Customers feeling burned by the anti-piracy measures in the long-awaited PC game Spore have decided to take out their frustrations on Amazon, utilizing the review feature to tear the game to shreds for its "draconian" DRM and "dumbed down" gameplay.
Spore's DRM has been accused of eating up too much RAM, causing slowdown. Consumers are also outraged that they can only install the game three times before having to deal with EA's customer support. One reviewer called Spore a rental, pointing out that EA had total control over the title's use:
EA, of course, is not obligated to grant you that extra activation or even provide that service. In a couple of years they might very well even shut down the general activation servers, because "it's not financially feasible" to keep them running. What you will be left with is a nice, colorful $50 coaster. And you will be required to pay for another copy/license if you want to continue playing.
This basically means that you are actually RENTING the game, instead of owning it. The game WILL stop to function in the future. That's inevitable, because even if EA keeps the activation servers going, there IS going to be a time when EA will simply cease to exist because of financial issues or federal laws (like most business eventually do).
At the time of writing, Spore has an average Amazon review score of 1.5 out of 5. Of the forty people who reviewed it, thirty-three have given it one star, compared to the two who gave it five. Those five-star reviews, for reference, were posted in 2006 before the game was even out. Looks like Electronic Arts has a revolt on its hands, and not even Will Wright's charming little face can smooth this one over.
Jim Sterling serves as reviews editor for Destructoid.com, head of the Podtoid podcast, and produces a number of news stories, original features, one-of-a-kind videos. With his passionate argumentative style, controversial opinions, harsh delivery, and dedication to brutal honesty Sterling is a name that you can't help but recognize.
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Contest:
7:16 PM on 09.07.2008
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Also, this whole idea that you don't own a game when you buy it is insidious and is only going to get worse. Fear the coming digital download-only era.
DRM is killing entertainment. The industries need to get with it and stop biting the hands that feed.
as Tom Waits once said: The big print giveth, and the small print taketh away.
:(
what i mean to end with is that if people don't bitch about it to EA and any other medium they have, then Spore dies a death of a Thousand Cuts...which isn't entirely Spore's fault.
but yeah, nation..nay, WORLD of whiners. :p
Oh well, another potential sale gone.
Well, that's what I'm hoping happens anyhow. Please, press on people. I'd actually like to buy this game sometime.
Ohya can we say EA'd?
A.K.A They are mad because they can't download the game illegaly and play it. So they are going to give the game 1 star because there cool like that.
Your ignorance is showing. Zip it up.
The pirates are not having problems. The game probably plays better pirated simply because it bypasses this sillyness.
That's the eternally silly thing about DRM: you piss off your customers and reward the pirates.
http://spore.wikia.com/wiki/Copy_protection
Personally I really don't think it's such a big deal.
On another note, Spore is a game ideally suited for educational use and for installations on school computer. Why be such a dick about it and limit it to 3 installs? EA could get their name branded into kids' retinas who will grow up to be potential customers. Hell, people who share the game with their friends and even pirates get the same exposure. Let them!
If they are not going to buy an EA game now, they might in the future. Unless you're going to be a dick about it of course, costing you more in brand image than it will cost in sales...
well, thats it, then. as much as I want this game, I'm not going to buy it. not worth the money if the DRM wrecks the performance and potentially breaks the game after 3 installs.
....
Please, EA won't address this unless people don't buy the game, and since that won't happen, they have no incentive to change it.
Tom Waits is awesome.
Oh and the game is awesome by the way.
I like to rebuild my PC at least once a year to get rid of those nagging Windows issues that start to creep up over time. It also makes me realize how many programs I install that I really don't use. With this bullshit DRM I might as well just call this a lease or rental. Bullshit, EA!
also, food rental is so fast. it's only inside me for 12-14 hours :(