DRM - Turn Lemons into Lemonade

McHub532 · 04-11-10, 03:38 PM

So.. here I am thinking; which is what I do a lot of because.. well.. it's free.

So, we all have to have an internet connection to play this game. Why not take that 'restriction' and turn it into something incredible and amazing?

I have some ideas:

When you speak to the radar guy or the sound guy (or anyone), the game is paused and you go into an internet javascript window that overlaps on top of the game and you have a video interface. The same (or more) questions or comments on the bottom, but the guy is an IRL guy dressed the part and responding as a real person would. Use the internet to offer the option (could be on/off option in gameplay window). This way you could modify the chat/conversation options greatly over time. You just change the video options on the Ubisoft server and you can have countless conversations (though a bit one-sided).
Various 'easter egg' type locations around the sub you can click on or find that will bring up the same javascript overlay interface to show you a few different things: Perhaps IRL historical facts and photos from meuseums about things on the ship, perhaps a little easter-egg about a modder here and how they fixed some problem that came out in the Stock Version (ignore this option, it would crash the internet having such vast needs of DB space for this one).
Video Chat. Sort of like Skype. Instead of the event camera popping up have a little window in the corner where you can video chat with those in your wolfpack?

There are loads of more things you can do. Since we are forced to have an internet connection with the game; why can't it become a positive thing?

What do you think?

kylania · 04-11-10, 04:21 PM

You can do all of that without DRM.

The only way to make DRM into lemonade at this point is to remove it. I'm quite sure they've crested sales by now what with the DRM combined with bugs, so remove it and I bet they'll get even more sales with the DRM removed and 1.2 patch out.

McHub532 · 04-11-10, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kylania

You can do all of that without DRM.

The only way to make DRM into lemonade at this point is to remove it. I'm quite sure they've crested sales by now what with the DRM combined with bugs, so remove it and I bet they'll get even more sales with the DRM removed and 1.2 patch out.

I'm trying to wrap my mind around why they would ever remove it. Let me try and lay out what I'm thinking.

1. Ubisoft decides DRM is important enough to lose out on 60% sales of a product because of DRM.
2. Ubisoft turns out a piece of software (whatever the reasons) that is sub-par (well, for most companies anyway).
3. Time passes....

Why would they ever remove DRM? The reasons they wanted it so bad haven't been removed have they? And they've already told 60% of their customers to go Frag off. Right?

Why would they remove the DRM? Why would they suddenly care?

KiwiVenge · 04-11-10, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by McHub532

Why would they ever remove DRM?

If authentication server overhead > new sale revenues

McHub532 · 04-11-10, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KiwiVenge

If authentication server overhead > new sale revenues

Maybe we don't have the answers to what I'm really trying to discover.

Why now? They didn't care before about a vast chunk of their loyal customers. It cost them money that they were willing to write off before.

What changed?

KiwiVenge · 04-11-10, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by McHub532

Maybe we don't have the answers to what I'm really trying to discover.

Why now? They didn't care before about a vast chunk of their loyal customers. It cost them money that they were willing to write off before.

What changed?

From UBI's perspective the DRM was put in place to increase profit by slowing down piracy, especially in the early days when sales are at their highest.. Later on, once the DRM overhead becomes a greater cost then the profits of selling new games then to me it would make sense to drop it because it is cutting into over all profits.
I really do not think 'caring' about their customers has much to do with it unfortunately. They are doing what they think is best to turn maximum profits in the long run.

daft · 04-12-10, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by McHub532

I'm trying to wrap my mind around why they would ever remove it. Let me try and lay out what I'm thinking.

1. Ubisoft decides DRM is important enough to lose out on 60% sales of a product because of DRM.
2. Ubisoft turns out a piece of software (whatever the reasons) that is sub-par (well, for most companies anyway).
3. Time passes....

Why would they ever remove DRM? The reasons they wanted it so bad haven't been removed have they? And they've already told 60% of their customers to go Frag off. Right?

Why would they remove the DRM? Why would they suddenly care?

Because the aim of DRM is in most cases to delay the leak of the software onto the pirate scene until after the official release. Not locking down the software perpetually. That would be a reason to remove it. In this case though, I think the DRM is too tightly integrated into the software to simply do away with because of that reason, so it might be left in even though the main window of usefulness has passed.

janh · 04-12-10, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daft

Because the aim of DRM is in most cases to delay the leak of the software onto the pirate scene until after the official release.

Yes, most probably developers realized that the battle between DRM and piracy is like the one between tank and infantry, or plane and AAA -- one day you win, another your opponent. It is like a race and one of the major reasons cited for use of DRM is to prevent early cracking (before or in the early month after release, which is the time most sales are probably made with a game). But the use of DRM seems to have gotten out of hand, customers are worth off than pirates, and customers have no added-value of a better products printed detailed manual, maps etc. anymore.

Ironically, this new OSP-DRM didn't even prevent cracking for more than a few days, but it suppressed sales for weeks, and perhaps weeks to come. And taught a lot of people to be careful with/stay away from any Ubisoft product in the future, with or without OSP-DRM. Ironic side-effect.

Commie · 04-12-10, 01:35 PM

I wonder at the cost of it all. The lost sales, the need to set up servers and pay technicians around the clock to maintain them. What is the point?

Picture this: in a year or two how many people will still be playing Assassins Creed 2 or Splinter Cell conviction? Not many I'd bet, but UBI will still have to maintain their DRM apparatus as there still would be trickle of new and existing players with these games. Though by then the cost of maintaining the DRM would surely overtake the minor revenue made.

Brag · 04-12-10, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daft

Because the aim of DRM is in most cases to delay the leak of the software onto the pirate scene until after the official release. Not locking down the software perpetually. That would be a reason to remove it. In this case though, I think the DRM is too tightly integrated into the software to simply do away with because of that reason, so it might be left in even though the main window of usefulness has passed.

If Ubi does not have a OSP free copy of SHV they are totally daft. Of ourse, the inclusion of the OSP does reveal they have failed to think things through.

04-12-10, 06:18 PM

Without getting into it too much, UBI failed with DRM because all the nessasary files to advance in the game are on the users computer. The DRM offers nothing in terms of game functionality or copy protection other then modifying a few files.

All that work for a FAIL.

And the result is legit players being alienated, tollerate not being to play a game they paid money for, or resorting to removing software protection.

Seriously, first time in my life I had to hack a game I paid for. Customer satisfaction FAIL!

longdog499 · 04-11-10, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kylania

You can do all of that without DRM.

The only way to make DRM into lemonade at this point is to remove it. I'm quite sure they've crested sales by now what with the DRM combined with bugs, so remove it and I bet they'll get even more sales with the DRM removed and 1.2 patch out.

Well said sir!

Nisgeis · 04-11-10, 04:54 PM

Turning lemons into lemonade is a good idea, but I think it's more likely it will turn into a whine.

.

McHub532 · 04-11-10, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nisgeis

Turning lemons into lemonade is a good idea, but I think it's more likely it will turn into a whine.

.

HA! Whine.. not wine... hee-hee.

I love the people on this forum. They're as weird and quirky as me.

gutted · 04-11-10, 05:15 PM

I hate lemonade.

04-11-10, 03:38 PM	#1
McHub532 Seasoned Skipper Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Arizona Posts: 665 Downloads: 104 Uploads: 0	DRM - Turn Lemons into Lemonade So.. here I am thinking; which is what I do a lot of because.. well.. it's free. So, we all have to have an internet connection to play this game. Why not take that 'restriction' and turn it into something incredible and amazing? I have some ideas: When you speak to the radar guy or the sound guy (or anyone), the game is paused and you go into an internet javascript window that overlaps on top of the game and you have a video interface. The same (or more) questions or comments on the bottom, but the guy is an IRL guy dressed the part and responding as a real person would. Use the internet to offer the option (could be on/off option in gameplay window). This way you could modify the chat/conversation options greatly over time. You just change the video options on the Ubisoft server and you can have countless conversations (though a bit one-sided). Various 'easter egg' type locations around the sub you can click on or find that will bring up the same javascript overlay interface to show you a few different things: Perhaps IRL historical facts and photos from meuseums about things on the ship, perhaps a little easter-egg about a modder here and how they fixed some problem that came out in the Stock Version (ignore this option, it would crash the internet having such vast needs of DB space for this one). Video Chat. Sort of like Skype. Instead of the event camera popping up have a little window in the corner where you can video chat with those in your wolfpack? There are loads of more things you can do. Since we are forced to have an internet connection with the game; why can't it become a positive thing? What do you think? __________________ Thomas Jefferson - "When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty."

04-11-10, 04:21 PM	#2
kylania Silent Hunter Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 3,528 Downloads: 118 Uploads: 0	You can do all of that without DRM. The only way to make DRM into lemonade at this point is to remove it. I'm quite sure they've crested sales by now what with the DRM combined with bugs, so remove it and I bet they'll get even more sales with the DRM removed and 1.2 patch out. __________________

04-12-10, 01:35 PM	#9
Commie Machinist's Mate Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 122 Downloads: 8 Uploads: 0	I wonder at the cost of it all. The lost sales, the need to set up servers and pay technicians around the clock to maintain them. What is the point? Picture this: in a year or two how many people will still be playing Assassins Creed 2 or Splinter Cell conviction? Not many I'd bet, but UBI will still have to maintain their DRM apparatus as there still would be trickle of new and existing players with these games. Though by then the cost of maintaining the DRM would surely overtake the minor revenue made. __________________

04-11-10, 04:54 PM	#13
Nisgeis Ocean Warrior Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 2,909 Downloads: 77 Uploads: 11	Turning lemons into lemonade is a good idea, but I think it's more likely it will turn into a whine. . __________________ -------------------------------- This space left intentionally blank.

04-11-10, 05:15 PM	#15
gutted The Old Man Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: New Orleans, LA. Posts: 1,379 Downloads: 487 Uploads: 11	I hate lemonade. __________________ Solution Solver 2.3.2 - Visual Targeting Tools & Aids

04-12-10, 06:18 PM	#11
Kptlt_Lynch Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	Without getting into it too much, UBI failed with DRM because all the nessasary files to advance in the game are on the users computer. The DRM offers nothing in terms of game functionality or copy protection other then modifying a few files. All that work for a FAIL. And the result is legit players being alienated, tollerate not being to play a game they paid money for, or resorting to removing software protection. Seriously, first time in my life I had to hack a game I paid for. Customer satisfaction FAIL!