Spore / DRM / EA / PC Game Industry

[Eeezee]

Originally posted by: wanderer27
Everyone knew this game was going to be pirated.

What surprised me was that it was cracked and on the net before it was even out in stores.
And the quantity of piracy is just mind numbing . . . .


I don't know if Steam is the answer, I've heard that gets cracked just as easily, and I prefer to have a "hardcopy" myself.


It would be interesting to see how much of the piracy is do to the DRM - whether it's to have a DRM free copy (already an owner) or just because of the DRM.
There's no way to tell though, so it's all going to get marked as just piracy.

I think Stardock is on the right track. It's not perfect but I think they're getting close.
I doubt there ever will be a perfect solution that suits all parties.

That's what I love about their DRM layers; they put so much extra effort into it and what do they get? Jack shit

 

[Eeezee]

Originally posted by: MikeyLSU
first off, don't believe anyone who says they are pirating it because of the DRM. They are pirating it becuase they don't want to pay for the game and want it free. Nothing more nothing less.

Not true, SecuRom can actually make the game unplayable depending on your system. There is very little official support for these issues. Pirating a copy fixes that problem immediately. Simply patching the game often isn't good enough; you often need a modified ISO.

Sometimes SecuRom will prevent you from even installing the game.

 

[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!

 

[TidusZ]

Sarcasm and jokes aside, I believe Spore has already done a lot to prevent pirating of games in the future. After playing through the game I think its pretty clear anyone who used 4gb bandwidth downloading it got a pretty sore deal. Sort of like one of those frogs with the really long tongue making a killer shot just to find out he caught himself a dirty dung beetle. The frog is gonna be much more wary of carelessly flipping his tongue about like that again.

 

[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).

 

[Piuc2020]

Originally posted by: wanderer27

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.

To EA, 50,000 copys at $50 is $2,500,000.

That's all they care about, and that's how they'll spin it.

I agree and said so above that many were DL'ing and already had a copy, and that other's would do irregardless.

I'm just pointing out how EA and probably the Gaming Industry as a whole is going to look at this.

Yes they will complain but they will keep releasing games on PC.

Every publisher worth its salt has at one point bitched and whined like a little girl about piracy.

However, just look, nowadays more and more and MORE games are getting ported to the PC, why? Because it makes you money.

If the PC was such the dreadful business publishers want to make it seem like it is then I wouldn't be playing Devil May Cry 4 with excellent performance, extra content and seamless controls on my COMPUTER.

Making PC games is a great business and can make you a lot of money, this is the single reason why all these publishers, no matter how much they whine, will keep releasing their games on PC.

I no longer worry anymore, even the guys at Infinity Ward, whose COD4 game recently went back into the top 10 PC games sales charts, bitched about piracy.

If the gaming industry was like high school, whining about piracy would be the "cool thing" to do.

 

[wanderer27]

Just to add icing to the cake, it sounds like this is starting to resemble the Bioshock release.

EA is having Validation Server problems, and people that have gone the Direct download route are having to wait until 1pm EST for activation (instead of Midnight).

Seems like quite a few people are having trouble getting the game to even install, and others can't get it to run.
With all the extra time they took on this you'd expect a better launch than what's taking place.

 

[TidusZ]

"With all the extra time they took on this you'd expect a better launch than what's taking place."

A better game wouldn't of hurt either. I understand what the development team did in the first 6 months (though I don't condone it) but I'd like to know what went on during the last 2 and a half years. Maybe they played a game that's actually fun.

 

[BladeVenom]

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).

You need Windows. You can easily do without Spore. Plenty of better games with less DRM.

 

[wanderer27]

Originally posted by: TidusZ
"With all the extra time they took on this you'd expect a better launch than what's taking place."

A better game wouldn't of hurt either. I understand what the development team did in the first 6 months (though I don't condone it) but I'd like to know what went on during the last 2 and a half years. Maybe they played a game that's actually fun.

Well, at one point it may have been better, but here Will Wright confirms that the game was "dumbed down"

 

[Eeezee]

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).

I have a site license through my job. I get unlimited installs. Nice try, though

Besides, it is a well-known fact that Windows is mostly pirated. Microsoft is fine with this, it maintains a high market share

Also, video game != operating system, you're comparing apples to oranges

 

[Modelworks]

If the game does not sell well, EA will do one of two things.

They will put even more DRM on future titles.
They will stop publishing pc games.

 

[Jeff7181]

If you purchase from Direct2Drive, does that not include SecureROM?

 

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: Modelworks
If the game does not sell well, EA will do one of two things.

They will put even more DRM on future titles.
They will stop publishing pc games.

/cheer That would mean I win!

 

[Maximilian]

Originally posted by: Jeff7181

Originally posted by: Modelworks
If the game does not sell well, EA will do one of two things.

They will put even more DRM on future titles.
They will stop publishing pc games.

/cheer That would mean I win!

If EA ever stopped making games... this would probably sum up a lot of peoples feelings.

 

[TidusZ]

Many people tirade on the importance of stopping pirates and buying pc games to save pc gaming. IMO, if a game sucks then why support it, and same with a developer. I don't think we're so desperate as pc gamers that we have lost our ability to control the market - hundreds of games come out each year and most of them are terrible. Honestly, I would be ecstatic with 2 or 3 excellent games per year, and I'm a hardcore gamer. I think many of the zealots are not as interested in gaming as they are in computer hardware, and computer hardware becoming faster - which is obviously linked to games which require good computers, and people playing those games. My apologies to you good sirs, but if a game sucks its not getting one penny out of me, and yes, spore falls into that category.

I think I'm done ranting on spore, it was a good time, but not a great time. Back to Dota~

 

[SunnyD]

Originally posted by: Eeezee
I have a site license through my job. I get unlimited installs. Nice try, though

(Disclaimer: I am a former MVLS administrator for the previous company I worked at - I was responsible for software licensing for our division and worked directly with a very, very large global company under their MVLS subscription agreement.)

Lesson time...

So your SITE has a license, not you. You realize Microsoft does not have an "unlimited site license" option, ever for the largest companies - the company still has to purchase a single license for ever computer they allow Windows to be installed on. So in essence, unless your company has purchased extra licenses specifically for your unlimited installs... you are pirating copies of Windows facilitated by your employer. If your employer does indeed have extra licenses for you, more power to you - but you do NOT have "unlimited" installs. The only thing you have, at least in terms of Windows XP would be a Volume License Key which does not require activation - while you can install it on as many machines as you want, that does not convey a license for each and every machine you put that install on. And in the case of Windows Vista, for Vista Business or Enterprise you will be using a MAK when you activate Vista. Oh yeah, Vista (all versions, even VLK+MAK) require activation, and they track that.

At the end of the day your employer is accountable for every single instance of Windows that is installed under their VLK.

Besides, it is a well-known fact that Windows is mostly pirated. Microsoft is fine with this, it maintains a high market share

Oh my god, you're actually trying to justify and condone piracy? Shame on you.

Also, video game != operating system, you're comparing apples to oranges

There is absolutely no difference aside from the fact that you can't run the game without the operating system. Piracy is piracy. DRM is DRM. Piracy countermeasures are piracy countermeasures. While the content of the software may be different, piracy doesn't discriminate what the pieces of software actually does.

 

[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.

 

[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.

 

[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?

 

[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.

 

[RS8]

Spore is shit, I don't know if it's because Will Wright had huge aspirations or because EA wanted to rush some hot shit out the door just to make a quick buck off the hype.

I'll go with the latter.

 

[Eeezee]

Originally posted by: SunnyD

Originally posted by: Eeezee
I have a site license through my job. I get unlimited installs. Nice try, though

(Disclaimer: I am a former MVLS administrator for the previous company I worked at - I was responsible for software licensing for our division and worked directly with a very, very large global company under their MVLS subscription agreement.)

Lesson time...

So your SITE has a license, not you. You realize Microsoft does not have an "unlimited site license" option, ever for the largest companies - the company still has to purchase a single license for ever computer they allow Windows to be installed on. So in essence, unless your company has purchased extra licenses specifically for your unlimited installs... you are pirating copies of Windows facilitated by your employer. If your employer does indeed have extra licenses for you, more power to you - but you do NOT have "unlimited" installs. The only thing you have, at least in terms of Windows XP would be a Volume License Key which does not require activation - while you can install it on as many machines as you want, that does not convey a license for each and every machine you put that install on. And in the case of Windows Vista, for Vista Business or Enterprise you will be using a MAK when you activate Vista. Oh yeah, Vista (all versions, even VLK+MAK) require activation, and they track that.

At the end of the day your employer is accountable for every single instance of Windows that is installed under their VLK.

Besides, it is a well-known fact that Windows is mostly pirated. Microsoft is fine with this, it maintains a high market share

Oh my god, you're actually trying to justify and condone piracy? Shame on you.

Also, video game != operating system, you're comparing apples to oranges

There is absolutely no difference aside from the fact that you can't run the game without the operating system. Piracy is piracy. DRM is DRM. Piracy countermeasures are piracy countermeasures. While the content of the software may be different, piracy doesn't discriminate what the pieces of software actually does.

I've read the contract, it states that employees are allowed to use the license key so long as the total number of installs with that key don't exceed some ludicrous number (in the thousands, which if you sum the number of Windows PCs + employees here we're not even close). You're wrong. We aren't limited by a maximum number of installs, we're limited by a maximum number of CONCURRENT installs. I can reinstall Windows on PC XX an unlimited number of times. Spore has a maximum number of installs. If you don't know what concurrent means, I suggest looking it up in a dictionary.

How did I condone piracy by stating Microsoft's piracy policy? You're an idiot

Piracy is piracy, but there are different types of DRM. To claim that DRM is the same everywhere is sheer idiocy. Allowing a maximum number of concurrent installs on any piece of software is reasonable. Allowing a maximum number of installs is not. There is a difference.

Also, the difference between OS piracy and game piracy is very important. If bad DRM on an OS install botches your install, you've only lost an hour of your time, and chances are good that the problem can be fixed easily by calling Microsoft because they recognize that no DRM scheme is perfect. If bad DRM on a game install botches your OS, you're fucked. Go ahead and try calling someone, they won't be able to help you because SecuROM is such a huge piece of shit. Time to spend hours of your time fixing a problem that only hurts the consumer and doesn't hurt the pirate.

If you really can't tell the difference between an OS and a video game, then there's no point in arguing with you further. You're just wrong on so many levels.

 

[jjones]

Glad to hear it's being pirated so much. I hope this game has dismal sales for EA.

 

[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