The Old Republic Downloads to be Exclusive to EA's "Origin" Service

[rsvp42]

*Facepalm*

I cant actually give any other reaction to this news than that. I understand that EA might want their own service for MMOs and such, i.e. their own Steam. I dont see the Point in it however. Do we really need several Services we have to be registered to? I mean what if you have 2 Games on Steam, and 5 on "Origin"? You need both because you cant play the 2 Steam ones on the Origin thingy and vice versa. Thats utter Bullshit. I really dont see how anyone at EA thought this was a good Idea. It wont make Steam Users flock to their thing, especially given that Steam has had to prove itself to be reliable and save, which EA's thingy has yet to do.

Well people already have some games on Xbox and others on Steam and others not attached to anything. We're already split between different services. Also, doesn't Valve take a sizable percentage for themselves from games sold on Steam? No reason EA should let another company take a cut of the profits. They're big enough that they probably should have their own service to run this stuff. Basically, they already needed some kind of DRM and socializing framework to house TOR, but it makes sense to expand that to include all EA games. Instead of making a download service and chat function that only works for TOR, why not go all the way and use it for more?

 

[Jyggalag]

I really don't like purchasing from EA because of how restrictive they are. I don't care if I have to go to the store and buy it, I just don't want to have to go through the long and drawn out process of registering online and linking up to my EA account. I've had multiple issues in the past, like not getting my pre order armor from Mass Effect 2. I'm not even sure if I'll be ALLOWED to play the game I purchase. Legally. Or perhaps I'll miss out on half the content. Whatever. It doesn't matter if you get this game via torrent sites, physically, or their site. They're going to screw with their costumers one way or another. I'm probably not buying this game until I read reviews. Maybe 6 months after it's released. And even then it may not be worth it.

 

[Nurb]

Hard Copy.

Fuck you, EA!

 

[Desert Tiger]

Oh.

Screw it then.

 

[winter2]

Yea.. this sounds like an awful idea and I hope they reconsider. I have 200+ games on Steam and I am sure as heck not going to switch or get another DDL service anytime soon.

They will just have to soldier on without me..

 

[Darth Sea Bass]

I was gonna buy it on disk anyway but then i had the horrible realization that even if i buy a physical copy i'm probably gonna need to run origin as well.

I already have steam installed i'm not gonna have another app running in the background using up resources for one fricking game.

Sorry EA i think you may possibly have lost a sale (i sincerely hope not though)

 

[Worr Monger]

Wow... This might actually be what makes me not get the game. This was going to be my first MMO. Now... maybe not.

That's really lame. But typical of EA I guess.

I love Bioware's games... but I can't help myself, I hope this turns into a disaster. Idiots.

 

[EternalFacepalm]

Yay, more DRM software, as if there wasn't enough of that already.
Glad I wasn't buying this anyway, it might be good, but it's set in the Star Wars-universe, thus eliminating any chance of immersion.

 

[Delusibeta]

Thing is, I'm betting TOR will be integrated into Origin's services and as such, will be required to play whether you download it or buy a physical copy. So get used to it, future TOR players (and I am among you).

I don't see the problem. As long as it doesn't try to keep updating while I'm not using it or doing anything else annoying, then it's no big deal. What do I care about one more little program on my desktop? Why would anyone care? I feel like people just have a knee-jerk reaction to EA.

Quick question. Have you played multiplayer for a recent EA game (say, released after Burnout Paradise)? Then you have an Origins account.

Hell, if you've played single player EA games (Mass Effect 2, both Dragon Ages) you'll probably have an Origins account.

The thing is, we already know what Origin services are like, by their previous name of EA accounts. Anyone who has a recent (as in, released after about Burnout Paradise ish) EA game has already experienced Origin.

 

[rsvp42]

Thing is, I'm betting TOR will be integrated into Origin's services and as such, will be required to play whether you download it or buy a physical copy. So get used to it, future TOR players (and I am among you).

I don't see the problem. As long as it doesn't try to keep updating while I'm not using it or doing anything else annoying, then it's no big deal. What do I care about one more little program on my desktop? Why would anyone care? I feel like people just have a knee-jerk reaction to EA.

Quick question. Have you played multiplayer for a recent EA game (say, released after Burnout Paradise)? Then you have an Origins account.

Hell, if you've played single player EA games (Mass Effect 2, both Dragon Ages) you'll probably have an Origins account.

The thing is, we already know what Origin services are like, by their previous name of EA accounts. Anyone who has a recent (as in, released after about Burnout Paradise ish) EA game has already experienced Origin.

Well I got ME2 through the EADM and I use the same account for other games like DA:O, DA2, and Dead Space 2. The ME2 download was pretty dodgy, but that's the only problem I've experienced with their services. I don't know what people's woes have been with multiplayer. Connection issues? Customer service? Obtrusive DRM? All of the above? Just don't know, hence my question & statement (which were--I admit--dismissive and possibly contentious). CNET's review of Origin made it sound pretty decent, but I guess time will tell. I've already resigned myself to playing TOR like a madman on release so I guess I'm likely to rationalize this a positive thing, since it's what EA has committed to.

 

[pearcinator]

I don't mind this idea...sure I'll keep using Steam and buy the Old Republic in hard-copy...but if you think of it, Steam has pretty much got a monopoly and when there's a competitor thrown in then Steam and EA's Origin will compete with each other.

This means that Steam and Origin will be battling it out by having crazy sales! So if you look on the bright side, this is only going to help the consumer by making us pay less for games

 

[Frotality]

nice to see that the risky new MMO EA has put all its hopes in will require a whole new hoop to jump through to buy; thats an excellent business move right there.

way to entice people to switch over to your MMO EA, i just know new players will be dying to deal with ANOTHER download service instead of WoW's incredibly simple and easy try & buy system. what little interest i had in TOR is gone now...

 

[flagship]

Bad idea, but good job quickening your demise EA!

 

[feycreature]

Heh, and here I kind of feel like a luddite because if I buy it I was going to get the physical copy anyway. At first I read it as "only available from Origin" and once I actually read it properly I went "Oh. Uh, ok...*shrug*"

 

[Epic Fail 1977]

Do they really think SWTOR is going to be a killer app? I doubt that.

 

[thehorror2]

This is a horrifying situation. You've got Bioware spreading itself too thin (They've got ME3, DA2 DLC, TOR, and rumor has it an original IP coming) and they're pretty much risking the house on TOR being not just successful, but getting a permanent, sustainable, loyal userbase. AND they're shackled to EA, the one-time boogeyman of the industry, (Only taking second place to Activision under Kotick, who only escapes destruction by abusing the brand recognition of his company's userbase.) who seem bent on making all the wrong decisions here. (This Origin nonsense is just a recent example. Others include the day-1 dlc in ME2, the series' altered focus (See Shamus Young's article on the subject:
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/columns/experienced-points/8868-Experienced-Points-What-s-Wrong-with-Mass-Effect-2
and of course, TOR becoming an MMO in the first place, rather than a series conclusion as was presumably intended.)

 

[Azhrarn-101]

OH NOZ! Either sign up for Origin, or go out and buy a physical copy!
Just like I do with all my games!
Seriously when did leaving the house to get a game become too much work?

If leaving the house is to much effort for people, can't they just have the physical game delivered? Amazon and similar services exist for a good reason. ^^

 

[Therumancer]

Hmmm, well to be entirely honest I don't look forward to having to install another client and hope it plays well with everything else.

I'd imagine that if this is the plan, buying the game disc based won't matter, it will just automatically connect you to the internet, make you download origin, and then download the game which you will unlock with the registration code.

Personally I find it kindof sad that they are using the name "Origin" as that used to be one of my favorite game making companies before it was bought out.

 

[A-D.]

*Facepalm*

I cant actually give any other reaction to this news than that. I understand that EA might want their own service for MMOs and such, i.e. their own Steam. I dont see the Point in it however. Do we really need several Services we have to be registered to? I mean what if you have 2 Games on Steam, and 5 on "Origin"? You need both because you cant play the 2 Steam ones on the Origin thingy and vice versa. Thats utter Bullshit. I really dont see how anyone at EA thought this was a good Idea. It wont make Steam Users flock to their thing, especially given that Steam has had to prove itself to be reliable and save, which EA's thingy has yet to do.

Well people already have some games on Xbox and others on Steam and others not attached to anything. We're already split between different services. Also, doesn't Valve take a sizable percentage for themselves from games sold on Steam? No reason EA should let another company take a cut of the profits. They're big enough that they probably should have their own service to run this stuff. Basically, they already needed some kind of DRM and socializing framework to house TOR, but it makes sense to expand that to include all EA games. Instead of making a download service and chat function that only works for TOR, why not go all the way and use it for more?

Oh i see the Idea behind it, never said i didnt. It just seems more like every big Company now trying to push their own version of Steam so to speak. Steam wasnt always as reliable or secure, given recent events with PSN it should also be noted that EA, having not the best Reputation (they do have alot of "Haters" after all) might present a rather big target there and if they arent on top of it from Day 1 it might go a bit badly for them.

But really, its just that its split between Services. I understand Xbox Live, also PSN, given they are Console-specific. Steam is Valve's thing for sure but a more independent method which everyone can use might be a better Idea. Though would take a long while till we get something like that. Just seems rather irritating to jumble 2-20 Accounts for every different Service.