Here are the facts:
Electronic Arts Says:
"Authorization limits
... you are limited to five authorizations. So what's an authorization? The first time you actually run the game on a machine, we will authorize that machine. If you reach the authorization limit, the game will not run on a new machine. If you make major changes to the computer (switching out multiple pieces of hardware, install a new OS, etc.) you might need to reauthorize the machine."
What they don't mention here is that a "major change" to your computer can be quite a bit less than changing out multiple pieces of hardware. In fact, changing a keyboard, mouse, or joystick or any number of USB devices could be regarded as a "major change". Upgrading drivers for you sound or video card might be a major change. The rules are not defined and you will not know for sure what may or may not use up an authorization.
So if you use up all of your Authorizations? Electronic Arts says:
"Just give us a call...
If you had a run of bad luck, some hardware failures, a botched OS install, your notebook was stolen, you spilled a coke on your keyboard you get the idea and all five of your authorizations have been used up, just give us a call. We'll work with you and provide as many additional authorizations as are appropriate."
What they fail to mention here is that calling Electronic Arts for technical support is not free. You will be charged 2.50/minute plus any toll charges.
Now consider the idea that you have bought 5 Electronic Arts games over time and one by one they all run out of authorizations. When the authorizations start running out, do you honestly want to call EA every time you make a hardware change to ask them to allow you to play a game you already paid for? What a hassle!
Please don't buy this game; don't support this kind of DRM scheme. I don't know if this scheme is to prevent used-game resales or if they really believe it makes a dent in piracy. It doesn't matter why, they are going too far and punishing the honest consumer, so it's time to punish their sales.
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Regardless of the game's true rating in terms of fun, thrill, excitement I have to recommend one star and suggest you not purchase it, but find an alternative. At the end of the day, however, you know the type of gamer you are and whether the DRM scheme will interfere with you or not.
This is an excerpt of a letter that I have sent to EA regarding RA3. This is my view and while to late to stop this purchase, I will be aware the next time.
Letter to EA regarding Red Alert 3 (RA3):
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This past week I took my son to purchase Red Alert 3 for my son. It was nostalgic since I was a big C&C and RA2 fan so many years ago. In fact, I still have the CDs and would reinstall and play them every once in a while. His interest in RA3 came from my RA2 discs, which he's played a few times.
He installed RA3 on his sister's laptop, since his 5 year old Dell doesn't meet the minimum requirements. He's getting a new laptop this Christmas, he's quite happy. His first concern: I only have 4 installs left of RA3. Excuse me? He informed me of the 5 installs per game before requiring additional activations.
Some folks never learn. Or they do it the hard way.
I understand the difficulties of piracy. I am a software developer. But you should take a moment and learn from those that came before you. What will your game fans have to work through when they've installed the game on their numerous reformatted machines and find out that the the game can no longer be installed? Gamers tend to be the ones that constantly restore or reinstall fresh machines to keep the machine in optimal running conditions; removing demos, games no longer played, mods and a handful of other 'wares that end up on a machine after a year. What about when the game is no longer supported by EA, albeit the gaming community has a huge following and wants to continue playing it, but the activation servers are offline?
Am I just renting this game from you? Since I must ask for permission after five installs to install a sixth time it sure seems like it. This would be akin to calling Warner Brothers to allow me watch Batman Return past 10 viewings.
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The game is good as expected since I am a fan of this series. And so I am very bias at the same time. The securom is really the culprit in killing the fun for me. The start-up of the game is VERY SLOW. I have a very fast computer with the latest hardware but I guess that's how the securom works. Its a thrill killer. And it conflicts with my firewall too. Such a HASSLE! I feel sorry for the guys who made this when it got packed with this Securom. I haven't bought another game with Securom after this. It's not worth the hassle. It used to be fun when you play this kind of games especially if you BOUGHT it! Now it feels like their meddling in my computer's system as well. Somehow, it feels wrong.
Honest reviews on Command & Conquer Red Alert 3: Premier Edition - PC
Okay, DRM is bad and all, and this public marketing campaign needs to keep up-it's the ONLY thing getting these companies to reconsider using it. However, this is more about the game..
Gameplay: 1/5. The controls and interface, along with the rock-paper-scissors units are well suited to casual console gamers. The general powers were overpowered and the economy in the game was the only thing keeping these games from lasting more than 5 minutes.
The building on water, while supposed to add a new aspect to gameplay, is a nuisance combined with overall inefficacy of defense buildings and poor economy. In other words, the only viable gameplay types are rushing and land grabbing.
Storyline: 2/5. The story is mostly recycled from red alert 1 and 2, with some slight creativity but mostly stereotypical asian empire/dynasty team using stereotypical japanese giant robots. Most of it was literally pulled off of red alert 1 and 2.
Graphics: 2/5. The graphics were bright, cartoony, and obnoxious. Red alert, while it had humor, was never obnoxious like this. It's unfortunate at best, and for me it actually caused eyestrain even with gamma and contrast tweaks. Boo.
Multiplayer: 1/5. The co-op campaign is for online play only, no LAN play supported. Why? It's apparently an attempt to curb piracy, but some dedicated hackers are making it work. Normal online matches are all rush games with no strategy.
Music: 3/5. I feel this is worth mentioning because they managed to convince frank klepacki to come back and compose for red alert 3. Unfortunately it looks like they really heavily interfered with his creative process, and much of the music feels forced or obnoxious, such as the title music. Hell march 3 was a complete and utter disappointment, it was 2 with new instruments.
Overall: 1/5, +1 star of franchise loyalty, 2/5.
Unfortunately this game is lacking in everything that a game bearing the 'command and conquer' name should have. It's catering towards console gamers, balanced to simplistic 'rock paper scissors' players, and advertised as a strategy game.
The graphics are annoying, the music is annoying, the characters are always presented in a 'look at their chest!' way, and the storyline is lacking.
If it weren't bad enough that this game was ridiculously easy on 'normal' settings, the co-op campaign with a friend doesn't work over LAN, meaning no hamachi if EA's servers don't co-operate with you.
And lastly this game uses DRM that restricts your ability to resale it. That's right, you cannot sell your used copy of this game. When you register your CD-key to your account, it's yours for 5 installs, then you get to call EA. I hope you've heard this enough times.
Buyer be warned, bargain bin material.
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I really miss Westwood, and I loved loved loved Red Alert 2! So Red Alert 3 had some big shoes to fill. Unfortunately, the latest game doesn't quite live up to those expectations for a lot of different reasons.
Firstly, the DRM I bought this game about a year after it was first released. When I tried to deauthorize the game, the server could not be connected to. So there's a very real danger that people could buy this game and are unable to authenticate it because EA have screwed up their servers.
Secondly, rather than being a direct sequel, EA's new storyline completely erases the events of the first two games. I think they could've easily introduced the Empire of the Rising Sun without erasing Westwood's original storyline. Part of Westwood's charm was their utilizing Einstein as the B-Grade Mad Scientist. It's almost as though by erasing Einstein, EA are symbolically removing any spontaneity or fun from the game. As a result, I think Red Alert 3 takes itself a bit too seriously. There's none of the nudge nudge wink wink from both the actors and developers that made Red Alert 2 so much fun. The only actor who really gets it is JK Simmons, who plays the US President.
The game design doesn't seem to encourage the kind of insane tactics that made RA2 so special. I wouldn't dream of capturing a Soviet and Allied construction yard and wasting money on building rows and rows of Prism and Tesla towers (ahem). Or packing Tesla troopers into IFV's and using them to electrocute an entire base. Or producing packs of dogs just to kill an entire squad of Russian Conscripts...only to be run over by Soviet tanks. Ah! The memories!
And that is this game's biggest problem Westwood and its legacy cast a long shadow. EA developing Red Alert 3 is akin to a Cover Band playing the Beatles greatest hits. The sound and fury might be there but the charisma, charm and insane daring of the original is missing. If EA really wanted to do us a favour, they'd create a REAL time machine, go back in time and stop themselves from disbanding Westwood. Can you imagine Red Alert 3 or C&C 4 produced by the REAL Westwood? Now that'd be games worth playing!
