There's something nagging me about this DRM business. It seems that Ubisoft can protect their copyright through some other method than requiring their software clients to be connected to a central server constantly while running. We've all had to deal with the disk checks, the Securom, blah blah blah.
Those benefits of a constant connection? Saved games on a server, installing the game on multiple computers, running without a disk. These seem like minor benefits, balanced by the need to have a constant connection.
So why do they need a constant connection? Why can't an occasional check on startup (similiar to Steam) be used? Why not a check at the initial start of the game, then drop the connection?
In short, I'm nervous about what else Ubisoft's got planned for that constant connection. Are they looking at feeding advertisements? "While SH5 loads, here's some words from our sponsors"? What information are they collecting? Are they manipulating my computer in the background? What else are they going to use it for? A year from now, I don't want to hear an Ubisoft exec saying "Well, we've got these constant connections to all of our gamer's PCs... let's use it now!"
Maybe I'm not trusting, maybe I'm jaded. But after the
Sony fiasco, I'm a little nervous when DRM requiring a constant connection to my PC is introduced. Toss in outright mistakes like the
Rainbox 6 issue, and I get even more nervous.
In short, I don't want to hear promises. I want it spelled out, exactly what they plan on using this connection for, in writing, preferably in the EULA.
If this push for "OSP" is a direct result of piracy, then Ubisoft is simply looking to verify their trust in us, the gamers. If that's the case, then I'm going to need more trust in Ubisoft.