Red Alert 3

[timeshifter]

To anybody who likes strategy games: you need it. Now. I love it more every time I play it. Lots of units are amphibious, which in itself opens up a lot of new tactics, but most BUILDINGS are also amphibious, meaning you can build just about anywhere you want. The damage detail is insane, and the water is just plain unbelievable. Wakes, ripples, surf.. it's all there. It's incredible.

[Arrow_Raider]

I tried the beta. I hated it. It was too much like generals.

[timeshifter]

I disagree much. It bears a bit in common with it, but gameplay is quite different. It makes me think a lot more than most RTS games do, as did RA2.

[Arrow_Raider]

I suck bad enough when here is hardly any thinking involved. Any more and it makes me want to kill myself.

[wossname]

C&C is the worst game franchise since Zelda.

[MaximilianMayrhofer]

I'm looking forward to buying red alert 3

[I_Love_My_Vans]

Phail

[the182guy]

I loved the old Red Alert series, I have been waiting years for RA3 but..

DON'T BUY RED ALERT 3

Do your research... it comes with spyware and a ROOTKIT which buries itself in your OS and is not removed if you uninstall the game.

It gets worse than that...

EA limit you to 5 "Authorisations". Whats an Authorisation? When you install it you use up an Auth, if you install on another computer, you use another Auth. If your computer dies and you format the HD, and install it again, you use another Auth. Once you have used all 5, you have to call EA at £2.50/min to beg them to give you more Auths to play a game you have already paid for, they will agree only if they think your story is good enough.

EA says the new protection is to defend against piracy, which is actually counterproductive because legit customers like me who would have bought the game legally are going to get the game elsewhere without the spyware, rootkit and authorisations limit.

This game is a glorified rental.

Have a look at the Amazon reviews for more info.

[Arrow_Raider]

All new EA games are like that, not just RA3. Either accept it, or don't buy their games.

Also, it is spelled authorization with a z.

[the182guy]

All new EA games are like that, not just RA3. Either accept it, or don't buy their games.

Also, it is spelled authorization with a z.

I'd rather not buy their games from now on thanks all the same.

Authorisation is not spelled with a 'z' here in the UK, it is spelled with an 's'.

[wossname]

Just tell them your Hardware Abstraction Layer drivers for your DVD drive have become corrupted by another EA product. Hence having to keep reinstalling the game over and over and now you've done it five times and you need another authori[sz]ation code.

That, or you could always threaten them.

[Arrow_Raider]

I'd rather not buy their games from now on thanks all the same.

Authorisation is not spelled with a 'z' here in the UK, it is spelled with an 's'.

I fully support and encourage not buying stuff from EA. I also didn't know that thing about the spelling. Crazy British people.

That, or you could always threaten them.

Or, you could join the masses and write bad reviews for their games on amazon.

[the182guy]

wossname, that's a great idea, the only problem is after 10mins on the phone winding them up I will have paid for the game again because of the premium rate lines!

[timeshifter]

SecuROM is the reason I specifically said I can't endorse buying it. I refuse to purchase something that I won't be able to use indefinitely, and the root kit makes it so much worse. Sorry, but that crap ain't going on my computer.

[I_Love_My_Vans]

If you times the number of 'licenses' by 7, then divide it by 7, you get 5!

:O Now that's maths you cannot argue with...

[Nightwalker83]

I'm downloading the Red Alert 3 demo now!

[Arrow_Raider]

*cookie*

[Nightwalker83]

By the looks of the demo RA3 is going be disappointing I think!

[timeshifter]

If you think it's disappointing, then you aren't an RTS gamer. There are many things about it that are genre ground-breaking. It's by far the best RA game yet, and that's saying a LOT. RA2 was awesome, and 3 continues the feel that 2 left off. If you don't like it, don't play it. But know that it is a revolutionary game whether you like it or not.

[kregg]

If you think it's disappointing, then you aren't an RTS gamer. There are many things about it that are genre ground-breaking. It's by far the best RA game yet, and that's saying a LOT. RA2 was awesome, and 3 continues the feel that 2 left off. If you don't like it, don't play it. But know that it is a revolutionary game whether you like it or not.

Indeed. The way they integrate Spyware and Rootkit into the game is truly revolutionary.

It's times like these where I wonder if there is any point in the PC market since all the games companies now will end up doing is slapping on some stupid DRM onto the PC versions and leave it as that at best. Take a look at GTA4 for the PC - they've added SecuROM (I don't really care tbh - if it had to be done, it had to be done.) But then they go and make you install Games For Windows Live and some stupid Rockstar program. Oh, and it's one of those things where if you don't install them or have them two running, GTA4 will fail to run. And that's starting it up.

The game itself is no different to the console versions except with the addition with a gimmicky feature - an inbuilt video editing feature. But good luck to even trying it out if you have an average PC that's in between the minimum spec and recommended spec of the PC. Unless you went completely nuts on upgrading your PC and have turned it into some hypothetical computer from outer space (cue timeshifter's PC), then you really don't have a chance of running it like the console versions. Most people have reported to get extremely shoddy version of the game with low framerates etc.

And the error list is just laughable. Of course, that is just GTA 4. And Spore (with DRM Issues). And RA3... ¬.¬

[MaximilianMayrhofer]

You're making me sad

But frankly, if you don't intend to pirate games, then does the rootkit really matter?

[mendhak]

You're making me sad

But frankly, if you don't intend to pirate games, then does the rootkit really matter?

It's partially the implementation of it (privacy) and it's the principle of it.

[timeshifter]

Indeed. The way they integrate Spyware and Rootkit into the game is truly revolutionary.

Exactly why I didn't buy it. I refuse to support that bull. But I said the game is revolutionary; I said nothing about the rootkit/malware, both of which suck.

[Atheist]

I wouldnt call the game revolutionary. I bought it a couple of weeks ago and played it once. Then I kinda lost interest...

Though I'll try some online games soon, as soon as i get my computer fixed.

[Nightwalker83]

If you think it's disappointing, then you aren't an RTS gamer. There are many things about it that are genre ground-breaking. It's by far the best RA game yet, and that's saying a LOT. RA2 was awesome, and 3 continues the feel that 2 left off. If you don't like it, don't play it. But know that it is a revolutionary game whether you like it or not.

I have played and own/owed C&C: Gold, Red Alert, RA Counter-strike, Tiberium Sun and Tiberium Wars. Some I do in-fact like the C&C games. I just didn't like the appeal of the RA 3 demo when I played it.

Indeed. The way they integrate Spyware and Rootkit into the game is truly revolutionary.

Buy now and you not only receive the game but you will get a nasty surprise on your computer too.

[timeshifter]

Hence why I didn't buy it, as I've said several times. I consider it a protest against SecuROM, and I know I'm not alone. The game is incredible. EA needs to shape up and realize they can make just as good, if not better, sales without the DRM, because that's one of the biggest reasons people who pirate games do it.