[scitek]

Steam has fine customer support, it's just inexcusably fucking slow. Takes a week to get a refund.

[Complistic]

They just know if they put it on steam, no one's going to buy from their terrible new service so they're using the BS dlc and "restrictive" arguments to justify keeping it off there.

[HP_Wuvcraft]

They just know if they put it on steam, no one's going to buy from their terrible new service

I honestly doubt they care if people buy their product from Origin or not. This is all about how much money they get.

Trying to act like EA is doing this just because they want to spite consumers is a stupid argument. It makes no sense and is simply a byproduct of the "EA must be evil no matter what" line of thinking.

[Snuggler]

I honestly doubt they care if people buy their product from Origin or not. This is all about how much money they get. Trying to act like EA is doing this just because they want to spite consumers is a stupid argument. It makes no sense and is simply a byproduct of the "EA must be evil no matter what" line of thinking.

I don't think the quoted poster was suggesting that EA is doing this to spite us, he was just saying that most gamers would go with Steam over Origin, even if Origin offered a better value with exclusive preorder crap or a discounted price. It's what the people want. But this way, no one has a choice, install Origin or don't play it at all. It's really the only way EA can get people to use Origin.

[bhlaab]

All of the characters fuck. All of them. They fuck each other a TON.

There, now you don't need to buy this game.

[PatrickLyons]

can anyone who actually has experience with origin comment on whether this is likely to actually result in inconvenience beyond needing to re-register a game on steam to make it appear in that games list?

[darkpower]

I've been trying Origin, and right now, there have been a few things I don't really like as opposed to Steam. You have to reinstall games if you decide to move the Origin folders (something you don't have to do on Steam if you move that directory to another drive). There's no achievements yet, and I don't know why EA hasn't added them in yet since I thought they were working on that.

Also, the product codes from Steam will work for Origin, but not vice versa. There's a possible good reason for this, and this leads to my major complaint.

It's that EA seems to just be pushing this Origin thing the way they do as a means to have complete control of their prices. Steam has some damn good deals, sometimes on EA games. Having EA games be exclusive to the Origin platform means that they don't have to participate in the Steam deals and keep their prices however they want. Nothing to do with whatever explanation they gave about the DLC (I can't be bothered to look it up at the moment), but rather the pricing. It's kind of suspicious that they are citing something that's never been a problem with them before on Steam. I think it's because they can't get away with the pricing points that they want to on Steam or other PC DD platforms, and since EA owns Origin, they can just do whatever they want to you or your games without having to answer to a middle man.

That last point is more or less one of the major reasons why people are so outraged. That and the fact that EA has just shown that they don't care about the outrage. They are probably just seeing the outrage as a means to prove that they should continue to do this crap. They're forcing Origin down our throats, and nothing we are doing are convincing them to even try to make peace with Valve or whoever else they have an issue with.

[EatChildren]

can anyone who actually has experience with origin comment on whether this is likely to actually result in inconvenience beyond needing to re-register a game on steam to make it appear in that games list?

Outside of the personal grievances people have with EA's business model, Origin's design, and a few technical quirks, installing and playing games is a quick and easy process. Assuming Origin is running you wont have problems booting the game.

[Goldstorm]

Steam has some damn good deals, sometimes on EA games. Having EA games be exclusive to the Origin platform means that they don't have to participate in the Steam deals and keep their prices however they want.

Steam can't make deals and lower prices without the publisher's (EA) permission. It's not benevolent Steam that gives you these prices, it's EA. Sometimes, EA games are even cheaper on Steam than Origin. All your post is wrong then.

[Edgeward]

can anyone who actually has experience with origin comment on whether this is likely to actually result in inconvenience beyond needing to re-register a game on steam to make it appear in that games list?

I recently bought DAO Ultimate and activated it on Origin, once I got it I never opened Origin again and just put a shortcut on Steam. This news doesn't bother me or even make me care all that much. It's fine for me.

[faceless007]

Having EA games be exclusive to the Origin platform means that they don't have to participate in the Steam deals and keep their prices however they want.

Just to clarify, no EA game is Origin-exclusive (meaning only available for purchase directly through EA). They are and still will be available for purchase on other DD outlets like Amazon DD (great sale right now), D2D, GG, etc. In any case, they never had to participate in Steam sales in the first place.

It's kind of suspicious that they are citing something that's never been a problem with them before on Steam.

Whether or not you believe it's EA's real reason, I don't think it's disputed that Valve in fact changed the terms of their content distribution agreements recently due to the introduction of F2P games on Steam. So there is at least some justification for why this is happening now when it didn't before.

I think it's because they can't get away with the pricing points that they want to on Steam or other PC DD platforms, and since EA owns Origin, they can just do whatever they want to you or your games without having to answer to a middle man.

Publishers set the prices of sales on Steam and every other outlet. Has nothing to do with being unable to set price points.

[Volcynika]

Just to clarify, no EA game is Origin-exclusive (meaning only available for purchase directly through EA). They are and still will be available for purchase on other DD outlets like Amazon DD (great sale right now), D2D, GG, etc. In any case, they never had to participate in Steam sales in the first place. Whether or not you believe it's EA's real reason, I don't think it's disputed that Valve in fact changed the terms of their content distribution agreements recently due to the introduction of F2P games on Steam. So there is at least some justification for why this is happening now when it didn't before. Publishers set the prices of sales on Steam and every other outlet. Has nothing to do with being unable to set price points.

Isn't Old Republic only available via Origin (at least through digital distribution)?

[mhayze]

The most likely reason is that steam wants publishers to drive in game content to be bought through steam (as opposed to being redirected to an external site / store). This means that Valve gets a piece of every transaction, but can now support f2p and any other kind of model, not requiring minimum prices. Fro EA's perspective they lose the ability to sell post purchase content without sharing the profit. You can see the conflict of interest there. Plus they must have decided that loss of current sales and angering a portion of their customer base is worth it to grow Origin.

[darkpower]

Steam can't make deals and lower prices without the publisher's (EA) permission. It's not benevolent Steam that gives you these prices, it's EA. Sometimes, EA games are even cheaper on Steam than Origin. All your post is wrong then.

So, because you corrected me on one point (which you didn't prove, anyway, since you want to judge who is right or wrong), my entire post is deemed completely inaccurate? Don't know what kind of logic went into that kind of conclusion!

The most likely reason is that steam wants publishers to drive in game content to be bought through steam (as opposed to being redirected to an external site / store). This means that Valve gets a piece of every transaction, but can now support f2p and any other kind of model, not requiring minimum prices. Fro EA's perspective they lose the ability to sell post purchase content without sharing the profit. You can see the conflict of interest there. Plus they must have decided that loss of current sales and angering a portion of their customer base is worth it to grow Origin.

I'm not sure if every online DD retailer does the same thing or not, but I would be shocked if Valve was the only one that had this kind of bullet point in their contracts with publishers. Again, I could be wrong about this, but I'd be very surprised if, say, Gamers Gate doesn't do something similar!

[Gen X]

Imagine what a clusterfuck PC gaming would be if every publisher ran their own distribution program that was limited to only their catalogue.

'Ooooh, I wonder what my mate is playing?'

*Loads up 17 different Publisher developed programs*

'Can't see him online, he must be stuck in traffic on the way home'.

[ProfessorMoran]

Imagine what a clusterfuck PC gaming would be if every publisher ran their own distribution program that was limited to only their catalogue. 'Ooooh, I wonder what my mate is playing?' *Loads up 17 different Publisher developed programs* 'Can't see him online, he must be stuck in traffic on the way home'.

It's about control and greed, EA is probably trying to challenge Steam as the defacto PC digital distribution channel but they're going to have a hell of a time trying to convince Activision that Origin would be the place to go, and Activision probably wants some of that Steam money, Ubisoft probably wants some of that too, obviously none of these guys will be able to control digital distribution on consoles since everybody goes through the platform holders but with PCs it's obviously a different story.

[CecilRousso]

Two questions:

1. There are plenty of people who wants their purchases to require Steam, because they like the download service, the added functionality like achievements, steam cloud, steam play, community, etc. But are there anyone who actually want their games to require Origin yet? And I´m not talking about opinions like "I can live with it" now, but those of you who actually prefers that Mass Effect 3 requires Origin to run.

2. Are people interested in this game being released on Steam if they actually know that launching it from Steam will launch the Origin client and require you to login there?

[darkpower]

Two questions: 1. There are plenty of people who wants their purchases to require Steam, because they like the download service, the added functionality like achievements, steam cloud, steam play, community, etc. But are there anyone who actually want their games to require Origin yet? And I´m not talking about opinions like "I can live with it" now, but those of you who actually prefers that Mass Effect 3 requires Origin to run.

Haven't met or seen them yet if there were any.

2. Are people interested in this game being released on Steam if they actually know that launching it from Steam will launch the Origin client and require you to login there?

Aside from what has already been mentioned, there's also the worry about Mass Effect saves carrying over. Remember that you can import your Shepard, and there will be questions of if you can use the saves from your Steam ME2 to an Origin ME3. This needs to be clarified, and if it isn't going to work that way, then that will mean disaster for Bioware. It might be obvious, but it won't be obvious enough that Bioware should just assume that we'll get that point, or that we won't have the question.

[Morokh]

Still no news about how they'll handle DLC ?

If it is implemented in Origin, well i'm in, if you still have to buy points and go trough the idiotic Bioware community website whats the point of Origin then ?

[hateradio]

This isn't shocking at all.

Still no news about how they'll handle DLC ? If it is implemented in Origin, well i'm in, if you still have to buy points and go trough the idiotic Bioware community website whats the point of Origin then ?

I'm sure DLC will transition to the Origins platform with this game.

[HP_Wuvcraft]

questions of if you can use the saves from your Steam ME2 to an Origin ME3.

Why wouldn't you be able to?

[Lime]

This isn't shocking at all.

thatsthejoke.jpg

[Suite Pee]

I'll just wait for my roommate to buy it on 360 and play it on there. I'd like to think that enough people will not buy it on PC that they'll add it to Steam, but I'm not investing in the outcome.

Missing my save files will kind of suck, but it hadn't been that good of a feature in 2.

[rozay]

There's a really simple website to convert ME2 PC to 360 saves (or vice versa) for anyone making the switch:
http://legion.cal24.pl/me2/

Just a heads up though, if you have DLC on the old platform but not the new one, you'll need to remove it from your save file with gibbed's editor. .xbsav files can easily be injected into the 360 ME2 character file with modio.

[Barrow Roll]

There's a really simple website to convert ME2 PC to 360 saves (or vice versa) for anyone making the switch: http://legion.cal24.pl/me2/ Just a heads up though, if you have DLC on the old platform but not the new one, you'll need to remove it from your save file with gibbed's editor. .xbsav files can easily be injected into the 360 ME2 character file with modio.

Woah. Bookmarking this for when I get around to playing ME1 and 2 on PC. Thank you sir!

[KKRT00]

Origin isnt required to run a game? That's all i wanted to hear EA, thank You :)
One time activations should be a norm for singleplayer mode, Valve and Ubisoft should actually learn from that.

It's that EA seems to just be pushing this Origin thing the way they do as a means to have complete control of their prices. Steam has some damn good deals, sometimes on EA games. Having EA games be exclusive to the Origin platform means that they don't have to participate in the Steam deals and keep their prices however they want. Nothing to do with whatever explanation they gave about the DLC (I can't be bothered to look it up at the moment), but rather the pricing. It's kind of suspicious that they are citing something that's never been a problem with them before on Steam. I think it's because they can't get away with the pricing points that they want to on Steam or other PC DD platforms, and since EA owns Origin, they can just do whatever they want to you or your games without having to answer to a middle man.

Amazon DD deals
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost...59&postcount=1
Polish Origin Christmas sales
http://i.imgur.com/wb9We.jpg

[KKRT00]

dp

[MrKyle]

can anyone who actually has experience with origin comment on whether this is likely to actually result in inconvenience beyond needing to re-register a game on steam to make it appear in that games list?

I have had no problems with Origin. I now own ~14 games on the platform and all function flawlessly.

I bought several BF2 expansions and BF2142 on whatever web-based store EA had at the time of their respective releases and they automatically transferred onto Origin.

I've been a member of steam since Sept. 13, 2003, and I'll continue to support both platforms. There's more than enough room for multiple DD clients. Group hug.

[kurtrussell]

I don't think the quoted poster was suggesting that EA is doing this to spite us, he was just saying that most gamers would go with Steam over Origin, even if Origin offered a better value with exclusive preorder crap or a discounted price. It's what the people want. But this way, no one has a choice, install Origin or don't play it at all. It's really the only way EA can get people to use Origin.

That's no different to Football Manager 2012. I had to "install Steam or don't play it at all".

It's about control and greed, EA is probably trying to challenge Steam as the defacto PC digital distribution channel but they're going to have a hell of a time trying to convince Activision that Origin would be the place to go, and Activision probably wants some of that Steam money, Ubisoft probably wants some of that too, obviously none of these guys will be able to control digital distribution on consoles since everybody goes through the platform holders but with PCs it's obviously a different story.

Yup, that sounds like it would suck, all right. Still, if EA could provide a better service than Steam one day, wouldn't that be good? I mean, as consumers, we want the best possible service don't we?

Anyhow, I take your point - I see where this is all going: every publisher having their own client to install and run. Sounds like a nightmare. If only there was some sort of physical distribution method where we could go into a shop and purchase something that would enable us to instantly have that game on our PCs rather than having to download a client and wait for it all to install etc. That would be the future....

[Castor Krieg]

It's that EA seems to just be pushing this Origin thing the way they do as a means to have complete control of their prices. Steam has some damn good deals, sometimes on EA games. Having EA games be exclusive to the Origin platform means that they don't have to participate in the Steam deals and keep their prices however they want. Nothing to do with whatever explanation they gave about the DLC (I can't be bothered to look it up at the moment), but rather the pricing. It's kind of suspicious that they are citing something that's never been a problem with them before on Steam. I think it's because they can't get away with the pricing points that they want to on Steam or other PC DD platforms, and since EA owns Origin, they can just do whatever they want to you or your games without having to answer to a middle man.

Of course this is about greed, but let's not pretend Valve is a charity. Someone at EA thought "hey, just why we have to give Steam a cut?". Obviously they think people will buy their games regardless. Day 1 Origin and Steam prices are the same, so I guess only time (and top secret statistics) will tell if EA is better of having games on Origin, or Steam.

Also, Origin is not expensive if you know where to look. Same like buying CD-key to activate on Steam you can buy a CD-key to activate your Origin game. I have never bought anything with MSRP on Steam, simply because I can get it for 30-50% cheaper elsewhere on day 1. Same thing with Origin, you just need to know where to look.

[HP_Wuvcraft]

I don't think we can attribute the word "greed" in video game or any other business decision, simply because we don't know how much things cost in this or that industry. Sure, it sucks for us, but that doesn't automatically make it greedy or some sort of devious conspiracy.

[Thoraxes]

There's a really simple website to convert ME2 PC to 360 saves (or vice versa) for anyone making the switch: http://legion.cal24.pl/me2/ Just a heads up though, if you have DLC on the old platform but not the new one, you'll need to remove it from your save file with gibbed's editor. .xbsav files can easily be injected into the 360 ME2 character file with modio.

Saving this for when I borrow my friends 360 copy down the line instead of buying it new on PC.

[epmode]

Yup, that sounds like it would suck, all right. Still, if EA could provide a better service than Steam one day, wouldn't that be good?

Sure. It won't happen though. No chance. If it were anyone but EA, maybe.

[Appleman]

Ugh, why did I interpret this as Origin AND Steamworks? What a let down

[kurtrussell]

Sure. It won't happen though. No chance. If it were anyone but EA, maybe.

Source? Or is that just conjecture and hearsay?

Ugh, why did I interpret this as Origin AND Steamworks? What a let down

Why is it a let down? You'll still be able to play the game through Origin.

[Durante]

Imagine what a clusterfuck PC gaming would be if every publisher ran their own distribution program that was limited to only their catalogue. 'Ooooh, I wonder what my mate is playing?' *Loads up 17 different Publisher developed programs* 'Can't see him online, he must be stuck in traffic on the way home'.

That's why the community features should be completely decoupled from all sales platforms.
Ideally.

[epmode]

Source?

Perhaps you've missed the dozens of anti-consumer and anti-developer things they've done over the last ~20 years? From anything but a shareholder's perspective, they've proven themselves to be one of the worst publishers in the business many times over.

[kurtrussell]

Perhaps you've missed the dozens of anti-consumer and anti-developer things they've done over the last ~20 years? From anything but a shareholder's perspective, they've proven themselves to be one of the worst publishers in the business many times over.

Sony, Apple and Microsoft are all just as bad, if not worse. They don't seem to have quite as much irrational hate though.

[epmode]

Sony, Apple and Microsoft are all just as bad, if not worse. They don't seem to have quite as much irrational hate though.

So it's irrational to assume that EA is more interested in short term quarterly growth than making their customers happy? Their entire history up until now indicates that their focus is on anything but the industry's health. Is this really up for debate?

And are you really surprised you don't see many complaints about Microsoft, Sony or Apple in a PC thread? Sony and Apple are obviously unrelated and aside from a few cancelled games and the aborted GFWL initiative, Microsoft is too apathetic about PC stuff to matter. I'll agree that their practices in the console space show Microsoft to be a Bad Thing for the industry, though.

[LiquidMetal14]

Every company has and will always to things that don't get the same reaction. This isn't really the thread for that. These are companies that make great product. In the end they all want to make money. Human beings run them so there isn't necessarily this cold feeling towards them.

[IceMarker]

No thanks EA, I skipped BF3 for the same reason.

[kinoki]

EA's strategy is so unfocused. They just want to be present in the digital distribution area they just throw out quick solutions without focusing on the whole. In order to prepare for ME3 I started up a new game of ME, now I've finished it and moved on to ME2 and thought I'd get the DLC while I'm at it.

But, to my surprise it's not present on Origin, and instead you have to use "BioWare points" on their webpage. Points of any kind registers as "scam" in my mind. And with the release of ME3 in the coming month why haven't they've been made available on Origin? What's even more confusing is that Pinnacle Station is available.

Let's just say I don't have alot of hope in the Origin-works platform. If BioWare (who bascily is EA at this point) can't even use their new service properly why should I be expected to invest in it?

[kurtrussell]

So it's irrational to assume that EA is more interested in short term quarterly growth than making their customers happy? Their entire history up until now indicates that their focus is on anything but the industry's health. Is this really up for debate?

Yes it is. If EA despatched a crack team of ninjas into the night to rape your wife, murder your children and burn down your house, then I could understand a "hatred" towards them.

But... not being a fan of EA's business decisions and the fact that EA "indicate that their focus is on anything but the industry's health" does not justify hatred towards the company. I'd consider that pretty irrational.

At best you'd have a strong dislike, and if that's enough to put you off playing a AAA game release, then it sucks to be you :(

Also, isn't it a bit ridiculous that people would be willing to play a game published by EA on Steam, but not willing to play a game published by EA on Origin, because Origin is owned by EA and EA are evil innit? If you're going to take the "EA are bad for the industry" moral highground, then don't play anything tainted by the touch of EA. Don't pick and choose for convenience :)

[Appleman]

Why is it a let down? You'll still be able to play the game through Origin.

... Exactly. Or in my case, I can just not play the game. As hyped as I was for BF3, Origin-only lost them my sale. It might sound stubborn, but it's pretty much Steam or no sale for me now

[The Mana Legend]

So what's the point of the stuff I unlocked in Amalur on Steam?

[kurtrussell]

... Exactly. Or in my case, I can just not play the game. As hyped as I was for BF3, Origin-only lost them my sale. It might sound stubborn, but it's pretty much Steam or no sale for me now

But why?

Wouldn't you consider it ridiculous that someone would forgo a game because it was Steam only? That's the same thing as writing off a game because it's Origin only.

Sometimes I don't understand GAF. A forum full of gamers who go out of their way to deprive themselves just because they don't like the distribution method? le sigh!

[epmode]

Sometimes principled people will avoid a product because they don't care for the company behind it. Capitalism!

There are more than enough games to go around.

[Bisnic]

But why? Wouldn't you consider it ridiculous that someone would forgo a game because it was Steam only? That's the same thing as writing off a game because it's Origin only. Sometimes I don't understand GAF. A forum full of gamers who go out of their way to deprive themselves just because they don't like the distribution method? le sigh!

This is Neogaf dude.jpg Where EA is the devil and where Steam is god.

[Eusis]

So what's the point of the stuff I unlocked in Amalur on Steam?

Log into your Bioware Social account, it'll be sitting in there. Which also means you could take a hammer to your current PC, build a new one, and still access that stuff.

[kurtrussell]

Sometimes principled people will avoid a product because they don't care for the company behind it. Capitalism! There are more than enough games to go around.

Yup. These are the same people who are so principled as to be willing to play the product if it was released on Steam. It's the same fucking company as the people who made Origin...