EA Gets It

When Spore was shown off in 2005 for, I think, the first time, I was completely amazed by it. I wanted it bad. And I followed its development for a time. Then it was delayed, and delayed, and delayed. When it finally shipped, it was riddled with the worst of the worst DRM. So bad that to this day all reviews on Amazon only give it one star.

It’s not the product I originally anticipated, and now every time I see it in a game shop I cringe and I die a little bit more inside and my head spins and I vomit pea soup.

My overblown theatrics aside, it did end up completely unappealing. I’m sure it’s still sort of a good game, despite some of the dumbing down I heard it got from its original form.

Anyway, I guess EA got the hint and are backing off the DRM for The Sims 3. Part of me thinks yeah, okay, they may have learned something. But another part of me realizes The Sims 3 is going to be their major cash cow in the near future. The Sims is big. And I’m pretty sure EA aren’t going to risk The Sims 3 getting one-star reviews on Amazon.

Regardless of the obvious money-comes-first mentality of the corporate world, it appears there is still some kind of thinking-about-the-customers going on. After all, DRM is currently just as big as making money. Except it’s an illusion created to keep shareholders disillusioned. DRM loses money for corporations. Otherwise honest people who would buy something like Spore read these bad reviews and don’t want their computer infected with DRMstuffs, and opt for the Pirate Bay copy that eliminates those hassles.

If you’re going to treat the customer like thieves, well then expect them to act the role. This move towards traditional copy protection is a good one for EA as it means more sales on account of more willing consumers.

I still think you’re the scum of the industry, EA, but props on this one.

Monkey Island Converse

I’m completely unfamiliar with Monkey Island, but I just came across this article on Kotaku showing a custom made pair of Chuck Taylor All-Stars.

I want them.

I’m a big Chucks fan. I’ve been one ever since David Tennant stepped in as the 10th incarnation of The Doctor, wearing his own personal pair for the role. There was something about them that I just felt the need to have my own. When I finally did, it was amazing how comfortable and right they felt on my feet. I will never wear another shoe.

Currently I have two pairs—black and green. I plan to grow this collection, like any self-respecting geek collector. If only I could get my hands (or feet?) on a pair of custom ones like this…