EA Loosens Spore, Mass Effect DRM

An anonymous reader writes "In response to recent criticism, EA has decided to eliminate the periodic validation of Mass Effect and Spore. 'Specifically, EA's plan to dial in to game owner's computers every ten days to check whether they were running a legitimate version of their software has been scrapped, ShackNews reports. EA had planned to use the validation method for upcoming titles Mass Effect and Spore. EA now says that validation will now only occur when a user attempts to download new content for either game. Chief among the voices in opposition to this measure were members of the armed forces, who pointed out that they could not rely on having an internet connection every ten days.'"

Comments

Re:Sudden outbreak...

[fprintf]

Wow, so the bad spelling/grammar extends to your subconscious also? Man, this misspelling of "lose" is getting more and more pervasive! We must stop it before we loose the planet... oh noes! it has me too! argh, speeling, grammer, all gone to sh!t. $@$@#$@#$@#$DFAD#@@#$ *thud*

Vitriol laden post got in the way here.....

[rts008]

I sincerely apologize if I have offended an active duty US serviceman.
"I also know a lot of people from other service branches, from various backgrounds with varying perspectives on the war."

Which war?
In the end they are all the same old shit. War on Drugs, War on Pedophiles, War on anyone who does not agree with US, War on Iraq (what was that about again?), War on whatever.

But, swabbies? Huh! While you were on yer 'boat', (Arrghhh!)
I spent 3 1/2 years active in the US Army in W.Berlin in the late 1970's, to early 1980's providing security for E.German defectors to skip across the borders to OUR side. (3rd Army,75th Rangers, Airborne-HooRah!, 10th Special Forces Group, team leader of Team #8....*look at my UID: RTS008-my initials plus my lucky 'James Bond' 00# and team #8!!!)

I hear you: "Just some perspective from a Sailor."
I have worked with you Swabbies and your SEALs, and I also am proud of my service to my country.
I helped get a lot of scientists and politically important (at that time) persons to 'our' side back then.

If it calms your mind, I have been awarded 3 Purple Hearts (too dumb to duck!) awards, the Distinguished Service Cross.....with clusters, and NONE of that on public record.
I don't mind because I know what WE accomplished as a team.

Most of what I did is still classified even though the Berlin Wall fell.
  That's okay, we know, and WE feel good about it. Nevermind the fact that most of us have had to move around the US to avoid all the bounty hunter death threats since then. (check out the STASI, and E German Border Guards)

I had a 600,000 DM price on my head, and 400,000 DM price on any of my team mates capture back when.

Yeaah, I was committed to 'doing my duty', and I did it well. Actually too good by your standards, and yes, it was in the late 1970's to early 1980's, probably before your time. I still have the #4 slot on all-time highest confirmed kills by any US sniper in the books.(damn you Carlos Hathcock with 97 confirmed!!!)

I also did it out of patriotism and sense of duty...at the time, there was no draft... I VOLUNTEERED, as did ALL of my team-mates.

I was proud to have served then, and am still proud I did. So I have to wonder what your point is?

Okay, I've been drinking and have my offensive side in control...correct me if I go too far, but...

I guess you feel complacent and superior cruising around in your sub, able to lash out and proclaim superior judgment on the rest of the world? WTF?!?!?

Come to shore, get out of your nice little protected world (your sub), and I'll be glad to give you a touch of reality and a good old fashioned bosun's style asski9cjing to wake you up.

I was just sick and tired of the USA soldiers being on the shit end of the posts here. Nothing more, but now my dander is up. Sorry you were on the reception committee.
I am also sick and tired of the 'War on *' Whatever!
I am a patriot, I served my time (volunteered), and love my Country (USA), but
BTW, loved partying with the Aussie SF's, they know how to wreck/party a belligerent port of call! I miss y'all, mates!

Re:Sudden outbreak... No not Really

[drinkypoo]

Of course most of those soliders would "rather be home with their families" as opposed to dealing with a hostile combat environment every day. That said, those same soldiers are proud to be serving their nation (the "government" you speak of in your post), and have a job where they voluntarily agreed to accept and execute whatever orders are deemed necessary by those in command. That includes the Commander in Chief.

Soldiers who would rather be home with their families should not have become soldiers to support the tyranny of those in control of our government.

Serving your government is not serving your nation. If you want to provide for the national defense, you can join the guard. Oh wait, we're using them to fight an illegal war on foreign soil, too.

You did not agree to accept and obey unethical orders. The point of using humans and not just bombing everything into dust is that they are supposed to be capable of making the distinction.

Let me provide an alternate perspective; the majority of our military actions are either unwanted, unnecessary, or in search of profit. You can see this throughout history; for instance, something like half of our early naval bombardments were executed in order to force people to sell to the United Fruit Company, or to protect some other commercial interest. We prop up one dictator, assassinate another. The stupid kids who joined up to get money for college are the reason why we are able to project power all over the globe - we have a standing military made up of idiots, and we are not afraid to use it.

No, I am not saying that everyone in the military is stupid. Obviously, that would be an extremely precarious point on which to stand. What I am saying is that it's the stupidity inherent in believing that you're serving your best interests or the nation's best interests by joining a military which has formerly shot protesting veterans encamped on the white house lawn and currently is doing its best to avoid paying what it owes to soldiers returning from the middle east - which really isn't much different.

My father was a Marine, he signed up guaranteed air wing and ended up an air traffic controller. I have a niece in the navy right now, she just went in because she has no idea what to do with her life. I guess that's better than joining the air force, where a female recruit can expect to be raped at some point in her career - I'm not sure if the same would hold true in the navy or not.

It should be abundantly clear to anyone by now that our military heritage is the result of powermongering. We'll never know if we could use diplomacy to solve our problems, because we're all too willing to start shooting.

This plea goes out to all of you out there who have kids, or know kids, who are about to be of age to join the military: TEACH PEACE. There is a better way that bombing everyone into submission in the name of profit.