Comments on: Spore: Five Activations?

By: Cataclysmyk

Cataclysmyk — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 10:31:45 +0000

Something I thought would be of interest:

multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2008/09/16/spore-drm-update-ea-loosening-one-restriction/

Maybe worth a post of its own on RPS :)

By: Daniel Purvis

Daniel Purvis — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 06:18:13 +0000

You’re only allowed to assign each copy of the game to only one EA Account, though, which already limits the potential for resale.

By: Barrett

Barrett — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 02:16:47 +0000

The install limit is not imposed to prevent you copying or distributing the game. That’s what CD copy protection is for. The install limit is designed to prevent resale.

By: Matt

Matt — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 16:45:23 +0000

This seems like kind of a stupid move on EA’s part (As is lifting it to 5 installs on RA3). The backlash was never about how many installs you get. Nobody has actually reached the 3 install limit in the week since the game has been on shelves. The backlash is about that there is a limit on installs at all. It’s completely about the principle of things. In lifting the limit from 3 to 5, EA effectively admits that they will cave to enough pressure but doesn’t actually appease any of the people who were putting that pressure in the first place, in effect they’re just asking for people to put more pressure on them in the future.

By: Paul Moloney

Paul Moloney — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 15:48:42 +0000

To balance out all the hysteria, I just gave Spore a 5/5 rating on Amazon. I haven’t played it, but then since many of those who rated it 1/5 didn’t either, I don’t think that matters too much.

By: MasterBoo

MasterBoo — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 08:49:23 +0000

Jigglybean: Ding ding, we have a winner.

By: Jigglybean

Jigglybean — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 08:17:25 +0000

who cares? The game is a waste of money and time.

By: Parthon

Parthon — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 03:59:40 +0000

DRX: and irony is the pirated movies don’t have the warning. ;)

I bought and installed Spore and haven’t had a problem with it. I must be in the minority after listening to all the stories all over the internet.

While I don’t condone piracy I agree that it’s a good idea to do whatever it takes to make EA realise what a bad idea it’s harsh DRM is. Let your wallet do the talking and complain loudly. The suprising thing is that EA, or at least the people in charge, won’t even consider releasing a game without DRM. They can’t tell just how many sales they are losing. It doesn’t stop piracy, but it certainly prevents customers.

As for the upside down world comment:
Here’s a rabbit attacking a snake: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Ez5QPW-ku4

By: Daniel Purvis

Daniel Purvis — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 01:55:47 +0000

You’re a humanitarian Esha! Now, to spread the link.

By: Esha

Esha — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 01:50:24 +0000

http://docs.google.com/View?docid=dghvpk69_8nkbrt4hd

I said I’d do it, a number of times. And now I’ve done it. There, I feel better. As the disclaimer states, it is not a bloody piracy guide. It exists just to make the lives of people in general less painful, because I abhor suffering.

By: Esha

Esha — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 00:50:40 +0000

@My Post Above

That’s… interesting. It seems as though the installer doesn’t actually create the SecuROM instance, but running the game does. If that’s the case, then simply cracking the game before running it will take SecuROM out of the loop entirely. I must’ve had it there from something else.

And this is after a reinstall of Spore (original DVD) and reboot, too.

I’ll look into this a bit more, but if it’s only running the game that installs the DRM… well, that makes writing my guide a lot less complex. I’ll still throw a section in there for removing SecuROM for the unfortunate sods who already have it, though.

By: Esha

Esha — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 00:35:55 +0000

@IDUC

It does indeed still rootkit the system, but there are ways to remove SecuROM once it’s been installed, and the cracked copy won’t give a damn about the absence of those draconian security measures. It is annoying to have to install the game, then slice out SecuROM and crack the game, but that’s still better than any alternative at the moment.

One of these days I’m so going to write up some kind of informative for the net denizens to know how to properly deal with their bought version of Spore without having to put up with things that could potentially make them angry and very miserable. Maybe in the morning I’ll finally get around to doing that and slap it up on Google Docs or somesuch.