They really are pushing this Origin thing aggressively, aren't they? And instead of making it superior to Steam and allowing it to stand on its own merits, they'd rather just make stuff exclusive on it to try and force gamers into using it. Again, no thanks EA.

No ta.

Originally Posted by r3loaded
They really are pushing this Origin thing aggressively, aren't they? And instead of making it superior to Steam and allowing it to stand on its own merits, they'd rather just make stuff exclusive on it to try and force gamers into using it. Again, no thanks EA.

back when Steam started with HL2, it was the same as Origin now: exclusive, forcing gamers to use it, doesn't stand on its own merits (crashes all the time)

so you can't blame EA for copying what Valve did......

While I have a great deal of time for steam, there is definitely far too much (somewhat) unjustified steam love going around - while it's great it's not that great - and as wuyanxu mentioned it was hardly perfect when it came out (far from it). It's to no-one's benefit (except Valv's) to have one totally dominant digital distribution platform in the marketplace anyway...

Welcome to 8 years ago EA.
Quit trying to play catch up for lord sake and stop screwing over your customers.
Oh and 55 quid for a digital download, what the hell are they smoking over in EA land.

I will not be buying from Origin (just like GFWL) 2 reasons

1. I admit i used to share games with pals or illegal download games before steam
2. Steam gave me the first platfom to play game after i bought an HD 2700 with free Half Life 2 (which i had already played see above)

So it looks like going back to the bad old days to play these games or till Origin falled like GFWL
So no thanks EA. I will be playing the game but not from you

Get lost, EA.

£55 wouldn't be bad if you got an actual comic book and artbook, complete with a nice case, but for everything to be digitalized it's too much money. For that price there has to be physical items in the deal.

question: EA aren't going to be selling anyone else's games are they? No indie titles? No other-publisher titles?

So every time you log in to Origin and forget about the other non-exclusive download services, you won't see indie titles or other PC games being marketed ... just EA ...

So EA are in effect splitting the PC gaming market?

steam/ origin are all pedelling electronic wares. I can see how EA would like to create their own distribution network as it means they can keep 100% of the profit. What annoys me about either is that if your selling an electronic copy your actually bypassing the entire production costs boxing costs etc and also missing the market streets slice of the pie but the games don`t come any cheaper, humph.

As raxonb said, I like tangible things or money of :P

OMG and they want to stop piracy.

£54 quid is to much...let alone for a digital download. FAIL!

Originally Posted by sub routine
steam/ origin are all pedelling electronic wares. I can see how EA would like to create their own distribution network as it means they can keep 100% of the profit. What annoys me about either is that if your selling an electronic copy your actually bypassing the entire production costs boxing costs etc and also missing the market streets slice of the pie but the games don`t come any cheaper, humph.

As raxonb said, I like tangible things or money of :P

^^ this

£55 for a freaking PC game NO THANKS ill wait for the normal retail copies to hit £20-25 and think ill think about it if it turns out to be any good. maybe ill wait for bargin basement too and get it at £15

Originally Posted by wuyanxu

Quote:

Originally Posted by r3loaded
They really are pushing this Origin thing aggressively, aren't they? And instead of making it superior to Steam and allowing it to stand on its own merits, they'd rather just make stuff exclusive on it to try and force gamers into using it. Again, no thanks EA.

back when Steam started with HL2, it was the same as Origin now: exclusive, forcing gamers to use it, doesn't stand on its own merits (crashes all the time)

so you can't blame EA for copying what Valve did......

Uh yeah... 8 years ago. If EA is competing on based on then instead of the present they have already lost. They have to come up with something new to capture the market, the best they can hope for at this rate is a mild splintering and a lot of annoyed PC gamers.

Well I have to say that I'm with the majority here.

The £55 package would seem quite reasonable if you got an actual box with actual prints, especially the lithographic one, which is basically worthless in digital form, but could make a nice show piece if it were a hardcopy.

Digital downloads have their place and no matter the platform can provide publishers with one way of getting their games out, but for this, no thanks and that is not good coming from a fan who has played and thoroughly enjoyed the first two games in the series and who is really looking forward to seeing a quality motion picture when the time comes.

£55 for the deluxe version. I'll stick to the standard version. Or may get it on xbox. (Runs and hides)

Hmmm, make that a real hoody, that I could wear rather than my in game character, then we'll talk.

Considering that lithography is a printing technique, a 'Digital 4x6 lithographic' makes no sense. Make that a real print with artbook and hoodie and then I'll buy it.

So... does this mean I can wave goodbye to ME3 on STEAM?

Originally Posted by azrael-
So... does this mean I can wave goodbye to ME3 on STEAM?

Not necessarily. The article only states the the Deluxe Edition will be exclusive to Origin.

Hm, I think I'll wait and pick it up when it's on sale for <£20.

Meh, I'll wait for a steam sale, Oh wait... :(

How about Bioware stop with all the Sims-In-Space crap and actually make a decent game this time 'round?

£55 for a retail, boxed, limited edition? Maybe, depends how much I want it. The same for a digital edition? From an effectively untested platform? No thanks, I'll buy it boxed.

On the "Steam can do no wrong" front - I remember seeing a Steam update go to almost 100% then either return to single digits or crash completely (all this on a 33,600 KBps connection. Glee! :( ) so no, it wasn't perfect and still isn't (TF2 updating constantly, despite the fact you've specified "don't update automatically"? GRR!!) but for the most part it works better than the rest. The only other digital platform I use is GOG, simply because I don't trust any others.

Remember that person who worked for EA saying "$50 games were exploitative"?

Ha

You have to question if it's fair to deliberately leave out in-game assets from the non deluxe version. Buying collectors versions containing history -of / making- of videos and art work including concept art, fair enough, but with in- game stuff it's not really on.

Can't blame a company for using one big asset to strengthen another side of the business. Yes, it's annoying for users but on a purely business level, "exclusives" make sense. Heck, Sony, Nintendo, MS, et al have been doing it for years.

As for Origin. Well, it will be derided here and elsewhere for not being steam until it starts doing steam-like sales with irresistible bargains. Then people will buy.

I. for example, had no intention of using EADM until they gave away Burnout Paradise for free and offered BF:BC2 super cheap in a sale. Since then I've even added my free copy of ME2 to it (Dragon Age 2 giveaway).

In the end, if EA do it right and make using Origin easier and less invasive than using a DVD, then it will be good for Steam to have a competitor.

Exclusive Digital 4x6 lithographic featuring a one-of-a-kind piece of artwork

Digital. Litographic. :|

Yeah, that makes no sense what so ever...

Originally Posted by wuyanxu

Quote:

Originally Posted by r3loaded
They really are pushing this Origin thing aggressively, aren't they? And instead of making it superior to Steam and allowing it to stand on its own merits, they'd rather just make stuff exclusive on it to try and force gamers into using it. Again, no thanks EA.

back when Steam started with HL2, it was the same as Origin now: exclusive, forcing gamers to use it, doesn't stand on its own merits (crashes all the time)

so you can't blame EA for copying what Valve did......

Valve created the Steam system to distribute their own games/Software/Patches.
It worked well, and they then opened it up to other developpers.
They have actually pushed the 'Steam Sales', proving that having a limited-time sale increases sales and profits. They have put alot of work into Steam,, and it is worth it.
EA wants to try and copy steam, but offering only its own catalogue.
Would you want a download service for every publisher under the sun ? No.
Thats why its Steam, and not 'Valve Online Store'.

I do believe that HL:Ep3 has been delayed so long due to the rampant success of Steam. ( and of course the revenue it brings them, that is the point of being in business ;)).

this^ and what Ayrto said

Fairly sure EA have figured that if they offer digital distribution, and make them -ALL- sell it at £50, they can start charging console prices for PC games, and then everybody will follow suite.

Wouldn't surprise me if Activision don't come up with something the same, hell, I'm fairly sure StarCraft 2 was £35 on blizzards own site, which is still a bit high as far as PC games go.

Originally Posted by Evildead666
Valve created the Steam system to distribute their own games/Software/Patches
.....
EA wants to try and copy steam, but offering only its own catalogue.

Thats why its Steam, and not 'Valve Online Store'.

how do we know Origin won't feature other games?

EADM was renamed to Origin, there may be a reason behind that.

I remember paying £50 for star wars on the NES and thinking that was quite dear. Gamers these days don't know how good they've got it

Originally Posted by Mentai
Uh yeah... 8 years ago. If EA is competing on based on then instead of the present they have already lost. They have to come up with something new to capture the market, the best they can hope for at this rate is a mild splintering and a lot of annoyed PC gamers.

I quite agree. Playing catch-up is rarely the way forward.

Yes -- Valve did get me onto a Steam account by making it necessary for Orange Box activation and thereby leveraging that exclusivity; however, I only became a proper Steam convert when I discovered how user friendly the platform was and how good the sales and bundles were.

Rather than pissing people off with stupid exclusivity deals, EA would do a lot better by leveraging their massive back catalogue to beat Steam at their own game by making Origin to the go to place for really good value sales and bundles. They are also very well placed to exploit the long tail by making more of their bygone classics available through the minimal-cost digital platform.

Simply adding a bunch of exclusive tat for Shepherd isn't going to make me sign up -- instead its going to make me think EA are t**ts and buy a disc from Amazon in the "old fashioned" way (yes, I can still remember how its done).

Does anyone else remember the days when you could actually hold stuff? Digital comics and artwork are worthless.

Not to risk getting lynched here, but I have Origin (Crysis 2 was half price one weekend).

All I will say is - it works.

It does not automatically start or load any services or bloat when windows boots. You can disable chat and all the other crap in the options and it is fine.

Contrary to popular belief EA origins does not break in to your house and kill your family when you are asleep.

And yes, of course they have every right to bring a competing product in to the market, and yes competition and choice is always good for consumers, and yes I have Steam and yes it is very good but no it is not a charity or the precursor to world piece so get over it.

jimmy can you fill me in how this healthy competition works? As far as I was aware, EA will be selling their own games ... charging their own prices ... how does the competition work?

I just downloaded Origins. Most new games are £35! Whilst I think Steam over charges; I can put up with an extra £5 from Amazon's normal £25 price for the convience of having all my games in one place and not having to worry about CDs etc. £35 is over the top though. Guess it will be back to buying old fasioned DVDs for EA games now.

meh a lot of digital distribution services offer extra exclusive content as an incentive to buy from them.

so no point getting butthurt at EA for doing what everyone else is, including steam, if anything steam are more guilty than most.

but really its not really an issue, i can't say i have ever played a game where i didn't get the exclusive content and wish i had, so unless EA or whoever start offering exclusive content that is actually game changing it isn't a big deal

I used to detest digital distro. Now I dont mind it, they keep track of all the games I have and reinstalling is easier - yes discs were faster, but I cant find my games half the time (and needing the disc in the drive to play, plain annoying). Origin is flawed because its new, now as long as EA dosnt change or discontinue it (the fear of any digital distro service).

I am just starting ME1 and bought ME2 on the steam sale, so when I get around to ME3 anyway it'll be cheap. If anything whats annoying is that I have ME1 on Origin and ME2 on steam... hopefully the saves or whatever dont get messed up because of that. :/

Originally Posted by outlawaol
so when I get around to ME3 anyway it'll be cheap.

Well it won't be cheap on Origin, have you seen all their prices? All those defending Origin need to wake up.

55 quid and not a single thing to hold in yer hand! na think i'll pass.

the only plus is the N7 Arsenal Pack...the rest...meh

Originally Posted by Material
Hmmm, make that a real hoody, that I could wear rather than my in game character, then we'll talk.

;)Yup, that should work

Greetings!

Originally Posted by wuyanxu
how do we know Origin won't feature other games?

Are you expecting Activision\Blizzard, Ubisoft, Take Two to start selling on Origin?
"Buy MW3 on Origin" :|

Limited edition digital comic!

Didn't know we could run out of 1s and 0s...

I think half the problem with these services isn't that people have undying devotion to Steam/Valve but more distrust EA, lets fact it we've been burned by them before. Origin looks like a "me too" service ten years late.

I could live with more distribution platforms but i'd like there to be some actual competition and some actual innovation if these other platforms want my attention over the incumbent. Think why google is still the worlds number one search engine and why some Bing users only ever use it search for google....

I want it, I can afford it, I'm going to have it.

Originally Posted by impar
Greetings!

Are you expecting Activision\Blizzard, Ubisoft, Take Two to start selling on Origin?
"Buy MW3 on Origin" :|

Not impossible. They are all happy (or at least willing) to sell on Steam and Valve is just as much a competitor as EA (at least in terms of online publication). If it makes commercial sense for them to sell on Origin as a route to more sales, then they will do it, although I don't doubt they are all also working on their own 'Steam-alikes'.

There will be period of fracturing, I'm sure, but in the end it will collapse back down to a few online retailers as the weaker platforms wither -- and unless EA et al get away from the 'exclusive tat' mindset, I bet it will be Steam that is still leading the survivors.

Originally Posted by jhng

Quote:

Originally Posted by impar
Greetings!

Are you expecting Activision\Blizzard, Ubisoft, Take Two to start selling on Origin?
"Buy MW3 on Origin" :|

Not impossible. They are all happy (or at least willing) to sell on Steam and Valve is just as much a competitor as EA (at least in terms of online publication). If it makes commercial sense for them to sell on Origin as a route to more sales, then they will do it, although I don't doubt they are all also working on their own 'Steam-alikes'.

There will be period of fracturing, I'm sure, but in the end it will collapse back down to a few online retailers as the weaker platforms wither -- and unless EA et al get away from the 'exclusive tat' mindset, I bet it will be Steam that is still leading the survivors.

Valve really isnt that much of a competitor against any of them. There are very few games. Mostly all in the same universe. The others, TF, CS, and the upcoming DOTA2, are nothing like what the others offer. Valve makes ultra high quality games that stand out from the rest because they are vastly polished and different.

Originally Posted by Cei
Limited edition digital comic!

Didn't know we could run out of 1s and 0s...

Laugh all you want, but that's precisely why I'm hoarding all these 2s and 3s.

I'll just get the boxed copy but if the price was right I wouldn't be averse to using Origin.

A full collection of in-game content that can’t be found anywhere else!

They mean anywhere else, apart from the torrent that will get made?

I guess people forgot how hated steam was when it first came out ahead of half life 2 http://www.runegame.com/vbf/showthread.php?t=25690 go back and read up. I recall too hating steam thinking it was unecessary, unstable and just a form of greed to have the then novel 24/7 online activation type copy protection scheme.

now we've all grown to love steam as a pretty useful sales platform and I think digital distribution is more convenient as I never have to worry about a huge stack of games.