Ubisoft Masterserver down? (merged)

[Subwolf]

I just called their support, there is a UK phone number listed in the manual. This is what he said..

Their servers have been down since 4pm cet, they believe there has been another hacking attempt, and they are working right now to get the servers up and running again asap. We can't do much more but wait.

I asked if a refund is possible, he said not at the moment because there is nothing wrong with their product. But hackers are trying to destroy their copy protection system, and we all become victims as a result of it.

I asked if Ubisoft will release the game without DRM, he said they don't plan on that right now but they are looking into ways to secure their servers.

Well, didn't help me much, but at least we know whats going on.

[Athlonic]

Again,

DO NOT click OK on the "internet problem message" dialog and wait.

I'm in the game now (for how long I don't know) it took me 4:45 minutes to get in.

Give it a try.

Seem's that DOS attack goes harder and permanent now.

Ubisoft has to take a decision and quick :
- accept their defeat and retire this DRM to support legit customers
- or let it go and have to face the pirates and the legit customers

[Subwolf]

Originally Posted by Rickster1

Here in uk at 16-45 no internet connection !! but I am connected to be able to write this !!

Just ignore that message. The launcher doesn't check your connection, it is only trying to contact the servers, and when they are down it thinks you have no connection. Simple as that. Ubi obviously didn't think about this

[Subwolf]

Originally Posted by Athlonic

Ubisoft has to take a decision and quick :
- accept their defeat and retire this DRM to support legit customers
- or let it go and have to face the pirates and the legit customers

Another release is delayed because of this, and they said SH5 could be one of the last titles for PC. Piracy is killing PC gaming

[KiwiVenge]

Originally Posted by Subwolf

Another release is delayed because of this, and they said SH5 could be one of the last titles for PC. Piracy is killing PC gaming

That or how they are combating piracy is killing PC gaming.
I am by no means a tech kind of guy, but I would imagine there are better forms of piracy protection then what they are using here.
That and how about making people prefer the official version by including nicely bound, including all the info you ever needed, and more manual.
In my opinion a great looking, well put together manual is a huge draw.
Instead it seems they sent some laughable near useless manual.

I just can not help but think there has to be of been some better way then how they went about this.

[Fishu]

Originally Posted by Subwolf

Another release is delayed because of this, and they said SH5 could be one of the last titles for PC. Piracy is killing PC gaming

What's killing the PC games for me is the console portings, the nazi protections and most of all the bugs.

If I wanted to play a simplified console game I'd buy a friggin console. I'd rather play a game than wonder why the thing isn't working while those who did not buy the game are having a go. I would also very much like to play a complete game rather than a beta version of it, let alone pay for that.

Right now I'm suffering from the nazi protection and a beta product. I must admit I'm amazed that SH5 hasn't crashed more than twice (both times within the same hour!).

and to think of it, I actually paid for it while fully knowing that I'm burying my head six feet deep into s....

[NefariousKoel]

Originally Posted by Subwolf

Another release is delayed because of this, and they said SH5 could be one of the last titles for PC. Piracy is killing PC gaming

People who never buy software aren't lost sales.

Ubi is tanking and it's a handy excuse. I say good riddance. There is a demand so a different company will fill the void.

[jwilliams]

Originally Posted by Iridium

This is the most clear cut example of a straw man argument combined with argument ad absurdum I've ever seen.

You're comparing apples with explosive birefringence here. I pay a fee to the state to register my drivers license after having taken my driving test, which covers taxes, administrative costs, etc. Maintaining said license is dependent upon my following the assorted legalities set forth by my elected legislature. If I break those laws then yes, I can have my license revoked. I can go to court to

I pay a business for a video game as a consumer, except I am being 'licensed' to use it. The 'license' they put forth will often claim they have a right to revoke the license without warning at their will, as is stated in Ubisoft's EULA here, and I have no recourse... I am forced to agree not to hold Ubisoft liable in the contract they put forth that I have not signed. I can't see this contract until I've opened the game, at which point it is difficult and sometimes impossible to return it.

Do you see the difference there? I certainly hope so.

Of cause i see the difference.

But you can return the product to ubisoft within 30 day if you do not agree to the EULA.
So if you buy the product, take it home and open it, go to install but decide you dont agree to the EULA. You can click cancel to the install and return the product.
And not everything in the EULA would hold up in court. Its a legal grey area.

[jwilliams]

Originally Posted by RSColonel_131st

Okay, so if I don't agree with the EULA but I had to open the box in order to see it, what do you recommend (same question for Bilge Rat)?

If you decide you dont agree to the EULA. You do not install the product (As installing is agreeing).
You return it to Ubisoft. You have 30 days from date of purchase.

UBISOFT AGREES FOR A PERIOD OF THIRTY (30) DAYS FROM THE ORIGINAL DATE OF PURCHASE TO REFUND THE PURCHASE PRICE OF THE UNUSED MULTIMEDIA PRODUCT TO THE USER. “UNUSED” IS DEFINED TO MEAN THAT ANY USER (I) DID NOT USE THE KEY CODE; (II) OBTAINS A RETURN MERCHANDISE AUTHORIZATION (“RMA”) NUMBER FROM UBISOFT CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 919 460-9778 OR BY USING THE ASK A QUESTION FEATURE IN THE FAQ SECTION OF HTTP://SUPPORT.UBI.COM; AND (III) RETURNS, DURING THE FOREGOING PERIOD OF THIRTY (30) DAYS, THE UNUSED MULTIMEDIA PRODUCT IN ITS WHOLE, ORIGINAL PACKAGING WITH THE ORIGINAL PROOF OF PURCHASE AND THE RMA TO UBISOFT, POSTAGE PREPAID TO THE ADDRESS SET FORTH BELOW. BY INSTALLING OR OTHERWISE USING THIS MULTIMEDIA PRODUCT, YOU ACCEPT AND AGREE TO BE BOUND TO THESE TERMS. IF YOU DO NOT ACCEPT THEM, DO NOT INSTALL OR OTHERWISE USE THIS MULTIMEDIA PRODUCT. INSTEAD, RETURN IT TO UBISOFT FOR A REFUND ACCORDING TO THE ABOVE PROCESS.

5- Warranty

Ubisoft guarantees to the original buyer of the Multimedia Product that the compact disc (CD) supplied with this Multimedia Product shall not show any fault during a normal-use period of ninety (90) days from the invoiced date of purchase, or any other longer warranty time period provided by applicable legislation.

Please return any defective Multimedia Product by registered letter together with this manual and your registration card if you have not already sent it to us. Please state your full name and address (including postcode), as well as the date and location of purchase.

[bigboywooly]

Originally Posted by jwilliams

If you decide you dont agree to the EULA. You do not install the product (As installing is agreeing).

You return it to Ubisoft. You have 90 days from date of purchase.

Your quote is about a damaged disc
Not agreeing to the Eula isnt a damaged disc

[RSColonel_131st]

Originally Posted by jwilliams

Of cause i see the difference.

But you can return the product to ubisoft within 90 day if you do not agree to the EULA.
So if you buy the product, take it home and open it, go to install but decide you dont agree to the EULA. You can click cancel to the install and return the product.
And not everything in the EULA would hold up in court. Its a legal grey area.

The part you quoted says returning a defective disk. Does the EULA state that UBISOFT will take back the game if you disagree with the EULA? Or does it simple say using the game means accepting the EULA, but doesn't offer a way to not accept it and still get the money back?

You see, this is the kind of thing that makes EULAs legally invalid. Normally, if a company (like, mobile phone company or internet provider) changes business terms after you made a contract, you can always chancel the contract. Does UBI allow for this, or not?

[jwilliams]

Originally Posted by RSColonel_131st

The part you quoted says returning a defective disk. Does the EULA state that UBISOFT will take back the game if you disagree with the EULA? Or does it simple say using the game means accepting the EULA, but doesn't offer a way to not accept it and still get the money back?

You see, this is the kind of thing that makes EULAs legally invalid. Normally, if a company (like, mobile phone company or internet provider) changes business terms after you made a contract, you can always chancel the contract. Does UBI allow for this, or not?

Sorry i quoted the wrong part of the EULA...

Here you go :-

UBISOFT AGREES FOR A PERIOD OF THIRTY (30) DAYS FROM THE ORIGINAL DATE OF PURCHASE TO REFUND THE PURCHASE PRICE OF THE UNUSED MULTIMEDIA PRODUCT TO THE USER. “UNUSED” IS DEFINED TO MEAN THAT ANY USER (I) DID NOT USE THE KEY CODE; (II) OBTAINS A RETURN MERCHANDISE AUTHORIZATION (“RMA”) NUMBER FROM UBISOFT CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 919 460-9778 OR BY USING THE ASK A QUESTION FEATURE IN THE FAQ SECTION OF HTTP://SUPPORT.UBI.COM; AND (III) RETURNS, DURING THE FOREGOING PERIOD OF THIRTY (30) DAYS, THE UNUSED MULTIMEDIA PRODUCT IN ITS WHOLE, ORIGINAL PACKAGING WITH THE ORIGINAL PROOF OF PURCHASE AND THE RMA TO UBISOFT, POSTAGE PREPAID TO THE ADDRESS SET FORTH BELOW. BY INSTALLING OR OTHERWISE USING THIS MULTIMEDIA PRODUCT, YOU ACCEPT AND AGREE TO BE BOUND TO THESE TERMS. IF YOU DO NOT ACCEPT THEM, DO NOT INSTALL OR OTHERWISE USE THIS MULTIMEDIA PRODUCT. INSTEAD, RETURN IT TO UBISOFT FOR A REFUND ACCORDING TO THE ABOVE PROCESS.

You cannot install the game unless you click agree. As the EULA comes up before you can install. if you click dont agree then the install process ends. you then have to return the product to Ubisoft for a refund.

[JScones]

Just to change the subject a little, don't forget all that Settlers 7 will be released next Tuesday...so expect further downtime around then due to server overload, caused by either those relentless and never ending hackers, or those incompetent Ubisoft technical staff (or both, as the case may be)...

[Nordmann]

There is no attack, it's an excuse for shoddy authentication servers. Sorry, but I just can't see 'hackers' being this determined.

[RSColonel_131st]

Originally Posted by jwilliams

Sorry i quoted the wrong part of the EULA...
You cannot install the game unless you click agree. As the EULA comes up before you can install. if you click dont agree then the install process ends. you then have to return the product to Ubisoft for a refund.

I just tried this.

1) http://support.ubi.com doesn't load.

2) I have to go trough ubi.com then click support then click trough platforms and games to find the SH5 FAQ.

3) "Ask a question" requires an UBI account.

So you have to jump trough multiple hoops AND give UBI your personal Data (at least Date of Birth, Full Name, Mail Adress, ZIP Code) AND pay for shipping to return a product where you don't agree with the EULA. Really smooth. Puts all the work on the customer, none of the costs on UBI.