EA threatens to cancel Spore accounts

By Robert Purchese Published 24 September, 2008

Of those who complain about DRM online.

EA has threatened to ban the Spore accounts of members discussing DRM issues on the official game forum.

"SecuROM has been discussed and discussed so much and it causes arguments in threads," barked a moderator. "If you want to talk about DRM SecuROM then please use another fan site forum.

"Please do not continue to post these threads or you account may be at risk of banning, which in some cases would mean you would need to buy a new copy to play Spore."

However, further down the page a producer for EA Maxis attempted to sooth the resulting furore.

"We are happy to support healthy exchanges on the forums. And people will only get banned for breaking the rules. Discussing DRM is not breaking the rules - and as long as it is a civil conversation, it's cool with us," said "Maxislucky".

The most controversial feature of the SecuROM anti-piracy software limits the number of times a game can be installed, either on one PC or numerous computers. Other features such as recurring online validation have caused a stir, as has being forced to install third-party software.

On more than one occasion developers have tinkered with the SecuROM features in their games to appease their fans, including BioShock developer 2K Boston and Mass Effect PC creator BioWare.

Spore is also due for some tinkering, apparently, and Red Alert 3 promises "more lenient" measures.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

You may also like...

Comments (75) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Evolution #1 3 years ago

    Bit of an overly dramatic headline?

  • sergeantdisco #2 3 years ago

    Bit of an overly cuntish reaction to their own money-whoring morelike.

  • peterfll #3 3 years ago

    EG you puppets, fancy posting this blatant EA propoganda. Rob Purchase smells and sucks jelly babies in hell.

    \is my attempt at getting banned from EG

  • Darren #4 3 years ago

    Gee, the EA moderators sound like a really friendly bunch when the developers are quite happy with people discussing the DRM thing *provided it's civil* but they threaten people with account bans so they need to buy the game again (which I'm sure anyone would NOT do if that's their attitude). :o

    Remind me never to go on the EA forums... ;)

  • mikeck #5 3 years ago

    "EG you puppets, fancy posting this blatant EA propoganda. Rob Purchase smells and sucks jelly babies in hell.

    \is my attempt at getting banned from EG "

    They must be the sourest jelly babies ever, every post of his is full of bile the %^&*^&* ^&*&^ "£%* ****&^^% **^&&^&%"£!!!!

    \that's my attempt :D

  • radlord #6 3 years ago

    haha this is the most sensationalist story ever.

  • Bitkari #7 3 years ago

    Whoa... some over-zealous community manager just got a stern talking to, huh?

    All of this malarky would of course be solved by removing DRM from their games.

    When will publishers stop being wowed by empty promises and misleading statistics from SecuROM sales reps?

  • FooAtari #8 3 years ago

    And there was me thinking EA had turnd themselves around...

  • TonCapone #9 3 years ago

    If you get banned persue them for a refund.
    This sort of corporate censorship and control is beyond a joke.
    Fuck them, don't buy their games.

  • dsmx #10 3 years ago

    So EA your going to ban the account of people who bad mouth DRM when chances are that the people who are have the pirated version anyway and don't need to worry about your idle threats.

  • PearOfAnguish #11 3 years ago

    Ha, I hope the mini-Hitler who came out with that genius idea got a spanking.

  • Syrette #12 3 years ago

    EAlol

    Only this isn't very funny.

  • curtlikesmeat #13 3 years ago

    Yeah this kind of stuff is annoying, not really bothered about Spore anyway....

    But if I was.... I'd pirate it, burn it to CD, attach a post-it to the CD which read "har!" and then use it as a frisby in through an open window at EA's head office.

    Or probably just not buy it.

  • Beats12 #14 3 years ago

    "So EA your going to ban the account of people who bad mouth DRM when chances are that the people who are have the pirated version anyway and don't need to worry about your idle threats."

    ---------

    Not really. Did you read past the headline?

    Seems to me it was just an over-eager moderator saying something he shouldn't have. I'm pretty sure that if EA did happen to ban the accounts of those who complained, they would only be opening themselves up for legal action and a whole world of pain...

  • Dizzy #15 3 years ago

    Didn't buy Spore because of DRM so EA can fuck right off.

  • kangarootoo #16 3 years ago

    Calm down (some) people.

    Some teenager flashed his moderator badge on some forum, 'cos he got sick of his mates calling him a DRM loving twat down the pub. This hardly sets EA policy.

    Nothing to see, move along.

  • IneptPercy #17 3 years ago

    I can see the problem, it is happening on here. Everybody is jumping on the we hate DRM/DRM broke my PC bandwagon, the reality being that if it wasn't for all this bitching going on most people would never notice it was there and people would have to admit its virus gained from there bit torrent games which have killed there PC and the DRM has sat i the background and caused no problems with reliability or performance.

  • Benyboyuk #18 3 years ago

    I wonder if EA has ever heard of a little thing called 'free speech'?

  • Dizzy #19 3 years ago

    Why would you assume people would download a pirated version? I never pirate games (would be a bit stupid as a games dev myself), I just do not support DRM games. Spore is dead to me... both legal and illegal version. Case closed.

  • hulahoops #20 3 years ago

    /Thanks Kangarootoo for saving me from typing that. :)

  • realworld666 Verified Lead Programmer, Fuzzy-Frog Games #21 3 years ago

    Peh thats nothing. I got an email, 7 day suspension and threat of a ban just because I shared a house shaped like a nob.

  • Spectral #22 3 years ago

    Even if you take the problems secuROM can cause out of the equation, the fact they limit the installations is bad enough on its own. Why should they have the right to tell me how many times I can use it?

  • gaselite #23 3 years ago

    This is great because, on the one hand, it's a shitty thing to do/threat to make.

    On the other hand, it's great because the online gamer community is full of whinging little turds who lack perspective and complain about trivial shit all the time. Ban them all I say.

  • Silvervein #24 3 years ago

    I'm glad to see that EA does a lot to disillusion people as to their general policies regarding consumer respect. Hopefully they will pull off couple more stunts like that, losing majority of their sales,which will force them to change their attitude towards DRM.

  • Bleh #25 3 years ago

    When ever I think they reach the bottem line they seem to be able to lower it again :p. I made my mind up a long time ago not to buy anymore products of them. Saves a lot of frustration. There is just no way that I'm gonna support a company who handles there customers like that.

  • karstux #26 3 years ago

    Maybe they backed down from the threat, but it should serve as an excellent illustration of the dangers of DRM.

    You don't own DRM'd content, you're pretty much putting yourself at the mercy of the distributor. Even benign DRM such as Steam isn't exempt from this. If they ban your account (it does happen) or go out of business - poof, all your purchases gone.

    I refuse to buy games with online "activation". I wish everyone would, we'd quickly see the end of this nonsense.

  • chrisjm #27 3 years ago

    when i think how many times ive installed the sims and sim city on my pc this 5 limit (was 3) has put me right off getting it. shame as it looks good.

  • FenderMaster #28 3 years ago

    I really dont get what all the fuss is about, how many computers do you guys have?

    They wa nt to protect their IP in a medium rife with piracy, the game took a long time to make, if it was me im sure I'd do the same

  • Shakey_Jake33 #29 3 years ago

    FenderMaster - You never upgrade your PC? That counts as a new machine.

  • FenderMaster #30 3 years ago

    very rarely, once every 4 years or so... still you have 4-5 d/l's, and you can unregister old pc's, its a hassle alright, but its not a big deal, it wont affect most gamers for years to come, and by then they'll be done with the game...
    Edited by 1 at 24/09/08 @ 16:17

  • mcbi4kh2 #31 3 years ago

    They wa nt to protect their IP in a medium rife with piracy

    Quite clearly, it didn't work. It was obvious it was never going to work.

  • karstux #32 3 years ago

    @FenderMaster

    I have original games that are over 10 years old, their respective studios/publishers long gone. Provided the install media still work, I could install and play them just fine. That's as it should be. I'm certain that with DRM'd games it won't be possible.

    Just imagine if classics such as Baldur's Gate, Planescape Torment or the original Fallouts had been DRM-"protected". No one would be able to play them today (legally). It would be a shame and a loss to our culture.

    Besides, I don't see why any publisher should have that much control over their games. Being required to "phone home" for every installation, or even startup of the game (think of Steam) is an invasion of my privacy. It's none of their freaking business when, where or how often I install/play a particular game.

  • hulahoops #33 3 years ago

    Oh to go back to the good old days when we only had to rely on CD-ROMs to ensure our lifelong ability to play a game.

    Thank god they were utterly indestructible/scratch proof/immune to girlfriends taking them out and leaving them on the carpet silver side down so they could put The Sims in EVERY FRIGGING TIME/impossible to lose/not noisy/not slow/not rubbish.


    EDIT: And thank god the developer only saw about 12p of the 35 quid we paid for them in the first place after the retailer/distributor/publisher had taken their cut. Bastard developers and their pathetic mewlings about "feeding their families".
    Edited by 3 at 24/09/08 @ 16:36

  • RexRunti #34 3 years ago

    Even windows requires on-line activation these days (or you can do it via the telephone). Yes DRM can be dodgy as hell, (though why is Steam better the SecuROM? becasue they also try and sell you stuff?) but until someone comes up with a better solution companies like EA, Sony, Valve et al will continue to try and protect their IP, and in world of torrents, scandinavian websites and people with too much time on their hands the only solution is more and more restrictive copy protection or go console exclusive.

  • jamie_fear #35 3 years ago

    @BlankOBlank!

    Damn right! I've still got a load of CD-ROMs from my 486 days. Still got System Shock 1 although I can't get it to run on anything these days.

  • sergeantdisco #36 3 years ago

    Restrictive protection only hampers paying customer though, that's not right. Some developers need to address the problem of illegal copies being a more satisfactory experience than legal ones.

    Plus, if it really is to combat piracy (which it's not) it's a pretty piss poor effort when the cracked version of Spore was available before people who'd pre-ordered years ago got their copies.

  • Shakey_Jake33 #37 3 years ago

    Well, it would all be quite valid if these schemes prevented piracy. But we know they don't.

    Steam is better because your purchase it tied to your account and thus you as a person, not to a specific machine. You can use a Steam game on any PC in the world as long as you log in as yourself.

  • karstux #38 3 years ago

    @Rex

    I consider Steam relatively benign because they don't try to restrict your usage of the game. So long as you've internet, you can install anywhere and as often as you like. It's convenient, but still DRM.

    As for your second point - you'll realize that draconian DRM doesn't prevent piracy in the slightest. The only result is that pirates have superior versions than honest customers. Many people suspect that DRM isn't even aimed at the pirates, but at the second-hand market.

  • jamie_fear #39 3 years ago

    @ karstux

    "I consider Steam relatively benign because they don't try to restrict your usage of the game. So long as you've internet, you can install anywhere and as often as you like. It's convenient, but still DRM. "

    I think it depends what game you purchase. I was looking to buy Crysis since they put that up on Steam the other week but it said in the disclaimer that you could only install this 3 times, then after that you'd need to contact EA Support.

  • Trikk #40 3 years ago

    Fuck EA
    Fuck Eidos

    Pirate their games, never pay for anything they release, don't play their ad-supported "free" games, don't support them in any way.

  • dudefella #41 3 years ago

    Good job EA, instead of taking consumer criticism on board, threaten to ban them! After all, Soviet Russia proved that shutting down dissenting opinions is totally the way to run a clean, tight ship!

  • hulahoops #42 3 years ago

    For those who are still falling for the sensationalist headline (which is fair enough), this was the work of an over zealous mod, it didn't come from the Death Star- I mean EA.
    Edited by 1 at 24/09/08 @ 17:22

  • Corben_Dallas #43 3 years ago

    EA can fuck the hell off.

    you cunts.

  • bad09 #44 3 years ago

    LOL at the hitler mods at EA!


    Personally, I don't care about the DRM in Spore, I'll never buy the game anyway (up yours EA!).

  • FenderMaster #45 3 years ago

    Okay I see now, its not the best system, its just that personally, i cant seemyself playing Spore in 5 years time(even 2 years time, but i guess if this persists then it would be very bad for the industry

  • hiddenranbir #46 3 years ago

    EA will beat pirates for sure! Woo!

  • Skurmedel #47 3 years ago

    Fear and loathing in EA Forum

  • Silvervein #48 3 years ago

    @BlankOBlank!

    While it is indeed true to the account banning comments came from EA forum moderator, it's also true that while posting as a moderator he's a representative of whole company and their attitude. What he posts under anonymous accounts, it's his business.
    When he posts as a moderator, his actions reflect on the whole company.
    Besides, it's not like this kind of attitude is something shocking or strange coming from EA, now is it.

  • vane101 #49 3 years ago

    That's the US Spore forum. Euro moaning is here. http://fo rums.electronicarts.co.uk/spore...

  • SunoffaBeach #50 3 years ago

    love EA

    1) they cheat on me
    2) i complain about
    3) they cheat on me more



  • Inflatable #51 3 years ago

    Only thing I'm against really is a limit of installs.. The rest doesn't really bother me.. I understand developers/publishers have to do something against people not willing to pay for their products.. If what they do helps is another discussion though..

    I think it helps if you force gamers to register online for multiplayer like EA is doing lately, because no access to multiplayer makes a lot of games less attractive to pirate for a lot of people.. Only downside to that is that those games won't allow for offline multiplayer (LAN) games anymore aswell, and that sucks if you're in a place without access to the internet..

    In the end it's always the good people (gamers that buy) that have to suffer because of the bad people (gamers that pirate).. It happens everywhere in life, not just videogames..
    Edited by 1 at 24/09/08 @ 20:15

  • bad09 #52 3 years ago

    @ Inflatable

    BULLCRAP! DRM paints EVERYONE with the same brush, it's only the pirates who actually don't get screwed by DRM! DRM is poison to the ents industry (ask the music industry), people don't want restrictions on their hard earned cash that they spend (understand this suits before you kill yourselves!). Example - My PSP (like it it or not Sony/devs!) is a better machine for custom firmware, and until you offer the same I won't look back. I got a new PSP this month and thought about loosing CF, but I can't go back to cases of UMD and the PSN line is useless!

    Give people less reason to pirate and hack, reduce your price, and hey presto! More people buy your product and their is no need to waste money on USELESS!!!!! DRM......


  • smelly #53 3 years ago

    "Fuck EA
    Fuck Eidos

    Pirate their games, never pay for anything they release, don't play their ad-supported "free" games, don't support them in any way."


    So you HATE them.. but instead of just not buying said games - you still want to play the games they've worked hard on making so you'll pirate them?

    Is that right?

    Tosser.

  • smelly #54 3 years ago

    "BULLCRAP! DRM paints EVERYONE with the same brush, it's only the pirates who actually don't get screwed by DRM! DRM is poison to the ents industry (ask the music industry), people don't want restrictions on their hard earned cash that they spend (understand this suits before you kill yourselves!)."


    So .. you've never bought a console game then?

  • Freek #55 3 years ago

    Leaked before release, massivly downloaded, nothing but bad press and hate from the consumer. So at wich point does this DRM thing start paying off??

  • Dizzy #56 3 years ago

    "Only thing I'm against really is a limit of installs.. The rest doesn't really bother me.. "

    What? You don't mind EA installing drivers/services on your PC that are always there running in the background potentially fucking with your PC software? Good for you.

  • m0thr4 #57 3 years ago

    The point about EA's DRM is that it renders the game virtually valueless on the second-hand market, yet does nothing to prevent anyone downloading the cracked, DRM-free version from Usenet.

    In other words, it only penalises those who are honest enough to buy a retail copy.

  • IneptPercy #58 3 years ago

    I must add after recently installing warhead, that there is a bonus to limited installs. I don't have to use the disc, So I could install on my PC and my laptop and not need to carry the disc about, as long as you can get you activations back when you uninstall then I really couldn't care less.

    As for a service like Steam disappearing, if they did I am pretty sure they will release patches themselves so people can still use the games.
    Edited by 1 at 24/09/08 @ 23:53

  • Frosty840 #59 3 years ago

    Well, no more EA games for me, then.

    If EA can, and will steal my game from me whenever they feel like it, which the article confirms is possible, if not currently intended, then EA aren't selling me anything. Flipside of that is that I guess I'm not gonna be buying anything off them.

  • AphoticCosmos #60 3 years ago

    Modrage!

    Doesn't sound like the EA mods I know, when I was active on the BF2/2142 forums there was a really good mod team who listened and helped.

  • Xerx3s #61 3 years ago

    Hehehe, I'm really starting to see that new face that EA is putting on. No, no more evil tricks.

    Not being able to use the product you own because EA doesn't like you lol.

  • kangarootoo #62 3 years ago

    This thread is full of stupid.

  • actionfitz #63 3 years ago

    EA in 'We Are Still Cunts' Shocker!

  • Vordred #64 3 years ago

    i would mind these types of Anti-Piracy if indeed it did the job, but the reality of it is that i only causes problems for the people that buy the game. as the prirates get thier hacked versions.

    i remember having to get a No-CD for GTA 3 when it came out ecause the copy protection would not reconise my CD-Rom drive, in the end Rockstar did a patch that removed the CD Check.

    another one was StarForce, bought Splinter Cell : Chaos Theory and could only play multiplayer as Star Force did not work on Windows 64 at the time, and Ubi Soft never patched it up

    some times i wont why companys spend so much time and money on Anti-Piracy as its normally cracked before they even start using it and it just then becomes a pain for those that did buy the game

  • subtlesnake #65 3 years ago

    "I didn't really have a slavering issue with the DRM stuff before, but this overreaction means they can fuck off. I'll return the game in the morning. Nice one EA"

    You're returning the game because one of their community moderators made a mistake, in what he claimed is/was allowed?

    "These comments are absolutely not true or in-line with EA’s moderation policy," an EA spokesperson told Kotaku. "They were made by an over-zealous community volunteer who does not work for EA."

    [link url=http://kotaku.com/5054372/ea-responds-to-sp ore-forum-banning-concerns
    ]http://ko taku.com/5054372/ea-responds-to...[/link]

    Eurogamer's sensationalism wins again.
    Edited by 1 at 25/09/08 @ 11:26

  • subtlesnake #66 3 years ago

    "Erm, no. I'm returning the game because the copmpany has a policy I don't agree with."

    The policy that you're allowed to talk about Spore's DRM, if you do it in a civil fashion? That's their policy.

    If you have more general issues with Spore's DRM, then fine, but there's no "overreaction" to speak of here.

    "Anyway, who made you the person who scrutinises my decisions."

    Look at the situation from the opposite perspective: why did you post your decision publicly if not so other people could read and react to it? I'm entitled to express my opinion just like you are yours.

  • chicknstu #67 3 years ago

    Well, it would reduce the number of people moaning about your crap policy decision by one.

    Guess there are some clever suits after all.

  • kangarootoo #68 3 years ago

    This thread is full of stupid.

  • Silvervein #69 3 years ago

    When it comes to companies forcing people to install their 'legal' spyware together with games they *paid* for...I'm with the 'stupid'.

  • RedFoxOne #70 3 years ago

    I think its about high time people stop buying ANYTHING made by EA. Lets hit them whee it hurts! The pocketbook.

    http://www.privacy.es.tc

  • Lamb #71 3 years ago

    Time is money. Its actually cheaper to buy a compelling pc game than to download it.

  • kangarootoo #72 3 years ago

    @Silvervein

    But that isn't what this article is about is it? This article is about one individual acting like a tit, and EA stating quite clearly the comments of said tit don't reflect their policy.

    And yet people keep harping on about how shit EA are being for threatening to ban people.

    THAT is stupid.

  • SunoffaBeach #73 3 years ago

    everyone who say this stupid is stupid

  • captain-future #74 3 years ago

    WTF??!!!! a new low even for EA.

    In Soviet Russia, DRM hates you.

  • peppergomez #75 3 years ago

    couldn't have created a bigger clusterfuck if they'd intentionally set out to do so. what tools they are.