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Hm.

But that’s all it is: a step. Not only that, they should have done this when the controversy first surfaced. Better yet, they could have easily predicted (based off of the Mass Effect fiasco) the customer reaction and nipped it in the bud.

Instead, EA has stated that they’re increasing the amount of activations from three to five before you have to call customer service. Missing the point much?

EA has released the information on activation frequencies:

• Total activations: 437,138
• Users activating on only 1 machine: 86 percent
• Users activating on more than 1 machine: 14 percent
• User trying to activate on more than 3 machines: 0.4 percent

They’re using those numbers to justify the 5-install limit they’re imposing. EA, the game has been out for less than two weeks. What are those numbers going to look like in a month? A year? Two years? How much does the 5 install limit expand the life of this rental for serious gamers who frequently upgrade their hardware?

As one of those gamers, I won’t be touching Spore. The only sympathy I have is for Will Wright, whose baby they saddled with a game-killing DRM.

(via ArsTechnica)

Head over to MsPixel.com and subscribe to her RSS feed if you haven’t already.

It looks as though the Xbox 360 console isn’t the only piece of hardware that Microsoft is dropping the price on. GameDaily has verified that the 120GB HD, previously priced at $179, will now be sold for a modest $149. Still too damn expensive, if you ask me; you could pay another $50 and pick up an extra Arcade.

That said, at least there is a storage solution for the 360. Yeah, that’s right, Wii - I’m looking at you.

Thankfully, for those of you just now getting in on the game, Warcry.com is hosting a similar beta key give-away on their website. You just have to register to enter, no random lottery, no surveys, nada.

If last week’s give-away was any indicator, these things will go fast, so head on over and get your key now.

Amazon users’ revolt over the inclusion of SecuROM DRM with Spore continues, garnering 845 negative reviews since the release less than 24 hours ago.

Since our article this morning over 600 new reviews have given Spore a one-star rating. Wow.

The hype for this game has been nothing short of astonishing. At E3 2005, three years before the game’s release, it won the Best of Show, Best Original Game, Best PC Game, and Best Simulation Game Game Critics Awards. At E3 2006, it won Best PC Game, Best Original Game, and Best Simulation. Spore won the GameTrailers E3 2008 Award for Best PC Game. It also won the E3 2008 Overall Best of Show from GameSpy.

So why, one day after its North American release, have 239 out of 281 Amazon reviews given Spore 1 single, lonesome star?

Spore’s distributor, Electronic Arts, has decided to implement SecuROM DRM, which some of you may remember from Mass Effect. Users would be required to perform online software validation every 10 days. The backlash from the gamer community was enough to prompt EA to remove the required 10 day validation, but depending on what EA labels as new “online features” or “new content” you may be re-validating your software a lot more often than every 10 days.

The main gripe most users seem to have with the new DRM, aside from reports of it eating up RAM, is that legitimate buyers will be limited to three installations per disc copy. If you reformat, that’s a new installation. Once the limit is reached you’ll have to phone EA for another activation, which they’re not necessarily obligated to give you.

One review speculated that “in a couple of years they might very well even shut down the general activation servers, because ‘it’s not financially feasible’ to keep them running.

What you will be left with is a nice, colorful $50 coaster.”

Another review stated that the Spore DRM is “a bit reminiscent of the Sony root kit. It installs software that you definitely don’t want or need. That software can work in superuser space, meaning it can do whatever it wants on your system. And there is no uninstall for it.”

One opinion which seems to be echoed in every situation involving invasive DRM software is this: the DRM will be hacked out by pirates within days of release (in this case, Spore was available pirated before its release date) so the users who pay for the title get saddled with resource-hogging spyware while pirates play hassle-free. In effect, the only people EA is sticking it to are the users who chose to support their game and pay $49.99 for it.

$49.99 for what many disgruntled gamers are dubbing “a rental.”

Aching to try the new game? Head on over and grab yourself a key. All you need to do is make an account with MMORPG.com.

Hurry, they’re going fast!

EA’s upcoming title, Mercenaries 2: World in Flames, takes place in a fictitious Mad Max-style Venezuela, where you play as a mercenary and use fuel as currency. To promote the game, EA took over a petrol station in North London, armed with £20,000 ($34,846 USD) worth of free fuel.

Every customer at the station was to receive £40 worth of free fuel, and most were thrilled.

“This is a genius idea, whoever thought of this should be promoted,” Prince Davis, 37, told the BBC, “I’ll definitely be buying the game, you’re never too old to play computer games.”

The traffic congestion caused by the media stunt was enough to warrant a private security detail, which had its hands full with the tempers of both drivers and residents of the neighborhood. One man had to be calmed down after it took him ten minutes to exit his driveway.

“This area is usually very quiet but look at it now, there’s cars queuing everywhere. It’s just creating unnecessary problems,” said another resident.

I’m just glad these people don’t live in LA. 110 at rush hour, anyone?

That’s great. The more people playing video games, the better. That got me to thinking: what kind of games do well with geriatric gamers? The Wii Sports game is always in the news, but there have to be more options - so I’ve compiled a list of five games your grandma can’t live without.

Top 5 Games to Get Grandma

#5 - FaceBreaker K.O. Party
It’s already been established that Wii Sports boxing burns almost as many calories as hitting an actual boxing bag, making it an ideal form of low-impact exercise for seniors. So why not FaceBreaker? The cartoony facial deformation puts it a cut above its Wii Sports counterpart, and if Grandma is an Xbox or PS3 gamer she can even use the face-capture function to fight her least favorite grandchild (you) over and over.

#4 - The History Channel: Battle for the Pacific
Ok, saying this game received a lukewarm reception would be an insult to lukewarm receptions. Everyone hated it, citing repetitious gameplay, lack of a coherent story, poor graphics and bad narration. But think about it this way: many elderly people find comfort in repetition and they’ll think the graphics are fine, given that many recall needing a punch card for an ‘interactive gaming experience.’

#3 - Boogie
Everyone loves karaoke, and the energetic dancing portions of the game are sure to provide Grandma with that much needed heart rate elevation. Since the karaoke functions in the game measure rhythm and pitch instead of using phonetic detection, ill-fitting dentures won’t kill your score.

#2 - Trauma Center: New Blood
Unless you’re ridiculously healthy (and equally lucky), getting old means frequent doctor visits. After a few hours with Trauma Center: New Blood, Grandma will be able to critique her surgeons as they perform. We like to call it “back-seat operating.”

#1 - Need for Speed: ProStreet
In the US, many states have laws in place that require people above a certain age to regularly re-take their driver’s tests, due to the visual decline, hearing loss, limited mobility and increased reaction time which comes naturally with age. It’s important to arrive at any test prepared, so pick your grandmother up a copy of Need for Speed: ProStreet, so she’ll be able to brush up on her drifting and hand-break turns between tests.