Spore

[Sirgin]

Piracy is good. That is all.

I know you don't mean that for real but let me just stress the fact that piracy is very bad and everyone doing it should be ashamed of themselves.

People call it piracy but it should be called theft, because that's what it is.

How would you (and I'm not talking to you in particular logical, don't worry ) feel if you didn't get paid for the job you're doing? Or do you go to a supermarket and not pay for the things you need? Of course you pay for it and it should be the same for games.

Not personally knowing or meeting the people who make these games doesn't give you the right to just download what they worked on for 3 years or more. These developers are people like you and me, not the superwealthy who don't care whether people actually buy their game or not.

[Cobra]

A news update:

Complaint: A legitimately bought copy of “Spore” can’t be activated on more than three different computers — ever.

EA Response: That will be changed, according to the EA spokesperson, who told Multiplayer that the current limit on the number of computers that can be associated with a single copy of “Spore” is “very similar to a solution that iTunes has. The difference is that with iTunes you can de-authorize a computer [that you no longer want associated with your iTunes content]. Right now, with our solution, you can’t. But there is a patch coming for that.” The official timeframe for that patch is “near future.”


Complaint: Consumers fear there is spyware being installed by the SecurROM copy-protection software incorporated into the game.

EA Response: “There’s no viruses, no spyware and no malware…We have located a download off of one of the Torrent sites that is a virus. The thing I would say to the consumer audience is that, if you’re concerned with a virus on your computer, the chances of that are infinitely higher when you’re downloading off of a hacked version than it would be downloading the authentic game. We would never put any spyware on anyone’s computers. That’s not going to happen.”


Complaint: The “Spore” instruction manual claims that a purchaser of “Spore” can allow multiple users to create online accounts with a single copy of the game. The game does not allow this.
 
EA Response: The company has already stated this is a misprint in the manual and referred Multiplayer back to a statement issued by “Spore” executive producer Lucy Bradshaw apologizing for “the confusion.” But EA has not replied to Multiplayer follow-up questions regarding why the company implemented this restriction and what EA makes of complaints from households that include multiple people who want to have separate “Spore” accounts associated with a single copy of the game.


Complaint: The requirement for a “Spore” user to have their ownership of the game automatically authenticated every time they access the game’s online features threatens to render the game useless if EA someday turns the “Spore” servers off.

EA Response: “If we were to ever turn off the servers on the game, we would put through a patch before that to basically make the DRM null and void. We’re never walking away from the game and making it into a situation where people aren’t going to be able to play it.”

[NayusDante]

So essentially, they shipped it with serious problems, knowingly. But they're saying "oh, we can fix that, just wait until we feel like it."

Bioshock has a license revoke tool. I don't think it took too long for that to come out. And I've used that tool twice already.

The multiple account thing, while I haven't messed with it, would definitely be nice. This would allow internet cafes to install Spore on their systems and let users log in with their own accounts. It would still be a hybrid CD-Key + MMO Account hybrid, but I suppose it fits, given that the game is massively single-player online whatever...

And it's a given that they'll release a patch if they shut down the servers. If they don't, the community will.

[logical123]

Well... All I know is that I'm pissed... Pissed because I have run out of Windows XP activation code reinstalls. We paid $145 for that OS, and I want to be able to use it. The only solution? Buying a new Code. The 'other' solution? Downloading an 'illegal' crack/keygen for windows xp.

Man... Sirgin... If you were to meet my friends brother, you would kill him....

[NayusDante]

Just call in. After a while, mine started activating online again. Guess they got tired of me calling and just "whitelisted' my key.

[Sirgin]

I'm glad EA will release some patches to fix this mess, I guess they realise the situation isn't normal anymore.

Only question is why didn't EA include those patches at release anyway? I know I'm evil-minded but I think they saw this whole thing coming and having all this (negative) attention was just part of the plan to get more people to know/buy the game.
Think about it: The DRM causes a giant waterfal of attention. Not good attention, but attention nevertheless. After a week or two EA announces they'll make the DRM a bit more lenient. This is now big news that gets published again causing more people to buy the game.

A bunch of slick marketing people at EA if you ask me...

[Cobra]

They may of intentionally done it to flush out the rats.
You'll notice they mentioned an illegal torrent they had a look at.

[NayusDante]

...an illegal torrent that they downloaded. EA is a pirate.

[Cobra]

...an illegal torrent that they downloaded. EA is a pirate.

True, they have openly admitted it. They should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law

[NayusDante]

Which would mean they have to pay themselves more money than they deserve... Wait, they do that already!