Latest Ubisoft DRM measure - all SP saves stored on a cloud server - by EvaUnit02
lost_soul on 26/1/2010 at 18:09
I expect to retain control of the data I produce and the games I play. Yes, i use services like gmail and dropbox, but that is completely different. They only get the files I give them, and I can secure them with my own encryption if I like.
That said, I can see the benefit of a service where when you save your progress in a game, it gets saved to your local disk *AND* a remote server. Lord knows I've formatted my HDD only to realize that I didn't back up my saves for that game weeks later when I go back to play it. At this point, I wind up not wanting to play through the first 12 levels to reach my previous state, but I feel dirty for cheating to get to that map.
Tonamel on 26/1/2010 at 18:30
Quote Posted by Malf
Isn't that right Clay?
Names aren't <i>that</i> hard to find,
Mat. (Found via cleveridiot.com on a search for your Steam name)
I'll save you the trouble: I'm <a href="http://www.studiocypher.com/">Ian</a>.
edit: And to provide something useful and on topic... I guess it depends on if saves are ONLY on the cloud, or synced with a local copy, a la Steam. When the Internet went down over Christmas, it was nice that I could kill time with Torchlight knowing that it'd re-sync whenever I next connected to the internet.
ZylonBane on 26/1/2010 at 18:54
Quote Posted by Malf
The contents of save game files are hardly likely to incriminate anybody in any realistic sense, but if ZB's post was in any way implying that I'm the kind of person responsible for the loss of anonymity in modern society, he couldn't be further from the truth :)
I'm betting that simply by entering ZylonBane into Google, I could find out more about ZB than he'd be comfortable with, yet it would be incredibly hard for him to find out anywhere near as much about me.
Oh golly, you managed to find out my name. I only have it posted right on the (
http://shtupmod.net/) SHTUP home page.
I guess need to amend my earlier statement to-- You are why we're all doomed, you are apparently uninteresting, and you are dumb.
The problem here is not one of privacy. The problem is the means to play something you've paid for being held hostage to both a live internet connection, and a company who views their own customers as the enemy.
Also, sounds like you suck at computers if you've managed to destroy so many that this is actually appealing to you.
gunsmoke on 26/1/2010 at 19:01
God, this is a BAD idea. And to the users saying that it won't be so bad, as long as the saves are duped locally...why would they be? Doesn't that render the whole system completely pointless? :rolleyes:
lost_soul on 26/1/2010 at 19:06
Quote Posted by gunsmoke
God, this is a BAD idea. And to the users saying that it won't be so bad, as long as the saves are duped locally...why would they be? Doesn't that render the whole system completely pointless? :rolleyes:
It isn't pointless if it helps folks like me who format and then realize that they forgot to back up save files for a game we were playing. It should be completely optional though. I don't like programs phoning home without my permission.
steo on 26/1/2010 at 19:20
You know that big, extremely explicit warning you get whenever trying to format anything? It's there for a reason.
I'll concede that as a service to the customer to store your saves for you, it's alright. But forcing the user to connect to the internet to load a save game should be against the Geneva convention. It's a ridiculous play for taking control away from the customer and giving it to the developer/publisher, and in doing so, they're only making things less efficient.
Tonamel on 26/1/2010 at 19:25
Especially if they publish a game that has 15mb save files, like Deus Ex had.
ZylonBane on 26/1/2010 at 19:29
15MB is chump change by current standards. Modern save files are even bigger.
If this takes off, god help us, say goodbye to save-anywhere.
Tonamel on 26/1/2010 at 19:32
Quote Posted by ZylonBane
15MB is chump change by current standards.
I guess that's not too surprising. I don't really pay attention. But yeah, even worse.
lost_soul on 26/1/2010 at 19:49
Quote Posted by steo
I'll concede that as a service to the customer to store your saves for you, it's alright. But forcing the user to connect to the internet to load a save game should be against the Geneva convention. It's a ridiculous play for taking control away from the customer and giving it to the developer/publisher, and in doing so, they're only making things less efficient.
Now this, I agree with. Problem is, whether we like it or not, Publishers can do whatever they want. Whether it be killing the resale market (Steam) or installing hidden device drivers (many PC games), they can get away with it.
The problem is the sheep consumer who HAS to have a copy of "Shoot-em-up 4:The Shootening!" no matter what malware the publisher incorporates into it. The only reason the publishers get away with this is because gamers let them get away with it.
This is one reason why I only buy games from gog.com or the used market, or I just play older/community developed games. When I buy a game and find that it has something I find invasive in it, I just say to myself "oh well, at least the developer got nothing from me!"
My advice is to support the used market before the corporate fatcats find a way to stamp it out of existence with scams like "activation".
