From Dust

Yeah, I'm going to try the demo out on 360 but I think I'm going to wait the extra month for the PC version. If it's one of Ubisoft's DRM-laden, half-assed port jobs I'll just get it on 360 anyway at that point but it really seems like this game would benefit heavily from mouse control.

EDIT: Dammit to Hell, From Dust will use their stupid DRM. I really hope the console controls aren't as awkward as I've been reading in some places cause if they are, I may end up passing on this. Congrats Ubisoft, you've lost yet another sale you twits.

Parallax Abstraction wrote:

EDIT: Dammit to Hell, From Dust will use their stupid DRM. I really hope the console controls aren't as awkward as I've been reading in some places cause if they are, I may end up passing on this. Congrats Ubisoft, you've lost yet another sale you twits.

Guess I need to dig out Pop3 instead.

Yeah, so I probably won't have an internet connection for 2 weeks shortly after this comes out. f*ck you Ubisoft.

you've lost yet another sale you twits.
Guess I need to dig out Pop3 instead.
f*ck you Ubisoft.

+1
+1
+1

No sale here. I just lost interest in the game. Maybe in a year or two, in a steam sale for $2.50, IF they lose the Big Brother Is Watching You DRM bullsh*t.

With the release date change two days before launch and the DRM this has been one of the quickest 'probably buy' to 'ignore' changes I've made recently. I just seems like Ubisoft excel at finding ways to get people to not buy their games.

Scratched wrote:

With the release date change two days before launch and the DRM this has been one of the quickest 'probably buy' to 'ignore' changes I've made recently. I just seems like Ubisoft excel at finding ways to get people to not buy their games.

What it really seems like to me, with EA, Activision, Ubisoft, etc, is that PC gaming is a nuisance to them, and they seem to want to make it a pain in the ass for us, so we'll 'get with the program' and start buying $60 console games.

Then why bother with a PC port at all? I don't think anyone would have been that bothered if it was XBLA/PSN only.

Scratched wrote:

Then why bother with a PC port at all?

That would certainly put an end to their piracy problem.

Well, apart from all those pirated console games that no one ever talks about.

Ugh, barf.

IMAGE(http://rps.net/QS/Images/Smilies/emotbarf.gif)

This for a $15 game? Come on. Pull your collective heads out of your collective asses, Ubisoft.

I really hate to say it, but there's no way I'm buying it with that asinine DRM scheme. This sucks, because I've been looking forward to this game since the first info came out. I won't buy it with the DRM, because that encourages them to keep doing that, and I won't buy it on the 360, because that encourages them to not bother with the PC version. So basically, the devs get screwed out of a sale because Ubi insists on implementing customer-unfriendly practices.

And this was supposed to be my birthday present to myself too.

Scratched wrote:

With the release date change two days before launch and the DRM this has been one of the quickest 'probably buy' to 'ignore' changes I've made recently. I just seems like Ubisoft excel at finding ways to get people to not buy their games.

Seconded. I can't see playing this on a console, and I will not let that crap DRM on my PC. That they are still using that DRM 2 years or whatever later just makes me not want to give them money at all; there are plenty of other games to play, that don't have this hassle. Shame, since Ubisoft typically makes good games.

Wow, a lot of hate for the DRM. Are we sure it is the "always on" version or might it be just an initial check on install like is currently the DRM with AssCreedBro? The Steam page doesn't specify. Either way, DRM is just stupid. But, I am not idealistic enough for it to prevent me from playing a game that I want to play. Throw your stones.

Garden Ninja wrote:

there are plenty of other games to play, that don't have this hassle. Shame, since Ubisoft typically makes good games.

Heh, that sounds remarkably similar to what I said in the EA/Valve/BF3 dust up thread, it's not just a decision about whether you like the game, but all the conditions that are attached to it. Even though I can usually navigate those waters, the BS that surrounds it is one thing that really brings down PC gaming for me.

I suppose a related question would be is piracy still such a menace that is worthy of such DRM measures, and will that DRM actually do anything about it?

If they wanted to tie it to an online service, then make it an online game that really benefits from that requirement, if it's a singleplayer game, then you need to decide whether that piracy risk is suitable for you, and if not then don't greenlight the project.

It looks like it's not the always on DRM but just the login to Ubi account on game launch.
Still annoying but not intrusive enough to make me not buy the game, I think. Not buying out of principle seems pointless at this point as Ubisoft will blame any lost sales on piracy instead anyway. Voting with your wallet just doesn't seem to work these days with these big publisher companies. If they lose a small to medium # of sales they blame piracy, if they lose a large amount of sales they blame the developers and shut them down.

MisterStatic wrote:

Wow, a lot of hate for the DRM. Are we sure it is the "always on" version or might it be just an initial check on install like is currently the DRM with AssCreedBro? The Steam page doesn't specify. Either way, DRM is just stupid. But, I am not idealistic enough for it to prevent me from playing a game that I want to play. Throw your stones.

I'm not so idealistic as to avoid DRM in general. I'm find with the steam level of DRM, especially since there are actual user benefits to steam as a platform. Frankly, a game sold through Steam that has additional DRM is kind of silly, but [/i]I get why they're there: some games are still sold in boxes, or sold through different marketplaces and it doesn't make sense to spend the time to take DRM back out for a specific marketplace. I do have a problem with the Constant-Internet-Connection required DRM that they started using a few years ago. That kind of DRM is outright user hostile and I won't abide it on my machine.

The bottom box on the right side of the steam page does say "3rd-party DRM: Ubisoft Online Service", which according to this ubisoft forum post sound like what we're talking about.

(Edit to say that I've only briefly glanced at that FAQ topic on the Ubi forum, and I noticed that it is from January 2010, so it could be out of date.)

About six levels in. I like it a lot, but it's a pretty tough game. I've been stuck on this latest level for a while now. I like how creative they get with some of the levels. It's a great looking game, but I do think that the controls could be tighter, and I think unskippable cut scenes are a perfectly justifiable reason to whip someone to death with an extension cord. When you have to still sit through them if you restart the level? Instant murder coupon.

trichy wrote:

Instant murder coupon.

And you just tagged yourself. Who keeps notes on these things?

trichy wrote:

About six levels in. I like it a lot, but it's a pretty tough game. I've been stuck on this latest level for a while now. I like how creative they get with some of the levels. It's a great looking game, but I do think that the controls could be tighter, and I think unskippable cut scenes are a perfectly justifiable reason to whip someone to death with an extension cord. When you have to still sit through them if you restart the level? Instant murder coupon.

Trenched is guilty of that crap too. It's highly annoying.

Doesn't make sense for Ubi to load the super invasive DRM on this one. Especially considering Assassin's Creed Brotherhood, which is a much bigger title, only has the connect on launch thing.

I think Ubi's stopped playing smart when it comes to the PC.

Which is a giant stupid shame, because their developers are usually really good.

BlackSabre wrote:

Doesn't make sense for Ubi to load the super invasive DRM on this one. Especially considering Assassin's Creed Brotherhood, which is a much bigger title, only has the connect on launch thing.

I hope you're right. Terraria has sold, what, 500,000 copies in two months? without, as far as I know, any special DRM.

Wouldn't it be hilarious if the reason they delayed it is to put their DRM in?

I feel the need to point out that AssBro had the always-connected thing for a little while and then it was pulled later. I think.

On the 6th "mission". While you raise your "F-Ubi" flags, you are sadly missing a fun game.

MisterStatic wrote:

On the 6th "mission". While you raise your "F-Ubi" flags, you are sadly missing a fun game.

Unfortunate to be sure but I'd rather miss it than pay for it and find myself one day unable to play it anymore because Ubisoft takes the servers down while keeping my money. I agree with what others have said that putting it in a small downloadable game while leaving it out of a recent blockbuster title makes no sense. If they leave out the invasive DRM, I'll definitely buy it on PC if it's a quality port (something else they're not famous for). I'm trying it on 360 anyway but I've read in multiple places that the controls are imprecise and make the game much harder. I still think principals are important and while I won't fault people who can live with the DRM, I think respecting those who can't isn't unfair to ask.

Floomi wrote:

I feel the need to point out that AssBro had the always-connected thing for a little while and then it was pulled later. I think.

Hmm, don't think you are correct. That was AC2. AC:B always only had the connect on launch thing. Never had the full blown DRM like Splinter Cell: Conviction.

Now that we all agree DRM is bad, let's talk about the game.

I'm actually glad I (skimmed) some reviews before I bought it. I didn't know much beyond the broad premise of the game so going in knowing it was less Populous and more of an environmental puzzler kept me in the right frame of mind. I'm really enjoying what I've played (first five maps) so far. It reminds me of building sand castles on the beach and digging new trenches, trying to keep the waves from eating all my work at the end of the day.

I'm also not stressing too much while I play. Just moving dirt around and re-directing the water flows is fun to watch.

Parallax Abstraction wrote:
MisterStatic wrote:

On the 6th "mission". While you raise your "F-Ubi" flags, you are sadly missing a fun game.

Unfortunate to be sure but I'd rather miss it than pay for it and find myself one day unable to play it anymore because Ubisoft takes the servers down while keeping my money... I still think principals are important and while I won't fault people who can live with the DRM, I think respecting those who can't isn't unfair to ask.

I respect those that want to be principled about it. You certainly have more willpower than me. I am just saying it is sad that they attached DRM to this; thereby causing you to miss what has been a fun game so far.

Yes Certis, I agree. I still can''t get past the 6th mission. This starts to get hard quickly.

Spoiler:

The placement of the water trees is critical, but in the interest of putting out the periodic flames, I keep drowning my villages. Anybody get past this?