Future Ubisoft Games To Require Constant Internet Access [Slashdot]

[DP ServBot]

Following up on our discussion yesterday of annoying game distribution platforms, Ubisoft has announced the details of their Online Services Platform, which they will use to distribute and administer future PC game releases. The platform will require internet access in order to play installed games, saved games will be stored remotely, and the game you're playing will even pause and try to reconnect if your connection is lost during play. Quoting Rock, Paper, Shotgun: "This seems like such a bizarre, bewildering backward step. Of course we haven't experienced it yet, but based on Ubi’s own description of the system so many concerns arise. Yes, certainly, most people have the internet all the time on their PCs. But not all people. So already a percentage of the audience is lost. Then comes those who own gaming laptops, who now will not be able to play games on trains, buses, in the park, or anywhere they may not be able to find a WiFi connection (something that’s rarely free in the UK, of course – fancy paying the £10/hour in the airport to play your Ubisoft game?). Then there's the day your internet is down, and the engineers can’t come out to fix it until tomorrow. No game for you. Or any of the dozens of other situations when the internet is not available to a player. But further, there are people who do not wish to let a publisher know their private gaming habits. People who do not wish to report in to a company they’ve no affiliation with, nor accountability to, whenever they play a game they’ve legally bought. People who don’t want their save data stored remotely. This new system renders all customers beholden to Ubisoft in perpetuity whenever they buy their games."
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[shopkins]

Now this really is bullshit. I hope they don't try to do this on consoles. My internet isn't the most reliable thing in the world and I don't always leave my consoles hooked to it anyway. Even with my PC it's been off for days a couple of times.

[portnoyd]

Looks like I won't be buying Ubisoft PC games any time soon.

[Snapple]

Didn't this happen with the Ghostbusters PC game? Where you have to be online for the game to work.

[jb143]

I know some developers have seen this as the only way to completely combat piracy. The article doesn't say but I wonder if that's the reason.

[Robocop2]

I understand the desire to combat piracy but this anti piracy stuff is just getting a little bit extreme. What happens if Ubisoft goes under someday; will you be able to play the game anymore? Of course I suppose they don't really care if you can play it if they're out of business....
It really doesn't matter what companies do, pirates will always find a way to overcome obstacles. But should the regular consumer suffer because of it?

[Push Upstairs]

I have got to the point where I don't get worked up about this crap anymore.

Because it is obvious to me that companies do not want me to spend money on their games anymore.

[Richter Belmount]

I like how such methods in the industry are satired in mgs4.

[skaar]

This is why if I'm playing a game on the PC, it's pirated. If it's on console, I bought it.

Other than a few gems.

Fuck them :P