Not at all, in my case. Having the problem since yesterday, actually the time I started to play. All updates are done (slowly, but they're done), and the computer has been rebooted twice. Is it a problem with the account? Is there any restriction of any nature on some modes (rank or anything else)?

That seems to be some really problematic and random issue : I have the same problem, but with Joust. I can play any other mode but this one, getting the very same error message. And trying to launch a joust game directly from storm does not work either. Both from steam or directly from ManiaPlanet. ...