Spore DRM Protest Makes EA Ease Red Alert 3 Restrictions

Crazy Taco writes "The heavy Amazon.com protest of Spore's DRM appears to have caught the attention of executives at EA. IGN reports that DRM for the upcoming C&C: Red Alert 3 will be scaled back. Unlike previous Command and Conquer games, the CD will not be required in the drive to play. The online authentication will be done just once (rather than periodic phone calls home), and up to five installations will be allowed, as opposed to three for Spore. While I still think five installations is too few (I've probably re-installed Command and Conquer: Generals 20 times over the years for various reasons), EA says they will have staff standing by to grant more installations as necessary on a case by case basis. So, while this still isn't optimal, at least we are getting a compromise. Hopefully, if the piracy rate for the game is low, perhaps EA will get comfortable enough to ship with even less DRM in the future."

Comments

Yeah, sure its because of some comments on Amazon

[badboy_tw2002]

Not requiring the CD is nothing new - Spore doesn't need it nor does anything downloaded from the digital store - hasn't for years. The 5 activation thing is more, but 3,5, what's the right number? 100? I think people's issue is with the SecurRom stuff that is resident while you play the game right? Anyways, unless people protest every single game that comes out (including Steam!) from the game industry, this is a small isolated, and quickly forgotten event. The industry is moving past CD checks, and for most people 5 installations, no CD check and a one time activation is not a hassle. They're probably still running bonzai buddy, do you really think they give a rat's ass about securom?

    I'm not really sure what's the way to go on it, but I know posting some BS FUD on Amazon like "SONY ROOTKITTED ME OMG!" and claiming victory when they raise the install limit to 5 is not the way to go.

Re:We will not compromise

[bigstrat2003]

You forgot one feature:

Version 1.
-Is legally and morally acceptable.

Version 2.
-Is legally and morally unacceptable.