Spore, the long awaited new game from SimCity creator Will Wright, has been critically well-received, so what’s up with its Amazon.com score? As of this posting, the game, despite being #1 on Amazon, has 1,494 one star ratings from gamers who are upset about the game’s DRM. Here are some excerpts from the angry reviews:
…the game incorporates a draconian DRM system that requires you to activate over the internet, and limits you to a grand total of 3 activations. If you reach that limit, then you’ll have to call EA in order to add one extra activation. That’s not as simple as it sounds, since when you reach that point EA will assume that you, the paying customer, are a filthy pirating thief. You will need to provide proof of purchase, reasons why the limit was reached, etc, etc (it has all happened before with another recent EA product, Mass Effect). 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.
And…
The DRM for the game utilizes securom which is essentially a virus that installs itself without warning when you install the game. There is no way to completely remove it without reformatting and it is constantly running in the background if not removed. Sucking up computer resources.
It also is overpriced. This is actually a RENTAL, not a bought game because it only lets you install 3 times.
And…
I logged on to buy this but now no way. I dont care if its the best game in the world, I’m not loading it onto my computer if it has DRM. No thank you, remove it and I’ll buy version 2.0.
And…
I personally feel EA has crossed the line with what is considered an acceptable protection scheme. What they have done is essentially created a rental for the price of the full game, and after 3 activations you have to call up EA and beg them to reactivate the game. I for one am a computer enthusiast and format and upgrade regularly so I’d burn through the 3 install limit in about three months top and I REFUSE to have to call up any company and have to beg and prove that I rightfully am entitled to an install. As a paying customer I expect to be able to install the game infinite amounts of times on MY computer without any DRM disturbances. Whats worse is that this DRM considers any computer upgrade, BIOS update, and some patches as system change and thus requires an additional activation.
And…
Thanks to everyone who warned us about the DRM in this game. I’m interested in the game, but not interested enough to break my computer to play it.
And…
Too bad I can’t play this game because of the horrible copyright protection scheme/malware called SecuROM which locks up my rig. It doesn’t even keep the game from being pirated, so I don’t know why EA treats its paying customers like criminals.
And…
I will not pay EA $50 to rent a game, period. DRM is dying, and its dragging good products down with it. Get a clue EA. The music industry did, now its your turn to face the fire.
And…
I was going to buy this game today but because of the DRM and a few other issues I will skip this game altogether. It’s a shame because I was really looking forward to owning this game. EA is not helping Will Wright in any way.
You get the idea. Have these reviews convinced you to skip this game?
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Yeah. I love all the Sim games but I don’t need this for $50.
Read the chapter in Joal Spolsky’s book “The Best Software Writing I” about how EA treats its engineers and other employees (hint: they are lucky if they get to take Sunday afternoons off) and you’ll come to the conclusion that they are likely even less interested in the well-being and happiness of the people (and their computers) who shell out their hard-earned money for their product. The few reviews I’ve seen so far extolled the game and ignored the DRM, so EA has little to no incentive to change.
I bought it. No big deal. I just built a new PC, so I’m not changing anything on it anytime soon.
@solipsistnation:
enjoy your spyware/malware/virus.
This sort of thing is mind boggling. They should have the good sense to make the paid product BETTER than the .torrent
I played spore today on my friends computer. He bought it, and he and his mom have been playing it non-stop. I had a blast too; played it for a few hours. It is a solid game that even transcends genres.
After reading up on the consumerist, I have decided not to buy the game. This is of course due to the DRM, as I cannot support such strong use of it. I liken it to that of an over-zealous police officer; they mean well but the ends do not justify the means.
Initially I intended to make a suggestion. After reading many comments, I noticed people thought it a good idea to buy the game proper, but never install it and use a torrent version instead. This would rid them of morality issues and they could enjoy the game DRM free. However, this would unfortunately support EA, which other users also pointed out, puts us all back at square one: supporting a game that has DRM even if we have eliminated it on our personal machines.
The suggestion I was going to make was to donate the full sale price of the game to Maxis, the developers of the game, and then use the pirated version. This would have the same effect as purchasing the game morally, but without supporting EA. Upon looking at Wikipedia however, it seems Maxis is a subsidiary of EA, and I do not have the business savvy to know whether you are still simply giving the money to EA anyway. Anyone with enlightened information about subsidiaries should please share with us this information, as this would be a fantastic way to support the game and still make consumers happy. The main point I am trying to get across is that EA not make any money from this, therefore if giving money to Maxis is essentially the same as giving money to EA than simply do not pirate and do not buy the game.
Clearly this is a big issue that will garner much attention from the gaming community, as well as other news representatives. I am personally saddened that great games such as Spore are being limited by the company that publishes it, as it creates waves of confusion in some instances that can be detrimental to something that shouldn’t be tarnished.
I read that Blizzard is cooking up and even worst SecuROM DRM for Diablo 3 that will make Spore look like just a blip on privacy radar.
@oncewascool
I read that Blizzard quip also…it was on an EA forum, posted by a Maxis (i.e. EA) VP. To me that’s a lot like my neighbor saying to me “I don’t see why you are upset I smashed your car windows with a baseball bat because I’m starting a rumor that your other neighbor is planning on burning your house down…THAT’s the guy you should be upset at”
I had been following Spore since it was announced, and was looking forward to buying it, but two reasons have changed my mind.
1. 3 Activation limit – Since Spore can not be installed as a “All users” instillation, I would have to burn two activations to install it on my PC under my user ID, and then again install it on my PC under my son’s user ID, or let him log into my PC under my user id, which means he’d be playing with my profile. If I did install under two User ID’s on one PC, the 1st upgrade/OS refresh, I’d burn activations 3 and 4, prompting a call to EA, which btw, is NOT a 1-800 call.
2. A lot the 5 star reviews I’ve read on Amazon and Best Buy all seem to say the same couple of things “Great game – finished it in 3 hours” and then go on to say any games after that feel exactly the same. Or they say “Great Game – my 5 year old loves it” Okay, how is a game that is doable in 3 hours with little replay value great, or how is something geared to a 5 year old going to hold my attention?
If I am going to buy a game (and yes, I buy each and every one of my games, piracy is wrong) I want it to last me a good long while, the Civ series, Age of Empires, Railroad tycooon for example are games I bought and still play years later. I’m not going to spend 50$ on something I’ll play once or twice, only to get bored with it. Yes, the DRM is arrogantly condescending to the purchasers of the game, and had some weight on my decision, but the overall dumbing down and no re-playability was the deal-killer.
EA, thanks! For your decision to add in this restrictive DRm, cross another customer off the list. I *BUY* games, not rent them for $60.
I’ll check out your competitors products instead.
And now the reviews are gone.
@Sean Et Cetera: Huh?
@Hyman Decent: I won’t lie; the reviews were gone. I was at the main page for the game, clicked on the reviews read some, and then went back to the main page for the game and it said something like “There are no reviews. Be the first?”. The rating was still one star, but you couldn’t easily get to the reviews. They apparently brought them back later after enough people noticed.
So…what’s the moral high ground with shelling out $50 bucks and just downloading the pirated version?
I mean, Ubisoft ended up giving customers a fix for Rainbow 6 after it rain into DVD problems that was made by a piracy group…
[forums.ubi.com]
I was already planning on skipping it until the price comes down, but this is disappointing. I will not purchase this game, or ask for it as a gift, until it’s DRM scheme is fixed or removed.