Spore

[Ngamer01]

To anyone looking to pick up Spore when it launches, be wary of the PC version. Quoted off another forum:

Crucial information about SPORE and next EA games (Sims 3 etc.)

Spore, among other upcoming EA titles, is using newest SecuRom protection, which is bad. I will explain why.

1) SecuRom allows you to install the game only 3 times. After these 3 times, you have to buy new game, because your old game will lock up, preventing you from installing it. Of course, you can contact tech. support to revalidate your key, but they will charge a cost for it.

2) SecuRom has Ring 1 privileges, making it as important as Kernel files. This is VERY bad, because it will then install UASERVICE.exe, which will allow normal user ADMIN rights to access all SecuRom stuff. This will make hacker's job very easy, because they can then hack through the UASERVICE to gain admin control on computer, allowing them to do anything on your computer.

3) You will have to validate your game after each patch, expansion and added content.

4) The uninstallation of the software with which SecuROM came does not (or at least until now, has not, and probably won't,) because of separate installation of SecuRom. (Or, at least, you cannot uninstall it without third party support or content.)

5) SecuRom uncontrollably runs in the background of your PC.

6) SecuRom probably will cause problems with your hardware due to it's virus-like behaviour. This will make you buy new hardware (usually optical drives (CD/DVD-Drives)).

7) SecuRom has caused games which it will come with to malfunction.

After Mass Effect PC and Bioshock PC, I'd thought developers would stop using such BS tactics. Especially after Sony's DRM rootkit fiasco a few years ago.

[Zee]

1) After I buy a game, I have no further qualms for using devices such as keygens to play the product I paid for.

2) There are also ways to replace that file with a cracked file that doesn't allow for such dangerous freedoms.

3) Whoop-de-doo, a minor annoyance.

4) When I install I pay attention to what's going in, so when I do uninstall I can take care of it.

5) See #2

6) Then I'll use Daemon Tools more.

7) See #2 & #5

And quick question, how do I make those PNG files that auto-create creatures when dragged and dropped into Spore?

[siteboy3456]

does aney notice that Spore is like a better Amazing Island

[Maxpphire]

The SecuRom protection thingamabob is technically illegal because it installs itself without your knowledge.

[Zee]

Exactly, which is why cracked .exes are fair game. After all, SecuRom is never covered, therefore I see it as a file infection, and removing the infection with a fixed .exe is legitimate in my book.

[Sho_"Rocker"_Daisuke]

can't you play offline anyways?

[GaryCXJk]

SecuROM isn't downloaded afterwards, it's installed during the main installation of the game.

Basically it's illegal software packed with legal software, making the game illegal to play.