Right, a win2k blocker. I think sometimes we all have to examine things a bit more-- obviously they haven't put a win2k blocker. They could never strike a deal with Microsoft like that or anything. It's probably because they use technology that goes with WinXPs programming (including things like minimizing the game) and that goes with WinXP's technology.
Actually, it is a blocker. want to know how I know? heres why.
If it wasnt just a blocker, I never would have been able to install the game in the first place. If it wasnt a blocker, the game right now would not run on my win2k smoothly.
Heres why its a blocker.
It was only included in the coding of the installer, not the game itself (which is why the game runs just fine once its disabled). Once it was disabled, the game installed just fine, no problems whatsoever. Oh and another fact is when you first tried to install with it on, it gave back a message that said "This game cannot be installed on this machine because you are running win2k which is not supported."
heres what I believe, or my oppinion for that matter.
EA struck some sort of deal with Microsoft. Heres why. Microsoft found many people not upgrading to winXP when it came out. Why? because it was not a good system so many people believed.
Everyone liked win2k, as it had been the main OS for a number of years. They got comfortable with the style of it and didnt want to change.
This is another reason why any system you buy now from a retail store (not that I do) is installed with winXP.
Because EA is one of the biggest game developers out there, they figured that getting them to block win2k with their games they release it would force gamers to ugprade to winXP. Which for the most part it has, it started with AOE3, a game which was one of the biggest releases of the year mainly because its a great classic; Many people were fans of the old AOE series. They made that game so that it wouldnt play on win2k. Then when they released BF2 they "tried" to block that as well, well I guess they didnt really try to block it, they just refused to support anyone running win2k with bf2. Which brings us to the release of BFME2 which is another big release (with the whole LOTR phase going on) and blocked that as well. My view is that they will continue to do this with any new games they are going to release in the future.
Heres the other thing, how many other games do you see out there only being able to install on winXP? so far I count 0 from any other game developers that doesn't support win2k or run on it. Even some of the bigger titles such as Rome: Total War and Call of Duty 2. Why not? because most of these other game developers support their gamers better and are not as big as EA. They care more and they dont want to lose their gaming community. Which is why microsoft chose EA as their pawn so to speak.
Thats just my oppinion.
IN YOUR FACE EA! I take every chance I get to get back at EA for all the **** they have caused in the past.