This is new to me. What blocking?

People always say that about console vs PC but I've only seen a few genuine examples of it, for the most part they're the same since its easier to just use the one texture set. At least in the case of AC2, the PS3 version is gorgeous and the only advantage I could see a PC giving is the higher number in your resolution fooling you into thinking its prettier

So servers are up again, eh? Well, they'll receive a lot of hate for this anyway... Let's see if Ubisoft changes their minds about DRM. I wish they'd release another game DRM free, like Prince of Persia (... and that was probly the reason to not release DLC for PoP. Assholes)
Hmm, interesting... I don't really see a problem with it as long as offline mod works, but yeah, I didn't know that.

You're in "civilised" Europe, so you probably wouldn't notice as much as the "filthy Asian" (no offense, bansama, titles interpolated from how I assume publishers look at the regions and bunch all of Asia together, other parts of Asia often being [in]famous for the amounts of piracy).

Certain publishers who don't wish to sell games in certain regions can apply IP blocking using SteamWorks that prevents even the installation/activation of copies of affected games regardless of where they are purchased in the world.
@Miaghstir: That's okay, I only live here =)

Can you use proxies to bypass that?

Automatic patching is not all ways a good thing.
I want to play this great mod right?only works for copys of the game patched to 1.01.
Thanks to automatic patching its all patched up to patch 1.03.
Now i can't play that dam cool mod i wanted to play.

A decent VPN is advisable as Valve like to have you believe that proxies to bypass restrictions will result in a disabled account.... It's just another annoying loop to jump through which simple shouldn't exist.

Ubisoft as expected are blaming a DDoS attack for the server problems.

DAMN THOSE FILTHY HACKERS
:P

"We also confirm that, at this time, no valid cracked version of either Silent Hunter 5 or Assassin’s Creed II are available."
What a friggin' liar! I don't know for certain about SH5, but there are definitely cracked versions of AC2 already out there and have been for days. These Ubi guys are so full of shit, I'm ashamed to have ever bought one of their products. I certainly won't be buying any more from them in the future.

Well they weren't always this bad. I don't know what happened to them, Before all this they were happy to release titles onto the market with no DRM whatsoever. The pendulum has swung, it seems.
But when it comes down to it you're not going to bury a company by not buying from them. It's better to reward good business practices and shun the bad, regardless of the company. That's about the only way we as consumers can realistically expect to change the industry.

Just me or Ubi forums are down?

It's Ubisoft's outright willingness to lie to customers that people are chafing against. ALL companies lie, thats a simple fact of life but with Ubisoft they lie right to our faces even when we know they are lying.
I would be willing to bet there was no DDoS attack, it was simply an underfunded DRM system what was overloaded. Ubisoft cant come out and admit that as then they would be in breach of the very T&C's they force all gamers to agree on. It would also be considerable egg on their face as they were asked by almost every journalist if this was possible with their new system and they flat out said no.
As for them lying about the existence of cracks that is pretty much what any company would say. No one in their right mind would say "Yes the game has been cracked and pirates are playing it while paying customers cannot".
This is exactly the same Ubisoft that flat out denied there was ever any problem with either Starforce or TAGES. What is amusing is that anyone who bought XIII from Gamersgate this weekend found they were unable to activate the game because TAGES authentication servers were down.

They have been sporadic all day due to... servers being overloaded. Oh the lulz.