The gawd-almighty merged DRM in Silent Hunter V thread

[Nordmann]

Originally Posted by TDK1044

The only advantage is for the Publisher, not the player. They control the game.

Very true. This is what we are really looking at, total control of the customer's access to the product. Oh, they dress it up as a piracy deterrant, helpful to the user, but really they are controlling, limiting even, our access to a product we have bought and paid for. Call it what you like, defend DRM and the reason for it's existence, but all it ever comes down to is control.

I own and play many indie titles which feature little, or in some cases no DRM whatsoever, this is because the developers have realised that said DRM does not stop pirates. It only encourages more of them, as pirated versions no doubt do not contain the DRM designed to stop them in the first place. The only people who suffer, is the law abiding consumer, punished yet again in a vain attempt to stop a minority.

Consumers need far more legal protection, especially as far as software is concerned; time and time again developers/publishers wipe the floor with their customers, burying them in legal obligations which are unethical at best, and damned criminal at worst. Were any of us to behave in the manner of some of these corporations, we would no doubt be hauled through the legal system in short order! But as with many things in life, money talks.

Sadly, this is a growing trend we are now facing. Years ago a CD Key was sufficient proof of legal purchase, and at most, registration of the game on the company's website. Yes, keys could be generated, or in some cases stolen, but pirates always find a way, no amount of measures will ever stop these particularly inventive individuals. Some companies have seen the light, and continue to offer products which do not alienate the consumer. These are unfortunately becoming a rarity, especially insofar as the larger brands are concerned.

So, what can we, the consumers, do about this situation? Well, we really have two choices. Buy the game, and submit to the authoritarian regime being thrust upon us, or avoid the game, until such time as the company in question realises we are not as stupid as they first thought. While I realise it is unrealistic to suppose that 95% of the target market will avoid the game, if a large enough number do so, they may just take notice of their mistake. It has happened before, if enough people protest, DRM can and indeed will be removed.

The coming months are likely to be interesting, and indeed I will be following articles related to SH5's DRM issue. If it is removed, then I will buy the game, if not, they will have to convince me that their system is absolutely 100% flawless. False promises simply will not do.

[DirtyACE]

Same here. Will not be buying SH5 unless it comes DRM-free or there's a patch to remove it.

Ubi must live in some fantasy world if they think that everyone has automatic access to the internet with very stable connections.

[Glock17]

that and the fact that its naive to presume that a developer will support such online services infinatly for any title.
Mean what will happen if Ubi goes bellyup in a few years for example?
Dont think they will have time and the fund to make removal patch then :P
Or even worse, all that data storage and traffic will cost them money. So the longer we play the less profit they will make. Since the goal of any cooperation is making profit, its not unlikey we have to pay in the end for the OSP jsut to be able to play it.
There must be alot more of simular scenarios. Wich all comes down to that i dont trust any coorperation to provide such a system for free till infinity. And lets face these kind of games are still played after many years.

[Nightowl]

I have bought every SH game that has come our way, even buying extra copies to give to friends & relatives as gifts, but as good as this new SH5 looks, I will not buy it if it is DRM controlled. I do not have a stabile Internet connection, it disconnects without notice at different times of the day, besides I will not play a game that I have to jump thru hoops in order to play it. It just isn't right. I noticed there are a lot less computer games on the shelves of the stores now a days, compared to years back, probably because most games are so bad, the content etc. As far as I am concerned, the only game in town is the SH series, & I still play SH3 every single week. I do hope that Ubisoft wakes up to their mistake & does away with DRM before the game goes on the market, because it will surely kill sales, & even to do away with it at a later date will be too late, the damage to their sales will already have occurred. We all want the game to be a success, but it won't be with DRM. -Nightowl

[OLt Habi]

I have been playing SH3 quite a while now and never bothered to upgrade to Version 4 (the thought of the war in the Pacific never tickled my fancy - it seems that Ubi realised that it did a knock in their sales, by adding the Atlantic again).

When I saw that SH5 was due to be released and it was on pre-order I was very tempted to get this one. I liked all the new features and the new game play. Then I saw "Permanent internet connetion required" my intentions were hit by a couple of torpedos and that sank SH5 for me.

Apparently Rise of Flight tried the same thing, but quickly saw their error of their ways. I hope that Ubi will come to the same conclusion.

For me no SH5 until this DRM business has been done away with. Pity to say this. As a fellow South African mentioned in this thread, bandwidth is a problem in SA and to have a permanent internet access at 384kb, I don't think so.

[Nordmann]

Originally Posted by OLt Habi

For me no SH5 until this DRM business has been done away with. Pity to say this. As a fellow South African mentioned in this thread, bandwidth is a problem in SA and to have a permanent internet access at 384kb, I don't think so.

The thing is, a lot of people have internet issues, unless you happen to have an extremely good cable provider (my country only has one in any case), or a reliable DSL connection (yeah right!), then this is a real deal breaker. If I had a pound for every internet problem I've had over the years, I would be a very rich man!

A single-player game requiring a permanent net connection is simply ridiculous, and completely unnecessary in the first place. It will not stop pirates, they will find a way around this DRM, the only people they are punishing are those who have legitimately purchased the game. Bad move Ubi, very bad move indeed.

[Steeltrap]

Hi Nordman, there's no way H.G.Wells would have made an error in using "it's" when the correct word is "its".

If you're putting a quote in your sig, it's probably better to get it right....

Just trying to be helpful.

Cheers

[Nordmann]

Originally Posted by Steeltrap

Hi Nordman, there's no way H.G.Wells would have made an error in using "it's" when the correct word is "its".

If you're putting a quote in your sig, it's probably better to get it right....

Just trying to be helpful.

Cheers

I didn't ask for your help, bugger off.

[michaelws]

But then, Steeltrap, I think the period (.) would be more properly embedded within the quotation marks.

Silly anyway that we mire ourselves in this childish way. I too am being childish with this reply.

[ACR]

i dont think its piracy. its a way to collect data about the user. they can log the way we play and how long we play. my bet is- when in sh5 many people spend many hours i 1:1 patrols sh6 will be time charged via online transations!

[Armistead]

Well the future setup is seems obvious. The addon "The End Years" will have to be paid for. If they charge for online play per month,,,not gonna work unless it reaches a level of greatness.

[Onkel Neal]

Originally Posted by OLt Habi

Apparently Rise of Flight tried the same thing, but quickly saw their error of their ways. I hope that Ubi will come to the same conclusion.

I'm not sure "quickly" is the word you're looking for, they tell me ROF kept their DRM in place 11 months. That sounds like it did its job.

[UnSalted]

I guess I'm not going to be buying SH5 either. Since UbiSoft has demonstrated the customer is not a priority on previous games and still seems dedicated to the proposition I won't bother them with my business.

But Neal your initial remarks regarding it not being for people sitting around in their doublewides without internet connections were quite funny. I managed to earn enough in my lifetime to retire and build a very nice home worth over $600K at current prices and pay for it before I was 45. I live outside the coverage areas for high-speed cable or DSL and don't see the need for a dedicated satellite either.

As I said, it was funny. Perhaps one day you can look up from High Horse Mountain and realize there were people looking down at you as well.

[Steeltrap]

Originally Posted by michaelws

But then, Steeltrap, I think the period (.) would be more properly embedded within the quotation marks.

You'd be incorrect in thinking that.

I don't see what's childish about correcting errors. If I take the view I can write whatever I want however I want I might just as well type JGKOFHgti9ewhjkofn kl'firwhygsdioklF.

Cheers

[Steeltrap]

Originally Posted by Nordmann

I didn't ask for your help, bugger off.

I note you corrected it, however.

The alternative to "bugger off" is you might appreciate that someone bothers to read what you take the trouble to put in your sig. It is meant to be read, isn't it?

Perhaps I should have used a PM.