Firstly, I would like to point out that this is in the HoMM6 forums because these complaints don't apply to every single game. It is mostly aimed at this one.
It isn't a regular thing for me to jump on a forum and start complaining about a game, as I mostly prefer to support games and give feedback so that the developers can make a better game. However, after playing your HoMM6 beta, after playing the full game, and after frustrating myself with it, I am just about done.
This post could be longer than the Earth's diameter, but I am going to try and keep this short, in knowledge that Ubisoft selectively represents information on their forums to prevent knowledge of the "truths" from spreading. This alone is just proof that Ubisoft is either embarrassed about their latest business choices, or would prefer it if customers would just shut up and buy their games. Who could blame them though? Isn't it their job to make money of their products which they provide? However, there is another issue at hand.
Lets talk DRM a little. For those who are unaware of what DRM is, it is digital rights management. Basically, it is where game companies try to prevent unrestricted access to their games, or in other words, only allow legitimate consumers to play. One form of DRM is steam, where you need to have steam installed and logged on to your account to play certain games. But the bigger issue here is Ubisoft's take on DRM, the Uplay/conflux.
This is where my main issues arise. In Ubisoft's attempts to prevent pirates from illegally playing their games, they introduced a system to some of their games (HoMM6 in particular) where you had to be online to play the game. Yes, there is an offline function, but it does not work. By definition, playing a game offline is playing a game offline, correct? Well that is not what Ubisoft see. They see it as "playing offline means playing 75 percent of the game offline." How is this justified? More importantly, how is this fair? To limit not only your consumers, the main source of your revenue, but to also not limit those who pirate the game! Pirates can play the game offline, with all features enabled, while real and legitimate consumers are left in the dirt. Upon asking why we are kicked onto the dirt, Ubisoft reply to us and tell us to eat it. No, they don't listen to our concerns, they don't try and compromise, they just tell us to fix our own problems or leave. This isn't customer support, this is customer ABUSE.
Do I honestly care if a game has DRM in it? NO! Do I care if the DRM supports those whom the DRM is directly targeting? NO! Do I care if the DRM hinders those who are meant to be supported by it? Yes I do, because that is wrong, and unfair. I gave you my money, I expect a full, 100 percent working product. If it is not a full, 100 percent working product then I expect it to be fixed! This is basic consumer rights, I have the rights to a working title, which I gave you money for. If you don't fix your problem, then I expect a full refund! I do not pay for broken products, and anyone in their right mind who has common sense should also not want to pay for broken products, because paying for a game that does not work as advertised is STEALING.
You can argue that the game works online as intended, or that the game even works offline as intended, but I have to wonder why UBI would even treat their customers like dirt in the first place? They are treating pirates more as legitimate consumers then the real customers themselves! Even worse, the online DOESN'T WORK all the time!
What happens when UBI servers go down? Easy, you can't play the game you legitimately payed for. Therefore, the product is not working as advertised, therefore it is not a working product. BY LAW, I should have my money back in those scenarios, because I am NOT getting the full, advertised product. Alternatively, make your game fully playable offline, so when the servers are experiencing technical difficulties, I can play the product as advertised: a product that can be played online and offline. Because I am not playing the product offline, only 75 percent of it. And 75 percent does not equal 1, therefore I am not getting the 1 offline product as advertised. How anyone can get away with this is beyond me. Mind you, pirates can play their full copy of the game for free. The sooner Ubisoft learn that pirates are always going to plague the gaming world, the better. Because no matter how hardcore and awesome and tight your DRM is, pirates will find a way. This DRM doesn't stop them, it merely takes them longer to pirate the game. It has been proved time and time and time again, not a single product to this date has a 0 percent piracy rate. How do you think 2D boy, the devs of World of goo felt? That game had a 90 percent piracy rate on the PC!! Yet they still managed to make a massive profit from that game, because many people wanted to buy the game after hearing how good it was.
So I finally close my argument here, and literally dare Ubisoft to respond in a civil manner. Just watch how long this thread lasts. It will disappear before your very eyes, only further proving my points. Ubisoft don't care about consumers, they care about money, and they care about pirates! Don't believe me?
Well then, lets just see how Ubisoft respond to me, a legit customer. Better yet, lets see if they even respond at all.
You do not buy games (ie. products) - you buy licenses to access and use ("play") games. If the games are unavailable - the stipulation that you agreed to says - it's ok.
If you do not agree to such stipulations - do not buy the license.
It's like buying a ticket to for a ride in an amusement park. If the owner decides to close the ride, you can't use it until it's open again.
I do not agree with such handling of single player games too, but I'm just saying - under the terms of used you agreed to, your complaint is invalid.
trust me I agree with you but the main problem here is that within 1 weeks time from now ur post and all replies will be deleted by forum-ubifail-fanboys, I recall a great post from 2-3 weeks ago where all the downtime of the conflux was listed but a post like this saying how much ubifail actually FAILS is not allowed on their forum. By all accounts they should accept the fact that they have screwed us paying customers and give us a full refund (but that will ofc not happend) only way to punish ubifail and partners back is to NOT ever again buy one of their stinking products.
I'm only on forum today btw cause the servers are DOWN again for gods knows which time in the last last 2 months - so again UBIFAILURE
I would really like to see the validity of this claim, but I can't find the terms and conditions anywhere! Care to show where they might be? A specific hard drive location or link? I would appreciate it.Originally Posted by kanetsb Go to original post
Now I have a question. Would Steam offer a refund? I purchased the game in beta through Steam, and I know steam have given refunds before on certain occasions. Claiming that the game does not work as advertised and that it is missing features (as it is right now) might convince them to give refunds. If enough people join on, Steam might even refuse to sell the game. Then we will see how much Ubisoft "cares." Unforunately, it probably won't happenOriginally Posted by Cassa1976 Go to original post
I'm sure the license flashes somewhere on the screen during installation. Generally, I find myself not giving a ... about stuff I can't change. And since I do want to play the game - the ACCEPT ****on is the only choice.
Steam doesn't refund. Even if the game doesn't work for you for some reason. Steam will never refund because you're buying game licenses and not the actual games from them.
The era of the re-sale'able cartridge is over - right now it's all about individual licenses. The next console generation will probably be Internet-download-only - to prohibit people from selling used games via discs.
Now that last point you made is arguably the most dumbest, stupidest, failest (no it isn't a word), and fantastically horrible thing about the conflux. Why the heck should I not be able to access my saves... for a single player game... while playing single player???? Why do I need to be online? Do I need to authenticate my saves so Ubi knows they are legit? Saves should be... saveable onto your hard drive. Yes, having them online means you can't lose them or anything crazy like that, but sometimes it means you can't access them at all, eliminating the purpose of having them online. Saves should be accessible from either source, I have no idea why you can't just save and load from your own computer. I own the "licence" to play the game, I should be able to play it properly with all features.Originally Posted by DenTNT Go to original post
This whole thing really is incredibly stupid. Anyone on this forum want to play the game right now? Let's go pirate it then! That way we can play the game we purchased! If Ubi are gonna treat us like idiots, then lets go treat them like idiots, stop purchasing their games, and pirate them all!
Now while I'm a better person then that and I will never pirate games, I know there are plenty of people who could easily start pirating Ubisoft games. Ubisoft just need to drop the whole restriction thing altogether and just make the game properly playable offline. Why, and I really do ask why, did they add these restrictions when they are helping nobody but the pirates?