Ubisoft Violates Consumer Rights

[agrav8r]

Originally posted by poertner_1274
But the only downside of including all these things is that there is nothing saying that a few people don't copy it and put it on the web, like it already is right now. This would mean that people still wouldn't need to buy the game if they would just wait it out until someone puts the material up on the web. I don't think there is a way to keep this from happening.

If we could only get the hackers to focus on breaking console games and tricking those systems, maybe we could get the focus put on that instead.

anyway it seems that finding the section of code that scans your system should be easy to find and eliminate, and a workaround could be developed easily.
Funny it seems like copy protection has become the new cold war. pretty soon you will download a patch and your monitor will explode - one less copyprotection violatior.

 

[MoRulez]

You can already download console games off the 'net. And that's all i'll say on that topic here.

 

[StormBringer]

Originally posted by agrav8r
it seems that finding the section of code that scans your system should be easy to find and eliminate, and a workaround could be developed easily.

I'm sure you probably can, just like you can use a no_cd patch for most games. The point I was trying to make is that I should not have to do that, since I purchased the game. I also shouldn't have to remove certain software just so I can play the game. They are intentionally forcing you to make a choice, having the ability to copy CDs(for backup purposes of course) or play their game.

 

[Qun Mang]

Originally posted by Nic
Any protection scheme can be cracked. I think the best solution to reduce piracy is to supply lots of *goodies* with boxed versions of the software. Printed manuals, strategy guides, and solutions to levels (all printed), would cut down on casual piracy...

Though I see the point with the added value content, the biggest problem I see with printed goodies is added cost. Simply put, materials cost money. Granted, books and the like could be relatively small, but then they wouldn't be as worth it to the consumer. Of course companies could do it like movie publishers do with DVD, but then they would be copied along with the game since they are on the same disc.

Anyway, game companies need to start listening to the people on this. There are legitimate uses for programs like Daemon Tools, as many of you brought up, like as in preserving original media. Unfortunately, they are unlikely to bother. One movie company rep said, "If your DVD gets damaged, you have to buy another one." I fear the same is true, or becoming true, with game manufacturers.

 

[StormBringer]

good Point Qun Mang, but the only reason that they can do this, is because consumers don't stand up and say "no more". Although if we did boycott game manufacturers for something like this, they would simply ignore it and think that piracy was the blame for lost sales.

I for one still subscribe to the old saying "the customer is always right" this seems to be lost somewhere these days. It seems that the money is all that these companies care about and customer satisfaction takes a backseat to their profits.
If we, as consumers don't start fighting back, we soon won't have any rights left.

 

[poertner_1274]

Gullability is the worst part about this. People pretty much just take whatever gets thrown at them and don't stand up and put up a fight. But the sad thing is that in today's lifestyle we are pretty much brought up to just go with the flow and take what is given to you (at least that is how the people are around me). I on the other hand will speak my mind, as I'm sure most of you who know me from IRC or other will know. It's a shame that something can't be done about these sorts of things by "average joes"

 

[BrownPaper]

i think most people are brought up to listen to authority no matter what, even if they are violating laws or rules. like the old saying the blind following the blind.

i feel bad for the people who bought that rainbow 6 game. not only did they pay for their game and now there is some newly introduced, hidden "copy protection" scheme, but they were actually planning to play that game!

 

[agrav8r]

Originally posted by Qun Mang
Though I see the point with the added value content, the biggest problem I see with printed goodies is added cost. Simply put, materials cost money. Granted, books and the like could be relatively small, but then they wouldn't be as worth it to the consumer. Of course companies could do it like movie publishers do with DVD, but then they would be copied along with the game since they are on the same disc.

Anyway, game companies need to start listening to the people on this. There are legitimate uses for programs like Daemon Tools, as many of you brought up, like as in preserving original media. Unfortunately, they are unlikely to bother. One movie company rep said, "If your DVD gets damaged, you have to buy another one." I fear the same is true, or becoming true, with game manufacturers.

Funny thing is that I am sure the copy protection cost money too.Perhaps if we could convince them to shift the money over and go back to the old copyright scheme of having to have the code in the manual on page 13 paragraph 4 line 12 word 7, things would be better
They want to save money so you are correct in that they will be less likely to add extra stuff to the box , not that they could fit it all in, now that the boxes are so small.

 

[MoRulez]

LMAO....

Forget this news bit folks....

There's already a crack for the game to avoid this stupid problem UBIsoft created. And a way to copy the game as well.

:haha:

 

[Strakian]

Can't stop a hardcore gamer from playing his game

 

[Krugger]

Originally posted by Krugger
also, challenging crackers is pointless, i guarantee there will be a new cracked .exe game file or loader or whatnot within a few days.

Originally posted by MoRulez
LMAO....
Forget this news bit folks....
There's already a crack for the game to avoid this stupid problem UBIsoft created. And a way to copy the game as well.
:haha:

that was certainly quick. i figured a few days would do it

 

[poertner_1274]

Just like anything, it is only a matter of time before something new comes out to get around the existing technology. I hope this problem creates greater problems for Ubi, only because they tried to implement this new scheme without telling its consumers.

 

[MrGaribaldi]

Bah....
I've been using virtual cd-roms since the DOS 6 days, and now it's suddenly illegal?
Right now I know where 4 game cd's are, but I've bought over a 100 (at least) since I got into computers...
So just because I prefer having my cd-rom's as images on a harddrive, I'm a pirate... And they don't even bother to explain why they think I'm a pirate...
*steam blowed off*

A problem with the suggestion of people boycotting game makers due to all the trouble they cause with the CP schemes, is that the PC Game market is small enough as it is... It's easier to create games for consoles, as you don't have to think about different hardware configs, and you've got a better chance of earning money...

So if we just stopped buying games (without pirating the games), I'm afraid that most game makers would just shift the focus entirely over to consoles, and be glad to have a simpler target to program for...

Just look at some of the games coming out for Pc's these days... Many of them are rushed ports from consoles, which doesn't take advantage of the hardware the computer has, will only look good at gpu's from certain IHV's, and has a flat look (even then) to it...
Halo springs to mind... It could've been a bloody great game on the PC, but instead it's just a good game...

So instead of just boycotting the game producers, I think a better solution would be to use petitions much more...
Or better yet, sit down and write a letter, that's right not an email, and send it with snail mail to them... Imagine 100 000 letters being sendt to Ubi Soft complaining about the new copy protection scheme....
I'm willing to bet quite a lot that they'd really sit up and take notice...

"But why not just send an email? It's easier and cheaper..." Why? Because it is easy and cheap... If you actually bother to send a letter, it'll make a much bigger impression on the producers... And since it costs money, chances are there won't be just a couple of people sending of several thousands each, as is easy to do with email (if you know how)...

I think we (the computer generation) is thinking too much about all the things we can do with computers, and ignore the traditional ways of doing things...
Thus if we actually sit up, and do something the old-fashioned way, chances are it'll be taken much more serious than if it's just done electronicly...

And it doesn't even have to be hard... If someone writes a standard letter, you can just print and send it.
You can add in a paragraph (or several of them) if you want to, but you don't have to.
The let the letter spread by forums (like this one), IRC and IM's, and I'm sure quite a few people would use it...

I'd write the letter myself, if it wasn't for the fact that I haven't bought the game, nor intend to do so...
(And not just because of the CP)

.02$

 

[StormBringer]

Good points and good idea Mr. G.
I think that these days, many people have forgotten how to use pen and paper, though you'd be amazed at what a well though out complaint letter can do(written with pen and paper)
You can email a company till you wear out your keyboard and get nothing, but write them a very well written and well put together letter, and they will usually bend over backwards to fix whatever it is you are upset about.

In this case, I don't think you'd get an immediate fix, but they would sit up and take notice, especially if they had a huge negative response as you proposed Mr. G.

I also have no plans or desire to purchase the game(not my genre of choice) but to all of you who have bought, this game, I'd urge you to write that letter as Mr. G suggested, send them a message that this is simply unacceptable.

If people heed your advice Mr. G, you might possibly be responsible for a revolution.

 

[MrGaribaldi]

Originally posted by StormBringer
Good points and good idea Mr. G.

If people heed your advice Mr. G, you might possibly be responsible for a revolution.

Thanks and LOL!

Well, it wouldn't displease me if it did (rather quite the opposite ), as I think that we're putting up with more BS than should be expected of customers...

I'm allmost tempted to buy the game just to write that letter, but it would cost more than it'd be worth for me right now...

But if it had happened with a game I had bought...

 

[StormBringer]

I think with the number of gamers who are members of TS(many of them probably visit other forums, many of them in the gaming community) I think it should be quite easy for someone to put together a complaint letter that could be used as you mentioned earlier, or even as a guid if some would rather express themselves in their own words. It wouldn't take long to spread to thousands of gamers who have bought(or would have bought) the game. Even if only a couple of people from here were to spread the word and maybe a copy of a letter, it would reach thousands in no time. Imagine the reaction to thousands of angry consumers, all because they are fed up with being treated as potential criminals.

 

[Krugger]

Originally posted by StormBringer
I think with the number of gamers who are members of TS(many of them probably visit other forums, many of them in the gaming community) I think it should be quite easy for someone to put together a complaint letter that could be used as you mentioned earlier, or even as a guid if some would rather express themselves in their own words. It wouldn't take long to spread to thousands of gamers who have bought(or would have bought) the game. Even if only a couple of people from here were to spread the word and maybe a copy of a letter, it would reach thousands in no time. Imagine the reaction to thousands of angry consumers, all because they are fed up with being treated as potential criminals.

this is what happened with Intuit's tax program, enough people complained loudly enough that they were forced to abandon their efforts.

 

[poertner_1274]

That is a great idea, with as large as the tech community is I'm sure it would pass on quickly. It's just like those stories that get sent through email, once you have gotten it once you will be sure to get it a few more times very soon.


Someone needs to step up and make it happen
/me hides in a dark corner as people try to decide who needs to do it

 

[StormBringer]

Thats what I was thinking when Mr. G first mentioned it. All it would take was a tiny bit of effort and someone who likes to write very well thought out "essay-like" posts to write the complaint, oh, and a stamp. Just a few people could spread it all over the Internet within a couple of days, then, a few angry postal employees later, a ton of complaints arrive at the doorsteps of Ubisoft.

I do think that the person to head this up should be one of you guys who actually plays that game.

 

[poertner_1274]

That was half the reason I hid in a dark corner, because I don't do much gaming anymore. Having first hand hatred of what has happened will make it that much easier to get a good letter of complaint out.

 

[Grey Area]

OK, just another, maybe slightly different view on this. In my opinion, copy protection is ok as long as it is limited to how you use the product it is protecting. It is NOT okay to take an objection to other programs you have installed, regardless of the reason behind it.

It's a thin end of the wedge kind if thing. Today it's programs that MIGHT be used to crack software. Tomorrow, is it okay to stop it working because you have Medal of Honour installed?

Pirates make money at a Ubi's expense - but so do other publishers. Where do you draw the line?

 

[poertner_1274]

I don't think it would have been quite as big of a deal if Ubi had stated that they were going to implement this, but they instead just added it to the patch and didn't warn it's users. That is where the line needs to be drawn, I might be able to understand where they are coming form and deal with the consequences of having other programs on my computer, but all they had to do was at least mention it BEFORE you download the patch. That way people at least have a heads up about the problem.
I still don't think what they did is right, even if they warned people, but at least you would have known what was up and could have made some changes to your OS to accomodate for this.

 

[StormBringer]

There is a very good point you have there Grey Area, what you are saying is that why should they stop at preventing you from using CD duplication apps, maybe they can also keep you from using competing products too. I think thats a valid argument against this type of protection. Companies already try to do this *cough* MS *cough*. This could be a valid concern, it could also be paranoia, but we've seen software companies do some pretty rotten things.

 

[agrav8r]

Originally posted by poertner_1274
I don't think it would have been quite as big of a deal if Ubi had stated that they were going to implement this, but they instead just added it to the patch and didn't warn it's users. That is where the line needs to be drawn, I might be able to understand where they are coming form and deal with the consequences of having other programs on my computer, but all they had to do was at least mention it BEFORE you download the patch. That way people at least have a heads up about the problem.
I still don't think what they did is right, even if they warned people, but at least you would have known what was up and could have made some changes to your OS to accomodate for this.

I concur. It would give them the ablity to decide if the fixes were wrth the risk, or if they were users of those particular programs affected, they would have not had to go through the hassle of downloading, and either uninstalling or waiting for a patch fix to the problem.
it would be similar to me taking my highly modified custom sports car to have a tire change, and when i get it back, it now runs on desiel instead of gas.

 

[Curl]

While i don't agree with it, this scheme will get defeated just like all the others. You can't stop those good pirates