Also Known As: banshee_revora (Steam) Joined: 15 Aug 2002 Location: Brazil
Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2008 6:42 pm Post subject:
EA will tone down Spore's DRM.
Subject description: But that won't make it be decent yet.
According to MTV Multiplayer Blog, EA will tone down Spore's DRM. While we couldn't care less about Spore at this site, we all know that Red Alert 3 will use the same security system (with 5 install limit instead of 3), so, hopefully, they'll transfer some of these changes to the Red Alert 3 DRM as well.
The big change is a way to deactivate your key at the current machine. Which is interesting for those will update their system or reformat their hard disk. We'll post most of the article here, so we can have a comment at each question:
Quote:
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.”
*Some stats regarding this issue — EA provided Multiplayer with updated information indicating that it is rare for consumers to perform installations of recent EA PC games on more than one PC, let alone three (these figures, incidentally, offer a window into “Spore”’s current rate of sale):
Mass Effect
• Total activations: 183313
• Users activating on only 1 machine: 77%
• Users activating on more than 1 machine: 23%
• User trying to activate on more than 3 machines: 0.9%
Spore Creature Creator
• Total activations: 453048
• Users activating on only 1 machine: 77%
• Users activating on more than 1 machine: 23%
• Users trying to activate on more than 3 machines: 1%
Spore (main game)
• Total activations: 437138
• Users activating on only 1 machine: 86%
• Users activating on more than 1 machine: 14%
• User trying to activate on more than 3 machines: 0.4%
Now what is not said: Spore was released few days ago, The Creature Creator was few months ago, and Mass Effects is not different from that. After some time (specially years), the percentage of the people who activates it 3 times will increase considerably.
Of course Spore does not have 430k copies sold when this statistic was made, since it is the number of activations and 14% made more than one, which is a considerable percentage, specially for the first month. So, don't be surprised to see millions of people being unable to activate the game in two or more years if this patch doesn't show up.
Quote:
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.”
***
EA declined to address more general questions about the company’s views on all the DRM complaints — are they legit or mostly from pirates? The company is also passing on talking about why the DRM restrictions for “Spore” appear to differ from other EA PC titles, a distinction that some have viewed as a sign of EA considering modifying its policies. If and when EA addresses those questions, we’ll let you know.
That sounds convincent enough, if it ever happens. It is easier to see the game downloadable at EA's site before seeing a patch for a 8, 9 or 10 yars old game.
Finally, this patch still prevents players who have hardware problems or even random error messages when they load the game to deactivate their keys. While it should be helpful, it will still be very restrictive and invalidates the games from many innocent people.
Do you wanna rent Red Alert 3 for $50? Although now you can make somebody rent it from you as well. Last edited by Banshee on Sat Sep 20, 2008 2:33 am; edited 2 times in total QUICK_EDIT
You'd think this would make them automatically include the revoke functionality in RA3, but it really should have been in already so who knows.
The cynic in me would say if they purposely put very restrictive DRM in and then loosen it with a patch it's good PR with the customers that know the difference, and those that don't know the difference won't care either way anyway. _________________ QUICK_EDIT
We're getting to the point where even those who actually purchased the game are advised to get a pirated version because that will just work without any troubles.
Well, I guess I am in the 14% who need to install it on two machines. Within 2 weeks of purchase. So the revoke functionality will be very welcome. Though it is a relief that you don't need the disc in the drive! _________________ TibEd 2 for C&C3 experimental QUICK_EDIT
To be honest I'd rather I had to crack the game to not need the CD and not have any anti-piracy stuff except a CD key than have Securom and no-cd play. _________________ QUICK_EDIT
how dose it know that it has been installed on more than one computer, and couldn't you just copy the stuff from the CD and then install it? _________________ QUICK_EDIT
how dose it know that it has been installed on more than one computer,
When you boot the game for the first time, information about your computer and your CD key is sent to EA servers. Different computer, different set of information. If it doesn't match, they add 1 to your activation count.
Quote:
and couldn't you just copy the stuff from the CD and then install it?
Regardless of how you install the game, it will still need to be run for a 'first time' and therefore still connects to EA servers. QUICK_EDIT
This is the phenomenon known as EA PR, beware, what you have just read may contain dangerously low levels of truth and toxically high levels of propaganda.
You Have Been Warned. _________________ Yes, work on MV continues. It is not forgotten. QUICK_EDIT
give those hackers some time and they will bypass Spore's DMR. and any other game that comes with it, these people love a challange!
Spore was leaked 2 days prior to release. The DRM served no purpose as pirates had access to it before paying customers and in a more convenient manner. QUICK_EDIT
give those hackers some time and they will bypass Spore's DMR. and any other game that comes with it, these people love a challange!
Spore was leaked 2 days prior to release. The DRM served no purpose as pirates had access to it before paying customers and in a more convenient manner.
i'm talking about the online part, as far as i know u cant go online with a cracked spore game. _________________ QUICK_EDIT
give those hackers some time and they will bypass Spore's DMR. and any other game that comes with it, these people love a challange!
Spore was leaked 2 days prior to release. The DRM served no purpose as pirates had access to it before paying customers and in a more convenient manner.
i'm talking about the online part, as far as i know u cant go online with a cracked spore game.
Ah, that's got nothing to do with the actual DRM talked about here. It could be worked around fairly easily really, application to automatically download random creations and read the file to place them in the right place. It wouldn't be identical to the actual online in game but it'd only lose subscribing to peoples creation feeds, approving comments and seeing events related to your friends / creatures. QUICK_EDIT
This is the phenomenon known as EA PR, beware, what you have just read may contain dangerously low levels of truth and toxically high levels of propaganda.
You Have Been Warned.
Ahh, no biggy then, we can all just wait for 2 days after Tits Alert 3 gets released and download it then QUICK_EDIT
I really hope they ease up on the DRM or at least plan to patch it away after the first six months' sales. _________________ <center></center> QUICK_EDIT
Knowing EA, it'll be pretty difficult, or it'll perhaps happen much later, Cj.
If they had no-CD play, I can see why it'd be quite troublesome...there are more bad things than benefits. _________________ Please, read the signature rules of the forum. QUICK_EDIT
And the whole no-CD feature is to distract people away from the SecuROM. And I read somewhere that the newest patch for TW includes some sort of SecuROM, is this true or anti-EA propoganda? _________________ Comcast: Yo dawg we herd yo were downloading, so we put fail in yo modem so yo cant download while yo failin! QUICK_EDIT
Doesn't TW use securom anyway?
Just the older disc verification system rather than the newer hardcore one. Pretty sure RA2 used it aswell. _________________ QUICK_EDIT
Yeah... But RA2 didn't install a whole different prograqm that fucks with your hardware, screws up your games if you have anything it doesn't like the look of and requires it's own utility to remove from your machine's core!
Stuff blowing up in RA2 if you modded too much was annoying but this is too far _________________ Yes, work on MV continues. It is not forgotten. QUICK_EDIT
I was commenting on Apex's comment regarding TW containing securom, not suggesting the newer type is no different to RA2's. _________________ QUICK_EDIT
Over-reaction, sorry.
This is stupid though, they've gone from shooting themselves in the head to loading the gun against their head... _________________ Yes, work on MV continues. It is not forgotten. QUICK_EDIT
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EA will tone down Spore's DRM.
