Steam vs Origin (EULA, privacy and whatnot)

[Rocket Taco]

I despise Origin for the same reason I despise Silverlight and the .NET framework: it's just not f***ing necessary.

In all three cases, there was already something that did the job perfectly well (usually better) and whose only "flaw" (at least in the eyes of the knockoff artist) was that they didn't make it. So they go and create a buggy, poorly optimized, poorly laid out version of it that installs parts of itself to twenty different folders just to clutter up my file system, and whose only real purpose is to make me install another piece of bullshit to run in the background and eat its little slice of my resources.

I know full well that EA pulled the overt BS from its licensing agreement, and that was enough to get me to buy BF3... but only because I was desperate to justify it. Even with Origin already installed, they are not selling me ME3 or anything else with it.

 

[Rocket Taco]

*EDIT* Double post.

 

[DeadlyYellow]

I remember how frustrating it was having Steam when it started! Half-Life 2 was a nightmare to play, you had to be connected to the internet to play it and had to have steam (I know cos its Vavle).

....Isn't that still applicable? I know third party launches in offline, but I thought it had to be connected for Valve's proprietary titles.

 

[aprildog18]

Steam asks for permission before looking through your system.
Merely installing Origin opens your computer up for EA to look through (spyware).

I myself personally trust Gaben more than EA.

Well EA is a bit nicer about it than before.
Taken from Origin's EULA:
EA knows that you care how information about you is collected, used and shared, and we appreciate your trust that we will do so carefully and sensibly. Information about our customers is an important part of our business, and EA would never sell your personally identifiable information to anyone, nor would it ever use spyware or install spyware on users' machines.

 

[Yureina]

From what I understand, EA fixed up their EULA when the Germans screamed at them, but it still steals information from you without consent. At least Steam asks politely first.

But, here's the difference that I care about:

Valve is cool and has never done anything to piss me off. Sure their co-op experiences are seriously lacking in replayability, but at least they don't really try to screw with their customers. Also Steam is the most convenient thing that has ever happened to my PC gaming habits.

EA... umm... yeah. Does anything else need to be said? These guys are MASSIVE wankers that have done enough to piss me off that i've pretty much decided never to buy anything from them again. Origin being spyware and making ME3 require it pretty much is the last straw.

So yeah... even if EA had the best EULA in the world, they are still assholes who I want nothing to do with.

 

[Darth_Dude]

I think that apart from EA's spyware debacle, people prefer Steam over Origin for several reasons,

1. Valve has a long history of being nice and friendly to their costumers, EA DOES NOT.

2. As a result, people trust Valve more

3. Tieing in to point two, Valve has more of a trustworthy, 'small company' kind of feel to it, EA is viewed as a big evil faceless money munching corporation.

4. Steam works fairly well and is convienent, initial issues aside, and actually has some very sweet deals and discounts. Even if Origin worked well or whatever, they are still run by EA. Who are, well to be frank, dicks.

I'm sure there's more, but I just cant think of them yet.

 

[evilneko]

I have to admit, both look vague and non-threatening, of course that might be due to a good lawyer.

No, no, look again. EA's is dripping with evil toxins and black magic.

Pfft.

I have no problem with the EA Privacy Policy, the original wording was vague, and did mention that EA could transmit non-identifying information to third parties, after the ensuing shit-storm they re-wrote the agreement to its current form.

Of course I always, ALWAYS check the EULA to see if it has changed before I agree to an update. You have a legal right to continue to use the service with your original agreement.

EA's basically gives them the right to look at anything they want on your computer.

Valve's...doesn't.

The non-personally identifiable information that EA
collects includes technical and related information that identifies your computer
(including the Internet Protocol Address) and operating system, as well as
information about your Application usage (including but not limited to successful
installation and/or removal), software, software usage and peripheral hardware.

 

[KeyMaster45]

I've got a question. Why is it that when these discussion pop up people talk like we should all be jumping ship to Origin as if it's the second coming of Raptor Jesus? Steam does what I want it to do and does it well. I don't see a need for Origin, why in god's name do I need two digital distribution platforms on my computer? Especially when Origin isn't selling any games I want or that I don't already have on Steam.

 

[isometry]

The reason I like Steam and won't use Origin has nothing to do with their EULAs, it's because of the reputation that EA has built with me personally. Specifically, many EA games I've bought in the last few years have irritated me with DRM and advertisement nagging, like being forced to sit through an extra load screen so they can tell me about DLC.

I haven't ever had a problem launching my games due to Steam, in years of use, but I've had DRM issues with EA games like the game freezing because it can't contact the DRM server.

So, by making Origin "spyware" EA is just helping to make a decision I should have already made a while ago, stop buying games from them. Pulling their games off steam and requiring Origin makes it easy to let them go.

 

[Eclectic Dreck]

I've got a question. Why is it that when these discussion pop up people talk like we should all be jumping ship to Origin as if it's the second coming of Raptor Jesus? Steam does what I want it to do and does it well. I don't see a need for Origin, why in god's name do I need two digital distribution platforms on my computer? Especially when Origin isn't selling any games I want or that I don't already have on Steam.

The only reason to use Origin is if you want to play the various games that require the service. The store experience might, one day, make it worth the trouble to install just to shop around but as it stands, if you don't want to play Star Wars or Battlefield, you probably don't need Origins at the moment.

Thus, since I play Battlefield on a console (because my friends play on console), and because I have no interest in MMO's at this point, I see no reason to install Origin.

 

[KeyMaster45]

I've got a question. Why is it that when these discussion pop up people talk like we should all be jumping ship to Origin as if it's the second coming of Raptor Jesus? Steam does what I want it to do and does it well. I don't see a need for Origin, why in god's name do I need two digital distribution platforms on my computer? Especially when Origin isn't selling any games I want or that I don't already have on Steam.

The only reason to use Origin is if you want to play the various games that require the service. The store experience might, one day, make it worth the trouble to install just to shop around but as it stands, if you don't want to play Star Wars or Battlefield, you probably don't need Origins at the moment.

The Star Wars MMO doesn't require origin to play it, unless of course one were to buy it digitally, then you're forced to use it. It does ask during installation (I say ask but it really is this fucked up trick to get less attentive users to install and sign up for origin) but I just laughed and hit "No".

 

[LilithSlave]

I'm a bit paranoid of scary governments, with people making things like Rule of Rose illegal in Europe, oh so many other games being banned in Australia. And almost everything under the sun made illegal in Germany. The SOPA issue. And such and such. But not enough so that I'm actually truly worried about some people knowing that I'm doing on my computer. Trolls and people who would send malware, yes. But I haven't seen too many consequences. And I fear the snooping more of internet trolls than I do companies. I've seen what internet trolls can do, steal youtube accounts and post personally defaming things, delete videos, send you malware. They can definitely do more than spam you with gore pictures once they find out you once posted on a furry fandom board.

Companies don't have quite such a horrible track record. Surprisingly enough. We may reach that stage, but until that time comes, I don't really need anonymity. I'm enough of an attention whore that I don't really care if most people know personal details about me if they're not planning to elaborately use it against me. In a lot of case, people just don't care. Not unless someone is a hardcore troll and has latched onto you, and wants material to publicly humiliate you. Or as the trolls would put it, finding your "docs".

Most of the times companies want to snoop for information about you so that they know what you like and what people in general want to buy. Most of the time trolls want to do it so that they can do as much damage to you as a person as is possible over the internet.

 

[brainslurper]

I despise Origin for the same reason I despise Silverlight and the .NET framework: it's just not f***ing necessary.

In all three cases, there was already something that did the job perfectly well (usually better) and whose only "flaw" (at least in the eyes of the knockoff artist) was that they didn't make it. So they go and create a buggy, poorly optimized, poorly laid out version of it that installs parts of itself to twenty different folders just to clutter up my file system, and whose only real purpose is to make me install another piece of bullshit to run in the background and eat its little slice of my resources.

I know full well that EA pulled the overt BS from its licensing agreement, and that was enough to get me to buy BF3... but only because I was desperate to justify it. Even with Origin already installed, they are not selling me ME3 or anything else with it.

Luckily I learned from using origin during the BF3 beta. No ME3 money from me either.

 

[brainslurper]

I've got a question. Why is it that when these discussion pop up people talk like we should all be jumping ship to Origin as if it's the second coming of Raptor Jesus? Steam does what I want it to do and does it well. I don't see a need for Origin, why in god's name do I need two digital distribution platforms on my computer? Especially when Origin isn't selling any games I want or that I don't already have on Steam.

Who insinuated that you should be using origin? Because they need to be recommitted.

 

[RikuoAmero]

I have to admit, both look vague and non-threatening, of course that might be due to a good lawyer.

"The non-personally identifiable information that EA
collects includes technical and related information that identifies your computer
(including the Internet Protocol Address) and operating system, as well as
information about your Application usage (including but not limited to successful
installation and/or removal), software, software usage and peripheral hardware."

That's from the EA/Origin.
Now, I'm okay with Steam and Valve knowing what hardware I run, because there's no potential harm there for me. So what if Valve knows I use an Intel Core i7 2600K or SLI'd Geforce graphics cards?
What EA say up there is that they will snoop through your SOFTWARE, all the programs you run and uninstall. EA has nothing to do with say Bittorent, but they're gonna watch your Bittorent anyway. Web browser? That's an Application, and according to the above, they're gonna be watching that.

 

[lapan]

Even if Steam and Origin are similar in some points, at least Valve doesn't have a customer service as abysmally bad as EA...

 

[Something Amyss]

The fact that they would even try to pull crap like that is what pisses me off. Sure they changed it, but that won't stop them from actually collecting all the data they want, until someone catches them and the whole legal process runs its course.

At that point, they'll easily be able to cover their legal fees with the personal info they've sold to 3rd parties.

So we're really going with conspiracy theories now?