Silent Hunter 5

[Fulmar]

http://www.tomshardware.com/news/ubisoft-drm-internet-crack-hack,9794.html

"Hackers have already found a way around Ubisoft's Internet DRM that's used on Silent Hunter 5 and Assassin's Creed II.

Last month, we found out about a new Ubisoft DRM scheme that requires PC gamers to be constantly connected to the Internet in order to play an authenticated game. With the highly anticipated Assassin's Creed II and Settlers VII being some of those titles protected under the new scheme, gamers voiced their concerns over such restrictive and potentially inconvenient DRM.

Of course, it'd be naïve to believe that pirates won't be doing their best in order to circumvent this protection. One of Ubisoft's first titles to use this new scheme, Silent Hunter 5: Battle of the Atlantic, released earlier this week – and it didn't take much time for pirates to crack the DRM.

In the release notes for the pirated version of Silent Hunter 5, the hackers instruct not to use the Ubisoft launcher or to block any connection to the Internet, and then use some modified files to run the game. At the end of the note, the hackers also urge gamers to support the companies that make the software they enjoy.

We cannot verify whether or not the cracked files effectively bypass Ubisoft's copy protection schemes, but it's clear that the pirates are tinkering with it."

[bozon]

lol, that didn't take long...

I know that when/if I get SHV I'll get that crack too. It is almost essential if I want it on my laptop, just like the no-CD patches for legal software. I don't know why publishers even bother with this. Now that I think of it, in the case of SHV I will not buy the game with the current restriction. It might just be that the illegal crack just sold Ubisoft another legal copy of the game.

[Delirium]

I bought SH5 on Wednesday.

Pros:
1. The immersion in the simulator is there, aside from maybe B17 Flying Fortress a few years ago, nothing comes close.
2. You can choose your own path and your actions have an effect on the world war taking place. To what extent, I don't know yet, I haven't gotten far at all.
3. I really like the dialog options with the crew, a really nice touch.
4. You can outfit your boat with new equipment like you could in the previous SH versions.

Cons:
1. DRM obviously.
2. You have to choose English or German voices on install. I wanted to do what I did with SH3, use German voices and have English subtitles but without success.
3. No printed manual and the .pdf it does come with doesn't help with using the TDC.
4. The dialog options are minimal and you see the same discussions again and again.
5. I can't get my damn deck gun to be manned, even if I ask the Watch Officer to man it.

[Fulmar]

5. I can't get my damn deck gun to be manned, even if I ask the Watch Officer to man it.

I still liked the glitch in SH4 where a majority of the time if you had the deck gun manned and were diving, if you went external view it would show the crew still manning it underwater.  And this was after a years worth of patches form ubisoft.

[Die Hard]

From what I've read the pirates haven't been able to crack the DRM completely. Yes, they have been able to start the game and play the single missions, but unlike typical "call home" DRM schemes that only verify the serial number or some such, the UBI DRM is actually an integral part of the game. A critical component of the dynamic campaign (mission generator I suspect) is actually on UBI's servers, so the game has to "call home" to get a new mission every time you are in port. It's sort of similar to Aces High in that you can play off-line missions, but the "campaign" (MA) is run on servers, even if it's a single player campaign. Unless the pirates get their hands on UBI's server-side software, or engineer the missing parts of the dynamic campaign themselves, Silent Hunter 5 is in effect uncrackable. I like it... It is far, far less intrusive than other DRM schemes like StarForce, yet much more effective.

[bozon]

Indeed die hard, that it true.

However, since it downloads content from the server they should call the child by its name: it is a single player online game. SPO as opposed to MMO.

[Karnak]

The only people that heavy handed DRM hurts are the honest consumers.  I've known people who will buy a game they want, but that has heavy handed DRM, and never even open the shrinkwrap.  They just download a hacked version, sometimes even getting better performance out of it.  Doing that the think they are legit, but I doubt the software publisher would agree.

[Die Hard]

Indeed die hard, that it true.

However, since it downloads content from the server they should call the child by its name: it is a single player online game. SPO as opposed to MMO.

I'm not aware that Ubisoft has called the "child" anything other than Silent Hunter 5. I suspect it is noted in the system reqs that an internet connection is required for playing the game.

Karnak, I don't see how this DRM hurts honest consumers who's hardware match the system requirements.

[allaire]

Yeah cause it totally doesn't make an honest user jump through hoops to play a single player game that they paid for.  You know, whereas the people who download a cracked version don't have to and usually get a better gaming experience that with a DRM infested copy.

[Die Hard]

No it doesn't make an honest user "jump through hoops" for a game they've purchased a license for (you do not own the game). As long as you have an internet connection the DRM is transparent and non-intrusive. No action is required from the user beyond registration during install. And in this case those who pirate the game are not able to play it even if the copy protection is removed.

[Lusche]

No it doesn't make an honest user "jump through hoops" for a game they've purchased a license for (you do not own the game).

That's why I'm staying away from more & more games. I used to be able to buy games. I owned them, I could install them as I like where I like and still was able to play them the extendend times I had no internet connection available at all. I could sell them if they sucked or I simply was done with them, and in times of financial hardship it allowed me to buy used games for a discount. Just as I do with books, or DVDs, a car and so on.
Though I can see why the industry doesn't like the latter one, I'm refusing to follow them onto that license path. For the amount of money I once bought a game I now get only a license and have to ask them for permission every time I wan't to play an offline single player game.

No thank you.

[Die Hard]

That's why I'm staying away from more & more games. I used to be able to buy games. I owned them...

I don't think that was ever the case, even back on the C64. Ownership of the software has always remained with the copyright holder. You only own a license to use their software in accordance with the user license agreement.

[Lusche]

I don't think that was ever the case, even back on the C64. Ownership of the software has always remained with the copyright holder. You only own a license to use their software in accordance with the user license agreement.

I just took a look at my old boxed copies of Their Finest Hour and Elite (yes, wayyy back in time).  The only things I'm not allowed to do according to them is to copy & distrbute them.

[Die Hard]

I just took a look at my old boxed copies of Their Finest Hour and Elite (yes, wayyy back in time).  The only things I'm not allowed to do according to them is to copy & distrbute them.

You still don't own the game. And how's that different with SH5?

[Lusche]

You still don't own the game.

 I have the complete package, and nowhere there is any passage written that I bought a licence only. (And was no "license agreement" during install either).