Hitler Finds Gets Told about SH5's DRM

[Rockin Robbins]

First, I wasn't attacking Webster. I was attacking the idea of silencing people making reasonable negative comments about SH5 on a fairly regular basis. I stated that it was because although most posters have been around for awhile and have read the negative opinions before, that is not who the negative posts are directed toward.

Silencing the negative posts about SH5, just about every one of them well deserved, on the grounds that it's been said before causes the negative posts to fall down the posts list until in a few days it's on page 3, buried by all the Pollyannas. (They too, are repeating themselves and don't seem too upset by that.) Then a new person considering purchasing the Titanic (SH5) comes on the board. "Look at all the positive comments! Subsim is highly thought of and obviously loves the game." Then he buys the game, based on this false picture of a total travesty posing as a submarine simulation.

Can you understand how cheated he will feel? Can you understand that he will put the blame on Subsim? Can you see how Subsim would completely deserve the blame? Why would Subsim want to participate in giving the finger to the entire crowd of submarine simulation fanatics?

Subsim has a responsibility to be straightforward. SH5 is a game with serious shortcomings in its playability. It is not a submarine simulation, it is a deeply flawed role-playing game--badly designed and executed even more poorly. The DRM removes your fair use right to sell, lend, give away or assign your copyrighted purchase, a unique violation of everyone's normal personal rights almost everywhere in the world. In some European countries that is illegal. The DRM leaves you at the mercy of Ubi's willingness to operate it's paltry three servers to serve the world, that alone demonstrating the depth of contempt they have for their customers.

Failure to keep that message up front and center to new arrivals at Subsim is a gross dereliction of duty. Making posts that codify the policy of silencing critics of the game serves to make Subsim responsible for a conscious policy of denying the public the information it needs to make the proper decision as to whether or not to purchase this game. I care about Subsim. That policy endangers Subsim's future existence. If people don't trust Subsim to tell the truth, then they won't be here.

Subsim may be a nice place for old-timers to chat about our games. But that isn't the most important reason for Subsim. The most important reason is to be a gateway for people new to naval simulation, to inform them accurately as to the playability of the games, and to help them get involved and keep them playing the good ones.

When we sacrifice the most important function for the relatively unimportant irritation of the old-timers reading an opinion more than once, we are being very foolish. Shame on us.