EA's new procteion method. Is it really to stop piracy?
By jsmith12
@jsmith12 (438)
Canada
August 2, 2008 8:36pm CST
I'm talking about the 3 install policy that they are locking into their new games. They put it on their last big game Mass Effect, and there's talk of them putting it on Spore.
I've heard the following about it so far:
1) That it only allows 3 installs at a time
2) That you do NOT get an install back if you uninstall it
Now EA's claim that it's to stop piracy. The problem with this claim is I have seen people, even on the official EA game boards saying they will not buy the game, and just go ahead and pirate it IF this protection is installed.
However I also remember a case in the US courts by the big game and movie companies to make it illegal to stop second hand game and movie sales. That was shot down.
Now, strangely enough, EA is coming out with this protection that for all intents and purposes kills the second hand market for these games equipped with this protection. Why? Because who's going to risk purchasing a game with this protection that may not even have an install left?
To me it seems this is NOT a shot at piracy like they claim, but rather an attempt to shut down the second hand market.
What is your option on this? Do you think it's piracy or second hand market that's the target of this new program protection?
2 people like this
2 responses
@mr_mlk (364)
•
6 Aug 08
GamesIndustry.biz [1] had an article about this a little while back [2].
What is interesting is the music industry is starting to STOP doing this. (iTunes Plus, eMusic) They have noticed that if you give people a choice of crippled version or good version then they will select the good version, they will even *pay* for the good version. I hope the games industry sees this too.
I do think this is aimed at the 2nd hand market; it would be interesting to see if it is legal though. I've bought the game, not rented it. I have a right to resell it.
1 - http://www.gamesindustry.biz/
2 - http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/user-friendly
@jsmith12 (438)
• Canada
7 Aug 08
Yes I agree. That's what's so stuiped about this new copy protection scam. Because now you don't even own the copy of the game you buy! You have a 3 install rental for the price of another company's game.
And it is a scam. If I pay 50$ for a game, I want to be able to use it for the rest of my life, NOT have to install it only 3 times. Likewise if I choose to sell it, that is my choice, NOT something the company can force me to keep.
They were shot down in the court of law when they tried to block 2nd hand sales of games and CDs. So why is this even allowed?
1 person likes this
@philjas (1134)
• United States
3 Aug 08
I'm inclined to think it really is piracy they're trying to stop because the movie, music, and gaming industries are so paranoid about losing some of their multibillions to pirates. But, you have a really good point about the secondhand market. Still, I don't think it occurred to EA that people would get so upset about SecurRom they'd the TURN TO pirated copies to avoid it. In other words, I do think they thought this would stop piracy, but instead it is indeed encouraging it.
@jsmith12 (438)
• Canada
3 Aug 08
I would buy that IF there weren't people on the official Spore and Mass Effect boards SAYING they were going to pirate IF this was put on. So either they are ignorant of what's going on their boards (Not likely because the changes in SecureRom was DUE to complains on the board) or they've got something else in mind.
So I am hard pressed to believe it's piracy they're targeting with this, with the proof on their boards that it's driving potential buyers to piracy. Especially in light of the complains of a lot of official buyers of Mass Effect.
1 person likes this
