Another stupid DRM issue

Recently, a company called Ubisoft announced a new DRM scheme that would require you to be online all the time. Now, at the time, I was somewhat hopeful about this system, because they also mentioned 'value-add' type of services like the ability to install the game on as many computers as you want (which realistically is not really a 'value-add' as much as it is what should be a basic right under fair use) and the ability to save games to the cloud for access from anywhere. (which is actually cool)

Now, I had hoped, that they were essentially on their way towards emulating a better, more successful company, but it appears not. More recently a test of the service discovered that if you were disconnected from the internet, even momentarily, it resulted in being kicked out of your game. Obviously, I would not be the first to point out the stupidity of this plan, nor would I be the first to point out the route many will take in response.

What actually interested me most about this, was Penny-Arcade's response. While I appreciated their use of both a strawman and a cyclical argument in comic form, I feel like they give Ubisoft too much credit. Tycho, ends his post by saying, "A maneuver this extreme means that they're finished talking altogether: this mechanism is their response, the final word. Only it's impossible to get the final word here in The Cloud. Ever." That makes it sound like they have no choice. They do. It is exceedingly simple.

Step 1: Put Game on Steam

Step 2: Utilize Steam cloud to add Value (Save game and controls saved in the cloud)

Step 3: Use money you spent on DRM to instead build some small DLC packs

Step 4: Release DLC for free via Steam.

Step 5: Profit

It really is just not that hard to make a good game(s) that sells well.

dfmaneuver this extreme means that they're finished talking altogether: this mechanism is their response, the final word. Only it's impossible to get the final word here in The Cloud. Ever.