Ubisoft Masterserver down? (merged)

blackdog_kt · 03-09-10, 02:05 AM

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.

03-09-10, 02:05 AM	#11
blackdog_kt Sailor man Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 46 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	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.