Spore / DRM / EA / PC Game Industry

[ViviTheMage]

Originally posted by: Anubis

Originally posted by: SunnyD

Originally posted by: Eeezee
I was only remotely interested in this game and probably would have picked it up if not for their DRM implementation. Limited number of installs... that's fucked up

I'm not even going to bother pirating this game. Take that EA!

So, um, I have to ask... do you run Windows by chance? Unless you're using a VL copy (which the likelihood of doing that legitimately is slim), your statement is pure hypocrisy as Microsoft limits the number of installs for Windows as well (WGA, Activation, etc).

ummm i have a copy of Win 2K ive been running for 8 years, ive installed it on only 1 computer about 30 times for various reason and umm yea always works fine

same with XP which has had a masive number of installs simply because i used to kill hardware all the time


so im very very confused by your statement

I did the same with my XP copies, and 2k copies...not sure what he is getting at...

most torrents are linked to multiple sites...

 

[SunnyD]

Originally posted by: ViviTheMage

Originally posted by: Anubis

Originally posted by: SunnyD

Originally posted by: Eeezee
I was only remotely interested in this game and probably would have picked it up if not for their DRM implementation. Limited number of installs... that's fucked up

I'm not even going to bother pirating this game. Take that EA!

So, um, I have to ask... do you run Windows by chance? Unless you're using a VL copy (which the likelihood of doing that legitimately is slim), your statement is pure hypocrisy as Microsoft limits the number of installs for Windows as well (WGA, Activation, etc).

ummm i have a copy of Win 2K ive been running for 8 years, ive installed it on only 1 computer about 30 times for various reason and umm yea always works fine

same with XP which has had a masive number of installs simply because i used to kill hardware all the time


so im very very confused by your statement

I did the same with my XP copies, and 2k copies...not sure what he is getting at...

most torrents are linked to multiple sites...

Hahah.. thanks. I'm glad I wasn't drinking anything just then otherwise I'd be cleaning of my desk and monitor. :laugh:

 

[Anubis]

now im even more confused

 

[wanderer27]

Wow, the Spore DRM is getting totally hammered on Amazon today.

It's been reported that Amazon UK has actually gone in and deleted all the reviews.
There's only one up right now on the UK site versus well over 400 (at present) on the US site.

This might get interesting on the DRM side of things.

I'm tempted to register just to add my DRM opposition to this . . . .

 

[ryan256]

Originally posted by: novasatori

Originally posted by: Jeff7181

Originally posted by: novasatori

Originally posted by: rivan
I have a legit copy of Spore here. I picked it up off the shelf today on a whim.

I'm debating returning it, I'm SO against the DRM.

DRM aside, I'd return it simply for the fact its is a horrible game.

Did you play it, or are you assuming based on it coming out of EA?

Played it. I don't think EA really is to blame on this flop. The game seemed mostly complete back in 2006 E3 video, but somehow 2 years later the game seemed to have gotten worse. The game itself seems really polished and complete. Its jut not any good.

This is all of course my opinion, but I think most people would agree.

You can only play with the creature/vehicle creators for so long IMO.

DRM aside the game is only interesting for the first few hours. After that it sucks. The creature creation is SO dumb now. Instead of parts giving cumulative attributes to your creature (Ex. adding more than 1 leg doesn't speed you up, adding more health items doesn't give you more health) it simply goes off of the highest level item you have. So retarded. As a result everyone will have the same parts on their creature depending on the attributes they want.

 

[mindcycle]

Originally posted by: wanderer27
Wow, the Spore DRM is getting totally hammered on Amazon today.

It's been reported that Amazon UK has actually gone in and deleted all the reviews.
There's only one up right now on the UK site versus well over 400 (at present) on the US site.

This might get interesting on the DRM side of things.

I'm tempted to register just to add my DRM opposition to this . . . .

Wow. I just read through some of the Spore reviews on Amazon. I'm really happy to see that. I hope EA will take notice and address these concerns as it seems there is a pretty large number of people not buying the game because of the DRM.

 

[wanderer27]

Originally posted by: mindcycle

Originally posted by: wanderer27
Wow, the Spore DRM is getting totally hammered on Amazon today.

It's been reported that Amazon UK has actually gone in and deleted all the reviews.
There's only one up right now on the UK site versus well over 400 (at present) on the US site.

This might get interesting on the DRM side of things.

I'm tempted to register just to add my DRM opposition to this . . . .

Wow. I just read through some of the Spore reviews on Amazon. I'm really happy to see that. I hope EA will take notice and address these concerns as it seems there is a pretty large number of people not buying the game because of the DRM.

While I'm not crazy about the level of piracy going on with this game, I am pleased at the amount of protest against this DRM scheme.


You know, if EA were to play their cards right they could come out smelling like a Rose and garner a lot of positive goodwill if they came out said they were stripping out this DRM.

Really what's the point of it, especially after it was hacked before it was in stores?

This is EA we're talking about though . . . .

 

[jonks]

Originally posted by: wanderer27
Wow, the Spore DRM is getting totally hammered on Amazon today.

It's been reported that Amazon UK has actually gone in and deleted all the reviews.

Good. People who write reviews of products they don't own are jerkoffs. Amazon should only allow reviews for people that purchase the products through their site. Buy the product, get a review code/link. b/c right now it's pretty useless, especially since they also have a product discussion forum.

 

[PingSpike]

Originally posted by: wanderer27
A lot more are DL'ing just because of the DRM, and aren't buying it because of the DRM.

And of course there are many others just plain Pirating it because they can and that's what they do.

These two are the same group of people.

 

[MH2007]

I was going to get this game but the SecuROM bullshit means I'm not touching it with a ten foot pole. Count me as one more lost sale due to their idiotic DRM.

 

[5to1baby1in5]

Originally posted by: wanderer27

Originally posted by: mindcycle

Originally posted by: wanderer27
Wow, the Spore DRM is getting totally hammered on Amazon today.

It's been reported that Amazon UK has actually gone in and deleted all the reviews.
There's only one up right now on the UK site versus well over 400 (at present) on the US site.

This might get interesting on the DRM side of things.

I'm tempted to register just to add my DRM opposition to this . . . .

Wow. I just read through some of the Spore reviews on Amazon. I'm really happy to see that. I hope EA will take notice and address these concerns as it seems there is a pretty large number of people not buying the game because of the DRM.

While I'm not crazy about the level of piracy going on with this game, I am pleased at the amount of protest against this DRM scheme.


You know, if EA were to play their cards right they could come out smelling like a Rose and garner a lot of positive goodwill if they came out said they were stripping out this DRM.

Really what's the point of it, especially after it was hacked before it was in stores?

This is EA we're talking about though . . . .

I guess I'll wait a 6 months and buy Spore for $15 when they drop the price because it isn't selling very well.

Worked for Bioshock.

 

[Maximilian]

Originally posted by: mindcycle

Originally posted by: wanderer27
Wow, the Spore DRM is getting totally hammered on Amazon today.

It's been reported that Amazon UK has actually gone in and deleted all the reviews.
There's only one up right now on the UK site versus well over 400 (at present) on the US site.

This might get interesting on the DRM side of things.

I'm tempted to register just to add my DRM opposition to this . . . .

Wow. I just read through some of the Spore reviews on Amazon. I'm really happy to see that. I hope EA will take notice and address these concerns as it seems there is a pretty large number of people not buying the game because of the DRM.

Heh theres a rumor that the reviews were deleted at EA's request.... Considering what EA did with wikipedia there may be truth behind it.

 

[wanderer27]

Nm

 

[Alex C]

It's the number on video game on amazon despite the 1,000+ 1 star reviews, I wonder how long that'll last?

 

[BD2003]

Originally posted by: wanderer27

Originally posted by: mindcycle

Originally posted by: wanderer27
Wow, the Spore DRM is getting totally hammered on Amazon today.

It's been reported that Amazon UK has actually gone in and deleted all the reviews.
There's only one up right now on the UK site versus well over 400 (at present) on the US site.

This might get interesting on the DRM side of things.

I'm tempted to register just to add my DRM opposition to this . . . .

Wow. I just read through some of the Spore reviews on Amazon. I'm really happy to see that. I hope EA will take notice and address these concerns as it seems there is a pretty large number of people not buying the game because of the DRM.

While I'm not crazy about the level of piracy going on with this game, I am pleased at the amount of protest against this DRM scheme.

You know, if EA were to play their cards right they could come out smelling like a Rose and garner a lot of positive goodwill if they came out said they were stripping out this DRM.

Really what's the point of it, especially after it was hacked before it was in stores?

This is EA we're talking about though . . . .

The point of it is not to stop it on bittorrent, which they know they can never do, but to stop you from handing it to your friend and letting him install it on his PC, rather than everyone buying their own copy to play.

Thats the dirty secret. They point the finger at the pirates up in the sky, but the pirate theyre really more concerned about, the one they think they can do something about, is YOU.

Even more outrageous, along those lines, I read that if you install it under one account in windows, the game will not work for every other user account on that PC, despite it being a legit install. Parents cant play with their kids unless they share their accounts. Now that is just ridiculous.

 

[Regs]

Originally posted by: Maleficus
that IS NOT IN NO WAY SHAPE OR FORM $2,500,000. 98% of those people wouldn't buy the game. a percentage I won't even guess at won't buy the game without trying it, thus increasing sales if they decide they like the game and go and buy it.

Piracy isn't a problem, it's a tool used to evaluate the worth of a game to help you spend your resources wisely on a frivolous and out of control market that has drastically decreased in quality and is showing no signs of reversing that trend.

Ok, I really try to keep my cool around here but this bloated *pull it out the ass* conscious irritates me. Please don't take it personnel, because this seems to be the general view of many. Some of you arm chair marketers think the people who pirate are not potential customers. However, you seem to neglect how our economy works. It's called opportunity costs. One must give up one thing, to buy the other. If that person no longer has to give up that one thing or many things to buy, in this case Spore, then that was a potential buyer lost. For example; Regs had to give up driving for 1 day of the week for 4 weeks so he could buy Spore. However, if Regs can pirate the game, he can still drive as he normally does. What would you do?

You want to break the law, and then justify it for your own moral gain, be my guest. Though you will not have my sympathy if you get caught.

 

[PingSpike]

Regs is right. Some of those sales probably would be converted...is 98% the correct figure that can't/won't be? No one can know this. However, the media companies assertion that 100% of them are lost sales is proposterious. I think the figure lies closer to the 2% then it is to the 100%, but again....no one can really know, unless they have a time machine.

 

[Xavier434]

The 3 install limit thing is the only part which really bothers me assuming the DRM doesn't sound the alarm on other occasions for no apparent reason. I am the type of person who wants to buy a copy of the game and install it on multiple machines such as both my laptop and home PC. There are also occasions where I will install it on my second PC at home for convenience purposes (I am lazy lol). On top of that, I enjoy upgrading which means new mobos on a fairly regular basis and that is supposed to use 1 of my 3 installs as well. So, basically what that means for me is that I will have to buy an additional copy of Spore about 1 - 1.5 years from now if I want to play it again after I am done with it the first go around.

When I buy my copy of game, I want to feel like I am buying a copy. I don't mind playing by the rules when it comes to legal issues of that copy, but don't make me feel like I am just renting it from you so that you feel better as you sit around a table with the other execs observing your profit margins and pretending that they had something to do with anti-piracy through DRM. Don't make me feel like I am nothing more than a potential criminal who is guilty until proven innocent. I refuse to pay for something that makes me feel that way and inconveniences me so much. There are plenty of other great games to buy which don't do that.

 

[Eeezee]

Originally posted by: Regs

Originally posted by: Maleficus
that IS NOT IN NO WAY SHAPE OR FORM $2,500,000. 98% of those people wouldn't buy the game. a percentage I won't even guess at won't buy the game without trying it, thus increasing sales if they decide they like the game and go and buy it.

Piracy isn't a problem, it's a tool used to evaluate the worth of a game to help you spend your resources wisely on a frivolous and out of control market that has drastically decreased in quality and is showing no signs of reversing that trend.

Ok, I really try to keep my cool around here but this bloated *pull it out the ass* conscious irritates me. Please don't take it personnel, because this seems to be the general view of many. Some of you arm chair marketers think the people who pirate are not potential customers. However, you seem to neglect how our economy works. It's called opportunity costs. One must give up one thing, to buy the other. If that person no longer has to give up that one thing or many things to buy, in this case Spore, then that was a potential buyer lost. For example; Regs had to give up driving for 1 day of the week for 4 weeks so he could buy Spore. However, if Regs can pirate the game, he can still drive as he normally does. What would you do?

You want to break the law, and then justify it for your own moral gain, be my guest. Though you will not have my sympathy if you get caught.

Some of those pirates would be potential sales, but most would not. Many of those pirates will pirate for the sake of piracy. Some won't even play the game.

It's not the destination, but the journey that causes some of these people to pirate.

In any case, there is no reason to assume that all pirated copies = money lost, because that's moronic

Also, basic economic theories often do not take piracy into account. You can't use econ 101 lessons when talking about piracy, like you have attempted.

 

[Eeezee]

Originally posted by: MH2007
I was going to get this game but the SecuROM bullshit means I'm not touching it with a ten foot pole. Count me as one more lost sale due to their idiotic DRM.

Post your opinion on Amazon. Let your voice be heard.

 

[Eeezee]

Originally posted by: PingSpike

Originally posted by: wanderer27
A lot more are DL'ing just because of the DRM, and aren't buying it because of the DRM.

And of course there are many others just plain Pirating it because they can and that's what they do.

These two are the same group of people.

Wrong x1000

 

[Xavier434]

Originally posted by: wanderer27
A lot more are DL'ing just because of the DRM, and aren't buying it because of the DRM.

And of course there are many others just plain Pirating it because they can and that's what they do.

I know a couple people already who are choosing not to buy it due to DRM and are downloading it instead. They really wanted access to the online content and were willing to pay for it until they found out about this problem. They are not the kind of people who pirate most things either. They typically buy everything they want.

There is no doubt in my mind that EA would have made more money if they just stuck with the other methods of anti-piracy. As long as the usual rule of no online content with the pirated copy applies then that would have been enough since the game seems pretty cool and the online content is supposed to be worth paying for. They shot themselves in the foot here.

 

[Homerboy]

I didn't read the entire thread I will admit, but for those saying "Steam is the answer" how do you figure? Every game that is on Steam is also pirated. From the biggest blockbuster like TF2 to the lowest art-house game. So how does Steam stop piracy?

 

[MikeyLSU]

Originally posted by: Xavier434

Originally posted by: wanderer27
A lot more are DL'ing just because of the DRM, and aren't buying it because of the DRM.

And of course there are many others just plain Pirating it because they can and that's what they do.

I know a couple people already who are choosing not to buy it due to DRM and are downloading it instead. They really wanted access to the online content and were willing to pay for it until they found out about this problem. They are not the kind of people who pirate most things either. They typically buy everything they want.

There is no doubt in my mind that EA would have made more money if they just stuck with the other methods of anti-piracy. As long as the usual rule of no online content with the pirated copy applies then that would have been enough since the game seems pretty cool and the online content is supposed to be worth paying for. They shot themselves in the foot here.

sorry, that line of thinking doesn't make sense. What is the problem the only 3 installs? Then buy it and pirate it after the DRM makes it unplayable. But to pirate it from the beginning the day of the release is just funny. People who have already pirated this game never intended to buy it, otherwise they would have at least waited to see if there were other ways around the DRM and still buy it.

 

[Martimus]

I can say that I won't buy this game due to the DRM, but I also won't be a douchebag and pirate it either. I just won't play it.

I can say that I hope the police start tracking pirating with a lot of effort, and laws are put in place to severely punish pirates; because that is probably the only way that DRM will stop being so intrusive. (Installing Mass Effect and the update turned my fresh format and XP install to a slow interface in windows >:-( ) The only way that pirating will get curbed (so it gets to the point where many more people actually buy the product than pirate it), is to make it not worth it to pirate it. Either make it so cheap it isn't worth pirating, distribute many virus filled versions of the game on torrents so people are afraid to d/l them, or make the penalty for being caught pirating severe along with finding a way to find pirates relatively easy.