Let's be a bit French... Revolution! La revolution! Let's call for a "head"! ;-)
It remains to be seen how this strategic marketing move by Ubisoft will impact its sales, and finally its stocks. Luckily stock holders are less forgiving, and not at all caring about the games, but about their investments and capital. If the sales tumble and stocks follow, we might see Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot having to take responsibility. I can imagine that stepping down would be a good measure in that case to start over with the customers and a completely new service policy. (Erratum: Unfortunately this is unlikely to happen, if 81% of UBisofts sales volumes comes from other than PC game market.)
Though I agree that piracy is to a certain degree a problem, I think fighting the symptoms with copy protecitions and, thus, neither solving the root causes plus hitting the customers will only make it worse. Why are so many music companies now reversing their earlier strategy on this now by the turn of the century. I really think software companies need to follow that trend. Provide quality products, that are completely playable, and already almost bug-free at the release data. Provide added-value by nice, informative and useful printed manuals, maps, keyboard-overlays, historical background booklets etc. Have and open ear to customer wishes, and if that means, they don't like the way the new game would be designed, then don't design it that way -- or live with a flop, but don't blame generally and simply it on others.
I am convinced that this affects people moral to pay honestly more than a copy protection. If I buy a DVD, book, car, piece of music, I have something in my hand that I can do whatever I please with. And I will have it for eternity, or at least as long as my DVD player lasts. It is mine, and if I didn't like it, I can resell it. Or can make a back-up of it, just to avoid my little (imaginary) kid not to screw it up when playing in the living room. I get something solid for my money. Ah, where is software going again?
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