Another example of DRM failure, SPORE

DRM (Digital Rights Management) is a way to protecting digitally product such as Music ( which can be ripped to MP3), Movies ( DVD,VCD which can be ripped to DivX or whatever encoding type.. ) and of course what I'm talking about here, a Game.

We know, back in the day, both music and movie industry applied DRM to their product and fail miserably because customer just rejected the idea, and thus rejected the DRM product. I can remember the DRM CD gone from shelf within blink of an eyes.

The industrial leading company come up with another fight by putting DRM MP3 online ... for customer to purchase .. ( via Amazon, iTune ... etc). People are getting anxiety they can't move the song to another computer or music device (iPod , for example). And recently the online music store anounced they are leaving DRM to NON-DRM online music store. OK, round two come to an end.

Now , SPORE , the game everyone should praise about, is going deep into hell. The game is sold with the restriction that

YOU CAN ONLY ACTIVATE THE GAME 3 TIMES.

After that, everytime you install and want to go online, you need to call EA (distributor) to get permission. OK, you should get the idea how customer will react. Amazon customer gave 1.5 star out of 5 (Based on 2400+ reviewer) . I can only shake my head.

This is one example of a review

First of all, the game incorporates a draconian DRM system that requires you to activate over the internet, and limits you to a grand total of 3 activations. If you reach that limit, then you'll have to call EA in order to add one extra activation. That's not as simple as it sounds, since when you reach that point EA will assume that you, the paying customer, are a filthy pirating thief.

This basically means that you are actually RENTING the game, instead of owning it. The game WILL stop to function in the future.

And one game flaw is also addressed very precise ..

Second, the game was dumbed down to oblivion. Evolution doesn't even matter anymore. For example, you can add as many legs to a creature as you want, but the multi-legged creature won't be any faster than a single-legged one with higher leg stats. This gameplay element makes "creating" your creatures entirely pointless (cosmetic only, because everything is based on stats), and brings you about the same amount of excitement as dressing up a plastic doll.

Oh yes .. I cound't agree more ! How can a single-legged man can compete running with a dog ? or a 1 year old baby that just started to be able to walk on his foot?

I love the game , but honestly I think there are ways to improve.
I hope Maxis (creator) and EA learn something from customer opinion. And actually DO something about it.