BioWare technical producer Derek French wrote in the BioWare forums that the PC versions of both Mass Effect and Spore will require online validation every ten days in order for the games to continue working. This is an effort to combat copyright protection and piracy. This means that you will not be able to let your friend borrow your copy to put on his PC.
French stated, "After the first activation, SecuROM requires that [Mass Effect PC] re-check with the server within ten days (in case the CD Key has become public/warez'd and gets banned),".
So, if customers do not go online with the game after ten days, the game will stop working.
French went on to post, "After 10 days a re-check is required before the game can run," added French. "..An internet connection is not required to install, just to activate the first time, and every 10 days after." This means that your game will have to go through 36 authentications per year for it to run. The program, SecuROM, will do it's first check 5 days before the 10 day window is up. If it can not contact the server the game will still run. However after the 10 days are up, the game will not run if it has not contacted the server in that time frame.
The purpose of this is to prevent the CD Keys from becoming public through warez, torrents or other means. Should a key become public it will be banned preventing the game to be played.
This has raised a lot of controversy among the hoards of PC gamers anxiously awaiting the release of Spore. Many are outraged by this and are threatening to refuse to buy the game. Gamers are not angry because they will not be able to distribute the CD Key, but rather that their computer will have to be in “constant” contact with the parent server. It is unclear how this will affect the game if installed on a laptop computer where it is (obviously) portable. The potential problem there will be especially challenging for the college student who utilizes (multiple) “internet cafés”. Another point of contention for gamers is the potential resell of the game. Only 3 reinstalls will be permitted. After that contact with EA Games will be necessary to continue the specific CD Key.
Spore will have the same security measures in place. "[Electronic Arts] is ready for us and getting ready for Spore, which will use the same system", stated French. He went on to say that the game packaging will have the warning clearly marked for the buyer to see at the time of purchase.
Currently the Spore release date is 9/7/2008.
