Posted by Eric Galaviz | 14 Comments
Origin: The Start of Something New or the Death of EA on PC?
A few days ago, forums and blogs filled with the news that EA had apparently taken Crysis 2 off of Steam. Later, we would find out that the game was pulled by Steam, rather than EA, due to violation of terms regarding Crytek. With EA’s Origin service just launching, and with the news that The Old Replublic would be an Origin-exclusive, many gamers began to speculate that this was the begging of a shift. From now on, would all EA games only be sold on Origin? Even though EA officially stated it Crysis 2“s removal wasn’t their doing, and even though they still have their most recent releases available on steam, this situation hasn’t stopped gamers from complaining and quickly boycotting EA’s new Origin service. These reactions have me shaking my head in disgust. All of these people who are under the assumption that EA will no longer support Steam are apparently not going to play some of the biggest games coming out in the next year only because EA wants gamers to use Origin?
I get it, people hate EA. They haven’t been best friends to PC gamers and they have a rough track record. They have been one of the more aggressive companies when it comes to DRM, and they definitely have made some mistakes with their DRM practices, but does that mean they will continue that with their new Origin service? Maybe, maybe not; I honestly haven’t heard anything about this, but it is possible that they will take the same model created by Steam to run their own service, in which the service itself serves at the only DRM.
Either way, EA is very much intent on creating a Steam-like service for their games, and whether or not it’s on Steam, the game will still play the same. There are plenty of gamers who purchase their PC games at retail stores or through download services other than Steam, so I have no idea why all these Steam users are so upset about this. I’ve seen hundreds of gamers saying things like “Thanks, EA, way to shoot yourself in the foot,” or “Definitely not getting BF3 now.” I’ve even seen a few people who said they were going to get MW3 now instead of BF3 because of Origin.
I know, these are some of the more drastic people out there, but they still make me shake my head. I mean, come on. So it’s not on Steam; who the hell cares? Origin might end up being a service on par with Steam, who knows? Steam wasn’t the best thing out there when it released; it took years and years to get third party titles to show up on the service. So are you seriously going to deprive yourself of what could be a great game just because you might be forced to use Origin rather than Steam? I’m not just talking Battlefield 3; what about Mass Effect 3 and Star Wars: The Old Republic (which will release exclusively on Origin)? These could all be great games, and you want to skip them because they make you download it via their client?
Many people hate EA and think of them as the company they used to be, but those people seem to forget that they helped create some of our favorite titles in recent years: Mass Effect 2, Dragon Age, Bad Company 2, Dead Space 2, L4D, Rock Band. Some of these games were made possible because of their EA Partners program, which many third party companies are a part of. This program allows third-party companies to use EA’s assets to help create their game without much intrusion from EA. There’s a reason some of the most popular companies have joined the EA Partners program: companies like Insomniac, Epic Games, and yes, even Valve.
One of the smartest comments I’ve seen said that we have to just accept that more and more companies are going to move toward a download service like this, and at this point EA is one of the few companies with the funds to start such a service. We should be making sure that Origin meets the standards set by Steam not by simply boycotting, but providing feedback. Origin is just starting, and who’s to say it won’t be the best place to get EA games? EA constantly offer great deals on their games, sometimes only a month after release, so with Origin, we might start to see even more deals on our favorite games. Not to mention that if we start supporting it, we might start to see non-EA titles appear. Plus, they also have the benefit form learning from Microsoft with how they handled Games for Windows Live.
Games for Windows Live has done the complete opposite of what it intended to do for gamers. The service has been full of issues that cause more frustration to gamers than it remedies. Things like having separate save files for offline and online modes, requiring you to download a patch even though you don’t play online, and servers crashing due to traffic overload ,leading gamers to not be able to play a game online or offline. Yes, Steam went through some server issues when they started, and even now they are having issues with that on Macs, but what Microsoft failed to do was simply copy the Steam functionalities and format. The way Steam handles updates and offline/online play is exactly what us gamers want,.so if EA’s Origin service were to do just that, I don’t see where the issue is.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for being upset about game companies giving gamers the shaft, like EA and its Madden NFL franchise and the Online Pass thing that has only benefited gamers in Bad Company 2, but this isn’t one of those times. In my opinion, Origin will have a tough time because it will only offer EA games, but I just don’t see a reason to hate the service because you can’t get a game on Steam. If you come to me and say you won’t download it due to some DRM issue, then fine, I can understand that, but saying you won’t play a game because it’s not on your favorite download client; that’s just idiotic to say the least. Ultimately, if EA doesn’t limit their games exclusively to Origin, and the service is comparable to Steam, will gamers continue to be this irrational? Origin has the potential to offer Steam competition, and competition can be great for consumer.
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I have origin because it was the upgrade for EA’s download manager. Haven’t really used it yet though, and I doubt I would buy anything through it, at least not at this point. It will be interesting to see how they handle the DRM situation. So far it looks like the DRM is in place for older titles (i.e. Mass Effect 1), unlike the Steam version, so that’s a bit disappointing. They seem to be disclosing most relevant DRM information, but I always look at EA with a weary, cynical eye.
You’ve certainly hit the talking points pretty hard so let’s break them down one at a time.
1: Steam wasn’t much better when it was released.
Yes, and this isn’t 2003 any more. Any service which is claiming to be a competitor of Steam has to do far better than what Steam did 8 years ago. Not only have those years passed but Valve at least had the excuse of pioneering many of the concepts and practices that have come to define what is expected and acceptable from a digital download service.
2: EA is creating a competitor to Steam, competition is good!
Yes, competition is good. According to the all knowing ‘pedia Steam has over 3,300 titles spread across hundreds of developers both AAA and Indie. EA is offering us, EA titles. That is not a competitor to Steam. If Origin is required for those titles it just becomes another piece of bloat on our computers. Imagine a situation where every developer decides to have their own Origin. For a gamer like myself (100+ titles on Steam alone) that would mean dozens of mutually exclusive systems.
No, a competitor of Steam would be selling a broad range of titles. Impulse and Gamer’s Gate being but two examples of true competitors of Steam. Unless and until EA opens the service to many more companies this argument falls flat.
Also, just to head it off, yes, when Steam started it was Valve only. Look at the answer above as to why that was acceptable then and not today. Hint, 2003 & pioneer are the key concepts here.
3: Gamers are foolish to boycott over this.
No, they’re not. These are businesses and the only reliable form of communication that works with businesses is the bottom line. Games are transitory. The direction the industry takes, that a gaming company takes, has a far longer lasting impact. Besides. None of the titles are, as you claim, exclusive to Origin. They are available digitally exclusively on Origin. They are still available in brick and mortar outlets. Outlets which cost EA more than Steam does. I’m more than willing to break my years long habit of not buying titles from physical stores to cost EA money for their ill-conceived power play.
So, to sum up. Origin has no excuses to be bad. Origin has no excuses for being EA exclusive. EA has no excuses for foisting Origin on unwilling consumers. Consumers do have the right to thumb their nose at EA.
If EA removes its products from Steam then starts a its own service, that is not competition, it’s withdrawal of free trade.
I agree and neither Old Republic, neither Mass Effect 3 or any other possible Origin exclusivity will turn me over from hundreds of $$$ I paid for Steam titles, which are now nicely available on one place on any of my computers. I am not going to switch clients and have my system running “millions” of resident services just to play something I HAVE PAID FOR. Either integrate the two services, or go to hell EA.
I agree, one client is best for me. I have been slowly converting all of my hard copies of my games to a digital copies on Steam when they come available. I will not buy it if it is not on Steam now and has been my matto way before all of this started and I realy do not have a reason to change. What a shame. I have over 200 games and almost that many on my wish list. Now, EA has just bought POP Cap and they are making ‘only on Origin’ titles on some of there best titles. WOW, thanks EA! I dont care if you guys want to sell your digital games from your own web site, as long as I can get it from where I want too, like I can get from a retail version of a hard copy. Sell it on Steam and logining into Origin when playing the game works for me. I think that there should be a law about this. Whats next EA, are you gonna try and buy Valve? Anyway I hope this works itself out on both side of the coin for the two companies and “For Love Of Us Gamers!”.
i dont want 2 clients on my pc and definately not having to be online the whole time. steam is the best thing ever period, i have tons of games on steam i dont want to split my library. ea killed battlefront 3. origin is overpriced,has no games lies to customers; crysis 2 removed for tems&conds my ass (shell). it pisses me of that i have to get new software, pay more and then have to triple the price i pay for dlc. all valve game dlc is free. (hats dont count, hats r cool) EA CAN SMD.. VALVE FOREVER
“2. Consent to Collection and Use of Data.
You agree that EA may collect, use, store and transmit technical and related information that identifies your computer (including the Internet Protocol Address), operating system, Application usage (including but not limited to successful installation and/or removal), software, software usage and peripheral hardware, that may be gathered periodically to facilitate the provision of software updates, dynamically served content, product support and other services to you, including online services. EA may also use this information combined with personal information for marketing purposes and to improve our products and services. We may also share that data with our third party service providers in a form that does not personally identify you. IF YOU DO NOT WANT EA TO COLLECT, USE, STORE, TRANSMIT OR DISPLAY THE DATA DESCRIBED IN THIS SECTION, PLEASE DO NOT INSTALL OR USE THE APPLICATION.
This and all other data provided to EA and/or collected by EA in connection with your installation and use of this Application is collected, used, stored and transmitted in accordance with EA’s Privacy Policy located at http://www.ea.com . To the extent that anything in this section conflicts with the terms of EA’s Privacy Policy, the terms of the Privacy Policy shall control. ”
This is origin EULA agreement that basically states that you give them the ability to look at everything going on in your system (including private information) and also releasing it to 3rd party programs outside of origin.
This is the main reason people will boycott Ea/origin. Valve steam allows you to opt out of there similar program by completing a survey but if you allow them to monitor you then they only monitor steam games and not your entire system.
Boycott origin for privacy.
MeeHungL0 we could not have said it better. Thank you.
Origin will snoop on your system. Not just for EA titles but any data they want. Read the EULA. This is the death of EA.
I am anti social, this is why i play games at home alone. I don’t want to share or be on line! no one gives a crap about Face Book, Twitter.. this is all an illusion that all company’s are giving into. dam project managers and marketing groups ignore what people care about the most. … PRIVACY
intrusive DRM is the problem and blind support of monopolies that are locking down the modding community.
they make their games shitty on purpose so its off to the next big purchase and we will buy it because its the only game in town.
Steam does NOTHING that real gamers want. If you seriously believe that a needless third party parasite, which when it decides for whatever reason to not load, means that you cannot even play a game you’ve got the disc of sat in your home, is a good idea, then go back to your pathetic little console. Add to this the fact that when you have, as I did, your Steam account stolen, that lovely Steam service has facilitated theft to the tune of at least £100, without said thief even having to leave their house. Yeah…brilliant idea. And no, my password was NOT “Stephen123″, in case you’re about to suggest that. Valve’s attitude is very much “guilty until proven innocent” – which perhaps is understandable, but it might help if the way to actually report a stolen account didn’t require virtually cracking the next Enigma Code. Whatever happened, to, you know, clicking to start a game, and said game…well…STARTING. Now there’s a revolutionary idea !! And now Origin, which refuses to let me even START Need for Speed The Run, because I don’t have the latest nVidia drivers. Drivers which I have determined to be the direct cause of the multiple blue screens of death I was having in Windows 7 (several a day before I finally rolled back their driver – not a single one since). The future is looking very bleak. Real gamers can only hope that Microsoft isn’t stroking it’s chin ready to force everyone onto yet another needless third party piece of crap just to play games we’ve paid our hard earned cash for.
Steam has a new system like a few months ago when your account is accessed on another computer u have to use a code sent to your email account to access it. Obviously you haven’t spent like 600 on steam like me. And origin ATM is pathetic for updates/downloads where steam puts it out well and if your game isn’t running check the files fuck Stephen you deserve your account stolen
I take that back. My Crysis 2 and Mass Effect 3 experience were both great. Origins installed Mass 3 seamlessly and gives u the option to save on or offline, and disable being seen as online. Great job EA.