is pretty damn good going!

Think it got hacked last week....

Edit: http://geohotps3.blogspot.com/

[Rob_B]

That's debatable though, he can't really 'do' anything with it & certainly pirated games are a LONG way off so as far as this discussion goes the PS3 is still 'unhacked'

[usxhe190]

That's debatable though, he can't really 'do' anything with it & certainly pirated games are a LONG way off so as far as this discussion goes the PS3 is still 'unhacked'

Maybe because no one really owns or plays on a PS3 vs. Wii and Xbox

[Haiku32]

This is very disappointing. Constant internet connection required to play a single player game? Who the hell thought of that stupid idea. I know quite a lot of people that have a separate gaming machine which doesn't go online at all since they play single player games. Any patches are just downloaded on another computer and stuck on a cd. What a kick in the teeth this is to people who actually want to buy the game.

[MadduckUK]

Maybe because no one really owns or plays on a PS3 vs. Wii and Xbox

OI! I HAVE A PS3!!!!!!

until GT5 comes out i just fold on it

[dangel]

So a bit of thread revival but this is interesting:

Assassin's Creed 2
Patch v1.01

----- -----
Changes in v1.01

- Game can now be continued from the exact same point when connection is restored
- Added support for ATI Eyefinity technology
- Fixed minor performance issues related to some multi-core processors
- Now resets graphics options if a new video card or monitor is detected
- Fixed some minor issues in Uplay Browser

The game isn't out, but they're already working on reducing the stupidity of the DRM - but not enough, not by a long shot.

Interestingly, this new uber-DRM has already been cracked - Silent Hunter 5 is now available on the 'scene' with it removed. Yes, that's right, it took the pirates almost no time at all to adapt to an entirely new DRM scheme which now serves a singular purpose: to piss off the genuine customer.

[usxhe190]

Still not touching that game or the publisher. It's obvious they like screwing with their customer. I am not that stupid but obviously there will be some customer stupid enough to buy into their hype.

[jim]

To be honest, I think it's just a common tactic.

Wasn't Spore the same situation? Limit the game wildly according to press releases, wait for general condemnation, and then "give in" to the consumer and reduce the restrictions.

I'm not saying it's a great sales technique - it gains a lot of negative sentiment, but what's going to make the game more appealing to consumers?

Option A: Release game with irritating DRM
Option B: Release game with ridiculous DRM, give in to consumers who are absolutely right and reduce it to just irritating DRM

Second option at least gives people a sense of victory, and probably makes them more likely to buy it.

[Saracen]

...

Option A: Release game with irritating DRM
Option B: Release game with ridiculous DRM, give in to consumers who are absolutely right and reduce it to just irritating DRM

Second option at least gives people a sense of victory, and probably makes them more likely to buy it.

Except that it still requires a permanent connection to be able to play. As far as I'm concerned, it's still in the realms of the utterly unacceptable as well as utterly ridiculous, and way more than merely irritating.

[Rob_B]

Except that it still requires a permanent connection to be able to play. As far as I'm concerned, it's still in the realms of the utterly unacceptable as well as utterly ridiculous, and way more than merely irritating.

The game is pish anyway so you're not missing much

[jim]

Except that it still requires a permanent connection to be able to play. As far as I'm concerned, it's still in the realms of the utterly unacceptable as well as utterly ridiculous, and way more than merely irritating.

Yeah of course, there's no way I'm going to buy it with restrictions like that.

Nonetheless, my point still stands - I think this comedown is entirely artificial.

[shaithis]

To be honest, I think it's just a common tactic.

Wasn't Spore the same situation? Limit the game wildly according to press releases, wait for general condemnation, and then "give in" to the consumer and reduce the restrictions.

I'm not saying it's a great sales technique - it gains a lot of negative sentiment, but what's going to make the game more appealing to consumers?

Option A: Release game with irritating DRM
Option B: Release game with ridiculous DRM, give in to consumers who are absolutely right and reduce it to just irritating DRM

Second option at least gives people a sense of victory, and probably makes them more likely to buy it.

There is also "Option C" : Release without DRM, saves you money in licensing/programming time, doesn't annoy a single purchaser, won't have every hacking/cracking group out there trying to put their name on a release of it (no crack needed = less kudos to them), anti-DRM people will buy it instead of boycotting it or downloading the crack DRM-free version.

[mycarsavw]

Interestingly, this new uber-DRM has already been cracked - Silent Hunter 5 is now available on the 'scene' with it removed. Yes, that's right, it took the pirates almost no time at all to adapt to an entirely new DRM scheme which now serves a singular purpose: to piss off the genuine customer.

Ubisoft say it's not true