Gamernode: News - Gamers slam Spore for being "infected" with DRM

Woah woah woah, didn't these guys learn anything after complaints about Bioshock?

Damn, only 3 installs. This has to be a short term implementation, which will be gone in an update. I've already installed Assassins creed 5 times in the past 4 months.

I have a cracked version of spore, LOOK OUT.

hmm yea stop illegal downloads.... retail owners cry at this DRM shit while the pirates laugh at it

What jackass even came up with DRM? It's more of a hassle for the honest people than it seems to be for the pirates. How does that make sense?

EA does it again

I bought it through EA Store, no DRM for me; even if there was I wouldn't care, DRM has never affected my consumer experience. STALKER, Bioshock... the TAGES security protections, Securom, Safedisc, whatever, never had an issue with them, not with Witcher, Neverwinter Nights 2, WarCraft 3, Hellgate, all use some form of either Tages, Securom, Safedisc; no issues, bring on DRM, what do I care!

Most pirates just torrent the thing, while people who actually buy it can only install it 5 times? WTF?

SecuROM has been cracked for a long time, its really no big deal. I guess you can't do it and go online though, even if you had a legit key.

Game companies can be so annoying.

I agree with KindGalaxy. It's never been a problem. People's innate ability to complain about the most ridiculous things is what's most annoying to me. It's yet another product of the spoilt society of ours. And who are they hurting? Themselves, as they are potentially hurting the sales of good games. What they might get in return? Less than good quality games and lots of talented people and companies going under in the business, all because they feel somehow violated… Please.

I guess for some, it is an issue of privacy (not piracy) and the right to not let a thrid party program snoop around your computer and modify it. The Electronic Frontier Foundation, a organization that fights for consumer rights said:

"...recent DRM has invaded users' privacy and created severe security vulnerabilities in computers. Fans shouldn't be treated like criminals, and neither should the innovators who build the gadgets on which they rely. EFF has fought against many DMCA suits, including defending the makers of DVD backup software, and sued Sony-BMG for their "rootkit" CD copy protection scheme."

Some may not personally feel threatened by DRMs which get into their computers, (remember the Sony music DRM fiasco?), but I can understand why gamers are fired up over this issue.

Ever bought or sold a used videogame? You have then contributed to piracy. It is just that gamestop and the like have lawyers. Do you think the companies like not getting paid for their games, as long as you go through a retail chain? Fear not, the invisible hand of the market will deal with it. That is one reason pc gaming is in decline. Console gaming (- used game sales) is more profitable. As I said a billion times, you want to support your favorite developer, buy their games!

"I then read further through the forums and the Wikipedia article and discovered that SecuROM does a number of other things too, including sending mysterious packets of data back to the company from your computer (identity theft, perhaps?), prevents you from using certain programs, such as DVD and CD burners, makes it impossible for you to modify your root drive and, worst of all, will NOT uninstall without the help of a third party application."

If you want to subject yourself to that kind of crap because a developer/publisher does not trust you, I have no words for that. Complacent comes to mind. As an anarchist, this makes my blood boil. Change your distribution methods. Find a way around it, or swallow the cost. Don't punish your consumers.

I'd like to note that you get 5 installs, not 3. As often as I install and uninstall games on my computer (I have reasons), this can really break my purchase plans.

Never mind, I'm mistaken. It is three, and I've confused this with other DRM-related news that I've heard.

My old PC (when it was in its dying stages) could have a week where I'd have to reformat twice to get everything working again, or reinstall Windows twice to fix corrupt folders. Games and software with limited installs ended up becoming a huge hassle if there were no easy patches to download to get around activation.

Limited installs = wonderful.

"As an anarchist, this makes my blood boil. " Um, doesn't most everything? Kind of the definition of anarchy, needing something to fight, or change:p Because, you know, we have it so rough...

Know english before you lecture me on definitions.

Anarchy definitions: a: absence of government b: a state of lawlessness or political disorder due to the absence of governmental authority c: a utopian society of individuals who enjoy complete freedom without government.

And an anarchist?

1. a person who advocates or believes in anarchy or anarchism.
2. a person who seeks to overturn by violence all constituted forms and institutions of society and government, with no purpose of establishing any other system of order in the place of that destroyed.
3. a person who promotes disorder or excites revolt against any established rule, law, or custom.

And your definition of anarchy is a bit skewed to the seemingly brighter points.

1. a state of society without government or law.
2. political and social disorder due to the absence of governmental control: The death of the king was followed by a year of anarchy.
3. a theory that regards the absence of all direct or coercive government as a political ideal and that proposes the cooperative and voluntary association of individuals and groups as the principal mode of organized society.
4. confusion; chaos; disorder: Intellectual and moral anarchy followed his loss of faith.

The lack of government, or rule that people agree with, along with the institution of chaos and disorder, was what I was referring to, and you knew it. You weren't lectured on anything, until now. I was merely pointing out the obviousness of your statement that you, as a proclaimed anarchist, are angry over this new rule. Gee, really? Like that should surprise anyone. But, as an anarchist, you just had to retort with ridicule, so that shouldn't surprise anyone either.

I will probably get banned for this being off topic, but

You said I need something to fight or change. Let's look at YOUR definitions.

Anarchist: 1. a person who advocates or believes in anarchy or anarchism.

Ok, that's me. I do advocate anarchy. So, what is anarchy since my definitions from Marriam Webster are a bit skewed to the seemingly brighter points.

3. a theory that regards the absence of all direct or coercive government as a political ideal and that proposes the cooperative and voluntary association of individuals and groups as the principal mode of organized society.

That sounds right. Wait. There is no need for fight or change with that. Sounds like you just proved yourself wrong. That is why I said "Know English before you lecture me on definitions." There are multiple definitions for some words. Not all may apply in some cases. It is not like some verbal Voltron where a word is ineffective without all the definitions. Also, you don't point out the obvious. Again, your English is broken. Unless it was you who attempted ridicule. And you accuse me of it. I believe Dr. Freud called that projection. I did not want to go here. You forced my hand.

*shakes head*

Yup, it sure is off topic, still. Fine. Have your little victory as this is obviously (again) pointless.