First impressions of Ubisoft's new online DRM system

[hapooh]

Last few weeks I've been keeping up with the online postings about Ubisoft's new online DRM. And was concerned to read that Silent Hunter V was going to be using it. However, Ubisoft has made some of my favorite PC games in the past few years and I decided to give it a shot, and go ahead and take the plunge and at least try one of their games.

I purchased SH5 from Steam, and activated a new account on Ubisoft's network. It was fairly painless and simpler than setting up a windows live account. So far so good. I fire up the game, and does the signing onto the network...

So first issue I encounter is a long load time while the game synchronizes your save games with Ubisoft's servers.. About 1 to 2 minutes.

Eventually I get into the game menu and was able to do the first time graphics and game setup. That was normal.

Next I started new game in the campaign and was no real issues, though game did take a long time to load. But I can't necessarily say that was an internet issue.

So first mission is a tutorial and walking around the sub while the game tells you how to interact and how to use the ingame commands. Still good, no other issues.

However, about 5 minutes into the mission, I get a pop up saying there's a problem with the internet and my session state has been saved. It tells me to wait of click the OK button to return to the main menu. But after a 10 seconds the message box goes away, and I'm back into the mission. I not too concerned, and go on playing.

But minute later message box pops up. And I wait 10 seconds it goes away. And then another 30 seconds message box pops up.. and then so on and so forth.. After about 10 minutes of getting interrupted I gave up. I then go to exit the game and there's another window open saying synchronizing saves with Ubisoft's network, app will close when complete. Well after letting it run in the background for couple of minutes I just closed it. I probably lost my saves.

So the best way I can describe playing the game is like streaming a movie from Netflix. Most of the time watching a movie online is fine, but occausionally Netlfix app will need to reconnect or adjust your video quality because your internet connection has slowed. It's the same with SH5. You need a constant connection to the server. If for a second it gets disconnected or your internet slows down, the game stops with the pop up.

I'm sure there will be times during the day when playing it will go fine, and my internet connectivity won't have any issues. But if you plan on playing for hours at a time, you're going to have issues. And no way can I even imagine playing a FPS with this setup. You'll go nuts.

I sure hope Ubisoft reconsiders this DRM setup. They've killed their games for me, I won't be buying another of their games with this type of security.

[mojoman0]

interesting...reports are in saying it has already been cracked

[Airbrushkid]

To bad there doing that. But it was said today that it's been cracked.

http://news.bigdownload.com/2010/03/...ready-cracked/

[trivium nate]

its been cracked and they are remaking so that even if you lose internet connection you can resume right where you left off

[Armed_Baboon]

Originally Posted by hapooh

Last few weeks I've been keeping up with the online postings about Ubisoft's new online DRM. And was concerned to read that Silent Hunter V was going to be using it. However, Ubisoft has made some of my favorite PC games in the past few years and I decided to give it a shot, and go ahead and take the plunge and at least try one of their games.

I purchased SH5 from Steam, and activated a new account on Ubisoft's network. It was fairly painless and simpler than setting up a windows live account. So far so good. I fire up the game, and does the signing onto the network...

So first issue I encounter is a long load time while the game synchronizes your save games with Ubisoft's servers.. About 1 to 2 minutes.

Eventually I get into the game menu and was able to do the first time graphics and game setup. That was normal.

Next I started new game in the campaign and was no real issues, though game did take a long time to load. But I can't necessarily say that was an internet issue.

So first mission is a tutorial and walking around the sub while the game tells you how to interact and how to use the ingame commands. Still good, no other issues.

However, about 5 minutes into the mission, I get a pop up saying there's a problem with the internet and my session state has been saved. It tells me to wait of click the OK button to return to the main menu. But after a 10 seconds the message box goes away, and I'm back into the mission. I not too concerned, and go on playing.

But minute later message box pops up. And I wait 10 seconds it goes away. And then another 30 seconds message box pops up.. and then so on and so forth.. After about 10 minutes of getting interrupted I gave up. I then go to exit the game and there's another window open saying synchronizing saves with Ubisoft's network, app will close when complete. Well after letting it run in the background for couple of minutes I just closed it. I probably lost my saves.

So the best way I can describe playing the game is like streaming a movie from Netflix. Most of the time watching a movie online is fine, but occausionally Netlfix app will need to reconnect or adjust your video quality because your internet connection has slowed. It's the same with SH5. You need a constant connection to the server. If for a second it gets disconnected or your internet slows down, the game stops with the pop up.

I'm sure there will be times during the day when playing it will go fine, and my internet connectivity won't have any issues. But if you plan on playing for hours at a time, you're going to have issues. And no way can I even imagine playing a FPS with this setup. You'll go nuts.

I sure hope Ubisoft reconsiders this DRM setup. They've killed their games for me, I won't be buying another of their games with this type of security.

what sort of internet connection do you have that drops out every couple of minutes?

[mojoman0]

probably the same kind I have ahhaah....thanks charter

[Bah!]

Originally Posted by Armed_Baboon

what sort of internet connection do you have that drops out every couple of minutes?

It doesn't necessarily have to be his connection that drops out, just the connection to Ubisoft's servers, which he has no control over.

[t3hl33td4rg0n]

I'm not suprised, the cracked version will just play better than the legit version - nothing new here.

Ubisoft isn't very well known for their netcode.

[K-1]

Ugh, as awful as expected. Glad I canceled my SH5 and Assassin's Creed II pre-orders, though I wish I didn't have to as I really wanted to play both those games.

[t3hl33td4rg0n]

Confirmed, its cracked.... The scene group SKIDROW took care of it... Here are excerpts...

EDIT: I remember the last time I posted an NFO, some people got their panties in a twist so I took it out.

What I can tell you is that its no different from any other cracked game.

[BioHazZarD]

Yeah so looks like they will beat assassins creed 2 and new splinter cell to with ease, and in a month ubisoft will cry over the pc sales.. u damn morons..

[Crow_Nest]

Originally Posted by Airbrushkid

To bad there doing that. But it was said today that it's been cracked.

http://news.bigdownload.com/2010/03/...ready-cracked/

It'll be ironic if the pirated version of the game plays better without any of that pop up nonsense.