Okay, so it’s not the complete abolition of intrusive Digital Rights Management that we’re hoping for, but it’s a step in the right direction. EA has now finally decided to release a software tool that will de-authorise installations of Spore so you can install it on more than five computers.
An epic consumer backlash followed Spore’s launch in September, as players complained vigorously about the utterly ridiculous anti-piracy measures nestled within legally bought copies of the game (heavily pirated Bit Torrent versions didn’t have them, funnily enough). In response, EA promised it would relax its ‘punish legitimate users into submission’ approach.
The de-authorisation tool, available here, lets you remove computers from the list of accepted machines, even without uninstalling the game. Previously, you were only allowed to install the game five times before EA stopped you from playing it. Now at least there’s a chance you’ll be able to continue playing the game after you’ve made a few computer upgrades.
But it’s still a hell of a long way from actually removing the DRM altogether. It only works with current installations, so if you made an install before the tool’s release, you’ll need to resort to phoning EA customer services. Once you’ve de-authorised a computer, if you try to run the game again, it will automatically try to re-authorise. The message here is don’t lend the game to your close friends or family because EA DOES NOT LIKE SHARING. The dreaded SecuROM system remains firmly in place.
But there may be more hope on the horizon. It is rumoured that Spore maybe making its way to the digital download service Steam, whose owner, Valve, takes a pretty dim view of DRM. That hasn’t prevented previous EA published games, Crysis and Crysis: Warhead, from packing their own SecuROM, but it may be a sign that EA is preparing to relax its stance.
