Well...memory cards only hold so many pictures, you know.

Theres another issue at hand that hasnt been discussed, This copy protection is forcing the rest of the world to play by americas rules, not all counties have laws that say piracy and software copyright even exists. Why should we have to but up with some overseas corpoate bs when technically we arn't breaking the law.

I myself am not in this situation becuase im an Australian where we have similar laws (we can legally modchip consoles though so   ) but some euro countries are in this boat.

I will probably buy spore just becuase its the kind of game i've always wanted to play, i own mass effect on my 360 already so this issue probably won't affect me. But i can still have an opinion.


Oh btw the people who decide to make these decisions are usually 50 year old plus suits that think life is work, a huge salary and a sunday drive in a porshe. Who the hell are they to say whats in the bet interestes of the consumer ?

WWW Link. Look down a little bit and you will see they AMENDED the phone home to initial install AND when downloading new content. Looks like the backlash was so great they they decided aganist every 10 days. Now the game is back on a list of ones to get if-my-PC-can-play-them (3 yrs old)

I'm still waiting to see if they're willing to raise the number of allowable activations (or just eliminate the limit entirely). If that happens, then I might consider allowing that bloody SecuROM on my system. Maybe.

Um, because the product was produced in the US?

International products have to follow lowest-common-demoninator standards. Or, in this case, most-restrictive standards.

BTW, your country almost certainly has basic software copyrights. There have been a variety of treaties on copyright law that most countries have signed. And if you're not in one of them, oh well.

Just like the supposed 'sex in videogames' garbage from earlier in the year (Mass Effect has had a tough run, no?), the amendment of bioware's decision to run with this kind of anti-piracy software is another testament to the community's ability to right the wrongs done against our beloved past-time.

I don't know about the rest of you, but I know I feel pretty elated about this turn of events.

/cheers

I think it's a great thing to see that the community of gamers can effect this sort of change. While I'm quite pleased, I'm not elated yet, however. What has been revoked is the least of the issue, IMO. I'm waiting to see what, if anything, happens re the activations. That's a far bigger issue as far as I'm concerned.

Now, ideally, I'd like to see them just get rid of SecuROM altogether, but I know that's not going to happen. So, if they loosen up the restrictions on activations, I may actually buy the game(s).

Personally, I don't pirate and I think it is wrong to do so. But I think it is even worse to treat all of your customers like they are criminals. I can understand and even tolerate passive copy protection. I don't like it, but I do understand. Active copyright protection such as this and a few others that actually destroy your system are a step too far. I don't care how good a game is, if it has active protection I will just refuse to buy anything from that company EVER.

People that buy games with all these requirements are stupid and deserve the treatment they get. Companies need to be forced to have more ethical and consumer friendly practices if they wish to stay in business. If you buy games from companies that think it is OK to alter your hardware and make you have an internet connection just to play a game, watch a movie, or listen to music than you are saying it is OK to treat me like a thief.

The companies behind these games should all be boycotted until they either go out of business or until they change their business practices. Buying their products only says you are OK with the way they treat their customers. I have no respect for companies that use such draconian measures to protect their product or the people dumb enough to support them by purchasing their products. We don't need companies like that in the stores or people that buy from those companies in the gene pool.

By the way, even though pirates are the problem and the reason for these measures, you can be sure they will find a way to obtain and play the games unhindered. Only the person that does the right thing and purchases the game will be inconvenienced and harassed.

Quite possibly the worst DRM company. Ever. I've had nothing but troubles with their products, even though I have never pirated any of their software or the software they protect. Now it looks like they've made their products even worse.

I'm sorry, but I'm not a criminal. I shouldn't be treated like one.



Sometimes I have been away from the Internet for more than a month. I'm a dependent of an Army soldier. Which means we move sometimes. When that happens, it is not unusual to be away from the Internet for longer than ten days.

Am I a criminal for being away from the Internet for more than ten days?

In addition, is a cracker going to be inconvenienced in any way with a ten day limit?

How precisely does a ten day limit affect copying in any way, shape, or form?

from ME forums:






cd-check... lol... cool though... it answer one big problem...

http://www.bluesnews.com/cgi-bin/board.pl?action=viewthread&threadid=87577



One-time online activation doesn't sound too horrible. Also, I like how I won't have to have a disc check every time I want to play.

Another point in the console vs PC discussion:
Consoles come without stupid DRM measures that break the system. You put in the game and it works.
On PC you have to worry that the DRM will make your PC less functional.

About the online-activation:

A while ago people were absolutely shocked when Half Life 2 introduced it. There was an outrage that people have to get online to play a single player game.
Now a company announces totally over the top insane copy protection measures and then goes back to "just" very bad ones. And everybody is happy with it? Welcome in the psychology trap!
It still is a stupid DRM and it still sucks for many customers and there still is no need at all to activate a single player game and most importantly it will be cracked within a day anyway, leaving only honest customers to deal with the inconvenience and leaving pirates with a DRM free enjoyable product.

I just went to the link Hollow Man gave regarding a revision in DRM policy for spore. The dev posted there said there will be some changes. In the end, it saids that if we think spore's DRM policy is harsh, then it saids:

"Oh yes, and if you think EA's DRM is harsh wait until you see the new DRM that Blizzard is working on for S2 and D3...." Ah, what is this all about?? Does anyone know??? Wait, is this have something to do with after the fact that blizzard merged with Activision. I mean, it sounds like after SC 2 comes out, and if Diabolo 3 also comes out, then there will be the similar, if not worse problems like Mass effect for gamers.

but we don't have a choice for that matter... they leave only two option: buy it or don't buy it(so in the end the consumer always lose on this part) from my point there is still a high percentage that people will buy the game with or without the DRM(probably because of the hype or game is just so cool it's a must have)...

Have you played GC2 version 1.1 or newer ?

I also don't like the activation StarDock uses. But at least that one is for patches only. Patches the game works perfectly well without and that are a free bonus for customers. Nobody is required to download them if he doesn't want to. So while not being a big fan of this form of activation I can live with it. It's quite different with the EA activation which is a lot more restrictive.

The difference is Stardock doesn't require you to register online, whereas this new CP scheme does.

MegaVolt: if the tech support agents look like that, who cares?

Valid point. However, it is telefon tech support and not video tech support so we will never know

The problem with this copy protection personally speaking is that:

1. Single Player, playing while online leaves you exposed and vulnerable. You have to have AV running.

Personally, I always play offline with AV off. This always improves performance and gives me peace of mind.

1 activation via online is fair and perfectly unobstrusive.

One every 10 days - no thanks.

2. I bought the game, I paid for it legitimately. Screw your checks every 10 days so I may download a crack that removes this.

If I go and buy a car, I don't want some guy calling every 10 days to check my documents to make sure I didn't steal it do I?

Screw this type of copy protection.

I play fair, I don't steal and it makes me consider getting a crack to remove this check.

What does that say?

I said it once and I will say it again. If it is active DRM that makes changes to your hardware or requires the an internet connection to play the game, you should not buy anything from that company! Buying their products is telling them that their over the top and abusive treatment of their customers is OK and that you agree their entire consumer base is a bunch of thieves.

We all have 3 options when it comes to companies that employ drastic DRM measures.

1. Buy the game and show that you approve of their business practices and customer support.

2. Boycott the company, showing them that their practices are not acceptable. Hopefully they will either go out of business or at least change their practices when they start getting hungry.

3. Pirate games from companies that employ extreme DRM measures. While I don't personally endorse doing this, it is an eat your cake and have it too scenario.

While I don't like DRM, I can understand and live with measures such as registering for updates, CD keys, or having the CD in the drive. I can't live with anything that assumes I am going to steal it, when I bought it. You should not be punished for buying a product. Companies have a need to protect their interest. As consumers you also need to protect your interest. Complaining about something on the internet, in front of businesses, on the radio, or on TV will not change any companies practices. The only way you can affect change in the business world is with YOUR money.

Bottom line is purchasing from companies such as EA is not only stupid and irresponsible, you are only asking for more of the same.

Well all the commotion and anger over this stupid DRM has caused Bioware and EA to slightly back off already.

http://masseffect.bioware.com/forums/viewtopic.html?topic=629059&forum=125
http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/10/bioware-drops-10-day-valdiation-from-mass-effect-pc/

It is atleast better then having to constantly authenticate the game but still there are a number of issues such as only being able to install the game on 3 different computers and also the fact that you still have to validate the game online which makes it impossible to play on an offline computer still.

The games only require you to register once. The game can be played without a disc in the drive. The only time you have to go online and be verified again is when downloading new content. Starting to sound familiar? As far as *only* being able to install on three computers, this is from the GalCiv EULA: YOU MAY:
1. Install and use one copy of the SOFTWARE on a single computer.
2. Install a second copy of the SOFTWARE on a second computer only if you are the main user of this computer (home computer or laptop for example).

So EA took a good long look at the Stardock business model, and decided to imitate it, because, and I quote: "it works". Now they couldn't just come out with this policy straight away, because people would say, and rightly so, that they are just copying the Stardock way of doing things, and that just wouldn't do.

So...they announce a completely over the top policy (which I don't believe they ever intended to implement) and create a firestorm of criticism, lighting up every forum and blog, creating an enormous amount of free press. They then announce that they are 'backing down' because they luuuv us sooo muuuch. *sniff*

What do they think we are? Stupid? Evidently so.

At first, I was just dissapointed. Now I'm mad. I don't like being manipulated.

I don't care so much about ME, but I was planning on buying Spore. Then I wasn't. Now, who knows. It seems I have a decision to make. Can I support a company who so obviously thinks so little of me?

Mistralok, Stardock does not require you to register the game in order to play it. That is the difference. You are only required to register to get free and frequent updates, which due to the frequency of updates from Stardock makes registering worth the hassle. Most companies do not update as frequently as Stardock. Even with the frequent updates Stardock provides not everyone wishes to register or install Stardock Central. This does not keep them from playing the game, only from playing a fully updated and patched version.

Also Stardock does not restrict how many computers you install your games on, or how many times you download and install the games. They only monitor for obvious things such as downloading from IP addresses in multiple locations at the same time or other things that demonstrate access sharing. Even if you are caught doing things like sharing your registration or if it was stolen, you can still play the game, you just won't be able to get updates without paying again. Even if you are a repeat offender and get black listed from registering, you can still keep playing the game.

I hope I have clearly pointed out the differences between the Stardock model and what is being discussed here. It may sound similar, but if you have to register even one time just to play the game it is NOT the same. Stardock's model DOES NOT restrict fair and legal use of it's products nor does it punish it's customers to protect it's corporate interest.

It looks like Penny Arcade did a comic on this subject, and the accompanying news post is interesting. Especially this bit at the end:



Now, he doesn't come out and say it, but I wonder if this means they pulled all the Mass Effect ads because of this? I certainly don't see any on the site now. In fact, they had a big Sins ad when I was reading this.