Planetfurry BBS

Iron_Raptor · Posted: Thu May 08, 2008 6:45 pm Post subject: EA Phone Home... STOP CALLING!!!

For those who don't know, Mass Effect's Technical Director Derek French has posted in the BioWare forums regarding Mass Effect for the PC, and subsequently, Spore.

Two of these games are... big.. MAJOR big. I know many of you here have been anxiously chomping at the bit for Spore to come out.

Well.. I'm afraid those of you anxious racehorses waiting for this game are about to get.. well... to be morbid.. Eight Belled.

Derek French has now stated that Mass Effect PC and Spore will BOTH be utilizing SecuROM, which uses now a phone-home feature, this feature is meant to check back with the verification server EVERY TEN DAYS.

So while I love Spore, I am not paying $60 - $70 for a game but basically have it on 'permanent lease'. It's a slap in the face to legitimate customers as well. I love the mind of Will Wright, he's an excellent game designer, quick wit, and a genius, I would have no problem supporting his latest ground-breaking project. However, with this... boondoggle... it has left me no choice but to withhold my money until this DRM situation is resolved. There is a reason why I bought Sins of a Solar Empire rather than taken advantage of their lack of copy protection, because they respect me as a customer, they LISTENED. I admire that, and I vote with my money, so my vote went with Stardock and SOASE.

This current DRM scheme also limits me, say for example I travel for about 2 months, have no internet access on my laptop, and I want to play Spore, DENIED! Say... I'm in the Armed Forces, and I'm on tour of duty, and want to play Spore, or Mass effect, DENIED! Say it's 20 years down the line, i want to play Spore, DENIED!

Is anyone else who was intent on buying this game now adversely hesitant about buying it as I am?

Want to do something about it?

http://www.petitiononline.com/copyprot/petition.html

I recommend registering onto Bioware's forum and letting them know what's what too.

Here's the thread... http://masseffect.bioware.com/forums/viewtopic.html?topic=628724&forum=125&sp=0

Styx · Posted: Thu May 08, 2008 7:08 pm Post subject:

Not to worry I'm sure some smart hacker will come up with a crack soon after release.

Trekkie · Registered User Joined: 16 Jun 2006 Posts: 151

This is only the latest thing in a war on fair use. Our rights are slowly going down the tubes because of large cooperations. Microsoft, RIAA, MPAA, and now video games.

Teric · Posted: Thu May 08, 2008 7:19 pm Post subject:

As I've said before: DRM only hurts the legitimate users, creating inconvenience and outright denial of usage for the honest, paying customers. On the other hand, those who want to hack it and get it illegally, will find a way to do so, with little to no skin off their backs.

Thus, in the end, the dishonest and unethical will get the maximum enjoyment from these games, while the honest, paying customers will continually deal with frustration and inconvenience (potentially leading them to abandon an otherwise good gaming experience).

Styx · Posted: Thu May 08, 2008 8:02 pm Post subject:

Kinda like gun control huh Razz

Skazwolf · Posted: Thu May 08, 2008 8:12 pm Post subject:

Even BF2142 (which needs the EA master server to play online, ugh.) will let you play without unlocks if you can't connect to the EA master server.

At least it'll probably be cracked within a week of release.

Tygon · Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 11:35 am Post subject:

I might have been annoyed about this... but from the moment I saw Spore's comic graphics the game was dead to me.

A few very valid points though, IR. This form of DRM seems indeed only half thought trough.

Solis · Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 9:33 pm Post subject:

Well, there goes any impetus I may have had to actually PURCHASE the thing.