"You may have multiple Spore accounts for each installation of the game" - Page 4

Malgor · 10-09-2008, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oallaway

I wish I could get my money back, but Blockbuster don't take back open PC games. I'm not even playing it any more, as it seems unfair of me to do so when my wife can't play it.

If the product is faulty, or not as advertised, then you *can* get your money back - opened or otherwise. It is one of your statutory rights. Take the game back to Blockbuster, and tell them that the game is not as advertised on the box, and you are not getting what you thought you were purchasing, and they have to take it back. If they refuse, tell them that you will take it up with consumer direct, and *do so* - consumer direct will back you up on getting your money back from either Blockbuster, or direct from EA. If you do have to speak to consumer direct, be sure to point out that the game does not function as advertised, and that you do not agree with concesions that you are being required to make by the manual and/or EULA (I don't know if multiple accounts are mentioned in the EULA at all). Tell them that Blockbuster won't give you money back because the game is opened, but that you were not made aware of certain clauses you were required toa gree wise, until you opened and installed the game.

This whole "no refunds on opened games" thing is a legal timebomb at the moment, due to the inability to see if the product is fit for function until it is opened - not to mention heavy-handed EULAs and DRMs. Just remember that you have (virtually) unavoidable statutory rights as a consumer, and remember to exercise them! Hell, remember to beat people 'round the head with them, if you have to - it is the only way to keep them!

nin9abadga · 10-09-2008, 01:58 PM

i want to add my support for this too. i want my girlfriend to be able to play on her own account, not mine.

Miikel · 10-09-2008, 02:34 PM

Interesting to hear your response from Support - i notice no mention of the "misprint" they blamed this on when i queried it with them. i appreciate they are being told what to say, but giving different answers only leads to resentment and doubt.
I really dont understand them blocking this feature, as its clearly not a technical issue (Creature Creator proves that). Neither is it finacial as there is no evidence that another purchased copy of the game would even be allowed to install, never mind register. what does that leave? Meanness lol!! EA Managers just being nasty to us all! :P

MrHeints · 10-09-2008, 03:29 PM

Here are some quotes from other EA Spore forums >>> "You may have multiple Spore accounts for each installation of the game" - NOT

Quote:

That section in the manual was a misprint and will be corrected in future printings of the manual. There is one Spore registration/account per game/serial code so you are correct in that you cannot make multiple accounts at this time. I have sent your guys' feedback to the game team though since I can understand the desire to share a game on a system that you entire family uses.

~Violet

Quote:

I understand that you folks are upset about this - but this is a misprint in the manual and it will be changed in the next printing.

And, in fact, each and every box (both of the Core Game and the Galactic Edition) states "Only one registration available per game" on the back.

There were many reason why we chose to have one account per copy of the game - some had to do with how saved games work and some had to do with limiting the online feature only to the one person who bought the game. We aren't charging a subscription fee for the online features and given the load to our servers we were very interested in making the experience for paying customers not be slow and laggy because of many multiple accounts per copy of the game. 2x to 1000x the number of people with accounts per game equals 2x to 1000x the number of creations on the server.

Please don't take it out on the mods. They are just trying to keep things civil.

-MaxisLucky

This is lala

Miikel · 10-09-2008, 03:43 PM

"There were many reason why we chose to have one account per copy of the game - some had to do with how saved games work and some had to do with limiting the online feature only to the one person who bought the game."
hmm it would be interesting to learn when this decision was made - im suspicious that such an important sentence in the manual had not been thoroughly checked by several departments - the legal side upmost!! i have not noticed one other misprint in the whole thing, so that was obviously checked and proof-read...
but hey its all just words, seems they have made their bed, and now have to lie in it - on top of all the uncomfortable press they are getting all over the place, from the Guardian to the BBC here in the UK to the 1000's of -ve comments on Amazon.

DMA57361 · 10-09-2008, 03:47 PM

I love the comment about "x1000 accounts per copy sold causing lag and slowdown". How completely unfounded.

Firstly, x1000 is simply made up - the figure is likely to be 1-5 in most cases (ie, 1 account per family member in a household) and a single person with 10 accounts will still only be able to produce a single persons number of creatures. Also, if they do not provide this facility you will just end with accounts being shared, which leads the the same number of creatures on the server compared to seperate accounts so makes to difference!

Secondly, it'll just make uploading/downloading to/from the sporepedia very slow and will not effect individual games. So the lag/slowdown comment is also unfounded. That is unless the game is very poorly constructed as to sit and wait about while playing...

Hmmm, I get the feeling we are being fed excuses because some higher-up in the company decided this would be a "great idea", and the people on the front line have been left clueless about it all. Shame for the front line staff to be on the recieving end (I've been there myself!), but that is what happens when companies loose sight of the customer and stop caring about thier reputations.

Is there any chance we will get a NON-FICTIONAL response? I highly doubt it!

Miikel · 10-09-2008, 03:55 PM

yeah i bet they have had a battering the last few days!! if the anger expressed on some threads is anything to go by!!

AwkwardnBusy · 10-09-2008, 04:10 PM

Quote:

given the load to our servers

It's not like more than 3 people could play from a single copy anyway thanks to the activations limit, and that's if the family in question has 3 pc's capable of playing Spore.

We don't, and therefore the number of people playing spore at one time (eg load) is, let me do the maths here... 1.

Quote:

some had to do with how saved games work

What? how late in the development were saved games added that the manual got printed first, before these 'issues' came to light? This game has been in development for so very long, has no-one been able to save a game until the last six months*?

*figure guesstimated as time taken to print manuals.

I remain... unconvinced by these explanations.

Caledorn · 10-09-2008, 04:25 PM

It would be quite simple for EA to e.g. limit the registrations per copy of the game to something more familyfriendly - like 3-5 registrations (5 would most likely be optimal) - instead of making silly excuses with 1000x per account...

DarthIrishGuy · 10-09-2008, 04:53 PM

Since when has a registration equaled an account??

Fine I regestered my install once, now i want my multiple accounts per install.

The manual does count as a legal document as stated in the EULA that we agree on, so misprint or not, they are obliged to provide it.

BreellaBlue · 10-09-2008, 05:32 PM

Well... Wow.

When I try to access the US forum from the main spore page I get:
"
An error has occurred.
For detailed error information, please see the HTML source code, and contact the forum Administrator.
Error while executing SSO actions: java.lang.NullPointerException"
---------

The only way I have found to get in was through the links here. I really do wish that EA would get on the ball. I sent a customer service request about the black character editor screen on a MAC two days ago and have gotten no response.

:-(

I'm an avid Sims fan. I own every game between The Sims 1 and 2. Never have I been so angry at EA. My boyfriend and I have to share our account, He's getting no credit for the things he makes.

SteMot · 10-09-2008, 06:35 PM

The latest development in my ongoing EA Support saga. The still appear to be trying to help, even though I've now sent this story to loads of games sites/magazines:-

Quote:

Hello Ste,

Thank you for contacting EA Technical Support. I understand that you are currently experiencing difficulties logging in on Spore using the second account 'xxxx@xxxx.com' in which my colleague has provided new entitlement of the game for you to gain access with the online feature of the Spore. I would like to ask for a screen shot of the error when it happens. Kindly send it to us by attaching the file (".jpeg format") when you reply to this email. I would also like to ask for you to try and replace the password for the mean time to a generic one ie: 12345, then inform us for us to test the log in locally on our end.

I apologise for the inconvenience but rest assured that I will do my best to assist you further with your concern. I look forward to your response.

Regards,

Paul M.
EA Technical Support

If I ever get a resolution to this I'll eat my hat.

flatfroggerx · 10-09-2008, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteMot

The latest development in my ongoing EA Support saga. The still appear to be trying to help, even though I've now sent this story to loads of games sites/magazines:-

If I ever get a resolution to this I'll eat my hat.

Careful, they might revoke your first one to get the 2nd one to work.

MrHeints · 10-09-2008, 07:31 PM

@ Ste

We are all joined within this battle. Please voice your opinion over here >>> "You may have multiple Spore accounts for each installation of the game" - NOT

We have been receiving input from EA board mods and a Maxis Rep. Please, UK folks, log in with the same Spore account data, and spread the word.

Lets keep fighting until we win

Peace,

Heints

SteMot · 10-09-2008, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flatfroggerx

Careful, they might revoke your first one to get the 2nd one to work.

Tobe honest, at this stage I would take that, I bought the game for my wife, but installed on mine first and once I had logged in she couldn't, I don't mind playing off-line if she's allowed to log in.

DocStone · 10-09-2008, 09:07 PM

I am really begining to regret shelling out £40 for this game, especially after finding out it was just that little lalalalalaeaper on amazon.

My son is now playing on my account, where he will no doubt create thousandsof creatures as that is what kids do

MrHeints · 10-09-2008, 10:08 PM

EA... Do you hear us? There still is not an expectational reason why we can't play this game, in it's full entirety, on a SINGLE PC.

Is EA and Maxis happy with families, who looked forward to this game, having to share a single online account.

Households had separate accounts with Creature Creator. We made our creations separately on the same PC.

Now, when the Spore installation on my computer informed me to delete Creature Creator, informed me I would have full access to the features from Creature Creator while playing Spore, I understood that agreement. Still no luck using my 'paid for' software from EA - Maxis.

Now we are all stuck, forced to purchase multiple copies of Spore, scrounging up multiple PC's, to play a single game within a household.

What happened to users taking turns? Utilizing a single piece of software, per user? Windows allows multiple, Internet Validated, users per piece of software. And of course we cannot install Windows on multiple PC's without user license agreements.

My copy of Spore, with the EULA, states clearly that my family is able to have multiple accounts per installation. I agreed to these terms, EA and Maxis turn their respective backs.

MrHeints · 11-09-2008, 02:18 AM

bump

Miikel · 11-09-2008, 08:02 AM

This needs sorting out. i wonder if they are coding it in "The Patch". Has EA confirmed that there will be one, or is it just speculation?

Miikel · 11-09-2008, 08:49 AM

QUOTED FROM "You may have multiple Spore accounts for each installation of the game" - NOT

"If you purchased the game with a credit card, the solution is quick and simple: charge back.

You purchased an item in good faith and received something that is materially different from what was advertised.

The prospect of a mass charge back has caused a mis-behaving company to amend its behavior on more than one occasion. The feedback effect of the chargeback at the end of the supply chain (i.e. the retailer), going back up to the wholesaler, publisher etc, should be an efficient way of expressing discontent to EA.

I charged back tonight. Most providers allow you to do it online. If you have to call and ask for one, just state that the product you received was materially different. That will, at the very least, get the ball rolling."

zepwimpy · 11-09-2008, 11:08 AM

There is spoken a lot about this topic (a little grasp) :

stemot's Blog :: Spore Multiple Accounts, Yes....No says EA. Destructoid Community - Self-moderated blogs and forums by both readers and staff

"You may have multiple Spore accounts for each installation of the game" - NOT

Total Spore Forums / Multiple Accounts?

"You may have multiple Spore accounts for each installation of the game"

Multiple Windows Accounts - Spore Message Board for PC - GameFAQs

Multiple Spore Accounts Issue?

I'd like multiple accounts per household

itsmoirob · 11-09-2008, 12:24 PM

It'd be nice if the EA mods could give us an answer to all of this? Or at least an update that multiple accounts is something that is being looked in to/or we just have to make do with having one account and a huge chip on our shoulder.
It's been almost a week since people encountered this problem and we've heard nothing here

Miikel · 11-09-2008, 12:30 PM

i think the mods have skulked away from all the abuse they have been getting... they are scared now of posting because of the responses they get...

lemmily · 11-09-2008, 02:35 PM

You know what i wouldn't mind if they put a cap on the number of accounts per game, like the activations thing! just so long as it's not 1!!
3 would make sense, 3 activations/3 accounts! (I know this would be annoying for some people having gamer families... but it's still better than one)

MrHeints · 11-09-2008, 06:59 PM

bump

10-09-2008, 03:47 PM	#81 (permalink)
DMA57361 Rookie Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 9	Nothing like a good bit of fiction I love the comment about "x1000 accounts per copy sold causing lag and slowdown". How completely unfounded. Firstly, x1000 is simply made up - the figure is likely to be 1-5 in most cases (ie, 1 account per family member in a household) and a single person with 10 accounts will still only be able to produce a single persons number of creatures. Also, if they do not provide this facility you will just end with accounts being shared, which leads the the same number of creatures on the server compared to seperate accounts so makes to difference! Secondly, it'll just make uploading/downloading to/from the sporepedia very slow and will not effect individual games. So the lag/slowdown comment is also unfounded. That is unless the game is very poorly constructed as to sit and wait about while playing... Hmmm, I get the feeling we are being fed excuses because some higher-up in the company decided this would be a "great idea", and the people on the front line have been left clueless about it all. Shame for the front line staff to be on the recieving end (I've been there myself!), but that is what happens when companies loose sight of the customer and stop caring about thier reputations. Is there any chance we will get a NON-FICTIONAL response? I highly doubt it!

11-09-2008, 02:18 AM	#93 (permalink)
MrHeints Rookie Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 20	bump Last edited by MrHeints; 11-09-2008 at 10:41 PM..

11-09-2008, 11:08 AM	#96 (permalink)
zepwimpy Rookie Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Belgium Age: 40 Posts: 6	topics There is spoken a lot about this topic (a little grasp) : stemot's Blog :: Spore Multiple Accounts, Yes....No says EA. Destructoid Community - Self-moderated blogs and forums by both readers and staff "You may have multiple Spore accounts for each installation of the game" - NOT Total Spore Forums / Multiple Accounts? "You may have multiple Spore accounts for each installation of the game" Multiple Windows Accounts - Spore Message Board for PC - GameFAQs Multiple Spore Accounts Issue? I'd like multiple accounts per household

11-09-2008, 12:24 PM	#97 (permalink)
itsmoirob Rookie Join Date: Jun 2008 Age: 27 Posts: 59	It'd be nice if the EA mods could give us an answer to all of this? Or at least an update that multiple accounts is something that is being looked in to/or we just have to make do with having one account and a huge chip on our shoulder. It's been almost a week since people encountered this problem and we've heard nothing here __________________ My Spore Profile Page

11-09-2008, 02:35 PM	#99 (permalink)
lemmily Rookie Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Sheffield/Swansea Age: 20 Posts: 66	You know what i wouldn't mind if they put a cap on the number of accounts per game, like the activations thing! just so long as it's not 1!! 3 would make sense, 3 activations/3 accounts! (I know this would be annoying for some people having gamer families... but it's still better than one) __________________ I for no reason now.

10-09-2008, 01:58 PM	#77 (permalink)
nin9abadga Rookie Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 5	i want to add my support for this too. i want my girlfriend to be able to play on her own account, not mine.

10-09-2008, 02:34 PM	#78 (permalink)
Miikel Rookie Join Date: Sep 2008 Age: 37 Posts: 91	Interesting to hear your response from Support - i notice no mention of the "misprint" they blamed this on when i queried it with them. i appreciate they are being told what to say, but giving different answers only leads to resentment and doubt. I really dont understand them blocking this feature, as its clearly not a technical issue (Creature Creator proves that). Neither is it finacial as there is no evidence that another purchased copy of the game would even be allowed to install, never mind register. what does that leave? Meanness lol!! EA Managers just being nasty to us all! :P

10-09-2008, 03:43 PM	#80 (permalink)
Miikel Rookie Join Date: Sep 2008 Age: 37 Posts: 91	"There were many reason why we chose to have one account per copy of the game - some had to do with how saved games work and some had to do with limiting the online feature only to the one person who bought the game." hmm it would be interesting to learn when this decision was made - im suspicious that such an important sentence in the manual had not been thoroughly checked by several departments - the legal side upmost!! i have not noticed one other misprint in the whole thing, so that was obviously checked and proof-read... but hey its all just words, seems they have made their bed, and now have to lie in it - on top of all the uncomfortable press they are getting all over the place, from the Guardian to the BBC here in the UK to the 1000's of -ve comments on Amazon.

10-09-2008, 03:55 PM	#82 (permalink)
Miikel Rookie Join Date: Sep 2008 Age: 37 Posts: 91	yeah i bet they have had a battering the last few days!! if the anger expressed on some threads is anything to go by!!

10-09-2008, 04:25 PM	#84 (permalink)
Caledorn Rookie Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 8	It would be quite simple for EA to e.g. limit the registrations per copy of the game to something more familyfriendly - like 3-5 registrations (5 would most likely be optimal) - instead of making silly excuses with 1000x per account...

10-09-2008, 04:53 PM	#85 (permalink)
DarthIrishGuy Rookie Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 29	Since when has a registration equaled an account?? Fine I regestered my install once, now i want my multiple accounts per install. The manual does count as a legal document as stated in the EULA that we agree on, so misprint or not, they are obliged to provide it.

10-09-2008, 05:32 PM	#86 (permalink)
BreellaBlue Hi, I'm New! Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 1	Well... Wow. When I try to access the US forum from the main spore page I get: " An error has occurred. For detailed error information, please see the HTML source code, and contact the forum Administrator. Error while executing SSO actions: java.lang.NullPointerException" --------- The only way I have found to get in was through the links here. I really do wish that EA would get on the ball. I sent a customer service request about the black character editor screen on a MAC two days ago and have gotten no response. :-( I'm an avid Sims fan. I own every game between The Sims 1 and 2. Never have I been so angry at EA. My boyfriend and I have to share our account, He's getting no credit for the things he makes.

10-09-2008, 07:31 PM	#89 (permalink)
MrHeints Rookie Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 20	@ Ste We are all joined within this battle. Please voice your opinion over here >>> "You may have multiple Spore accounts for each installation of the game" - NOT We have been receiving input from EA board mods and a Maxis Rep. Please, UK folks, log in with the same Spore account data, and spread the word. Lets keep fighting until we win Peace, Heints

10-09-2008, 09:07 PM	#91 (permalink)
DocStone Rookie Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 13	I am really begining to regret shelling out £40 for this game, especially after finding out it was just that little lalalalalaeaper on amazon. My son is now playing on my account, where he will no doubt create thousandsof creatures as that is what kids do

10-09-2008, 10:08 PM	#92 (permalink)
MrHeints Rookie Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 20	EA... Do you hear us? There still is not an expectational reason why we can't play this game, in it's full entirety, on a SINGLE PC. Is EA and Maxis happy with families, who looked forward to this game, having to share a single online account. Households had separate accounts with Creature Creator. We made our creations separately on the same PC. Now, when the Spore installation on my computer informed me to delete Creature Creator, informed me I would have full access to the features from Creature Creator while playing Spore, I understood that agreement. Still no luck using my 'paid for' software from EA - Maxis. Now we are all stuck, forced to purchase multiple copies of Spore, scrounging up multiple PC's, to play a single game within a household. What happened to users taking turns? Utilizing a single piece of software, per user? Windows allows multiple, Internet Validated, users per piece of software. And of course we cannot install Windows on multiple PC's without user license agreements. My copy of Spore, with the EULA, states clearly that my family is able to have multiple accounts per installation. I agreed to these terms, EA and Maxis turn their respective backs.

11-09-2008, 08:02 AM	#94 (permalink)
Miikel Rookie Join Date: Sep 2008 Age: 37 Posts: 91	This needs sorting out. i wonder if they are coding it in "The Patch". Has EA confirmed that there will be one, or is it just speculation?

11-09-2008, 08:49 AM	#95 (permalink)
Miikel Rookie Join Date: Sep 2008 Age: 37 Posts: 91	QUOTED FROM "You may have multiple Spore accounts for each installation of the game" - NOT "If you purchased the game with a credit card, the solution is quick and simple: charge back. You purchased an item in good faith and received something that is materially different from what was advertised. The prospect of a mass charge back has caused a mis-behaving company to amend its behavior on more than one occasion. The feedback effect of the chargeback at the end of the supply chain (i.e. the retailer), going back up to the wholesaler, publisher etc, should be an efficient way of expressing discontent to EA. I charged back tonight. Most providers allow you to do it online. If you have to call and ask for one, just state that the product you received was materially different. That will, at the very least, get the ball rolling."

11-09-2008, 12:30 PM	#98 (permalink)
Miikel Rookie Join Date: Sep 2008 Age: 37 Posts: 91	i think the mods have skulked away from all the abuse they have been getting... they are scared now of posting because of the responses they get...

11-09-2008, 06:59 PM	#100 (permalink)
MrHeints Rookie Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 20	bump