Ubisoft server down, can't play, OMG

[shep61]

How bad can this get? I get home, ready to play more Heroes VI and I can't play because the Ubisoft server, which is completely useless to me and the game experience, is down. I am a very loyal HOMM player, but this has me about ready to quit the series. Having to use STEAM was bad enough, but at least it has some value (updates, etc.). This is unreal.

[klaymen]

What? You could not play because of Ubi server being down?
Elvin in other thread posted a FAQ stating there will be no "always online" requirement and only one-time activation.

Either you have overlooked something, or Elvin posted a mere PR bullshit, though I trust him until proven otherwise.

[parcaleste]

Didn't saw this one coming!

[Humakt]

Having to use STEAM was bad enough, but at least it has some value (updates, etc.).

You don't need to use Steam unless you bought it from there.

[Macros the Black]

I can't connect right now either. I can play, but I can't access my saved games, campaign progress, custom heroes, dynasty rewards, etc. etc. So basically, yeah you can play but you're still better off waiting for it to come back up.......

[Avonu]

It's Tuesday - probably servers maintenance day.

No DRM in HoMMVI... right.

[yourworstnightmare]

So that's why the game suddenly threw me out for no apparent reason.

The whole have to be connected to play shit is getting on my nerve. I buy the fucking hard copy of the game to not have to deal with this kind of shit.

[Spin]

ummm you guys really need to learn about the game:

Firstly, you can play offline any time (Offline mode is there). If you chose the option for Ubisoft to synchonise your save games or whatever, they'll be on Ubi's site therefore when ubi servers are down you can't play your save games. You can easily fix this (and sacrifice the 10 meg or whatever it takes to keep the save games) by unticking this in the ubilauncher options.

And the game is now fully playable offline, except for the conflux of course.

Technically you can play the game after 1 phone call or 1 connection to the internet, just you won't get the full experience (dynasty, altar of wishes etc). So basically it's DRM-optional but sacrificing that DRM gives you about 80% of the Heroes VI experience.

[Metathron]

If you chose the option for Ubisoft to synchonise your save games or whatever,

Why does such an option even exist and who would willingly choose it?

But no, one cannot possibly blame the customers here, and it is truly a travesty the Might and Magic brand fell into Ubisoft's inept clutches.

[klaymen]

Why does such an option even exist and who would willingly choose it?

Some people like being anally examined before they can play the game.
Of course, then there are normal people who suffer such things and there are pirates who laugh at those who have to bother themselves with the DRM.

[Ploppy]

Some people like being anally examined before they can play the game.
Of course, then there are normal people who suffer such things and there are pirates who laugh at those who have to bother themselves with the DRM.

Pirates can only play in offline mode, can't use dynasty weapons or the altar of wishes, and aren't able to use facebook/twitter integration. Without those features, the game really wouldn't worth more than 5 bucks.

[Metathron]

Some people like being anally examined before they can play the game.
Of course, then there are normal people who suffer such things and there are pirates who laugh at those who have to bother themselves with the DRM.

Pirates can only play in offline mode, can't use dynasty weapons or the altar of wishes, and aren't able to use facebook/twitter integration. Without those features, the game really wouldn't worth more than 5 bucks.

Riiight, because those are the core features Heroes games have always been about.

I just cain't live without muh Facebook integration!

[shep61]

Ah yes. I stand corrected. I was a little strong when I said I couldn't play. As some of you have posted, I could still play, but did not have access to my saved games or campaign progress (since I didn't know to uncheck the "sync" box in the Ubiplayer) or any of the conflux. Since I did not have access to my saved games, I could not actually play, as I did not want to start over, as shocking as that may be to some of you!

I paid over $50 for a single player game (I don't play multi-player) and yet I am tied down by an on-line interface that provides no value. That's my real issue. I have also been kicked out of the game when the connection was lost! That has nothing to do with the "sync" feature!

So, I will uncheck the sync box and move on. The fact that I have to do that and can still get kicked out of the game is ridiculous. If all of this truly stopped the pirates, I would be OK, sort of, but I don't think it does!

[klaymen]

Some people like being anally examined before they can play the game.
Of course, then there are normal people who suffer such things and there are pirates who laugh at those who have to bother themselves with the DRM.

Pirates can only play in offline mode, can't use dynasty weapons or the altar of wishes, and aren't able to use facebook/twitter integration. Without those features, the game really wouldn't worth more than 5 bucks.

I wouldn't be so sure. Assassin's Creed 2 uses the infamous Jewbisoft's DRM and a part of the game content was accessible only from the servers to prevent easy cracking. Well, it failed and pirated versions of AC2 appeared on the net. Albeit a bit later, but they did. Therefore I wouldn't be surprised if many of those Conflux-based extras granted to you while playing online were accessible for pirates too.

So pirates can only play in offline mode, that is surely terrible because every game now HAS TO be played online, even in singleplayer, right?
"I pirated the game and because the holy Facebook integration and some dynasty weapons didn't work, so I have purchased the game." - yeah, sounds perfectly reasonable. I agree with Metathron, previous games worked fine without this balast and now you say that the game is not worth more than 5 bucks without it? Souns like a true long-time Heroes fan. Oh wait....

[parcaleste]

I am not having (or intend to have) Facecrap, so will somebody, please, tell me WTF is "Facecrap integration" (to have a good laugh at it)?

[Mozared]

I wouldn't be so sure. Assassin's Creed 2 uses the infamous Jewbisoft's DRM and a part of the game content was accessible only from the servers to prevent easy cracking. Well, it failed and pirated versions of AC2 appeared on the net. Albeit a bit later, but they did. Therefore I wouldn't be surprised if many of those Conflux-based extras granted to you while playing online were accessible for pirates too.

So pirates can only play in offline mode, that is surely terrible because every game now HAS TO be played online, even in singleplayer, right?
"I pirated the game and because the holy Facebook integration and some dynasty weapons didn't work, so I have purchased the game." - yeah, sounds perfectly reasonable. I agree with Metathron, previous games worked fine without this balast and now you say that the game is not worth more than 5 bucks without it? Souns like a true long-time Heroes fan. Oh wait....

Just as a note; pirated versions of games with DRM's like these generally come with a cracked maxed out profile that includes all dynasty weapons at maximum experience, along with all unlockables unlocked. If you crack the online connection, there's nothing stopping you from 'modding' the game to give yourself access to everything.

[ShadowLiberal]

I am not having (or intend to have) Facecrap, so will somebody, please, tell me WTF is "Facecrap integration" (to have a good laugh at it)?

Same here, I hate how other games such as Starcraft 2 have decided to take a forced online integration approach, and mix stuff like facebook functionality in the game. Earlier versions of heroes of might and magic did just fine without facebook integration, because facebook isn't part of the game.

If you really want to blog about heroes of might and magic 6 on facebook you could just, you know, minimize heroes 6 and open up a web browser and blog about it from there! Or even take the cell phone out of your pocket and blog from there!

Besides, I don't want my friends to be able to track me every second of the day interrupting what I'm doing with their messages, even when I'm playing a single player campaign.

Ubisoft should realize just much bad advertising their DRM is in heroes 6, because postings like this topic online will make lots of potential buyers decide against buying Heroes 6.

[yourworstnightmare]

I'll never get Facecrap, and if I am forced to get Facecrap to play games, I'll rather stop playing games.

[klaymen]

I'll never get Facecrap, and if I am forced to get Facecrap to play games, I'll rather stop playing games.

You're not forced to get FB, but in that case you miss the ability to spam your profile with achievements and/or other really useful info to show your friends how leet and awesome you are. Who would not want that?

/sarcasm

[ThunderTitan]

Some people like being anally examined before they can play the game.

Syncing saves it good if you play on more then one PC... but they really should have you choose if you want it or not the first time you install the game.