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pp03
join:2002-06-13
Minneapolis, MN
| Spore to require online validation...every 10 days All the more reason to get a console, with each new generation of PC games the copy protection is getting worse for legit buyers. This is not going to affect people pirating...at all, cracks will be out within hours of release, yet now if I go on a trip or don't have access for whatever reason I can't even play single player...
»www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/52547
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The History Channel rocks! ... you know it! | |
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Mchart
Super Joe
join:2004-01-21
Gurnee, IL
 ·AT&T Yahoo
 ·RoadRunner Cable
1 edit | Re: Spore to require online validation...every 10 days Why is this all the more reason to get a console? What kind of person with a PC this day in age does not have internet access. It is the same way with every ultra-successful Valve game on Steam. I think this is great. Of course this will be easily hacked anyways, but still. | |
| 
mrchris
We don't miss you Bush
Premium
join:2002-10-01
North Babylon, NY | lol validation....but this is going too far...every 10 days?? | |
| | davidcb13
join:2004-02-06
Branchville, NJ | Re: Spore to require online validation...every 10 days well it depends how obtrusive the validation is....as someone said before with steam you cant play at all without an internet connection.... | |
| | | bruce48
join:2001-05-07
Saugerties, NY
| Re: Spore to require online validation...every 10 days You can play any steam game without being connected.
You need a net connection to validate the game but once that is done all you need to do is log onto steam and play in the off line mode.
It is necessary to validate every Steam game online before it can be launched, although an offline mode is available. There are no alternate methods of activation such as via telephone or fax, which causes the system to deny access to those without Internet connections.
By default, to play a game offline, Steam and the game itself must be fully updated. When Steam starts online, the system checks to see if there are updates available. Steam can be set to stay offline and not attempt a connection, but this offline mode has its own restrictions and limitations, including preventing games which have not been updated from running in offline mode. | |
| 
Dandy
join:2001-12-30
Brooklyn, NY
clubs: | why do they keep trying to come up with these ways to block hackers! They ALWAYS find a way to hack it. | |
| | Kearnstd
Elf Wizard
Premium
join:2002-01-22
Mullica Hill, NJ | im sure the pirate bay will have nice drm free cracks available.
buy the game, crack the EXE and you remain legal because you bought the game.
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quanta
Premium
join:2002-05-07
Toronto, ON | It's a slippery slope, Nightfall. This DRM treats legitimate customers like criminals, which is unfair.
Besides, not everyone in the world has constant Internet access. | |
| | 
Airwolf
Premium
join:2001-10-30
Windsor, ON
clubs:
·Cogeco Cable
| Re: Spore to require online validation...every 10 days said by quanta  :It's a slippery slope, Nightfall. This DRM treats legitimate customers like criminals, which is unfair. So I suppose metal detectors are insulting as well? | |
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quanta
Premium
join:2002-05-07
Toronto, ON
·TekSavvy Solutions..
·Bell Sympatico
| Re: Spore to require online validation...every 10 days said by Airwolf :said by quanta :It's a slippery slope, Nightfall. This DRM treats legitimate customers like criminals, which is unfair. So I suppose metal detectors are insulting as well? Yes, I do, in cases that don't involve national or personal security. Let me ask the question in a different context: Do you suppose having someone frisk you every time you walk out of a store is insulting? Because that's what DRM is increasingly like.
In an age where we're forced to keep CDs in drives, have rootkits, corporate engineered trojans and stealth drivers, I'm surprised you guys think it's perfectly fine for a game to demand you be on a constant Internet connection.
Heaven forbid you're on the plane, or your cable modem goes down, or you live in a place with no broadband.
And one of these days that game's authentication server is going to go down for whatever reason, and you're screwed. Sounds improbable? It happened to Microsoft with people registering their new installs of WinXP. It happened when Xbox Live went down for two weeks last year, preventing people from watching their DRM'd Video Marketplace movies. You trust a game developer to keep a server up 24/7?
Even if you believe they'll have that down pat, you think they'll still have it running for years to come? Heaven forbid that five years later, you decide to play that game again for old time's sake, and you're locked out because the game developer shut down their authentication server years ago to save money.
The question really is, is the game you bought yours or not? | |
| | 
Nightfall
My Goal Is To Deny Yours
Premium,MVM
join:2001-08-03
Grand Rapids, MI
 ·Site5.com
·AT&T Midwest
·Comcast
| said by quanta :It's a slippery slope, Nightfall. This DRM treats legitimate customers like criminals, which is unfair. Besides, not everyone in the world has constant Internet access. You are speculating what the DRM is like though. Heck, everytime you play online, your CD key is checked. Is that considered intrusive?
Point is, if something is going on behind the scenes that checks for a valid cd key every 10 days, its no big deal so long as I don't have to hastle with it. Now, if its something that pops up on the screen every 10 days, I have to click through windows to get it to validate, then thats another issue.
How about we wait before we draw conclusions. Every game we play online on the PC has some form of check and balance when it comes to checking the CD key. | |
| | | 
salzan
Experienced Optimist
Premium
join:2004-01-08
WA State
| Re: Spore to require online validation...every 10 days said by Nightfall :You are speculating what the DRM is like though. Heck, everytime you play online, your CD key is checked. Is that considered intrusive? You seem to be forgetting that this is EA.
I'm seeing a nightmare for some when their game suddenly won't validate and they maybe even lose their profile...
Ever dealt with EA's support? | |
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Nightfall
My Goal Is To Deny Yours
Premium,MVM
join:2001-08-03
Grand Rapids, MI
·Site5.com
·AT&T Midwest
·Comcast
1 edit | Re: Spore to require online validation...every 10 days said by salzan :said by Nightfall :You are speculating what the DRM is like though. Heck, everytime you play online, your CD key is checked. Is that considered intrusive? You seem to be forgetting that this is EA. I'm seeing a nightmare for some when their game suddenly won't validate and they maybe even lose their profile... Ever dealt with EA's support? I have dealt with support from EA, Valve, Microsoft, etc and I haven't been happy with any of them.
That being said, Battlefield 2 is an EA game with a cd key checking utility and that isn't intrusive at all. I am not saying that it won't be intrusive, I just choose to wait and see what happens.
You and others on this site, on the other hand, choose to see a nightmare in the making. Some people even choosing to see the "Chicken Little" aspect of things by crying out "The sky is falling!"
I guess our questions will be answered in the coming months.
Oh, and I don't subscribe to the pessimist view of this checking mechanism. We are talking about a form of copy protection that hasn't been released yet. There is a ton of speculation out there on how it is going to work with some people, even Karl our very own news guy jumping on the bandwagon.
When I read reactions like this, it reminds me of fearmongering on Fox News. It reminds me of the Amber alerts that are so easily tossed around saying to "be aware" of what is going on because the terrorists could attack at any moment.
If this DRM screws up peoples computers or makes them click through windows over and over again every 10 days to reactivate, then I won't be buying the product. However, if its something I don't even notice because every 10 days it checks the cd key online like Battlefield 2 or just about any other game out there, then I may buy it depending on how good the game is.
There is nothing wrong with a concerned stance on this issue though. I am taking that stance, but I won't subscribe to "The sky is falling!" | |
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salzan
Experienced Optimist
Premium
join:2004-01-08
WA State
| Re: Spore to require online validation...every 10 days said by Nightfall :You and others on this site, on the other hand, choose to see a nightmare in the making. Some people even choosing to see the "Chicken Little" aspect of things by crying out "The sky is falling!" Nah, the sky fell on Spore (for me) when EA got involved in the game. They have a terrible habit of dropping support right after release (NFSMW and Carbon) and ignoring customer complaints. When the next version comes out, the forums are even deleted. Check out the EA forums for older games like the Sims2... »forums.ea.com/mboards/index.jspa
IMO, EA's support will depend entirely upon how succesful Spore is. If it doesn't make enough money quickly enough, they'll walk away. If it's incredibly buggy they'll release a do-nothing patch or two and walk away. If they release Spore2, they'll forget Spore ever existed.
As someone mentioned previously, what happens if they take the validation servers down? Do you really think EA will release a patch to cover the validation issue first? | |
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Nightfall
My Goal Is To Deny Yours
Premium,MVM
join:2001-08-03
Grand Rapids, MI
·Site5.com
·AT&T Midwest
·Comcast
| Re: Spore to require online validation...every 10 days said by salzan :said by Nightfall :You and others on this site, on the other hand, choose to see a nightmare in the making. Some people even choosing to see the "Chicken Little" aspect of things by crying out "The sky is falling!" Nah, the sky fell on Spore (for me) when EA got involved in the game. They have a terrible habit of dropping support right after release (NFSMW and Carbon) and ignoring customer complaints. When the next version comes out, the forums are even deleted. Check out the EA forums for older games like the Sims2... » forums.ea.com/mboards/index.jspaIMO, EA's support will depend entirely upon how succesful Spore is. If it doesn't make enough money quickly enough, they'll walk away. If it's incredibly buggy they'll release a do-nothing patch or two and walk away. If they release Spore2, they'll forget Spore ever existed. As someone mentioned previously, what happens if they take the validation servers down? Do you really think EA will release a patch to cover the validation issue first? The support from any of these gaming companies has been lackluster at best. The customer service aspect is the last thing considered by these companies. I am surprised that people like pulling the "lack of support" card on EA when it could easily be pulled against any of these companies that put games out.
I have been on the phone with numerous companies because of problems with their games. Most recently, I had a friend trying to get a hold of Rockstar games for the GTAIV problem that was causing his system to lock up. After waiting on hold for 45 minutes, he was disconnected. His emails are going unreplied to. He is finding more help on various forums.
Oh, and that was on a console game. I had an issue with GTA San Andreas for the PC and never got a response back from emailing them about it. I won't go into all the other companies that have crap support, but I will go into the ones that are actually good. Blizzard and Valve are probably the best I have seen as of recent. Valve was on my crap list until about a year ago when I had a Steam issue and they helped me fix it right away. Before Steam though, I had an issue with HL2 and they didn't lift a finger for me. | |
| | IamGimli
join:2004-02-28
Canada
 ·Primus Talkbroadband
·B2B2C High-Speed I..
| said by quanta :It's a slippery slope, Nightfall. This DRM treats legitimate customers like criminals, which is unfair. Vote with your wallet. I haven't paid for a poor EA or Ubisoft console port riddled with useless DRM in over five years. If I'm gonna do the time regardless I'm damn well not gonna pay for it. | |
| 
Mtav80
Premium
join:2002-12-28
Loveland, CO
| Only a matter of time until you have to be online EVERY time you play, even a single player game.
Will get to the point is will have to talk to a master server all the time kinda like MMO with out the monthly MMO fee.
I'm not surprised, its beyond easy to Pirate a PC game. So easy in fact I see more companies going Console first then PC ports. So easy to steal a game these days if I was in the business I wouldn't make a PC only game anymore. | |
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Nightfall
My Goal Is To Deny Yours
Premium,MVM
join:2001-08-03
Grand Rapids, MI
·Site5.com
·AT&T Midwest
·Comcast
| Re: Spore to require online validation...every 10 days said by Mtav80 :Only a matter of time until you have to be online EVERY time you play, even a single player game. Will get to the point is will have to talk to a master server all the time kinda like MMO with out the monthly MMO fee. I'm not surprised, its beyond easy to Pirate a PC game. So easy in fact I see more companies going Console first then PC ports. So easy to steal a game these days if I was in the business I wouldn't make a PC only game anymore. I agree here.
As much as I love PC Games, consoles are where the money is which is why gaming companies are moving to that platform. Pirating games on consoles is done much less than PCs because it requres a mod chip. The PS3 hasn't even been hacked yet. Then, even if you do hack your Xbox 360, you can't play online with it unless you switch the modchip off and buy a legal copy of the game. Lastly, you make 1 copy of the game that works on every PS3 or Xbox 360 out there. Unlike PC games where the developers have to constantly bring out new drivers and patches for new hardware combinations and so on. | |
| | | 
ablack6596
join:2005-01-28
Scarsdale, NY
1 edit | Re: Spore to require online validation...every 10 days All you have to do is flash the DVD drive of the Xbox 360 with new firmware. If you've ever installed or taken out a HD or CD/DVD/etc drive in a computer, it's extremely easy to hack a Xbox 360.You can play online, you can play copies of games online. CD keys have worked very well in the PC world, you can't play pirated PC games online.
Personally, I was planning on buying Spore and I wouldn't be if this affected me. But hopefully the Mac version won't have this. | |
| | Kearnstd
Elf Wizard
Premium
join:2002-01-22
Mullica Hill, NJ
| this is exactly why consoles will beat the PC for day to day non MMO gaming. there is no frickin drivers to make sure you have up to date. if a game needs an update it applies it or connects to the net and gets it. but you never have a game not run on your console because you dont have the right sub version of directx or geforce drivers.
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| | 
Somnambul33t
L33t.
Premium
join:2002-12-05
Mullica Hill, NJ
clubs:
·Comcast
| Re: Spore to require online validation...every 10 days said by Kearnstd :this is exactly why consoles will beat the PC for day to day non MMO gaming. there is no frickin drivers to make sure you have up to date. if a game needs an update it applies it or connects to the net and gets it. but you never have a game not run on your console because you dont have the right sub version of directx or geforce drivers. it also means your gfx will never get better or faster without those newer driver updates.
cd key verifying isnt that bad itself, but the SecureROM program most newer games use is the most intrusive and inconvenient form of authentication currently available on the PC. | |
| Hardcore
The Cow Says
Premium
join:2002-08-23
Albany, GA
·Mediacom
| The games haven't been ours for a long time, quanta. Ever since SecuROM and other DRM started pumping their mess.
Lord forbid someone who doesn't have broadband tries to buy one of these games.
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Somnambul33t
L33t.
Premium
join:2002-12-05
Mullica Hill, NJ
clubs:
·Comcast
| Re: Spore to require online validation...every 10 days said by JIGA :said by pp03 :All the more reason to get a console, Hardly...  The day I buy a console is the day PC's are illegal... well, maybe I'll still have a PC even after that  the day i buy another EA game is the day every single other publisher is illegal... | |
| | Kearnstd
Elf Wizard
Premium
join:2002-01-22
Mullica Hill, NJ
| said by JIGA :said by pp03 :All the more reason to get a console, Hardly... The day I buy a console is the day PC's are illegal... well, maybe I'll still have a PC even after that dont give the RIAA/MPAA/Electronic Arts any ideas, their dream world is one where PCs are illegal and we all suffer under fully locked down boxes that are fully patchable to the latest policeware DRM.
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JIGA
Its A Bird, Its A Plane, Its..
Premium
join:2002-02-02
Azle, TX
clubs:
·Charter Pipeline
| Re: Spore to require online validation...every 10 days said by Rogue Wolf :Y'know, this particular method of validation opens up another problematic scenario. What happens if a key generator happens to come up with your particular key, and it ends up being distributed? Your key ends up on the list, EA decides you're a naughty naughty pirate, and you're out $50 with a game you can no longer play and no way to prove your innocence. The chances may be slim, but they're there, and attempting to keep me from stealing from them does not give a company the right to steal from ME. I guess Spore is off my must-have list.  Well, in that instance I always keep the UPC code and receipt of a game that requires such. Then you have absolute proof of purchase. | |
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MrMaster
What If
Premium
join:2000-12-16
Austin, TX
clubs: | They just reversed their decision. It will only validate on downloads of updates and new contents.
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Dandy
join:2001-12-30
Brooklyn, NY
clubs:
| Re: Spore to require online validation...every 10 days said by MrMaster :They just reversed their decision. It will only validate on downloads of updates and new contents. yup, atleast we know people actually still a voice in this. | |
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TigerLord
Resident Pentaxian
Premium,Mod
join:2002-06-09
Montreal
·Videotron
Host:
International Broa..
Videotron
| Re: EA Backs Down From 10-Day Authentication said by LaZ3R :And EA say the same goes for Spore. Wow thank god, I was beginning to think EA really had no brains at all. Monkey see, monkey do.
No brains required | |
| | | IamGimli
join:2004-02-28
Canada
·Primus Talkbroadband
·B2B2C High-Speed I..
| Good old bait-and-switch. Create an uproar with something outrageous (like 10-day validation) while you slip in a limit of three activations and hope nobody notices when you proudly announce that you won't be doing the outrageous thing anymore.
Sad thing is, there's still consumers who will advocate in favour of the greedy publishers because they don't feel there's any chance they'll ever be affected.
Here's a news flash: no DRM has ever kept someone who didn't want to pay for a game from playing it. They all have kept legitimate owners from being able to play though. | |
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EUS
Kill cancer
Premium
join:2002-09-10
Montreal, QC
clubs: | Re: Spore to require online validation...every 10 days Agreed. Good catch. | |
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