From Dust - Ubisoft - PC, XBox, PS3

[Paelos]

My main point is that a DLC is useless without the other. DRMing the game, and NOT doing it on the DLC? That makes total sense. The other way around is just bollocks.

[Lantyssa]

I don't really remember 2k's position on the "used games market", but I know EA and UBI have been very vocal about how much money they're losing on that, and how DLC is the way to either make people pay more for their game, or to get the gamers who bought a used game, to pay them some for their game. In that regard, putting on some form of DRM does make sense.

The used game market is console games.  DRM mainly affects PC games.  There is very little overlap, so it doesn't make sense.

[Hawkbit]

This is supposed to launch this week, supposedly.  They're saying XBLA for sure on 7/27, PC is also supposed to be 7/27 but there's no confirmation.  No PS3 date yet, other than 2011. 

I'll likely pick it up on PC, but I really, really wanted the PS3 version and don't feel like waiting. 

http://www.facebook.com/fromdustgame

[Yoru]

I'm jonesing for this one, hard. I heard the PC version was the 29th on Steam, but the Steam store still has no mention whatsoever of the game.

Ubisoft seems to be trying to smother it, what with a near-total blackout on marketing.

[Malakili]

Eh, this was on my radar last year but the more I see of it the less interesting it actually looks.  If its on Steam and looks decent on sale say, come the winter sale, I might pick it up.

[kildorn]

I'm jonesing for this one, hard. I heard the PC version was the 29th on Steam, but the Steam store still has no mention whatsoever of the game.

Ubisoft seems to be trying to smother it, what with a near-total blackout on marketing.

It's part of summer of arcade, and I'm going to bet there's some idiotic rule against marketing it on other platforms due to that.

It's supposed to drop this week on PC, but there's dead air about it. And the ubi site basically turns into an idiotic loop to try and get information on it (ubi.com links official website to their facebook page. Facebook page's info links their official website to.. Ubi's product page which links you right back to the facebook page <3)

[Hawkbit]

August 17 for PC now. 

Supposed to still go live for XBLA Wednesday.

[Xuri]

*pinches bridge of nose to avoid going into rant-mode about god damn consoles*

[Hawkbit]

IGN UK gave it an 8.5 overall.  They didn't really have much bad to say about it. 

I'm excited to try it out, and I hope the sandbox post-game is good.

[NiX]

Bah, I only have 900 points. Why can't I just pay in dollars FFS.

[Hawkbit]

August 17th for PC it is, hopefully.

http://store.steampowered.com/app/33460/

[NiX]

Picked it up on xbox and I'm enjoying it so far.

[Paelos]

August 17th for PC it is, hopefully.

http://store.steampowered.com/app/33460/

HIGH SPEED INTERNET ACCESS AND CREATION OF A UBISOFT ACCOUNT ARE REQUIRED TO ACCESS THIS VIDEO GAME AND ONLINE FEATURES AND TO PLAY ONLINE. YOU MUST BE AT LEAST 13 TO CREATE A UBISOFT ACCOUNT WITHOUT PARENTAL CONSENT. UBISOFT MAY CANCEL ACCESS TO ONE OR MORE SPECIFIC ONLINE FEATURES UPON A 30-DAY PRIOR NOTICE PUBLISHED AT http://www.fromdustgame.com/

EDIT: Oh and I always like that this is part of the Terms of Use - "It is a violation of the Terms of Use to give false information or intentionally hide any information that is required by the Sites or the Software."

[Mrbloodworth]

What online features does it even have?

[HaemishM]

The feature to not work when Ubisoft decides it doesn't want the it to work. 

[Paelos]

The online feature being turning on the game.  

Here's the Escapist Article on the internet connection broohaha

I'll believe it when I see it about the updated quote from Ubi.

[Hawkbit]

Did the x360 version require an Ubi account?

This is really disappointing. 

[Paelos]

Remember at Ubisoft, you're not customers, you're fucking criminals that must be contained.

[NiX]

Did the x360 version require an Ubi account?

This is really disappointing. 

No. Just boot it up and play.

[Hawkbit]

Thanks, Nix.  I'll just hold out for the PS3 version, which hopefully won't require all that jazz.

I was likely going to buy it twice (PC, PS3) because I liked the style, idea and price point so much.  In this case, we both lose. 

[tgr]

Heh. Figures. The first game in a loooong time that even vaguely reminds me of populous of olde, and it's got the online requirement.

To be fair, it was to be expected, what with it being released by ubisoft, so not really all that surprising.

[Malakili]

Just realized this was only 15 bucks. Still don't plan on buying it, but it seems a lot more viable at that price to me, DRM not withstanding.

[Kail]

Heh. Figures. The first game in a loooong time that even vaguely reminds me of populous of olde, and it's got the online requirement.

To be fair, it was to be expected, what with it being released by ubisoft, so not really all that surprising.

I thought Ubi was backing off on their DRM, though.  AC Brotherhood doesn't use it, as far as I know. 

I'm still reserving judgement on this one.  It doesn't say that a constant connection is required (the way it does for Settlers), so maybe it's just the less annoying version where you just need it to log in or install.

[tgr]

I thought Ubi was backing off on their DRM, though.

I'm not going to go "hah!", but I strongly doubt they're going to deviate any time soon. They might not go for the always-on, but I would be highly surprised if they never wavered from the activate-online DRM from here on out. At least it sounds like they're not suffering too much overall, profit-wise, but I suspect that's the consoles carrying them, and I seem to remember that their PC share (profit within the company, not in the industry overall) is laughably small these days.

[Malakili]

Ubisoft did apparently deny that From Dust will have always on DRM.  So, it still might have something sketchy, but most likely it seems like it'll be worth waiting to see what happens with it on PC. 

[Wasted]

I bought this game on steam without even noticing it was Ubisoft and stupid me, was all wtf when to play the game I have to create a Ubi account.  Also made me realise the last time I played a ubisoft game was Beyond Good and Evil quite some years ago farcry 1 which was still quite a while a go but it looks like I must have made some sort of account back then.

[Kail]

On the bright side, as far as I can tell, the game doesn't have the always-online Hitler's sphincter DRM.  Switched my modem off while I was playing and it ran fine.  It did bitch at me when I quit about being unable to synch savegames, but it still loaded fine when I started again, and synched fine that time (when I didn't disconnect my modem).  You do have to log in first, though.

Game seems pretty fun.  Mostly it's a graphics/environment thing for me, though.  Playing in the sand, making these barren islands into tropical paradises, it's all very relaxing.  I can see it getting frustrating in the later levels if things get difficult, though, because the controls are rather floaty.

[Hawkbit]

There is much wailing and gnashing of teeth on the FB page.  Personally, I'm having a good time with it.  Sadly, I will consume this game too fast.  I will get more than my $15 out of it, but I like it so much that I will want much, much more.

My kid it playing it, too.  Six years old, she is pretty good at understanding what to do. 

[Yoru]

I managed to get 30 minutes in yesterday after it released, and it seemed pretty fun. I enjoyed dicking around with erosion and redirecting rivers.

I expect it'll be pretty short, as I got through 3(?) levels and the little progression meter level-selection gizmo seemed to say that I was 1/4 of the way through the game...

[Malakili]

http://lo-ping.org/2011/08/18/steam-offering-refund-for-ever-sold-copy-of-from-dust/

[Sky]

That sucks (that they included UbiDRM). Looked like a cool game, hopefully they remove it later.

I'm no anti-drm nut, but Ubi is where I draw the line.

[Hawkbit]

The ubi bloatware started getting bad last night and this morning.  The 'sync saves' screen was locking up when I would quit the game.  Had to reboot each time. 

I just requested a refund, we'll see if I get it.  I'll buy this on PS3 or Steam again if they remove that crap. 

[Wasted]

I haven't had that sync saves thing work for me once yet.  It didn't crash my computer though.

[Hawkbit]

Steam denied my first attempt at refund.  I replied to them with about four articles and links to three different threads on this, including this from the Ubisoft forums:

http://img42.imageshack.us/img42/6645/drmgo.jpg

[Xuri]

The camera-controls on the PC-version are HORRENDOUS.