Spore and its DRM

[TorqueZero]

Although I hasten to add that this 3-install limit is a bit rubbish. Needing to login should be enough - it'll limit the user to only playing one instance of the game at any time, so it shouldn't matter how many machines it's actually installed on. Then of course there's the matter of upgrading the machine... how does it identify the computer? MAC address? Specific hardware configuration? It's gonna be flawed; just look at MS's broken 'Genuine Advantage' now lying in tatters.

 

[TorqueZero]

@clarinetJWD:

Agree totally on the Steam-client thing. I bought Sins of a Solar Empire and was pleasantly surprised at how efficient and easy to use the Stardock Central game manager handled the game licensing.

 

[Capt_Jack_Doicy]

I haven't had a problem with the spore DRM yet. I installed it on my main gaming computer and on my Work laptop (for when I go vacation or work trips) I think the massive amount of complaints are coming from people who want to torrent the game or who want to suppose P2P sharing.

Not everyone is like this however but I believe some are complaining for the sole fact they don't want to pay, and for the people who don't know how to disable one or two of the installs. They are fools.

the pirates had it earlier and don't have the DRM problem. However there is simple way in the UK to solve it thanks to consumer protection laws that use the term reasonable time (how long is it reasonable to expect to keep play a game?) simple take it back to the shop where you bought (as they have the duty not the manufacturer) tell it doesn't work, they can then make reasonable restitution, which can be anything but if you tell them you'd be happy with another copy most would jump at the chance rather than lose cash from the till and thus there sales performance.

You also have to remember that EA current DRM are in no way designed to combat piracy (must pirates would never buy the game so there not losing money as it isn't like theft where actual stock is lost) Its designed solely to combat the biggest threat to any developer profits the second hand market. Thanks to the second had market the same game can be sold ten or twenty time, yet after the initial sale the publisher won't see any revenue, and its been killing sales of new games, just walk into any gamestation Game or indie and you'll see the preown section is normally twice the size of the new section. That is simple because the games retailer now make the bulk of their profit from preowned games, and companies like EA want to stop you buying preowned and returning to buying new games.

 

[shatnershaman]

DRM doesn't stop Pirates. It turns people into pirates.

 

[JaguarWong]

The attitude people are taking to this just reinforces the sterotype that gamers aren't very smart.
DRM is designed to stop low level re-distribution not piracy.

If someone can give me one genuine reason why this is a bad thing then I'd love to see it.

It's all rather pathetic.

 

[Limos]

I downloaded it from the site and payed the extra 10 bucks for the extended download service. I have unlimited installs for any computer for the next two years. All I have to do is log in to my EA download account and I can install it on any computer. Even with the extra ten dollars is only came out to $55 including tax.

It's on my desktop right now, but I could put it on my lappy too.

 

[TsunamiWombat]

Why can I only install it 3 times is my question? Who can I talk to if something wierd happens? Is there a service I can call to get my stuff reset?

 

[Retoru]

The DRM on Spore is weak as a tool to prevent piracy, but strong as a tool to piss off people who bought the game. It's sitting, cracked, on various torrent sites as we speak, the pirates are having no problems playing the game, their only impediment is that they can't go online to visit the multitudes of player created planets filled with bipedal dick-men.

The cracked version was actually available on torrent sites almost a full 2 weeks before the retail version was even released, so there's your DRM for ya

 

[SimuLord]

Why can I only install it 3 times is my question? Who can I talk to if something wierd happens? Is there a service I can call to get my stuff reset?

There's a service you can call. They charge you by the minute (1-900). That's how bad EA is...not only do they put restrictive DRM on the service but they'll charge you out the ass to talk to them about it.

As for the actual game itself, my wife bought it and I played it (on her computer). My one-word review is "meh". My one-sentence review is "five half-baked games mashed together is still a half-baked game." Inside of five hours I was back at my own computer playing something else and waiting for Empire: Total War to come out.

The DRM itself doesn't drive me too crazy (I've got a 500GB RAID 0 config that's only a sixth full, so I can just install and leave things installed and by the time I've formatted enough to hit the install limit I've long since lost interest in the game). If I were the type to frequently clean out my Windows install that would be another matter.

 

[kateatsmouse]

I personally have not bought the game yet, but i was planning on buying the hard copy of the game from the store. My roommate did the download, and she loves the game. And I've played it a bit and I like playing it. I had fun.
I am still planning on buying it because I don't really care about three installs. I only have one computer I play games on anyway.
But just because I'm curious, is there a three install limit on buying the game and loading it from the cd? Or do you buy the box and then have to download it anyway?

 

[TsunamiWombat]

I think looking at spore as a game is the wrong perspective, I think it's supposed to be a toy... The Editors especially. It's a very casual game from what I understand.

Ironic, everyone thought Spore would crap gold and win until it came out.

 

[SimuLord]

I think looking at spore as a game is the wrong perspective, I think it's supposed to be a toy... The Editors especially. It's a very casual game from what I understand.

Ironic, everyone thought Spore would crap gold and win until it came out.

It's a very casual game until you get to Space, then it gets too complicated for the casuals while still being not deep enough for the hardcore. I think a LOT of casual players will get to the Space phase, see what it has to offer, and decide that the Cell and Creature phases are more fun---which isn't a bad thing necessarily as it means more of those uploaded to the Sporepedia and more content to discover in the earlygame.

 

[SecretLemur]

If your machine meets the minimum requires, then the overhead caused by the DRM should be a non-issue. The fact that they only let you install it on three machines.... That's a problem, why? How many different machines do you need to play it on?

I like the fact that they're using net-based authentication - this means I DON'T need the CD to play it. DRM not withstanding, without a connection to the net, your Spore experience will be woefully inadequate. The ability to share your critters online, and have the worlds you explore populated by the random creations of other people is pretty freaking cool.

The DRM problem has been created by those who pirate games. The better pirates get at cracking games, the more draconian and invasive the DRM measures to protect them are. The only reason DRM exists is because pirates exist. EA is just trying to cover their ass. They have a legal obligation to their shareholders to at least TRY to prevent people from pirating. If they don't, then their shareholders can sue. Seriously. Stardock gets away with not using DRM because they're privately held. I don't like DRM, but EA is at least trying to create a middle ground - 3 installs seems pretty reasonable. I certainly don't have 3 machines that can handle a game like Spore.

If you want to blame anyone, blame the pirates.

 

[Capt_Jack_Doicy]

If your machine meets the minimum requires, then the overhead caused by the DRM should be a non-issue. The fact that they only let you install it on three machines.... That's a problem, why? How many different machines do you need to play it on?

what if you need to reinstall it? what if after taking it off to save space a couple years/months you decide to play it again, i've reinstalled games like Fallout, Freespace and Monkey Island dozens of times

The DRM problem has been created by those who pirate games.

no it hasn't.

The better pirates get at cracking games, the more draconian and invasive the DRM measures to protect them are.

wow thats the same argument they've been using for terror laws.

The only reason DRM exists is because pirates exist. EA is just trying to cover their ass.

no they're trying stop people buying games second hand. they couldn't give a flying fuck about pirates.

They have a legal obligation to their shareholders to at least TRY to prevent people from pirating.

sorry what law is that? they only obligation to their shareholders to maximise profits and minimumise costs, I don't think you find those to be legal obligations.

If they don't, then their shareholders can sue.

no they can't.

Seriously. Stardock gets away with not using DRM because they're privately held.

lol what are you on about?

I don't like DRM, but EA is at least trying to create a middle ground - 3 installs seems pretty reasonable. I certainly don't have 3 machines that can handle a game like Spore.

how is it a middle ground? with steam you can install as many times as you like. Then again it isn't designed to stop pirates who beat what a week before it was out but stop the game being sold second hand.

If you want to blame anyone, blame the pirates.

Not really pirates don't factor into as they don't lose EA any potential sales, blame the growth of the second hand games market.

 

[Nomad]

If you want to blame anyone, blame the pirates.

If I, by any chance, had downloaded the game illegally (certainly not saying I did, because I most definetly did not! I'm a law-abiding citizen, after all!), I guess I'd say something like this:

"Hi, my name is Nomadic, and I'm a software pirate. I'm happy to let you know that I got Spore on the 4th of September, installed it without any difficulty at all, all I had to do was copy/paste a replacement executable into the spore folder. I'd also like to mention that I can install/reinstall Spore on an unlimited amount of computers and unlimited amount of times. Nor do I have any hidden malware (read: SecuROM) operating in my system without my knowledge or control. I'd also like to mention that I don't require an internet connection to be able to play it, since online activation is disabled when you have cracked software (along with the installation limits and all that other crap. Cracked software = no copy protection.)"

In short - no copy protection in the history of mankind has ever bothered software pirates in the slightest. Because software pirates use cracked software. Cracked software is cracked software for the very reason that the copy protection no longer functions properly. The only thing the gaming industry is doing by pulling these stunts is piss off the people who actually bought their software legally - the pirates just sit by and laugh at them. Also, if I was a pirate (again, I most certainly am not!), I would personally be even more put off buying the stinking game if I knew a legal copy would also be an inferior copy, with a bunch of added hassle. If there was no copy protection at all, I would totally buy Spore. But now... why would I? The illegal version (not that I'm using it!) is clearly superior. In essence, EA is punishing their loyal consumers for paying for their product.

Also, software piracy is not theft. I never gave them my money in the first place, and therefore I can't take it away from them. And theft is defined as when you TAKE the legal property of someone else. Software pirates don't take anything, they COPY it. The original owner still gets to keep his copy, thus he hasn't lost anything. Nor has the publisher, since I never bought the fudging game to begin with. That's like saying you just stole my car. Because I'm betting you have a car, and I'll just go and assume you would've given it to me if you hadn't stolen it (even though it was never mine).

 

[Capt_Jack_Doicy]

The attitude people are taking to this just reinforces the sterotype that gamers aren't very smart.
DRM is designed to stop low level re-distribution not piracy.

If someone can give me one genuine reason why this is a bad thing then I'd love to see it.

It's all rather pathetic.

you can't trade in, towards new games, as many gamers do, particularly those not well off enough to spend £30 to £40 on games. Thats why both buying preowned games and trading in to get cheaper prices enables more gamers, children, the working class, anyone struggle with rising inflation and higher taxes, to still participate in the cultural experience, which what the developers of spore have claimed "Creativity for the masses". So if games are become part of cultural makeup then anyone has the right to experience just as anyone has the right to experience Shakespeare or Dickens.

 

[runtheplacered]

If you want to blame anyone, blame the pirates.

If I, by any chance, had downloaded the game illegally (certainly not saying I did, because I most definetly did not! I'm a law-abiding citizen, after all!), I guess I'd say something like this:

"Hi, my name is Nomadic, and I'm a software pirate. I'm happy to let you know that I got Spore on the 4th of September, installed it without any difficulty at all, all I had to do was copy/paste a replacement executable into the spore folder. I'd also like to mention that I can install/reinstall Spore on an unlimited amount of computers and unlimited amount of times. Nor do I have any hidden malware (read: SecuROM) operating in my system without my knowledge or control. I'd also like to mention that I don't require an internet connection to be able to play it, since online activation is disabled when you have cracked software (along with the installation limits and all that other crap. Cracked software = no copy protection.)"

In short - no copy protection in the history of mankind has ever bothered software pirates in the slightest. Because software pirates use cracked software. Cracked software is cracked software for the very reason that the copy protection no longer functions properly. The only thing the gaming industry is doing by pulling these stunts is piss off the people who actually bought their software legally - the pirates just sit by and laugh at them. Also, if I was a pirate (again, I most certainly am not!), I would personally be even more put off buying the stinking game if I knew a legal copy would also be an inferior copy, with a bunch of added hassle. If there was no copy protection at all, I would totally buy Spore. But now... why would I? The illegal version (not that I'm using it!) is clearly superior. In essence, EA is punishing their loyal consumers for paying for their product.

Also, software piracy is not theft. I never gave them my money in the first place, and therefore I can't take it away from them. And theft is defined as when you TAKE the legal property of someone else. Software pirates don't take anything, they COPY it. The original owner still gets to keep his copy, thus he hasn't lost anything. Nor has the publisher, since I never bought the fudging game to begin with. That's like saying you just stole my car. Because I'm betting you have a car, and I'll just go and assume you would've given it to me if you hadn't stolen it (even though it was never mine).

Haha, wonderful post! I was going to write something very similar to this but now I can just press "quote" and it's all done for me. Thanks!

I'm also in full agreement with you about the debate on whether a pirate is "stealing" versus "copying" and the major differences that there is between the two. People really don't want to accept that in their reality.

 

[B4D 9R4MM3R]

The thing that really annoys me about DRM isn't the limited installs so much (although I can see how that would be annoying), but rather the stupid software that you are forced to install on your machine so that you can play the game. I'm not the best at IT, so short of reinstalling Windows I wouldn't know how to get the resource hog off of my PC. This also means I would have to waste another install if I wanted to play on it again.

What's worse is that you must install the software. You *must* install it according to the license agreement, yet if you decline means you just bought a £40 plastic box complete with 100-page manual of a game you can't play and a frisbee, because the retailers won't allow you to return opened games, even though they don't contain a license agreement that is viewable prior to opening your game.

I appreciate that EA is trying to protect the game, but DRM clearly doesn't work. Instead of making it incredibly intrusive and generally p***ing a lot of people off, couldn't they just find a way to better encrypt the data of the disc? I mean this Spore fiasco clearly shows that DRM doesn't provide sufficient encryption if EA's claims of anti-piracy are to be believed. Console discs are harder to crack; maybe they should take a look at that seeming as they produce everything for every console these days.

And this is what is really annoying me: I either have to buy a copy of the game that could break my machine (one of my friends PC actually broke when he installed the DRM, causing him to lose a few sentimental files (the important stuff was backed up obviously)) or break the law to play a "clean" copy of the game. Or do what I am currently doing now and do neither and instead try to bring this to the attention of other people so EA starts to listen to their customers when they realise that profits are falling.