Poll: PC Gamers how do you feel about EA and Origin

[synobal]

Well Since EA just pulled Crysis 2 from Steam, made it 'Only on Origin' (even though it's on Amazon's digital service and D2D) and look like they have no intention of releasing Battlefield 3, Starwars The Old Republic and likely even Mass Effect 3 on steam. Would you be willing to use Origin if EA decided to make it it's Exclusive Digital Distribution Platform?


For myself no, I bought the Battlefield 2142 expansion and had to use EA Download Manager for that, and having to rebuy it years later if I wanted to play it just put me off EA as a digital game provider. As a company Valve have a lot of good will built up towards PC gamers and tend to be very reliable, I'll stick with them because I really don't need another client/user name/password to deal with.

 

[synobal]

I'm gonna be pretty upset if they don't do Mass Effect 3 for steam, I'd really like to have all three on steam, and there is no way I'm gonna buy it from origin. They will likely just release it on Steam later and I'll have to for ever deal with Origin any time I want to play Mass effect 3

What really surprises me is forcing people to use Origin for their Starwars MMO. They NEED it to succeed after how much money they have sunk into it. Instead they take the hugely risky move of partnering it with an untried and some what dubious digital download service? MMO launches are always tricky and problematic they don't need to go adding to it. They should focus on getting their Starwars MMO to be a success not counting on it to already be a success and using it to prop up their origin service.

 

[TheIronRuler]

I don't use steam, I won't be using the service EA is trying to provide.
Like the Kinect, and Wendy's before him, and Pepsi before her, good things were copied and this - the EA attempt at duplicating steam, will fail only if the general public of Gamers unite and refuse to use this network.
On the other hand, this is capitalism and a free market, so who gives a shit?

 

[Kevlar Eater]

I read something about someone being forced to make an Origin account to play Madness Returns, and that was for the retail disc. Seems like I'll be meeting that fate as well. I don't want to use the service, so I won't.

 

[fierydemise]

It really depends. At the moment Origin downloads an installer that is independent of Origin itself, that is I can play the game without the Origin service running. If this stays the case then I don't mind particularly however if it becomes a steam-like client required service then I'll probably avoid it as much as possible.

Having multiple sources for digital distribution is good, having multiple services with full social platforms is frustrating.

 

[synobal]

I read something about someone being forced to make an Origin account to play Madness Returns, and that was for the retail disc. Seems like I'll be meeting that fate as well. I don't want to use the service, so I won't.

Yes it seems EA is planning to do like, Valve in that when you buy a game from them for the PC you need to sign up for Steam. So when you buy a PC game from EA you need to sign up for Origin now. Why they think they can get away with this is beyond me. Even Valve always catches a lot of flak over that and they are well known and respected when it comes to Steam and the services it provides.

 

[JWRosser]

I lost faith in EA on the PC when Battle For Middle Earth II: Rise of the Witchking came out, and it was hardly anything more than a patch. In fact, there are mods which are better developed than the expansion pack.

 

[synobal]

I've played with it some, the UI didn't strike me as anything worth talking about. Bottom line is for me I don't trust EA to do anything more than publish games and I'd much rather have all my serious games in one place. I'll use GOG for older games and Steam for the larger triple A titles plus what ever else they are selling.

 

[Duffeknol]

I buy games in a store in the physical realm. I know. Shocking.

 

[synobal]

I buy games in a store in the physical realm. I know. Shocking.

Ya and if you buy EA games for the PC in a physical store you'll still get to enjoy signing up for Origin I know. Shocking.

Hey, if anyone owns DA, they probably remember the hoops one had to jump through to register the damn thing so you could download the DLC. If using Origin means I don't have to run through those horrible hoops again, I'll use it with a grin on my face.

I'm the same as you Duff, but EA will probably make you download Origin to confirm your copy is legit. Kinda like a less intrusive copyright protection.

I dunno if they plan on nixing Bioware's Social site, if they do it won't be easy. All my DLC is purchased from there. I doubt we can expect future DLC through there but that's still annoying. I hate having six different site logins games.

 

[Duffeknol]

That, I didn't know. Ugh, I'll have to live with it I guess, since there is no way I am not buying ME3 and BF3.

 

[Aris Khandr]

I already have seven games on Origin. I'm certainly going to get FIFA 12 there. I'm still debating about whether to get ME3 from Origin or Amazon. It depends on whether EA is going to offer any perks to Origin users to make up for not getting the in-box goodies.

 

[fix-the-spade]

I buy games in a store in the physical realm. I know. Shocking.

You'll still have to sign up and enter your download code. You're also assuming there'll be anything in the box at all, a number of 'physical' releases are just a code in a box these days.

There's also the distinct possibilty that despite your having bought the (new, sealed) disc, EA will wannt more money still from you before they let you play the game.

I discovered this with Battlefield 2142, despite having the disc, the CD key and a receipt, EA's solution to my game not activating was... buy another copy of the game. What I wrote in the return email can never be repeated. Refunds were given by Gamestation after I calmly refused to leave without one at the front of a massive queu.

 

[Scizophrenic Llama]

I'd prefer to stick with Steam, but damnit if my computer can run Battlefield 3(waiting on the beta) smoothly; I'm going to be sucking it up and getting on Origin assuming that'll be required with physical copies of the game as well.

 

[Aris Khandr]

Amazon.

You get the physical package which means you don't have to worry about having to redownload the game again should you want to install it several years later.

I'm not worried about having to download the game. In fact, I rather like the convenience. Much easier than having to drag out a disc I haven't looked at in three or more years. So no, the physical package is not enough to sway me to Amazon. I want goodies.