Spore impressions - TTLG Forums

Fringe on 9/9/2008 at 14:40

Everything I've heard about Spore's actual gameplay on other forums has been that it's a colossal disappointment with few lasting gameplay decisions to be made confirm/deny?

redrain85 on 9/9/2008 at 14:43

Quote Posted by Schattentänzer

Also, I'm curious how the DRM outrage turns out this time. The (http://kotaku.com/5046552/amazon-reviewers-do-not-take-kindly-to-spores-drm) Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/Spore-Pc/dp/B000FKBCX4/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1220958524&sr=8-1) spamming is something different than flaming away in some obscure forum or protest websites, since it reaches beyond the nerd demographic.

Yes, indeed. I'm so glad this issue is finally getting more widespread attention.

Up until now, every game encumbered with the latest SecuROM DRM infection has been a game title that didn't appeal to a really broad, casual market.

Spore is the type of game that anyone would want to play. Mom, dad, kids, grandma and grandpa. Now we're getting a large cross-section of customers, particularly ones who aren't necessarily computer-savvy, having to put up with this DRM garbage. Instead of complaints being limited to the 2K or Bioware forums - where they can be neatly swept under the rug - they can't put a lid on it so easily, this time.

I really expect this to be a turning point, where game publishers finally get the message and back way the hell off on DRM. It didn't work for the music industry, and it's not going to work on games either.

The_Raven on 9/9/2008 at 14:50

I doubt that game publishers are really going to be that quick on the uptake. Several UK publishers have already started using the MPAA/RIAA's litigation tactics, which we all know was a smashing success in limiting pirate copies on the Internet. :rolleyes:

Shakey-Lo on 9/9/2008 at 14:51

I haven't played Spore, and the few posts I make on this forum all seem to be links to RPS articles these days, but their (http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2008/09/05/spore-things-to-know/) write-up of Spore sounded reasonable to me.

redrain85 on 9/9/2008 at 15:02

Quote Posted by The_Raven

I doubt that game publishers are really going to be that quick on the uptake.

Sure. I don't expect it to happen overnight. I'm not that optimistic. But I think it will mark the beginning of a slow trend, where the publishers will start backing off at least a bit.

Quote:

Several UK publishers have already started using the MPAA/RIAA's litigation tactics, which we all know was a smashing success in limiting pirate copies on the Internet. :rolleyes:

Right, which is also incredibly bad PR for the games industry. I'd be very surprised if that gained any further momentum. Even Peter Moore, now at EA, thought it was a stupid idea.

I don't know how many people have read Brad Wardell's (http://www.ttlg.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1766470#post1766470) recent interview, but he makes so much sense with his views on piracy, DRM, and the industry. I really wish publishers would listen to this man.

june gloom on 9/9/2008 at 16:12

Quote Posted by redrain85

Up until now, every game encumbered with the latest SecuROM DRM infection has been a game title that didn't appeal to a really broad, casual market.

Bioshock wouldn't appeal to grandma but it appealed to a fuck of a lot more than just us neckbearded PC gamers. I know, not the same thing, but I wanted to bring it up.

Hopefully the backlash from this'll be more permanent.

Oh, and as for getting sued, I've recieved at least one C&D (and my internet suspended) from the Entertainment Software Association (the gaming equivalent of RIAA/MPAA), and it wasn't even my fault. They'd claimed that I downloaded Quake 2, which was a big fat lie as I didn't even like Quake 2 at the time. The ESA's largely irrelevant now though.

Kalit on 9/9/2008 at 17:13

Quote Posted by redrain85

I don't know how many people have read Brad Wardell's (http://www.ttlg.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1766470#post1766470) recent interview, but he makes so much sense with his views on piracy, DRM, and the industry. I really wish publishers would listen to this man.

Thanks for that link, good read.

The reason I'm not buying spore is because of that DRM crap.

redrain85 on 10/9/2008 at 01:53

I found this article on Ars Technica, that's a highly amusing read.

(http://arstechnica.com/journals/thumbs.ars/2008/09/09/ea-gives-customers-middle-finger-with-lenient-red-alert-3-drm)

Fafhrd on 10/9/2008 at 03:35

It's not entirely accurate, though. Uninstalling and reinstalling on the same computer (provided you haven't formatted the hard drive/reinstalled the OS/"major hardware upgrade") won't use more than one activation. And apparently (http://cid-94a12102e5094675.skydrive.live.com/self.aspx/eXcessive%20Software/SecuROM|_DRM|_Backup.zip) this little tool can be used to backup all the SecuROM related registry keys that tell Spore it's already been activated, so if you do format your hard drive, you won't lose an activation.

That said: Yes, SecuROM is still draconian and shitty as copy-protection schemes go, but spreading inaccurate information about the way that it functions doesn't help anyone, either.

EvaUnit02 on 10/9/2008 at 04:39

Quote Posted by dethtoll

Bioshock wouldn't appeal to grandma but it appealed to a fuck of a lot more than just us neckbearded PC gamers. I know, not the same thing, but I wanted to bring it up.

The majority of those people would've bought the console version.