SecuROM online Spore validation? http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/52547 I never heard of this kind of Protection System before. Is anyone acquainted with it? Is this article even true? "If customers do not come online after ten days, the game will cease to function"...?? It sounds nightmarish Thanks I'm going to try googling all this to see if this is even true. Maybe it's just rumor.
This is a big disappointment. This begs the question to those who choose not to play online or don't have internet access: Does this mean they have to reactivate to play Spore every ten days? By what means are they going to reactivate Spore?? Telephone calls?
what a crock of poop! although i'd think with dsl users it'd better be a pretty quick thing to do. still what a bunch of phooey! It would probably be like Steam's game service but every ten days is a bit much.
For those who aren't getting what's happening, let me clear it up. The implications and severity of the situation is quite alarming. What ShackNews is reporting is that this isn't a one time activation like you do with Windows XP or Windows Vista or some other application that requires activation. EA is requiring you to constantly reactivate your product, in this case Spore, EVERY TEN DAYS. That means during a period of a year, you'd have to reactivate Spore 36.5 times. If you do not reactivate within ten days, your game ceases to work. Period. Reference:
Another article I just read supported that "After 10 days a re-check is required before the game can run. I hope that just means simply going to the Spore site and signing in or something. Quote: Quick lowdown on what he says. - You can install "Mass Effect" as normal - internet activation required - From this point on you don't need the "Mass Effect" PC DVD in the PC to play - SecuROM will check the validity of the CD Key after 5 days of Mass Effect being installed - After this check you have 10 days of playing guaranteed. - Upon starting Mass Effect SecuROM will attemp to check the CD Key - If SecuROM isn't able to check within these 10 days then the CD Key will have to be re-checked before playing again - If the CD Check is bad then the game will be locked until you get in touch with EA Tech Support - This system is being used on Spore as well This gave me a headache...goodnite all.
SecuROM is a joke. This ticks me off to no end. We are no longer able to own our OWN games that we pay for. Nope, EA controls our stuff now. Want to play Spore without an Internet connection, perhaps on a trip/vacation with no internet? Tough luck, buddy! So basically, aren't we just paying $50 to rent the game? As in every 10 days, you'll have to re-check your game. Hell, if this isn't one of the most stupidest things coming from EA, I don't know what is. Is a police officer going to come to my house to check my game every 10 days to make sure it is a legimate copy?! This is practically the case. This doesn't even make since. We buy a copy, install it, and have it checked so often. Do they think we will suddenly give up our copy and download the game? Not to mention the pirates and hackers will have this cracked in no time, heck, a torrent will be floating around before the game even hits shelves. The more popular the game is and the type of bloatware they try to encrypt the game in, the faster hackers are going to work together to get rid of this problem. Another thing. I just recently installed the original SimCity on my computer. How old is that game....almost 20 years? Will SecuROM's server still exist in 20 years in case I want to enjoy the past games? I highly doubt it. Basically all I am left with is a coaster cd. I love Maxis, want to support them. This isn't their fault. EA are the ones who decide what to use...If they are going to give us the middle finger by using this approach, then I'll return a shot right back at them. I'm sorry for my rant, I could go on and on about how angry I feel. I do have to say, if in the end we are stuck with this route, I will be supporting the cracks which are released to get rid of this non-sense. It might decrease my chances of ever getting a chance to visit Maxis/EA again, but I'm not going to stand to be walked on and treated like a criminal for a game that I buy.
You took the words right out of my mouth buddy! It makes you wonder if they're thinking about doing this with any of their other games. Oh that new patch you just installed for your game just snuck in that ability while you weren't looking because they just happened to not mention it in their EULA. (the above isn't fact just a possible speculation)
Jud and swmeek, I totally agree. To be honest it's the single thing that has stopped me from buying any more games. I'm not giving up my cash to buy something that I won't play. I will not install a game that has software with such control over MY computer and MY gaming. This is where I have a choice to make - do I want the game badly enough to play a torrented version? My answer has always been NO. I am guessing it will still be no, because I won't break the law (even if I bought the game and gave EA the cash, and left the game sitting unwrapped while I play the torrented version). It does mean however that I'm now forced to choose another hobby other than gaming, because I haven't been buying games since the BV/ SecuROM fiasco. For the first time in 8 years of simming, I haven't bought a Sims game/EP upon release (I'm talking about Freetime). Until EA reverse their ridiculous decision to have SecuROM on their game discs, I won't be buying any more games.
