Bottom line on this issue is Maxis could care less, same with EA. Will is a sale out quite frankly for doing business with the scum that has become EA. It wont matter how many people sign the petition or make posts like this. All that matters to will and ea at this point is money.

Example is the parts pack rumored to be coming out soon.

I hope they lose their shorts in this law suit.

I was a good customer and bought one copy for each of my two daughters and one for myself. I had no problem with only getting one account for each copy sold. I've played many MMORPGs and that standard fare, since we tend to play all at the same time, each on a different computer, I have no problem paying the extra.

However, the limitation of 3 (or 5 installs) is rediculous, especially considering a hardware change counts as install. I paid for the right to play SPORE and should be able to play SPORE on any machine I wish.

MY current machine is in its final stages and will be replaced soon, and normally I format it and pass it down to my daughter for her to use and hers goes to the younger. But now that will use up a precious install, for three accounts. Since this is normally a yearly ritual, I soon will have to buy new copies of Spore and any expansion/parts packs -or- just quit playing.

I already used 2 of one daughters installs, 2 of the others (laptop and desktop), and I had to one one of mine an old machine jsut to activate my account. I am so discusted, I have lost the desire to play and get any more invested in the game. I definately can't recommend it to anyone for that reason.

They REALLY need to get the unistall credit system working, asap and for any one that has already used up more than one install make sure they have 2 install credits to work with. Even then, if any one calls they should quickly authorize an additonal install and note the account, if they are called more than once a month on same account, there should be some further checking, but no more than a fax of the UPC code.

I just want a response from Maxis stating that they're going to fix this issue so that nobody else has to go through what I did.

Bah, I'm going back to WoW. Thought would play this til xpac, but am so sickened by this and what you have gone through. Its unfortunate that it may take a lawsuit(if it is found against them) to make them see the light, that is if they do see it. It seems if people want to pirate thier game there is nothing they are doing that will stop that, all it is doing is loosing customers. I have lost all desire to play the game further and wish you the best. Its a shame though, spore looked to have a lot of potential.

mzdanno wrote: Bah, I'm going back to WoW. Thought would play this til xpac, but am so sickened by this and what you have gone through. Its unfortunate that it may take a lawsuit(if it is found against them) to make them see the light, that is if they do see it. It seems if people want to pirate thier game there is nothing they are doing that will stop that, all it is doing is loosing customers. I have lost all desire to play the game further and wish you the best. Its a shame though, spore looked to have a lot of potential.

Play and enjoy the game if you enjoy this game as much as I do; but sign the petition! Tell your friends about it, keep the threads bumped, and make darned sure that Maxis knows you want change:
http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/list/6804.page

I love Maxis, their promotion of innovation and creativity deserves applause from all gamers world-wide. I truly want to see them continue to succeed in their endeavors. I just don't want to buy a second copy of Spore just to make up for the mistakes caused by yet another failed SecuROM experiment, just so I can remain a loyal customer to Maxis. Loyalty only goes so far.

I just hope this thread exposes the epic failure that is the 3 license program. I just hope this prevents the next Maxis Game from having rootkit DRM. I just hope Maxis puts all of their resources into fixing this problem so that nobody else has to go through what I just did again. Lord knows Electronic Arts, and SecuROM won't do anything; so we must rely on Maxis.

Dairuka wrote:Tuesday, October 07, 2008
[The EA Customer Service person] stated the following about the following issues:

#1. If they believe your account has been used over 10 times, you must provide proof of purchase on the back of your manual, as well as a proof of purchase by way of a receipt.

What would cause them to believe that? What would cause them to believe you had 15 installs?

#2. The total installation attempts on the first batch of games released in the month of September have a total of 3 installations. Any other versions of the game released have a total of 5 installations, leaving those of us suckers who bought the game early, SOL.

That's just wrong if it's true. Did those other people pay more? Am I receiving some sort of rebate?

#5. He flagged my account due to the over-use of my account registration key; despite the fact that I've only given the Registration Key to The last Customer Service Representative I spoke to.

What has to occurr from them to flag an account for "over-use?" Trying to install a program repeatedly? Like you might do during two days of no help from customer service?

It's maddening that you had to go through all that... and esessentially were called a thief at the end of the process.

#6. He stated that changing out any hardware will directly use up an installation.

I have to wonder who on God's green earth thought it was a good idea to penalize customers for making hardware changes. I can see a set amount of installs... but if the thing counts ANYTHING that isn't an install as if it were... well... that's clearly just broken. Maddening.

#8. He stated that reinstalling the game on the same computer will not use up an installation, unless you reformat.

Again... why should I have to have their software package cut me off because I did a reformat. That's crazy talk.

#9. He stated that resetting your CMOS or BIOS will use up an installation.

I don't even know what this means. But it sounds like more reasons the game SHOULDN'T be using up an install on me.

He then offered to give me 3 more installations on my version of spore, but after that I would have to buy a new version of Spore, since he believes that I'm pirating it, or I have given it out to my friends.

Insulting. Unless he's right. He's not right, right? But still... insulting.

I can't believe you had to pay for the phone calls.

Crazy talk.

Are you telling me that EA can't afford an 800 or 888 number?

Well personally I would rather pay a monthly fee set up like WoW for spore if they would take off the security problem child and work on more content as well as interaction with other players. The idea and character creation is wonderful. I have no idea how they would put this into effect but if they could succeed in it, it would be awsome. Keep in mind my only gaming XP is with WoW, CoH/V, Lotro and SWG. I have only played pay to play mmo's so I have no other reference. I would be willing to give them that nice deposit every month for a good game.

The thing I find the worst about this is that people have still pirated the game and they don't have to worry about the 3 - 5 install limit. EA only put the limit in to make more money from the poor suckers that paid for the game.

I saw somewhere that the EA help site is $2.49/minute - no doubt for US customers - your 21 minutes from Canada will likely be more.

Wow, this process was more difficult than I imagined... Please do us one more favor and add to the thread how much the long distance fees cost you when you get the bill.

What worries me most of all is that on most threads here, some Maxis employee jumps in and spews, but in this thread its nothing but silence from that cast of characters.

Its like they are ashamed of the whole thing, but that none of them have the nuts to admit it.

Rockoon wrote:What worries me most of all is that on most threads here, some Maxis employee jumps in and spews, but in this thread its nothing but silence from that cast of characters.

Its like they are ashamed of the whole thing, but that none of them have the nuts to admit it.

The problem is SecuROM is not their policy, it's EA's policy. Maxis is just a developer studio owned by EA, and as such it has little to no effect on EA's corporate policies. It's the same with Mac ports, using Cider is EA's decision - it's also the reason why SecuROM is also implemented in Mac versions, though I don't yet know how it affects Macs.

Tsk tsk tsk. Ea, ea, ea,. You have stooped to a new low. Honestly, you're so hungry for munnehz that you make people buy the game at least 20 times to be able to install it after a while?

I've been a good customer. I've played many games from EA, but come on. This just shows how desperately money-grubbing you've become.

edit: Whoops, wrong topic

markiem32 wrote:What would cause them to believe that? What would cause them to believe you had 15 installs?

Here's my guess:

Each time he attempted to run the game after initial failure counted against him. Just opening to check if the game was reactivated was enough to count as another "install"

Quite honestly, this whole thing is sickening. Not to mention the "A change to ANY hardware counts as an install" Which means, when I finally buy a new machine next year, I might need to go through the same Customer Service Hell the OP went through.

This is unacceptable. If you're going to put a limit on installs, at least make it somewhat easy to contact customer service for a new license key. Don't give an already frustrated customer the runaround.

This is my first experience in years with an EA product, and I can tell you it has been mostly negative. From the botched release, the false advertisements, the free rootkit, and the apparent contempt of their (paying) customer base. I have to say Spore may very well be my last EA title. If I'm feeling charitable I might buy an expansion pack for the game, if its something I want. But I sure as hell won't be buying it via direct download again. Not after they shafted all of the U.S. with their download ulnock time. EA =

The only bright spot is that I have enjoyed the game, it seems mostly stable, and hasn't given me much problems. The Maxis staff appears to be listening to their customers while the EA side simply does their best to leach the customer base for as much as they can get. EA is dragging Maxis down. EA is digging the pit for Maxis. I have nothing against Maxis ... Just EA