Blue, I think that's supposed to be test drive.

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http://www.gamemusicjukebox.com/
Game p/reviewer for http://www.gameindustry.com/
DRM needs to die... now

It's really simple... they should just use the same activation method as Windows. Upgrade your computer enough to require a reactivation of Windows and you have to reactivate your games as well - the only difference should be that you're allowed to install the game on five different systems. You should also have a 24hr freephone number for people with problems (like Microsoft). Honestly, it's not rocket science. I don't know how EA could mess it up so badly, as this must surely be costing them more money than they make from the new DRM.

As it stands I'm put off by the new DRM, even though it allows you to play without a disc in (a big plus, though I buy most of my games on Steam anyway so don't have to worry).

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Founder of the "I Hate Smiley Fitz" society

Remember: Riley has autism. He has trouble communicating, and in an overstimulating
environment, he can get frightened and run away, leaving his parents frantic. - Auburn

Their findings include that the life simulation can be installed an unlimited number of times on the same computer, that the gamzzzthtbthbthbthbthbthbthbblehblehbleh bleh bleh. You know what would've made this whole thing much easier to swallow? Limit it to three different OSes. Let me upgrade my system, let me change the whole damn thing, let me reformat the drive when it gets to be that time of the year, just check the OS' activation key. Granted, I have no idea if this is even doable, but my guess leans closer to "doable" than "not doable."

I know it's only really valid for Windows XP, Vista, and Mac OS, too, but oh well. It's not like Linux has ever been where anyone intent on using their computer for games goes anyway.

Never thought I would see an article like this for a video game.

he quickly determined that there was a network issue on their side; Spore's authentication servers were down. So it was DRM in general that was causing the problem, not an issue specific to EA or Spore.

QFT

We hung up the phone and waited roughly fifteen minutes to call EA tech support once more; we were hoping to get someone else to get a different opinion, as we were sure we had used up all our installation attempts. Calling back, another happy voice—female this time—checked into the account and determined that we had only registered the game twice—not four times. Spore was only registering installs on new machines. The game booted with no issue soon after; it seems to have truly been a network issue.

...

We wanted to make it clear we understood the DRM restrictions and asked about the install limitations and he informed me that "you could install the game all day long on the same machine—it was limited to installations on three separate machines." The only catch: the game had to be reinstalled after the new key was issued.

What a fraking hassle!


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http://www.gamemusicjukebox.com/
Game p/reviewer for http://www.gameindustry.com/
DRM needs to die... now
This comment was edited on Sep 16, 22:45.

Ouch. The authors are getting eaten alive in their comments section.

They deserve a roasting, they didn't change any hardware components out - or add hardware to the system, reformat the system, or install under multi-boot or multi-user accounts.

The fact is you shouldn’t have to call long distance to re-activate a game, if that’s their solution for copy protection then EA deserves every bit of the backlash they’re getting for implementing it.

Their system is completely flawed. You don’t have to call Valve after you reinstall Half Life 2.

What bothers me most is that EA has a known history for having servers running for their games and are also known for shutting those down a year or two later to force you to buy the new game.

Why would I buy a game from a company that has put online authentication & DRM in a game that they could shut down at any time.

Now I know I may get flamed for this, as I defended the same argument when it comes to Steam. Different here is EA has a known history for shutting down their services, Valve does not.

As for the install limit, whether it's 3 or 300...it serves absolutely ZERO purpose, none, zilch, nada. It does not stop pirates as we know and only pisses off legit customers that one day may find themselves with a coaster that can't even be installed, let alone authenticated.

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Trackmania United Forever, Bionic Commando Rearmed, GRID

PSN= Puscifer73 • Trackmania= puscifer604
"Blues News" Steam Community... http://steamcommunity.com/groups/bluesnews/

And here I was thinking that "buying" Spore was really "renting" it.

EA should make up their minds. They know they want to be bastards, they just don't know how.

Where exactly can you rent a PC game?

Creston

Ouch. The authors are getting eaten alive in their comments section.