DRM - Turn Lemons into Lemonade

[thyro]

Originally Posted by Feuer Frei!

It is nigh impossible to "trace" links to a particular location...
The links are in most cases linked to a "dummy" server, and, to boot, a lot of these people move around incredibly, ie locations.
I saw a doco a fair few years ago on SBS that showcased how hackers and the like set themselves up in run-down warehouses, old office buildings etc etc and ran their "businesses" from these premises.
These people where very well informed and if they got wind of the law enforcement agencies bearing down on them, they would pick up (in some cases a single server, and peripherals!) and run their dealings from somewhere else.
Very hard to pin these people down. And...they aren't stupid.

It is true that they (the crackers) aren't stupid but the stupid thing is... search for name of a game and majority of the times only 3 or 4 (well known download sites) pop out at top of google list. Now this isn't matter of be stupid or not but a convenience perhaps...

I own a software house and saw this happening I'm sure that I'd do anything necessary to stop these download sites providing such links and also google to remove the upper rates of those links from their list as well.

So either software houses don't bother or is a convenient with someother aim in mind.

Cheers

Originally Posted by janh

If ubisoft makes an SHVI, it is going to be for xbox!

I hate to say it, but thats probably the truth.

BTW - DRM has been bypassed and the campain is working. I have a legal copy installed but the DRM has been removed. So while it took a few weeks longer then anticipated... DRM has been busted.

[daft]

Originally Posted by McHub532

I'm trying to wrap my mind around why they would ever remove it. Let me try and lay out what I'm thinking.

1. Ubisoft decides DRM is important enough to lose out on 60% sales of a product because of DRM.
2. Ubisoft turns out a piece of software (whatever the reasons) that is sub-par (well, for most companies anyway).
3. Time passes....

Why would they ever remove DRM? The reasons they wanted it so bad haven't been removed have they? And they've already told 60% of their customers to go Frag off. Right?

Why would they remove the DRM? Why would they suddenly care?

Because the aim of DRM is in most cases to delay the leak of the software onto the pirate scene until after the official release. Not locking down the software perpetually. That would be a reason to remove it. In this case though, I think the DRM is too tightly integrated into the software to simply do away with because of that reason, so it might be left in even though the main window of usefulness has passed.

[janh]

Originally Posted by daft

Because the aim of DRM is in most cases to delay the leak of the software onto the pirate scene until after the official release.

Yes, most probably developers realized that the battle between DRM and piracy is like the one between tank and infantry, or plane and AAA -- one day you win, another your opponent. It is like a race and one of the major reasons cited for use of DRM is to prevent early cracking (before or in the early month after release, which is the time most sales are probably made with a game). But the use of DRM seems to have gotten out of hand, customers are worth off than pirates, and customers have no added-value of a better products printed detailed manual, maps etc. anymore.

Ironically, this new OSP-DRM didn't even prevent cracking for more than a few days, but it suppressed sales for weeks, and perhaps weeks to come. And taught a lot of people to be careful with/stay away from any Ubisoft product in the future, with or without OSP-DRM. Ironic side-effect.

[Commie]

I wonder at the cost of it all. The lost sales, the need to set up servers and pay technicians around the clock to maintain them. What is the point?

Picture this: in a year or two how many people will still be playing Assassins Creed 2 or Splinter Cell conviction? Not many I'd bet, but UBI will still have to maintain their DRM apparatus as there still would be trickle of new and existing players with these games. Though by then the cost of maintaining the DRM would surely overtake the minor revenue made.

[daft]

Originally Posted by Commie

I wonder at the cost of it all. The lost sales, the need to set up servers and pay technicians around the clock to maintain them. What is the point?

Picture this: in a year or two how many people will still be playing Assassins Creed 2 or Splinter Cell conviction? Not many I'd bet, but UBI will still have to maintain their DRM apparatus as there still would be trickle of new and existing players with these games. Though by then the cost of maintaining the DRM would surely overtake the minor revenue made.

If they haven't made the server end of their DRM solution independent of the games that implement them, I'd be very surprised. They will maintain their DRM infrastructure for as long as they have games on the market that implement them. No matter the titles.

[McHub532]

Originally Posted by Commie

I wonder at the cost of it all. The lost sales, the need to set up servers and pay technicians around the clock to maintain them. What is the point?

Picture this: in a year or two how many people will still be playing Assassins Creed 2 or Splinter Cell conviction? Not many I'd bet, but UBI will still have to maintain their DRM apparatus as there still would be trickle of new and existing players with these games. Though by then the cost of maintaining the DRM would surely overtake the minor revenue made.

At which point, it won't be cost effective to keep the server up. Close the server down.. only a few people complain... and the company moves on.

[Adriatico]

Originally Posted by Feuer Frei!

Not quiet, main mission is playable, however side quests and a few other things not playable.(And no, i do not have a black copy, nor do i condone piracy).

No Mate,

All side misionos are playable...
- - -
Right Neal, no more explanations...

[Brag]

Originally Posted by daft

Because the aim of DRM is in most cases to delay the leak of the software onto the pirate scene until after the official release. Not locking down the software perpetually. That would be a reason to remove it. In this case though, I think the DRM is too tightly integrated into the software to simply do away with because of that reason, so it might be left in even though the main window of usefulness has passed.

If Ubi does not have a OSP free copy of SHV they are totally daft. Of ourse, the inclusion of the OSP does reveal they have failed to think things through.

Without getting into it too much, UBI failed with DRM because all the nessasary files to advance in the game are on the users computer. The DRM offers nothing in terms of game functionality or copy protection other then modifying a few files.

All that work for a FAIL.

And the result is legit players being alienated, tollerate not being to play a game they paid money for, or resorting to removing software protection.

Seriously, first time in my life I had to hack a game I paid for. Customer satisfaction FAIL!

[McHub532]

Where I strongly support the right of people to voice their opinions; I feel I should offer the disclaimer that I started this thread to take what we did not have control over (DRM) and try and evolve it into something that we could actually find useful and an improvement to the game.

I just don't want to be thought of as the person that started the riot.

[supposedtobeworking]

It's not you, it's Ubisoft. And the hope is that this "riot" will result in a change-I like the games that Ubisoft releases, but I will refuse to support them as long as they refuse to listen to their customers.

[lothos]

As to the tracking/crackdown on the pirate sources. It comes down to the interpretation of the local laws of point A versus point B. And throw in torrents and now you have to contend with not only multiple sources, but the wording of the laws that you're trying to prosecute a person for breaking. Actual possession of illegal material in some cases isn't a crime for instance. Only the means of obtaining/distributing. Distribution in part versus entirety of material is another example.

Also, it is a fine line between invasion of privacy and prevention of violating copyright law. My ISP for example runs automatic checks for download of videos from known illegal IP ranges and sends a turn off notice to the cable modem. While to some degree the ISP is within their rights given the wording of their EULA, people have sued for and won on the basis of invasion of privacy.

[Commie]

Originally Posted by McHub532

At which point, it won't be cost effective to keep the server up. Close the server down.. only a few people complain... and the company moves on.

Well this is why I am against such a DRM scheme(and things like Steam)! What happens if I want to relive an old classic 5-10 years down the line? Recently I played Betrayal at Krondor and System Shock. If everything is now going to be constant internet connection, encrypted files and all the other crap, then such a thing will be impossible!

[Reece]

The title " DRM - Turn Lemons into Lemonade" should be renamed to " DRM - Turn Lemons into Piss".
Sorry I couldn't resist, I tried so hard!!