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The spore, the merrier?

By Johanna Gibson, David Pearce, Jeremy Phillips and Ilanah Simon.

Thanks again to the ever-vigilant Birgit Clark, says the IPKat, for drawing his attention to this BBC news item on an exercise in digital rights management (DRM) that has not won the universal admiration and praise of the consuming public. It appears that hundreds of people have complained about the copyright protection system incorporated into Electronic Arts' eagerly anticipated Spore game -- which lets users evolve from cells into civilised (sic) beings. The system in question limits to three the number of times the game, launched just days ago, can be installed. Said one user:

"The DRM on this thing is less friendly than my recent colonoscopy - you get three installs. That's it. No install returned for uninstallation, or anything else".

Myriads of complaints have been posted on Spore fan sites and gaming websites, as well as on Electronic Arts' official discussion forum. Electronic Arts' FAQ section prefers to put a more positive slant on things: "

Games are authorised to your machine when you first install and launch the game. This system allows you to authenticate your game on three computers with the purchase of one disc. EA Customer Service is on hand to supply any additional authorisations that are warranted. This will be done on a case-by-case basis by contacting Customer Support."

Says the IPKat, would it not be ironical if it should come to pass that the copy-protection system for a game that lets cells evolve into civilised humans is itself subjected to a process of evolution that enables it to be installed on rather more occasions? Merpel adds, what's the betting that someone will post a comment to say that it's not irony but something else, and you've got the wrong word again?

More on Spore here ...
... and on Spohr here
Cat spore here

Full post as published by IPKat on September 10, 2008 (boomark / email).