Wow, this game really does run like crap. I get an average of 25-30 FPS on my 4870X2. Really terrible, considering this is a console port of a game that uses the UE3 engine. Even Crysis runs better.

Lousy performance aside, the game does actually offer more opportunities for sneaking than I predicted, though I'm pretty sure none of these opportunities were actually intended as such. What's really annoying is that guards go on full alert (and stay there) if they notice anything even remotely out of the ordinary. You can flick a light switch on and off for a split second, then a guard will investigate, look at the light switch and suddenly come to the conclusion that Sam Fisher has invaded the base and that every guard should search the area and never stop. I'm playing on Realistic but this is hardly realistic, it's just dumb.

The game also seems a bit buggy. For example, I restarted at a checkpoint but all the enemies were gone.

Another FYI, it's been cracked a couple hours ago.

It's official, Ubisoft's DRM has been defeated.

spindoctor wrote on Apr 27, 2010, 18:46:
All the whiners are complaining as usual. Big surprise.

StingingVelvet wrote on Apr 27, 2010, 16:57:
I get 30fps with my rig on max settings with 4xMSAA. I get some drops to the high 20s in large areas, nothing terrible for a slow-paced game like this. Turning off AA gets me 10fps more.

30fps doesn't sound too good. I had read that this game made on a modified UE2.5, is that correct? Because surely you should be getting better than 30fps if that's the case. Why do you think the performance is not so good?

Well, it is heavily modified from the original UE2.5, to the point they renamed the engine internally, so I don't think that is really a basis for comparison.

And the game seems to have a lot of enhancements visually on the PC, there is a rather robust options list. Turning off Ambient Occlusion or putting soft shadows to medium net me 10fps more, but I find 30 to be fine for this game, so I leave them on. I don't really need more than 30 in anything but FPS.

6 hours is truly pathetic for a 60 dollar game. Coop you say? I'd rather play as Fisher, thanks. He IS Splinter Cell. I assume the DRM will be cracked by the time this is down to 20 bucks, in which case I'll be more willing to buy. Then play the non-DRM infested version.

Anyone who speaks negatively of DRM is a thought criminal. You are all under secret investigation. A special multi-agency task force has been commissioned to work with the software industry to tackle high-tech thought crimes. We are already dealing with the Gizmodo Editor.

As soon as I heard the game was about six hours or less... not to including the Co-Op... I canceled my pre-order.

Alas, no. Pirate group "cracktros" have always been like that, long before the rise of DRM.

Oh. Well, it sounded good anyway.

I get 30fps with my rig on max settings with 4xMSAA.

Yikes, that's pretty terrible for a console port unless you have an old rig. If I get 30 FPS in a game, I usually stop playing it.

A not so subtle allusion to a time when game developers didn't treat their customers like shit perhaps?

Alas, no. Pirate group "cracktros" have always been like that, long before the rise of DRM.

BTW, here's the intro the pirate group put when you start the cracked Settlers 7, found it now on YT.

I know the world is going to hell when pirates start making more sense than publishers.

HAHA! I love the retro graphics with the midi sound - it's perfect! A not so subtle allusion to a time when game developers didn't treat their customers like shit perhaps?

The irony here is that Razor1911 is probably a bigger hero for this than Ubisoft is for shipping the game!

ASeven wrote on Apr 27, 2010, 16:42:
BTW, here's the intro the pirate group put when you start the cracked Settlers 7, found it now on YT.

I know the world is going to hell when pirates start making more sense than publishers.

Ohh nice.

All the whiners are complaining as usual. Big surprise.

StingingVelvet wrote on Apr 27, 2010, 16:57:
I get 30fps with my rig on max settings with 4xMSAA. I get some drops to the high 20s in large areas, nothing terrible for a slow-paced game like this. Turning off AA gets me 10fps more.

30fps doesn't sound too good. I had read that this game made on a modified UE2.5, is that correct? Because surely you should be getting better than 30fps if that's the case. Why do you think the performance is not so good?

They really need to work out some system where gamers without a consistent internet connection can download the pirated version then send the developers a check.

YES!!!

If anyone keeps buying into this DRM then what next? Anal probing each 5 minutes for DNA to be able to play the game?

LOL, and who's the real tool in this story?

I got it for the 360 bro, so I can actually play when my internet goes down.

ASeven wrote on Apr 27, 2010, 16:24:
Anyone who buys any game with Ubisoft's DRM is a tool and a fool.

BTW, Settlers7 has been cracked quite quickly. Ubi's DRM is not all that great.

If it is cracked then why am I a fool for buying it? If the DRM bothers me someday, which I am sure it will, then I can just remove it. As long as I bought the disc no one is ever going to sue me over that, and I supported the developers and PC gaming with my money.

If I am supposed to never play the game because I am mad about DRM, which is a corporate decision made by suits who had nothing to do with making the game itself, then I guess I am a tool, but I don't agree I am supposed to do that.

Caveman wrote on Apr 27, 2010, 16:16:
It's only $60 if you're a tool and buy it on Steam or D2D. Amazon is selling it for $10 cheaper, and last week they had a coupon which allowed me to score for only $40.

LOL, and who's the real tool in this story?

I get 30fps with my rig on max settings with 4xMSAA. I get some drops to the high 20s in large areas, nothing terrible for a slow-paced game like this. Turning off AA gets me 10fps more.

Lovely looking game, and I think the gameplay might be a lot better than I thought. This is on realistic... you basically cannot get into a straight-up firefight on realistic, you get butchered in seconds because the enemies will rush you and one hit equals death. You have to sneak and move constantly after shooting, which is fun. Gameplay might be great really, I need more time with it... on level 3.

Story is insane so far... have to see where it goes.

PC port seems okay, my main issue is a sluggish feel. Even at full sensitivity the mouse feels slow to respond and WASD movement feels a bit cumbersome... might try my 360 pad next time I play, see if that works better. Also trying to find mouse sensitivity in the ini file to see if boosting it past the in-game max works.

SpectralMeat wrote on Apr 27, 2010, 16:05:
The disc version also requires constant internet connection

You missed the sarcasm in my post.

BTW, here's the intro the pirate group put when you start the cracked Settlers 7, found it now on YT.

I know the world is going to hell when pirates start making more sense than publishers.

Anyone who buys any game with Ubisoft's DRM is a tool and a fool.

Couldn't have said it better.