Ubisoft DRM confirmed to boot you from your singleplayer game when the net drops out

[RPGmasterBoo]

Reload my razor so I don't lose any vitality. Most likely.

 

To think I get warnings over this

[Slowtrain]

How much business do you think Ubisoft planned to get out of their pc sales anyway, compared to consoles?

 

According to wikipedia, 67% of the first game's total sales came from the 360 version (as opposed to PS3 and PC).

 

 

 

Would the pc game sales numbers be more or less than than PS3 numbers? If it is substantially more than the pc market share is still large enough to be significant. If not, then I wonder why publishers even bother making the majority of their games available on pc.

[Purkake]

Would the pc game sales numbers be more or less than than PS3 numbers? If it is substantially more than the pc market share is still large enough to be significant. If not, then I wonder why publishers even bother making the majority of their games available on pc.

Denial much?

 

The last multiplatform game that I can remember, Fallout 3, had like 10% of the sales on the PC.

[Slowtrain]

Would the pc game sales numbers be more or less than than PS3 numbers? If it is substantially more than the pc market share is still large enough to be significant. If not, then I wonder why publishers even bother making the majority of their games available on pc.

Denial much?

 

 

Denial of what?

 

 

The last multiplatform game that I can remember, Fallout 3, had like 10% of the sales on the PC.

 

 

Is 10% signifcant enough a number to make it worthwhile? I guess it is, or they wouldn't do it. Still, its somewhat confusing why PC game development gets more than token effort by devs and publishers.

[Purkake]

Denial of what?

This:

Still, its somewhat confusing why PC game development gets more than token effort by devs and publishers.

They do it because it is a little extra buck for them, it sells enough to pay for the porting and give them a little profit. It gets the effort it does because 90% is significantly more than 10%.

[Slowtrain]

It would make sense then that they would go with a harder DRM if they felt it could help squeeze a bit more money out of the pc game market

[Raithe]

It would make sense then that they would go with a harder DRM if they felt it could help squeeze a bit more money out of the pc game market

 

But when has harder DRM encouraged sales? Now it might be a touch stereotyping.. but pc gamers are a touch more inclined to be technical geeks then console gamers. They also tend to react to imposed software hoops much more then casual gamers..

[Calax]

[Hurlshort]

Denial of what?

This:

Still, its somewhat confusing why PC game development gets more than token effort by devs and publishers.

They do it because it is a little extra buck for them, it sells enough to pay for the porting and give them a little profit. It gets the effort it does because 90% is significantly more than 10%.

 

I'm guessing the porting itself is much cheaper than going from the PC to a console. I'm no programmer, but I believe most of the work is done on a PC already, so it's easier to make it PC ready then console ready.

[MacMichael]

Just came across a video someone shot of Silent Hunter 5, which is also using the Ubi DRM. According to the video description, it took five to six minutes after pulling the cable for the game to detect it wasn't connected.

[Purkake]

@Hurlie: Well there is the different hardware configurations vs a single one and then the controls issue. But with a 90% - 10% margin it just doesn't make sense to have the PC as the lead platform.

 

It would make sense then that they would go with a harder DRM if they felt it could help squeeze a bit more money out of the pc game market

Isn't this what they seem to be doing here?

Edited February 19, 2010 by Purkake

[WILL THE ALMIGHTY]

Pretty much the entire piracy debate in three panels.

[Zoraptor]

The last multiplatform game that I can remember, Fallout 3, had like 10% of the sales on the PC.

[citation needed]

[Purkake]

Here's your citation:

 

But at least 90 percent illustrious, with Chart-Track stating the game has already outsold Bethesda's Oblivion by 57%, pulling in sales of 55% on Xbox 360, 28% on PS3, and 17% on PC.

 

A little better than what I remembered, but still losing 5 to 1 against the consoles. Let's also take into account the fact that it is originally a PC IP and very light on the DRM side. I would expect say Assassin's Creed PC to sell less, percentage wise.

Edited February 19, 2010 by Purkake

[RPGmasterBoo]

Interesting. We'll see how the next generation of consoles will fare. The current success of the X360 might not necessarily continue on the next XBOX (because that's the real competitor here). After all the PS3 bit the dust quite easily.

Edited February 19, 2010 by RPGmasterBoo

[Purkake]

Actually, the PS3 did really well in 09 compared to the previous years, it might still take the lead.

 

Everyone is deathly afraid to roll out a new console, they're most certainly not coming until the recession is done with. That's why they are trying to blow some life back into them with Natal and Sony's Disco Stick Thingy.

Edited February 19, 2010 by Purkake

[RPGmasterBoo]

Obivously I don't have the relevant data, but nonetheless I think it too late for that.

[Purkake]

The latest data I could find(damn Europe is stingy with its numbers):

 

Edited February 20, 2010 by Purkake

[RPGmasterBoo]

The Wii is going like they're giving it away with a happy meal.

 

The PS3 seems to be following the XBOX curve all the way... I'd say these sales are peaking because the cost of the consoles has dropped sufficiently for them to become accessible to most people + many of the older games can be bought at smaller prices. Still, there's about a year to go I guess until it starts winding down.

[Purkake]

And some perspective from the US market:

 

 

Oh, and it's going to "wind down" when the next generation comes out.

Edited February 20, 2010 by Purkake

[RPGmasterBoo]

Lord, someone actually buys that PSP crap...

[Purkake]

The thing to notice is how PS3 sales go up while 360 ones stay level.

[RPGmasterBoo]

I did, but PS3 did drop in price significantly over that time so it does make sense. There's still catching up to do. Regardless I wish they'd all crash and burn,

 

*sigh* if only I could cast level 9 spells.

[Raithe]

It's one of those things that's always bugged me about those consoles.. the games are always silly high priced. I mean sure, the used console game market is a lot bigger then that for PC's.. but they've nearly always seemed overpriced and damn short. But console gamers just keep going back for them..

 

I guess the console games are like the popcorn for the brain in the gamers market...

 

I'm a pc gamer through and through.. maybe I'm just prejudiced.. but dang it all.

[entrerix]

i expect that this year and next year will still see the current consoles improving, lots of shiny games etc etc

 

but i wouldnt be surprised if we have new consoles in 2012, at least from xbox and nintendo (nintendo might even be in 2011 with a slightly upgraded wiiHD system)

 

i expect a new ps4 in 2013. no console announcements from M$ or sony this year though, since they will be pushing natal and glowstickdiildo

 

to raithe: I play about 50% pc games and 50% console games, console games are only priced high for about 1 year, then they are 20$. pc games start at 50$ and after a year are 10$... not a huge price difference

 

note: i started gaming on consoles with the NES, i didnt play pc games until warcraft 1 came out (i bought it a week after released based on word of mouth), that was my first real real pc game, then TIE fighter good times...

Edited February 20, 2010 by entrerix