We all look forward to getting a new game especially when its a GOD / Empire building type game because lets be honest there aren’t many about these days. But sometime things can get in the way, and this time is some dreaded DRM. Know I don’t normally have an issue with this, I man game makes can get ripped off left right and centre as soon as they are launched and they need to make money after all.

The first hurdle – Installation / Getting it going

But things didn’t start well, when I installed Settlers 7 it didn’t work first time even though it even downloaded a patch before I fired up the game.  So I re-installed after removing it all for the same to happen.  So the troubleshooting started, here are a few tips.

1. Turn off dual screens if you have them. I did this and it at least tried to start, it seems after you have done this it you can turn them back on as the game is configured for using only a single screen.
2. Make sure you allow all the requests out through your firewall, doing this at least made it try and start but it still fell over. The standard changes are for the windows firewall but that doesn’t help if you are using Comodo or Zonealams
3. Turn off the Security level for Comodo, not the firewall that is left on but if I turn off the security hey presto it will fire up.

Yes yes its hard for a software supplier to test everything but Tropico started without problem so why can’t this be the same, oh and little or no DRM on Tropico and its been a dream to play.

Game Review – The Good

Well I’m up to about mission 5  or 6 and its brilliant so far, not too hard or easy but just right. The graphics are great and just about the right amount of serious and playful. The story line is evolving and the interface is pretty good as well. It is a bit confusing in some areas when trading, it seems you do it in the interface for trading but then can actually do it on the map or is it both, I’m a touch confused on that bit.

You need to get off the mark quickly on some missions to get ahead of your opponent that might need a second try to win but that is all part of the challenge.

Game Review – The Bad

Well I’ve mentioned the DRM a bit already and it really is a massive pain. Three times whilst playing the game its told my I’ve lost a connection. But so what I’m playing a local mission on my PC with no interaction with anyone else, why the hell do I care if I’ve lost connection. But in fairness its come back fairly quickly and I’ve been back to playing again.

But today takes the biscuit. Better half is out shopping for the day so I can get some quality gaming in but no, the Ubisoft servers are down and I can’t get a connection. Great so I can’t play a local game because I can’t get to the server. Now I can write this so by ADSL connection is fine but they can’t create a solution that allows me to play the game, pathetic.

Verdict

Well this is tough, I want to give the game a 9/10, its really really good but how can I give it a score like that when I can’t even play the game. DRM and the digital rights bill that is about to go through the commons in the UK is only going to make this sort of thing worse, not just for gaming but films and music. I buy all my games but do you know what I’d be looking for a crack if such a thing was available just to allow me to play the game.

So it seems its the verdict is

Ubisoft Game developers 9/10 well done you did a great job.

Ubisoft finance and marketing team 0/10, well done for killing a game I wonder how well this is going to affect your profits for this and future games, mine is going back to the retailer.

Until this issue is fixed for good I can’t recommend buying a game that might not work for a day or more (its still down after 2 hrs so far today). I will report back if there is a fix or the issue no longer occurs. Personally I’m off to play Tropico 3, that’s working perfectly and is just as good.