To cut a long story short, after the monumental bashing that the X-Bone has received over the past month, Microsoft has just announced a complete reversal of pretty much every decision they’ve ever made regarding their new flagship console. Under immense pressure from press outlets, forums, their fans and opponents, they’ve revised their previously-announced DRM, preowned game usage and online check-in policies for Xbox One.
This morning EA have revealed that whilst they are still unwilling to reveal the identity of their new CEO, they have stated that he will require an always-active internet connection in order to function. …
Amidst all the reddit posts, twitter rants and facebook memes, it’s difficult to put a figure on just how many people have been angered by the release of Sim City. Well, now you can; it’s 76,008 people and counting.
Maxis has always been one of my favourite developers. The Sims, Sim Ant, Sim Farm – All incredibly innovative games, (aside perhaps for their titles,) and each one of them holding a special place in my cruel, twisted heart. However, the announcement that the new Sim City would require an always-on internet connection resulted in me raising my arms and screaming ‘UBISOFT!’
Of course, I then remembered it was actually being published by EA, but my reaction still stands.
As if the current Bundle In A Box: Deep Space wasn’t bright and lasery enough, ten new games have been added to the mountain. These include the critically acclaimed Squid Yes Not So Octopus, more popularly known as SYNSO and its follow up SYNSO: Squid Harder. In fact Rob Fearon’s complete ‘Bag Full of Wrong’ bundle has been added, making a bundle within a bundle and an unmissable collection of games.
The bundle starts at only $0.99 for the initial five games including the exclusive arena shooter Death Ray Manta which we previewed at the end of August. Even more games are available if you beat the average price paid (currently at $4.62) and unlockable extras such as artwork and storyboards are available for everyone after so many sales.
So far Deep space has sold a total of 2425 bundles and ends on September 28th. All games are DRM free and directly support charity and the Indie Dev Grant.
In an expansive interview on Rock, Paper, Shotgun, Ubisoft’s director for online games, Stephanie Perotti revealed that the much-maligned (justly so) always-on DRM used by the company is no more. She told RPS:
We have listened to feedback, and since June last year our policy for all of PC games is that we only require a one-time online activation when you first install the game, and from then you are free to play the game offline.
This is very good news for all of us who want to play Ubisoft’s PC titles. The rest of the interview is well worth a read with details on piracy rates, DRM and how the company treat PC releases of their big franchises. Read it now.
Ubisoft’s ‘Always-On’ DRM has been a contentious subject since its first introduction. But in a recent stroke of genius picked up by Eurogamer, Ubisoft have announced that next week a number of their titles which require an always-on internet connection will be completely unavailable to their paying customers.