What is Digg?233 Comments
- Saitekc, on 10/15/2008, -4/+166***** EA and their ***** excuses.
His examples sucked and didn't even make sense. This is software, that we buy and should OWN. I don't want to pay $49.99 for a ***** rental game with restrictions. - psykiv, on 10/17/2008, -6/+92***** THE RIAA!
oh wait, wrong article. - Doomsan, on 10/16/2008, -4/+86***** EA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- CoreyTamas, on 10/15/2008, -4/+54He's right about one thing... the bulk of consumers will buy a game whether it's got DRM or not. *Should* they care? Probably. *Do* they care? No, they don't.
It's hard to really make a dent in EA's attitude about DRM and its use when there's clearly very little penalty for them in doing so. - uskomaton, on 10/17/2008, -2/+49That page had this in "see also:"
Anti-DRM Geeks Scream 'Don't Buy Spore!', No One Listens
Hmm, yes, no one made it the most pirated game ever.
In any case, I don't care what anyone thinks, I will pirate any EA game I see fit,
not cos I can't buy them, but cos I don't trust them enough to get the original.
Besides, the faster EA goes down, the faster we get back the good gaming studios they bought and turned to *****. - strictnein, on 10/17/2008, -0/+38His locked door example doesn't make sense. First, I lock the door to my house so no one steals my stuff. I don't lock up each individual CD because I already lock my front door. I also don't lock up my shoes nor do I lock up my shampoo.
Second, what product do you buy that the manufacturer has the keys and the consumer does not? When I bought my house, I didn't get a set of keys that only worked 10 times, and if I wanted to get back in I had to call my realtor. - sfacets, on 10/17/2008, -2/+37Ummm I think the point of the article is that idiots are still buying the game even if they disagree with the DRM.
Here I must say ***** the consumer, because you people, in this case, are idiots. - Data33, on 10/17/2008, -2/+31I almost buried you, but decided to digg you up instead for liking turtles.
- blitz718, on 10/17/2008, -0/+28No, it's always appropriate.
- purzzzell, on 10/17/2008, -0/+26Just checking, but isn't internet access a "REQUIREMENT" to be able to play it, in order to register it successfully?
I shouldn't lose my right to play it if I cancel my internet service sometime down the road. - SSPink, on 10/17/2008, -1/+26@AnalJustice
Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait... Did someone called "AnalJustice" just say ***** isn't going to solve anything? - inactive, on 10/17/2008, -1/+25"But I don’t like locks on my door, and I don’t like to use keys in my car…"
His analogy is flawed, if you could only replace his lost car keys 3 times or if the car mfg goes under and he can never get a replacement making his car useless, then he would also be pissed. - ninjadeathcult, on 10/17/2008, -1/+24yeah drm sux , I know I will probably get a hail of abuse , but I found spore to be very disapointing when I got to the space stage it got so repetitive I havent played it since....
- Gizza, on 10/17/2008, -0/+23I remember the good ol days of Bullfrog and Westwood. Good times.
- noPCtoday, on 10/17/2008, -19/+41I LOVE EA, AND RIAA, ***** THE PIRATE BAY
OBAMA SUCKS, MCCAIN/PALIN 08
REDDIT ROCKS,
GOOGLE IS EVIL AND IM A SONY / MAC FANBOY,
***** YOU TWO OF MY FRIENDS DIED FOR NO REASON,
*INSERTS PEDOBEAR INAPPROPRIATELY*
2 GIRLS ONE CUP
I LOVE METALICA,
SCIONTOLOGY FTW, ANONYMOUS SHALL BURN IN HELL
I HAVE 5 POPPED COLLARS, IM A DOUCHE AND I HATE YOU NERDS.
i like turtles
now. do i get to unlock the ultimate achievement of dugg down? - dangermen, on 10/17/2008, -0/+20Not that I am more than one person but I have refused to buy Spore, no money from me for them. They will never get my money so long as it comes with stealth installers for their protection. I will not buy software laced with spyware.
- Juaquin, on 10/17/2008, -3/+23It's a BS excuse. People are going to steal it, DRM or no DRM. Putting DRM on it does not stop a SINGLE pirated copy. It does, however, stop people from selling games second hand. But I can't imagine that being a big enough market for EA to care about. Really, I just think it comes down to dumbass executives who buy into the the nonsense they create and can't stop long enough to think.
DRM has never stopped a game from being pirated (stolen), and it never will. The ONLY person it hurts is the legitimate user. Any exec who disagrees with those last two sentences has his head in the sand and is screaming "I can't hear you!"
Last words: Sins of a Solar Empire - strictnein, on 10/17/2008, -1/+20The problem is that it doesn't protect their IP. I can pirate every single one of their games and the pirated copies HAVE NO DRM. Is that so hard to understand? The only thing this hurts is the people who actually buy the game. That's the bizarro thing about this.
And yes, I understand where EA is coming from. My company's software has been pirated and it pisses the f@ck out of me, but I don't punish my paying customers because of it.
Now, get back to work you EA drone. You've only put in 70 hours this week. - Vivifyer, on 10/17/2008, -0/+17http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-uulRB1OmY
- Zeitgeister, on 10/17/2008, -0/+17EA's DRM has become absurd, everyone's had DRM on games for years but it was never as bad as this
- Ravatar, on 10/17/2008, -0/+16Thank you sir for highlighting the obvious problem.
Buy one copy of the game, and it should be yours to do what you please, so long as that doesn't include duplication for others. But when it comes down to it, the DRM isn't the problem for me so much as their attitude in response to the criticism. That's why I won't be buying Spore, or likely any other EA game in the foreseeable future. - strictnein, on 10/17/2008, -1/+17No, I read your whole post and it's entirely flawed. You're writing as if the DRM EA has implemented is actually working to prevent piracy. It's not. The point, which you still seemingly can't grasp, is that what they're doing doesn't work and it only alienates current and future customers.
So, it costs money to implement and support (think of all the extra call center calls), doesn't do what it's supposed to do, and actually decreases sales. Higher costs and lower sales, I'm sure the shareholders would love that. - Meep3D, on 10/17/2008, -0/+15Yes, there are many games that I have installed 'that many times', even relatively new ones such as Supreme Commander, Rome Total War, etc, etc.
The problem is if this DRM scheme existed for those games I would now be unable to play the game that I purchased. Also so what if you can call them? You may be able to do it now but what about in two, five, or even ten years time? Will they still have 24/7 phone support and activation servers for a game they no longer make, sell or patch?
Anyway DRM is a red herring in this argument - it is NOT about piracy at all as I ahve absolutely no idea how this is meant to curb it. It is about built in obsolescence so that EA can sell you the sequel, or the same game again, and thus maximise profits.
How much are you being paid for your astroturfing anyway? - WoollyMittens, on 10/17/2008, -1/+15You don't "buy" the game, you are RENTING it from an authentication server that may or may not cease to exist at any point in the future, invalidating your purchase.
- sheetrock, on 10/17/2008, -1/+15That's all I want -- the right to play it.
But I suppose where I and EA part ways is on how long I should be able to play it. Every game I own I can still install and play. Alright, some of them take a DOS emulator at this point, and many of them have some asinine code wheel, copy protection, or CD key scheme that is beyond pointless a decade past their original sale, but none of them so far has contained code designed to actively prevent me (the buyer/gift recipient) from installation or use based on snooping on my usage over the Internet or the number of times I choose to install.
Regardless of their PR, I'm not trying to make some grandiose statement by not buying EA goods. I'm just not going to buy from a company that's trying to shoehorn me into a crappy deal.
Unless this counts as a grandiose statement. Well, whatever. Fallout 3 is coming out, and I can't wait. - Gizza, on 10/17/2008, -1/+15So your definition of "effects my computer" doesn't include installing a rootkit which can't be uninstalled by traditional means and gives hackers a back door into your system?
- nuketrap, on 10/17/2008, -1/+15Well I work at a game store and when I sell Spore I have to tell the customer that it cannot be returned and they have to have the internet in order to play it as well as connect to the internet every few days to confirm its a legitimate copy (I think thats right, but the main part is no returns).
I am going to use the Sims as an example here, a lot of people that buy The Sims 2 from my work are girls or mid-aged women, as well as males, and I find when it is returned it is usually because they don't have a DVD drive (This does happen once in a while) or good enough system specifications, they don't seem like the type to crack it, primarily because they are ten or whatever.
Now that I find annoying in this case with Spore is that, it can't be returned for a legitimate reason. An example would be that a guy bought the game the other day, he had the internet and knew the risk, but the problem was he had a laptop that met the system specifications, not a normal PC so when he installed it the laptop didn't have enough juice to get it going, so he was stuck with the game until he got a new system all because it wouldn't work.
Customers are forced to have the internet to get it checked every few days as well as activated. I am suprised a lot of people that want to buy the game don't have the internet, they just like the idea and want to give it a whirl. Also what is extemely annoying is what would happen if say someone bought Warcraft: Orcs and Humans (Not sure if I got the name right, but anyway) when it came out and it had an install restriction, lets ignore everything else about DRM, I am pretty sure its only use would be a coaster right now or a shank to stab someone at EA. Because its not that they would be sharing it, it is because in that span of time their computer could of blown up because of a virus, they could of upgraded, given the PC to someone and installing it on their new PC, uninstalled temporarily to free up space. I know all these have happened in the last 10 years of me owning a computer.
So I would have to disagree with the whole losing money crap if they don't have it installed. They should just have the old system and allow customers to do what they will with the disc, but instead of giving them a tumour that they can't get rid of, they should focus more on rewarding the customer for buying the game legally such as exclusive online features, or they can only access multiplayer online if the game is legit.
Also on a personal note I dislike EA and everything they make, I liked Battlefield 2 for a little bit, but the interface was horrific and not user friendly and when it first came out, ***** the crashes made me pull my hair. They have sport titles that continue to grow worse as the years go by and Need for Speed use to be an awesome game, and I feel sorry for Red Alert 3 which may suffer for this DRM *****. EA should worry on making really good games that gamers would want to buy to immerse themselves in a fantasy world, like Warcraft or Morrowind, rather than buying developers and releasing games that have been released just to make a quick buck. I will say it now I will not ever buy a game ever that has EA somewhere on it soley for the fact the games they release are crap and they are the ones on the new release shelf so when young new gaming kids buy it, they think it is awesome and therefore have low expectations on games released in the future. Because games like FF7, Morrowind, Super Mario World, Zelda and so on are games they will never experience because they aren't sold new anymore and they are given this impression 'graphics' are what make a game good (FIFA), way to ***** them up EA. Also I notice all their games lack a certain polish, obviously just to get out before the holidays.
If you take the time to read this I thank-you. - BlackJackJester, on 10/17/2008, -0/+13Did they lose any sales? Yes, they lost my sale.
- Neolite, on 10/17/2008, -0/+12***** EA I've always hated them
- Gizza, on 10/17/2008, -0/+12I've installed Diablo 2 probably about 15 or so times over the years. Medieval Total War is fairly new, but I'm pretty sure thats already been 4 or 5.
- Thepirateking, on 10/17/2008, -0/+12so instead of getting one 50 dollar game they are getting 1 50 dollar game + X number of months of fees. Brilliant.
- crossmr, on 10/17/2008, -0/+11Yeah, they'll just keep getting it every month...
way to hold on to your principles. You're part of the problem, not the solution. - parax, on 10/17/2008, -0/+11Has it resulted in lost sales? Including myself, at least 5 that I'm personally aware of. I won't buy a game if the publisher is going to tell me when and how I can use it after I buy it. I can't count the number of times I've uninstalled a game or formatted or bought a new computer and reinstalled old games again. Things like AOE2, Diablo II, Tribes... if there was a limit on the number of installs, Tribes would have been a dead disk in 2 days.
- ociris, on 10/17/2008, -1/+12No matter how much EA spins it; the fact of the matter is DRM hurts the consumer not the pirate. EA crossed the line by punishing their consumer, forcing them to have an internet connection once in a while to authenticate their copy. Believe it or not, not everyone within or outside of the US have an internet connection. I feel sorry for those guys who bought the game and couldn't play since they can't get authenticated.
Unfortunately, the software industry needs a way to protect itself from pirates. I would like to hear from you guys what you would've done to protoect a software IP that you designed and created, but does not require to be connected online. (ie. single player game, office application, etc - remember no online component) - roodammy44, on 10/17/2008, -0/+10I don't think you get the row that's happening here.
Lots of people who would have paid for spore (like me) ended up pirating because the DRM is overly restricting. 5 installs for me makes it practically worthless in the long run, I have many computers and like to play games over a long time. Why pay when the pirated copy is much better?
Obviously, it's never a right to pirate... But it's available in two flavours, free and legal, whether you like it or not (even on consoles this is the case). Legal in most cases is better than free, but not in this case.
And as for DRM stopping piracy... It doesn't. It just doesn't. It might stop the noob who would have used a legal copy installing it on his mate's pc, but nothing more. That can be stopped using a simple CD key.
Even on all my legally purchased games I use the nocd crack.
Don't make out as if it's childish to want a better product, it makes you look like an idiot. I am a developer myself so I understand your developer's pain. - aladrin, on 10/17/2008, -0/+10No, you aren't. There's no agreement outside of the package. It's not available to read or agree to before you hand over your money. Nobody in their right mind would hand over the money for something and then read the contract that goes with it.
When I buy something in a store, I buy it for my personal use and to use however I see fit. If I want to use a plunger to clean my sink, that's my right. If I want to that game on a Linux machine, that's my right. It may be hard to do those things, but if I can make them happen, nobody can stop me simply by telling me 'no'.
Store-bought software is not licensed. It is bought. - Radan, on 10/17/2008, -1/+11"And yes, I understand where EA is coming from. My company's software has been pirated and it pisses the f@ck out of me, but I don't punish my paying customers because of it."
That is exactly how I feel treated as a customer by EA (and now Ubisoft with Far Cry 2). They can't get to the pirates so instead they punish me who is their paying customer.
The only game that I have ever downloaded is Diablo II and that was because I broke one of the CDs. However, mark my words. After my regretful mistake with Spore, I'm never, ever going to pay for a DRMed game again. - t4m5t3r, on 10/17/2008, -0/+10"and I think the vast majority of people voted with their wallets and went out and bought Spore."
i think most people didnt "vote" at all, they simply done what the advertising told them, thats all people do nowadays, just blindly follow the herd,
again if they want to ignore the problem, good for them aslong as their stupid enough to give these con men their money it means they'll keep making games i can download for free!! true it will hold back innovation about 20 years but then its not like thats anything new is it, thats just the way the world works!! - Gizza, on 10/17/2008, -0/+10Whats so hard to understand about it? If all the games I have ever bought in my life had this kind of DRM I would no longer be able to play 95% of them. You trying to tell me you don't see a problem with that?
- crossmr, on 10/17/2008, -0/+10i uninstalled it after 2 weeks. glad I didn't pay for it. It wasn't remotely what I expected.
- AnalJustice, on 10/17/2008, -1/+11yeah thank the turtles, that saved your ass.
- WoollyMittens, on 10/17/2008, -0/+9It's a matter of principle bigjakethecake. DRM changes your purchase into a rental. $60 a pop is too expensive to be qualified as rental.
- edwinjose, on 10/17/2008, -0/+9When was the last time Ford did not let me give my car keys to a friend?
Face it proprietary software vendors: You are dealing with widgets with no scarcity. i.e. One can make infinite copies of it and it will never run out. You can't practice free market ideologies like property rights on resources with no scarcity.
FOSS is the default. Even economics predicts your downfall. Try hard with DRM but you will end up losing. - WoollyMittens, on 10/17/2008, -1/+10I'm not using a rental operating system for exactly that reason. What I drag into my home is mine.
Your idea of a boycot will only used by them as an argument for DRM. They won't acknowledge your boycot as such, they'll blame the lack of sales on the evil pirates. - inactive, on 10/17/2008, -0/+9when I used to play Westwood games, I would have a troupe of minstrels to serenade me. Those were great times.
- Lazydriver, on 10/17/2008, -1/+9***** EA, I'm not buying any DRM-laced *****. Release it without the rootkit DRM, and I'll buy it.
- GhostFreeman, on 10/17/2008, -1/+9There's never a bad topic to ***** THE RIAA
- nuketrap, on 10/17/2008, -0/+8They lost mine.
What if it doesn't work on my PC?
What if I don't like it?
What if I own it for ten years and have 3 different PC's, two crashes, need space? How come I can't install it anymore?
What if I don't have the internet? - inactive, on 10/17/2008, -0/+8DDoS the DRM servers eh? *scratches chin*
- uskomaton, on 10/17/2008, -0/+8It's not the install limit, it's the stealth ***** they put on your computer without telling you.
BTW, I didn't buy or pirate Spore cos I knew it was ***** the moment I saw the idea. -
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