The publisher said in a statement: 'This new Online Service Platform is not connected in any way to Starforce. Ubisoft stopped using Starforce a long time ago, not now.'
Sounds like Ubi's anti-piracy plans will be less obtrusive than first feared. Users will have to maintain an internet connection at all times to play some of its future titles.
Many a CVG reader has voiced their displeasure with Starforce in the past. Why the beef? Tell us about your experiences below...
UPDATE: The publisher's released a full statement:
"We are aware that there is a lively discussion with regards to our new online services platform that will be included in most of our upcoming PC games, and which gamers are currently discovering with the Settlers 7 beta.
"As there are a lot of questions out there, we thought you might appreciate some of the following clarification:
"Ubisoft's number one goal is to provide added value that will facilitate and enrich the gaming experience of our PC customers. 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) and frees them from needing a CD/DVD in order to play.
"The platform requires a permanent Internet connection. We know this choice is controversial but we feel is justified by the gameplay advantages offered by the system and because most PCs are already connected to the Internet. This platform also offers protection against piracy, an important business element for Ubisoft and for the PC market in general as piracy has an important impact on this market. Any initiative that allows us to lower the impact of piracy on our PC games will also allow us to concentrate further effort on the creation and expansion of our intellectual properties for the PC - our goal is to deliver the best gaming experience to our customers."
I think I had a Codemasters flight sim that had starforce protection a few years ago now. It was so effective that it wouldn't allow me to install the game. I contacted their customer support team and was told that my copy I had just bought from the shop mustn't be legitimate. Thanks very much.
Still doesn't change the fact of what they are trying to do. Starfarce or not they want complete control over every aspect of the games we play. Sorry but I won't be partaking of this type of DRM. At least Steam for all it's faults has an offline mode for all single player games.
To be connected to the net constantly and have no control over my save games? NO THANKS!
Why the beef? Well, let's see having had two brand new Samsung DVD drives' firmware destroyed by DRM set the tone for me. The first game to do it was "Crysis" and the second one was "Neverwinter Nights 2" - I'll point out that both copies were legally purchased first-hand copies at games stores. I no longer trust developers that use anything other than a basic disc-check where the software that does the checking is completely contained to the disc and does not install any files to my hard drive.
Ubisoft can say what they will. Games companies have a habit of letting something slip about DRM and when - to no one's surprise except perhaps their own - an angry horde of gamer hornets descend upon them they suddenly change tune by claiming "Oh but we aren't actually using that!" or "It's much better now because of X, Y, Z". 2K Games has been doing it recently with "Bioshock 2" proudly claiming the SecuROM they are using is a simple disc check and has "no installation limits"! That's great, except they forgot to add that they now also require you to register online to activate the game and you have to install Games For Windows Live which DOES have installation limits and will require you to sign in during the game if you want to save.
There are so many obfuscations, omissions and outright lies propagated by the gaming companies that I don't trust any of them fully. The ones I do half-trust I only trust on a case-by-case basis and I'm prepared to withdraw my purchasing power from them at a moment's notice no matter how long I may have anticipated a game in development.
I don't trust Ubisoft on this occasion and I will not be buying any of their products, be it for the PC or the Xbox 360.
The only problem I've ever had with Starforce was the need to update it when trying a game with Win 7. Other than that, I've nothing to complain about. This new DRM from Ubisoft now forces my hand though. Games that I might otherwise have bought for the PC, such as Splinter Cell, the new Ghost Recon, and the next Rainbow Six, I'll buy on console instead. You know what that means Ubisoft? When I'm done with them, I can trade them in, potentially denying you another sale.
I've had problems in the past with DRM as well, specifically SecuROM.
Both of my DVD/CD drives in my computer no longer burn any discs, (I am talking family photos here, not illegal copies,) as soon as I try to do so, my whole system blue screens.
I hasten to add that my drives were absolutely fine until I installed a game that I later found out had SecuROM on it.
The irony is that the drives are both Sony ones and as SecuROM is a Sony developed piece of software, you'd think that at the very least, they would be able to get it to play nicely with their own product line. Unbelievably pathetic!
My machine is always connected to the internet. Like they say, if this works in preventing piracy (time will tell) and helps keep PC gaming alive, then I'm all for it. Especially as it frees up the disk drive.
You can still save on your PC though, right? Mine isn't always connected, and it becomes unreliable sometimes.
I think they overestimate the number of people with a constant reliable connection. If for whatever reason it goes down those games will have to be put on hold. Hardly the end of the world I know but still. Surely it would be better not to put all eggs in one basket and be able to save on your machine to counter that eventuality.
I no longer trust developers that use anything other than a basic disc-check where the software that does the checking is completely contained to the disc and does not install any files to my hard drive.
I really can understand your frustrations KFD, I really can.
However you need to be realistic. I am afraid a basic disc check is not going to stop the type of piracy that is plaguing PC gaming at the moment.
I agree some forms of DRM are too extreme, but like I mentioned in an post a while back there has got to be a middle ground between games being accesible enough for people to play them and secure enough to stop people pirating them.
Im sorry but a basic disk check is not enough, you might as well be saying to a pirate 'here you go, make as many copies as you want'.
Stop whining about DRM. Developers don't want their stuff to be stolen. Blame the pirates, not the developers.
No, I will not stop hounding them. If they will not listen to me and many others as representative paying customers then they have shown where their priorities lie: The pirates. Perhaps we can get their attention if we join in the fray and pirate left, right and center. They won't listen and they clearly don't care for reasonable arguments and pleas for them to focus on people that want to pay them for their work. That means negotiations are over. It's time for action even if that means getting your hands dirty. I'm a hair's breadth away from pirating their games just to spite them. Keep pushing assholes, keep pushing.
I already own a console. There are some games I don't want to play on a console when a PC version exists. Besides, if I buy the console version I'm still giving money to a company whose behaviour I disapprove of. No deal.
I no longer trust developers that use anything other than a basic disc-check where the software that does the checking is completely contained to the disc and does not install any files to my hard drive.
I really can understand your frustrations KFD, I really can.
However you need to be realistic. I am afraid a basic disc check is not going to stop the type of piracy that is plaguing PC gaming at the moment.
I agree some forms of DRM are too extreme, but like I mentioned in an post a while back there has got to be a middle ground between games being accesible enough for people to play them and secure enough to stop people pirating them.
Im sorry but a basic disk check is not enough, you might as well be saying to a pirate 'here you go, make as many copies as you want'.
I appreciate your comments, Shabozi, and I would take them to heart if these increasingly vicious DRM schemes worked but they don't. To date not a single DRM system has managed to stop piracy. Not one! If the companies can come up with a DRM system that actually stops piracy then they could play that card in a meaningful manner; as it stands they can't. We can argue about this until the cows come home but that's the cold hard truth: DRM has not stopped piracy at all. It's a failed experiment and it has harmed paying customers in the process to boot. If that isn't a living example of "Epic fail" then I don't know what is.
If I have to give up gaming (or simply stop paying for games and join the pirates) then so be it. I will not pay money for the "privilege" of being treated this way and getting the inferior gaming experience.
Ubisoft were never my favourite company, always had the wrong priorities, rushing several games onto the shelves that weren't quite ready, then providing kek all support (Dark Messiah, anyone). After i had played AC2 on the 360 i thought - maybe, just maybe, they are picking up - Then they go come up with the most invasive variation of DRM i have ever heard.
Now it's bearable to be online to verify the install, and verify my key if it means the right companies get kept in buisness, EA, Bioware, Valve etc (never thought i'd hear myself class EA as a "right" company, but nevermind). That isn't particularly a problem. BUT, to go as far as to say you have to be online the WHOLE time you play? utter naff.
As someone has already mentioned, a lot of people have somewhat unreliable connections. And I see my PC as personal space, and when someone demands that me, a paying customer, have to suffer sanctions imposed in the form of invasive software in said personal space because of people who won't pay?, no. no thanks.
Anyway, the pirates will just see this as a challenge to find a work-around. Go for it, i say.
My internet disconnects periodically, GFWL keeps popping up with errors on lost connections etc. in GFWL games, this would really work brilliantly for me, not!!!!!
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