Consists of 2 “products”. The actual game, and the creature creator, which is the “demo”.

Uses SecuROM, which means ring0 driver, online activation when you install the game and when you fetch online content, and an install limit of 3-5 different machines, depending on which copy you've got. If you bought the first batch, the limit is 3 machines, if it's the second it's 5 machines.

Was originally supposed to require an online authentication every 10 days, but this was retracted after the public reacted violently by marking the game with 1 star on Amazon. Others have downloaded the game via torrents just in spite, making this one of the most pirated games of 2008.

There are some indications that it will not run if you've run “hax0r” programs such as process explorer v10 or newer, or CD/DVD emulation software such as daemon tools (http://www.daemon-tools.cc/dtcc/download.php?mode=ViewCategory&catid=5) even once. The only way to get the game to start is (in process explorer's case) to reboot and make sure you don't run process explorer before playing the game. If you have daemon tools installed, you may have to uninstall that.

EA is now facing a lawsuit due to the nature in which the DRM was snuck in under the radar: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2008/09/spore-securom-d.html

For more information on the game itself: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spore_(2008_video_game)

An indication of how you can expect to be treated with spore (and probably all other EA games until they figure out that they've gone too far):

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080916-ars-puts-spore-drm-to-the-testwith-a-surprising-result.html

Recap: He installs in multiple machines, gets a problem on one of the installs which is apparently due to networking issues at EA's end, installs on a few more machines, finally hits the limit and gets a new activation. Seemingly a fairly smooth affair.

http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/list/6800.page

Recap:

• 2008/10/02: He upgraded/reformatted his machine, and spore refused to run. He phoned up EA phone support, who just asked for his email, full real name, a phone number, and verified that his serialnumber was indeed valid, and that he'd used up his 3 computer limits.
• 2008/10/04: he got a mail, asking for more proof, dxdiag info, screenshot of error etc.
• 2008/10/05: Data transmitted to EA.
• 2008/10/05: EA responded a few hours later and had him check the vid card drivers, emptying temp folder, stopping background tasks, and lowering HW sound acceleration.
• 2008/10/05: EA tells him to tweak his firewall. He then asks for a live person, and on
• 2008/10/06: EA asks him to call a toll-free number.
• 2008/10/07: He calls EA, is put on hold for 21 minutes, is told he's installed the game 15 times and is suspected of pirating it, but still allows him 3 more activations.

So 5 days for something they claim should be “not a problem”.

There isn't enough data to draw a conclusion on how seamless the user experience will be, but there are clearly indications that it can be a fair amount of hassle, if you're unlucky.