DRM rules out 'Crysis: Warhead' for PC testing
Spore isn't the only new PC game from Electronic Arts to come with a frustrating DRM scheme. Crysis: Warhead, the follow-up to last year's Crysis, has a similar five-install limit. We know PC gamers hate DRM, and you've certainly not been shy about making your complaints known. As gamers ourselves, we share your outrage. We're also feeling the pain as reviewers.
We've negotiated frustrating Windows DRM in the past, but our PC testing efforts have never been thwarted by an individual gaming title. Our problem is that in order to use an application as a system test, we need to install it on every PC that comes through CNET Labs. As much as we'd like to stay current and adopt a Crysis: Warhead benchmark, we can't take the chance that on the sixth, twelfth, or eighteenth system some random EA customer service rep will deny our reactivation request.
Our hopes and dreams, as represented by Crysis: Warhead.
(Credit: Gamespot)After the job the original Crysis did on even high-end gaming PCs, it didn't surprise us when we heard from PC vendors requesting that we adopt the supposedly optimized, more forgiving Crysis: Warhead as a high-end gaming test. We've also heard from EA that it recognizes the problem for testers and that a solution could be forthcoming. In the meantime, we'll be scouting for other new games that aren't quite as high maintenance. Far Cry 2, we're looking at you.
Rich Brown reviews desktops and various other components and peripherals for CNET. E-mail Rich. 
If Spore has a 3 install limit, it?s ended it?s life span after only a week. 5 installs gets me about 3 months. When it?s time to flip it on eBay to gain back a few bucks to use on the next game, well, needless to say, that?s just not going to work with the install issue. They have hit you coming and going on the software. The price is just too high. I probably should not have bought this game. There are a lot more games on my list to enjoy than I have time for. I can focus on the ones that will give me the most for my money.
Because e.g. here in Germany, I'm still buying games: "do not own a copy, only a license to use" clause in EULA simply is illegal over here and has no power.
- by warpete October 1, 2008 4:57 PM PDT
- Most people just don't understand-------EA simply doesn't care how you or other gamer's feel. They have their methods of determining how much money they will make WITH DRM and how much they could lose without it. Even with Pirating, EA seems to think that penalizing honest, hard-working PC user's is acceptable. In essence, everyone who wants to play any EA games will only be "RENTING" them--even though you think that you own them. It's not true. I am a System's builder and I am constantly changing my personnal system to try new things. I dual-boot with windows Xp Pro and Vista Ultimate. Just ONE installation on my PC requires TWO activations--even though the game is only installed on one PC. I want to be able to test each game on both Operating systems. The PC Game "SPORE" has been hacked. All games will get hacked eventually. EA still penalizes honest people for "buying" the game instead of downloading a Pirated copy. Pathetic. We all know it's all about money, but I am only concerned about MY MONEY. It may not be easy to pass on a good title, but that is exactly what I am going to do in the future. This means no more EA anything. Trust me---EA doesn't care one tiny bit whether I buy their games or not. I'm only one person, but I have a feeling that EA is on a collision course with death---the death of their Company. There are many, many people voicing their displeasure about EA and it will only get worse. EA has even managed to squeltch the sales of their games on Online Auctions. Who would buy an EA game not knowing if there are any activations left? So, EA has really burned the consumer---BIG TIME. You don't buy the game--you RENT it and if you ever decide to sell your copy for a few Dollars---you can't. My solution is very, very simple. I will noy buy anything from EA--period. With today's Economy, times are hard enough. The money you earn needs to be spent wisely---very, very wisely. There will always be those poor Slobs that don't understand or don't care about what EA is doing--and that is what EA is counting on. Unfortunarely for EA, most people are too informed and care too much about where their next paycheck comes from to shell out their hard earned cash to just RENT a video game. America is being forced to "grow up" and everyone is going to have to pay the price. NONE of my MONEY is going to EA. I'll buy from other gaming companies or find another hobby. It's very, very simple for me and it should be for you too. Gaming " sharing circles" are popping up all over. Buy just one game and install it on one computer and and have all your friends take turns playing the game. That one computer is moved from Home to Home and everyone splits the cost of the game. The President of EA should have his head handed to him on a silver platter. There are much better ways to say "Thank You" for purchasing our game! R.I.P--EA
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