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Ubisoft Activations disappear when changing graphics cards [Ubi Responds, Is Snarky]

SmokyDave

Member
It's not fair because they've snagged some great developers. Reflections, for example, made a fantastic game under Ubisoft's umbrella and they probably wouldn't have done so without them.

So?

I wouldn't drink in a bar that served a great pint but the barman punched me after I drank it.

There are more games out there than you have hours to play games. Don't support companies that wouldn't support you. It's simple.
 

daviyoung

Banned
So?

I wouldn't drink in a bar that served a great pint but the barman punched me after I drank it.

There are more games out there than you have hours to play games. Don't support companies that wouldn't support you. It's simple.

Because the brewery that makes such a delicious beverage is going out of business due to a nasty landlord serving its drink.
 

Dead Man

Member
So?

I wouldn't drink in a bar that served a great pint but the barman punched me after I drank it.

There are more games out there than you have hours to play games. Don't support companies that wouldn't support you. It's simple.

Exactly. Although the list of publishers I will buy from seems to be getting shorter every year, I am still not lacking for games.
 

Tempy

don't ask me for codes
Hopefully Blue Byte comes with a DRM-removing patch after a while - I'd like to play Anno at some point. Has that happened before with a Ubisoft game?
 

SmokyDave

Member
Because the brewery that makes such a delicious beverage is going out of business due to a nasty landlord serving its drink.

I'm of the belief that if the brew is great, it will naturally find a home in a better pub.

Exactly. Although the list of publishers I will buy from seems to be getting shorter every year, I am still not lacking for games.
Yup. I'm serious about never buying from Origin, I won't buy Ubisoft games and I now don't buy games with online passes or egregious DLC (Uncharted 3 & Forza 4 hurt the most to skip). Despite this, I've still got more great games than I have time to play great games.
 

ruttyboy

Member
Does this need a net connection to check the number of activations? So the number of licenses left is stored on a server at Ubisoft somewhere?

What happens if you activate it with a net connection, then change the graphics card and then try to play the game again without first hooking it up to the net? Does it just say, "Something's changed, and we can't check whether that's OK, so you're not playing at all."?
 

Wiktor

Member
I'm guessing they had a hard time finding other publishers. Being a PC dev signing with Ubi, must be a though decision to make.

Blue Byte is fully owned by Ubisoft.

Personally I wish I could boycott them for something like this. But in reality they publish some of my favorite games. While I can and do ignore new Assassin Creeds or Driver, I just can't do the same with Anno, Settlers of Heroes
 

Polk

Member
Does this need a net connection to check the number of activations? So the number of licenses left is stored on a server at Ubisoft somewhere?

What happens if you activate it with a net connection, then change the graphics card and then try to play the game again without first hooking it up to the net? Does it just say, "Something's changed, and we can't check whether that's OK, so you're not playing at all."?

I would say yes, they won't let you play the game until re-activation if they detect hardware change.

Remember 1staring Spore on Amazon back in a day? Maybe it's really the best option to show how we think publishers are stupid?
 

Xavien

Member
I hate this DRM, I bought Riddick from Direct2Drive a few years back and ran out of activations (which was a hard 3 install limit with no revoke tool), contacted D2D and never got a response back, so i downloaded a crack for the game.

I bought the game dammit and I'm gonna make it play :p

Thinking about it, without Pirates a lot of legimate customers would be fucked with no recourse, imagine if there was no cracks for games and you were at the whim of these asshole publishers *shudder*
 

ruttyboy

Member
I would say yes, they won't let you play the game until re-activation if they detect hardware change.

Remember 1staring Spore on Amazon back in a day? Maybe it's really the best option to show how we think publishers are stupid?

So what happens when Ubi can't be arsed to maintain the activation server anymore?

Like someone said earlier in the thread, this new level of bullshit that they're determined to foist onto PC gamers is one of the big reasons I haven't upgraded my PC again. Let's face it PC gaming was pretty hassle-tastic to start with. And yes, I could just play indie games but I like AAA games and don't see why I should have to forgo them.
 
So what happens when Ubi can't be arsed to maintain the activation server anymore?

Like someone said earlier in the thread, this new level of bullshit that they're determined to foist onto PC gamers is one of the big reasons I haven't upgraded my PC again. Let's face it PC gaming was pretty hassle-tastic to start with. And yes, I could just play indie games but I like AAA games and don't see why I should have to forgo them.

There are actually very few publishers who act like this. Considering how many developers who have choosen to go the Steamworks route, PC gaming is in general much easier then before.
 

ruttyboy

Member
There are actually very few publishers who act like this. Considering how many developers who have choosen to go the Steamworks route, PC gaming is in general much easier then before.

Well I see Ubi and EA are the ones most complained about, but my brief experiences with GFWL left a very sour taste in the mouth, is that becoming less popular? I hate the thought of spending loads of money on hardware and then not being able to play the games I want to play.
 

mclem

Member
It sounds like you're arguing that the facetious comment is in fact accurate - that pirates are the only people capable of upgrading their PCs three times within the "lifetime" of a game (i.e. before its successor is released).

Lifetime's a fun word. You know what I'm playing at the moment? Elder Scrolls. Arena.

I revisit my archive quite frequently. I played Megaman Legends for the first time only last year, and my GoG collection is *massive*. I'd quite like my games to *continue* to run on my PC in ten years, thanks. It might be difficult to get them to run owing to compatability issues; that's fair enough, goes with the territory. I'd, however, rather not have publishers sticking their oar in and giving me artificial hurdles to jump in the meantime.
 

JaseC

gave away the keys to the kingdom.
Lifetime's a fun word. You know what I'm playing at the moment? Elder Scrolls. Arena.

I revisit my archive quite frequently. I played Megaman Legends for the first time only last year, and my GoG collection is *massive*. I'd quite like my games to *continue* to run on my PC in ten years, thanks. It might be difficult to get them to run owing to compatability issues; that's fair enough, goes with the territory. I'd, however, rather not have publishers sticking their oar in and giving me artificial hurdles to jump in the meantime.

That would be why I encased the word in quotation marks and explained the ad hoc definition. ;) I wouldn't want to be the person who decides to revisit Anno 2070 ~17 years from now!
 

Dead Man

Member
Lifetime's a fun word. You know what I'm playing at the moment? Elder Scrolls. Arena.

I revisit my archive quite frequently. I played Megaman Legends for the first time only last year, and my GoG collection is *massive*. I'd quite like my games to *continue* to run on my PC in ten years, thanks. It might be difficult to get them to run owing to compatability issues; that's fair enough, goes with the territory. I'd, however, rather not have publishers sticking their oar in and giving me artificial hurdles to jump in the meantime.

80% of my purchases are on GOG these days, just for the ease of use, and to play games I either missed the first time, or could barely run.
 

mbmonk

Member
People still buy Ubi PC titles?

Agreed. I learned my lesson with Rainbow Six Vegas for the PC. I got zero support from Ubisoft. They crapped out the port and left the users to figure out what was wrong and how to fix it. I haven't bought a Ubi PC port since.
 

Torraz

Member
If I knew this I would uninstall the game and then install a video card. But as this shit is ridiculous I wouldn't even think about such possibility as I didn't think in case of Riddick.

I don't think uninstalling first is better. What if every single game wanted you to do that before upgrading hardware?
 

dark10x

Digital Foundry pixel pusher
When it gets to this point I see no reason why people shouldn't just pirate the shit out of UbiSoft games. They're practically challenging the pirates to steal their wares.

Honestly, this hits home as I was just messing around with video cards on my PC this weekend. I would have been left unable to play this game as a result.
 

Curufinwe

Member
Yup. I'm serious about never buying from Origin, I won't buy Ubisoft games and I now don't buy games with online passes or egregious DLC (Uncharted 3 & Forza 4 hurt the most to skip). Despite this, I've still got more great games than I have time to play great games.

If you won't buy a console game like Uncharted 3 which has a CD Key just for multiplayer access so that only the original purchaser get access to that content, do you also refuse to buy any PC game which restricts access to the whole game to the original purchaser?
 

SmokyDave

Member
If you won't buy a console game like Uncharted 3 which has a CD Key just for multiplayer access so that only the original purchaser get access to that content, do you also refuse to buy any PC game which restricts access to the whole game to the original purchaser?

Nope. One has been added purely to scupper the used market, the other has always been that way and I understood that when I adopted the format. Funny thing is, I don't actually buy used games so it doesn't affect me directly, I just think the practice is heinous.

The distinction between online pass and CD key probably doesn't matter to most but that's cool. I'm not asking anyone else to adopt my specific principles, just to have some of their own.
 
Man, I was literally just talking to Kabouter about this game yesterday morning. I was thinking about getting it because it seems right up my alley, but now? Lol no.

Amazing, they actually managed to make me dislike Ubi Soft more than Activision.

When it comes to PC gaming, Activision is miles ahead of Ubisoft. For all the philosophical objections some people might have to Steamworks, it's pretty unobtrusive and Activision doesn't use else above and beyond.\

Am I reading this right: you can only activate the game 3 times and then it's basically useless because there's no further activations (even as the time passes)? How is that shit even legal?

This is also why I'm probably never going to play Crysis, which is as far as I can tell only available as an activation-limited rental with no way whatsoever to restore activations.

Well I see Ubi and EA are the ones most complained about, but my brief experiences with GFWL left a very sour taste in the mouth, is that becoming less popular?

Almost nobody is using GFWL anymore, thankfully.
 
Man, I was literally just talking to Kabouter about this game yesterday morning. I was thinking about getting it because it seems right up my alley, but now? Lol no.
It's such a great game, but this bullshit is unacceptable.

My video card died on me last year. So that already counts as an activation it seems. Can't they at least just link it to the motherboard, you don't switch that one as often as videocards, RAM or hard drives.

Or you know, skip the whole DRM stuff and just release it without. I haven't seen a single piece of evidence that supported the "DRM reduces piracy" argument.
 

Blizzard

Banned
This is also why I'm probably never going to play Crysis, which is as far as I can tell only available as an activation-limited rental with no way whatsoever to restore activations.
Stallion Free was able to call (EA?) support to get extra activations once or twice. I think he may have also mentioned that he didn't have install problems the last time he tried, so the limit might have been patched out or something (not sure if it's the Steam version only or what).

It's definitely obnoxious but I think there are still ways around it. I'd like to hear confirmation if the limit is removed, of course.
 
Well I see Ubi and EA are the ones most complained about, but my brief experiences with GFWL left a very sour taste in the mouth, is that becoming less popular? I hate the thought of spending loads of money on hardware and then not being able to play the games I want to play.

GfWL? Yep, it´s more or less dead. Only used in a few console ports now.
 

iNvid02

Member
THQ is dying but ubisoft is not??

assassins creed and just dance frequently take spots on sales lists, major cash cows for ubisoft

they also have other stuff like far cry 3, i am alive, brothers in arms, ghost recon, and all sorts of music/movie games
 

d00d3n

Member
Does this bulls*** apply to the assassins creed games? As someone who bought them all at full price I will absolutely boycott/delay purchase for future installments.
 

TheExodu5

Banned
It's really a shame that Ubisoft has several great PC franchises under their belt. The way Anno 1404 was handled with regards to Steam updates is dispicable.
 

Deadbeat

Banned
If you won't buy a console game like Uncharted 3 which has a CD Key just for multiplayer access so that only the original purchaser get access to that content, do you also refuse to buy any PC game which restricts access to the whole game to the original purchaser?
CD keys are important because if you are a dick and get banned from a ton of servers you have to go out and buy another copy to play the game again. Thats why CD keys are need for PC multiplayer (that doesnt use a unified system). For consoles, there is no reason because there is psn/xblive id code. CD keys for consoles is nothing but bullshit. Besides, I could say uninstall Call of Duty 4 right now and give a friend a copy of my game on PC. He could go play it online right now. No problems. But any bans on that key will continue on that key. Which is exactly what matters if theres no account id across a unified system.

What you are pointing out is games sold on Steam/Origin that are tied to an account and you can no longer transfer them. Thats why I hate DD systems that lock down my games. That will have to be the next evolutionary step in Digital Distribution. How to trade used game copies.
When it gets to this point I see no reason why people shouldn't just pirate the shit out of UbiSoft games. They're practically challenging the pirates to steal their wares.
Some games like From Dust are so horribly broken that pirates dont even feel that they are worth downloading. That says it all really.

We all have to look at what games we would want to play on PC but have to settle for a console version because it wont be properly ported and/or riddled with DRM. The only game I wanted was Rayman Origins but I aint buying it till its in the bargain bin for the 360 (or used).
 

Isomac

Member
WOW, I was actually interested about the game...

So pretty much if my GPU would explode and I would use my backup one, that would be my activations 1&2. Then when I would get my warranty card back, that would be my last activation. After that I would need to buy new game. Wait, what, am I really understanding this right?
 

Corto

Member
WOW, I was actually interested about the game...

So pretty much if my GPU would explode and I would use my backup one, that would be my activations 1&2. Then when I would get my warranty card back that would be my last activation. After that I would need to buy new game. Wait, what, am I really understanding this right?

Yes. But in that scenario I would bet that Ubisoft would grant you another 3 activation after you contacted them explaining the whole ordeal.

Which is still stupid as you shouldn't need to do so, just to clarify.
 

StuKen

Member
WOW, I was actually interested about the game...

So pretty much if my GPU would explode and I would use my backup one, that would be my activations 1&2. Then when I would get my warranty card back that would be my last activation. After that I would need to buy new game. Wait, what, am I really understanding this right?

Yep. So the moral of the story is never, ever buy anything from ubishit. Simples.
 

RpgN

Junior Member
This gen we had Activision being the worst company for a while, then EA striked back and now Ubisoft is ahead of them.

Looking back at it, Activision only milks their games to death, but I haven't experienced some of the bullshit the other two companies have been doing lately. Now I'm just happy if they want to milk their games as long as it's not anti-consumer DRM stuff.

Man I feel sorry for you PC fans, you really have it much worse. This is just a new low, and their comment is downright evil. It seems like console gaming is slowly following PC gaming too :(
 

Blizzard

Banned
I'd have to doublecheck on Steam, but I don't think I've bought (or played) any Ubisoft games since they started their whole online DRM thing to begin with, and hopefully not Tages games either. It's not that big of a deal since for the most part I'm not even interested in the games, but I was interested in some airplane game and the new Prince of Persia (hopefully I didn't buy that on sale if it had online DRM, can't remember).

Ultimately it sorta comes down to which you care about more, not giving support to companies that treat people like this, or playing specific games.
 
Ubisoft just don't understand.

Analyst: "Sir, our sales are down and piracy is up."

CEO: "Stop the piracy. Make it harder to pirate our games, and don't worry about the experience of the legitimate consumer."

(1 year later)

Analyst: "Sir, piracy is still a problem. Sales still aren't where they should be. People are complaining that our DRM solution actually gives them MORE of an incentive to pirate games."

CEO: "What do we have to do to please these nerds, give everyone SEVEN COPIES for the price of one?! Get out of my office!"
 

Isomac

Member
Yes. But in that scenario I would bet that Ubisoft would grant you another 3 activation after you contacted them explaining the whole ordeal.

Which is still stupid as you shouldn't need to do so, just to clarify.

I hope so and yes all this extra work is so stupid.

It's a shame Ubisoft owns all these great games and completely ruins them by DRM :/ My dad got Heroes 6 and it's filled with stupid DRM problems too. He couldn't even play the game for couple days, since the Ubisoft servers had maintenance... Guess which days he had free from work :/
 

Jinko

Member
Wow this is so retarded, it's not going to do anything more than drive legit consumers to crack their software.
 
Add another person who was really interested in the game but won't buy it now. Or for 5 bucks at some point, the fair price for a rental.

As SmokyDave pointed out, there are already too many good games competing for my time, so I'll let shitty publishers help the culling. When I dropped EA a year ago, I thought it would be hard but honestly, it hasn't been so far.
 

Glix

Member
What the flying fuck??? I was going to buy this over the weekend. What if I decide to crossfire my 6950 in six months?

Fuck you Ubisoft. You moronic response makes me even more annoyed
 
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