Ubisoft Has Windows-Style Hardware-Based DRM For Games 473
New submitter Man Eating Duck writes "Guru3D describes how the activation system in Ubisoft's RTS game Anno 2070 also tracks hardware changes: 'So yesterday I started working on a performance review. We know (well, at least we figured we knew), that the game key can be used on three systems. That's fair; the first activation is used on my personal game rig. The second we installed on the AMD Radeon graphics test PC and the 3rd on our NVIDIA graphics test PC. ... For the NVIDIA setup I take out the GTX 580, and insert a GTX 590. When I now startup the game, 'BAM', again an activation is required. Once again I fill out the key, and now Ubisoft is thanking me with the message that I ran out of activations.' Guru3D subsequently discovered that Ubisoft was less than helpful: 'Sorry to disappoint you — the game is indeed restricted to 3 hardware changes and there simply is no way to bypass that.' I, and many with me, will never buy games with such a draconian DRM scheme, as it's very likely that I'll swap out enough components to run into this issue. Even the Steam version includes this nice 'feature.' It's probably a good idea to let Ubisoft know why we'll pass on this title."
Reviewer's sweet revenge (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Three hardware changes? (Score:2, Funny)
That's great. Installing any other OS on new or changed hardware a) doesn't involve a phone, b) doesn't involve talking to an Indian man or a computer and c) doesn't involve getting scolded.
Re:And they wonder why people pirate (Score:2, Funny)
Sure you will. Download a crack. These game companies are a joke. They'll never outsmart the cracking groups.
Vicariously feeling cool bro?
Ubisoft execs, I can turn this around for you (Score:3, Funny)
ubsoft peeps-
I got connections all over the place. I know the Editor N Chief of Kotaku , IGN , Engadget I’ll be meeting them later today to discuss your situation. I'll get you attention you need pax east pax west , e3 , CES , Gamer Con , SSXW ,Comic Con, Germany I’m all over the place. I'll leverage my relationships with my main distribution arm landing us in GameStop , fry’s , Myers , Best buy , Activision , MLG , play N trade and a lot more.
Dont worry about those complete morons on slashdo tpissing and moaning about drm. I say Welcome to the Internet. I'm 38 I wwebsite as on the internet when they were a sperm in their daddys balls and before it was the internet. I'll get this shit straightened out...
Gimme a shout.
Paul Christoforo, Ocean Marketing
These are the people who get rich (Score:5, Funny)
That kid you knew in pre-school who, when the square peg didn't fit in the round hole, first tried to force it in until his fingers were bloodied and then finally hammered it in with his forehead? He grew up to be the CEO of Ubisoft.
Re:And they wonder why people pirate (Score:4, Funny)
DRM patch is usually released before the games hit the shelves anyways thanks to our Razor1911 friends :)
Re:And they wonder why people pirate (Score:3, Funny)
Not to split hairs, but Charlie Sheen has a new TV show currently in production.