Somebody explain to me what DRM is, and why it's a problem in Spore.

As clever as this is, they still bought the game, and EA still got there pretty penny so I'm not sure how much this will help.

Oh, you crazy kids and your anthropomorphic protests...

Wow, I don't even know how to make something like the EA Sux. Good job :)

That's some talent right there.

I love how people go around chanting "It's only the pirates that complain about this" when infact they don't have anything to complain about, the DRM didn't stop them at all and run the game hassle-free, unlike the people who legally bought it.

Everyone has the right to complain about this, because we are all consumers. We have the right to expect that when we buy a piece of software, we are paying to OWN that software, not the right to use it with severe restrictions. Will pirating the game and ridiculing EA rectify the situation? Probably not. But does that mean that EA has any right to complain or even be surprised that people are pirating the game in an act of spiteful backlash? FUCK no!

"Jesus christ, GET OVER IT!"

Attitudes like this annoy me. This right there is the apathetic 'sit back and take it' attitude that has allowed publishers to run roughshod over consumer rights for years. Continue to get over it by all means, just don't be surprised when publishers are able to get a complete lockdown on the industry and exert as much control as they wish over the "rights" you have paid top dollar for.

I still don't believe excessive copy protection justifies piracy (you don't *NEED* the game, just don't buy it), but EA has definitely botched the release of this game and irritated its consumers for no real reason. And if you want to put the game up on Goozex or something like that, you might get negative feedback when the guy who gets your copy discovers he can't play it. Then again, that might be fine with EA. They can't make money off of used game sales/exchanges.

@Blind assassin:
Actually none of the above comments are defending DRM.

the problem with DRM is that it is just plain wrong- the piracy argument itself is even wrong- the thing that consumers understand with their gut and IP holders don't get at all is that if you want people to want to pay for your stuff you need to give them a reason to do it- crippleware and crying poor little millionaire game publisher doesn't cut it. I am a musician, so one thing that I can tell you is that the minute you stop valuing the audience you might as well quit. Creatively you do what you want and take risks, but in the end if the audience doesn't like it you STILL value them. Why? simple- because if you want to control your IP with heavy chains and locks, don't let anyone else see it. If you want to put it to the public then it is up to YOU and not the audience/consumer to make them like you enough to value the material and he who produces it as much as you do, when you don't do this you devalue the IP and yourself. EA has devalued themselves plain and simple. There aren't a few "crackpots" out there complaining- you are looking at a very sizable amount of consumers that are upset and angry. I was seriously going to buy spore, but I 100% will not buy any EA install limit online activation game period. I couldn't really give a shit as to whether EA looks down on me for it, or for talking people out of buying it (I can say that I have easily cost EA about 25 sales) because when the company doesn't value you, why should you value them?

I'm usually in defense of EA as I think they get a bad rap just for being big. They make a lot of sequels, but they do publish some great original games like Spore.

That said, Spore's middle chapters and specific DRM seem to be hurting them and their customers. Much like my experience with books.

Why, it's the subject of my first Blog post. I have a blog!
Bloggggggg!

@Scary Womanizing Pig Mask: Did the protestors buy it, rather than pirating it? Not bloody likely: Would you use your ONE game account to make a novelty EA Sux beast that probably can't walk?

I find it funny how much time was devoted to creating the Spore creature on the left, yet they didn't get a good grasp on English first. The initials for Donald Ronald Sop are D.R.M.? Really?

Who owns a PC anyway?