So I was planning on buying this game because it sounded really innovative and fun...that was of course, until I found out about the draconian DRM it employs. It's some of the most restrictive DRM I have seen on a game to date.
First you have SecuRom. I can't tell you how many times I have had problems installing a game because of SecuRom. You know you have something really "special" when you have to download "updates" for your DRM!!! And by special, I mean crap. Additionally, I use VMWare for work and to test multiple configurations. I also use Daemon Tools to load my ISO images. Well, we all know that SecuRom has HUGE issues with Daemon Tools because you MUST be a pirate if you use them.
Then you have this checking in with big brother. I just hate applications that are always "phoning home". I think the user should be notified what information is being sent and when...EVERY TIME. It needs to be illegal to send information about a user without their expressed consent...this means something more than just clicking on a EULA accept button.
Next you have the limited number of installs. What?!?! Are you kidding me? I don't know about you but I reinstall my machine constantly. What a pain in the arse to have to call EA and ask them to install it on my machine. What if you call them 10 times? Will they not activate it for you? What happens when I am done playing this game and want to eBay it? Oh....yeah....now I see. This is about the secondary market and eliminating it...it's not about piracy.
So my suggestion to you is to skip Spore all together. I don't care whether they increase the number of times you can install it. Send a message to EA that we ARE NOT going to stand for this shit. Then maybe next time they will rethink their decisions on DRM.
As an aside, I sent support an email about it. I suggest you do the same.
https://easpore.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/easpore.cfg/php/enduser/home.php?p_sid=zgzqciej