How to circumvent SecuROM in Spore?

[Chai]

Although this topic touches cracking games, but we have allowed this discussion to proceed. But we will lock the thread immediately if it goes out of hand.

Originally Posted by Motoman

My wife knew how excited I was about Spore...so she pre-ordered it for me way ahead of time.

But just recently I started reading the stuff online about it's DRM measures...not the least of which is the 3-installs rule, which won't work for virtually anyone I know - and I've heard rumours about a rootkit too.

So, I would like to know if there is a way that I can install and play my legally-purchased copy in a way that defeats the DRM. I don't want any SecuROM crap running, and I don't want to have to call to beg for another install after I get through 3, and I sure as hell don't want any rootkits on my PC. I just want quiet, proper use of my properly paid-for PC game without any shenanigans.

I am positive that there are plenty of ways to defeat the DRM on the disk...but I actually have never attempted such a thing, and would like to find out from others how to do it.

[Motoman]

...shurely somebody knows how to do this? Please? I'm getting very dirty looks from my wife who is not entirely up to speed on why I'm not even installing the new game she bought me...

[PsYkHoTiK]

I think that cracks for it do already exist. But to complicate it, this game has a lot of online content. Cracking it will allow you to play the game offline but the online component would be lost to you.

[jamotto]

So far I have read of no way to bypass the activation. You don't need a fixed exe as you don't have to have the dvd in the drive once it is installed and the supposed root-kit is because of a null byte in a string of characters in one of the registry entries for spore.

[Adrian Wong]

Off-topic a little but I think legit users are being unnecessarily punished.

[PsYkHoTiK]

Yes it is. And this implementation of SecuROM is different from the Bioshock one that I wrote about. At least with the Bioshock one, they were immediately receptive to the customer's outcry (which in itself paled to what is being shown towards Spore) and immediately increased the cap to 5. The huge difference is that they stated from the begininning that they would eventually patch it to remove SecuROM altogether (which I believe they have already done) AND once you uninstall, you automatically get that allotment 'restored' to you.

To think that online content would have sufficed for these greedy bastards. Having online content itself is a way to circumvent piracy (and promote sales). This trully Draconion method is punishing the loyal buying customers.

I wonder if all of the upcoming EA releases will be like this. If so, there will be a LOT of games I am not touching. I know for a fact that EA is pulling the same BS on Red Alert 3 but they are generous enough to let you install it 5 times...

Hahaha. If anything, they are helping people look to a certain Swedish counter part for help.

Seriously, I fully expect this kinda BS from the dinosaurs in the Music industry, but certainly not from within the tech industry.

And for the record, I don't condone piracy. But at the same time, I can't say I get a warm fuzzy feeling each time I drop my hard earned cash and some publishers make me feel like I'm on probation or something. Plus having the disc in the drive when it doesn't load anything from it is pretty stupid.

A good read: Spore DRM could kill PC gaming | Hardware 2.0 | ZDNet.com

As for games, Steam is fast becoming my preferred distribution method.

Sorry, had to b*tch about about how fugged up this thing is getting...

[Chai]

I don't really like Steam, but I think it's one of the better way to fight piracy.

[jamotto]

Originally Posted by PsYkHoTiK

And this implementation of SecuROM is different from the Bioshock one that I wrote about.

How so? It uses a similar version of SecuROM.

The huge difference is that they stated from the beginning that they would eventually patch it to remove SecuROM altogether (which I believe they have already done) AND once you uninstall, you automatically get that allotment 'restored' to you.

I don't think 2K has released it yet at-least for those who bought the retail version, strolling around on their website, I couldn't find no such patch. Also the automatic deactivation only works for those who use Steam. People who have retail copies have to download a "revoke tool".

As for games, Steam is fast becoming my preferred distribution method.

Out of curiosity why is it your preferred method? Steam is nothing but one HUGE drm machine.

[Lacus]

i think it's better you leave it alone..i read up somewhere that it mentions pirated/cracked game will be allow to run 3 times only or something like that =x...i think the secure rom thingie dissapears when 1 uninstall the game?

[Chai]

Originally Posted by jamotto

How so? It uses a similar version of SecuROM.



I don't think 2K has released it yet at-least for those who bought the retail version, strolling around on their website, I couldn't find no such patch. Also the automatic deactivation only works for those who use Steam. People who have retail copies have to download a "revoke tool".




Out of curiosity why is it your preferred method? Steam is nothing but one HUGE drm machine.

Three activations and you’re out and one account per CD key

Nuff said.