Quote:
Originally Posted by F19_Klunk
Internet connection required to activate game? 
Initially or everytime ?  |
My question exactly.
Until we officially hear from Oleg or a publisher i'm not holding my breath in any case, but if this is legit then i hope Ubi has learned from their DRM mistakes with Assassin's Creed II and Silent Hunter V.
It's been hinted that the new title will feature an integrated server browser/matchmaking service, so i don't see why a permanent connection would be required. If they tie use of the multiplayer to a proof of purchase that's protection enough.
Up till now, the most trouble free online protection i've seen is in Starcraft 2 and that's because you can still play if your internet access is down and it doesn't use any external applications (like Steam for example), apart from needing a web browser to initially create a user account and input your cd-key details. In fact, you only need to connect once if you only want to play against the AI.
There are other issues with Blizzard /Activision, but as far as this particular strategy game is concerned the copy protection doesn't trouble the legitimate user.
The way it works is you make a free account for their online matchmaking service, then you log into its website and input the game's CD-key to tie that account to your legitimate game purchase. This flags your account as a legitimate owner of the game, it also enables you to download the installation files if you misplace your original DVD or you want to play from another PC, but the game still ships in a nice little box.
To activate the installed game all one needs to do is log in with a valid account ONCE (ie, an account with a valid starcraft 2 cd-key tied to it). No limited activations/deactivations, none of that hassle. Just log in with a valid account once and you are good to go.
However, it doesn't need a constant internet connection.
After the game has been activated, as long as you are connected to the internet you will be asked to log in every time you launch the game. However, if for any reason your internet access is down, an already activated installation of the game offers you the option to launch it in offline mode. The game simply detects if there is working internet access before demanding it, which is good enough for me. You can also "fool" the game by resetting your router as it's loading and it will not demand that you log in, which is exactly why Blizzard provided a way to save us even that little trouble: even if you are connected and the game demands a log in, you can press the "go offline" button on the main screen after you log in and that's it.
It's simple, clean, offers both digital and physical distribution and most importantly, you can still play against the AI if your internet connection is down, both the single player campaign and custom missions. You can't do that in Silent Hunter 5, you can only do it for half the single player game modes in RoF (quick mission builder and static campaigns only) and that's why i didn't buy any of these two but i bought Starcraft 2.
You can even switch between different accounts by logging in and out on the same installation, for example if people take turns on a single PC during a LAN party/tournament and they want to tie their match results to their personal statistics.
On another note
Quote:
Originally Posted by T}{OR
Which leads me to another question - why isn't there a 1C logo on the box?
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I'd like to know about that as well
