Poll: Battlefield 3 PC - Anyone else not purchasing this due to Origin?

[ph0b0s123]

Can someone be a pal and explain all this to me.

This thread is literally the first I've heard of it.

I gather Origin is a program that makes you run your game through it like Steam - but they also data mine?

Why do they data mine? Can you turn Origin off if you aren't playing BF3? Can someone give me a quick run down of what is ACTUALLY going on?

The whole thing started from this story, you may want to start there: http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/112559-Internet-Explodes-Over-Origins-Invasion-of-Privacy

EA did make a change to the EULA to make the language sound nicer and removed any mention of re-selling any info they gather. The thing that annoys most people is the being able to look around on your PC bit. Steam does this as well.

The reason for this is that if EA and Valve know what hardware and what software their customers are running they can make better games. That's fine. The difference is that Steam collects the data, but you decide if it gets forwarded to Valve or not. With Origin the data just gets sent, the only way to not have it sent is to not use the service in the first place. It's not too big a thing to fix. If EA make the hardware and software snooping optional like it is with Steam, I would be playing Battlefield 3 now. Until that time, myself and others who would have brought the game are giving it a miss.

No-one is 100% sure what Valve and EA do with the hardware and software data they get from your PC. It may be just for them to use it internally or they may resell it to others, like games makers, etc.

How that explains things.....

 

[SillyBear]

Can someone be a pal and explain all this to me.

This thread is literally the first I've heard of it.

I gather Origin is a program that makes you run your game through it like Steam - but they also data mine?

Why do they data mine? Can you turn Origin off if you aren't playing BF3? Can someone give me a quick run down of what is ACTUALLY going on?

The whole thing started from this story, you may want to start there: http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/112559-Internet-Explodes-Over-Origins-Invasion-of-Privacy

EA did make a change to the EULA to make the language sound nicer and removed any mention of re-selling any info they gather. The thing that annoys most people is the being able to look around on your PC bit. Steam does this as well.

The reason for this is that if EA and Valve know what hardware and what software their customers are running they can make better games. That's fine. The difference is that Steam collects the data, but you decide if it gets forwarded to Valve or not. With Origin the data just gets sent, the only way to not have it sent is to not use the service in the first place. It's not too big a thing to fix. If EA make the hardware and software snooping optional like it is with Steam, I would be playing Battlefield 3 now. Until that time, myself and others who would have brought the game are giving it a miss.

How that explains things.....

Thanks for clearing it up

Why is EA finding data and sending it away such an issue though? It doesn't seem like a big deal to me. I don't think I'll even notice.

 

[AzrealMaximillion]

Most of the people crying about Origin spying on them probably have Facebook accounts. So many invalid arguments.

Stupid, facebook cannot go through your computer and look at what you have installed etc. That's is unless you have allowed lots of facebook apps that can do that. Facebook on it's own cannot do that and if I knew for a fact it could my hardly used account would be gone tomorrow.

Lol, nice try. Facebook sells your info to private data companies, who in turn share that info to 3rd party companies like EA. All in all it's the exact end purpose of data collection that Origin hopes to gain. How the hell do you think Facebook generates revenue without charging anyone?

No Facebook can't access you're computer, but you've put your personal info on a website that makes money selling that info to others. And you're calling me stupid...

"No Facebook can't access you're computer,"
So as I said your original point of facebook being the same as Origin was wring. That makes the rest of your post is irrelevant, as the access Origin has to your computer is the thing we are talking about here in, regard to privacy concerns.

Whether it's your computer usage data, or your personal info, does it really make a difference? Both can be used and sold to 3rd party marketing companies. It's really the same thing.

 

[AzrealMaximillion]

Most of the people crying about Origin spying on them probably have Facebook accounts. So many invalid arguments.

Stupid, facebook cannot go through your computer and look at what you have installed etc. That's is unless you have allowed lots of facebook apps that can do that. Facebook on it's own cannot do that and if I knew for a fact it could my hardly used account would be gone tomorrow.

Lol, nice try. Facebook sells your info to private data companies, who in turn share that info to 3rd party companies like EA. All in all it's the exact end purpose of data collection that Origin hopes to gain. How the hell do you think Facebook generates revenue without charging anyone?

No Facebook can't access you're computer, but you've put your personal info on a website that makes money selling that info to others. And you're calling me stupid...

Facebook only has what you put into it. It cannot take your computers specs and your info and pass them on. That right there, is the difference he is trying to make.

His point however, not mine, just thought i'd clear that up seeing as you missed the point.

Facebook gets your first and last name. That's been more than enough to have something you posted online sold to a 3rd party company. Also, Facebook accounts are linked by email address. So whether or not Facebook can access your PC is irrelevant when both Origin/Facebook collect you're data to sell/share with 3rd party companies. The end result is spam.

 

[Sexual Harassment Panda]

im not buying it simply because i dont wanna use origin. there is literally no point to it.
second: i dont trust ea
third: im not that big of a shooter guy....

No point?

Every company is going to want to be as self-sufficient as possible. The EULA is eyebrow raising and all, but I'm sure the point is to not have to manufacture endless game boxes and discs, and to not have to cut Valve into the profits and play by their rules...the latter probably being of greater significance.

I'm pessimistic about it really, but it could end up being a good thing. I've had to use origin to play Fifa, and it seems as though it's perfectly functional.

im all for them not wanting to give valve a cut, but they should at least make there be a reason for it to be there. origin does nothing that other services dont do, they dont even give thier customers the extra dough that would normally go to the store its being sold through.

while every company wants to be self sufficient and have an unarguable right to, they should offer a competitive service, something that EA is not doing. it is basically going "we are competitive because we are the only way you can buy this game" its not competitive, cause they have no competition. if they offered it on origin for like...55 bucks instead of 60, it would make it a competitive service. but they dont even offer the cheaper price.

thus - no point for a consumer to use origin. im not going to get a service for just one game. its a waste of processing power. and more junk emails i dont need.

Steams prices aren't competitive with vendors like amazon selling hard copies...at least not when there is no sale. Whilst the games might be origin exclusive in a sense, you can still buy a hard copy, it just installs to origin...origin prices aren't the be-all and end-all prices of EA games.

As for it using up processor cycles. You can turn it off... It disables instantly, and boots in approximately 4 seconds so it's a non-issue really.

It might be a little inconvenient to have to incorporate another service into your gaming, but it's really not that bad.

 

[repeating integers]

Yep, screw Origin. Wouldn't let me play the BF3 beta. However, the 360 did. Guess where I'm getting BF3?

 

[joshthor]

im not buying it simply because i dont wanna use origin. there is literally no point to it.
second: i dont trust ea
third: im not that big of a shooter guy....

No point?

Every company is going to want to be as self-sufficient as possible. The EULA is eyebrow raising and all, but I'm sure the point is to not have to manufacture endless game boxes and discs, and to not have to cut Valve into the profits and play by their rules...the latter probably being of greater significance.

I'm pessimistic about it really, but it could end up being a good thing. I've had to use origin to play Fifa, and it seems as though it's perfectly functional.

im all for them not wanting to give valve a cut, but they should at least make there be a reason for it to be there. origin does nothing that other services dont do, they dont even give thier customers the extra dough that would normally go to the store its being sold through.

while every company wants to be self sufficient and have an unarguable right to, they should offer a competitive service, something that EA is not doing. it is basically going "we are competitive because we are the only way you can buy this game" its not competitive, cause they have no competition. if they offered it on origin for like...55 bucks instead of 60, it would make it a competitive service. but they dont even offer the cheaper price.

thus - no point for a consumer to use origin. im not going to get a service for just one game. its a waste of processing power. and more junk emails i dont need.

Steams prices aren't competitive with vendors like amazon selling hard copies...at least not when there is no sale. Whilst the games might be origin exclusive in a sense, you can still buy a hard copy, it just installs to origin...origin prices aren't the be-all and end-all prices of EA games.

As for it using up processor cycles. You can turn it off... It disables instantly, and boots in approximately 4 seconds so it's a non-issue really.

It might be a little inconvenient to have to incorporate another service into your gaming, but it's really not that bad.

i dont buy games off steam when there isnt a sale. the point with steam is there are like 3 games on sale a day with massive savings over them, and im not restricted to ea games only.

do you realize none of what you are saying are pros for origin, you have not given one good reason for getting origin besides "you need it for battlefield 3" all you have said is my problems with them are just very minor inconveniences, which is true, but they are inconveniences that i dont find nessesary.

im not saying origin is the worst thing in the world, or that it should be boycotted, im saying its stupid, and pointless when compared to steam, direct 2 drive, and impulse which all offer a better service and are better for customers than a proprietary service by EA. if every company did what EA is doing i would have 12 programs to open my games. i dont want PC gaming to go that way so i would much rather support one universal service over EAs proprietary service, and i will show them that with my wallet.

 

[Sexual Harassment Panda]

im not buying it simply because i dont wanna use origin. there is literally no point to it.
second: i dont trust ea
third: im not that big of a shooter guy....

No point?

Every company is going to want to be as self-sufficient as possible. The EULA is eyebrow raising and all, but I'm sure the point is to not have to manufacture endless game boxes and discs, and to not have to cut Valve into the profits and play by their rules...the latter probably being of greater significance.

I'm pessimistic about it really, but it could end up being a good thing. I've had to use origin to play Fifa, and it seems as though it's perfectly functional.

im all for them not wanting to give valve a cut, but they should at least make there be a reason for it to be there. origin does nothing that other services dont do, they dont even give thier customers the extra dough that would normally go to the store its being sold through.

while every company wants to be self sufficient and have an unarguable right to, they should offer a competitive service, something that EA is not doing. it is basically going "we are competitive because we are the only way you can buy this game" its not competitive, cause they have no competition. if they offered it on origin for like...55 bucks instead of 60, it would make it a competitive service. but they dont even offer the cheaper price.

thus - no point for a consumer to use origin. im not going to get a service for just one game. its a waste of processing power. and more junk emails i dont need.

Steams prices aren't competitive with vendors like amazon selling hard copies...at least not when there is no sale. Whilst the games might be origin exclusive in a sense, you can still buy a hard copy, it just installs to origin...origin prices aren't the be-all and end-all prices of EA games.

As for it using up processor cycles. You can turn it off... It disables instantly, and boots in approximately 4 seconds so it's a non-issue really.

It might be a little inconvenient to have to incorporate another service into your gaming, but it's really not that bad.

i dont buy games off steam when there isnt a sale. the point with steam is there are like 3 games on sale a day with massive savings over them, and im not restricted to ea games only.

do you realize none of what you are saying are pros for origin, you have not given one good reason for getting origin besides "you need it for battlefield 3" all you have said is my problems with them are just very minor inconveniences, which is true, but they are inconveniences that i dont find nessesary.

im not saying origin is the worst thing in the world, or that it should be boycotted, im saying its stupid, and pointless when compared to steam, direct 2 drive, and impulse which all offer a better service and are better for customers than a proprietary service by EA. if every company did what EA is doing i would have 12 programs to open my games. i dont want PC gaming to go that way so i would much rather support one universal service over EAs proprietary service, and i will show them that with my wallet.

I think you just quoted me saying something I never actually said...not that I really disagree with the sentiment.

You go where the content is and that's going to be origin for EA games and that's really not a big deal. I can remember being annoyed over having to install steam when HL2 came out, and it was far buggier and less fleshed out than origin is on release...but now it's a PC gaming staple.

You make some understandable points, and assert some silly conjecture. But all I'm really hearing from you is "I fear change".

 

[SillyBear]

Just got BF3.

And I'm really pissed off. Origin is fucking me around already.

It's taken three hours to install everything needed and then, Battlenet or whatever the fuck it is called is now telling me that BF3 isn't installed.

I'm pissed. Sorry, but I call bullshit on anyone who says EA "are only trying to help". All they are doing is shoving their irrelevant productions down my throat, trying to make a quick buck.

I shouldn't, as a consumer, have to pay 90 dollars (I'm in AUS right now) - wait three hours - then get fucked around even more just to play their video game.

In hindsight, I was stupid. I thought this Origin thing wouldn't be that bad, but it's a pain in the arse. It's clumsy as hell. They could learn a lot from steam.

 

[ChickenZombie]

I bought it because I thought the game would be good and I don't get angry over a petty thing like where I have to launch it from.

Yes, they get your info. Yes, it's EA and they will spam the hell out of you. But is it REALLY that big of a deal?

 

[Nouw]

To be honest, sites with Facebook do worse things so maybe you should look up on that.
Related [http://lifehacker.com/5843969/facebook-is-tracking-your-every-move-on-the-web-heres-how-to-stop-it] and related. [http://www.naturalnews.com/033713_Facebook_tracking.html] Hell even the Escapist did an article on how Germany banned the like button. [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/7.308034-Germany-Bans-the-Like-Button] I don't understand why people don't complain about facebook invading their internet privacy.

Personally, I'm not using it until I need it. Like all other programs on my computer

 

[StBishop]

Yes. Well, this AND Mass Effect 3. I won't be buying either until EA amends the EULA.

Happened about a month ago.

 

[Naqel]

I'm not getting it cause EA are douchebags. Origin is just a symptom, not the source.

 

[Doom-Slayer]

People are paranoid schizos here. It searches your files only when its on, and only to personalize your advertisements (and possibly EAs game statistics but do you REALLY give a shit?)
Steam does the exact same thing people.

Actually no Steam doesnt. Steam collects information about Steam and how you use it. And they have explicitly stated it will not be sold or shared to third parties.

Origins EULA states they will collect ALL information that want about you, including other unrelated applications on your system, and how you use your system. Hell...under their EULA they can collect what websites I visit. Oh and they can sell it to advertising companies and/or whoever they want.

So no...no it is not the same. This among other reasons is why I am boycotting them. And them loosing one sale doesn't matter to me in the sightless, its called making a point. Because if enough people actively boycott this, and boycott it PROPERLY, then they WILL notice. On top of that them pulling their products from Steam, and forceably releasing them on Origin, a brand new platform that hasn't been tested greatly..not cool.

No EA you may not have my money, and after how shitty the beta looked, I wouldn't even buy it on consoles. Especially not Xbox360 since if you dont have the texture pack it looks worse than pre-2000 games. Nice going EA..nice.

-snip-

They changed about 2 words. The didn't fix the problem at all. they can still collect any and all information they want, and they just removed the "We can sell it to advertisers" bit. BUT in its place, they haven't ruled it out, and it could easily fall under "product support" so nothing has changed.