http://www.dailytech.com/Electronic+Arts+Claims+Spore+DRM+Needed+to+Fight+Piracy/article12950.htm


Many consumers pirate Spore to avoid DRM



Spore, the new evolution game from Electronic Arts, is one of the most anticipated and hyped games to be released in recent memory. Electronic Arts implemented a strict DRM (Digital Rights Management) copyright protection called SecuROM that limits the number of computers the game can be installed on to three. This limit can be increased if a consumer calls customer support.

The fan backlash was very negative and swift as thousands of people rushed to Amazon.com to give the game a one-star ratings causing Amazon to temporarily disable its user review system. Comments such as “Draconian” and “Insult to legitimate customers” flooded the comments section.

Electronic Arts responded to the criticism in a Gamasutra article claiming the three computer limit was designed to address the needs of the majority of consumers while still limiting piracy. According to Electronic Arts own statistics, less than 25 percent have activated Spore on a second PC and less than one percent asked to activate on a third PC. As of September 12 -- when the Gamasutra article was written -- there were 453,048 activations of the Spore Creature Creator alone. 77 percent activated on only one machine, 23 percent activated more than one, and only 1 percent of users tried to activate on more than three machines. These arguments from Electronic Arts appear to miss the point as the backlash is occurring over the fact there is any limit at all and not the number of PCs you are limited to.

Electronic Arts also argues the DRM system saves consumers the hassle of having to have a disc in the drive using a onetime online authentication system as an alternative. In the Gamasutra article, Mariam Sughayer of EA's corporate communications said, "EA has not changed our basic DRM copy protection system. We simply changed the copy protection method from using the physical media, which requires authentication every time you play the game by requiring a disc in the drive, to one which uses a one-time online authentication."

Sughayer compared Spore's authentication to iTunes, which has a similar DRM system that limits the number of computers content purchased from iTunes can be played. She also stressed that installing the game doesn't transmit user information any further than as a "fingerprint" required to authenticate a user, and reports that it installs spyware or malware are "absolutely false."

In addition to Electronic Arts, Maxis also responded to the criticism on game website GamingSteve. Caryl Shaw, online producer for Spore sent GamingSteve a note repeating many of the same points pointed out by Electronic Arts:

We authenticate your game online when you install and launch it the first time.
We'll re-authenticate when a player uses online features, downloads new content or a patch for their game.
The new system means you don't have to play with the disc in your computer. And if you are like me, always losing discs, this will be a huge benefit.
You'll still be able to install and play on multiple computers.
You can play offline.

One ironic statement released to the gaming community by Electronic Arts stated, "You can install the game on three computers – at your office, at home or for your family. What you can’t do is make and distribute a thousand copies online." This is exactly what is happening as stated in a Torrentfreak article; many would-be buyers have chosen to pirate the game because of the invasive DRM.

On Saturday, Torrentfreak wrote that the game had already been downloaded more than 500,000 times on BitTorrent sites. This download rate exceeds that of any other pirated game in history, and in a week or two from now it will be the most pirated game ever on BitTorrent based on Torrentfreak statistics.

For comparison Crysis, one of the best selling PC games of this year has only been downloaded 420,000 times since it was released in November 2007. Although the record breaking piracy of Spore cannot be attributed solely to consumers rejecting the DRM implemented within it, it most likely helped.

That's not EA responding.

Orly?

Spore, the new evolution game from Electronic Arts, is one of the most anticipated and hyped games to be released in recent memory. Electronic Arts implemented a strict DRM (Digital Rights Management) copyright protection called SecuROM that limits the number of computers the game can be installed on to three. This limit can be increased if a consumer calls customer support.

The fan backlash was very negative and swift as thousands of people rushed to Amazon.com to give the game a one-star ratings causing Amazon to temporarily disable its user review system. Comments such as “Draconian” and “Insult to legitimate customers” flooded the comments section.

Electronic Arts responded to the criticism in a Gamasutra article claiming the three computer limit was designed to address the needs of the majority of consumers while still limiting piracy. According to Electronic Arts own statistics, less than 25 percent have activated Spore on a second PC and less than one percent asked to activate on a third PC. As of September 12 -- when the Gamasutra article was written -- there were 453,048 activations of the Spore Creature Creator alone. 77 percent activated on only one machine, 23 percent activated more than one, and only 1 percent of users tried to activate on more than three machines. These arguments from Electronic Arts appear to miss the point as the backlash is occurring over the fact there is any limit at all and not the number of PCs you are limited to.

Electronic Arts also argues the DRM system saves consumers the hassle of having to have a disc in the drive using a onetime online authentication system as an alternative. In the Gamasutra article, Mariam Sughayer of EA's corporate communications said, "EA has not changed our basic DRM copy protection system. We simply changed the copy protection method from using the physical media, which requires authentication every time you play the game by requiring a disc in the drive, to one which uses a one-time online authentication."

Sughayer compared Spore's authentication to iTunes, which has a similar DRM system that limits the number of computers content purchased from iTunes can be played. She also stressed that installing the game doesn't transmit user information any further than as a "fingerprint" required to authenticate a user, and reports that it installs spyware or malware are "absolutely false."

In addition to Electronic Arts, Maxis also responded to the criticism on game website GamingSteve. Caryl Shaw, online producer for Spore sent GamingSteve a note repeating many of the same points pointed out by Electronic Arts:

We authenticate your game online when you install and launch it the first time.
We'll re-authenticate when a player uses online features, downloads new content or a patch for their game.
The new system means you don't have to play with the disc in your computer. And if you are like me, always losing discs, this will be a huge benefit.
You'll still be able to install and play on multiple computers.
You can play offline.

One ironic statement released to the gaming community by Electronic Arts stated, "You can install the game on three computers – at your office, at home or for your family. What you can’t do is make and distribute a thousand copies online." This is exactly what is happening as stated in a Torrentfreak article; many would-be buyers have chosen to pirate the game because of the invasive DRM.

On Saturday, Torrentfreak wrote that the game had already been downloaded more than 500,000 times on BitTorrent sites. This download rate exceeds that of any other pirated game in history, and in a week or two from now it will be the most pirated game ever on BitTorrent based on Torrentfreak statistics.

For comparison Crysis, one of the best selling PC games of this year has only been downloaded 420,000 times since it was released in November 2007. Although the record breaking piracy of Spore cannot be attributed solely to consumers rejecting the DRM implemented within it, it most likely helped.

Just because 500,000 people decide to break the law doesn't mean you should too. No matter how you phrase it, supporting the torrent is supporting the breaking of law.

Remember that the purpose of DRM is to protect the livelihood of the creators of software. Remember that without the restriction of rights, a single instance of software can easily be duplicated, hence depriving livelihood. Trust cannot be relied upon, the 500,000 copies online clearly shows a break of thrust by 500,000 people. Unless you have a better solution, companies will still continue using software to enforce DRM.

The real issue is just how much rights should the consumer be allowed to retain?

(since the article doesn't mention about SecureRom, I'm treating that as a seperate issue, and will not discuss it here.)

No, the purpose of DRM is MARKET MANIPULATION, nothing more.

Show me one case where DRM has protected the livelihood of the software's creator. I can cite at least one example right here and now of REMOVING DRM protecting their livelhood. Ubisoft's decision to abandon the invasive rootkit Starforce, and the recent rush of the online music sales industry towards DRM-free downloads. Oh, and as has been commented earlier - SOASE.

quira wrote:Just because 500,000 people decide to break the law doesn't mean you should too. No matter how you phrase it, supporting the torrent is supporting the breaking of law.

Remember that the purpose of DRM is to protect the livelihood of the creators of software. Remember that without the restriction of rights, a single instance of software can easily be duplicated, hence depriving livelihood. Trust cannot be relied upon, the 500,000 copies online clearly shows a break of thrust by 500,000 people. Unless you have a better solution, companies will still continue using software to enforce DRM.

The real issue is just how much rights should the consumer be allowed to retain?

(since the article doesn't mention about SecureRom, I'm treating that as a seperate issue, and will not discuss it here.)

you are aware that in most countries, downloading is not illegal. Therefor downloading such games is not breaking the law. What is breaking the law in those countries is Hacking and uploading said game for others to download.

DRM was indeed introduced to battle piracy, but it does not mean that the userbase that does neatly by there game in the store has to suffer from it. Btw, securom is the protection method to enforce the DRM problem. Without Securom, the DRM would not exist.

In my opinion and luckily in most other countries and there laws the product's license is with the company that created and sold it. But the bought product is ownership of the one who bought it. The one who bought it, is free to do with it whatever he wishes other then illegally spreading said software. Meaning, Since I bought it. I should be able to install and play the game on any computer i want, without calling EA for extra authentication.

naoriel wrote:
In my opinion and luckily in most other countries and there laws the product's license is with the company that created and sold it. But the bought product is ownership of the one who bought it. The one who bought it, is free to do with it whatever he wishes other then illegally spreading said software. Meaning, Since I bought it. I should be able to install and play the game on any computer i want, without calling EA for extra authentication.

THIS

The game was pirated BEFORE it was even released. the piracy happened before it was even available in stores. The average consumer is not the criminal here. All you need is one pirated copy, and then it will be distributed regardless of who pirated it or not.

The only way to stop this is to have people WANT to by the game. Make it as enjoyable and polished as you can, and then release it with no BS attached. The average consumer will buy it, the gamer will buy, the collectors will buy it. The only ones who won't are those who always pirate games and have no morals.

Stop being dumb EA and learn from other games and companies. You are not Apple, (and i refuse to use iTunes because of its Copy crap) so stop using them as an example. Songs are one thing, games are different. You're a game company, start using some strategy and learn from your mistakes.

don't worry folks, i have played enough games to know that eventually the parent company will remove the DRM in a few patches or two.

-Æ

This DRM idiocy ruined the game launch. If not for it you would only have the normal complaints any overhyped game has and life would go on.

Great work, EA...

evilnargle wrote:
On Saturday, Torrentfreak wrote that the game had already been downloaded more than 500,000 times on BitTorrent sites. This download rate exceeds that of any other pirated game in history, and in a week or two from now it will be the most pirated game ever on BitTorrent based on Torrentfreak statistics.

So, to avoid DRM they don't like, the immoral turn to downloading cracked files. Now bear with me a minute:

To crack a file, a hacker has to be at least somewhat proficient at programming.
Cracking files is illegal, and immoral.
Immoral programmers are capable of writing all sorts of malware, spyware, etc.

The hacker who cracked SPORE might have stuck a few extra presents in there for you.

Pirate if you will, I'll take my chances with the DRM.

Danya wrote:

evilnargle wrote:
On Saturday, Torrentfreak wrote that the game had already been downloaded more than 500,000 times on BitTorrent sites. This download rate exceeds that of any other pirated game in history, and in a week or two from now it will be the most pirated game ever on BitTorrent based on Torrentfreak statistics.

So, to avoid DRM they don't like, the immoral turn to downloading cracked files. Now bear with me a minute:

To crack a file, a hacker has to be at least somewhat proficient at programming.
Cracking files is illegal, and immoral.
Immoral programmers are capable of writing all sorts of malware, spyware, etc.

The hacker who cracked SPORE might have stuck a few extra presents in there for you.

Pirate if you will, I'll take my chances with the DRM.

you really dont need a programming background to hack you know. Hell even a leek could write a small worm or trojan in Batch language. but yeah, you can hae malicious people hacking stuff. thankfully the Torrent community works on groups they trust, like reloaded. Just As Axxo is a renowned movie uploader.

Danya wrote:

evilnargle wrote:
On Saturday, Torrentfreak wrote that the game had already been downloaded more than 500,000 times on BitTorrent sites. This download rate exceeds that of any other pirated game in history, and in a week or two from now it will be the most pirated game ever on BitTorrent based on Torrentfreak statistics.

So, to avoid DRM they don't like, the immoral turn to downloading cracked files. Now bear with me a minute:

To crack a file, a hacker has to be at least somewhat proficient at programming.
Cracking files is illegal, and immoral.
Immoral programmers are capable of writing all sorts of malware, spyware, etc.

The hacker who cracked SPORE might have stuck a few extra presents in there for you.

Pirate if you will, I'll take my chances with the DRM.

Just so you're aware, the person who cracked Spore also included the instructions on how to do it. Therefore, you could do it yourself. Therefore, proof there was no "extra presents".

The person who cracked Spore also has a very high reputation within that community, so the chance of "extra presents" is extremely slim.

Yes, there's a risk, but in today's pirate circle it's extremely minimal.

The DRM was NOT to stop piracy. It was to stop user sharing of the disk and user resale.

Since Spore had no real demo version, I downloaded the illegal version too, just to check if all the buzz payed off. In this case it did, for me. After playing for a couple of hours, I was hooked and bought SPORE in the online EA store. I think a lot of people take this approach, because you just can't tell if a game is fully worth your money if there isn't a good demo. Also, games with a demo can suck, even if the demo is very good.
But in this particular case, I went straight for the illegal torrent, because the retail price of Spore is somewhat higher than "regular" priced games. And suffice to say, I will not spend that kind of money on something that might suck.
But, in the end, SPORE is awesome. I just had to see it before spending hard earned cash. I hope, in some way, you will understand my point of view.

Have you installed it on more than 3 computers yet?

Just because a limitation exists, does not mean that it's going to ruin your fun.

I have Spore installed on my Laptop and Desktop right now. So far both work great, and I havn't had a problem with the DRM yet. If I have a catastrophic breakdown of a computer or a reformat(Which I don't plan on), I can just call them if I need to reinstall it. People have phones these days, right? And EA isn't going out of business anytime soon, right?

But I don't plan to have those kind of computer catastrophes to happen in the first place.

I'm sure the DRM is mostly implemented not only to make pirating harder, but also to make sharing among friends(As in, neighbors, school buddies, best friend down the street) harder. But honestly, the DRM hasn't done anything to me yet, and if I keep following what I'm doing, it shouldn't bother me for a long time to come(By which then the DRM might even be removed).

Yes the DRM sounds restrictive. But is it 100% stopping you from playing Spore? No. The people complaining just don't want to have to interact with people in order to install the game on 27 computers or are just a clutz after their computer reformatted itself for the 12th time this week.

Why not do what the creatures in Spore do? Adapt.