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Title: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: Nightmare on 2008 September 24, 16:48:29 http://www.courthousenews.com/2008/09/23/spore.pdf GLOBAL
http://www.courthousenews.com/2008/10/08/MassEffect.pdf GLOBAL Girard Libbs investigation US only pending Next ones will be paysites (http://gi60.photobucket.com/groups/h19/7BKRK218RK/2cylon_muahaha1.gif) 2 MORE (http://gi60.photobucket.com/groups/h19/7BKRK218RK/2cylon_muahaha1.gif) (http://gi60.photobucket.com/groups/h19/7BKRK218RK/2cylon_muahaha1.gif) (http://gi60.photobucket.com/groups/h19/7BKRK218RK/2cylon_muahaha1.gif) Spore Creature Creator spanked. http://docs.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/california/candce/3:2008cv04733/208019/1/ Girard Libbs has been filled http://docs.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/california/candce/3:2008cv04917/208302/1/ Finkelstein Thompson LLP http://docs.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/california/candce/4:2008cv05373/209262/1/ I point and laugh at you, damn EA (http://gi60.photobucket.com/groups/h19/7BKRK218RK/2cylon_muahaha1.gif) (http://gi60.photobucket.com/groups/h19/7BKRK218RK/2cylon_muahaha1.gif) (http://gi60.photobucket.com/groups/h19/7BKRK218RK/2cylon_muahaha1.gif) Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Paden on 2008 September 24, 16:56:14 That link makes all three of my browsers freeze for some reason.
Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Millie on 2008 September 24, 16:57:23 I got it Paden, eventually. It's about securom on Spore.
Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Paden on 2008 September 24, 17:01:44 Still, if they're being sued, that is a good thing and can only help in getting rid of that damn stuff. Nightmare, can you put that link up at the PRISM? It would be good to let others know that people are fighting.
Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: fway on 2008 September 24, 17:03:31 Ohh! I hope this case is successful for those who sued. Teach those bastards a lesson over @ EA.
EA has released a Patch that removes part of the DRM that allows you to deactivate another computer. However, for me, that doesn't cut it at ALL. :-\ Source mobuzz on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QRHKoqRxZ8&feature=user Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Nightmare on 2008 September 24, 17:10:08 Still, if they're being sued, that is a good thing and can only help in getting rid of that damn stuff. Nightmare, can you put that link up at the PRISM? It would be good to let others know that people are fighting. Already sent some time ago to CC. Feel free to do it yourself. alternate way http://www.courthousenews.com/2008/09/23/spore.pd Notice that I deleted the f? Copy/paste it add the f and to the link. Make a BIG STICKY THREAD. ¡LOL! Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Piratey on 2008 September 24, 17:11:59 Here's another link. (http://www.gamepolitics.com/2008/09/24/ea-faces-class-action-lawsuit-over-spore-drm) Lots of sites are reporting it now.
Quote "Electronic Arts, a leading maker of computer games, defrauds consumers through its "Spore" game, which "completely wipes their hard drive" and replaces it with an undisclosed program that prevents the computer from operating under some circumstances and disrupts hardware operations, a class action claims in Federal Court." Well it's about time someone used EA's own weapon against them. That weapon namely being LIES AND PROPAGANDA! Huzzah! Oh joyous day! This'll go down in hiztoree as the day someone got some balls and took 'em on! Interesting... I've been thinking that the whole "installs as hidden program to harddrive" thing could be used against them for awhile now. I mean, that is the most illegal thing of all. I obviously don't have the time or financial backing to sue them though. Still, this news has made my day. Nay, week! ;D If it's anything like the 'Sony BMG CD copy prevention scandal', then this will not end well for EA and Sony. Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Requip on 2008 September 24, 17:18:49 The news is being spread:
http://www.simprograms.com/?p=2172 http://www.gamepolitics.com/2008/09/24/ea-faces-class-action-lawsuit-over-spore-drm http://www.courthousenews.com/2008/09/23/_Spore_Hijacks_Computers_Class_Claims.htm :D Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: mustluvcatz on 2008 September 24, 17:37:19 Why do I feel the overwhelming urge to point and laugh at EA?
Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: liegenschonheit on 2008 September 24, 17:42:17 I'm so glad this happened. It's one thing to fight against EA on the internet, but it's another thing entirely to drag them into a legal battle. It makes me with I had the money to hire lawyers and do this kind of thing myself.
Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Paden on 2008 September 24, 17:45:14 People can band together and sue as a group.
Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Darqstar on 2008 September 24, 17:45:43 Good. I just hope it isn't fluffed off and that we'll all have to hear about how EA are just poor, starving, folks trying to survive and how because of filesharing, some high up muckymuck can no longer afford a gold plated jet airplane or some such other crap.
I can't believe for a moment that EA isn't losing money on this. The Sims, both 1 & 2 are always the games I buy. Yes, I've downloaded other games, tried them and gotten rid of them quickly, or bought them if I liked them, but with The Sims, I never hesitated, I just bought them. To me, they weren't that expensive, and since I loved them and would transfer them to different systems as I upgraded, it just made sense to buy them. Also, I wanted to encourage EA to continue making them. Hell, I'd even buy copies for my husband for his system, just for the loyalty end of it, and to give him his own serial numbers so he could use the exchange too. Well, Seasons was the last expansion I've bought. I'd love to try the others, but I don't dare. I'm not the computer whizz my husband is, if it screws up my computer I'll be at his mercy for when it can be fixed. I'm not going to pay money to get screwed over. I've had several people explain how easy it would be to pirate the expansion packs I'm missing. Until SecRom, i never listened, because I knew I'd be buying them. Now I'm listening. EA, honestly, I'd rather give you my money, get my product and be done with it. I dislike downloading and fiddling with cracks and ISOs and all such. I find it a pain in the backside messing with all of that, it's so much easier to me to just own the darned discs and know that I can install them whenever I need to. But you've just made it so that owning the discs is more of a hassle than fiddling with a pirate version. I can't imagine what would have possessed you to do this, unless you were thinking, "Hey, we're just selling way too many games. How can we put a stop to this?" Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: SBNao on 2008 September 24, 17:47:05 I've wished I had the money to sue them for The Sims for a looong time now. Sue them for SecureRom and force them to provide SecureRom-less copies for anyone with their disks/proof of purchase. Oh, and never ever EVER being able to use the damn program again for fear of lots more lawsuits.
If this wins, it'll cost them a LOT of money. And then hopefully someone with the money to hire lawyers will take them to task for Sims as well. See how nicely that eats into their profit margin. Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Paleoanth on 2008 September 24, 18:11:31 I've had several people explain how easy it would be to pirate the expansion packs I'm missing. Until SecRom, i never listened, because I knew I'd be buying them. Now I'm listening. This is exactly what EA doesn't seem to understand. Instead of stopping pirating, they have CREATED pirate with their stupid DRM. I am exactly like you. Bought everything up to Seasons. I am not buying anything else because of SecuROM. Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Astonished lemons on 2008 September 24, 18:17:10 I hope this makes them stop adding SuckuROM to everything that comes out of their factory.
Maybe they'll even make something to get rid of it! Like an uninstall program with an apology in it. Nah, thats a pipe dream. >:( Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: CodenameEndure on 2008 September 24, 18:21:22 I am thrilled to hear this, rum for all *hands out rum to all around*. Three cheers to the one who sued! :D
I hope he/she wins and that EA will be forced to stop using SecuROM. Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: gayle_afcb on 2008 September 24, 19:35:16 The lawyers representing the named lady have been very clever in their wording as they have added in an unknown amount of unnamed plaintiffs so literally anyone who has spore can join forces with them at any stage as one of the previously unnamed. And a lot of the wording implies it is being bought on behalf of everyone.
I anticipate the release date for sims3 gets put back until this has been decided one way or another. Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Anouk on 2008 September 24, 19:37:06 EA threatens DRM complainers with Spore account deletion (meaning they'd have to buy a new copy of Spore)
http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=243355 EA lies and tries to keep people from pirating http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=239766 Self destruct in 10... 9.... Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Missbonbon on 2008 September 24, 19:43:28 I really hope the little guy wins this one. It was wrong from the beginning for EA to put that type of crap on people's computers. Maybe they will finally realize they should listen to their customers instead of "We know what's best for you" type attitude.
Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Paleoanth on 2008 September 24, 19:51:25 The lawyers representing the named lady have been very clever in their wording as they have added in an unknown amount of unnamed plaintiffs so literally anyone who has spore can join forces with them at any stage as one of the previously unnamed. And a lot of the wording implies it is being bought on behalf of everyone. I anticipate the release date for sims3 gets put back until this has been decided one way or another. I think the wording is due to the fact that this is a class action lawsuit (http://www.web-access.net/~aclark/frames45.htm). I looked at a couple of others and that wording seems pretty standard. Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: lexilove on 2008 September 24, 20:05:23 Hah! It's about time someone proposed a serious lawsuit against EA. I just installed Spore AND Apartment Life on my computer a week ago, and now I'm quite afraid that my machine is going to blow. I wouldn't be surprised! I really hope this lady wins. :-[ Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: mustluvcatz on 2008 September 24, 20:55:31 Since this is a class action suit- anyone who wants to can contact the lawyers involved in this suit and ask to be added to it (if I'm wrong about that, correct me, please!). Nobody's likely to actually get anything from this lawsuit- any monies involved would be split amongst everyone- BUT, EA might actually be forced to stop including SecuRom on the disks OR admit that it's there and admit what it's for and what it can do to computers.
When it comes to The Sims 2 expansions that have SecuRom- it'd be really interesting to see what would happen if the lawyers involved in this suit were informed that Spore isn't the only EA game involved. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to resume pointing and laughing at EA. Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: calalily on 2008 September 24, 21:49:23 The lawyers representing the named lady have been very clever in their wording as they have added in an unknown amount of unnamed plaintiffs so literally anyone who has spore can join forces with them at any stage as one of the previously unnamed. And a lot of the wording implies it is being bought on behalf of everyone. I anticipate the release date for sims3 gets put back until this has been decided one way or another. I think the wording is due to the fact that this is a class action lawsuit (http://www.web-access.net/~aclark/frames45.htm). I looked at a couple of others and that wording seems pretty standard. Normally though, it's about damage - this is just anyone who owns Spore, with proof of damage or not. That's what makes it clever. Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: JMZ on 2008 September 24, 22:52:36 I just heard about this 5 minutes ago and I'm still sitting here with a big grin on my face. ;D
The more waves created by this, the better! ARR!!! Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Quinctia on 2008 September 25, 02:47:44 The only reason you wouldn't want to get in on something like this is that if you are part of a class-action suit that gets settled, joining it waives your right to get in on another suit, or raise one of your own. As an avid music-buyer, I got in on one nearly ten years ago after several big record companies were found to be price-fixing CDs. I got about $10-15 by check, if I remember correctly.
Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Witchboy on 2008 September 25, 03:01:42 I posted this in the spore thread in Sharkbait but saw this thread & thought i'd add it here too.
Seems EA has violated 3 CLRA's (Consumers Legal Remedies Act). http://www.harp.org/clra.htm (http://www.harp.org/clra.htm) Quote California Civil Code 1770 (a) 5, 7, & 14. 1770. (a) The following unfair methods of competition and unfair or deceptive acts or practices undertaken by any person in a transaction intended to result or which results in the sale or lease of goods or services to any consumer are unlawful: (1). Passing off goods or services as those of another. (2). Misrepresenting the source, sponsorship, approval, or certification of goods or services. (3). Misrepresenting the affiliation, connection, or association with, or certification by, another. (4). Using deceptive representations or designations of geographic origin in connection with goods or services. (5). Representing that goods or services have sponsorship, approval, characteristics, ingredients, uses, benefits, or quantities which they do not have or that a person has a sponsorship, approval, status, affiliation, or connection which he or she does not have. (6). Representing that goods are original or new if they have deteriorated unreasonably or are altered, reconditioned, reclaimed, used, or secondhand. (7). Representing that goods or services are of a particular standard, quality, or grade, or that goods are of a particular style or model, if they are of another. (8 ). Disparaging the goods, services, or business of another by false or misleading representation of fact. (9). Advertising goods or services with intent not to sell them as advertised. (10). Advertising goods or services with intent not to supply reasonably expectable demand, unless the advertisement discloses a limitation of quantity. (11). Advertising furniture without clearly indicating that it is unassembled if that is the case. (12). Advertising the price of unassembled furniture without clearly indicating the assembled price of that furniture if the same furniture is available assembled from the seller. (13). Making false or misleading statements of fact concerning reasons for, existence of, or amounts of price reductions. (14). Representing that a transaction confers or involves rights, remedies, or obligations which it does not have or involve, or which are prohibited by law. (15). Representing that a part, replacement, or repair service is needed when it is not. (16). Representing that the subject of a transaction has been supplied in accordance with a previous representation when it has not. (17). Representing that the consumer will receive a rebate, discount, or other economic benefit, if the earning of the benefit is contingent on an event to occur subsequent to the consummation of the transaction. (18). Misrepresenting the authority of a salesperson, representative, or agent to negotiate the final terms of a transaction with a consumer. (19). Inserting an unconscionable provision in the contract. (20). Advertising that a product is being offered at a specific price plus a specific percentage of that price unless (1) the total price is set forth in the advertisement, which may include, but is not limited to, shelf tags, displays, and media advertising, in a size larger than any other price in that advertisement, and (2) the specific price plus a specific percentage of that price represents a markup from the seller's costs or from the wholesale price of the product. This subdivision shall not apply to in-store advertising by businesses which are open only to members or cooperative organizations organized pursuant to Division 3 (commencing with Section 12000) of Title 1 of the Corporations Code where more than 50 percent of purchases are made at the specific price set forth in the advertisement. (21). Selling or leasing goods in violation of Chapter 4 ( commencing with Section 1797.8 ) of Title 1.7. (22). (A) Disseminating an unsolicited prerecorded message by telephone without an unrecorded, natural voice first informing the person answering the telephone of the name of the caller or the organization being represented, and either the address or the telephone number of the caller, and without obtaining the consent of that person to listen to the prerecorded message. (B) This subdivision does not apply to a message disseminated to a business associate, customer, or other person having an established relationship with the person or organization making the call, to a call for the purpose of collecting an existing obligation, or to any call generated at the request of the recipient. (23). The home solicitation, as defined in subdivision (h) of Section 1761, of a consumer who is a senior citizen where a loan is made encumbering the primary residence of that consumer for the purposes of paying for home improvements and where the transaction is part of a pattern or practice in violation of either subsection (h) or (i) of Section 1639 of Title 15 of the United States Code or subsection (e) of Section 226.32 of Title 12 of the Code of Federal Regulations. A third party shall not be liable under this subdivision unless (1) there was an agency relationship between the party who engaged in home solicitation and the third party or (2) the third party had actual knowledge of, or participated in, the unfair or deceptive transaction. A third party who is a holder in due course under a home solicitation transaction shall not be liable under this subdivision. (b) (1). It is an unfair or deceptive act or practice for a mortgage broker or lender, directly or indirectly, to use a home improvement contractor to negotiate the terms of any loan that is secured, whether in whole or in part, by the residence of the borrower and which is used to finance a home improvement contract or any portion thereof. For purposes of this subdivision, "mortgage broker or lender" includes a finance lender licensed pursuant to the California Finance Lenders Law (Division 9 (commencing with Section 22000) of the Financial Code), a residential mortgage lender licensed pursuant to the California Residential Mortgage Lending Act (Division 20 (commencing with Section 50000) of the Financial Code), or a real estate broker licensed under the Real Estate Law (Division 4 (commencing with Section 10000) of the Business and Professions Code). (2). This section shall not be construed to either authorize or prohibit a home improvement contractor from referring a consumer to a mortgage broker or lender by this subdivision. However, a home improvement contractor may refer a consumer to a mortgage lender or broker if that referral does not violate Section 7157 of the Business and Professions Code or any other provision of law. A mortgage lender or broker may purchase an executed home improvement contract if that purchase does not violate Section 7157 of the Business and Professions Code or any other provision of law. Nothing in this paragraph shall have any effect on the application of Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 1801) of Title 2 to a home improvement transaction or the financing thereof. I see a few in there that could be applied to sims 2 paysites if one decided to sue them :D Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: cookiepirate on 2008 September 25, 05:35:10 EA could have avoided this by just asking separately for you to click Accept or Cancel for installing Suckurom. Accept, you get to install the game, knowing upfront that securom would be installed. Cancel, and no game, no Securom. But at least they would have given you the choice. They way they did it with TS2 EP's and Spore and whatever else game, was just wrong,
You don't go into a class action suit for the money. You do it to make big companies own up for doing something illegal and/or harmful. If the defendant (EA) loses the suit they pay all the legal fees as part of the settlement and if the defendants win, the plaintiffs (people) don't receive anything, but they don't pay either. Plaintiff's lawyer fees are usually determined by a certain percentage of what is won, so they try REALLY hard to win. Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Paden on 2008 September 25, 05:58:54 Wouldn't they also have to stop using the program? That is my biggest hope about all of this.
Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Missbonbon on 2008 September 25, 06:09:04 Wouldn't they also have to stop using the program? That is my biggest hope about all of this. It depends. If the court rules that EA has to stop using it then yes. But they could also rule that from now on EA has to be upfront about SecuROM. All depends on how the lawyers handle it and it plays out. What could also happen is the courts could ban EA from using SecuROM, but EA could develop another program similar to it, give it another name, and just be upfront about it and have the horrid nightmare all over again. Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Saraswati on 2008 September 25, 07:16:20 which is why we were so definate about not including the word "Securom" in RYG's title.. Gamers have already been through this nightmare with Ubisoft and Starforce, and unfortunately it's happening all over again.
EA being forced to disclose Securom would not be a bad outcome.. because if people get on the net, find out what it is and what it does, it's going to dent EA's sales which is where it will hurt them in the longrun. Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Requip on 2008 September 25, 14:00:55 Quote When it comes to The Sims 2 expansions that have SecuRom- it'd be really interesting to see what would happen if the lawyers involved in this suit were informed that Spore isn't the only EA game involved. He has been informed & expressed interest in gathering information. (yes, he's emailed me back personally) If you have copies of emails from SecuROM tech support or EA, documentation about computer repairs or such....please contact him. He might indeed be interested in hearing about other games that this has been installed on, without the consumers consent or knowledge and what it did to your personal PC, if anything. I really don't care if I get anything out this this monetary wise but I believe the more information the class action has, the better. His email is listed here: http://www.kamberedelson.com/Himmelfarb.html I am not by any means suggesting we "flood" his email. I'm asking for help presenting documentation and information about what happened to us? ;D Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Piratey on 2008 September 25, 15:08:50 Well that's fantastic. I really do think that we should seize this opportunity, and give EA some real BUTTHURT!
Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: FilthyPriest on 2008 September 25, 15:19:56 Why do I get the feeling that EA is going to "muscle" their way out of this :'(
I really hope they get a lot of pain out of this. Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: oolongteadrinker on 2008 September 25, 16:05:47 Good. I just hope it isn't fluffed off and that we'll all have to hear about how EA are just poor, starving, folks trying to survive and how because of filesharing, some high up muckymuck can no longer afford a gold plated jet airplane or some such other crap. Well, Seasons was the last expansion I've bought. I'd love to try the others, but I don't dare. I'm not the computer whizz my husband is, if it screws up my computer I'll be at his mercy for when it can be fixed. I'm not going to pay money to get screwed over. I've had several people explain how easy it would be to pirate the expansion packs I'm missing. Until SecRom, i never listened, because I knew I'd be buying them. Now I'm listening. I was curious and yet terrified about the sims and cracks. How do you know that it's safe and not some form of malware or spyware? Is that stuff virus'd all to hell? Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Paden on 2008 September 25, 16:07:32 This time, they've pissed off enough customers that I don't think they will be able to get out of it. I don't want money, I just want a game that I can put into my computer and not have to worry that it's gonna flip out on me and be unable to do some of the work that it was built for.
Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Missbonbon on 2008 September 25, 16:16:08 Good. I just hope it isn't fluffed off and that we'll all have to hear about how EA are just poor, starving, folks trying to survive and how because of filesharing, some high up muckymuck can no longer afford a gold plated jet airplane or some such other crap. Well, Seasons was the last expansion I've bought. I'd love to try the others, but I don't dare. I'm not the computer whizz my husband is, if it screws up my computer I'll be at his mercy for when it can be fixed. I'm not going to pay money to get screwed over. I've had several people explain how easy it would be to pirate the expansion packs I'm missing. Until SecRom, i never listened, because I knew I'd be buying them. Now I'm listening. I was curious and yet terrified about the sims and cracks. How do you know that it's safe and not some form of malware or spyware? Is that stuff virus'd all to hell? If enough people complain, and get in on the lawsuit then they won't be able to muscle their way out of it. As for knowing if the cracks are safe, you have to make sure where ever you download is a good resource. Such as downloading from the pirate bay is probably your best bet, or game copy world. Downloading them from limewire will probably kill your computer. I know over at Garden of Shadows they offer a lot of advice for cracked games. Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: SnarkyShark on 2008 September 25, 16:40:13 ...If the court rules that EA has to stop using it then yes. But they could also rule that from now on EA has to be upfront about SecuROM. All depends on how the lawyers handle it and it plays out. What could also happen is the courts could ban EA from using SecuROM, but EA could develop another program similar to it, give it another name, and just be upfront about it and have the horrid nightmare all over again. That seems very likely to me. They'll probably just shift gears, get together with Sony again, and come up with another way of monitoring/controlling their customer base. It's becoming more and more apparent to me that EA is being run by a paranoid individual who would rather sink the company than admit he's in the wrong. Until he either steps down or is forced out, EA will continue to lose customer loyalty, continue to create more pirates, and possibly become an easy target for a take-over (Sony?-how tragically funny would that be?). Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: scrappysim on 2008 September 25, 16:51:44 So I assume that he has (the lawyer requip is referring to) been told about "Reclaim Your Game" and hopefully will check that out as a resource for information with regard to this whole mess.
Wouldn't it be nice to have something happen before Sims 3. Maybe EA will get butthurt enough to change thier mindsw about using Securom just to avoid more lawsuits then. Wishfull thinking, I know. Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Requip on 2008 September 25, 17:06:05 Quote So I assume that he has (the lawyer requip is referring to) been told about "Reclaim Your Game" Yes, see this thread: http://www.the-prism.com/index.php?topic=670.15 Weren't there more stories from consumers at the older forum? I only see about 20 now? ??? Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Saraswati on 2008 September 25, 19:24:50 Hey Requip.. can you talk to Anna and she can confirm how many stories we'd collected? I did suggest to the guys that they might want to also get something on the front page letting people know where to contact the guy and find out what help he specifically needs from each person.
Oh god, I WISH they'd get a grip and stop trying to overcontrol their customer base. Snarky's right though, it's more to do with paranoia than anything. Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Zazazu on 2008 September 25, 21:35:16 Quote When it comes to The Sims 2 expansions that have SecuRom- it'd be really interesting to see what would happen if the lawyers involved in this suit were informed that Spore isn't the only EA game involved. He has been informed & expressed interest in gathering information. (yes, he's emailed me back personally) If you have copies of emails from SecuROM tech support or EA, documentation about computer repairs or such....please contact him. He might indeed be interested in hearing about other games that this has been installed on, without the consumers consent or knowledge and what it did to your personal PC, if anything. I really don't care if I get anything out this this monetary wise but I believe the more information the class action has, the better. His email is listed here: http://www.kamberedelson.com/Himmelfarb.html I am not by any means suggesting we "flood" his email. I'm asking for help presenting documentation and information about what happened to us? ;D I added a submission to Sim_Secret at LiveJournal which should go up with all the rest from this week tomorrow. Get the word out where you can is what I'm thinking. Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Saraswati on 2008 September 26, 01:04:44 I had a chat to Lisa this morning, and I think CraigDolphin from the forum is getting some more info from him about what they need, and then Lisa's putting something on the front of RYG.. which hopefully helps because we get a fair bit of traffic.
I can't to it because I'm on an enforced break and Lisa, Courtney, Paden, Dita and more than a few other people will kick my arse if I try doing any work.. ;) Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Land Lubber on 2008 September 26, 01:09:01 Don't know if this would help or where to send them all three screens that send my protection into hyperdrive realating to the start up of sims2 freetime
(http://i383.photobucket.com/albums/oo279/dmoat62/sims2launcher3.jpg) (http://i383.photobucket.com/albums/oo279/dmoat62/sims2launcher2.jpg) (http://i383.photobucket.com/albums/oo279/dmoat62/sims2launcherjpg.jpg) Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: dusdeedawn on 2008 September 26, 01:16:17 Relating how? Need more info, plz!
Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Paden on 2008 September 26, 02:52:50 Looks to me like we have actual proof of a sort that a protection program is classifying SecuROM as Malware and spyware! Hot damn! Come on over to the PRISM and post these shots, they can be used in some way or another, I'm sure of it! Please, please, please! This could give us more buckshot to put into the shells we wanna fire into EA's ass! Nice work, very nice indeed!
http://www.the-prism.com/ Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: dusdeedawn on 2008 September 26, 03:02:45 I know I'm dumb, but I don't get (all of) it. ??? Does this do this every time you want to play FreeTime?
Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: SnarkyShark on 2008 September 26, 19:23:37 Regarding the third screen: Is that the infamous phone home feature or something entirely different? Either way, I'm not sure what business a computer game has trying to covertly download invisible (?) data.
Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Piratey on 2008 September 26, 19:52:40 It certainly does appear to be the infamous phone-home "feature". But wow, do we have some proof now or what? Out of interest, is this mouse/keyboard replication "internal" or will it actually attempt to randomly move your mouse around and stuff?
Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Silver Arrows on 2008 September 27, 01:41:05 Quote will it actually attempt to randomly move your mouse around and stuff? You can just imagine it. Leave the PC alone for 5 minutes, come back and notice that the mouse has clicked on a link to "paypal donate to EA", and the keyboard has entered $100.*it's 2am.. too early to be funny* Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: SoggyFox on 2008 September 27, 02:08:43 What scares me is this. Last night, on an MMO i play, I shared that they were getting sued for securom in spore. And there were various people bemoaning not buying it because of it.
Someone actually not only claimed she'd installed the game on -four- computers, but stated that securom did nothing to your computer, that anyone who said was blaming their lack of a decent computer on securom, and that all the various articles on securom was shoddy reporting. Now, considering I several times told her that the three install limit was from -official- sources, and that at no time was pirating mentioned except that the inclusion of securom was -not- preventing piracy, was encouraging it, she also accused two of us of -encourging- piracy and that obviously it was just fine for EA to install stuff to stop us evil pirates. It is scary because it makes me wonder how many other idiots are saying the same thing. Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Paden on 2008 September 27, 02:29:32 Sounds like you need to point this ignorant little bitch towards the official sites with links and such. She needs her monitor shoved out the window, her computer beaten with a sledgehammer and her keyboard and mouse blown to hell with a few M-80's.
Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: SoggyFox on 2008 September 27, 02:35:27 Well, considering who she was arguing with and accusing of being pirate encouragers....well, she's not precisely popular.
Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Paden on 2008 September 27, 02:48:34 Layeth the smack down upon her candy ass!
Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: calalily on 2008 September 27, 02:53:32 Umm, I don't know that those screenshots prove anything about it other than A-squared virus definitions need to be examined. My firewall will ping me everytime Sims 2 tries to connect to the internet, but so do lots of programs.
Quote will it actually attempt to randomly move your mouse around and stuff? You can just imagine it. Leave the PC alone for 5 minutes, come back and notice that the mouse has clicked on a link to "paypal donate to EA", and the keyboard has entered $100.*it's 2am.. too early to be funny* I laughed. :D Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: nekochanpurr on 2008 September 27, 03:43:23 I hope they kick EAs ASS!! And a very selfish part of me hopes that this happens before sims 3 comes out.. My friend actually sent this to me tonight.. i was running over here to see if you guys had the info yet.. But i should have known!
Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Druid on 2008 September 27, 05:20:47 Someone actually not only claimed she'd installed the game on -four- computers, but stated that securom did nothing to your computer, that anyone who said was blaming their lack of a decent computer on securom, and that all the various articles on securom was shoddy reporting. Now, I did A Very Stupid Thing (t) and, due to some switching of hard drives and other things, I accidentally ran Apartment Life without replacing the .exe with the cracked version. Lo and Behold, my shiny laptop got SecuRom. It promptly fucked up my DVD burner - It would tag any blank cd AS SOON AS i put it in the the drive so that it was "not blank" and therefore not valid media. (It took me a few tries to realise this - I now have a few shiny coasters.) It wouldn't read burned discs that I was absolutely sure were good (I had used them previously, on the same computer, multiple times). Thank goodness for the instructions at MATY, I replaced the .exe with the correct version (give me a good poking for not doing it in the first place... distraction is no excuse!) and removed suckurom from my computer. My dvd burner, luckily, seems to be in perfect working order again. Amazing coincidence, of course... I'm glad Sony views me making backups of my digital pictures and important documents as some sort of SUPAH ILLEGALZ and awful activity. ::) Now, this was obviously not the Spore version. (And didn't they change the # of installs to 5? I'm pretty sure they did.) However, my computer is nice and still pretty new. Bought in April, it's a laptop w/ 2.0 gHz Pentium CoreDuo (whatever the mobile version is), 3 gb RAM. It's not a piece of shit - It's not top of the line, either, but, seriously, it's perfectly serviceable and not to blame for the burner going wacky. Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Nightmare on 2008 September 27, 09:34:19 Sounds like you need to point this ignorant little bitch towards the official sites with links and such. She needs her monitor shoved out the window, her computer beaten with a sledgehammer and her keyboard and mouse blown to hell with a few M-80's. Or maybe she needs a good gift like X3, Spellforce 2, Loki or any other Starforce game... (http://gi60.photobucket.com/groups/h19/7BKRK218RK/2cylon_muahaha1.gif) Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Paden on 2008 September 27, 18:28:33 Oh, that would be just too perfect and I would love to have photos of her face when the computer says, "I'm sorry, Dave, I can't let you do that. Please exterminate your Operating System and try again. Thank you and have a nice day."
Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: SoggyFox on 2008 September 27, 18:44:06 I'd forgot that, which would of course be why she could install it four times. As for Sims 3, yes, a lot of folks are hoping that it doesn't have securom or something similar.
The channel we were both in [and she was arguing with mods of the channel] was also discussing Starforce, so, other folks are getting the word out that you don't need these draconian measures to make money. Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: minionsRmine on 2008 September 27, 18:47:58 As for Sims 3, yes, a lot of folks are hoping that it doesn't have securom or something similar. I don't hold out much hope. We've seen how well they listen to what the community needs. :DTitle: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Saraswati on 2008 September 27, 21:19:26 a lot of it rests on the results of the court case, to be honest and how long the court case takes to run it's course. Keep in mind that the issue with Sony and the music CD copy protection started sometime in mid 2005 and wasn't settled until 2007 (april from memory) and it wouldn't surprise me if EA tries to dig their heels in further on this issue.. so even if they lose one case, they could appeal and put Securom on Sims 3 in the interim..
Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: SoggyFox on 2008 September 27, 21:26:34 Of course, because it makes more sense to spend that money dragging it out, instead of making money by being big boys [and girls] and admitting it is a failure at preventing piracy and is losing them more money. See, if they did and just settled, its cheaper.
Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Saraswati on 2008 September 27, 21:48:17 *chuckle* you know that, and I know that.. but obviously EA and Riccitello haven't been hit with ENOUGH of a clue-by-four yet..
Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: DaBuschckah on 2008 September 27, 23:17:21 *chuckle* you know that, and I know that.. but obviously EA and Riccitello haven't been hit with ENOUGH of a clue-by-four yet.. Congratulations on cementing your position as 'Liz's hero of the day'. :D Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Saraswati on 2008 September 28, 00:24:51 ;D Ah thank you Liz..
Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: SoggyFox on 2008 September 28, 02:36:53 Well, of course not - because we're just 'The Masses' and obviously don't know that the Corporations only have OUR best interests in mind. And all of a sudden, I've got Institutionalized running through my head. Still, they are so used to being able to get away with practically murder that they'll keep stabbing themselves in the back while continuing with worn out policies.
Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Silver Arrows on 2008 September 28, 18:48:56 Quote and it wouldn't surprise me if EA tries to dig their heels in further on this issue Even so, I don't think they can claim that 'any publicity is good publicity' as far as this court case is concerned. Hopefully the damage that securom is capable of will be made more well known as a result and perhaps more people will join a boycott.Here's hoping anyway Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: lemmiwinks on 2008 September 28, 19:09:11 Well, of course not - because we're just 'The Masses' and obviously don't know that the Corporations only have OUR best interests in mind. And all of a sudden, I've got Institutionalized running through my head. Still, they are so used to being able to get away with practically murder that they'll keep stabbing themselves in the back while continuing with worn out policies. Why does that remind me of $cientology? Have you been reading LRon's propaganda? Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: SoggyFox on 2008 September 28, 20:55:37 Hell no - I don't even willing touch his books by the covers. However, this is very much the vibe that most corporations have always given off. They stop seeing us as people, and only see us as a number, as just a consumer. I imagine if the people running these actually started to see us as fellow human beings, they would either kill themselves from the shame, or actually put out something of -quality-.
Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Vicci on 2008 September 28, 21:05:03 I actually found out about this through SimSecret, so your plan worked! I don't participate in the whole community much anymore but I like to laugh at SimSecret, like many people, but I will be keeping my eye on this one. I'm so happy someone has finally gotten to EA and has started to sue.
I read through a majority of the 30+ pages not understanding most of it but from what I did I found it very impressive and the way it's worded gives a very strong account of what is happening with SecuROM and it gives the lady and all of us a very good leg to stand on. If everyone can get enough evidence together for Spore, Sims 2 and all of the other EA games involved then the scales will balance on our side in no time. I personally have no personal experience in dealing with SecuROM as I didn't buy any expansions or any other EA PC games after Seasons but I warned everyone at work against buying Spore as there was a lot of us interested in it (I work in GAME, so of course there would be) and they were all pretty suprised at what the games contained. The one thing I hate about in GAME is with the amount of post-Seasons and Spore I sell and the amount of computers that must be infected by selling them is just disgusting. Good luck with finding your evidence guys. :D Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Saraswati on 2008 September 28, 22:45:38 Hey Vicci
Y'know that makes me happy? The big thing that anyone who's been working on the Securom issue wants is for people to know what's going on.. that way if you're going into the game shop and you can make choices that with information.. the people who buy something knowing it's got the limited installs on it, I have less concern for than people who get stung. And I think the protests have had some effect.. all the forecasts before this said they expected EA to sell two million copies of this game this month.. instead of which, they've sold a million. Kath Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Paden on 2008 September 28, 22:48:01 Wonder how many of them got returned to the vendors because of the problems it has/causes?
Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: JFederated on 2008 September 28, 22:56:41 I know I saw many Amazonians (where many is 10-20) declare that they would refuse acceptance of their pre-ordered copies of Spore when delivered. I saw others who had it in hand, unwrapped, declare they would return it. Whether they did or not, who can say.
Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Vicci on 2008 September 29, 08:06:37 Wonder how many of them got returned to the vendors because of the problems it has/causes? So far I've heard of no copies of Sims or Spore come back to our shop for any issues. Hopefully once this case gets bigger there will me more coming back because people don't like the SecuROM and such. It'll be interesting to see the more publicised this case gets to the amount of copies of Sims/Spore gets returned. Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Astonished lemons on 2008 September 29, 08:20:31 You know what would be completely AWESOME? If the judge or members of the jury were active in the sims community. Like, they know all the dirt going on with Eaxis, TSR, paysites, etc.
Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: RayvLil on 2008 September 29, 09:49:40 You know what would be completely AWESOME? If the judge or members of the jury were active in the sims community. Like, they know all the dirt going on with Eaxis, TSR, paysites, etc. EA would probably have lawyers smart enough to ask during jury selection, if any possibly jurist have any knowledge of The Sims, EA, the Drama and so on. Would a case like this have a jury? I didn't pay attention in business law :P Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Paleoanth on 2008 September 29, 11:22:49 Unfortunately, it looks like sales are swarming. But I guess that means that pirating hasn't cost them too much:
http://www.pcworld.com/article/151615/spore_hits_1_million_mark_despite_drm.html Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: SoggyFox on 2008 September 29, 13:39:59 I don't know that business/civil suits have juries, since severe punishment like imprisonment or death isn't a option.
i could be wrong though, so don't quote me on that. Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Missbonbon on 2008 September 29, 15:09:12 Unfortunately, it looks like sales are swarming. But I guess that means that pirating hasn't cost them too much: http://www.pcworld.com/article/151615/spore_hits_1_million_mark_despite_drm.html The way I see it, yes it sucks that they made so much money off of a piece of software that can ruin your computer. At the same time, that increases the chances of said software ruining peoples computers. Which in turn would add more people to the class action lawsuit. Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: SnarkyShark on 2008 September 29, 15:47:19 Unfortunately, it looks like sales are swarming. But I guess that means that pirating hasn't cost them too much: http://www.pcworld.com/article/151615/spore_hits_1_million_mark_despite_drm.html That article reeks of damage control. GamePro acknowledges the disgruntled fans and then sticks their tongue out at them by essentially saying "nothing you're doing is making any difference - ha". Also, referring to the Amazon reviews as a "hijacking" was a pretty cheap shot (hijackers=terrorists). I wonder how much ad revenue EA generates for them. Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Sherry on 2008 September 29, 16:52:41 "Given the sales numbers today, we at GamePro can understand why Gibeau was not fully committed to an apology, and why Spore forum moderators were so quick to silence further criticism regarding the DRM key, called SecuROM. "If you want to talk about DRM SecuROM then please use another fansite forum," said one moderator, before threatening that a ban from playing the game was possible if criticisms persisted.
When one takes into account these sales numbers, as well as the 85 aggregate review score the title has received, it would appear as though a majority of Spore owners are pretty satisfied with their new creature-building experience." What? Just because EA made money means that people who are having issues with the product have no rights to complain or vent on the companies website, or warn others! So basically F*CK the little guy huh? Yeah that's a message I would totally be proud to stand for. ::) Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: SoggyFox on 2008 September 29, 18:44:43 I'll still stick by the Forbes article that said that EA's current business model was a bad idea.
Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Paden on 2008 September 29, 19:12:49 Thing is, if you buy a product that is defective/fucked up, you have the right to complain and make your grievance known to other potential customers. What they are doing is censorship and tons of bullshit, all to protect their bottom line, which is their profit margin. They also fail to see that it's OUR money keeping their bloated asses afloat, so if they don't wanna sink, they'd better be kissing our asses fairly soon or we're gonna gut the fuckers by refusing to open our wallets for their shit. Stuff THAT in your pipe and smoke it, JR, ya stupid bastard...
Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: SoggyFox on 2008 September 29, 19:17:06 What's so funny, is that with the stock market threatening to tailspin, and the banks in trouble, EA is in more danger than say, General Mills. People need food, they don't need computer games.
And an idea of how badly the banks are doing here in the states, my sister and future bro-in-law were told last minute that they needed to pay for something else, one of those hidden charges. My FBIL looked at them and said, 'Fine, we'll go find another house - the bank paid the cost instead, just to sell the house. So, if the banks are willing to kiss ass to keep afloat, you'd think a luxury company would be smart enough to. Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: neriana on 2008 September 29, 19:52:15 What they are doing is censorship and tons of bullshit Aren't they disabling peoples' keys for "causing trouble" on the Spore forums? That's not just censorship, that's theft. Also, they are morons who have no idea how to run a company. This (http://draginol.joeuser.com/article/303512/Piracy_PC_Gaming) is a really good article by one of Stardock's developers on the fact that most people running PC game companies don't know how to do it. Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Paden on 2008 September 29, 20:18:26 Yeah, they've told people on the Sporum if they continue with the SecuROM talk, they could be banned, which would mean the loss of their account and they'd have to buy another copy of the game. Talk about shady. Stealing any amount over $1.50 is a felony charge, I believe, so I wonder what they'd think of fifty bucks getting ripped off by a game company?
Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Saraswati on 2008 September 29, 20:22:18 Hey Neriana.. They backed down from that.. They now want to keep it in one or two threads
I wouldn't be too worried about the pc world article.. one million is not that great news when they expected to sell two.. ;) Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: neriana on 2008 September 29, 20:28:39 I wouldn't be too worried about the pc world article.. one million is not that great news when they expected to sell two.. ;) Does anyone know what the cost of development was? It had to be huge, Spore's been in development since the Cambrian period :P. Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Saraswati on 2008 September 29, 21:12:37 I don't know if this is reliable but.. *laughes her arse off* http://microscopiq.com/2007/06/spore-cost-what/
and here's another article.. http://money.cnn.com/2008/02/12/technology/copeland_spore.fortune/index.htm I think at best estimate, they need to sell at least four or five million copies, and the way things are going, that ain't happening *roars with laughter* Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Quinctia on 2008 September 30, 04:02:50 EA would probably have lawyers smart enough to ask during jury selection, if any possibly jurist have any knowledge of The Sims, EA, the Drama and so on. Would a case like this have a jury? I didn't pay attention in business law :P I served on a jury for a criminal case last year. Rather local level (county). However, some people from the larger pool of people got randomly drawn to be part of a pool for a civil trial. Locally, our civil trials have a jury, but with less members. I can't remember the exact number. Of course, I don't know what determines the circumstances of a civil hearing, I know they don't all necessarily go to a jury. Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Zazazu on 2008 September 30, 05:15:38 The suit specifically requested a trial by jury. I think it was on the last page, in the summary section.
Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Rata_Chen on 2008 September 30, 06:31:38 A trial by jury, let's hope EA gets steam rolled!
(http://file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Jen/My%20Documents/My%20Pictures/EASecuRom.bmp) Sadly, like Druid, my CD drive has been fried. After installing Free Time, my CD drive can only read the Sims disc 1/2 the time, and when it does I'd get a nice little "Insert original The Sims 2: Free Time in drive." Now I get the same deal with AL. Why didn't I find an ARR-ed copy? Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Zazazu on 2008 September 30, 15:32:27 I don't know. There are ways to fix that, you know. Like the stickied thread in the Podium at MATY.
Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Requip on 2008 September 30, 15:35:29 Quote Unfortunately, it looks like sales are swarming. But I guess that means that pirating hasn't cost them too much: http://www.pcworld.com/article/151615/spore_hits_1_million_mark_despite_drm.html This article said they need to sell 8 Million copies just to break even. So 1 million? meh....not even close. http://microscopiq.com/2007/06/spore-cost-what/ Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Rata_Chen on 2008 September 30, 17:18:53 I don't know. There are ways to fix that, you know. Like the stickied thread in the Podium at MATY. Danke! I have never checked that thread before; I always head to Peasantry in search of CS stuff. Danke! :-* Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Vicci on 2008 September 30, 18:54:03 This article said they need to sell 8 Million copies just to break even. So 1 million? meh....not even close. Hahahaha! 8 million? That can't be right. Bearing in mind that was a year ago and PC games have more than likely risen in price since then , as has maybe their suggested RRP, they can't surely have 8 million to sell to break even. That's ridiculous. Especially with the whole sueing thing. :P Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Saraswati on 2008 September 30, 20:44:19 yep, even the article where Will Wright was sued says the production costs were 35 million, so conservative estimate, they need to sell two or three million to make their money back.. and the way things are goin' that ain't happening.. :D
Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Nightmare on 2008 September 30, 20:44:54 Aside that Spore is most ARRed game in history. Congratulations to Securom, who encourages to annoy customers and to pirate your game (http://gi60.photobucket.com/groups/h19/7BKRK218RK/2cylon_muahaha1.gif)
Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Paden on 2008 September 30, 22:15:10 It's nice to see the biter bit for once. EA bites us, they bite our wallets and they just plain bite!
Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Requip on 2008 October 02, 17:45:03 http://www.girardgibbs.com/Spore.asp?_kk=securom&_kt=ab4da11e-36c2-4686-9632-ad225132aa8f&gclid=CPeIlMjM_pUCFSJIagodV3ZwEA
New Class Action now including many more EA titles with SecuROM. "Girard Gibbs LLP is currently investigating complaints that certain Electronic Arts computer games, including Spore, Sims 2 expansion packs, Need for Speed, Medal of Honor, and Command and Conquer, automatically install an undisclosed Digital Rights Management program (DRM) called SecuROM on users’ computers. DRM is a form of technology that is used to protect copyrighted material by restricting the consumer’s ability to copy or distribute it. Some consumers complain that SecuROM, which they are unable to uninstall, disrupts the operation of their computers by interfering with other software, such as anti-virus programs. If you have purchased Electronic Arts' computer games, or would like to learn more about the SecuROM investigation, please fill out the form below. Privacy Policy: Girard Gibbs maintains the privacy of your message. We do not transfer your personal information, including your email address, to any third party. Information entered in the form will be used solely for informational purposes to assist in our case investigations." If you want in, fill out & send your email. (he is calling people back or contacting via email if you don't wish to include phone number) or know someone who this affects, pass it on! ;D He told me they are adding EA titles as they get more information. Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Piratey on 2008 October 02, 18:19:46 This just keeps getting better and better.
Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Saraswati on 2008 October 02, 20:14:39 Whoot! Requip, have you posted that over at Prism so Lisa can get it on the front page immediately?
Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Greenie on 2008 October 02, 20:16:33 I'm glad that the Girard Gibbs lawsuit is very open about their lawsuit being for any EA game. It's great. ;D
And Kath — Requip did post at Prism. I posted it on BBS and got some replies and many views so far. Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Requip on 2008 October 02, 20:24:31 Quote Whoot! Requip, have you posted that over at Prism so Lisa can get it on the front page immediately? OMG, Kath.....I've been posting this EVERYWHERE today, even on the Amazon Spore forums! :D Got a person from there who called immediately & signed up! I'm trying to gather people to come forward & join this and I think it's being posted on other gamer forums affected by SecuROM as well. and trying to keep getting screenshots of stuff too.... ;) Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Saraswati on 2008 October 02, 20:26:13 ;) I just wanted to check.. I think seeing as the lawyer's pretty clear about what they need there, we can probably pretty much get that one on the front page of RYG straight away..
Speaking of which, RYG's having another busy morning this morning, over 200 in the site when I looked and I'd say this is the reason.. If this new lawsuit is covering lots of games it means people like Paden should be able to get a look in.. and considering she nearly lost the last photos of her dad due to Securom, she's entitled. hmmm.. I wonder if they need the "SMBurpie lying through their teeth" screenshots.. Cala has those.. Including the infamous "choke them with their usb cables" statement. Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Vicci on 2008 October 02, 22:58:22 This is great news. Now everyone can get involved and complain and hopefully something can be done. :D I've never bought a SecuROM game, plus I don't live in America so I can't sign up but it's good for other people. :)
Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Paden on 2008 October 02, 23:09:50 I think the sooner people get their stuff to the lawyers, the better they're going to be. Pardon me if I've missed something, it's been a busy few days, what with the hubs having dental surgery in preparation for dentures, but is the open to ALL users of EA Games, or just those of us here in the US? If it's for all users, I know one little lady that's had to reformat a couple of times and she has the bills from the tech to prove it!
Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Craftingmomma on 2008 October 02, 23:25:59 I believe it is for US only right now.
Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Saraswati on 2008 October 03, 00:10:23 seeing as the US is their major market this is not necessarily a big detriment.. if they succeed in making it increasingly difficult for EA to use Securom, we all benefit.
Ubi didn't get this much pressure before they dumped Starforce.. From what 13th hour was saying, they were THREATENING a lawsuit when Ubi pulled it's head in. Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Paden on 2008 October 03, 00:15:34 Yeah, but their CEO doesn't have the ego that the asshole at EA does...
Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: SoggyFox on 2008 October 03, 00:25:39 US is their major market, never guess it with how it seems everyone gets previews before us. But yes, if its made uncomfortable for them here, and badly enough, they'll hopefully get the clue.
And Ubi isn't nearly as big as EA is, really. Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Saraswati on 2008 October 03, 00:31:21 I hope John Riccitello becomes a pariah on the corporate landscape when EA are hopefully eventually forced to give him the arse.
And I know this is to do with the stock market crash, but this still gives me a warm, rosy glow.. their share price has dropped forty-something percent this year.. http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=ERTS Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Paden on 2008 October 03, 00:33:43 You're pure ebil sometimes, you know that, don't cha woman?
Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Requip on 2008 October 03, 14:38:01 Quote their share price has dropped forty-something percent this year.. :D How can they look at that and NOT see a direct link to SecuROM? DOH.... ::) Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: SoggyFox on 2008 October 03, 14:58:05 Easy - all video game sales are down, because people just don't have the spare money, what with the economy going to hell. And the thing is, at least a part of their loses aren't securom.
Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Paden on 2008 October 03, 17:42:27 Plus the thing is, if you are going to spend what extra money you have on a video game, you sure the hell aren't going to want to get something that fucks up your computer or has only a limited use. I mean, what happens if you can't pay your internet bill and you can no longer log in online so the game can phone home? You're fucked. People want games that they can play without hassle from Big Brother trying to control their freedom of what all they do on their computer. If I want to burn off picture files, document files or flv files, it's none of their damn business. I paid for my hardware, I paid for my software, I own it. Unlike with EA; even though you give them the money, they still think they own it.
Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Astonished lemons on 2008 October 03, 18:52:40 Could you imagine if the entire economy worked the way EA/TSR seems to think it does?
'Excuse me maam, but we wanted to check on that bread you bought the other week." "Um, I ate it. . . ' "Oh! Im afraid thats against out policy, youre going to have to pay a fine. If you dont pay the fine Im afraid you'll have to go to court on March the first-" "WHAT?! I Bought the bread!" "I know maam, but its still ours." Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Saraswati on 2008 October 03, 20:06:51 You're pure ebil sometimes, you know that, don't cha woman? ;) I know I really shouldn't get a rosy glow from it because some poor bugger will likely lose his job for this before Riccitello..but, damn... ;DTitle: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Nightmare on 2008 October 03, 23:11:37 I believe it is for US only right now. Negative. Is GlobalClass Action Lawsuit. So anyone can join: Aussieland, EU, etc... :P Time to (http://gi272.photobucket.com/groups/jj187/1O1GEXMXDH/slaping.gif) those (http://gi272.photobucket.com/groups/jj187/1O1GEXMXDH/bastard.gif) once for all Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Saraswati on 2008 October 03, 23:27:46 I think where they've probably gotten that impression is because when you go to the website, the available areas you can select are only the US..
The other lawsuit, the Spore one, that's definately global.. Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Craftingmomma on 2008 October 04, 05:26:08 Yes the Spore lawsuit is global. And word is that the law firm has contacted some of the most knowledgeable tech people on the web.
Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Saraswati on 2008 October 04, 06:50:36 ;) we're in communication with them too Craftingmomma (along with others) ..
We updated the front page of Reclaim Your Game yesterday with more specific information about what the lawyer needs from gamers. http://reclaimyourgame.com/ The main thing at this point is whatever information the lawyers get is factual, especially considering the almost intimidating volume of information they're going to have to wade through. Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: SoggyFox on 2008 October 04, 13:54:36 Seems almost like someone should be sending all this information to the voting share holders and saying '-look- at what this is doing, its taking away money from you in already uncertain times.'
Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: ThirtyMinutesAgo on 2008 October 04, 15:24:33 The jerks at EA should go fuck their cousins and stop putting SecuRom into the computers of innocent people.
Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Millie on 2008 October 04, 15:26:19 I'm beginning to think you have incest issues, you know, seeing as you just told me in a PM to go fuck my brother :D
Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Paden on 2008 October 04, 18:16:00 This little kid sounds like they ought to join some kind of support group. Either that, or have their fingers put into separate casts so they can't reach their mother's keyboard. I wonder if she knows how annoying and ill-raised her child is?
Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Requip on 2008 October 04, 21:40:18 I wonder how quickly a thread would be locked or removed if the Girard Gibb link was posted at TSR. :D (okay, I'm bored) ::)
Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Saraswati on 2008 October 04, 21:46:40 this will throw you guys.. but Blackgarden for one has been quite outspoken on the DRM issue.. she's posted on the BBS against it, and I've seen her on the Spore site too.. so on this issue, I don't think they're monolithically pro EA..
It's the same as, I've had supportive messages from some of the SM's on this issue (I'm not naming names) Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Paden on 2008 October 04, 22:06:24 Requip, there's nothing saying that you can't try...
Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Requip on 2008 October 04, 22:18:52 I've never had an account for the TSR forums. :D I had one a long time ago for WDS and Sim Freaks but not TSR.... :o
Good God, I've been around for too long. Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Saraswati on 2008 October 04, 23:01:47 Unless they've specifically banned mentioning it on their website, they'd be a bit strange if they had a go at you about it.. All you're doing is encouraging gamers to seek redress.
Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Saraswati on 2008 October 06, 21:34:32 guys, some additional news (found by CraigDolphin on the Prism) it looks like there's going to be a MassEffect lawsuit rolling into the original Spore lawsuit..
and it has been confirmed, the second lawsuit at this stage only covers the US (the first lawsuit is worldwide).. I've had it confirmed by Writin Reg who's in phone contact with the lawyers. Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Missbonbon on 2008 October 06, 21:56:31 Yay. Hopefully this will be such a hard kick in the bucket they will have no choice but to remove DRM.
Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Saraswati on 2008 October 07, 01:06:56 I'm slightly worried that if that happens, they'll pull out of pc games totally.. but honestly if it happens, so be it.. someone else will step in to fill the void.
Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: SoggyFox on 2008 October 07, 01:43:03 That would be rather dumb - EA in involved in -alot- of PC games, including releasing MMOs. It would be a good chunk of the market they would be letting go of.
Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Zazazu on 2008 October 07, 15:18:11 It would be a very poor business decision for EA to pull out of the PC market if this suit proceeds. Therefore, it is very likely.
Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Nightmare on 2008 October 07, 15:41:06 It would be a very poor business decision for EA to pull out of the PC market if this suit proceeds. Therefore, it is very likely. I´m not so sure, EA has widely invested on Securom, if they have to drop it and with additional fees to users they may end with HUGE debts. If they don´t want to face bankrupt, they must provide a reliable way of paying it, and I don´t think no bank will give them credits if they plan to abandon PC gaming.... guys, some additional news (found by CraigDolphin on the Prism) it looks like there's going to be a MassEffect lawsuit rolling into the original Spore lawsuit.. and it has been confirmed, the second lawsuit at this stage only covers the US (the first lawsuit is worldwide).. I've had it confirmed by Writin Reg who's in phone contact with the lawyers. I think you have had a bit of chaos there lady. Girard Gibbs (http://www.girardgibbs.com/Spore.asp?_kk=securom&_kt=ab4da11e-36c2-4686-9632-ad225132aa8f&gclid=CPeIlMjM_pUCFSJIagodV3ZwEA) lawfirm wants to make an investigation to Spore which will be US only. Kamber Edelson (http://www.kamberedelson.com/Home.html) lawfirm, the one who started the Global lawsuit, will start another global one in Mass Effect. There are some of the best peeps of the web like 13thHouR and Sblade who are helping them. and rumours are heard about they maybe present at court Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Zazazu on 2008 October 07, 16:11:43 It would be a very poor business decision for EA to pull out of the PC market if this suit proceeds. Therefore, it is very likely. I´m not so sure, EA has widely invested on Securom, if they have to drop it and with additional fees to users they may end with HUGE debts. If they don´t want to face bankrupt, they must provide a reliable way of paying it, and I don´t think no bank will give them credits if they plan to abandon PC gaming.... Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Nightmare on 2008 October 07, 17:13:39 It would be a very poor business decision for EA to pull out of the PC market if this suit proceeds. Therefore, it is very likely. I´m not so sure, EA has widely invested on Securom, if they have to drop it and with additional fees to users they may end with HUGE debts. If they don´t want to face bankrupt, they must provide a reliable way of paying it, and I don´t think no bank will give them credits if they plan to abandon PC gaming.... True, I had forgotten who was in charge of EA, so this seems more like him. The damn JR (http://gi272.photobucket.com/groups/jj187/1O1GEXMXDH/bastard.gif) says: if I sunk EA sunks (http://gi60.photobucket.com/groups/h19/7BKRK218RK/2cylon_muahaha1.gif) Wonder who will teach this (http://gi272.photobucket.com/groups/jj187/1O1GEXMXDH/asshole.gif) a lesson... (http://gi272.photobucket.com/groups/jj187/1O1GEXMXDH/burpeeshangman.gif) Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Paden on 2008 October 07, 18:40:05 Most likely the board of directors or the shareholders or whoever it is that's in charge of hiring/firing a CEO of a large corporation. I can't remember if I read somewhere that JR had worked at Sony Corp, because if he did, that could be construed as something very ugly... Gotta see if I can find that information if someone else doesn't beat me to it. Sorry my brain is run down, I've been putting a great deal of time in on fixing things that don't work around here and maybe get two hours of rest out of twenty-four. Will Sblade or 13thHouR be able to participate in court if they aren't citizens of the US? No offense is meant by that, I just don't know who is acceptable and allowed to testify in a lawsuit procedure such as this.
Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: SoggyFox on 2008 October 07, 18:46:17 Quote John Riccitiello is the CEO of Electronic Arts (EA).[2] He received his B.S. degree from the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley. [1] He then worked in a variety of consumer product companies including the The Clorox Company (Brand Manager), PepsiCo (Group Marketing Director), Haagen-Dazs International (Managing Director), Wilson Sporting Goods (President and Chief Executive Officer), and Sara Lee Corporation (President and Chief Executive Officer, Bakery Division).[1] From October 1997 though April 2004, President and Chief Operating Officer of Electronic Arts [1]. He then left EA and co-founded Elevation Partners,[1] where Riccitiello served as Managing Director. In 2007, Riccitiello was re-hired by EA, this time to serve as CEO. from the Wikipedia Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: KatrinaHighKick on 2008 October 07, 18:50:16 He's doing such a great job as CEO that I like to think that his B.S. degree was NOT for "Bachelor of Science"... ::)
Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Paden on 2008 October 07, 18:53:46 Much thanks, SoggyFox. Now, do you have a good remedy for defogging brains and making them work normally?
Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: SoggyFox on 2008 October 07, 19:42:13 The best one is a nap. If you can tell yourself that you will refreshed until you fall asleep, even an hour can help.
The other option is a nice cup of tea or some fruit juice. Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Paden on 2008 October 07, 19:48:55 *grabs the pomegranite-blueberry juice and swigs* Whoa, that stuff has a bite!
Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Nightmare on 2008 October 07, 20:59:53 Most likely the board of directors or the shareholders or whoever it is that's in charge of hiring/firing a CEO of a large corporation. I can't remember if I read somewhere that JR had worked at Sony Corp, because if he did, that could be construed as something very ugly... Gotta see if I can find that information if someone else doesn't beat me to it. Sorry my brain is run down, I've been putting a great deal of time in on fixing things that don't work around here and maybe get two hours of rest out of twenty-four. Will Sblade or 13thHouR be able to participate in court if they aren't citizens of the US? No offense is meant by that, I just don't know who is acceptable and allowed to testify in a lawsuit procedure such as this. According to my spies, the fucking assholes messed BOTH the MEPC and SPORE EULA´s putting California as the state law. But they have messed it for good see: 13. Governing Law. This License shall be governed by and construed (without regard to conflicts or choice of law principles) under the laws of the State of California as applied to agreements entered into and to be performed entirely in California between California residents. Unless expressly waived by EA in writing for the particular instance or contrary to local law, the sole and exclusive jurisdiction and venue for actions related to the subject matter hereof shall be the California state and federal courts having within their jurisdiction the location of EA’s principal corporate place of business. Both parties consent to the jurisdiction of such courts and agree that process may be served in the manner provided herein for giving of notices or otherwise as allowed by California or federal law. The parties agree that the UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (Vienna, 1980) shall not apply to this License or to any dispute or transaction arising out of this License. Can you override and see that the parties agree that an international law shall not apply to a License you are told long way after you have paid and opened the product? I´m told those morons can be sued in Europe too by putting this EULA in products sold inside the European Union. OK, everytime I see an EA logo I´ll point and laugh. Definitely Forrest Gump is more intelligent than those shitting EA management 8) Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Paden on 2008 October 08, 00:31:40 Oh, I will so agree with you on that. They are screwed so badly that not even a Quantum Leap would get them out of this.
ETA: It was Rod Humble that worked for Sony before going to EA Games, my bad. Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Piratey on 2008 October 08, 18:33:44 ETA: It was Rod Humble that worked for Sony before going to EA Games, my bad. Oh? Now that's interesting. Didn't SecuROM crop up around the same time he appeared on the scene? I would not be suprised in the slightest if he was a key player in getting SecuROM into EA video games. Hm...I notice he's been promoted to Head of The Sims Division. Urgh. Now he has complete power to ruin The Sims series even MOAR! Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: SoggyFox on 2008 October 08, 18:37:16 No, I think what I read, he's been there since 2004-05, well before securom - Securom was when JR became ceo, iirc.
Humble is a dreamer/geek. His work at Sony was as a designer, not as any sort of corporate type. I think he's just in charge of development, judging from what I can find and read. Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Piratey on 2008 October 08, 18:53:50 Still though, he has connections. He may not have actively pursued SecuROM, but EA or Sony may have used him to get to the other party. In fact, I could just imagine Sony wanting to tempt EA into using their crappy product... Or EA persuading him to help them out in exchange for a promotion. Well that's what I like to think happened anyway, as the actual events are likely quite boring and uninteresting.
Also, someone shoot J.R. Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Paden on 2008 October 08, 19:14:41 He's not worth doing time over, sorry. He'll get his, karma has a way of biting people in the ass just when they're riding high. We customers will make sure of that.
Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Requip on 2008 October 09, 14:35:02 It would be a very poor business decision for EA to pull out of the PC market if this suit proceeds. Therefore, it is very likely. I´m not so sure, EA has widely invested on Securom, if they have to drop it and with additional fees to users they may end with HUGE debts. If they don´t want to face bankrupt, they must provide a reliable way of paying it, and I don´t think no bank will give them credits if they plan to abandon PC gaming.... guys, some additional news (found by CraigDolphin on the Prism) it looks like there's going to be a MassEffect lawsuit rolling into the original Spore lawsuit.. and it has been confirmed, the second lawsuit at this stage only covers the US (the first lawsuit is worldwide).. I've had it confirmed by Writin Reg who's in phone contact with the lawyers. I think you have had a bit of chaos there lady. Girard Gibbs (http://www.girardgibbs.com/Spore.asp?_kk=securom&_kt=ab4da11e-36c2-4686-9632-ad225132aa8f&gclid=CPeIlMjM_pUCFSJIagodV3ZwEA) lawfirm wants to make an investigation to Spore which will be US only. Kamber Edelson (http://www.kamberedelson.com/Home.html) lawfirm, the one who started the Global lawsuit, will start another global one in Mass Effect. There are some of the best peeps of the web like 13thHouR and Sblade who are helping them. and rumours are heard about they maybe present at court Done: http://reclaimyourgame.com/ :D Two class actions filed, more to come. ;D Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Saraswati on 2008 October 10, 02:15:42 guys, some additional news (found by CraigDolphin on the Prism) it looks like there's going to be a MassEffect lawsuit rolling into the original Spore lawsuit.. and it has been confirmed, the second lawsuit at this stage only covers the US (the first lawsuit is worldwide).. I've had it confirmed by Writin Reg who's in phone contact with the lawyers. I think you have had a bit of chaos there lady. Girard Gibbs (http://www.girardgibbs.com/Spore.asp?_kk=securom&_kt=ab4da11e-36c2-4686-9632-ad225132aa8f&gclid=CPeIlMjM_pUCFSJIagodV3ZwEA) lawfirm wants to make an investigation to Spore which will be US only. Kamber Edelson (http://www.kamberedelson.com/Home.html) lawfirm, the one who started the Global lawsuit, will start another global one in Mass Effect. Nightmare, what chaos? What you said was exactly what I said, just restated. You sound like you were reading half the thread and taking the information out of context. Girard Gibbs lawsuit potentially involves all games but only in the US, Kamber Edelson's original lawsuit covers spore but worldwide. Kamber Edelson are NOW involved in a third lawsuit, filed after Girard Gibbs announced their investigation which covers Mass Effect. And Craig has it all broken down on the front page of RYG, which Requip has just linked. Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Zazazu on 2008 October 10, 03:39:58 Three? Three? I can barely contain my glee!
Title: Re: EA has been SUED ARR! Post by: Sherry on 2008 October 10, 03:42:41 I know! For awhile there I thought I would only have my illegal copies of the securom invested TS2 games and thousands of negative amazon comments to cheer me up. Lawsuits are great though!
Title: Re: EA has been SUED TWICE! ARR! (1 more pending) Post by: Nightmare on 2008 October 10, 16:29:59 Hey! Like the new title EA? ;D
Next one: TSR (http://gi60.photobucket.com/groups/h19/7BKRK218RK/2cylon_muahaha1.gif) Title: Re: EA has been SUED TWICE! ARR! (1 more pending) Post by: calalily on 2008 October 10, 16:48:20 I like it! :D
Title: Re: EA has been SUED TWICE! ARR! (1 more pending) Post by: SoggyFox on 2008 October 10, 18:57:09 Okay - in the debating about whether Humble or J.R. is responsible for EA using securom, I poked around some more. Humble had been working on the Sims since 2004. More or less when Sims2 came out.
This is from the wiki on EA, concerning when J.R. started. Quote In February 2007, Probst stepped down from the CEO job while remaining on the Board of Directors. His handpicked successor is John Riccitiello, who had worked at EA for several years previously, departed for a while, and then returned.[citation needed] Riccitiello previously worked for Elevation Partners, Sara Lee and Pepsico. Dates for BV release: Quote Windows: NA September 4, 2007 EU September 7, 2007 Mac OS X: December 17, 2007 Title: Re: EA has been SUED TWICE! ARR! (1 more pending) Post by: Vicci on 2008 October 10, 19:20:02 ;D Hahahaha. 3 lawsuits. Hahahahaha.
Title: Re: EA has been SUED TWICE! ARR! (1 more pending) Post by: Saraswati on 2008 October 10, 21:50:26 lovin' the new title, Nightmare..
Title: Re: EA has been SUED TWICE! ARR! (1 more pending) Post by: Craftingmomma on 2008 October 10, 22:45:59 Hey! Like the new title EA? ;D Next one: TSR (http://gi60.photobucket.com/groups/h19/7BKRK218RK/2cylon_muahaha1.gif) Lol Nightmare you rock. Keep on the bastards. Title: Re: EA has been SUED TWICE! ARR! (1 more pending) Post by: Requip on 2008 October 16, 20:21:36 Question for those who were involved from the beginning? Does anyone remember WHEN the original "removal tool" that SecuROM support/Sony DADC provided to EA & that EA posted on the BBS for us to use was? I can't remember when they posted that first removal tool. (that didn't work)
The ones they have posted now are 5MB! http://thesims2.ea.com/help/detail.php?help_id=341 :o I know the first one wasn't that big. Were any of you around then? :-[ Title: Re: EA has been SUED TWICE! ARR! (1 more pending) Post by: Paden on 2008 October 16, 20:30:05 I was around, but never used the first removal tool. Once I got the stuff off of my computer that I was so desperate to save, I tried to hunt through and slash it all out. Didn't work, just bitched it up worse, so wound up having to reformat the damn thing. Those were in the days before the removal tutes like Dita has at RYG...
Title: Re: EA has been SUED TWICE! ARR! (1 more pending) Post by: Requip on 2008 October 16, 21:39:40 Thanks, Paden. Just trying to get a fix on some of the dates. ;D
Title: Re: EA has been SUED TWICE! ARR! (1 more pending) Post by: Nightmare on 2008 October 16, 23:40:26 None of these tools works for Spore or Mass Effect, so EA bastards are still doomed to (http://gi272.photobucket.com/groups/jj187/1O1GEXMXDH/guillotine.gif) in court.
Title: Re: EA has been SUED TWICE! ARR! (1 more pending) Post by: Craftingmomma on 2008 October 16, 23:53:54 In searching the bbs, the earliest and only reference I could find to the removal tools was this
http://bbs.thesims2.ea.com/community/bbs/messages.php?&openItemID=item.21,item.104,item.41,item.127,item.23&threadID=ca9cea8b8f6ed84fdc97f42d919e009d&directoryID=21&startRow=1#114b2ce5e95f992a524694bb1c85dc9e I kinda vaguely remember something about what you are asking about, but if it existed it went the way of many securom posts......pffft vanished. Edit-checked with some else around back then and she remembers it too, so would have been before the date on that post. Title: Re: EA has been SUED 4 TIMES YEAH HAVE AT YA FUCKING BASTARDS ARR! Post by: Nightmare on 2008 October 29, 20:53:23 I like the new title twice more than the previous, and you guys ;D (http://gi60.photobucket.com/groups/h19/7BKRK218RK/2cylon_muahaha1.gif)
Title: Re: EA has been SUED 4 TIMES YEAH HAVE AT YA FUCKING BASTARDS ARR! Post by: SoggyFox on 2008 October 29, 21:13:11 Details?
Title: Re: EA has been SUED 4 TIMES YEAH HAVE AT YA FUCKING BASTARDS ARR! Post by: Nightmare on 2008 October 29, 21:41:04 Details? The 2 added: Spore Creature Creator spanked. http://docs.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/california/candce/3:2008cv04733/208019/1/ Girard Libbs has been filled http://docs.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/california/candce/3:2008cv04917/208302/1/ JR, I reallly wish you a nice day! Luv ya! ;D Title: Re: EA has been SUED 4 TIMES YEAH HAVE AT YA FUCKING BASTARDS ARR! Post by: Requip on 2008 October 30, 17:47:12 Love it. That last one mentions Sims 2 Bon Voyage specifically. ;D
Title: Re: EA has been SUED 4 TIMES YEAH HAVE AT YA FUCKING BASTARDS ARR! Post by: Rata_Chen on 2008 November 06, 04:01:07 I haven't seen this addressed while lurking, but what do y'all think will happen with all of the existing Securom infested CDs, if the consumers win the suit. Do y'all think that EA would have to replace all infected CDs with "clean" versions, or that they would just re-release all existing EPs/SPs with "clean" versions? Or will a "Now with Moar Spy!" sticker be a feature on all existing Sims products. Has the law firm stated what they wish to do as far as punishment/repayment yet?
I've been pondering this ever since news of the suit broke. Title: Re: EA has been SUED 4 TIMES YEAH HAVE AT YA FUCKING BASTARDS ARR! Post by: calalily on 2008 November 06, 09:39:38 I haven't seen this addressed while lurking, but what do y'all think will happen with all of the existing Securom infested CDs, if the consumers win the suit. Do y'all think that EA would have to replace all infected CDs with "clean" versions, or that they would just re-release all existing EPs/SPs with "clean" versions? Or will a "Now with Moar Spy!" sticker be a feature on all existing Sims products. Has the law firm stated what they wish to do as far as punishment/repayment yet? I've been pondering this ever since news of the suit broke. It really depends. They might do either depending on what the court decides. I don't think that they would re-issue CDs - just make a patch available. Title: Re: EA has been SUED 4 TIMES YEAH HAVE AT YA FUCKING BASTARDS ARR! Post by: Paden on 2008 November 06, 17:00:34 Would a patch be capable of neutering SecuROM, though? For me, I'd rather have a brand new, shiny clean CD that wouldn't contaminate my computer with that shit in any way, shape or form. Then again, I tend to be stubborn at times.
Title: Re: EA has been SUED 4 TIMES YEAH HAVE AT YA FUCKING BASTARDS ARR! Post by: Devilfish on 2008 November 06, 17:15:52 I'm a bit of a newb when it comes to SecuROM (and this may have been posted before, in which case feel free to cat me) but I used this: http://www.simprograms.com/securom-removal-tool-added/. Can't judge how much it helped though, but I thought I'd post it anyway.
I just found out Bethesda hopped on the SecuROM bandwagon with Fallout 3. It's silly, I know, evil corp and all that, but that broke my heart. Title: Re: EA has been SUED 4 TIMES YEAH HAVE AT YA FUCKING BASTARDS ARR! Post by: SnarkyShark on 2008 November 06, 17:26:56 I haven't seen this addressed while lurking, but what do y'all think will happen with all of the existing Securom infested CDs, if the consumers win the suit... I've been pondering this ever since news of the suit broke. I also think that patching the existing CDs would be the likeliest course of action. It's feasible and would be much cheaper than replacing millions of infected discs. I just wonder whether or not the geniuses at Sony, when developing their special brand of malware, took into account the possibility that someday they would have to remove it. Considering their history with unstable and unpopular copyright protection programs, I'd really be surprised if they hadn't. But then again... ::) Title: Re: EA has been SUED 4 TIMES YEAH HAVE AT YA FUCKING BASTARDS ARR! Post by: Nightmare on 2008 November 06, 18:46:25 I haven't seen this addressed while lurking, but what do y'all think will happen with all of the existing Securom infested CDs, if the consumers win the suit... I've been pondering this ever since news of the suit broke. I also think that patching the existing CDs would be the likeliest course of action. It's feasible and would be much cheaper than replacing millions of infected discs. I just wonder whether or not the geniuses at Sony, when developing their special brand of malware, took into account the possibility that someday they would have to remove it. Considering their history with unstable and unpopular copyright protection programs, I'd really be surprised if they hadn't. But then again... ::) That´s a no-no. When XCP was fucked, they retired all infected CD´s so they´ll have to do the same now.... ;D Securom?, no thanks :P Title: Re: EA has been SUED 4 TIMES YEAH HAVE AT YA FUCKING BASTARDS ARR! Post by: Requip on 2008 November 07, 20:14:42 Quote They might do either depending on what the court decides. I'm HOPING for a positive ruling but I have a feeling it will fall in line with the FTC ruling against Sony (similar) and this will be the outcome: The settlement also: 1) requires clear and prominent disclosure on the packaging of Sony BMG’s future CDs of any limits on copying or restrictions on the use of playback devices. 2) bars the company from installing content protection software without obtaining consumers’ authorization 3) bars Sony BMG from using the information on consumers’ listening preferences that it has already gathered through the monitoring technology it installed and bars them from using the information to deliver ads to those consumers 4) requires Sony BMG to reimburse consumers up to $150 to repair damage that resulted directly from consumers’ attempts to remove the software installed without their consent. So we'll end up with DRM warning labels on Sims games and compensation for computer repairs? >:( (which is not what I want) :D Title: Re: EA has been SUED 4 TIMES YEAH HAVE AT YA FUCKING BASTARDS ARR! Post by: Paden on 2008 November 07, 20:34:19 I want SecuROM thrown onto the trash heap of programs and safe replacement disks furnished free of charge for all of us that bought or were given copies that contain SecuROM. It's only fair. Those fucks cost us money and functionality so it's only fair that we kick them in their big fat wallets.
Title: Re: EA has been SUED 4 TIMES YEAH HAVE AT YA FUCKING BASTARDS ARR! Post by: lemmiwinks on 2008 November 08, 02:38:11 Lorelei over at MATY pretty much nailed who we are dealing with here.
Rock Band has also been implicated in trying to burn down people's houses. (http://www.thebbps.com/blog/2008/10/20/rock-band-tried-to-burn-my-house-down/) Jim's email #3 is made of pwnage and win.The advice EAxis support gave him was to try to plug it back in. FIRE = BAD YOU = UNAWARE OF FIRE That was my fave part, too, though the whole exchange reminded me of having to deal with EA support boobs in the past (I have a laptop with an NVidia card; EA determined that I would be unable to run Sims 2 on my lappy, and, obviously, they were wrong as I ran it before, and figured out later how to run it again). Letter Exchange A: You: Hi! Happy EA customer, here. I can haz PROBLEM! Halp? EA: Canned response that has little or nothing to do with your issue. Insinuation that PROBLEM is due entirely to user error. Letter Exchange B: You: No. "PROB-LEM." Your response had little or nothing to do with my issue. Try again. EA: Canned response that may or may not be relevant to the area in which problem may be occurring. Assertion that EA is there for you, the valued user. Letter Exchange C: You: Yeah, hi again. PROBLEM has now lasted three days. I told you what I've tried, and took your canned advice, and the PROBLEM persists. May I speak to a human sometime this week, please? My time is valuable, too, and the robo-responses are clearly not helping. EA: Patronizing canned response that attempts to soothe but only infuriates, and again has naught to do with actual issue, though they may have started to acknowledge it is possible their product may have a problem and that it is not a PEBKAC issue after all. Letter Exchange D: You: Yeeeeeaaaaah. Hi. Person with PROBLEM here again. I tried your advice, as it may have been relevant in some magical way to the issue I was having and did not smugly assume I use a mouse as a foot pedal and a CD tray as a beverage holder, which is an improvement. Can we just assume I am not a total idiot and actually get a real human being to examine PROBLEM? KTHNXBAI. EA: (OMG, a human!) Hi, human here. I do not speak English as my native tongue, and have no idea what the problem is, but PROBLEM correspondence has been routed to me. Please start from the beginning and tell me about PROBLEM. Letter Exchange E: You: Exasperated but complete synopsis of PROBLEM and reasons why EA advice was EPIC FAIL, and a postscript venting your extreme aggravation and burgeoning ill will towards EA. EA: (OMG! Still a human!) PROBLEM is Sony's fault, not EA's fault. Letter Exchange F: You: Kindly explain why this is Sony's problem. Game worked fine with current configuration prior to new EP. Discuss, please. EA: Canned response blaming Sony for everything. EA ARE GRAYT, IT ARE NOT EA FAULT, GO AWAY. Letter Exchange G: You: Look, EA, you keep telling me it is impossible to run the game on my laptop, when it was running on the laptop six days ago. Then you blame Sony for PROBLEM and I suspect it's your own shitty programming and lack of useful beta-testing at fault. How much do you suck, exactly? Inquiring minds want to know. EA: Canned response thanking you for being a swell customer. Letter Exchange H: You: God damn it, EA. PROBLEM persists. WTF, man? EA: (Human who does not speak English well.) Go ask Sony. EA: Canned response thanking you for being a swell customer. EA: Canned response suggesting you unplug your computer and then plug it back in. EA: Canned response asking you to check if the power in your house is working. EA: Canned response resolving a Madden Football issue. You don't own Madden Football. EA: Canned BUY MOAR KEWL EA STUFF letter. (LOL WUT?) EA: Four responses closing single Support Desk ticket, as your problem has been determined to have been totally, like, resolved completely by the super helpful bright sparks at EA. Letter Exchange I: You: Impolite ALL CAPS suggestion that EA commit self-fornication with its own backside at the earliest opportunity. Exclamation points! Exclamation points!! EA: Canned response thanking you for being a swell customer. You: *break something, eat a candy bar, say bad words* Letter Exchange 1: You: Dear Sony, I have a PROBLEM and EA says it's your fault. Sony: EA sucks dong, and it is their fault, but we have had to resolve EA's fuck-up for them, since they keep sending thousands of angry people to us. Try this. Letter Exchange 2: You: Sony, I have to give you credit for fixing EA's stupidity. Your solution worked right the first time. Your SecuROM thing is still balls, but your service is far superior. You win a cookie. Sony: Human sends response thanking you for being a swell customer. It sounds sincere. Go figure. Title: Re: EA has been SUED 4 TIMES YEAH HAVE AT YA FUCKING BASTARDS ARR! Post by: neriana on 2008 November 08, 06:04:15 Whatever, I'd like to see some of the actual letters themselves. But maybe the people who are involved in the lawsuit can't talk about it?
Title: Re: EA has been SUED 4 TIMES YEAH HAVE AT YA FUCKING BASTARDS ARR! Post by: Nightmare on 2008 November 09, 15:26:44 Whatever, I'd like to see some of the actual letters themselves. But maybe the people who are involved in the lawsuit can't talk about it? yep, yep.... BTW they´ll have more lawsuits soon ... :D http://www.finkelsteinthompson.com/investigation/spore.php Title: Re: EA has been SUED 4 TIMES YEAH HAVE AT YA FUCKING BASTARDS ARR! Post by: PBBTH on 2008 December 03, 16:40:59 I don't post Normally. But just to let you know you can remove securerom and play game with no-cd patch.
I prefer the dark corners, Good Work and Nice People Here. Title: Re: EA has been SUED 4 TIMES YEAH HAVE AT YA FUCKING BASTARDS ARR! Post by: SamanthaS on 2008 December 03, 16:44:24 I don't post Normally. But just to let you know you can remove securerom and play game with no-cd patch. REALLY? Title: Re: EA has been SUED 4 TIMES YEAH HAVE AT YA FUCKING BASTARDS ARR! Post by: PBBTH on 2008 December 03, 16:50:56 YES! ;D
Title: Re: EA has been SUED 4 TIMES YEAH HAVE AT YA FUCKING BASTARDS ARR! Post by: calalily on 2008 December 03, 17:09:11 :D Fail on identifying sarcasm.
(http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/5664/deargodcp6.jpg) Title: Re: EA has been SUED 4 TIMES YEAH HAVE AT YA FUCKING BASTARDS ARR! Post by: autumnrose on 2008 December 03, 17:30:26 I don't post Normally. But just to let you know you can remove securerom and play game with no-cd patch. I prefer the dark corners, Good Work and Nice People Here. Oh wow, really? I had no idea that was possible... Thank you so much for that fascinating tidbit of information! sarcasm ftw Title: Re: EA has been SUED 4 TIMES YEAH HAVE AT YA FUCKING BASTARDS ARR! Post by: SmilingSweetly on 2008 December 03, 17:35:22 I don't post Normally. But just to let you know you can remove securerom and play game with no-cd patch. I prefer the dark corners, Good Work and Nice People Here. Noe wae! Title: Re: EA has been SUED 4 TIMES YEAH HAVE AT YA FUCKING BASTARDS ARR! Post by: Piratey on 2008 December 03, 17:38:15 I don't post Normally. But just to let you know you can remove securerom and play game with no-cd patch. It's posts like these that really make me wish I had my suicidal smiley.I prefer the dark corners, Good Work and Nice People Here. Title: Re: EA has been SUED 4 TIMES YEAH HAVE AT YA FUCKING BASTARDS ARR! Post by: Saraswati on 2008 December 03, 18:57:54 Whatever, I'd like to see some of the actual letters themselves. But maybe the people who are involved in the lawsuit can't talk about it? pretty much, they also need to be careful about signalling what they're interested in to the lawyers on the other side, they don't want to give the game away. ;) We've got someone who's in regular communication with the lawyers on RYG, and he's recently updated the site page with regards to the lawsuits. http://reclaimyourgame.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=section&layout=blog&id=17&Itemid=57 Title: Re: EA has been SUED 4 TIMES YEAH HAVE AT YA FUCKING BASTARDS ARR! Post by: deelink on 2008 December 04, 10:05:29 Thanks for the info Sara!
Loved this quote so far: "Yep. EA felt the need to stop piracy of free software. Really. Anyone else noticing the emporer's new clothes aren't what they were billed as?" WIN. Apart from the spelling mistake, but you know... who cares right? *cares not for cans of worms* :D Title: Re: EA has been SUED 4 TIMES YEAH HAVE AT YA FUCKING BASTARDS ARR! Post by: Saraswati on 2008 December 04, 10:44:55 ;D that thing of slapping securom on the demo floored EVERYONE.. And it backfired on them too, I'm sure that's why Spore was copied so bloody quickly.. Still haven't played it by the way, apparently I'm not missing anything. :)
Title: Re: EA has been SUED 4 TIMES YEAH HAVE AT YA FUCKING BASTARDS ARR! Post by: missangelica on 2008 December 04, 16:01:46 Between the continuous delays and securom, I had absolutely no interest in playing Spore when it finally came out. I'm glad I didn't even bother because people around me only played for a few days before getting bored with it.
Title: Re: EA has been SUED 4 TIMES YEAH HAVE AT YA FUCKING BASTARDS ARR! Post by: Greenie on 2008 December 04, 19:24:52 EA has been sued again. This is their 5th lawsuit for SecuROM. Filed 26th November by Finkelstein Thompson, LLC for Spore Creature Creator. ;D
http://docs.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/california/candce/4:2008cv05373/209262/1/ Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: Nightmare on 2008 December 04, 21:44:43 Every time I update I like the title even more... ;D
Title: Re: EA has been SUED 4 TIMES YEAH HAVE AT YA FUCKING BASTARDS ARR! Post by: Requip on 2008 December 05, 14:19:58 EA has been sued again. This is their 5th lawsuit for SecuROM. Filed 26th November by Finkelstein Thompson, LLC for Spore Creature Creator. ;D http://docs.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/california/candce/4:2008cv05373/209262/1/ ;D Thanks for the new info. 5 lawsuits! :D Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: Obnoxicon on 2008 December 05, 15:47:31 I wonder if five lawsuits are enough to knock sense into EAxis. Knowing them, no amount of drama or bullshit ever stops them from doing stupid stuff.
Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: Paden on 2008 December 05, 19:10:02 Fa la la la la, la la la la! Couldn't happen to a nicer bunch of assholes. No, really, I mean it! I hope they all get a bunch of flaming goose shit in their stockings, would serve them right. :D Vengeful? Me? You bet your sweet ass, I am!
Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: eph on 2008 December 13, 09:12:46 Just slightly related, but maybe interesting nonetheless:
Ubisoft used Securom on Farcry2 too, and they recieved massive protests and large amounts of pirating as a result. So as a test they now released Shaun White Snowboarding and Prince of Persia without any copy protection at all. No cd key, no online registration, the cds don't even have to be in the cd drive to play. They want to see if people really buy the games legally if there's no DRM, and they don't believe in a success. In their opinion Securom is most likely just an excuse to pirate a game. So if you want to make a statement against Securom, maybe think about those games and show at least Ubisoft that no DRM is the right way... This info is from a German gaming portal: http://www.spieletipps.de/n_15962/ Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: Saraswati on 2008 December 13, 09:30:59 :) I loved that.. and I'll be buying Prince of Persia once I heard that..
Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: Pescado on 2008 December 13, 10:22:51 Even if DRM didn't anger anyone, it does nothing to stop pirates. If anything, based on how the scene works, DRM is counterproductive: If there is no DRM, there will be no major-player scene release: This means the piracy will be based on ISO-rips made by random people with no reputability, and people will shy away from it due to fear of virii and lack of reputation. Slapping DRM on it, however, paints a big fat target on the title, and results in a reputable scene release: You get one of the major groups involved and their name on the release lends it immediate reputability (and thus seeds). It stands to reason that DRM, and possibly even copyright at all, may be counterproductive to piracy prevention and possibly even sales volume: How many pirated copies of Ubuntu Linux do you find on TPB?
Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: Saraswati on 2008 December 13, 10:32:59 Pescado, you've never said a truer word.. The same thing happened with the Sims community. We used to tear strips off people for using NoCD patches and tell them to go buy their game and use their disk.. If someone gave someone the "it's your own fault you can't build" lecture these days, they'd be laughed out of the room in most places.
Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: Pescado on 2008 December 13, 10:48:54 Well, piracy has largely been brought into the public view over this entire SecuROM thing. In the old days, anyone using a NoCD and asking about it in public was viewed as a dodgy pirate. Nowadays, the behavior is accepted and supported in many outlying communities and buying the game is sometimes seen as a foolish decision.
Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: SoggyFox on 2008 December 13, 13:49:42 While I don't play those titles, I -will- encourage the resident pirate to go and buy those rather than arrquiring them. I do agree that good behavior should be rewarded.
Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: Devilfish on 2008 December 13, 13:58:15 They want to see if people really buy the games legally if there's no DRM, and they don't believe in a success. In their opinion Securom is most likely just an excuse to pirate a game. So if you want to make a statement against Securom, maybe think about those games and show at least Ubisoft that no DRM is the right way... Excuse me for being suh a sceptic, but this sounds like a real low move to me. They know the game's going to get pirated anyway. This way, after it happens, they can take the moral high ground, say "Well, we gave it a shot and clearly people just like being EBIL" and slap a brand new version of SecuROM on their next title, while waving away any complains they get about it with a hearty "Don't whine, we gave you a chance and you betrayed out trust." Not saying that's what they're doing here, but I wouldn' be surprised. It's actually sort of cunning, if it's true. Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: Piratey on 2008 December 13, 15:19:25 There's another game, which I can't remember the name of at this moment, that had no copy protection whatsoever on the disc and was quite successful. Rather than trying to treat everyone as a potential criminal, they instead rewarded their customers with much success. Basically, legitimate copies contained codes and stuff, so they could get DLC and things like that.
Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: SoggyFox on 2008 December 13, 17:01:45 See that's the thing that EA fucked up. They said 'If you buy the game and play connected to the interwebz, you get more from it. That's why the resident pirate actually bought it. But as far as I can tell, it didn't. All it did was open it up for an invasion of other folks creations into your world.
And then they dump Securom on it too. And we see how well it worked. Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: neriana on 2008 December 13, 18:07:18 There's another game, which I can't remember the name of at this moment, that had no copy protection whatsoever on the disc and was quite successful. Rather than trying to treat everyone as a potential criminal, they instead rewarded their customers with much success. Basically, legitimate copies contained codes and stuff, so they could get DLC and things like that. Galactic Civilizations 2, and all of Stardock's games. Their head designer says they've been pirated, but they've also been very successful and while piracy bugs them, they make games thinking about consumers, not about pirates. Also, World of Goo (http://2dboy.com/games.php) looks like a totally awesome game that I think should appeal to pretty much everyone. It's by an independent company and has no copy protection, there's a demo, and it only costs $20. It's been pirated a ton, which is pretty disgusting. This is basically a couple guys in a basement making a really cool game with no drm. I'm getting it for Christmas. Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: Quinctia on 2008 December 13, 18:30:35 I've seen people pirate Audiosurf, which is a whole whopping $10. However, I think some of that is because that particular game is only available on Steam, which some people have an issue with. That doesn't make it any less silly, though.
Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: Lorelei on 2008 December 14, 05:52:44 I bought World of Goo precisely because of the lack of copy protection and "two d00dz in basement" thing.
I, too, have issues with Steam, which means no Portal for me. BASTARDS. Also, had no idea Lemmi had quoted my EA correspondence spoof here. It's a bit off-topic for a serious (SRS!) thread about actual lawsuits and useful documentation of actual correspondence. It's based on several true stories of my frustration dealing with EA, BUT is certainly noting a lawyer or advocate could ever use. SecuROM ate my CD-DVD burner functionality, too. I have a Sony VAIO laptop, and Sony's SecuROM broke the hardware functionality of their own laptop. WTF. I have, but never installed, BV, and have refused to pay EA a penny since. I use my lappy primarily for grad school thesis work, so I can't risk a tainted ARRRR! file, nor do I have a lot of free time to do recreational things anyway. EA's arrogance in installing malware without my permission on my machine, denying it, and then being asshatty about it and DOING IT AGAIN with even more virulent strains of SecuROM has permanently lost them my patronage, and I have a fair bit of expendable income they won't be getting a percentage of, ever. Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: JFederated on 2008 December 14, 06:31:27 I bought World of Goo precisely because of the lack of copy protection and "two d00dz in basement" thing. Me too. Twice. Here's (http://2dboy.com/2008/11/13/90/) what those 2 doodz had to say about it being pirated. In a nutshell - waz pirated, but basically as much as another (comparable?) game that DID employ DRM, so what exactly is the point of bothering customers with it? Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: Saraswati on 2008 December 14, 08:15:18 Kyle and Ron are just the coolest pair of game designers on the face of the planet.. I heart Ron and Kyle.. (the 2d boy designers)
Neriana, you won't regret it for a minute.. you found the demo I assume? Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: Devilfish on 2008 December 14, 13:43:33 Kyle and Ron are just the coolest pair of game designers on the face of the planet.. I heart Ron and Kyle.. (the 2d boy designers) I haven't researched them, but let me guess: they're actually gamers and don't even own a suit? Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: kenmtl on 2008 December 14, 14:46:45 I remember seeing the demo's for World of Goo. My inner 15 yr old was jumping up and down screaming, ZOMG COOLZ!!! Then it sorta forgot got lost in the fray of other stuff so I'm glad it was brought up again. Thanx for the reminder.
Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: Saraswati on 2008 December 14, 20:15:32 kenmtl, have you seen the stuff for Crayon Physics Deluxe yet? I already have mine preordered for whenever he gets it finished.. http://www.crayonphysics.com/ (I ordered it during November, when it was fifteen bucks US ;D )
Spot on Devilfish ;) .. This is Ron and Kyle.. http://2dboy.com/about.php Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: Piratey on 2008 December 14, 20:30:13 Seems that EA really are in bed with paysites. I mean, never mind the people who SELL the "world's leading interactive entertainment software company's" intellectual property, let's go after the people who merely provide mediafiles links and actually make it work!
http://www.moreawesomethanyou.com/smf/index.php/topic,13946.0.html Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: Saraswati on 2008 December 14, 20:41:38 sigh... every time I think they can't sink any lower, they prove me wrong. And if they want to sue someone for telling someone where something is, they could start with the massive financial paper in the US who openly mentioned "The Pirate Bay" in their paper.. Also, correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't something being in Malaysia mean it has to be served in person?
Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: neriana on 2008 December 14, 21:03:31 In the U.S., you can't sue someone for providing information. It's called the First Amendment. I think they're counting on 12s not understanding that.
Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: kenmtl on 2008 December 14, 21:38:32 When I saw that headline over on the site my first thought was "Oh, Walter woke up".
If you could sue someone for only linking or giving directions to something that is considered illegal somewhere, you'd have to just turn off the internet. Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: SoggyFox on 2008 December 15, 01:34:51 Yet they can't sue the paysites who make money off of them?
Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: Devilfish on 2008 December 15, 12:32:51 Seems that EA really are in bed with paysites. I mean, never mind the people who SELL the "world's leading interactive entertainment software company's" intellectual property, let's go after the people who merely provide mediafiles links and actually make it work! http://www.moreawesomethanyou.com/smf/index.php/topic,13946.0.html This is disgusting. So in one fell swoop they let us know they do in fact know what the community has to say, don't give a crap about our concerns, slobber all over TSR's interdick and get off on legal threats? It's been a long time since I was so angry at a faceless entity. Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: Requip on 2008 December 15, 22:34:13 Quote Seems that EA really are in bed with paysites. I mean, never mind the people who SELL the "world's leading interactive entertainment software company's" intellectual property, let's go after the people who merely provide mediafiles links and actually make it work! http://www.moreawesomethanyou.com/smf/index.php/topic,13946.0.html :D I'm sorry but I call major bullshit on that letter. I don't think it's from EA at all, someone is trying to pull one over on Pes. ::) (Good luck with that) ;D Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: Missbonbon on 2008 December 16, 05:22:45 I call bullshit as well. Wouldn't they link the pages where the mediafile links were posted? It seems like that would make more sense, seeing as those links can be posted on multiple websites, and therefore cannot prove that MATY is the only website with those links, assuming they have stolen content on them. All they have, assuming the links are stolen content, are links to stolen content downloads. By that letter, they cannot prove those links were on MATY.
Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: giggy on 2008 December 16, 09:13:44 Also note down that the links don't work. Making EA failtards.
Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: Devilfish on 2008 December 16, 09:29:15 Quote Seems that EA really are in bed with paysites. I mean, never mind the people who SELL the "world's leading interactive entertainment software company's" intellectual property, let's go after the people who merely provide mediafiles links and actually make it work! http://www.moreawesomethanyou.com/smf/index.php/topic,13946.0.html :D I'm sorry but I call major bullshit on that letter. I don't think it's from EA at all, someone is trying to pull one over on Pes. ::) (Good luck with that) ;D Not necessarily. I don't know if it's common practice elsewhere, but here half of the legal goings on are bullshit letters with lots of legalese simply to scare people into doing something. They don't make sense, nobody can actually make those threats a reality and the legalese doesn't work, but they're written by lawyers who are on the payroll anyway and may as well use their law-fu to scare people into obeying. You'd be surprised how many people still panic when they see an official-looking letter with stern language from a lawyer. Of course it could be major bullshit too. Who knows? Either way there's not much Pes can or should do is there? Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: Pescado on 2008 December 16, 09:39:07 Either way, the letter fails to provide any information that is actionable in any way. Even if I wanted to do anything, they simply have not provided any information to do anything WITH.
Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: justso on 2008 December 16, 10:18:07 I loved the line "works from the sims franchise (the sims works)." No it freaking doesn't. That's why we constantly need fixes.
Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: Lowell on 2008 December 16, 14:50:50 You'd think that the law-fu would be better-practiced dealing with the ramifications of treating their customers like criminals, as well as the lawsuits against them. But, if they're going to go after Pescado for those links that he has no control over being posted by people he has no control over simply because he's the one providing the service at MATY, then... shouldn't they be going after TSR for the fact that they have people selling extracted versions of their creations (for example, one of Spaik's sets being the witch lamps extracted), on top of the obvious fact that they're breaking the EULA by selling any of the content to begin with? What's their excuse for not doing that? "Oh, but they're our special friends"? Playing picky-choosey here just gives them even less ground to stand on, as well as makes them look worse.
So whether it's a bullshit letter or not, the situation in and of itself is bullshit. Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: Skoria_Bay on 2008 December 16, 15:22:58 And when Bon Voyage came out, they didn't even have a patch done to fix the duplicating townies problem and had to direct people to MATY and Pescado's fix for the problem! I play on a Mac and EA still hasn't released the updated code to Aspyr for them to fix our game! So thankfully, I have the fix in my game.
EA is headed down the road to Bankruptcy quickly with this kind of legal nonsense. Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: SnarkyShark on 2008 December 16, 16:16:26 Quote from: Skoria_Bay And when Bon Voyage came out, they didn't even have a patch done to fix the duplicating townies problem and had to direct people to MATY and Pescado's fix for the problem! I remember that. In effect, they were encouraging people to visit the very same site they now claim they have a problem with. Stupid EA. Haranguing one of the very same people who makes your pathetically borked products usable is just a waste of time and energy. But if you insist on doing it anyway, we'll just see who the community rallies around. Pescado's built up a considerable amount of credibility and goodwill in this community. Even more than you've managed to squander. Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: PirateKingofWyrmSea on 2008 December 16, 16:41:42 I remember that on the BBS. Wasn't it MaxoidDrea that were telling people to get Pescado's hacks?
Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: Piratey on 2008 December 16, 17:44:35 Probably. MaxoidDrea has flip flopped so many times, she could give politicians a decent run of their money.
Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: Paden on 2008 December 16, 18:06:27 She twists and turns so much that she reminds me of a spitted roast above a campfire.
Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: karin hoshi on 2008 December 17, 04:36:00 She twists and turns so much that she reminds me of a spitted roast above a campfire. Eww. Never eating that. Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: JFederated on 2008 December 17, 05:27:20 It was MaxoidJason...?
Here (http://bbs.thesims2.ea.com/community/bbs/messages.php?&openItemID=item.189,root.1,item.43,item.104,item.41,item.127,item.23&threadID=32482a9b426dd41d5105f0186fc4f83f&directoryID=189&startRow=1#49279dd2bd48132b771aab419d3cee48) Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: Paden on 2008 December 17, 05:40:08 Shows you how often I snoop around the BBS, don't it? :D
Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: Smile_Im_watching on 2008 December 17, 11:32:52 Yeah, my wonderful new beloved laptop that would run anything and not even flinch? It screwed it up. I bought every expansion since sims 1....... Until seasons. The interesting thing is that EA signed on with Sony shortly after Sony finished getting sued for the securom issues. What does that say to you?
Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: deelink on 2008 December 17, 11:46:52 Yeah, my wonderful new beloved laptop that would run anything and not even flinch? It screwed it up. I bought every expansion since sims 1....... Until seasons. The interesting thing is that EA signed on with Sony shortly after Sony finished getting sued for the securom issues. What does that say to you? That EA are a bunch of fucktards? Just guessin :P Sorry about the loss of your laptop :) Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: Smile_Im_watching on 2008 December 18, 02:03:58 That EA are a bunch of fucktards? Just guessin :P Sorry about the loss of your laptop :) Tis okay. Luckily I have a wonderful computer-talented friend who managed to fix it for me. It still doesn't work as well though. Stupid EA..... Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: kutto on 2008 December 18, 22:45:50 Ellipses only have 3 periods. Happy Grammar Day. :)
Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: SoggyFox on 2008 December 18, 23:54:26 Ellipses only have 3 periods. Happy Grammar Day. :) Iz not grammerz daiz hear! Do not want! Go back to MATY - kktnxbai! Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: Paden on 2008 December 19, 00:07:33 Pregnant women and women after menopause have no periods. What is your point, that you don't like the extra one shown here? :D
Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: Nightmare on 2008 December 20, 00:27:40 Lawsuits are finally fucking goddamn Securom: http://store.steampowered.com/news/2116/
Those EA games are launched on STEAM DRM only http://forums.bioware.com/forums/viewtopic.html?topic=660050&forum=22&sp=120 (Chris Priestly post) So, if things go this way. We might see The Sims 3 without SuckyRom :D ETA: got it, Keirra, thx to grammar morons: Que os den por el culo Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: keirra on 2008 December 20, 01:02:51 *sigh*
Seriously, Nightmare, must you post the HUGE bolded words? If you want to be taken seriously, you're doing it wrong. ETA: Much better. Now, we can see what your post was really about. ;D Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: Kazzandra on 2008 December 20, 01:06:18 So, if things go this way. We might see The Sims 3 without SuckyRom :D Yes, but Steam only allows one registration per game and it it only available in North America. :-\ Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: Wanderlust on 2008 December 20, 21:16:18 This is funny, and if EA goes bankrupt or whatever, then I'm seriously not going to feel sorry for them at all. They brought this upon themselves; greed could be their fatal flaw.
Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: Nightmare on 2008 December 20, 22:16:46 So, if things go this way. We might see The Sims 3 without SuckyRom :D Yes, but Steam only allows one registration per game and it it only available in North America. :-\ A Bioware guy said that they are looking into expanding into more territories http://forums.bioware.com/forums/viewtopic.html?topic=660050&forum=22&sp=165 :D Valve is gonna make so much money from Securom haters... :D Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: Yaardarm Monkey II on 2008 December 21, 03:20:57 Lawsuits are finally fucking goddamn Securom: http://store.steampowered.com/news/2116/ ??? Are we looking at the same thing? What does Steam have to do with "Lawsuits are finally fucking goddamn Securom" Steam Launches Hit PC Games from EA December 19, 2008, 12:05 pm - Shawn Zabecki - Product Release Spore, Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning and More Available Now REDWOOD CITY, Calif. - December 18, 2008. Just in time for the holidays, Valve announced that, Spore™, Spore Creepy & Cute Parts Pack, Warhammer® Online: Age of Reckoning™, Mass Effect®, Need for Speed™ Undercover and EA SPORTS FIFA Manager 2009 are available now to gamers in North America via Steam, a leading platform for PC games and digital content with over 15 million accounts around the world. Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: SoggyFox on 2008 December 21, 04:15:45 Steam is effectively a -different- drm method than securom. Doesn't mean they are ditching securom, this might be an additional measure for them, but it is promising.
Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: Pescado on 2008 December 21, 04:21:33 Steam is an even more invasive form of spyware than SecuROM is: It spies on you EVERY time you fire up the game, and monitors all of your playing habits. This part isn't even a SECRET! The only reason it is more popularly accepted is because it dresses up all these spying features as "Friendly" and is less concerned with keeping you from playing the game at all than it is with spying on you while you do it. And forcing you to have the latest updates, whether you want them or not, refusing to let you run the game if you refuse to drink their kool-aid. Realize of, course, that anything which forcibly modifies and runs executable code on your system is not merely spyware, but a flat out trojan rootkit. DON'T DRINK THE KOOL-AID.
Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: Kragey on 2008 December 21, 07:19:25 Steam is an even more invasive form of spyware than SecuROM is: It spies on you EVERY time you fire up the game, and monitors all of your playing habits. This part isn't even a SECRET! The only reason it is more popularly accepted is because it dresses up all these spying features as "Friendly" and is less concerned with keeping you from playing the game at all than it is with spying on you while you do it. And forcing you to have the latest updates, whether you want them or not, refusing to let you run the game if you refuse to drink their kool-aid. Realize of, course, that anything which forcibly modifies and runs executable code on your system is not merely spyware, but a flat out trojan rootkit. DON'T DRINK THE KOOL-AID. My brother has Steam on his computer, but I never paid any attention to it, since I have no clue what its point it. That's...really frightening. Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: Piratey on 2008 December 21, 10:41:40 Steam is an even more invasive form of spyware than SecuROM is: It spies on you EVERY time you fire up the game, and monitors all of your playing habits. This part isn't even a SECRET! The only reason it is more popularly accepted is because it dresses up all these spying features as "Friendly" and is less concerned with keeping you from playing the game at all than it is with spying on you while you do it. And forcing you to have the latest updates, whether you want them or not, refusing to let you run the game if you refuse to drink their kool-aid. Realize of, course, that anything which forcibly modifies and runs executable code on your system is not merely spyware, but a flat out trojan rootkit. DON'T DRINK THE KOOL-AID. Having never really paid much attention to Steam, I was wondering what exactly it was that kept some people away from it. That's interesting, and indeed concerning. I shall continue to stay away from it.Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: SoggyFox on 2008 December 21, 14:17:49 I didn't know that, Pes. I have steam, but only so I could get Eve cheaper. But I never play anything through Steam.
Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: Missbonbon on 2008 December 21, 15:40:24 Steam is an even more invasive form of spyware than SecuROM is: It spies on you EVERY time you fire up the game, and monitors all of your playing habits. This part isn't even a SECRET! The only reason it is more popularly accepted is because it dresses up all these spying features as "Friendly" and is less concerned with keeping you from playing the game at all than it is with spying on you while you do it. And forcing you to have the latest updates, whether you want them or not, refusing to let you run the game if you refuse to drink their kool-aid. Realize of, course, that anything which forcibly modifies and runs executable code on your system is not merely spyware, but a flat out trojan rootkit. DON'T DRINK THE KOOL-AID. Having never really paid much attention to Steam, I was wondering what exactly it was that kept some people away from it. That's interesting, and indeed concerning. I shall continue to stay away from it.My room mate had used Steam once. I can't remember the game, but it was only able to run in Steam, and he forgot his Steam password. It literally took them a month to send him his password. Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: Mheyin on 2008 December 21, 18:57:37 I have friends that use Steam. I avoid it like the goddamn plague.
Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: Darqstar on 2008 December 21, 19:44:32 Our local "I build computers for people in my spare time" guy will not do a reformat, reload for free if you have steam on your computer, because he claims it can completely bork your system. He warns people that he won't service if they install Steam at least, but seeing that he actually doesn't mind fixing borked computers, I would say that Steam rates lower on my list of "things I want on my computer" than securom.
Of course, now that we're going to have Sims3 with MOAR advertising, there's going to be something nasty in the software, just to make sure we get the latest ads! Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: Pescado on 2008 December 21, 19:49:36 Just don't permit anything to connect to the Internets. Anything which tries to sneak itself onto the Internets is dodgy anyway.
Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: Darqstar on 2008 December 21, 22:33:20 Just don't permit anything to connect to the Internets. Anything which tries to sneak itself onto the Internets is dodgy anyway. And that's exactly what I'm afraid of, that it will insist on connecting, or won't start unless you connect or whatever other nasty tricks. I never pirated games before. Not because I'm overly honest, but because I don't play many games, so the few I do play, I want to own copies. And also, because I am lousy at figuring out how to get them working once downloaded. And I hate always going, "Honey, can you do this for me?" to my husband, god knows he has better things to do than hold my hand through illegal software installation. But, if I get Sims 3, it will be Arr'ed, after the intelligent folks figure out how to strip away the crap, and find a way to take out the "phone home" feature. It's not an economic thing, it's a common sense thing. Why should I pay to have my computer borked when I can get something for free that isn't borked? The non-borked part being much more important than the free part. If EAxis offered two versions of Sims3, one with all the phone home and securom crap, and one without, even though the one without would be more expensive (justified by saying, "hey, if you don't have securom, that means you have unlimited installs, so we have to charge more!") I'd buy it. Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: Skadi on 2008 December 22, 01:00:47 There are those of us with forums would would be more than happy to hold your hand through the process of arrquiring games. ;D
Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: Devilfish on 2008 December 22, 01:36:45 Skadi... dude... I know the enforced avatar is getting to you, but that shiny new sig you're sporting is going to get you in so much trouble...
Sorry. Carry on. Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: Yaardarm Monkey II on 2008 December 22, 04:21:35 I think the 'Pescado in a pink dance outfit' siggy pic is so...perfect ! :D
and what the hell is he doing? throwing up? eating grass? ??? Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: keirra on 2008 December 22, 04:46:20 He's smelling the flowers!
Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: calalily on 2008 December 22, 06:44:24 Skadi... dude... I know the enforced avatar is getting to you, but that shiny new sig you're sporting is going to get you in so much trouble... Because she'll get another enforced avi, or a permanent (seeing as she has temporary) death threat? :D That's a Christmas present for Emma - we're all giggling about it at Sublime. :D I think the 'Pescado in a pink dance outfit' siggy pic is so...perfect ! :D Also wears purple the sassy minx. :D Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: Pescado on 2008 December 22, 06:50:12 Death to Calalily.
Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: calalily on 2008 December 22, 06:56:13 Death to Calalily. I'm glad you like it Pescado - it suits you. :D Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: SnarkyShark on 2008 December 22, 06:58:19 Quote from: Darqstar And I hate always going, "Honey, can you do this for me?" to my husband, god knows he has better things to do than hold my hand through illegal software installation. LOL. But nothing says "I love you" like a pirated EA game. (Bonus: it's also a pretty good way of saying, "fuck you, EA and your SecuRom") Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: dorquemada on 2008 December 22, 11:27:32 So, it's basically like this:
"Boss, the masses really didn't like that salmonella batch that we shipped our bacon with." "That so? Alright then, swap it for typhus, will you?" The sad thing, there are people who would not google Steam (just like they didn't google Securom and were against it just because someone told them it's bad) and would actually be content with this 'improvement'. And I fear they're not in minority. ::) Isn't that pink Pescado's outfit made by a girl-hating chick who make her male Sims all girly? Someone should send her the screenshot. 8) Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: Darqstar on 2008 December 22, 13:47:14 There are those of us with forums would would be more than happy to hold your hand through the process of arrquiring games. ;D And I may just have to rely on that in the future. ;D Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: Devilfish on 2008 December 22, 15:34:27 There are those of us with forums would would be more than happy to hold your hand through the process of arrquiring games. ;D And I may just have to rely on that in the future. ;D :D You wouldn't be the first pirate I train in the noble art of arrr-ing, feel free to PM me if you have trouble. I'm amazed at myself. I used to chide and lecture my ex-boyfriend for downloading one game, now I'm teaching people I don't even know personally how to do it. I'm not as noble as you, I just do it out of spite. No logic involved in it, even if I can't afford to pay for the games. Usually when I can't afford something, I get used to not having it. But I hate EA, I hate what they did to their customers and I want everything they do to be a financial disaster. If teaching my little sister and some 12s how to arrr can help achieve that, count me in. Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: Pescado on 2008 December 22, 17:32:09 I recall an essay where it was written that when attitudes like that start appearing, it really WILL start to be a problem. Whereas pirates-of-convenience and 12s-with-no-money don't represent any loss, when it starts turning into a political protest, that is when it starts to actually lose money.
Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: pickles on 2008 December 22, 17:51:26 Hooray!!!!
Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: Devilfish on 2008 December 22, 17:53:13 I recall an essay where it was written that when attitudes like that start appearing, it really WILL start to be a problem. Whereas pirates-of-convenience and 12s-with-no-money don't represent any loss, when it starts turning into a political protest, that is when it starts to actually lose money. I'd be interested in reading that essay. Do you remember which one it was or where you got it? Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: Skadi on 2008 December 22, 21:34:48 I second a call for linkage, that would be a really interesting read.
Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: SoggyFox on 2008 December 22, 21:46:23 As would I. It does make sense. Most politically/fair-minded people don't mind -paying- if they are treated with respect as customers. I know I don't.
Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: JFederated on 2008 December 22, 22:17:11 Seems a fairly straightforward concept: when you repeatedly crap on the people who pay you, strictly to get at the people who never will, you have made yourself a home in a giant bucket of well-deserved fail.
Sixth lawsuit gearing up: http://www.lawyerseek.com/Practice/Consumer-Protection-C21/SPOREs-SecuROM-DRM-P206/ Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: Devilfish on 2008 December 22, 22:34:15 I was more interested in this part:
I recall an essay where it was written that when attitudes like that start appearing, it really WILL start to be a problem. Whereas pirates-of-convenience and 12s-with-no-money don't represent any loss, when it starts turning into a political protest, that is when it starts to actually lose money. I can imagine how that would work but I'd still love to read some smarty people's opinions and data on this. Sounds interesting enough. Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: SnarkyShark on 2008 December 23, 06:06:20 Seems a fairly straightforward concept: when you repeatedly crap on the people who pay you, strictly to get at the people who never will, you have made yourself a home in a giant bucket of well-deserved fail. Sixth lawsuit gearing up: http://www.lawyerseek.com/Practice/Consumer-Protection-C21/SPOREs-SecuROM-DRM-P206/ Awesome turn of phrase, JFed. It's encouraging to note, also, that as the number of lawsuits filed against EA continues to rise, the easier it will be to convince people that EA's software really does contain shady malware. Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: Pescado on 2008 December 23, 06:17:22 I was more interested in this part: Well, the basic gist of it is that there are some people who are "Always Pirates". There is nothing you can do about these people, and whether you stop them or not, it makes no direct difference to your bottom line and may even hurt it (through bad or reduced publicity). These people will simply never, or can't, buy your product, because you don't sell it there (foreigners and people living in bumfuck nowhere), because they simply don't have money (12s), or simply because they are religiously opposed. These people can still HELP your product sales simply through exposure (many people like this are regarded as authoritative sources on what is worth getting, simply because they can sample so much of it), but you will never get any money out of them. Period. These people are basically irrelevant to the issue. Companies, however, don't see that, and in their attempts to reduce pirates, like EAxis has done, will offend customers to the point where they decide to BECOME pirates as form of protest. At this point, you HAVE lost a sale. What's more, it has a long-term harmful trend, because once you start down the path of the Dark Side, forever will it dominate your destiny. Once someone has turned to the Dark Side, it is harder to recover them as customers.I recall an essay where it was written that when attitudes like that start appearing, it really WILL start to be a problem. Whereas pirates-of-convenience and 12s-with-no-money don't represent any loss, when it starts turning into a political protest, that is when it starts to actually lose money. Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: SoggyFox on 2008 December 23, 13:34:19 Recovering me as a customer is rather simple for EA - Start producing good quality games again - start treating their paying customers like they are valued - actually hire QA for their games - stop double dipping with both advertising and charging an arm and a legg for crap...
But they won't. Personally, I feel like if anything EA has gone far down the path of the darkside and you are right, once you have, its harder to recover. Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: JFederated on 2008 December 23, 13:42:09 @Devilfish: :'( aren't I smarty people? :D Pes explained it much better - don't give people another ideological reason to pirate, especially when the Dark Side provides benefits that purchased copies don't, and for free. I'd also add that you just plain lose paying customers by abusing them with restrictions and tech issues, either to the Dark Side or to boycott/avoidance of your products. Same difference, you've just grown your actual losses, which is the height of asshattery.
If they're going to hew to the old property value standard for digital copies, they're going to spend most of their time chasing ghosts - digital copying makes software virtually worthless (not valueless, as in people value having the software, but, worthless as in worth zero monies due to software being easy and basically free to copy digitally once a single copy is available without DRM technology). So publishers need to see and use the Dark Side to their benefit, as Pes said, and churn profits in other ways than depending on digitally distributed stuff that is burdened wtih crap that only affects those that will pay - services, 'hard' goods, advantages for the customer. Games are different from music since they're whompus efforts for one experience (instead of several songs on one CD), but they need to figure it out and change the mindset to focus on those that find it worthwhile to pay for the experience since they find value, benefit, and advantage in it, not on those that never will for whatever reason. And that's not even getting into the whole 'USED GAMES MUST BE DESTROYED!' online only/limited activation bullshit, like you're supposed to get paid over and over for one sale...WTF? I understand wanting people to buy new and buy more, but to attack and dismiss the inherent advantages of any used goods market is so incredibly foolish, especially when they could offer the same service themselves if they wanted - they don't so Gamestop, etc. fill that void to their huge profit. And EA muckymucks are on record as saying they want it 'all online' - but does the customer base want this? Part, maybe, but this is really all about what EA wants, further cementing their notorious 'ignore the customer' reputation. They want to cheap out yet reap the same rewards and I doubt it'll work like they think it will. ISP bandwidth caps anyone? No more owning what you buy? Server dependence? No avoiding spy/bloat/adware injection? Remote control of your purchase? No more New Game Manual smell? Ick. EA screwed the Sims/Spore pooch by ruining a good thing, using problematic, paranoid and restrictive tech - that will always be broken - in an effort to 'protect' their stuff, spy on customers, and make it harder to sell on a game you bought. EA drove paying customers away and simultaneously made those former customers aware of their fiercest competition, the Dark Side. Preposterous considering they had such a good multibillion dollar industry thing going a couple years back with just CD checks and a largely non-savvy fanbase. If not for Securom, lots of us wouldn't have turned our heads toward what the Dark Side had to say at all. Now we look there to find out how publishers are out to screw us or not. I'm very glad they provide this consumer awareness service. Pirates use technology to give people what they want; EA uses it to give people what they DO NOT WANT and expect payment besides... EA! You've destroyed potential profits for an entire industry! Take a bow so we can kick your ass! Apologies, I've come over all blabby this morning. ;) @Snarky: :-* Seems each successive suit hones the template. I wonder if or when the US FTC will get involved at all. @ Pescado: baa. :) Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: calalily on 2008 December 23, 16:36:26 And that's not even getting into the whole 'USED GAMES MUST BE DESTROYED!' online only/limited activation bullshit, like you're supposed to get paid over and over for one sale...WTF? I understand wanting people to buy new and buy more, but to attack and dismiss the inherent advantages of any used goods market is so incredibly foolish, especially when they could offer the same service themselves if they wanted - they don't so Gamestop, etc. fill that void to their huge profit. Yes - I agree with this. I got into the Sims because I borrowed the game from the library, and after playing it for about 16 hours straight, decided I just had to get it. Limiting activations means that I would never have played that game - the library wouldn't have it. I've now given them about $AU1000 with my purchase of all the sims games. They threw this down the toilet with SecuRom - I won't arr, but I won't buy Sims 3, Spore, Simcity Societies and the rest of the Life Stories as intended, so they've screwed themselves out of more money that they could have gotten out of me. All in favour of stopping me becoming a pirate - a particularly stupid move as I did seriously consider it when I got hit with BV. In the end, I couldn't do it, and decided on a boycott of all the other non-Sims 2 franchises (I'm realistic enough about myself that I have to get the whole set). Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: redisenchanted on 2008 December 23, 17:13:11 Brilliant post by Jfederated It's like EA sat down and planned how to effectively drive people to piracy. It's beyond stupid. Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: Devilfish on 2008 December 23, 17:18:23 @Devilfish: :'( aren't I smarty people? *smartness* Aw, sorry, I must've skipped over your post. The wall of text was full of win though ;) Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: Kragey on 2008 December 23, 17:56:05 Brilliant post by Jfederated It's like EA sat down and planned how to effectively drive people to piracy. It's beyond stupid. "Beyond stupid?" Sounds more like usual EA policy to me. Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: JFederated on 2008 December 23, 18:25:23 @Devilfish: :'( aren't I smarty people? *smartness* Aw, sorry, I must've skipped over your post. The wall of text was full of win though ;) :-[ Iz patented. :D I don't know if it would work for video games, but this guy (http://techdirt.com/articles/20080304/162842435.shtml) at least seems to have a direction for his music that doesn't include suing fans for filesharing that will never go away. When you pull down 1.6 million in about a week (http://techdirt.com/articles/20080313/171933538.shtml), even tho the music is widely available for free, you just might be onto something (http://techdirt.com/articles/20080713/1721051663.shtml). I don't want game publishers to fail due to not seeing the point in bothering to make anything anymore. I want them to succeed by being smarter (not sneakier) about what it takes to make me feel their products are worth paying for, because I will pay for the game itself. But not the associated DRM crap, no way. As it stands I'd feel like an idiot for buying an EA game these days, so I'm shooting spitballs at Cala as we ride the boycott train. I can't seem to bring myself to arr either for many reasons, including the ability to seriously screw up such processes all on my own. And maybe I'm a bit apprehensive about the no turning back that Pes talked about. I've snapped up some non-DRM games lately tho, like Prince of Persia - dunno if I'll play, but I'm bored, and let's face it: no DRM is a selling point I'd like to see proven, and it felt like the good old days when I didn't know enough to care about this stuff. New Manual Smell...I'll probably play it. :D Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: Missbonbon on 2008 December 23, 18:42:09 Nine inch nails have always been very creative. I like the way Trent is promoting himself. Because it's just like Pes said, no matter what you do, you will always have pirates. Companies shouldn't cater to trying to deter illegal downloads, because that will only create more. They need to cater to the populous that will actually buy their product. I have many friends that refuse to illegally download music from some of their favorite bands. Even if it's a sample to their new album, they would rather buy the album. If gaming companies catered and took care of their fans, they wouldn't have to worry about pirates as much.
Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: JMZ on 2008 December 23, 20:12:17 And that's not even getting into the whole 'USED GAMES MUST BE DESTROYED!' online only/limited activation bullshit, like you're supposed to get paid over and over for one sale...WTF? I understand wanting people to buy new and buy more, but to attack and dismiss the inherent advantages of any used goods market is so incredibly foolish, especially when they could offer the same service themselves if they wanted - they don't so Gamestop, etc. fill that void to their huge profit. Agreed totally on this. I would never have got into Sims 2 if I hadn't purchased a used copy of the base game as I had no intention of paying out megabucks for a game that I might not even like. After that I purchased new all of the expansion packs as they came out and the Festive Holiday Stuff pack. Monies they would not have had if it weren't for the used games market. Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: SoggyFox on 2008 December 23, 21:22:38 Considering that with the RIAA, musicians make pennies from album sales, and the albums cost around 50 cents to print, [more likely less], musicians are better off giving the music for free, like Trent did, because they make money from merchandising and concerts. And when giving it away [I got the new album the day he released it for free], people are more inclined to buy a 'hard copy' just to support the artists who are being generous.
When Spore came out, Penny Arcade ran a three part essay thing, with three different views on DRM - the best was the game designer who said the best way to do it is to make a game that is awesome and make it -free-. Because people will come to love it, the donations will more than pay for further development. And PA was fair, they even had someone who supported DRM, which added validity to the anti-DRM folks. Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: neriana on 2008 December 23, 21:38:12 If gaming companies catered and took care of their fans, they wouldn't have to worry about pirates as much. Yep. First, they need to remove DRM, and thereby not treat their customers like criminals. Let's see, I could buy the game and have to go through hoops when I install it and want to play it, or I could download it and be playing it easily, forever, whenever I want. Punishing the people who give you money is so so stupid. Second, game companies need to step back from the "bleeding edge". If your game can only play on 5 or 10% of customers' computers, you've narrowed your customer base artificially, and for what? A point more on game reviewers' "graphics" scales because of the pretty sheen off weapons? World of Warcraft does so well partly because it's a good game, but also because it runs well on relatively cheap and old systems. Gaming companies need to stop sinking money into the black hole of technical graphical prowess, and start putting that money into game design. Beef up your gameplay, story, and art design, eliminate most bugs -- your consumers are not people who care about the new shiny sexiness of light glinting off a gun just perfectly. And if they do, most of them can't afford it anyway. Too many PC game companies, EA very much included, seem to think the customer base for Saks Fifth Avenue is larger than the one for Target. And now we're in a depression. How did these people end up running companies again? Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: pickles on 2008 December 23, 22:36:05 Target sells the same shit as Walmart, for twice the price. I mean, if you're going to have everything produced in china for pennies, at least pass the savings on to your customers!
/shun Target Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: neriana on 2008 December 23, 22:51:08 Target sells the same shit as Walmart, for twice the price. I mean, if you're going to have everything produced in china for pennies, at least pass the savings on to your customers! /shun Target Walmart has absolutely atrocious employee practices. Also, it's "organized" like a 12 year old boy's closet. Also also, their supposed "cheap prices" are often more expensive than other stores. I fucking hate that place. Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: SoggyFox on 2008 December 23, 22:57:09 Walmart also practices sexually discriminating practices, including not promoting many women to positions of authority and holding 'meetings' in strip clubs, and I don't mean male strippers either.
Walmart also screws their wholesalers by selling most everything on consignment which makes the consigners suffer losses, not walmart. I have to go to Walmart and Target on occasion, but for most things I try and hit local shops or somewhere online. Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: JFederated on 2008 December 23, 23:18:47 I bought TS1 base game while idly meandering through Tar-jay in the year two thousaaaaand. :D
And I agree that game-making needs to be more widely accessible as far as hardware. A few games for the Saks players, but more for the Walmartians, since they are teh horde. And pricing: you wanna go digital, make it cheaper, like the rental it really is. Those who want hard copies will be willing to shell out (as long as you're not crapping on them w/crappity Securom or obnoxious inconveniences, dynamic ads, activations, any crappity crap that's server dependent for single player games - lemme buy it and get outta my face). Making a good game is obviously not an exact science, and of course what does work will be emulated. But if you take TS2 as an example - it obviously works for a great number of people. POLISH IT! Make it the best it can be, raid the giant comms that have sprung up and supported this game for ideas, good, sensible ideas, fixes and innovations, and employ them. IMPROVE IT! Shine that sucker up, release patches that matter frequently...SUPPORT YOUR PRECIOUS IP! That's how you keep customers. Hold dearly, in a possessive and spiritual sense, that which brings you success, like those that pay you and advise others to do the same because the game is that good and only gets better. Ugh. EA is so damn lazy where it counts the most. They have the weight and the manpower to be the pinnacle of success, but throw it all away to be the pinnacle of immediate greed. I think their moronically shortsighted business decisions disgust me more than anything else some days. ETA: So sorry, I feel extra rambly today... I find it insane on all fronts that buying and playing a video game has become so freaking complicated, all because publishers want to track/control/prevent/protect/whatever the very product they want someone to buy. It absolutely galls me that they expect anyone to follow along these increasingly labrynthine install processes (see the 20 step install (http://hellforge.gameriot.com/blogs/Random-Ravings/20-Easy-Steps-to-Starting-GTA-IV-on-Your-PC) for GTA4 on PC), and I am gobsmacked that some are willing to even consider going to those lengths to play a game. This is above and beyond the flipping research one has to do now prior to purchase regarding restrictions that aren't even on a game package or description! GAh! As Redisenchanted said, it's a map to TPB they're drawing for soon to be former customers. Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: kenmtl on 2008 December 24, 00:08:16 Walmart is the fifth horseman of the Apocalypse.
Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: Devilfish on 2008 December 24, 00:09:28 I remember a time when I simply walked into a store and picked a PC game that looked cool. Not anymore. Now before I buy I spend ages on the internet finding out what the glitches are (there are always glitches), how bad they are, whether the company cares about said glitches, whether there's fan pachtes available if they don't, what DRM (if any) they use, whether I happen to have that one graphics card the game won't run with...
PC gaming has become a nightmare. I'm spending more and more time on the consoles (although they have their own set of retarded problems) out of sheer exhaustion. There's another video game crash coming, it's going to come soon and it'll come because of greed. The future of PC gaming looks bleak. The future of console gaming is filled with bright racing games, balance boards and digital Pilates programmes. Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: SoggyFox on 2008 December 24, 00:42:48 I don't know. I suspect the crash will come, but some of the steady, respectful PC game companies will come through.
Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: Ashbashtus on 2008 December 24, 15:40:52 Walmart has absolutely atrocious employee practices. Also, it's "organized" like a 12 year old boy's closet. Also also, their supposed "cheap prices" are often more expensive than other stores. I fucking hate that place. I can't stand it either. My mother dragged me in there to go Christmas shopping a couple of days ago. It was a fucking madhouse! We spent three hours in there! I vowed never to go to Walmart between Thanksgiving and New Years again. Speaking of the employee practices, I have to agree. During my high school Sociology class we read Nickled and Dimed. The author decided to see if she could live on minimum wage jobs. Walmart was one of her employers and it does not seem like a great place to work :-\. Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: Lowell on 2008 December 24, 15:45:02 Too many PC game companies, EA very much included, seem to think the customer base for Saks Fifth Avenue is larger than the one for Target. And now we're in a depression. How did these people end up running companies again? This comparison is even more amusing when you consider that Saks Fifth Avenue might be closing down permanently thanks to the recession. Maybe it'll pass onto the game companies who only think of the consumers who can constantly shell out their money to upgrade their systems every time a new graphics card comes out, and we'll start getting ones who will make quality games for everyone to enjoy.PC gaming has become a nightmare. I'm spending more and more time on the consoles (although they have their own set of retarded problems) out of sheer exhaustion. There's another video game crash coming, it's going to come soon and it'll come because of greed. The future of PC gaming looks bleak. The future of console gaming is filled with bright racing games, balance boards and digital Pilates programmes. Greed and shitty games. PC and console games alike are really just the "same old, same old" now; every now and then, you find a rare gem, but give it a couple months and everyone copies it. Game companies are all sticking to the formula now because they know that people will buy the games - and keep buying them - even though they've played it all before. Hell, I can't even find replay value in a lot of games anymore.Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: Devilfish on 2008 December 24, 16:14:20 PC gaming has become a nightmare. I'm spending more and more time on the consoles (although they have their own set of retarded problems) out of sheer exhaustion. There's another video game crash coming, it's going to come soon and it'll come because of greed. The future of PC gaming looks bleak. The future of console gaming is filled with bright racing games, balance boards and digital Pilates programmes. Greed and shitty games. PC and console games alike are really just the "same old, same old" now; every now and then, you find a rare gem, but give it a couple months and everyone copies it. Game companies are all sticking to the formula now because they know that people will buy the games - and keep buying them - even though they've played it all before. Hell, I can't even find replay value in a lot of games anymore.Good point. I just sold my DS because I've played the four or five games worth playing (twice) and every game that comes out now is a carbon copy of those. And the DS looked so good when it came to originality. Forget about the Wii, the PS3 is being strangled and I don't own an XboX because Microsoft practises make me physically ill. I've been on the lookout for a decent, original PC game for a while now and it's just not happening, my game budget is just sitting there. Instead I find myself replaying games I've had for years (Vampire, Morrowind, even Theme Hospital ferchrissakes) because I'm unwilling to sell my blood and ova to buy another copy of a game I played ages ago, only shinier. Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: Piratey on 2008 December 24, 18:24:52 It absolutely galls me that they expect anyone to follow along these increasingly labrynthine install processes (see the 20 step install (http://hellforge.gameriot.com/blogs/Random-Ravings/20-Easy-Steps-to-Starting-GTA-IV-on-Your-PC) for GTA4 on PC), and I am gobsmacked that some are willing to even consider going to those lengths to play a game. Blargh. GTA IV for PC is a big fat DO NOT WANT. It's a diabolical port. In fact, it's actually almost worse than anything EA has ever put out; and at least they aren't bribing reviewers to pretend their turd is shiny flawless perfection.PC gaming has become a nightmare. I'm spending more and more time on the consoles (although they have their own set of retarded problems) out of sheer exhaustion. There's another video game crash coming, it's going to come soon and it'll come because of greed. The future of PC gaming looks bleak. The future of console gaming is filled with bright racing games, balance boards and digital Pilates programmes. I totally and utterly agree. It was a lack of quality and trust that almost killed off the consoles and actually bringing those things to the table that saved them. A console crash could be prevented if the big three were to impose some degree of their own quality control on third party games, so we don't get barely playable "Imagine: Crap!". As for PC, it's the whole criminalisation of the consumer and extreme control and paranoia which doesn't seem likely to change. For the companies that are giving us this crap, things will catch up with them soon because you can't treat people like crap forever; one day they fight back.I don't know. I suspect the crash will come, but some of the steady, respectful PC game companies will come through. And yes, I agree with this. The companies that actually bothered to care will be saved by good ol' Karma. As for the others: Good riddance.Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: neriana on 2008 December 24, 18:28:08 I have to go to Walmart and Target on occasion, but for most things I try and hit local shops or somewhere online. Local shops are best. Unfortunately I live in chain store and chain restaurant hell, though luckily we have a really good local grocery store chain. I've been trying to find more independent places online, because I'm sick of amazon. I like powells.com for books. Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: SoggyFox on 2008 December 24, 22:33:07 I live in one of those 'historical' towns right now, so there are a -lot- of small shops and fortunately few chains. Drug Stores and Grocery chains, but the wal-mart and target are a good distance away, and there are small town drugstores too.
For groceries, I really like both Kroger and Publix - both have a good selection of organic and healthy products, and they seem to have their act together. Also, Kroger being a northern chain, actually carry scrapple, which you just don't find down in the southeast. As for games, I just recently got a psx emulator to play star ocean second story. And there have been times I've thought about getting an old windows emulator and roms for games I used to own back in the 90s. Alas, games are like TV - instead of guessing that people like innovative, they figure we love -sameness- Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: neriana on 2008 December 24, 23:05:17 I think scrapple must be a southern/ mid-Atlantic corridor thing, because I'm from Michigan and I'd never heard of scrapple until I went south. They have it everywhere in Virginia, like biscuits and sausage gravy.
I like Publix. But, this being bland suburbia at its blandest and most suburban, they don't carry anything interesting (though their baked goods are nice), and don't even carry hot salsa. If I don't get back up north, to either the city or the countryside, soon, I'm terrified that I will be assimilated, and start wanting an SUV, 2.5 kids, a 5-bedroom house on a postage stamp lawn, and blond hair. And I'll start complaining it's "cold" when it's 65 degrees out. *shudders* I would actually like a lot more "sameness" in some games. Often they innovate just to do something different, and end up screwing something over that used to be good. Like Fallout 3: Bethesda completely fucked that up. And Sims 3, which looks terrible -- I'd rather have a Sims 2, part 2 than that. But then there's Spore, which promised to be omg different!!!111 and is just a bunch of games someone else did better tied together. Star Ocean: The Second Story is good, I played it when it came out. I'm looking forward to Persona 4 for Christmas, though I don't know when I'll get to play it. Also World of Goo, which does look innovative in a good way. Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: Paden on 2008 December 24, 23:10:20 2.5 kids? How in the hell do you get half a kid? I've always wanted to know that...
Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: Nightmare on 2008 December 25, 00:28:20 2.5 kids? How in the hell do you get half a kid? I've always wanted to know that... 2 kids + the husband :D Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: Paden on 2008 December 25, 01:33:45 I take it that the husband is the one wearing the bib? :D
Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: neriana on 2008 December 25, 04:32:09 2.5 kids? How in the hell do you get half a kid? I've always wanted to know that... A machete. Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: Kragey on 2008 December 25, 06:24:38 2.5 kids? How in the hell do you get half a kid? I've always wanted to know that... I'm pretty sure it refers to mothers doing their "traditional motherly duty" and being pregnant, but I like the machete answer more. ;) Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: calalily on 2008 December 25, 07:33:35 2.5 kids? How in the hell do you get half a kid? I've always wanted to know that... I'm pretty sure it refers to mothers doing their "traditional motherly duty" and being pregnant, but I like the machete answer more. ;) Nah - refers to the average amount of kids per family. :D Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: Pescado on 2008 December 26, 01:31:12 I'm pretty sure it refers to mothers doing their "traditional motherly duty" and being pregnant, but I like the machete answer more. ;) Why is your avatar's ass full of gas that apparently expands when heated by the lazor-thing?Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: Kragey on 2008 December 26, 01:36:31 I'm pretty sure it refers to mothers doing their "traditional motherly duty" and being pregnant, but I like the machete answer more. ;) Why is your avatar's ass full of gas that apparently expands when heated by the lazor-thing?...because it's Bollywood and Bollywood is beautifully insane? Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: Pescado on 2008 December 26, 07:46:08 I was not aware gas-filled asses have ever been in fashion.
Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: Paden on 2008 December 26, 18:23:12 I could make a remark about a certain zeppelin, but not sure how relevant that would be in this instance...
Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: SoggyFox on 2008 December 26, 19:24:04 Scrapple is maybe northeastern? I know its in Pennsylvania, but its not down in Georgia.
Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: Paden on 2008 December 26, 23:45:50 I read about it being made in the Mennonite/Amish community in Pennsylvania. My dad adored it, but we do have some roots back in that territory.
Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: Darqstar on 2008 December 27, 02:01:34 I read about it being made in the Mennonite/Amish community in Pennsylvania. My dad adored it, but we do have some roots back in that territory. My dad adores it too and he's strictly from Midwestern Dutch stock. (Parents born in the Netherlands, so he's first generation American.) My mother sent away for it once and he offered us some at Christmas one year. We all agreed that Dad didn't have anything to worry about from us, when it came to being able to enjoy every morsel of his Scrapple. Then again, he grew up in a house where everything was boiled to death. I loved his parents/my grandparents, but I swear, if you gave them a prime rib roast they would boil the snot out of it and serve it over boiled potatoes. Then, cover the whole thing with salt for flavor. And they lived on a farm that grew vegetables so rich and flavorful, I would eat them raw right out of the garden, after a rinse under the hose. Red peppers, big and fresh, bursting with flavor, onions so sweet that you could eat them like an apple and never shed a tear. And they would cut them up and boil them until they were lifeless. It made me want to cry. Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: Kragey on 2008 December 27, 02:17:23 I have a friend whose family salts everything to death; I have no clue how any of them live past the age of 40. Her father actually salts his salads.
I'm from Pennsylvania, and I actually see a good deal of scrapple sandwiches at fairs and such when the Amish come. Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: neriana on 2008 December 27, 06:08:41 I read about it being made in the Mennonite/Amish community in Pennsylvania. My dad adored it, but we do have some roots back in that territory. My grandparents lived in the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia, which has lots of Mennonites, and that's where I encountered scrapple. I thought it was totally disgusting at first, but then it grew on me. I still thought it was disgusting, but I also thought it was yummy. Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: MissBehave on 2008 December 27, 14:32:58 I know your not even talking about EA or SecuROM anymore (I didn't read the whole topic, but "My grandparents lived in the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia" definitely doesn't look like an anagram to "EA is ruled by maniacal sadistic people"), but, anyway, I wouldn't have the guts to create a whole new topic to say this and expose myself to the anger of the community (;)), so I'll be so bold as to interrupt your conversation and say what I have to say...
Uhm, the title of the topic and its first post may (may) have to be changed soon: I'm not sure if it'll work, but my father will try to sue EA again, also because of SecuROM (duh), but now because of it being put in some The Sims 2 EPs and SPs, not Spore. ;D Yeah, nothing special. I simply wanted to say it. :P PS: I'm very excited: it's the first time I sue someone! *--* (OK, actually it's my father who'll do it, but... nevermind.) XD Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: Devilfish on 2008 December 27, 14:37:37 PS: I'm very excited: it's the first time I sue someone! *--* (OK, actually it's my father who'll do it, but... nevermind.) XD I hear the First Lawsuit a rite of passage in the USA. :D Your father is a brave man. I've been waiting for someone to sue over Securom TS2 (although I may have missed that). Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: Boredlittlefreak on 2008 December 27, 16:10:31 Congrats, MissBehave. =]
But... *gags* Sims 2 EPs? DX Man, it was bad enough when other people had it on their computer, but I didn't know that I had this shit on my computer. X[ Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: Paden on 2008 December 27, 16:30:46 I thought there was already a lawsuit involving Sims 2 or was that still only in the planning stages? And you'll learn that while we derail and go off topic, we can just as easily re-rail and talk about the original topic.
Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: MissBehave on 2008 December 27, 16:45:55 I hear the First Lawsuit a rite of passage in the USA. :D Your father is a brave man. I've been waiting for someone to sue over Securom TS2 (although I may have missed that). Oh, I'm not in the USA, but, anyway, as I said, I always wanted to sue someone (yes, I'm crazy \o/), and I can honestly say EA games is FAR more important than people/companies I ever thought I'd sue. Actually, he isn't. LOL I forced him to (try to) sue them. :D I bet he's quite scared now (he hadn't had good experiences with lawyers in the past :P), but as he's got experiences with it, I had to make him do it for me to have some help. Congrats, MissBehave. =] But... *gags* Sims 2 EPs? DX Man, it was bad enough when other people had it on their computer, but I didn't know that I had this shit on my computer. X[ Yeah, it's in some EPs. Here's what Wikipedia says: Quote The Sims 2 and some of its add-ons had previously used SafeDisc for copy protection until April 2007. Electronic Arts replaced SafeDisc with SecuROM v 7.x software protection since, beginning with The Sims Pet Stories. This includes The Sims Castaway Stories, The Sims 2 Deluxe, The Sims 2: H&M Fashion Stuff, The Sims 2: Bon Voyage, The Sims 2: Teen Style Stuff, The Sims 2 Double Deluxe, The Sims 2: FreeTime, The Sims 2: Kitchen & Bath Interior Design Stuff, The Sims 2: IKEA Home Stuff, The Sims 2: Apartment Life, and The Sims 2: Mansion & Garden Stuff. [...] And thank you! XD I thought there was already a lawsuit involving Sims 2 or was that still only in the planning stages? And you'll learn that while we derail and go off topic, we can just as easily re-rail and talk about the original topic. Was there one? Ah, nevermind! I haven't heard of it and I want to do it myself, hehe. :D Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: Paden on 2008 December 27, 17:21:00 Do! The more voices heard in the courts of law, the better for all.
Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: MissBehave on 2008 December 27, 19:11:39 Yeah, Paden, that'. They'll probably think: "If that Brazilian family was brave enough to try to sue us with their terribly sucky 'Justice', things are REALLY worrying for us". :D
Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: MissBehave on 2008 December 27, 19:14:27 For a very strange reason, the phorum is not letting me edit my post to correct it, so I'll post it fully here:
Yeah, Paden, that's exactly what I think. ;D (They'll probably think: "If that Brazilian family was brave enough to try to sue us with their terribly sucky 'Justice', things are REALLY worrying for us". :D) Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: Tabby on 2008 December 27, 23:17:07 Did you hit the modify button at the top? That is the only way it lets me edit.
Good on you and your father for suing. I have been lucky to not get Securom ::knock on wood:: since I use the no cd cracks, and have since before it was an issue. I can't be bothered to keep up with things, so cd's get lost ALOT around here. :D Title: Re: EA has been SUED 5 TIMES MERRY CHRISTMAS EA MUHAHA ARR! Post by: MissBehave on 2008 December 29, 19:53:55 Modify button? Hehehe... ::) Is there such thing? XD *notices the button*
*looks around pretending to admire the scenario* |