Ubisoft Apes Steam, Will Require Internet Connection for Their Pc Games
January 28th, 2010
Let the outrage begin. The ninjas of Ubisoft have revealed their latest arsenal against PC pirates: the ancient art practiced by Steam. As with Valve’s popular platform, Ubisoft games will soon require users to authenticate their copy by connecting to their user accounts online. The online account also means that game saves will now be stored on Ubisoft’s servers, and account holders will be able to install their Ubisoft games on an unlimited number of computers. In short, customers will soon be able to play anywhere, as long as that anywhere has an Internet connection. So… not anywhere.
The online account dependency will debut with the game The Settlers 7:
Your Internet connection. Is required. To play. This game. I’m not much of a PC gamer, and I don’t have the solution to piracy, but I think restrictions like this only serve to alienate customers and encourage pirates. With the exception of the PS3 (so far, Sony’s knocking on wood), no major video game system has escaped piracy, and I’m fairly sure that this measure can be circumvented.
A “self-professed pirate” has this to say to Ubisoft’s paying customers: “This is fine, I only have to access the Internet once to get Ubisoft games. You’re the ones paying for a broken copy.”
[via Gamespy & Ars Technica]
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Categories: Technology Video Games
Have to say I agree with the other poster. This does nothing but make if more difficult for legit customers to play their games. To the pirates, this just becomes another challenge. Remember SPORE? It was suppose to be pirate proof and became the number one hacked game of all time.
Ubisoft you have done nothing to solve your piracy problems. Now your legit customers will turn to a hacked version of your game so they don’t have to deal with the internet.
Good job.
Quote from Ubisoft @ megagames site:
“The Settlers 7 beta version is enabling players to discover that this platform empowers them to install the game on as many PCs as they wish, to synchronize saved games online so that gameplay can be continued from where they left off (from any computer with an installed version of the game)” <— LOL sure, this is very usefull, i dreamed with this. At work, where i can't play, i'll install the game on low office pcs, or at my parents and friends houses (other busy or old pcs), yeah sure, they all have high tech pcs and at hand to play whenever i want lol
"during a single player session, the game pauses until the connection is available again." Uff…. thank God! Thanks Ubisoft! That makes my day!
"We know this choice is controversial (oh why is that…??) but we feel is justified by the gameplay advantage" <— LOL it's a great advantage! If i travel i always remember settlers saved game is my number 1 concern, even when i can just carry around my laptop, or carrying the saved game in a usb pen! Thinking of that, i'll go play settlers at a cyber cafe where they have also those lame pcs just for chat and install it! Or perhaps i have 10 houses where i move around a lot and install the game ten times!
"This platform also offers protection against piracy (…)" BINGO! <—- The reason behind constant internet connection while playing so authentication may be done if its legit or pirated. It takes time to get to only reason! But ups.. big trouble: if you're with a laptop in a place where you dont have wireless internet besides your house,then forget it, no play-play for you (i.e. parents place, countryside family reunions, traveling… oh, when travelling dont forget to take 10 batteries for you to play about an hour lol.) BIG disadvantage!!
This article fails to mention 2 important facts:
1. Steam allows off-line play. Most games are playable without being connected to the internet.
2. Ubisoft’s system is much, much worse: it requires CONSTANT access to the internet and if your network hiccups for some reason you will get booted WHILE PLAYING.