Spore Gets DRM Loosening Update Soon

Istik · Unread post by **Istik** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 5:11 am

http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/54789

EA Maxis' PC everything-sim Spore will soon get an update loosening one of its copy protection limits and allowing customers to de-activate existing installations of the game.

The game's three-installation limit has sparked full-blown Internet Rage for users' inability to de-activate installations in a method like Apple's iTunes. "Right now, with our solution, you can't. But there is a patch coming for that," said a nameless EA spokesperson to Multiplayer. No timeframe other than "near future" was given for the update.

EA also provided some numbers which it claims are a sample--not actual sales figures--backing up earlier claims that the three-install limit affected less than one percent of users. Sure enough, by EA's numbers, 0.9% of Mass Effect PC owners had tried to exceed the limit, while only 0.4% have managed to hit the same barrier with Spore. 83% of Spore owners had installed the game just once.

Spore's other DRM limitations, like restricting online accounts to one per copy, will stay in place.

gelfling · Unread post by **gelfling** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 5:23 am

Well, it's a tiptoe in the right direction.

What will happen five years from now when you want to play the game again but the company has retired the game, changed the activation/de-activation system, changed hands or gone bust?

Istik · Unread post by **Istik** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 5:37 am

However, it doesnt make any sense to even have the DRM. The game was pirated as soon as it was released. The only people who are worried about DRM are those who bought it, the pirates have no such hassles.

Sparhawke · Unread post by **Sparhawke** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 11:10 am

Lol, anyone know any pirates?:)

Iakimo · Unread post by **Iakimo** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 3:24 pm

Istik wrote:However, it doesnt make any sense to even have the DRM. The game was pirated as soon as it was released. The only people who are worried about DRM are those who bought it, the pirates have no such hassles.

This is why I hate copy-protection schemes. All they are is a red-flag challenge to hackers to crack them as quickly as possible just for spite. Been that way since the Apple IIe and the Radio Shack TRS-80 and before.

Lores · Unread post by **Lores** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 10:44 pm

Why call them pirates when they are theives?

Istik · Unread post by **Istik** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 10:55 pm

Lores wrote:Why call them pirates when they are theives?

"Pirate" is essentially a thief.
Verb
1. Copy illegally; of published material

Still this isnt about pirates, this is about the companies that punish the legitimate buyers in an attempt to stop the pirates (without success) and the logic behind the idea of limiting legitimate users of the software, when pirates have already bypassed the system.

Lores · Unread post by **Lores** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 11:06 pm

I know what a pirate is essentialy but by using that term it somehow legitimizes or glamourises it. Not trying to make a thing about this.