Spore Boycott

[NightLad]

Hi everybody.

Well, after years of teasing us, EA finally released Spore.

What they also gave us was Securom DRM with Spore. This is a so-called “security feature” that limits you to 3 installs, ever. You have to have an internet connection to install, too. The game you bought is incomplete – missing key files – that can only be retrieved after you activate it online. At that point the installation process finally finishes by sending you the missing files.

By limiting your installations to 3, and by forcing you to activate via the internet in order to play (even if you don’t plan on ever playing online), you are effectively renting this game. How so, you ask? When EA takes its registration servers offline, and they will do it eventually, all these purchased and paid-for games are going to be pretty $50 coasters.

Fortunately, the gaming community is fighting back!

EA has closed its Spore Boards because of the traffic regarding their draconian DRM system. Amazon.com has been flooded with 1-star negative reviews about the game. Check it out by clicking here! (At the time of this post, 1 Star = 2,005, 5-Star = 71. Most of the 5 Stars come from reviewers in 2006, 2 years prior to the game being released.)

Why else should you be upset about DRM? Let’s say you install your game three times on computers you personally own. At that point, your game DVD is worthless. If you want to uninstall and re-install on another machine (for example, if you get a new computer) you will have to contact EA and beg them to raise your installation limit. However, they almost never do that because of “piracy issues.” Scary.

This means that people who are illegally downloading the hacker-cracked version of Spore (with the DRM removed) are being rewarded, while the people who actually paid for the game are being punished. Without DRM people can install the game on as many computers as they want and play it for years in the future, without ever worrying about the registration servers closing.

And EA thinks this is a ‘good thing’!

On a side note, I was personally very disappointed with the actual game-play of Spore. I feel that we were deceived. The point of Spore (one of the big ones, at least) is to be able to create unique creatures without limitations. However there is basically no point in ‘evolving’ a creature in the first place, because the game works on statistics, not actual components.

So what does all this mean? I’ll tell you: all creatures are fundamentally the exact same! Any physical changes you the player make are just cosmetic. Example 1) a creature with 3 heads and 3 of the best biting mouths will have the same bite-damage rating as a creature with 1 head and 1 of the best mouths. Example 2) a creature with 4 of the best legs will move at the same speed as a hopping-creature with just 1 of the best legs.

Pathetic.

I was also let-down by the graphics. My 4 year old computer runs this game with the same display as my brand-new top-of-the-line gaming-god computer. Very upsetting.

If you are upset about the DRM usage, let your voice be heard. Sign in to Amazon.com and rank the game. You don’t have to give it a 1 (if you legitimately enjoy aspects of the game-play) but you should absolutely say something. I know I have.

[Ophiuchus]

I pretty much abhore the video gaming industry in general, so....sure, I'll boycott it!

[Samuel]

You have got to be kidding me. good lord.

1.) You are effectively renting EVERY game you have. Have you ever read the Terms of Service before accepting?

2.) Graphics detail is low on purpose. Will's games are for the masses .. and the way you accomplish the cross platforming and mass audience reach is you have a game that is playable by more than the gaming geeks, the ones who have spent money on their systems gaming performance.

3.) the DRM thing is getting old. If you are seriously that opposed to it, than DONT BUY IT! End of story. MOVE ON! No one is forcing anyone to buy this if they don't want to, so the DRM should be a non issue. I am not saying I like it, but that doesn't mean I am going to be pissed at the company for trying to secure their game.

Go find something betting to whine about .. seriously. Well, no that I think about is, HotDogs piss me off. I think I am going to go make an entire thread to tell everyone what they should think about HotDogs. I will complain about their lack of style, and the companies miscounting on the dogs-to-buns ratio.

sigh ..

If you were right in front of me, I would punch you in the face.

[Spaniard]

sigh ..

If you were right in front of me, I would punch you in the face.

Well thats a little excessive don't you think.

[NightLad]

Well thats a little excessive don't you think.

The sad thing is that I could have composed a very good reply addressing the points raised, had he not chosen to make a threat of physical violence. I do not feel such a thing deserves my time in responding.

[Samuel]

wow .. does no one understand sarcasm? Not that my points aren't valid .. but I would never physically hurt someone over their opinion.

Sorry you guys are so sensitive ... I would nver punch you in the face over a game. Sorry I even thought I could kid around with you.

[Nate]

wow .. does no one understand sarcasm? Not that my points aren't valid .. but I would never physically hurt someone over their opinion.

Sorry you guys are so sensitive ... I would nver punch you in the face over a game. Sorry I even thought I could kid around with you.

In real life scenarios, yes..we understand body language, hand gestures, and every other vibe that says "sarcasm...haha funny funny"...but on a forum, we don't have that luxury. Only smilies that help us to understand where you're really coming from.

If you were right in front of me, I would punch you in the face.

goes a long way...

[Samuel]

... sigh.

I understand, but come on .. really? The hot dog thing wasn't enough to get you guys guessing that I am throwing around my sarcastic tone?

ugh.

[Spaniard]

I didn't know about the DRM issues before I bought the game. I'm not really up in the know with all the tech stuff as much as I used to be. We did just buy a nice Alienware computer and I will not be installing it on there unless they release an uninstaller for the SecuRom.

With that said I have enjoyed the game as a creative outlet. I won't feel bad downloading the cracked version because I bought it; yet at the same times it bothers me that I have to do so to enjoy the game on my new computer without worrying about the hardware issues it sometimes causes.

[Spaniard]

... sigh.

I understand, but come on .. really? The hot dog thing wasn't enough to get you guys guessing that I am throwing around my sarcastic tone?

ugh.

I can only read...I'm not Ms. Cleo