Red Alert 3 DRM to Be 'More Lenient'
"In the case of Red Alert 3 (and all PC titles coming out of EA), we will use SecuROM," added Corry, referring to a brand of DRM technology used in previous EA LA releases like Command & Conquer 3. With Red Alert 3, however, a few restrictions have been eased.
The game disc will not be required to launch the game, and up to five installations will be allowed. After five installations, up from three for the EA published Spore and PC version of Mass Effect, users will be required to contact EA customer service.
Corry also took the time to give his take on the sometimes divisive DRM issue: "I think it would be a shame if people decided to not play a great game simply because it came with DRM, but I understand that this is a very personal decision for many of you and I respect that," adding, "I'm a lot less respectful of those people who take the position that they will illegally download a game simply because it has DRM." Many users against DRM often argue that a pirated game is easier to use than a legitimate copy since it sidesteps incompatibilities caused by copy protection.
The DRM controversy hit a head yesterday when Amazon.com found itself flooded with negative reviews for Maxis' Spore--another EA-published game that employs SecuROM copy protection--citing its DRM as reason to rate the game one star out of five.
Red Alert 3, which also famously features lo-fi FMV sequences in addition to its copy protection, hits PC and Xbox 360 this October.
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pupismyname
replyNot requiring the CD to play is a step in the right direction. Laptop gamers should be happy with that one.
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/\ this and i have no problem with SecuROM
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Not in this case :(. Nor with Mass Effect or Spore.
You are thinking of Bioshock.-
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It not designed to do so.
It just x installs. X being 5 in RA3 and 3 in Spore.
Yes, i know. Mind-blowing. -
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So say you have to reinstall windows a few times over the years. Down the line 4-5 years later when you want to install the game and play for nostalgic purposes, you can't because you didn't uninstall it properly each time. Why should you have to call EA to tell them you're not a pirate? It's sickening.
It's fine that they experimented with a new form of DRM, I don't blame them for wanting to stop piracy. But it's not fine to not listen to people that dislike it. I refuse to buy games with this DRM on it period.-
uninstalling the game doesn't reclaim your install count.
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Welcome to vendor lock-in! Once a staple of business software, it has now made its way to consumer software (already having been perfected by anti-virus vendors).
This is EA's way to ensure that you keep giving them an average of $100 per year for years to come. Or that you become enraged enough to scorn them and all who support them. But hey, money's money.
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that's what I thought originally but they don't
I think it's fair to assume it's not intended to free them up (possibly for "lolol now you can't resell" reasons) since, to my knowledge, EA- and Bioware community managers posted all kinds of excuses and clarifications in DRM topics on Spore and Mass Effect but never specifically addressed whether uninstallation should free up activations or not, which makes me think they just don't want to tell people "after 5 installations you're screwed" face-to-face.
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