Frustrated Spore users are slamming Will Wright's new release with poor, 1-star reviews on Amazon.com.
Of 642 user reviews posted as I write this, 586 are of the 1-star variety, hardly what one would expect for such a hotly-anticipated game. The negative reviews invariably mention the digital rights management (DRM) system built into Spore. This one, posted by Amazon user dwemer22, is fairly typical:
I was EXTREMELY excited about this game... Then I got on Amazon and noticed that a large number of the forums devoted to Spore were complaining of something called "SecuROM." I did a little digging and discovered that SecuROM is a piece of [DRM] software that is installed along with the game to prevent you from installing the game more than three times, in an attempt to combat piracy.
I was fine with that. 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. So I canceled my order...
I encourage EVERYBODY to not buy this game until the SecuROM Digital Rights Management is patched out or removed from later releases. On a final note, the SecuROM didn't do a thing to stop the pirates: the day after it was released in the UK, a pirated copy was to be found on the internet, SecuROM and price free.
Via: gamesindustry.biz
Comments
Re: Gamers Vent Spore DRM Frustrations via Amazon.com Reviews
Re: Gamers Vent Spore DRM Frustrations via Amazon.com Reviews
I understand that, I am just pointing out the mentality, E.
---- There is a limit for both politicians against video games, and video games against politicians. http://www.goteamretard.com
Re: Gamers Vent Spore DRM Frustrations via Amazon.com Reviews
Just a continuation of thought.
It does annoy me when people *cough*zippy*cough* say that gaming is a right. It is a privalige that can be lived without.
E. Zachary Knight
http://www.editorialgames.com
Oklahoma City Chapter of the ECA
MySpace Page: http://www.myspace.com/okceca
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1325674091
E. Zachary Knight
Divine Knight Gaming
OK Game Devs
Random Tower
Re: Gamers Vent Spore DRM Frustrations via Amazon.com Reviews
Sometimes breaking the law is the only way to prevent an injustice.
Revolution, so to speak.
They treat their customers like pirates, customers become pirates. Sure, that brings us to where we are now, but they are going to lose money. The only way to stop this is for them to lose money and see that their piracy protection doesn't work. Step one complete.
I implore everyone to pirate this game. Send a message. If you say "but it's illegal!" Then start killing Americans or you're a traitor.
Re: Gamers Vent Spore DRM Frustrations via Amazon.com Reviews
They don't know why your pirating it, though. There isn't an e-mail sent to EA everytime that somebody pirates it to protest the DRM. As far as they can tell, you had no intention of buying the product in the first place.
Yes, EA did become theives by doing this. But, you, the consumer, paid, to have the theives steal from you.
Re: Gamers Vent Spore DRM Frustrations via Amazon.com Reviews
I actually planned on buying the game, or at least was very interested in it. I still want to play it, but there's no way in hell I'm dealing with that crap. I've installed my Diablo II game at least 5 times over the past, what, 10 years? That alone is reason not to buy this crap. What if I don't even have an internet connection? I'm still considering whether I want to pirate it or not, I don't even think my pc can run it, it'd just be a waste of space. Point is, they don't deserve any money, but if people want to play it, I say go ahead and play it!
Re: Gamers Vent Spore DRM Frustrations via Amazon.com Reviews
We'll never get to any fair agreement between consumers and producers if we aren't willing to make sacrifices for it. All that piracy accomplishes is convincing the producers that they have to fight harder against piracy so that people are forced to buy the product, DRM and all. If we willingly refuse to buy or pirate the game, we can legitimately say that we would/will buy the game without the harsh DRM. In this way, we encourage producers without ending in net damage to the consumer and without getting the government involved.
In short, pirating the game will just continue the battle between consumer and publisher. Refusing to partake in the product at all gives us real bargaining power. Pirating kills any power we have.
Re: Gamers Vent Spore DRM Frustrations via Amazon.com Reviews
Civil disobedience only works when a civil right is threatened. Having a game without DRM is not a civil right.
E. Zachary Knight
http://www.editorialgames.com
Oklahoma City Chapter of the ECA
MySpace Page: http://www.myspace.com/okceca
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1325674091
E. Zachary Knight
Divine Knight Gaming
OK Game Devs
Random Tower
Re: Gamers Vent Spore DRM Frustrations via Amazon.com Reviews
Civil disobedience works whenever lots of people figure out that a wrong is being committed. There's no universal rule that states that civil disobedience only works when rights are threatened. Rights are, after all, only an artificial construct based on the society's view of what is right.
Anyway, I figure that if I buy something I should be able to do what I want with it, within reason and within the law - that should be my right. Restricting installs to three times is an abridgment of my rights as a consumer.
Re: Gamers Vent Spore DRM Frustrations via Amazon.com Reviews
The problem is that isn't always true, when you agree to the terms of installion your giving them the legal right ot restrict what you can and can't do with a piece of software., it isn't a matter of consumer rights it's contract rules.
Re: Gamers Vent Spore DRM Frustrations via Amazon.com Reviews
Considering that we see EA becoming the theives here, It's sad that they think they can put such restrictions on there. Especially when they are charging full price for the title too.
---- There is a limit for both politicians against video games, and video games against politicians. http://www.goteamretard.com
Re: Gamers Vent Spore DRM Frustrations via Amazon.com Reviews
It's a shame, I was geared up to pick up a copy of Spore on the 11th. But then again, hearing about mediocre gameplay doesn't help either. (Boring tribal portion, boring space exploration, and evolution having nothing to do with the creature itself.)
---- There is a limit for both politicians against video games, and video games against politicians. http://www.goteamretard.com
Re: Gamers Vent Spore DRM Frustrations via Amazon.com Reviews
As one of the fools that did buy the game let me just say - your not missing much.
Re: Gamers Vent Spore DRM Frustrations via Amazon.com Reviews
It sure is easy to find reasons to not like Electronic Arts, not that I've bought anything since FIFA 1998...
Re: Gamers Vent Spore DRM Frustrations via Amazon.com Reviews
"Electronic Arts" should only be used when describing the company in a positive light like back in the 90s. These days it's just EA got it? [/stewie] (I'm kidding. I personally refuse to call them Electronic Arts. Tarnishes my memory of the good days.)
---- There is a limit for both politicians against video games, and video games against politicians. http://www.goteamretard.com
Re: Gamers Vent Spore DRM Frustrations via Amazon.com Reviews
I have a book that shows Electronic Art's original marketing poster and mission statement. Reading it truly makes me amazed at how different they were. My guess is, no one expected their company to get so huge.
Re: Gamers Vent Spore DRM Frustrations via Amazon.com Reviews
Can you share that statement?
---- There is a limit for both politicians against video games, and video games against politicians. http://www.goteamretard.com
Re: Gamers Vent Spore DRM Frustrations via Amazon.com Reviews
I have no (and never had any) intention of buying Spore but hearing about this makes tempted to download an illegal copy to spite EA. Or at least I would if my PC had the right specs.
Re: Gamers Vent Spore DRM Frustrations via Amazon.com Reviews
Re: Gamers Vent Spore DRM Frustrations via Amazon.com Reviews
Now I'm pissed. I bought the game yesterday (DS and PC versions even), just to find out today that I may have been screwed for buying the damn thing to begin with! This is why I don't like PC gaming that much and prefer to play on a console. So I only get three installs then I'm done and have to buy it again if I'm understanding this correctly? I was planning on redoing my entire PC next month, I installed it yesterday, and I wanted to install it on my wife's laptop so she can play it during down time at her job. I paid full f-ing price for a game just to be that limited. I just LOVE how I paid that much money to find that I am getting less than someone that just stole the game. So I'll have to steal it too just to get what I paid for.
Zen aka Jeremy Powers
Editor and Host of the Zenspath Podcast (now on iTunes)
www.ZensPath.com
XBL: "PsychoticZen" PSN: "Zenspath"
Nintendo Network: "Psychoticzen", 3DS: "0860-3238-7260
Re: Gamers Vent Spore DRM Frustrations via Amazon.com Reviews
No three installs then you phone EA and scream at them. Ideally record the call and have a number for your lawyer handy.
Re: Gamers Vent Spore DRM Frustrations via Amazon.com Reviews
Theres only like 2 or 3 games with this kind of DRM, how can you hate all of PC gaming because of a few games...
Re: Gamers Vent Spore DRM Frustrations via Amazon.com Reviews
Sadly, many games use SecuRom. I picked up a Mahjong game from BestBuy a few weeks ago, for my Mom. I installed it on her laptop, and found out a few minutes later--when I tried to load the game without the CD in the tray--that it uses this DRM. Now I feel horrible for installing a virus on her computer. She doesn't have a disc for Vista, so I can't reformat her laptop to fix this error. And since you can't return software... blah.
Re: Gamers Vent Spore DRM Frustrations via Amazon.com Reviews
I don't think PC gaming in general sucks either, but unfortunately there are inevitable things that happen/are made because of the nature of PC gaming. PCs are a very hackable, moddable platform, moreso than any console so companies get all uppity with hack-proofing and copy-proofing their games. You don't get this problem with consoles since every one is built exactly to spec, software and hardware wise, and it takes a bit more effort to modify them.
The most moddable mainstream game platform out now is the Sony PSP and Sony's reaction to keep their system pirate-proof was firmware upgrades. Many people mod their consoles to play pirated games, but others use them for homebrew stuff.
I used to be in the PSP homebrew scene and think it would be great if Sony had some sort of kit like Microsoft's XNA to encourage it. Instead, we have this funny cat-and-mouse game between Sony and the homebrew coders. Or rather, an arms race to create newer software that counter-attacks the other side.
Re: Gamers Vent Spore DRM Frustrations via Amazon.com Reviews
I don't hate PC gaming just becuase of this (sorry if I sounded that way, I'm just pissed since I dropped 80 bucks on all of this just to find I paid to pretty much install a virus in my opinion). I just never got into PC gaming because ir always required some kind of upgrade just to play every other game at the level they love to show them at which would cost me hundreds of dollars, just to have the next game less than 6 months later run slowly unless I drop everything again. I just prefer to play a game, have it look it's best no matter what, use a big screen TV, the comfort of my couch, and a good surround sound. I really do want to enjoy it more, I just hate all of this hastle that keeps coming up.
Zen aka Jeremy Powers
Editor and Host of the Zenspath Podcast (now on iTunes)
www.ZensPath.com
XBL: "PsychoticZen" PSN: "Zenspath"
Nintendo Network: "Psychoticzen", 3DS: "0860-3238-7260
Re: Gamers Vent Spore DRM Frustrations via Amazon.com Reviews
I was particularly puzzled to find that Spore installed SecuROM on my computer even though I had purchased the game as a download directly from EA rather than as a disc in a box.
I would think that it was impossible to copy the game to disc at any stage of the download and installation, considering that it's all done through the EA download manager--so why is it on my machine? What is it doing while it sits there? And what of my data is it communicating back to its home planet?
Re: Gamers Vent Spore DRM Frustrations via Amazon.com Reviews
The EA Download Manager is a Securom delivery system. Securom is what enables activation limits.
Re: Gamers Vent Spore DRM Frustrations via Amazon.com Reviews
Well there goes the idea of purchasing it THAT way. Guess I'm gonna pirate it then. Pity EA had to be such idiots....
Re: Gamers Vent Spore DRM Frustrations via Amazon.com Reviews
They even ported securerom to OSX, so that route's out as well.
Unfortunately nobody yet knows what horrors it inflicts on your machine. Rumour has it is fucks around with system files and prevents system updates, and at least one person claims to have had to return his machine for repair after using it, but that could be a mixture of rumour and coincidence for all I know...
Re: Gamers Vent Spore DRM Frustrations via Amazon.com Reviews
Re: Gamers Vent Spore DRM Frustrations via Amazon.com Reviews
Yeah, I was really looking forward to this but i aint touching it with a teen foot pole until that stuff is changed. EA needs to learn that their costumers do not appreciate being treated like criminals and mistreated without proper reason.
Re: Gamers Vent Spore DRM Frustrations via Amazon.com Reviews
It's annoying really. I was looking forward to playing SPORE, but as I've always maintained: Activation Limits = No Purchase.
Even worse is that the game was cracked one-to-two weeks earlier than it's release, so what's the point of annoying a guy who wants to pay for it? A lot of people are pirating it (3000+ seeders) just to spite EA. I keep tellin' yeh.. where'd the good old days of 1993 and 1999 go? EA's been on the drugs too long, it's starting to **** up it's judgement.
---- There is a limit for both politicians against video games, and video games against politicians. http://www.goteamretard.com
Re: Gamers Vent Spore DRM Frustrations via Amazon.com Reviews
It was actually cracked a day before its release date. Oddly enough the Australian version was released on September 1 and the American version was released on September 7. A few stores in Australia released it on August 30 and the cracked version was uploaded on August 31, but a crackfix was released on September 1 becuase the game of an error with the crack (the group claimed it was minor, but people couldn't even get it to work without the fix). So it was cracked a week before the American release, but really it was a day early due to early sales.
This is what I've seen, so it might be a day off either way, but it's about right.
Re: Gamers Vent Spore DRM Frustrations via Amazon.com Reviews
This isn't the way to do things. The DRM software they have now is practically a malicious virus. We sue virus creators; why is it okay if it's 'to prevent piracy'?
Re: Gamers Vent Spore DRM Frustrations via Amazon.com Reviews
Because the development of computer virus is pretty much already illegal, and by agreeing to those TOS agreements when you install the program you give them permission to do what is stated including using those type of pacakges.
Re: Gamers Vent Spore DRM Frustrations via Amazon.com Reviews
When I installed the BioShock demo, it made no mention of any DRM being installed. However, SecuRom was included with the demo.
"You give us the right to do whatever we want" probably won't fly in the EULA. A class-action lawsuit might be possible.
Re: Gamers Vent Spore DRM Frustrations via Amazon.com Reviews
You don't have an economic recourse against virus creators. You can't really choose to download a virus creator's product. Here, you can choose not to buy Spore. That is what I encourage gamers to do: institute a boycott.
Re: Gamers Vent Spore DRM Frustrations via Amazon.com Reviews
Doesn't change the fact that some DRM products cause damage to people's computers or otherwise interfere with their use of them. I'd be happy if the makers of such software were sued into oblivion.
Re: Gamers Vent Spore DRM Frustrations via Amazon.com Reviews
Don't buy the product. In buying, and installing, the product, you agreed to abide by whatever the DRM wants to do to you.
Re: Gamers Vent Spore DRM Frustrations via Amazon.com Reviews
Except some of us have already bought and installed said product before we knew of such hellacious DRM measures. Sucks to be us doesn't it?
Re: Gamers Vent Spore DRM Frustrations via Amazon.com Reviews
I knew about back when Mass Effect was released for the PC. They said then that they would be using Securom. So it has hardly been secret knowledge.
E. Zachary Knight
http://www.editorialgames.com
Oklahoma City Chapter of the ECA
MySpace Page: http://www.myspace.com/okceca
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1325674091
E. Zachary Knight
Divine Knight Gaming
OK Game Devs
Random Tower
Re: Gamers Vent Spore DRM Frustrations via Amazon.com Reviews
I never said it was "secret knowledge" now did I? All I'm saying is there are a large number of consumers who are not going to know about this type of thing until it's too late since it is not listed on the box. Eh. This will be the last product I ever buy from them.
Re: Gamers Vent Spore DRM Frustrations via Amazon.com Reviews
Didn''t mean to sound harsh. BUt as I said, the information is there for those who look. I agree that there are a lot of people that don't follow the gaming news as much as others and wouldn't have known. So it is a valid concern for those unfortunate people.
E. Zachary Knight
http://www.editorialgames.com
Oklahoma City Chapter of the ECA
MySpace Page: http://www.myspace.com/okceca
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1325674091
E. Zachary Knight
Divine Knight Gaming
OK Game Devs
Random Tower
Re: Gamers Vent Spore DRM Frustrations via Amazon.com Reviews
DRM schemes ought to be placed on the box of software being sold. I want to know what harmful 'protections' the publisher is forcing on my already screwed-over machine. (Damn SecuROM is actually running in the background right now.)
---- There is a limit for both politicians against video games, and video games against politicians. http://www.goteamretard.com
Re: Gamers Vent Spore DRM Frustrations via Amazon.com Reviews
I agree. DRM protection schemes should be labeled on boxes.
----
Papa Midnight
http://www.otakutimes.com
http://www.thesupersoldiers.com
----
Papa Midnight
Re: Gamers Vent Spore DRM Frustrations via Amazon.com Reviews
Agreed. It is malicious enough that it should be a warning label on the box. So then the consumer can make the decision to willfully install the trash on his/her computer. Maybe, there should also be a large sign made, listing each of the standard DRMs out there, and the primary problems they cause/things they do, and have it up at every store, like what has been demanded for rating systems...
"I'm not responcabel fer my comuter's spleling errnors." -- Xlorep DarkHelm
"I'm stel not responcabel fer my comuter's spleling errnors." -- Xlorep DarkHelm
Re: Gamers Vent Spore DRM Frustrations via Amazon.com Reviews
Here's an idea, read the EULA, read everything it says before you install it, if it doesn't mention the harmful effects of Securom or DRM or whatever I think that may be good reason to start a class action lawsuit.
Re: Gamers Vent Spore DRM Frustrations via Amazon.com Reviews
Hard to read a EULA prior to opening a case, let alone the box.
----
Papa Midnight
http://www.otakutimes.com
http://www.thesupersoldiers.com
----
Papa Midnight
Re: Gamers Vent Spore DRM Frustrations via Amazon.com Reviews
This leads us to the problems in the anti-consumer nature of the EULAs in the first place. They pop up to read, then accept or reject, after you have already bought the game and if you do reject it you are 90% likely to be unable to get a full refund.
Re: Gamers Vent Spore DRM Frustrations via Amazon.com Reviews
Yeah, but who anywhere in any form of sanity whatsoever thought a DRM that fucks around with your registry was in any way even a moderately intelligent thing to do?