Spore's DRM being protested on Amazon

[Papewaio]

I was going to buy it... here in Aus it is $100... and the exchange rate between here and the US is almost parity so we are paying double. For a single player game that you have to register online.

DRM is onerous, I don't like being made to feel like a pirate, knowing full well that the pirates can bypass this. It's like chucking all the non-criminals in prison, while letting the crims run around free and unhindered outside because that is easier.

One account per copy is where it bites for me and where my purchase will actually end. DRM sucks and it is enough for me to second guess buying those games and has a knock on effect with second guessing purchasing both EA and Sony products. I have plenty of cash, it is the time that I don't have endless amounts of. So I choose my products carefully and there are a lot of competing ones to choose from and only so much time. So given two equal products DRM will be the tipping point against it. Allowing only 1 account for a game I thought of as a family style entertainment... well that's like telling me I have to buy a monopoly board per family member. Get real.

So the cash goes back into the wallet and might come out for Unleashed or De Blob or an expansion pack. Or I'll just wait till it is in the bargin bin... hopefully there will be a server to validate it then.

[JR-]

here is my amazon review: http://www.amazon.co.uk/review/R2NOC...cm_cr_rdp_perm




I bought it, enjoyed it, then panned it. Chasing casual gamers as a finacial strategy is going to be a risky business in the world on customer reviews if you choose to use intrusive DRM.

[Martok]

It appears the stakes have been raised.

'Spore' Hijacks Computers, Class Claims


SAN JOSE (CN) - Electronic Arts, a leading maker of computer games, defrauds consumers through its "Spore" game, which "completely wipes their hard drive" and replaces it with an undisclosed program that prevents the computer from operating under some circumstances and disrupts hardware operations, a class action claims in Federal Court.
The class claims that "Spore," a virtual reality simulation game, contains "a second, undisclosed program" called SecuROM, a "form of Digital Rights Management (DRM) for computer games."
Consumers are not warned about the program, which is installed without notice and cannot be uninstalled, even if the uninstall Spore, the complaint states. The secret SecuROM program is "secretly installed to the command and control center of the computer (Ring 0, or the Kernel), and surreptitiously operated, overseeing function and operation on the computer, preventing the computer from operating under certain circumstances and/or disrupting hardware operations," the complaint states.
Plaintiffs demand disgorgement of unjust profits and damages for trespass, interference, unfair competition and consumer law violations.
They are represented by Alan Himmelfarb with KamberEdelson of Vernon, Calif., and New York.

[Xiahou]

It appears the stakes have been raised.

I think the wording is a little sketchy in the news snippet, but if they can prove that loading software like SecuRom without the PC owner's knowledge or consent is illegal- great.

If they want to put stuff like that on their games- fine, that's their right. But they really should be more upfront about what's being installed and what it does.

[Caius]

That happens when you are greedy, EA. And when you use "Heythis****destroysmycomputerandcd/dvdROM", you computer is down. EA should pay with SecuROM the damages to the users who legally bought a game and are being treated as pirates. A good siege of law actions against EA will calm the greedyness of EA.

[Whacker]

I think the wording is a little sketchy in the news snippet, but if they can prove that loading software like SecuRom without the PC owner's knowledge or consent is illegal- great.

I'm also a bit worried about what could happen if this ends up going the other way. I could potentially see them settling instead of taking it down that road, that's an equally dangerous game for them trying to play it through.

If they want to put stuff like that on their games- fine, that's their right. But they really should be more upfront about what's being installed and what it does.

I'd agree to a point. They have the right to demand compensation for their products, and a REASONABLE right to protect them. Installing software that subverts my system or my control over my system in any shape or form, be it optical drivers, kernel hooks, whatever, OR does any kind of "call home" nonsense is all total BS in my view and SHOULD be illegal. Something like an embedded routine in an executable checking for physical characteristics on a disc and that doesn't install any wacky driver is another and I have no problem with whatsoever.

It's all a farce anyway, no matter how draconian or complex the DRM system is, it'll get cracked. Bioshock and Spore both shipped with the more heavy-handed versions of Securom, and they were cracked either before or almost immediately after release.

[Caius]

Just found a copy of the Spore EULA in Internet: http://www.gametreeonline.com/SporeEULA.pdf

It doesn't say that CrapROM its included...but here is the funny bit of the thing:

Injunctive Relief. You agree that a breach of this License may
cause irreparable injury to EA for which monetary damages would not
be an adequate remedy and EA shall be entitled to seek equitable

relief in addition to any remedies it may have hereunder or at law.

To my understanding, which may be wrong, it says that if you breach in any way the EULA, you are harming EA Games. The funny thing is that they WILL harm you, but they WON'T make something for you!

Also, there is NO MENTION of '3 times installation allowed'. They are breaking their own EULA.

EA and its affiliates may also collect, use, store, transmit and
publicly display statistical data regarding game play (including scores,
rankings and achievements), or identify content that is created and
shared by you with other players. Data that personally identifies you is
collected, used, stored and transmitted in accordance with EA’s Privacy
Policy located online at privacy.ea.com.

This is spying also. They collect information, and you don't really know what they will do with your info.

[Papewaio]

Penny Arcadeis currently running a series on DRM. The link at the bottom of their latest article is interesting... number 1 selling PC game of the year has no copy protection.

I won't link here to PA... because they can be a little more foul of mouth then is strictly permitted here. But I will link to the Stardock article at the bottom of the DRM discussion (just want the orginal pointers to get cred).