Your Solution to EA's bs DRM used for Mass Effect and Spore

[Ralackk]

I didn't buy bioshock until they removed the install limit, I want to play mass effect and spore but still haven't bought either regardless of how much I want to play them. If they remove the install limit a month or so after the release date as bioshock did I will probably buy them then, though Mass effect has been out for a while now and it still hasn't happened.

 

[Razzle Bathbone]

Easiest way to solve this: use Steam.

Spore and Mass Effect, sadly, are unavailable on Steam.

I think I'll buy the game after it's been cracked, then play the cracked version. I get my game, they get their money, and everybody's happy. Except I'm now a criminal. Ah, well. Bad laws should be disobeyed.

 

[CanadianWolverine]

I learned my lesson with FarCry. While that DRM was not so bad, all things considered, it was enough of a hassle that I refuse to purchase another game with DRM that is any more than a CD key on the inside of my case or Steam.

Simply put, they aren't getting my money. I simply don't care how good the games are anymore, I am not handing over my money for rentals, I buy games and demos should be free.

You can probably understand my stance on games that require a monthly fee as well.

 

[JakubK666]

I'll pirate Spore then buy the actual game should there ever be some kind of a progress in the DRM issue.

Oh, and Steam has no form of DRM whatsoever.It's just as easy to pirate Steam games as it is to torrent stuff and the only reason why it's not as common is the steep learning curve and effort/patience required(Cracking a Steam Client,Manually updating GCF's aka games every once in a while etc.).

 

[Jackpot]

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/comics/stolen-pixels/5137-Stolen-Pixels-12-The-Economics-Lesson

fuck ea. I need to have taken pictures of me with money and the caption "heres's £100 you will never see, because I refuse to buy mass effect & spore"

 

[Thirtysomething]

Bad laws should be disobeyed.

Hear hear!

All they're doing is adding another incentive to pirate the game. If I use utorrent to download the cracked version instead of the EA downloader, I not only don't have to pay for it, I also don't have to deal with stupid-ass DRM measures. It is a complete no-brainer, why would anyone not use the cracked version as soon as it's out?

 

[ReverseEngineered]

I'm highly anticipating Spore; one way or another, I'm going to get it.

I'm currently stuck between Steam and the actual CD. I have several games on Steam, but I don't like the fact that I can't lend the game to a friend, sell it, or otherwise get rid of it when I'm bored or decide I don't like it. Hell, I can't even return it for a refund if it doesn't work! Not to mention, I suspect my girlfriend will want to play it too; with a CD, I can install it on both of our computers (license agreement be damned, I'm not buying two copies for a single household).

On the other hand, the CD has this DRM bullshit attached to it, which (considering how often stuff in my computer gets swapped around) could very well end up biting me in the ass. Also, getting a copy of the CD may be difficult, whereas I can buy and preload it on Steam today. The one thing the CD has going for it is that there will undoubtedly be a crack out within a week of release (I'm guessing less, since it's popular and the DRM system has already been cracked in Mass Effect), and I have nothing against cracking something that I legally own.

In the end, I'll probably just use Steam because it's more convenient. If my girlfriend does decide she wants it (and so far she could care less), I'll pony up the cash.

Overall, I hate DRM and what it does to customers, but I won't let that stop me from getting something I highly desire. Spore could just be that game I've been waiting a long time for and I'm not about to pass it up because some jackass makes it difficult for me. Come to think of it, that's the same reason a lot of people pirate in the first place.

 

[Thaliur]

First off, I realize that there are articles that talk about this issue and that some people probably gave their ideas/solutions, but I think that us Escapist can put our heads together and hopefully find a better way, even if no one will listen to us.

Right now PC gaming companies don't have much choice. DRM like this has been going on forever in the audio software market. Be thankful the games don't ship with a USB access key. That is truly a pain in the butt for legitimate users.

Actually, I like the USB access key idea.
I guess everyone could easily find a vacant USB port if needed, and a game could even be programmed to switch to LAN multiplayer join mode if the dongle is removed after the game started up.
I think Age Of Empires 2 did the same, only with a CD check.

 

[fix-the-spade]

You can just do as many people are doing. Pirate it.
If you already bought it you can do it, though I'm not sure that will settle well with most people's morals

Agreed, but to be completely honest. I think if you're in a situation where you'll most likely have to pirate a game you legitimately paid for, you should just pirate it without buying it.

If they intend to charge you for a product then not allow you to use it, you should just take the product and not allow them to charge you. Certainly it's immature (and illegal) but to my mind it's fair.

Either way I have no particular intention of playing either, still working my way through all the Sourcemods.

 

[Crazybuddha56]

I'm not buying Spore or Mass Effect.

Then why is your avatar a dancing spore creature?

I like your idea and think it should be used but frankly, i'm not terribly bothered by it, though I do wish more companies would use the stardock method. Using the DRM will not stop hackers but there are still plenty of people who would willingly buy a game rather then steal it to support the companies that create such good games. Frankly, there is no good solution for the problem but still beefing up the protection to the point of annoying to the regular consumer does not help the problem. Also, I prefer a hard copy of my games, so steam is not a viable solution for me.