DRM hits FIFA 09!!!

[Generic Oval]

It's seems like it's going to be true...

The DIGITAL RIGHTS MANAGEMENT protection system will be featured within FIFA 09.

According to this source the new FIFA will include the same copy protection system as EA used for Spore. So what does this exactly mean? It means, that you will have to register your game online before you can play and that you will only be able to install the game 3 times. After these three installations you'll have to call a EA-hotline with costs to unlock your game for new installations. During the installation a DRM software installes itself which can't be deleted from your hard-disk anymore (even if you try to remove FIFA 09). Many angry Spore gamers suspected this also to be some sort of malware, so beware...


But this topic is going to be even more severe for the complete editing scene...
Remember how often you've installed FIFA 08 or 07? I did it about 9 or 10 times, also because of all the patches or mods that require a fresh installation...
But how will you be able to install all the great patches which make the game worth playin if you're only allowed to install the game three times?
This will make it so dangerous to install new things for your FIFA and I really don't know how we should cope with this.

 

[bruno167]

For installing patches you don´t need to reinstall the game. Just copy all your Fifa folder to some place and if you need to restore you just need to copy back the folder.

About the 3 installations limit i think if you backup the entry of Fifa installation in registry and then
restore it and you put all the game files in same directory where you installed fifa in first time it will work.

 

[amifla]

It's seems like it's going to be true...

The DIGITAL RIGHTS MANAGEMENT protection system will be featured within FIFA 09.

According to this source the new FIFA will include the same copy protection system as EA used for Spore. So what does this exactly mean? It means, that you will have to register your game online before you can play and that you will only be able to install the game 3 times. After these three installations you'll have to call a EA-hotline with costs to unlock your game for new installations. During the installation a DRM software installes itself which can't be deleted from your hard-disk anymore (even if you try to remove FIFA 09). Many angry Spore gamers suspected this also to be some sort of malware, so beware...


But this topic is going to be even more severe for the complete editing scene...
Remember how often you've installed FIFA 08 or 07? I did it about 9 or 10 times, also because of all the patches or mods that require a fresh installation...
But how will you be able to install all the great patches which make the game worth playin if you're only allowed to install the game three times?
This will make it so dangerous to install new things for your FIFA and I really don't know how we should cope with this.

Relax. No problem, this only work with Adidas Live Season.
Cheers

 

[StevePitts]

So what does this exactly mean?

That I, for one, will not be putting my hard-earned corn down for FIFA 09, or Spore, or any other EA game that insists on treating me like a criminal despite the fact that I've purchased the software.

I was amused to read that Stardock have published a gamer's 'bill of rights', partly as a marketing exercise to publicise the fact that they don't believe in DRM of any kind, and partly to try and change the general mood of the industry in this regard. Read it here:

Stardock Announces "The Gamers Bill of Rights"

 

[renski]

whats funny is it doesn't stop piracy, that Spore game was still cracked like every other pc game... so they are simply hurting the people who buy it

 

[samueljuarezf]

For installing patches you don´t need to reinstall the game. Just copy all your Fifa folder to some place and if you need to restore you just need to copy back the folder.

About the 3 installations limit i think if you backup the entry of Fifa installation in registry and then
restore it and you put all the game files in same directory where you installed fifa in first time it will work.

Agree with Bruno. I have three folders. The one that I edit, the one that I play and the original folder as backup.

 

[Ultra_Blue]

Yes, but this doesn't make the DRM acceptable.

 

[fox_lav]

The crackers will find a way.

 

[amifla]

Yes, but this doesn't make the DRM acceptable.

Totally agree. Anyway, fifa 09 will have no DRM. This is confirmed.

 

[StevePitts]

fifa 09 will have no DRM. This is confirmed.

By whom?? Where??

 

[amifla]

Confirmed by Andrew Wilson, executive producer of Fifa, in Leipzig. Little interview in pcgames.de ( search in archive ).

 

[Tizmo]

FIFA on the PC will include new online authentication system:

Recently, there has been a lot of misunderstanding about DRM policy on game software. We hope gamers understand that without the ability to protect their work from being stolen, most developers will eventually stop investing in PC games. Different games use different policies, but overall the shift to online authentication helps protect game makers and guarantees players have the best, authentic and authorized gaming experience.

To protect the investment of time, creativity and financing that went into the game, FIFA on the PC will include new digital management rights software that requires online authentication to play the game. Players will need an online connection to activate the game for the very first time - and will be able to install the game on five machines. Under special circumstances EA can authorize additional installations - players simply need to contact our customer service teams.

In the coming weeks and months, players will be see patch updates and other enhancements to the DRM software as our system evolves.

Like most software products, we've always included certain levels of anti-piracy measures in our games. The new online authentication system reflects the fact that the majority of players today are connected online. Features like adidas Live Season for example require an internet connection; feedback about the real world integration of player form into the game has been hugely positive. An online system makes it seamless to authenticate and allows consumers to activate the game on multiple machines without needing the disc in the computer in order to play.

http://fifa09.ea.com/us/readnews/entryid/26140

This is on the official FIFA 09 website.

But good new for editors! This does not mean that you can only install the game 5 times, it means that it cannot be installed on more than 5 computers. On a single computer, your own that is, you can install and reinstall the game an unlimited amount of times.

That is what I have gathered from this report from EA and other various sites.

But for those who have no internet connection, this is a bad move by EA.

 

[farmboy]

It's probably the fairest system so far. Who in today's world is going to buy and install FIFA on a computer with no internet connection? I mean, maybe a laptop, but since you only need to be online during install, that shouldn't be a problem. And five machines PLUS uninstalls is pretty generous, I think.

 

[Generic Oval]

I don't know if this is caused throgh DRM, but when I first tried to install the game, I got a bluescreen at 20% of the installation process.

At the moment I have it installed correctly, but starting the game takes longer than it took with FIFA 08.

 

[davidmende]

I don´t know about you guys but all these extreme meassures from EA only makes me angry as a potencial customer, and having in mind that there are no new licensed leagues (so far) but graphic improvements makes fifa 09 appear not like a brand new game but a fifa 08 update so i´ll be watching how the fifa 09 scene develops.

 

[simoncauchi]

Relax. No problem, this only work with Adidas Live Season.
Cheers

I think more cause tournaments modes etc wown't work with an ilegal copy!!

 

[StevePitts]

Confirmed by Andrew Wilson, executive producer of Fifa, in Leipzig. Little interview in pcgames.de

I don't speak German worth toffee, so the article on pcgames.de is gobbledegook to me (and please don't suggest Babelfish, or some other automated translator, that simply produces gobbledegook that looks like English) but I've seen the Aussie site article that it links through to before, and Mr. Wilson does not confirm that there won't be any DRM in FIFA 09, just that it won't be as bad as Spore/Mass Effect.

We hope gamers understand that without the ability to protect their work from being stolen, most developers will eventually stop investing in PC games

This one certainly doesn't understand that, and sees no causal connection there. Besides, why does protecting their work involve treating the legitimate consumer as a thief??

FIFA on the PC will include new digital management rights software that requires online authentication to play the game

So EA goes bust, or decides not to continue supporting FIFA 09 at some point in the future, and I can no longer play the game. Software rental should be considerably cheaper than the full price they are charging for their game.

will be able to install the game on five machines

Defined as what exactly?? Still sounds very similar to the system used for Spore (once the limit was lifted from three to five) unless they are being extremely clever about what constitutes a 'machine'.

In the coming weeks and months, players will be see patch updates and other enhancements to the DRM software as our system evolves

Or perhaps, more accurately, we haven't tested this fully yet so we'll need to cobble things together as we go along (and I think we are already seeing the truth of that sentiment)

we've always included certain levels of anti-piracy measures in our games

Which have only ever had a negative effect on the legitimate consumer. Didn't seem to stop the pirates, did it??

This does not mean that you can only install the game 5 times, it means that it cannot be installed on more than 5 computers. On a single computer, your own that is, you can install and reinstall the game an unlimited amount of times.

I think the proof of that pudding will be in the eating. Does changing your graphics card, or your motherboard, represent a change of computer, for instance.

All of this leaves a nasty taste in my mouth. I remember fighting this battle many years ago with business software (Byte magazine's Jerry Pournelle was very active in that particular campaign) and have seen similar nonsense come and go with music CDs. I've always refused to buy so-called 'copy controlled' CDs and thankfully that fad seems to have passed (helped by Sony's horrible faux pas with the XCP 'rootkit') but it looks like I will have to vote with my wallet again. Ah well

 

[mr_08]

ea has tried to make things strict by applying these rubbish stuff but the crackers will find a way to crack the game or have they cracked it already?

 

[lanze07]

It's illegal to psot her such comments
Putif you want to check it use google and you will find everything
www.google.com

 

[myx]

relax. game is cracked