so... what happens if your net goes down at some point while playing.

That would be enough to make me crack it.

Such a decision for C&C 4 only closes the door for some customers purchasing the game.  Here's more examples of ways they could decrease the customer base for C&C 4 :

1) You're going to need to have Windows Vista or Windows 7 if you want to play C&C 4.

2) You're going to need to have a Nvidia's 1GB graphic card... only Nvidia will work.

3) You're going to need dual monitors to play C&C 4 .

4) You can only play online using our servers.

Etc., Etc.,   etc.,   etc.,   

Each of the above variables removes customers which otherwise would have purchased the game.  They are too stupid to recognize it only decreases their customer base.

Such a decision for C&C 4 only closes the door for some customers purchasing the game.  Here's more examples of ways they could decrease the customer base for C&C 4 :

1) You're going to need to have Windows Vista or Windows 7 if you want to play C&C 4.

2) You're going to need to have a Nvidia's 1GB graphic card... only Nvidia will work.

3) You're going to need dual monitors to play C&C 4 .

4) You can only play online using our servers.

Etc., Etc.,   etc.,   etc.,   

Each of the above variables removes customers which otherwise would have purchased the game.  They are too stupid to recognize it only decreases their customer base.

since sc2 won't have a LAN and will only be playable over the internet, something like this is quite probable to happen imho

Well, there goes any chance that I would buy it. Not there was much of a chance after all the other cr@p they pull.

Am I right in understanding you need to be connected to the internet constantly while playing, as opposed to connecting to the internet say to activate the game, and then being able to play it from then on without needing internet connection?

If so, I just don't understand it - I mean they eventually realised that needing internet connection every 5-10 days for activation was a bad idea, and now they've gone about 100 steps further and required it constant at all times?! I mean online activation is fine for me - virtually everyone will have access to the internet now so a 1-off access isn't going to be difficult. I can't access it when I'm on the move or away from home easily though, and certainly not constantly, and I want to have games I can play in such situations. If a game won't let me, I'm going to be far less likely to buy it. I just hope this isn't the next stage in the worrying trend of EA's DRM, since it'll no doubt affect future bioware games as it did with mass effect .

I to can fully understand the requirment for a one time registration threw the internet.  But have it always be connected is total crap.  expecialy since my internet isnt very stable and can drop out without notice.

Man, things like this used in games are getting lamer and lamer.

I'll wait until I see the reason for it before I pass judgement.  It's certainly bizarre and wouldn't be something I normally go for, but I play enough of MMOs that it wouldn't particularly bother me anyway.

Just give up. This arms race of DRM vs piracy will only lead to a bad place. Admit defeat now before it gets worse.

Heh - there is no race. DRM sucks, and is defeated again and again by pirate groups within 48hrs of a release. I can only chuckle in disbelief when I think of the time, money and effort which is poured into DRM, only to cause grief to legitimate customers.

Honestly, I am starting to think that EA is run by lobotomized robots which got stuck in an infinite loop, and can't get out. How many failed DRM schemes do they have to try out before they finally realize they lost more money by alienating legitimate customers than they gained by those few would-be pirates who couldn't wait for those 48 hours and purchased a legit copy...

So the DRM has actually encouraged piracy?

That is one of the dumbest things i have heard of in awhile.

Sure i have a ultra high speed conncetion but like H@ll will i allow a game to be on-line every second i want to play it.

It i want a game that forces me to be online to play i will start playing MMO agian.

I buy games to play single player and use my connection for serials and updates.

PS i crack every game i buy because having to have a disk in for a disk check is really lame and i lose intrest about the 2nd time i have to go looking for that disk again and just delete it.