Videogame publisher Ubisoft has unveiled plans to implement a new DRM (digital rights management, basically refers to anti-piracy methods) scheme for its PC games . Basically, under this new scheme, players need to be online to play the game. Gone are the limited installs that come with the disc. (Their previous scheme put a cap on the number of installs per disc you can make) There would also be no need to put the disc inside the drive while playing. The authentication process will all be online and will happen everytime you logon to Ubisoft’s servers to play the game.
While at first glance this may seem as a good idea, it is riddled with problems. First, there is the issue of ISP reliability. Not all ISPs provide a stable internet connection. On some days (especially here in the Philippines), internet connection can be a bit buggy, disconnecting you every once in a while. And what happens if your internet gets disconnected while you’re playing? Apparently, all your progress will be lost up to the last time you saved.
The second issue is the reliability of Ubisoft’s servers. When they go down, you can’t play. If servers reach their maximum capability, you may not be able to play. Also, you can’t expect that games will still be supported after, say, 5 years. That means after such period, you may not be able to play your game anymore. Your purchase, in that sense, becomes a rental.
The last issue with this DRM is the same with all other schemes that have been implemented so far: they don’t address the problems of piracy. The technological barrier put up by the DRM is not enough to prevent piracy. The game will eventually be cracked and released to torrents. It also does not provide any incentive to buy the game. Instead, what this new scheme essentially does is burden the paying customer. Because of this, it may even be argued that DRM schemes such as these even promote piracy, since it is much easier to play the pirated version compared to the DRM-protected version.
What then should they have done? I don’t know. All I know is that this type of DRM is not the solution. It only hurts their customers and does nothing to address piracy issues.
source: http://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/2010/01/ubisofts-new-drm-solution-you-have-be-online-to-play.ars
Monch Bacani
11th entry
2 comments:
As mentioned in class, I think the best solution to preventing piracy is to re-evaluate the business model of copyright owners, especially music and video companies.
By just coming up with various DRM schemes/programs, the companies are just playing "cat-and-mouse" games with those who are bent on cracking their software.
Of course, the question here is what business model would be perfect in the internet age where everything seems to be "Crack-able".
Entertainment companies should start thinking of changing their business models now rather than trying to lobby for more protection from the government (like what Sarkovsky is doing in France).
A new business model may potentially bring them more money than this cat-and-mouse game. :)
update: the drm apparently was cracked in less than a day. http://www.infoaddict.com/ubisofts-new-drm-cracked-in-under-25-hours
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