We can all agree that the biggest threat to the PC Gaming platform is the rampant piracy that goes on and while there can be arguments that DRM is one big cause of this there can be little argument when a small developer who created a quirky game believe that only between 5 to 15% of players paid for their game. Machinarium was release for without DRM and even so up to 95% of the people who played the game may have pirated it. Pirates, hang your heads in shame.

But there is a chance of some redemption……

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See that internet there….it’s always on.

In case you have been living without an internet connection for the last month or so (in which case you won’t like this) Ubisoft have implemented a DRM system that requires a constant connection to the internet to validate your game at all times. If you lose your internet connection while in game then it is game over, albeit with a recent automatic save or checkpoint for you to return to when you get back online. This has had the PC gaming community up in arms and several boycotts and petitions organised which so far have been in vain.

Ubisoft’s newest games Silent Hunter 5 (SH5) and Assassins Creed 2 (AC2) have both released protected by Ubisoft’s DRM since which we have had claims and counter claims of the DRM being hacked and pirated versions of the games appearing online. So far, so very, very standard for a new PC release with the challenge of a new DRM protection however a new twist to the tale played out last weekend when there was a DoS attack on the Ubisoft servers that saw all or a percentage of people unable to play their games depending on who you believe. This is by far the most militant that sections of the gaming community have been in response to yet another perceived injustice that has been brought against the PC gamer and while there are several arguments that we should be angry and defend our rights as gamers there is the nagging question, what if Ubisoft are right? Read the rest of this entry »