Ubisoft's controversial DRM system is "a good strategy" - but only because there is not better alternative, says Namco Bandai Partners VP, Olivier Comte.

Speaking to CVG in Barcelona this month, the Namco man argued that until something better is invented, the Ubisoft system - which requires a constant internet connection - is what the industry has to run with.

"I will be very honest. I think it's a good [approach] for one reason: I have no alternative today," he said. "Is the best one? Certainly not but as of today if I can make something else I'll do it, but it's better to do something than not do something.

"At the moment they are doing a good strategy," he said.

However, Comte - who's company is set to release Test Drive Unlimited 2 and The Witcher 2 on PC - digresses to add that the industry has "to put another system in place".

"We are analysing all of the situations. We have seen what Ubi and EA are doing, we've seen what Sony have announced for PS3 and it's clear that we need to make some choices," he said.

"I'm convinced that whatever system you put in place you can be sure that two hours before putting it out it'll be cracked in Russia. I think that the combat against piracy is very complicated because it's very complicated to explain to a 12-year-old that drag and dropping a file on a PC is piracy - he was born with this."

DRM is 'a losing battle' according to Blizzard co-founder Frank Pearce, who believes that piracy should be fought with "cool features" that make players want to connect to Battle.net.

With StarCraft II in mind, Pearce said, "If we've done our job right people will want to be connected while they're playing the single player campaign so they can stay connected to their friends and earn the achievements."

"The best approach from our perspective is to make sure that you've got a full-featured platform that people want to play on, where their friends are, where the community is."

"We need our development teams focused on content and cool features, not anti-piracy technology," he added.

The issue of digital rights management has split the industry. Just Cause 2 developer Avalanche told CVG recently that it felt Ubisoft style, constant connection DRM punishes legal gamers.

Namco, on the other hand, took the opposite stance with CVG earlier this month, saying that Ubisoft's DRM is the best option - but only because there's no better alternative.

The Ubisoft DRM system works well for them, problem is it doesnt 'work' for the customer.

I have just pre ordered Starcraft 2 but will not be bothering with the community features. I more than expect it will restrict me to playing with the CD in but I am used to that.

Don't count on it, you will probably need an internet connection as well...

That is not an issue on my main machine. It is plugged in all the time. Though if they make stand alone games that require internet access then they will have a problem if the government start cutting peoples internet off. I have a number of programs that go online to check that they are valid licenses.

And, when your internet connection is down, due to roadworks outside the house?

Yes that will be a problem, or if the ISP cuts you off or you live where broadband is not available.

Digital Rights Management is "too draconian" and "pirates now have a better experience than legitimate consumers" as a result.

Those are the words of top analyst Nicholas Lovell, founder of Gamesbrief.com, who told PC Zone, "It seems crazy to me that Ubisoft didn't emulate Steam, which by some estimates has more than half the market, and instead went for their own, draconian system."

"There is no doubt in my mind that pirates now have a better experience than legitimate consumers," he continued.

"Publishers spend a ton of money on promoting its games. So there are ways to see piracy as the start of a relationship with a future consumer, not theft."

When asked about alternatives, Lovell said, "Give the whole game away entirely for free, make it small and charge for DLC."

"Slash the marketing budget and rely on pirated copies to spread the word about how good your game is, then charge for additional elements."

The DRM issue has split the gaming industry, with Namco Bandai recently vouching for Ubisoft saying that its approach to DRM is the best solution at this moment in time.