Copy Protection is so screwed that doesn't allow legit games to be played

[MeDiCo_BrUjO]

BIG Gripe

I've had enough of these companies putting "COPY PROTECTION" crap into their stuff.
Don't take me wrong, they have all the right in the world to protect their merchandise, but I think that their rights end where mine start. We as paying customers shouldn't be bothered with "issues" within their protection system.
I'm really tired of paying for my games and finding nothing but trouble to get them to work, have to resort to contact their idiotic customer support just to receive a canned answer that doesn't resolve your issue.
And finally (and ironically) the only thing that actually helps you to enjoy your purchase is a HACKER PATCH!!!!.

This is the thread I started on the EA Support website:
************************************************** ****************

Customer
06/21/2008 10:18 AM

I just purchased, installed and tried to run the game and all I get is the splash screen,
then it disappears and the game doesn't start.
I updated it with the latest patch and still it won't pass the splash
screen.
I've tried to run it from the Autoplay menu from the DVD, the desktop Icon
and the executable inside the program folder and the same results every
time.
I have an AMD Athlon 64 6400+ 3.2Ghz Dual Core, 4 GB Ram, Win XP 64, 500 GB
HD (400 Free), ATI Sapphire 512MB PCI-E CrossFire (2 cards). I just had a
clean Install and everything has the latest drivers, even the latest
DirectX.
Please let me know as I have no idea what I must do in order to play.


Response (Christened P)
06/27/2008 10:16 PM

Hello!

Thank you for contacting Electronic Arts Technical Support. I apologize for
the difficulty you're having with Command and Conquer 3 Tiberium Wars. Were
you able to play the game without any errors before? Have you had any
changes made to your computer lately? What troubleshooting steps have you
tried so far?

This can be caused by a few different things, but is usually linked to
programs running in the background that conflict with the game, or
miscommunication between the game and your video and/or sound card. If you
are unsure on how to end all of the background tasks, please click on the
link listed below:
http://support.ea.com/cgi-bin/ea.cfg/php/enduser/cci/ea/background_tasks.php


Certain temporary files can conflict with game files during gameplay. You
can empty the temporary file folders; follow this link for instructions:
http://support.ea.com/cgi-bin/ea.cfg/php/enduser/olh_adp.php?p_faqid=10705

If the issue persists, please send a reply to this email with your updated
Dxdiag.txt file so that we can look into this issue further.

To do this:

· Go to Start -> Run.
· In the box, type the following: dxdiag
· Click "OK"
· Click the "Save All Information" button on the first screen of the
application.
· Then on top of the "Save As" box that pops up, select Desktop (if it's
not set to save there already), then click Save.
· Finally, attach the dxdiag.txt to your email reply.

If you have Windows Vista and do not have a Run selection:

Right click on the menu bar and select Properties.
Click on the Start Menu tab.
Click on the Customize button.
In the upper window scroll down until you see Run command.
Click this check box and click Ok.
Click Start.
Click Run.
Type dxdiag in the available text field, and press OK.

After we receive this file we can continue troubleshooting the issues at
hand and hopefully come to a solution.

Should you require further assistance about this or any Electronic Arts
games in the future please visit our website and review our extensive Self
Help knowledgebase (http://support.ea.com).

Sincerely,
Chris P.
EA Technical Support


Customer
06/28/2008 08:14 AM

Thank you so much for not reading my actual question but for do taking the
time to copy and paste this extensive response that has nothing to do with
my actual problem.
How do I know that you didn't read my question?, well...
* You asked me if I've been able to play it before without errors when in my
email I am telling you that it's the first time I installed the game and I
can't run it at all.
* You asked me if I have made any changes to my PC and then again It's the
FIRST TIME that I've installed this game, the question does NOT apply.
Obviously a copy/paste canned answer.
*I also told you that I just did a clean installation of the OS, so there
were no extra programs in the background.

I just wanted to let you know that I did solve the problem and it had
NOTHING to do with programs running in the background or communication
problems between audio/video cards. It was the fault of your STUPID COPY
PROTECTION software that prevented my LEGAL AND PAID game to run properly in
my machine.
Everything solved miraculously the second I applied a NO DVD Patch to the
game, a patch that prevents the verification if the original DVD was
inserted indeed in the drive.
I can't believe that I paid $50 for my game, and that I can't run it
properly and have to resort to a no dvd patch in order to be able to play it
because your copy protection software is so screwed that stops paying
customers from enjoying its purchase. And the best part is that Pirates play
this game without problems because it was one of their patches the one thing
that actually helped me to play my game.
So I think I made very clear that it wasn't programs running on the
background or A/V communication problems right?, if it would have been the
case, I wouldn't be able to run the program even with the patch.

But the thing that infuriates me the most, is that Customer Support doesn't
even take the time to read the emails from their customers and instead they
reply with their "ready-to-go-all-purpose-canned-response".

I really hope that you clean up your act, you are driving away customers
(and more by bad referrals). At least you just drove me away.


************************************************** ***********

I just can't believe that installing a game these days is so much trouble!. The game's forums are swarming with people not being able to play because of this. And of course Customer Support will never admit that the problem is their copy protection crap in the first place.

Wouldn't this be reason enough for an action class lawsuit?, I mean, we pay for a game, we can't play that game not because our computers are wrong but because their stuff is wrong.
And the worst part as usual... you can't return software!. So either you make it work or you lost your money.

Your thoughts?

[Noahtuck]

Yeah..... i agree.

I've used no cd/dvd patches for years and years on all my store bought legit games that require having to check the original disc to play the game.
I figure, i just paid 50-60 dollars for a game... i'll play it on my machine any damn way i want!!!!!!

Was a godsend when the kids were younger and wanted to play their games on their pc's!!!!

Just because i hated always having to go dig the disc out of my cd rack.

One thing i loved was when the original UT finally made an offical update patch that removed this so you could play without having to have the cd in the drive.

The first thing i thought when reading their reply was the same as your's.... this manual monkey did not even read what you wrote

It's the same with telephone tech support... they sit their reading page by page because they are clueless.... many a time i've had to tell tech people what point to skip to so i did not have to sit their listening to their yapping and going over everything i already know and have tried

[rallynavvie]

I think it's Starfire protection that's one of the worst. Because I run VMs on my machines it somehow sees the transparent drivers and never works. It's also one of the worst to work around. I used to love LOMAC when I first got it but then it never ran once I started playing with VMs. Given the choice I had to let the game go