Spore Copy Protection Q&A

[EAUK_Baker011]

When will Spore authenticate?

We authenticate your game online when you install and launch it the first time.

How often will the game have to re-authenticate?

Spore will re-authenticate when a player uses online features, downloads new content or a patch for their game.

Why even bother with this new process? It seems like a hindrance… will it benefit the players?

Yes, it will benefit players. The new system means you don't have to play with the disc in your computer. Losing discs can always be such a pain, so requiring players to authenticate online can be a huge benefit.

Will I be able to play on more than one computer?

Yes, you'll still be able to install and play on multiple computers.

Will I be able to play offline?

Yes, you’ll be able to play Spore offline.

What kind of gameplay experience can I expect online?

The online functionalities in Spore are so unique; they’re definitely some of the coolest features in the game. We hope that players will play online and share their creatures, buildings and vehicles with other players around the world. You never know kind of wacky new creatures people from your Buddies list have created. We can’t wait until our creative, passionate community starts sharing their creations!

We have posted up an FAQ regarding the DRM included in SPORE. This can be found by clicking here

[AcesOyster]

Great, thanks for clearing this up.

Will re-authentication be automatic?

[EntropicLqd]

Originally Posted by EAUK_Baker011

....Losing discs can always be such a pain, so requiring players to authenticate online can be a huge benefit....

This "excuse" always makes me chuckle. In all the considerable years I've been playing games on my PC I have never, ever, lost one. It's not difficult.

Originally Posted by EAUK_Baker011

....
Will I be able to play on more than one computer?
Yes, you'll still be able to install and play on multiple computers.

Is this really the whole story? My understanding was that you had a certain number (three I believe) of "activations" allocated to a particular CD-Key. Changing hardware in your PC (in some unidentifiable way) would trigger an activation, or, installing the game on a different PC would trigger an activation.

So, although the statement is true, there are additional caveats that have not yet been explicitly stated.

[Braidedheadman]

Originally Posted by EntropicLqd

This "excuse" always makes me chuckle. In all the considerable years I've been playing games on my PC I have never, ever, lost one. It's not difficult.

I totally agree! Although, EA's choice of game packaging materials/box design has been known to break discs in the past (<<CLICKY>>), for which they charge a fee to replace. Still, this has to be the worst marketing spin I have ever seen. You'd have to be a complete moron to think that EA is somehow doing us a favor with this news. Not only that, there are publishers out there who do not require the discs to be in the tray; who have not fallen back on such obtuse DRM measures of these. Check out Relic's Dawn of War series, for example, where the disc was only required to be in the tray during its initial release period. Subsequent patches removed the need for the disc.

EA, your condescension leaves me feeling a good deal less than impressed. And you left us in the lurch with other games in the past (BF2, anyone?) so I can’t see how you'd expect people to trust you to your good will on topics like these.

[Snorretho91]

The worst cover ever made is of course the cover they used on The Sims 2 CD.
Four disc's in one cover, two on each side, and over each other. It was impossible to pick out a disc without break it "/

[EntropicLqd]

Originally Posted by Braidedheadman

....And you left us in the lurch with other games in the past (BF2, anyone?) so I can’t see how you'd expect people to trust you to your good will on topics like these.

I don't know what they did with BF2 as I've not played it for ages (found it a bit dull tbh). Enlighten me.

Shutting down a master server that prevents you from installing and playing the game might well be illegal in some countries. Although I suspect that their EULA would have it caveatted to hell and back with all sorts of crappy clauses like, "You are buying a license to run the game until such a time as EA decides to revoke that license".

Still, once it gets to the point where you have to "pirate" the game in order to be able to install/play a bought copy; the pirates have won. Their product is simply better.

It concerns me greatly.

[Markt75]

Ok, I'm very annoyed about this copy protection system due to the use of limited activations, having already expressed my annoyance elsewhere I will not do so here, however I do have some questions:

1). Is it true that customers will be limited to 3 activations and if so could someone from EA please explain what process a UK customer has to go through in order to re-activate Spore once they have exceeded the 3 activations limit ?

2). If it involves any phone calls, what country will we be expected to call and at what cost ?

3). How long can we be expected to wait before getting the game unlocked ?

4). will there be support available should this occure over a weekend, or 'out-of-hours' uk time ?

Thankyou.

[EntropicLqd]

I have a question about activations.

My PC has 3 user accounts on it. One for me and both of my kids. The question is this:

Will the game need to be installed to each user account? If this is so then does each install use a separate activation even though it's the same key being associated with the same PC hardware.

The lack of answers from EA in this topic is a little disappointing.

[Braidedheadman]

Originally Posted by EntropicLqd

I don't know what they did with BF2 as I've not played it for ages (found it a bit dull tbh). Enlighten me.

Shutting down a master server that prevents you from installing and playing the game might well be illegal in some countries. Although I suspect that their EULA would have it caveatted to hell and back with all sorts of crappy clauses like, "You are buying a license to run the game until such a time as EA decides to revoke that license".

Still, once it gets to the point where you have to "pirate" the game in order to be able to install/play a bought copy; the pirates have won. Their product is simply better.

It concerns me greatly.

Well, there was the 1.30 fiasco, wherein a patch was published to support one of their expansion packs, which in the end brought 3 month's worth of CTD and server crashes before they finally got around to fixing it. Then there's the J10, which went from being a good, solid, all-round-great fighter jet to reigning supreme over the battlefield as God's own fiery chariot, against which there is no effective countermeasure; the F35 which appears on all but one or two of the maps that the J10 is on is utterly useless against it and is used most often as a quick taxi from the carriers to the mainland.

I could go on at length, but this is not a good place for it. Check the BF2 section and its adjacent archival section. You'll find mountains of information there. Suffice it to say that the game is sufficiently borked that, of those who continue to play this game, the only map that sees significant play time is Strike at Karkand, where the mode du jour is to hang out at the hotel CP and spam grenades endlessly, farm medic revives/heals and ammo packs, and fight with the TK crowd for the tanks.

[Remora Wraith]

Originally Posted by EntropicLqd

This "excuse" always makes me chuckle. In all the considerable years I've been playing games on my PC I have never, ever, lost one. It's not difficult.

I've been playing PC games for years (more than a decade oh god I feel old) and I DO find it annoying to have to change discs when I want to play a different game, especially when there are digital distribution systems in abundance, but it's just nice to have a disc sometimes. Plus I wouldn't just the EA downloader as far as I could spit.

[Darkflame]

I changed my pc hardware all the time. 3 activations = no purchase for me, no matter how call this game looks.

[UnkillableCat]

Can we get a definite answer as to if we will be limited to 3 activations with Spore? As one of the Mass Effect "guinea pigs" for the scheme I have to say that being limited to effectively renting a game at retail price is a deal breaker for me. The activations are easily used up within a short period, simply using the game on 2 user accounts on a single machine will eat up 2 validations.
PC gamers regularly update their hardware to keep up with the latest releases, remove games to make space for another title they wish to play, have multiple user accounts for family members, and for those on a low budget, buy pre-owned copies of games. All of the above will quickly burn up validations, as has been proven by Mass Effect users, a large number of whom are already barred from playing a game they have paid for.

[EntropicLqd]

Originally Posted by EntropicLqd

...The lack of answers from EA in this topic is a little disappointing.

And the lack of answers from EA continues.... Shambles tbh.

[DoubleU]

I have been waiting for this game since 2006. I would have bought this game on release day.
If EA stays with this useless copy protection (because you know it will be cracked) then I will not buy it, you lost a customer!
I'm fine with a CD key and/or a one off online activation but this 3 time install crap has got to go!
EA you are selling a product that will "break" for many users and you know it!
I wonder if this is even legal? Selling a product that you know is defect!

This will drive more people to piracy because they are sick and tired of being treated like criminals. The cracked version will work fine but people who buy this game will have only troubles.
So what are the options?

Buy the game and call the pricey EA hotline and ask them kindly if you can play the game.
Buy the game but download a cracked version and no problems.
Don't buy the game because you are going to use the cracked version anyway.
Don't buy the game and play Mario Kart on the Wii.

One last question.
Will this "protection" also be on the Mac version?
If yes, you lost a customer.
If no, I might buy it but I'm still disgusted with your attitude against your customers.

Maybe one of the EA people reading this thread can provided the idiot who decided to use this protection, a link to this discussion on /.

[necromancerking]

it's recomended you reformat your hard drive every 6-12 months. does re-installing after said reformat count as an activation. and if so....


that's balls.

[Absafraginlootly]

Why call it a Q/A if there not going to answer any questions? I suppose they don't think their excuses will hold against an actual conversation rather then one post.

I have never used piracy, it has never been necessary and I don't make a habit of doing illegal things, but if they don't stop this then I'll almost certainly start.

It's a sad day when the only way to get quality merchandise is through piracy.

[beavermoose]

i like the idea of not having to play with a disc but i hope that the authentification will be automatic instead of spending precious time constantly re-entering codes and such.

[LordInquisitor]

what happens when you lot deside to turn the servers off. the game is useless right? Securom is reported as malware .

as for lask of answers from EA I cant enen contact them to get my email for the demo validated I have NO email to validate sent to me.

[Saishuu]

I'm going to buy the game (well I have no choice it is pre-ordered).
I have been waiting for this game for 3 years and I think maxis deserves to be supported.

But in 2-3 years time when I want to dig out this game and play it again & install it on my 4th machine I'll just get a pirated copy, not going to pay for a game twice.

(well I was going to get a copy for my wife so she could have her own account, I'll wait and see now).

[Markt75]

Originally Posted by Absafraginlootly

Why call it a Q/A if there not going to answer any questions? I suppose they don't think their excuses will hold against an actual conversation rather then one post.

I have never used piracy, it has never been necessary and I don't make a habit of doing illegal things, but if they don't stop this then I'll almost certainly start.

It's a sad day when the only way to get quality merchandise is through piracy.

I think they've gone into hiding, not the mods (it's not their fault), but I highly doubt an EA rep is going to come here and try to justify what they are doing, lets face it, how can you defend the indefencable.

It's a disgrace, we all know it's a disgrace, more importantly EA know it's a disgrace, but like all big companies they would rather stick there heads in the sand then back down over this. Infact I fully suspect that as a result of recent backlashes against DRM we will find companies like EA will just not tell us anything at all in the future about whether any games have DRM and how it works, they'll hope to get a few extra sales that way and it may be a few weeks before the first batch of people start finding they can no longer activate their games.

[beavermoose]

EA are cowards...what more can be said, they won't aproaches cause they know we'll have axes to their head! (the name...BEAVERMOOSE)

[UnkillableCat]

Anyone else find it interesting that they send reps to announce a contest, and yet dont answer the questions here?

[deep42thought]

I think it would make more sense if EA gave you the choice of online authentication or using the disk. The new system probably helps laptop users who don't have to carry the disk around with it, but is completely unnecessary for desktop users

[EntropicLqd]

Originally Posted by deep42thought

I think it would make more sense if EA gave you the choice of online authentication or using the disk...

That's an interesting idea; and one that would be popular for people without an Internet connection.

But it still stands that most people seem to be happy to tolerate the on-line authentication. It's the activation/install limit that has people up in arms.