Ubisoft Masterserver down? (merged)

[blackdog_kt]

Well, i'm sorry if i got you guys all going in legal circles. As you can see, i mentioned a couple of dozen times the words "legally bought copy" whenever i referred to making alterations and of course i didn't point anyone to sources for illegal files. Again, i didn't advocate piracy, i advocated our collective right to do as we wish with our personal installation of a legally bought and owned copy. It's a fundamental right, similar to remapping the keyboard controls or changing resolutions.

I just wanted to steer the discussion a bit to ways that legitimate owners could exert some pressure on Ubi. Code alterations are just that, but they are treated according to wether they have the potential to make money or lose money for the publishing company. I don't see anyone in an official position fretting over mods for example, as they greatly enhance their game and make it more attractive.

That's natural in a sense and it doesn't mean we should all go on a warped crusade to have everything for free either.

What's needed is some balance here, between what's good for the publishers (so that they can continue making the games we like) and us (so that we don't get frustrated and quit playing them) because there is some co-dependency involved.

I agree that if i sent an e-mail like that to UBI they would probably block my account. If a few thousand people did the same the might still block their accounts, but this DRM platform spreads outside our little niche gaming genre with the potential to turn into an avalanche. Imagine a couple of million users from different gaming genres (as Uplay will be used on everything) with blocked accounts, simply because they essentially told UBI that their version of the game needs improving.

If inability to provide service can be masked behind DDOS attacks (real or imaginary, i don't know and don't care really), it's a whole different story to try and hide that a few million of your customers have been denied service and access to a bought product for simply speaking their mind about it. Taking Ubi to court over server downtime might not be easy, but taking them to court over mass bans that result in the customer effectively getting ripped off is much easier.

As in most things in life, this is a matter of critical mass. Nag them to death with a sufficiently large number of people on your side and they will cave in.

[jwilliams]

We have been nag'n Ubi about their OSP. But their reply was " we are commited to this" So we nagged even more and their reply was " we know you are pissed at this, But we are commited to this".

So they are commited to it... they wont back down. So the only course of action is to not buy their games. then maybe they'll listen.... but most prob, they will abandon the PC and consentrate on consoles.

If the DDoS attack continues and they are unable to stop it. Then they will have to release a patch that enable us to play offline. But how long we will have to put up with not being able to connect is anyones guess.

[razark]

Originally Posted by blackdog_kt

Well, i'm sorry if i got you guys all going in legal circles. As you can see, i mentioned a couple of dozen times the words "legally bought copy" whenever i referred to making alterations and of course i didn't point anyone to sources for illegal files.

See here:

What is Subsim.com's stance in relation to warez and piracy? SUBSIM Review has a longstanding policy against software piracy. We do NOT allow discussion or even mention of warez, abandonware, peer-to-peer game swapping, illegal download sites, or rip-off websites. Nothing will get you banned faster than pointing people to illegal software distribution sites. Don't ask for serial numbers, manuals, or cracks. Any admission that you have in your possession illegal software can and usually will result in revocation of your Radio Room forum account. Support computer game programmers buy legally purchasing their work. They have to eat too, you know.

Again:

Any admission that you have in your possession illegal software can and usually will result in revocation of your Radio Room forum account.

Look, Neal and the moderators don't care what you do in the privacy of your own home, but don't discuss it here.

Originally Posted by blackdog_kt

...in most countries (especially in the EU) local law supersedes any EULA...

Subsim is in the United States. The server is here in Houston, Texas. The laws of the United States apply to said server. If server has illegal content, administrator of server is legally responsible for it.

Circumvention of DRM, as well as information and tools for such, are illegal under the DMCA in the US. If someone from Ubisoft were to complain to Neal's server hosting company, the server would be unplugged, and Subsim would be gone. I know, I used to work for the company.

Granted, this is a worst case scenario, but just go along with Neal's wishes, and don't talk about it here.

<back to my gin and tonic now>