Yesterday, the authentication servers for Ubisoft’s oppressive new DRM crashed – rendering the recently released Pc version of Assassin’s Creed II unplayable. The official forums have been filled with prospective players complaining about the game taking excessively long times to authorise, if at all.

Those that have their games saved to Ubisoft’s cloud can’t even access them. They are, quite rightly, pissed.

A representative from Ubisoft responded , stating "clearly the extended downtime and lengthy login issues are unacceptable, particularly as I’ve been told these servers are constantly monitored." The representative added "I’ll do what I can to get more information on what the issue is here first thing tomorrow and push for a resolution and assurance this won’t happen in the future."

This highlights a problem with DRM systems that require a constant, always on, internet connection. Even if your connection is fine, the servers may crash or go out of service, making it so that you’re unable to play a game you’ve paid good money for. Once again DRM only serves in sullying the experience for those who’ve actually paid for the game.

Servers crash – it’s an inevitability given our modern reliance on machines – but a server going down in Europe somewhere shouldn’t prevent me from playing a single player game that I’ve actually bought.

I understand and agree with the rights of the publisher to protect their property – but this isn’t the way to do it, Ubisoft.

Source : Joystiq