I am worried about steam.

[xXGeckoXx]

More specifically the steam origin problem.

I am aware that some of you don't like steam very much but I am making this thread from the perspective of liking steam over origin so take that in mind.

The problem is, I hate origin and I love Bioware and Dice games. I use steam already for all my games and so far the pro's outweigh the cons so I keep using it but now whenever I want to buy an EA game I am suddenly forced to use origin, EA games make up a small percentage of my games so I would only use origin for EA games, it would be so much more convenient if I could have them all on steam as I could go to any computer and only have to install one system then get all my games in a flash.

So my real questions are quite numerous: EA said things like; "BF3 will be on steam eventually". Do you thing this will happen?

Also do you ting that this tension damages the EA games sales?

Do you (assuming steam user) wish that all the games were on steam?

Note 1: If you hate steam (and origin) and all these forms it's not really necessary to post that here. This thread in not about the pro's and cons of the systems as a whole but rather the individual ones. If all you have to say is steam/origin/gamespy sucks for this and this reason you are not contributing. You are allowed to put your opinion as to which is better in your post for the sake of clarification but I don't want this to become a console war on the PC.

Note 2: Sins of a Solar empire just dropped their system and joined steam, I think thats the right direction for them as I am sure that now they are on the steam homepage it will increase awareness for their awesome but unknown game.

Edit: New question: Should people just be complacent and buy the damn games, I mean distribution does not change that much...right? (/question)

 

[Jowe]

I haven't tried origin yet, but my friends tell me its horrible to install BF3 deluxe edition on it and never use it for anything other than BF3. I definitely wish that Mass Effect 3 would be on steam, not sure how I'm going to get it now, if at all.

 

[JackWestJr]

Why would anyone hate Steam? :/ low game prices suck? or something. Anyway, what's not to like about Origin, really? Remember Steam was compulsory to play HL2 when it came out, it is just a way to get people to forcefully use your service.

 

[Dandark]

I like Steam, I use it for most of my PC games and it's never given me any problems. I have indeed always found it very useful and have found games I never would of known about thanks to it.

As far as I can tell Origin is just EA trying to cash in by making an inferior steam clone(I know nothing about origin other than peoples compaints though) and trying to force all of their customers to use it.

I currently end up hating EA every time I see someone post about how they really don't want Origin but are being forced to use it just so that they can buy some of their favorite games(BF3, ME3, DA). It's a pretty damn flawed buisness practice since it seems a lot of the gaming community now hate EA.

I think it would be much better if EA just dropped Origin and put their games on steam like everyone else rather than forcing people to download yet another program that has been classfied by some as spyware.

 

[JackWestJr]

I haven't tried origin yet, but my friends tell me its horrible to install BF3 deluxe edition on it and never use it for anything other than BF3. I definitely wish that Mass Effect 3 would be on steam, not sure how I'm going to get it now, if at all.

Thats funny, I didn't have a single problem with the installing of my BF3 Limited Edition and this was my first proper PC game :/

 

[Clive Howlitzer]

Pretty much, I don't buy anything if it isn't on Steam because it is inconvenient for me to do so. I think it hurts game sales to restrict sales to a certain distribution system. If EA wants to use Origin, that is fine, but also have those games on Steam. Otherwise, I won't buy them because it is a large hassle for me to use both.
Origin is also a massive clusterfuck that is missing many of the nice features that Steam has, including the ability to gift games.

 

[Flames66]

get all my games in a flash.

I'm afraid I have to call you out on that. Games on Steam have never arrived in a flash and here is an example. I recently decided to try DC Universe online. I left it going over night and it took a solid 25 hours to download. After that download period I discovered that I didn't much like the game anyway and uninstalled it again. This is not a flash.

Should people just be complacent and buy the damn games, I mean distribution does not change that much...right?

No. EA's origin is spyware as specifically stated in the user agreement. For someone to install this program is to expressly allow harmful software to be installed and operate unhindered. People have to stand up for their right or be shorn like a sheep of their identity.

 

[Korbo]

It's a pretty damn flawed buisness practice since it seems a lot of the gaming community now hate EA.

Didn't most people hate EA anyway?

OT: I don't want Origin because I don't need it. Steam is good enough, even if that means no EA games. I can always get them on console anyway.

 

[veloper]

To answer the OP: sure BF3 might end up on Steam, if Origin fails.

Not likely though.
We had regular posters here actually defending Origin and this community is atleast somewhat informed about the game bans, the TOS and the spyware. That means most gamers don't give a damn (up until they buy a game, get banned and cannot play anymore).

 

[cgaWolf]

Note that while i do like steam, i didn't like it at the state it was when it came out, for the obvious reasons of it not being convenient, clunky, and simply not working well. Origin suffers the same faults as Steam did when it came out, with the addition of it being spyware, and there being several working & comfortable competing products out there. Lastly EA's idea of launching games (origin->web->game) is crap.


I understand the reasons behind doing their own digital distribution platform exactly (30% more revenue for sales), i don't understand how they thought the actual implementation they chose to release would be a good idea. As it is, i will not be buying games that are exclusively released via Origin.

Also, i'm mad at them for using the Origin name. That TM used to have positive connotations ><

 

[xXGeckoXx]

My worry is Mass Effect 3. I owned both ME 1 and ME2 on steam and it was great.

My PC is broken so I cant check does ME1 and ME2 still work on steam?

 

[Folji]

The whole "new EA releases no longer on Steam" business honestly drowned a lot of my enthusiasm in various upcoming games for them. Not that it was an overwhelming sense of enthusiasm in the first place. Mass Effect 3? The Syndicate reboot? The Old Republic? Dragon Age 3? More Dead Space or Crysis? Pretty sure I'll get by without the lot. The only thing from EA that I've been a bit keen on the prospect of, is a new Mirror's Edge.

"Because it's not available on Steam" is a pretty arbitrary reason to decide not to get a game, but that's more or less the stance I've grown to have. I like having my games on Steam, Steamworks integrated and all, and the idea of installing additional game managers on my system is enough for me to just pass up on one game or another.

 

[redisforever]

get all my games in a flash.

I'm afraid I have to call you out on that. Games on Steam have never arrived in a flash and here is an example. I recently decided to try DC Universe online. I left it going over night and it took a solid 25 hours to download. After that download period I discovered that I didn't much like the game anyway and uninstalled it again. This is not a flash.

Umm...mine do. They download really fast for me. Ok, so, maybe there's a problem with your network, or it's just slow, but I downloaded 5 gigs yesterday in about 45 minutes.

 

[Lilani]

Edit: New question: Should people just be complacent and buy the damn games, I mean distribution does not change that much...right? (/question)

I'm not sure what you mean, specifically with the word "complacent." I'm not sure that word means what you think it means [/InigoMontoya]. I've always liked digital distribution because it's usually cheaper, always easier, and always more convenient. I don't live around a lot of game stores, so unless I'm looking for a recent release finding specific games can be very tricky. If I can just as easily stay at the comfort of my computer and download it, that is much easier than driving all around town wasting gallons of gas trying to find this one game that came out three or so years ago.

Plus when you digital download there isn't all that crazy DRM.

 

[Valanthe]

If I had a choice, you can bet I wouldn't touch Origin with a twenty foot pole, but thanks to EA restricting their games to Origin, if I wish to support several developers I like (Bioware and DICE, for example) I -have- to use Origin, no ifs, ands, or buts about it.

Point is, Origin is a crooked system run by a crooked company and I quite honestly feel like the victim of an extortion racket every time I play Mass Effect. (Yes, the original, I bought it digitally back when it was on the "EA Download Manager" and was frced to 'upgrade' if I wished to continue playing.)

 

[Flames66]

No its called your internet sucks. I downloaded DCUO in less then an hour.

Umm...mine do. They download really fast for me. Ok, so, maybe there's a problem with your network, or it's just slow, but I downloaded 5 gigs yesterday in about 45 minutes.

WINternet is not available in my area as is the case for many people. For anything less, most games take at least 12 hours to download.

 

[2fish]

I use steam and impulse as my mains, steam usually has better prices but they do lack some games that impulse has/had exclusively.

Origin I avoid due to lack of trust in EA and the fact that they have yet to prove themselves a viable service to support. Steam, Impulse, GOG, and D2D have all proven themselves so I am willing to use any of them.

I am waiting, giving Origin time to sink, swim or start putting customers in the gas chambers.

The steam is drm argument doesn?t bother me anymore than the xbox/ps3 is drm argument.

 

[TitanAtlas]

Yeah i prefer Steam 10.000.000.000 more times then i would ever care about origin.

To be honest i never even buy EA games considering they always end with something that ruins the experience, and sticks it up against the consumer. The only companies inside of EA that i remotly care about is bioware. Remotly!!

Also Steam has hundreds of good, and better games from amazing companies, that i prefer to pay respect to them more then i would ever to EA and theyr horrible costumer support and games.

So yeah EA games not appearing on Steam... couldn't care less. Hundreds of better thigns in there that deserved by attention.

 

[lacktheknack]

Yeah, I do wish that. If only to guarantee that Mirror's Edge 2 will be Steamworks integrated.

I'm in a state of "I don't really care" about the rest of EA's property, and I'm avoiding Origin because EA is epically missing the point. But seeing how my purchase focus has shifted to pretty much pure indies in the past while, with only a couple AAA titles, EA wasn't ever going to attract my attention anyways (except Mirror's Edge 2. Want, do want).