SecuROM on Creature Creator Demo

karstux · 26-06-2008, 09:49 AM

Hi All,

I think everyone should know - BEFORE installing the Creature Creator - that a quite invasive "anti-piracy" technology called SecuROM is mandatorily installed even in the free demo version of the Creature Creator. Not only does this technology hide on your computer (rootkit-style), but also it will interfere with certain CD-burning software[1]. It will also secretly and without authorization send information about you and your computer to EA[2]. It will be hard or impossible to un-install, depending on your level of technical proficiency[3].

Given these extremely malicious characteristics of the software, I can only advise to REFRAIN from installing the creature creator - free OR paid! Since the full game will likely contain the same SecuROM technology, I wouldn't touch it either.

It's such a shame. I was really interested in Spore (and, on that note, also in Mass Effect and Bioshock). But I have absolutely no desire to load my computer with "anti-piracy" malware and all the trouble such software entails. I won't buy these games, and I'll advise all my friends against buying them. That's a lot of lost sales, just because of unwarranted, invasive measures waged against honest customers. Think about it, EA.

References:
[1]: SecuROM on Free Version of Spore Creature Creator
[2]: Warning: Spore Creature Creator Demo has SecuROM, phones home » Forum Post by IronRaptorStudios
[3]: Securom Removal - TweakGuides Forums

Deandria · 26-06-2008, 10:03 AM

I have used many programs with SecuROM on them and I have never had any problems, I consider myself to be between 'above average' and 'advanced' computer knowledge wise and my fiance has a very advanced knowledge, he has also used software with SecuROM on it while runing CD emulation software without a problem...

Some (but not all) of the stuff about SecuROM is scaremongering (though I have heard some worrying things about later versions of SecuROM that are yet to come).

karstux · 26-06-2008, 10:11 AM

The older versions of SecuROM used to be fairly benign. It's the more recent incarnations that have risen to a Starforce-like level of repugnescance.

I don't have a problem with mere CD-checks and such things, and it's definitely okay to put a certain barrier before casual copying. Installing privacy-invading, permanently resident malware is, however, inacceptable.

Deandria · 26-06-2008, 10:20 AM

Don't get me wrong, I actually believe that the benefits of not putting any anti-piracy on software would actually outweigh the money lost through piracy: millions of dollars and man-hours are spent working on anti-piracy software that is always cracked in the first week and inconveniences pretty much only the innocent, honest users causing a loss in customer loyalty that often reaches the stage of people boycotting products (though I don't have anything against mild anti-piracy). But I haven't had any problems with SecuROM... I have been running Spore Creature Creator for over a week, and I run all the Sims 2 games with SecuROM on them and have had no problems at all.

I think that this great demo is worth the minor inconvenience of SecuROM (that has, as yet, not affected me personally in any way).

Baker011 · 26-06-2008, 11:06 AM

I just want to confirm that the Spore Creature Creator Trial Version DOES NOT include SecuROM. There is no serial number for that product so would be impossible to serialise it

Also, its freely available, so absolutely no need to SecuROM it.

[Thread Closed]

26-06-2008, 09:49 AM	#1 (permalink)
karstux Rookie Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 2	SecuROM on Creature Creator Demo Hi All, I think everyone should know - BEFORE installing the Creature Creator - that a quite invasive "anti-piracy" technology called SecuROM is mandatorily installed even in the free demo version of the Creature Creator. Not only does this technology hide on your computer (rootkit-style), but also it will interfere with certain CD-burning software[1]. It will also secretly and without authorization send information about you and your computer to EA[2]. It will be hard or impossible to un-install, depending on your level of technical proficiency[3]. Given these extremely malicious characteristics of the software, I can only advise to REFRAIN from installing the creature creator - free OR paid! Since the full game will likely contain the same SecuROM technology, I wouldn't touch it either. It's such a shame. I was really interested in Spore (and, on that note, also in Mass Effect and Bioshock). But I have absolutely no desire to load my computer with "anti-piracy" malware and all the trouble such software entails. I won't buy these games, and I'll advise all my friends against buying them. That's a lot of lost sales, just because of unwarranted, invasive measures waged against honest customers. Think about it, EA. References: [1]: SecuROM on Free Version of Spore Creature Creator [2]: Warning: Spore Creature Creator Demo has SecuROM, phones home » Forum Post by IronRaptorStudios [3]: Securom Removal - TweakGuides Forums

26-06-2008, 10:03 AM	#2 (permalink)
Deandria Rookie Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: United Kingdom Age: 25 Gender: Female Posts: 154	I have used many programs with SecuROM on them and I have never had any problems, I consider myself to be between 'above average' and 'advanced' computer knowledge wise and my fiance has a very advanced knowledge, he has also used software with SecuROM on it while runing CD emulation software without a problem... Some (but not all) of the stuff about SecuROM is scaremongering (though I have heard some worrying things about later versions of SecuROM that are yet to come). __________________ Deandria Dragonflame View My Spore Page

26-06-2008, 10:20 AM	#4 (permalink)
Deandria Rookie Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: United Kingdom Age: 25 Gender: Female Posts: 154	Don't get me wrong, I actually believe that the benefits of not putting any anti-piracy on software would actually outweigh the money lost through piracy: millions of dollars and man-hours are spent working on anti-piracy software that is always cracked in the first week and inconveniences pretty much only the innocent, honest users causing a loss in customer loyalty that often reaches the stage of people boycotting products (though I don't have anything against mild anti-piracy). But I haven't had any problems with SecuROM... I have been running Spore Creature Creator for over a week, and I run all the Sims 2 games with SecuROM on them and have had no problems at all. I think that this great demo is worth the minor inconvenience of SecuROM (that has, as yet, not affected me personally in any way). __________________ Deandria Dragonflame View My Spore Page

26-06-2008, 11:06 AM	#5 (permalink)
Baker011 Forum Guru Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: In a galaxy far far away.... Age: 27 Gender: Male Posts: 1,689 Blog Entries: 6	I just want to confirm that the Spore Creature Creator Trial Version DOES NOT include SecuROM. There is no serial number for that product so would be impossible to serialise it Also, its freely available, so absolutely no need to SecuROM it. [Thread Closed] __________________ EA Football World Profile Where is steve?

26-06-2008, 10:11 AM	#3 (permalink)
karstux Rookie Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 2	The older versions of SecuROM used to be fairly benign. It's the more recent incarnations that have risen to a Starforce-like level of repugnescance. I don't have a problem with mere CD-checks and such things, and it's definitely okay to put a certain barrier before casual copying. Installing privacy-invading, permanently resident malware is, however, inacceptable.