Those playing Assassin's Creed 2 on the PC got a rude reminder of DRM's pitfalls when the servers that authenticate the game went down. Many complained on the company's official forum, and tempers ran hot. Remember: the game has to be in contact with Ubisoft's servers to work; if the connection is lost, the game shuts down.

Ars Technica contacted Ubisoft to ask about the issue, and we were told that the issue wasn't simply a server malfunction. "This 'failure' was due to a massive DDoS attack on our servers," an Ubisoft spokesperson told Ars. "Our servers didn't go down but 5 percent of the overall people attempting to connect received denial of service errors. This is, of course, unacceptable and our teams are working around the clock to ensure it doesn't happen again."

The issue of pirates playing the game also gets short shrift. "Neither Assassin's Creed II nor Silent Hunter 5 are cracked at the time we speak. As mentioned previously, 'cracked' versions are incomplete... as in missing whole parts of the game and crucial features," the spokesperson continued. That means that with just the data from the disc or your download, you won't be able to play the game. The content requires whatever the Ubisoft servers are giving it.

Ubisoft leaves us all with a reminder that no matter how intrusive or failure-prone it is, DRM isn't going away. "We worry about our customers and apologize to anyone who couldn't play ACII or SH5 yesterday. All in all, we hope people understand all this is done to preserve the future of PC gaming."

Just get it for console then. The game is too awesome to pass up.

DRM is one of the worst ideas to come to gaming, but there's nothing to do about it, Nimble son of no one. Hopefully, DRM won't spread to any other games. I recommend buying a console version of Assassin's Creed II for obvious reasons. If you don't have a console, then I am sorry you have to deal with this crap.

DRM is one of the worst ideas to come to gaming, but there's nothing to do about it, Nimble son of no one. Hopefully, DRM won't spread to any other games. I recommend buying a console version of Assassin's Creed II for obvious reasons. If you don't have a console, then I am sorry you have to deal with this crap.

Well, it seems to have been successful in preventing piracy thus far, which is more than most systems of piracy protection can claim. :shrug:

Although needing to be connected to the internet to play is a load of [censored], and hence I will not be buying this game.

Well, it seems to have been successful in preventing piracy thus far, which is more than most systems of piracy protection can claim. :shrug:

If this virus spreads, it may lead to the death of PC gaming. Why is anybody buying the PC version of this game? People need to make Ubisoft regret doing something as stupid as this.

In your opinion, what are the flaws inherent in DRM aside from the obvious one of needing to be connected to the servers to play the game?

In your opinion, what are the flaws inherent in DRM aside from the obvious one of needing to be connected to the servers to play the game?

Well there's the fact that it doesn't work. Pirates will always find a way to bypass any DRM and release a pirated version that works better than a legal copy.

I don't support the drm or anything but I don't think any pirates have cracked it yet. So it sorta works.

Ubisoft should at least get rid of the intrusive DRM once a cracked copy is known to be released, so that less people will be tempted to bypass the frustration and get the pirated copy.

Are you forgetting that no system is flawless ? Sooner or later there will be someone who manages to crack the whole ps3 system. Technology is advancing and so are they. It's just a matter of time.

Because pc games are more in demand rather then let's say, ps3 ? 360 ? [snip] If one of the developers decides to abandon pc gaming altogether, they will lose TONES of money.

It delays them, but it's only a matter of time.

Ubisoft should at least get rid of the intrusive DRM once a cracked copy is known to be released, so that less people will be tempted to bypass the frustration and get the pirated copy.

Are you forgetting that no system is flawless ? Sooner or later there will be someone who manages to crack the whole ps3 system. Technology is advancing and so are they. It's just a matter of time. Because pc games are more in demand rather then let's say, ps3 ? 360 ? They work on the pc releases. What if these intelligent people who cracks games combined their prowess and have a mission ? And we know that money doesn't motivate them. It will be one terrifying thought. If one of the developers decides to abandon pc gaming altogether, they will lose TONES of money. And why do they make games? Articles, Statements,Arrest,Fines, will not falter our ideals. It would stop them....for a while.