So, more reason to despise Ubisoft. Ubisoft originally stated that "From Dust" would require a one-time activation with your game/cd-key.
One of the original posts:
"We are aware of some confusion over the inclusion of DRM in the release of From Dust on PC.
To prevent any on-going confusion we would like to clarify From Dust PC will release with DRM requiring a one-time only online activation. After which you will be able to play the game offline.
We hope this clears any outstanding confusion on the matter
With thanks"
However, now that the game has been released, people have found that is not the case, and an internet connection is required EVERY time you run the game. In addition, the game is capped at 30 fps, and no cutscreens can be skipped. Apparently, after it does this DRM check with Ubisoft's servers, you can disconnect or lose connection and not get booted from the game. This is only a slight improvement over their "always on" DRM they'd used in prior games. After complaints started rolling in, Ubisoft went back posted a new one that says,
"Due to the recent confusion over the type of DRM used in From Dust:
Please find the following detailed explanation of the type of DRM used.
'From Dust' requires an internet connection when you start the game.
Make sure you are connected to the internet when you attempt to start the game.
After you have signed in and the game is running, you no longer need the internet connection for that session and can disconnect and play offline you so wish."
Due to user complaints, Ubisoft did remove the "always online" component of the new Driver: San Francisco, however all reports are that this game will use a similar system where a connection is required at every game boot. At least with Driver we know ahead of time, and they didn't flat-out lie like they did with From Dust.
2 comments:
See Rock, Paper Shotgun's article about the "less restrictive" DRM
Uhhh... I guess it's good that you don't have to get kicked out to the main menu mid-game when your internet connection has a hiccup, but I'd love for anyone to explain to me how still being required to "phone home" when launching the game is more valuable to the user?
We're still locked in the "required to be connected" prison, being dictated when and where we can play the games we paid for. Not sure how Ubisoft felt this was going to save face... but as you can see from the comments on their article, not working out the way they may have hoped.
-1 Ubi :(
Well, Ubisoft decided they will patch out the DRM now because "there was some confusion" about the DRM and "the forum post was not clear" (that they intended to have the connect-at-launch DRM the entire time, I guess?) They said it will be a short time because they have to make it so those who saved in the cloud will get their saves locally. At that time, the game will (supposedly) be entirely offline.
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