How is protection from piracy treating people like criminals? Microsoft, OS X, Adobe, and jsut about every major software developer that is a paid for applicaiton has something like this setup. WGA, Activation with Adobe and so on. So is it that every compnay treats you like a Criminal?
In honesty take a look at it. If it wasnt for the fact that Windows was pirated by around 50% of the population do you think that Microsoft would charge $400 a pop for a serial? Well maybe. But the game developers who do not get 5 Billion people playing their game can not have piracy. If they only sell 50,000 copies they barely cover costs to make the game. If another 200,000 people pirate how do they make out?
It will be gotten around. Without a doubt. But Piracy for PC Gaming is killing the industry faster than console gaming. At least that is tougher to pirate.
If EA wants something to do a hankshake every 10 days. So be it. With Microsoft if you want some specific downloads from their site you might have to validate your Windows with every download. EVERY one. But EA is single handedly killing gaming?
More like the people who openly admit to being game pirates are the killers. If you ilke the game..buy it. If you dont like the practices done by EA. Dont buy it. Same thing that we tell people about Vista. If you like it use it. If not dont.
Blaming EA for trying to prevent as much lose to slaes as possible is like blaming Microsoft and Adobe for doing the same thing. At that point might as well be a Open source person and convert to Linux and be done with it. Complaining about every step to prevent piracy will only encourage it more.
Buy the stuff. Then prices will come down after a period of time cause companies are making the money to cover costs much easier and faster.