PC Mass Effect 3 requires Origin, excludes Steam

By Robert Purchese Published 16 January, 2012

BioWare blames Valve's "restrictive" TOS.

Origin will be required to run all editions of Mass Effect 3 on PC, BioWare has revealed - including copies bought from shops.

Mass Effect 3 won't be available on Steam.

"During initial release, Mass Effect 3 will be available on Origin and a number of other third-party digital retailers, but not on Steam at this time," wrote community man Chris Priestly on the BioWare forum.

"Steam has adopted a set of restrictive terms of service which limit how developers interact with customers to deliver patches and other downloadable content. We are intent on providing Mass Effect to players with the best possible experience no matter where they purchase or play their game, and are happy to partner with any download service that does not restrict our ability to connect directly with our consumers."

It's a similar line to the one EA used when defending the removal of Crysis 2 and Dragon Age 2 from Steam.

Mass Effect 3 on PC will require one-time online authentication before the single-player game can be played. Multiplayer Mass Effect 3 will obviously require a constant internet connection.

There will be no limit to Mass Effect 3 game installations.

Priestly stressed that Origin is not spyware and will not gather information against your will.

"Origin is not spyware," he wrote, "and does not use or install spyware on user's machines.

"In order to allow Origin to install games and their patches for everyone to use, Origin implements a permission change that results in Windows, not Origin, reviewing the file names in the Program data/Origin folder. This is an ordinary Windows function, not an information-gathering process. "

The voice acting in Mass Effect 3.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (171) Latest comment 1 month ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Widge #1 1 month ago

    Excludes Steam "at first" I bet.

  • merseymal #2 1 month ago

    Most unsurprising news ever. Bioware's an EA company so I suspect few people would be in any doubt that it'd be via Origin and that Steam wouldn't get a look in.

  • streetmagix #3 1 month ago

    *Waits for shitstorm*
    In all seriousness, what's wrong with Origin? I quite like it. It does everything it 'says on the tin'.

  • crsmithy #4 1 month ago

    Ohh bugger off EA.

    It's not that I hate Origin so much I just want all my downloaded PC games in one place.

  • kassmageant #5 1 month ago

    Post deleted at 14:29:36 16-01-2012

  • roquey Verified Lead Quality Assurance Tester and Compliance Specialist, Universally Speaking #6 1 month ago

    I doubt its an issue from steam anyway, 90% its EA just going 'meh, no chance.'

  • kassmageant #7 1 month ago

    Origin taking on steam kind of reminds me how google + was supposed to be facebook killer, or zune was aiming at taking out iTunes. didn't worked out that way though.
    Edited by 1 at 16/01/12 @ 14:35

  • Maximinn #8 1 month ago

    merseymal got it right. I doubt EA will ever release anything on Steam ever again. They're direct competitors.

  • jonfon #9 1 month ago

    So how does this square with using your Steam-based ME2 saved game with ME3?

  • Spuzzell #10 1 month ago

    No big deal. I'd much rather everyone just used Steam but hey.

  • laszkv #11 1 month ago

    @streetmagix Prices for one? Crysis 2 three times more than on play.com. If it was on Steam there would have been some reasonable deal on it in the winter sale.

  • Baleoce #12 1 month ago

    Genuine question. What are the "restrictive" parts of the ToS that EA are referring to? Surely if it was a fundamental problem, more companies would have spoken up against it. But really, I've been through it, does anyone have any ideas?

  • Cjail #13 1 month ago

    Post deleted at 14:41:22 16-01-2012

  • mccappind #14 1 month ago

    I wouldn't want 2 clients on my PC. Steam has a much greater back catalogue, imo EA are shooting themselves in the foot.

  • StooMonster #15 1 month ago

    Least surprising announcement of 2012.

  • FuzzyDuck #16 1 month ago

    Isn't this just a repeat of Battlefield 3?

  • geeza2020 #17 1 month ago

    A friend of mine has Mass Effect 1 & 2 on his PC, bought through Steam. Does anyone know if this will affect the way his save games/character when transferring/importing to the 3rd game?

    I dont want to imagine the shitstorm there'll be if EA said they werent supporting Steam versions of the first two games :-\

  • Zaiz #18 1 month ago

    @Baleoce
    They complained about how DLC has to be sold on Steam for Steam games to be able to use it. The ToS is only restrictive if you want to make more money. Basically, EA's restrictive claim is "restrictive on our wallets".

  • KKRT #19 1 month ago

    @laszkv
    There was Christmas deal on Polish Origin for many EA games and Crysis 2 cost 7$ back then.
    You can also buy Crysis 2 for 10$ [with Christ,as coupon 5$] on amazon.com on 21/1.

  • KKRT #20 1 month ago

    @Zaiz
    So companies should give Valve money no matter what? If someone want to sell DLC/microtransactions via their owns system, its their choice, not Valve, but TOS says otherwise.
    Thats why many other game also is not on Steam, like Guild Wars or Mania games.

  • photoboy #21 1 month ago

    I really want to boycott the game over this, but I know there's no way I can resist ME3. :( Why does EA have to ruin the status quo on PC? Steam is clearly the standard now, fragmenting the market with their own store is just selfish and utterly self-defeating. Give it 2 or 3 years and Origin will be just another failed upstart.

  • Darren #22 1 month ago

    Origin isn't spyware, it's just crapware!

    Need proof... still in beta/pre-release after nearly seven months, game view settings don't work (Favourites show games that aren't and Ready to Play shows games that are not even installed on my system post-boot) and patching is like playing Russian Roulette as to whether they will work or just continually download then install over and over until I uninstall then reinstall the full game. I've even launched FIFA 12 and had Origin tell me it isn't installed!

    A nasty horrid piece of software IMO that means I'll be actively looking out for a crack post-release so I can play it without Origin.

  • oceanmotion #23 1 month ago

    Valve wants EA to offer DLC through Steam so they get a cut and EA is free to offer DLC through Origin as well as long Steam gets to sell the same content. You could argue why should EA do twice the work for DLC.

    I think it's okay for EA to do this as they are entitled to do what they want on their own service as are Valve with Steam. I don't think there is a doubt EA are trying to push Origin with their most high profile games and Steam want more revenue.

  • zoidberg #24 1 month ago

    I spent thousands of dollars on my Steam account, including Mass Effect 1 and 2. If Mass Effect 3 will not be available on Steam I will pirate it on release day. I will not spend money to support Origin.

    I may just pick up a retail copy when it drops down in price later on.

  • TexMurphy01 #25 1 month ago

    If you have to come out and say it's not spyware and doesn't collect data against your will, you're in trouble.

  • FireMonkey #26 1 month ago

    @Zaiz - "The ToS is only restrictive if you want to make more money. Basically, EA's restrictive claim is "restrictive on our wallets"."

    That's fair enough though isn't it? EA are a business trying to make money after all.

  • des #27 1 month ago

    bad news...

    for Valve

  • Koozer #28 1 month ago

    @Baleoce I think they're referring to how Steam handles all patching and updating using a single unified, automated service, instead of letting everyone have their own methods. So basically, EA want more control and don't really care about how simple Steam makes things for customers.

  • Cadence #29 1 month ago

    LED OFF SOME STEAM, BENNETT.

  • StooMonster #30 1 month ago

    @Baleoce What are the "restrictive" parts of the ToS that EA are referring to?

    IIRC since Steam started "free to play games" Valve changed their T&C for Steam games so that any DLC has to be offered via Steam as well as other channels.

    Although some people say that it goes further and only Steam bought DLC will work on Steam games, and so you couldn't buy DLC on disc or via GfWL and have it work with Steam games (like you can for many games now).

  • FireMonkey #31 1 month ago

    I remember when Steam came out. Everyone I knew hated it and didn't see the point in it. It is only after many iterations and lots of sales that people have now got used to it. I still don't think it is that great.

    I see no problem with having multiple fronts for the games. If a game is on Origin, I will launch Origin and play that game. If it is on Steam, I'll launch Steam and play that game.

    Saying things like "I'll pirate it if it's not on Steam" is just sad and shows how immature and fanboyish some people are.
    Edited by 1 at 16/01/12 @ 14:57

  • oceanmotion #32 1 month ago

    @Darren

    Steam wasn't all sunshine and roses through it's development and it's only recently fixed patching so you wouldn't have to download numerous GBs instead of tiny MB patches.

    Origin isn't a disaster. Actually quite simple and streamlined. Just CD keys, no DRM. It should get better. I think there is only a trust issue with EA which is fair enough.

  • StooMonster #33 1 month ago

    @Darren Origin isn't spyware, it's just crapware!

    I can't get rid of my Battlefield 3 alpha and beta icons on the Origin desktop.

    Apparently I have to ring EA's customer service helpline (premium rate number) and ask them to do it for me.

    I've left them there to remind me how crap a client it is.
    Edited by 1 at 16/01/12 @ 14:58

  • rochyroch #34 1 month ago

    At least it doesn't require 'Games For Windows Live'
    i refuse to buy any more games that use it, it really is a pos.

  • jonbwfc #35 1 month ago

    @jonfon IIRC, the Mass Effect saved games are saved in the same place on your C: drive regardless of whether it's a disk or digital copy. The cloud saves are simply a copy of those. I don't see an obvious reason why ME3 on origin won't be able to see those saves on your PC even if you did buy ME2 on Steam.

  • UncleLou #36 1 month ago

    "Steam has adopted a set of restrictive terms of service which limit how developers interact with customers to deliver patches and other downloadable content ... and are happy to partner with any download service that does not restrict our ability to connect directly with our consumers."

    I guess they cancelled the Xbox 360/PS3 versions, then.

  • Shikasama #37 1 month ago

    If they were intent on making Mass Effect 3 the best possible experienc,e they'd have CD Projekt making it.

    Bioware haven't made an interesting game since KOTOR.

  • Darren #38 1 month ago

    @oceanmotion - Steam still isn't perfect IMO - the lack of custom installs and even a Validate option for the Backup/Restore tool continues to annoy me - but at least when it launched it wasn't forcing a beta version on its end-users like EA are with Origin.

    I'm fine with using beta software as long as it is my choice (since I then have the option to revert to the stable release if I have problems) as is the case with drivers and other software. What I don't like is being forced to use buggy beta software for games when Origin should be optional in its current state until it is actually finished (i.e. non-beta/pre-release)!

  • Eisenstein #39 1 month ago

    Yeah, not going to pay 54 € for Mass Effect 3 on Origin. Not when D2D has it for 35 €. Or a boxed copy costs 45 €. That's not the way to battle Steam, by even higher prices and a pretty crappy store platform.
    Edited by 2 at 16/01/12 @ 15:11

  • somnolentsurfer #40 1 month ago

    So I guess EA won't be releasing on Xbox Live either then? It's about time these idiots realised that Steam are the de facto platform holders on PC, and that that's a good thing both for them and for PC gaming as a whole. The PC remains an open platform. Anyone can develop for it, and you can release on any number of store that you like. If a better on than Steam comes along, I'm sure we'll all switch. In the meantime, Steam gives us many of the benifits of console gaming and does away with a whole bunch of the shit traditionally associated with the PC.

    Of course, Mass Effect belongs to EA, and legally they can do whatever they want with it. They do have a moral obligation to their customers not to be cocks though. Based on what I've heard of Origin and of EA's user policies, and based to my prior experiance of buying DLC from them, there's no way I'd trust them with something on the scale of my Steam account. Just let us buy the game (and associated DLC) the way we want to buy it, please.

  • v.profane #41 1 month ago

    They've done nothing to make me think ME3 will be a worthwhile conclusion to ME1 (ME2 had very little main story). I'll worry about how I'm going to buy it and install it after I've read some honest reviews of it, not like the fawning ME2 reviews that claimed it was an improvement in every way over the first.
    Edited by 1 at 16/01/12 @ 15:15

  • christourlord #42 1 month ago

    @StooMonster You can edit InstalledGames.xml to remove the beta from your games list

  • Alestes #43 1 month ago

    Nothing that stops me from buying the game, but it's unfortunate that games these days require extra software to run. Steam, Origin and so on, they are all the same bad shit. There should be more services like GOG :-)

  • jetsetwillie #44 1 month ago

    this is fantastic news. anything that pisses off steam fan boys and EA haters makes me happy inside.

    for me i couldn't give a fuck where i launch the game from.

  • vert1go #45 1 month ago

    @streetmagix Yep. Including sending any info they can glean from your pc - including apps that you've removed in the past, browser history, etc - to third parties of their choosing.

    Which is why it can fuck off. :)

  • jetsetwillie #46 1 month ago

    @mccappind and blizzard of course. Diablo 3 won't be on your beloved steam either.

  • Darren #47 1 month ago

    @JAGUARCD32x - Same here.

    I've only got three games that use Origin but I've had problems with all of them, particularly when installing patches as each time I've had to uninstall/reinstall the game in order to get the patches to download and install properly. To make matters worse EA do not release these patches as standalone installers so there are no alternatives except to use their clumsy software, which doesn't even have a Resume Download feature from what I've been reading on their forums. Several times I've had no choice but to quit the download at which point Origin happily starts downloading it again from 0%! I'd love to say this is a great piece of software that works perfectly on my system but I'd be lying if I did.

    In comparison, Games for Windows Live, has been relatively problem free even though more games use it than Origin. I've lost one save game with it (Virtua Tennis 4's career) and one game didn't like my sound card's Game mode so refused to sign in (Bulletstorm) but other than that it works. Mostly. Still don't like it much though due to the clumsiness in the way it handles save games, meaning that you have to backup data from TWO locations otherwise the restored saves will not work. It really could do with a Cloud feature in all honesty.

    Steam, for all its flaws, is still leagues ahead of both GfWL and Orign though and probably always will be.
    Edited by 2 at 16/01/12 @ 15:34

  • kaufmann #48 1 month ago

    ass effect rly

  • Raptaur #49 1 month ago

    Origins is just the evolving games industry. Each publisher is going to have a providing 'Games' service.

    Other will follow too with their own, there will be more and PC is going to have to get used to it.

  • Eraysor #50 1 month ago

    I started playing ME on the 360, switched to PC when it came out on there, finished ME2 on Steam, and now I'm switching to the PS3 version for ME3...I'm not buying another Origin game considering how horribly buggy the client is, how expensive the games are, and the fact that I couldn't play Battlefield 3 for a week because the client simply decided it wasn't going to let me log in. Even EA's phone line had no clue.

  • FireMonkey #51 1 month ago

    @vert1go - Does it do this? How do you know?

  • Neil__ #52 1 month ago

    Considering Origin's T&Cs that allow EA to scan your hard drive and send private information back to their servers I can see this news driving a lot of people to pirate this game.

  • Lancezh #53 1 month ago

    Great, another game i wont play. *crosses Mass Effect 3 out*

    (and before you jump on me read the fucking EULA for origin, and if you still dont care about your fucking rights then you can jump on my back, no steam is not the same, fucking READ it)
    Edited by 1 at 16/01/12 @ 15:35

  • JesteR1701 #54 1 month ago

    Lame excuse. EA wants to push Origin. I little more honesty would be appreciated.

  • Kami #55 1 month ago

    What bothers me is EA state this is all about giving us "choice", yet we don't actually have a choice in the matter at all.

    To give people a "choice" would be to denote they had the power to buy the game from a variety of different sources, including Steam, GetGames and others. EA are doing this not because of choice; but as said, because it's a massive huge game (probably bigger than TOR, sorry Star Wars fans but these days it's kinda true!) that in one bite of the cherry could make Origin completely relevant.

    That said, their whole "choice" thing could backfire spectacularly and most of us will either get it on a console, or wait and see what comes with the whole Wii-U port later in the year (I still buy magazines and they've all mentioned a Wii-U version lately. I'll take that as a pretty good sign). Nothing like killing your PC market with a moral "choice" system. Oh, I'm so witty. Try the veal.

    It's a funny old business. What makes me laugh is EA have to keep re-iterating that Origin is not Spyware. Seriously EA, give it up. Origin is worse than Steam in collecting data, we know this, we accept that we can't do crap about it because of your oh-so-lovely no-sue clause buried in your EULA, therefore in a way it IS spyware. In a roundabout way. Just spyware we have to put up with to play certain games.

    Just stop denying it, because each time you do, you just remind us that... well... it sort of is.

  • Neil__ #56 1 month ago

    @FireMonkey
    Try keeping up with gaming news more and you would already know.

  • FireMonkey #57 1 month ago

    @Eisenstein - ME3 is £34.99 on Origin, £34.95 on D2D and £39.99 in my local Game.

    Origin doesn't sound that badly priced to me.

  • FireMonkey #58 1 month ago

    @Neil__ - That's a great answer! Really makes it clear. Cheers.

  • mccappind #59 1 month ago

    @jetsetwillie I'm not a fan of Starcraft or Diablo. So personally I'm not bothered, games that aren't on steam that i'm interested in I would buy retail.
    Edited by 1 at 16/01/12 @ 15:41

  • JumpinJackFlash #60 1 month ago

    Doesn't surprise me. Valve did this with Half-Life 2...

  • Kostas #61 1 month ago

    Nice one stupids. How am i supposed to transfer my saved games which i bought on STEAM now? Hell now i need 3 freaking online services open to play my games (Desura, Steam, Origin). See this is why i didnt like this whole deal with "services" to begin with. It fucks up too much too many things and this is already happening within 8 years of Steams life.

    Oh and i dont buy the "restrictive" crap talking from EA chaps since we ALL know what EA is all about. We were supposed to make playing our ORIGINAL titles easier and with more value. Now what the hell is this?

  • jetsetwillie #62 1 month ago

    @Kami wow this really upsets some of you guys doesn't it. would you like a tissue to dry your eyes

  • deadstoned #63 1 month ago

    Gah! Its not a major problem, but is a pain and isn't winning EA any points. I expect the "complete edition" will go up on Steam next year when all the DLC is sold though.

    Origin still needs work, its store has poor navigation and feels clunky. Not all of EA's titles are sold through it, like Medal Of honor Allied Assault etc, even the Mass Effect 2 DLC is missing. So if they're saying its going to be used to sell DLC well get your current DLC on it first EA! And it still hasn't even left Beta. Don't force me to use a Beta to run a completed game EA! xD

  • bad09 #64 1 month ago

    Yeah well I'm out, not because I'm a Steam fanboy but because the quite shameful way EA stole game back games from customers who said something they didn't like over on their forums. I used EADM quite a lot to unlock my EA disks anyway before that shitstorm but now anything forcing Origin is a no go, I don't don't even go on their forums but a company having power to take your games (yes they are mine please no one spout me some useless EULA crap, I buy it it's mine!) away for something completely unrelated to their origin account is something I just cannot support with my money. Even on Steam I only buy under a fiver mostly because they have the power to just turn your games off in their T&Cs but at least there you'll lose your account for account related things.

    To be honest ME2 was so "meh" I won't miss ME3 and this just increases my lack of interest in Bioware titles and EA in general.

    I am only one person though so they couldn't care less. The only way to change things is not to buy my friends, they are just games and YOU the customers have the real power if you want to turn the sinking boat called DRM gaming around.
    Edited by 1 at 16/01/12 @ 15:46

  • Toothball #65 1 month ago

    Not surprising really. Before I'd get all stressed and post about how Steam is 'the best possible experience' for me, but I got over that. I've got most of the first two to play through so far, so will probably get the third if it ever goes on sale on Origin.

    I only started playing it on PC because the first was in a Steam sale though, as previously my intention was to Xbox it up. The game looks quite nice in 3D on PC so I'd like to continue it there. But on the other hand, the third has Kinect parts in it and I like that too. My save isn't all that far in so I could probably switch without much grief.

  • DwarfyP #66 1 month ago

    @photoboy You know Origin has already been going for years, right?

    Where do you think EA Download Manager magically disappeared to?

  • Kami #67 1 month ago

    @Kostas; Arguably, the save files are not limited to Steam architecture and therefore those could quite easily be transferred into Mass Effect 3 with the right kind of import function. So I doubt your previous save files will go to waste, if that's your main worry.

    The main issue most of us have is that EA are being flat-out dishonest about Origin, which is only going to annoy people. We're used to some pretty mad requests in EULA's, but Origin makes the effort to be REALLY extra-special mad.

  • Bremenacht #68 1 month ago

    pew

  • Letsalljusthavefun #69 1 month ago

    "We are intent on providing Mass Effect to players with the best possible experience no matter where they purchase or play their game, and are happy to partner with any download service that does not restrict our ability to connect directly with our consumers."

    Reading between the lines: "so long as a download service does not get in our way in charging however much we want for add-ons, we will partner with them."

    I hate being cynical, but I can honestly say that Steam has never been particlarly unreasonable in servicing their customers, and, as far as other online outlets go, are the most reasonable marketplace of the lot (definitely in terms of pricing). I smell EA greed in wanting to make as much money out of this as possible, especially with the pricing of DLC.

  • TazerFan #70 1 month ago

    More pot-stirring from EG.

  • mccappind #71 1 month ago

    I remember when paying for DLC didn't exist and large updates came in the form of expansions. :(
    Edited by 2 at 16/01/12 @ 16:06

  • DwarfyP #72 1 month ago

    @somnolentsurfer "Anyone can develop for it, and you can release on any number of store that you like."

    Open platform as long as you release it on STEAM (a closed platform) otherwise people will bitch and moan about it and threaten to pirate the game instead.

    How do some PC gamers really not see why developers are favouring consoles more and more with attitudes like you see in these comments?

  • jetsetwillie #73 1 month ago

    @TazerFan of course. they know how mad the weirdo's get. and it makes for a amusing read on a boring afternoon at work. i love it
    Edited by 1 at 16/01/12 @ 16:00

  • StooMonster #74 1 month ago

    Don't be expecting cheap DLC.

    And, expect a lot of DLC.

    Also, although the game will be available via "Origin and a number of other third-party digital retailers, but not on Steam at this time" I am prepared to bet that the numerous and expensive DLC will only be available via Origin (which is why it's required).

  • Raptaur #75 1 month ago

    @Neil__

    Neil__
    @FireMonkey
    Try keeping up with gaming news more and you would already know.



    What a dickish reply. Link or it didn't happen bro

    "Yeah some guy on the internet said...."
    Edited by 1 at 16/01/12 @ 16:07

  • DurzoBlint #76 1 month ago

    "Restrictive" in that it doesn't allow EA to bend you over a barrel. I was already skipping ME3 after catching those spoilers, though, so they needn't have bothered giving me more reasons to pass it over.

  • merseymal #77 1 month ago

    Personally, I find it makes business sense for Steam to insist that games sold on their platform's DLC must be bought from them too.

    Without that if I was an unscrupulous game publisher I'd release games on Steam at a dirt cheap price but without the majority of content and then sell the rest of it as DLC via my own system.

  • Ezzekhiel #78 1 month ago

    @KKRT At least double check your "facts" before talking shit. Guild Wars is and has always been on Steam. http://store.steampowered.com/app/29600/?snr=1_7_sug gest__13

    @jetsetwillie Blizzard games and Diablo 3 are not on Steam, that's true. BUT:
    A) They never have been, so it's not like EA who had some games and later changed their minds.

    B) They sell their games through direct download via Battle Net but without forcing you to install a bloody platform, like Origin for EA or Impulse for Stardock (does that still exist?). And that's what people complain about, they don't want a platform for every game publisher.
    Edited by 2 at 16/01/12 @ 16:24

  • Lamb #79 1 month ago

    Well if I was EA I would do that too. But of course down the line Steam would be an option seeing as how the crapware Dead Space pack was selling for £6.50 on Steam. I don't like speaking ill of companies but EA have been fairly unimaginative outside of Mass Effect and decimated BioWare with crappy Dragon Age and WTF was NWN2, oh and they still use the same engine for the Sims.

    I like the Mass Effect series I don't know if I will get the chance to play it. Transferring my ME save game impacted a few storylines. But I haven't bought a 360 game since ME2 and Forza 2. I pretty much abandoned that console and the PS3 has not looked inviting since it was chugging down New Vegas.

  • Kami #80 1 month ago

    @jetsetwillie; Kind of think you maybe missed the rather silly tone of my first post - i.e. meant to make light of what is arguably a pretty crappy situation, to be fair.

    But we do have a choice, that is - we buy the console versions, we don't need to support Origin! It just means some of us have to either (a) buy the first two Mass Effects and replay them again, or (b) just accept we'll have the option to bypass our way through it with another general-trivia quiz at the start of the game like Mass Effect 2, so we can reasonably simulate what we've already done.

    It's not a great choice, I'll grant you, but it's there for people who really are dead-set against Origin. I just think Origin is funny, because EA have to keep constantly defending it, and its data collection policies, to the media. And in doing so, EA reminds people - again - what it is about Origin that so winds people up.

    But we do have a choice. It's not the best, nicest or most intuitive choice, but it's there if people want to exercise their right to it.

    I suspect though most will forget about this when it's all "oooh ME3 PC version so SHIIIIIIIINY!".

  • Ryboy #81 1 month ago

    Well done for doing yourselves out X amount of millions in revenue. The fact is, is that some people just don't wish to use Origin.

    *claps*

  • DozyKipper #82 1 month ago

    They will probably bring ME3 to Steam when the DLC has all been done and dusted. They can release an "Ultimate Edition" with it all included. Well that's what I'm praying for.

  • Ptarmigandalf #83 1 month ago

    Well, shame, I would have liked to play that.

  • jetsetwillie #84 1 month ago

    @Kami well i wont be buying on the console just because i have to click to another client to launch a game. im pretty used to this as i say with the blizzard games i play. no big deal at all for me.

  • paulf #85 1 month ago

    yeah steam is so restrictive that no one else has their games on it, this is a business and marketing decision pure and simple

  • Eisenstein #86 1 month ago

    @FireMonkey If you switch to Euro it's very badly pricee - 54 €, compared to the 42 € D2D wants. Or the 47 € that Amazon(de) wants for the boxed version.
    Edited by 3 at 16/01/12 @ 16:43

  • boogiepop #87 1 month ago

    day1 pirate

  • Sunyavadin #88 1 month ago

    "Well naturally, OUR restrictive DRM system is VASTLY superior to Valve's restrictive DRM system"

  • Flipper79 #89 1 month ago

    Nothing wrong with them wanting to use their own client, but they will end up losing more money in lost sales than they will from the cut steam take. Even if people don't mind origin in it's own right there's a real reluctance to have more than one client installed. Given the choice I will always pick steam...they've given me 2 free games and a hell of alot more that were impossible to refuse at the price offered.

  • jonfon #90 1 month ago

    @Raptaur
    "Other will follow too with their own, there will be more and PC is going to have to get used to it."
    Or, conversely, avoid anything to do with their platform and hope the message gets through.

    I'm already avoiding Origin games and planning to ignore EA as well, as well as Diablo 3 due to the Always On stipulation. Hopefully others will too and EA and Activision will take notice.
    Edited by 1 at 16/01/12 @ 16:53

  • bad09 #91 1 month ago

    @paulf

    To be honest I do sympathise somewhat with EA there. If you use another of these systems like Live or Ubi game launcher or your own, you have to basically do a different version for Steam (maybe this was the reason Warner in their bizarre thinking used both Live and Steamworks for Batman AC). Two versions for one platform. I think others probably aren't happy but Steam does have most of the download market in it's pocket.

    Sure they could just use Steamworks but who as a consumer wants a monolopy or to buy their games to be used only on Steam with it's twitchy offline mode?

    (although credit where credit is due it kicked in perfectly this time when I needed it for an outage on Saturday - as did Ubis new offline mode! :) ).

  • somnolentsurfer #92 1 month ago

    @DwarfyP You appear to have missed my point. Develop for the PC and you can release on as many stores as will take you. You can sell completely DRM free from your own web site and rely on donations if you want. Or you can benefit from the being on the front page of big stores like Steam. You can do both, if you want.

    If you choose to screw over your customers by denying them the choice they want though, and especially if you force people to split games from a single series over multiple collections and logins, well then I think you deserve all the anger that comes your way.

  • ToonMonkey #93 1 month ago

    Bloody hell people like to moan don't they. Origin is fine, don't notice it really. Care more about the potential for shit game design a la Dragon Age 2.

  • Gastrian #94 1 month ago

    Too many people defending Steam while ignoring its obvious flaws that EA are highlighting.

    Here's an example, if you bought Dragon Age Origins on Steam at release and wanted to play the expansion pack Awakenings you had to buy it on Steam. It explicitly states it will only work with a Steam purchased copy, meaning if you found it cheaper at retail, on D2D or from EA themselves you were screwed.

    EA likes doing cross platform promotions such as buying and registering DA:o on the PC allows you to download the Blood Dragon Armour DLC for your 360 Mass Effect 2. Steam does not allow this.

    I bought King Arthur the RPG on Steam and one of its DLC was cheaper on GfWL but Steam would not allow me to purchase from there and run it with my Steam copy, I had to buy the more expensive Steam version.

    Steam is the best PC platform at the moment but its not perfect and not all its T&Cs are in the customer's best interests. Eurogamer always seems to make an issue of EA games not being on Steam yet never seems to ask if maybe Steam's policies aren't in the customer's best interest and that maybe EA have a point in this and that Steam should not force publishers to sell their additional content through them. There'd be an uproar if GAME had T&Cs that meant customers had to buy their Xbox accessories from them if they bought the Xbox360 from them and even if you saw a cheaper official controller in HMV it wouldn't work. Why should we treat Steam any different?

  • rogermellie #95 1 month ago

    @jonfon

    I hope others do too. My objection is the clumsy-atmosphere-breaking in-store crap like the one I came across in Dragon Age (e.g. accept quest x, pay now style prompt).

  • Laminator #96 1 month ago

    Expected this, I have ME 1 and 2 on Steam and I sure as hell am not getting number 3 on Origin. Not that I hate Origin but what I do hate being forced to use it instead of my chosen platform, Steam. That and I think it will be bad for everyone if EA gains control of the PC digital distribution market as it's attempting.

    Guess I won't be seeing the end of Shepard's story now, thanks for that EA.

  • Davemanz #97 1 month ago

    @Ezzekhiel Stardock sold its digital distribution platform to Gamestop (which makes me feel dirty for having it installed) and has since started selling Sins of a Solar Empire on Steam. I already owned it on Impulse so I'm not going to buy it on Steam, but the good news is that Stardock has no love of Gamestop or attachment to Impulse and they've said SOASE 2 will be on Steam!
    Edited by 1 at 16/01/12 @ 17:29

  • munki83 #98 1 month ago

    I'll still be getting this as long as origin behaves itself I've got no issue. It's a shame I cant get it from Steam but as long as my save files work I'll be happy and when I'm done I can go back to being a steamwhore.

  • Kami #99 1 month ago

    @Gastrian; No doubt Steam isn't perfect but y'know, doesn't trawl through your hard drive for stuff or take a sneaky look at your rivals games and architecture. Oh, you thought that EA wouldn't check out your Steam folder? Steam, like many things, will get better with appropriate competition. Origin probably isn't it.

    and @jetsetwillie; That's fine, personally I'll be giving it a miss to start with and see where things go. As I said, a Wii U version with that touchscreen interface sounds exquisite, so I might even wait for that. Who knows?

    But there are options around it if people really hate it. I don't - I just find it a typically farcical attempt at trying to corner a market you already have. And doing it pretty badly to boot.

    It amuses me. Nothing more than that. I just like PR Nightmares. Makes me sleep better at night knowing some suited and booted PR person is crying into their pillow...

  • Darren #100 1 month ago

    Can I add Origin randomly not signing in to its long list of bugs? I've just turned my PC on tonight and noticed that the annoying "Origin is Still Running" notification bubble did not appear as normal (why does it even show post-boot anyway?). Turned out that Origin did not sign in despite there having been no updates since last week and it working fine for the past week.

    /sighs
    Edited by 1 at 16/01/12 @ 17:33

  • v.profane #101 1 month ago

    @Gastrian The Dragon Age DLC still had to be purchased direct from EA with fucking Disney Dollars though.

  • Lunatic4ever #102 1 month ago

    I am really sorry for Bioware. Their game is going to be amazing but EA's marketing approach is ridiculous and will ultimately result in lower sales. Just imagine how amny units of mass effects 1 and 2 still sell during steam christmas sales?

    EA...seriously. Origin will never be able to compete with Steam and since BF3 and all the problerms I had with your client...I really do not want to use it anymore. Please don't force us anylonger.

  • DrStrangelove #103 1 month ago

    Just EA trying to establish Origin at cost of Steam. That's why.

  • Subquest #104 1 month ago

    I just want all my downloaded PC games in one place

    You can easily create shortcuts in Steam for games in your Origin Games folder. You'll just need Origin running in the background but you won't even notice it.

    People are too keen for Steam to succeed and the competition to disappear, since competition breeds innovation and progress, and ultimately, allows services to compete on pricing - especially as the much lauded Steam does in fact SUCK for pricing on recently released games.

    I've not had a problem with Origin, personally.
    Edited by 1 at 16/01/12 @ 17:43

  • Neil__ #105 1 month ago

    @FireMonkey
    I'm sorry you are i8ncapable of doing some research yourself.
    I guess sitting there and expecting to be spoon fed answers might serve you well sat at home with mummy but trust me it won't help when you get into the real world.

    In other words look it up yourself you lazy fuck and stop relying on others.

  • tankboi #106 1 month ago

    EA are such twats.

    Obvious playground tactics.

    Yeah Steam want a cut of the DLC that is HELD AND MANAGED ON THEIR SERVERS. Duh.

    So if a company releases DLC on disc, then highstreet retailers (that don't even have server up-keep) don't get a cut? BS.

    Give Valve some slack guys. It is EA who is being a dick. Surely anyone can see that?

  • bad09 #107 1 month ago

    @tankboi

    If the DLC is done on their own service or live it's not HELD AND MANAGED OR HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH STEAM ;)

    That's the whole point, they changed the T&Cs so they could get a cut and how they are able to offer F2P on Steam and still earn.
    Edited by 2 at 16/01/12 @ 18:02

  • StooMonster #108 1 month ago

    @Gastrian Here's an example, if you bought Dragon Age Origins on Steam at release and wanted to play the expansion pack Awakenings you had to buy it on Steam.

    I wonder if that was a Valve demand or an EA chosen option?

    All the games I've bought on Steam allowed me to use DLC from elsewhere, be it retail or GfWL both worked fine.

    Was it simply Dragon's Age Origins* or have other games from other publishers been similarly afflicted with platform locked DLC?

    * Note: then in following post I found that Gastrian's claim is wrong. [edit]
    Edited by 1 at 16/01/12 @ 20:37

  • StooMonster #109 1 month ago

    @Gastrian It explicitly states it will only work with a Steam purchased copy, meaning if you found it cheaper at retail, on D2D or from EA themselves you were screwed.

    Sorry Gastrian, you've got an English comprehension fail there.

    If it says it "will only work with a Steam purchased copy" does not mean DLC purchased elsewhere will not work with Dragon Age Origins purchased on Steam.

    It means that if you purchased Dragon Age Origins elsewhere, the Steam DLC will not work with it.

    "Notice: This expansion pack requires the Steam version of Dragon Age™: Origins in order to play."
    http://store .steampowered.com/app/47730/

    In fact, I've just Googled SteamPowered and Bio forums and found lots of people who purchased Awakening at retail and successfully installed it with their Steam versions of DAO.

  • Khosrau #110 1 month ago

    That's it, no sale Bioware.

  • bikmate #111 1 month ago

    @FireMonkey "ME3 is £34.99 on Origin, £34.95 on D2D and £39.99 in my local Game."

    But wait two months and it will still be £34.99 on Origin and £19.99 retail. That's the difference mate.

    Retail gets dirt cheap really fast, while digital not. Deus Ex still sells for 50 on Steam

  • Deckard1 #112 1 month ago

    ORIGIN GAVE ME AIDS!!

  • miiiguel #113 1 month ago

    This game is meant to be played on a 360 anyway, so do as you please EA.

  • jonfon #114 1 month ago

    @Subquest
    "People are too keen for Steam to succeed and the competition to disappear"

    I'm quite happy for competition to exist, as you say competition is healthy. Moving games from being available on Steam to exclusive to Origin isn't competition though really, it's exactly the opposite.

  • Ternon #115 1 month ago

    Frankly, Origin is much better than Steam, lets hope that it succeeds so that Steam doesn't have such huge unhealthy monopoly.

  • Fruit-Salad #116 1 month ago

    Post deleted at 01:35:51 08-02-2012

  • TazerFan #117 1 month ago

    @Gastrian

    What is this sanity and rationality doing in the comments section?!

    Great post. EG's editorial tone is driving me absolutely bananas.

  • Riotpoll #118 1 month ago

    @KKRT Guild Wars is on Steam...

  • Scimarad #119 1 month ago

    TBH, I played the other 2 on the 360 so that's where I'll play this one. As to Steam vs Origin, I really don't think it's even a question...

  • blarty #120 1 month ago

    I have no real interest either way, but basically as a publisher, EA is free to do whatever it wants with its games, if it feels that Steam is being restrictive as it claims; and it clearly appears to have no issue with other download services, then fair enough. Part of the problem is perception, not just EA but of Valve - if EA removed this from D2D for instance, would there be such furore? Probably not.
    In the same way that Apple is making its cut from its developers for deployment through the AppStore, Valve has been very well remunerated for the games it put on its store front; the primary difference is that iOS, XBL, PSN are the only distribution interfaces to their platforms - the PC is supposedly open to choice, and so on, and whilst EA may very easily fit the role of Villain of the Piece, remember that Valve has made a lot of money out of digital distribution of games by Steam being considered a de facto 'standard' for a platform that really doesn't need a de facto standard, and indeed there are many distribution channels, irrespective of whether Origin is any good or not. So whilst it's not a great scenario, Valve isn't really entitled to be an automatic distribution channel irrespective of what terms it enforces on publishers

  • uninspiredcup #121 1 month ago

    It's restrictive terms didn't stop Mass Effect 1 or 2.
    This is bullshit, promote origin, put out bad propaganda against steam. Wont work, steam is the best, origin sucks, Bioware over-rated, Mass Effect boring.

  • Subquest #122 1 month ago

    @jonfon - It's not Origin exclusive.

    They've singled out Steam for their TOS. Their reasons are bollocks, but frankly they can do what they want with their own titles, just as I doubt we'd see Half Life 3 on Origin. The customer will determine whether or not their approach works, and as somebody who's now got a handful of Origin games, I think it has an nice simple, inoffensive UI, fit for purpose - plus, if you really want, just create shortcuts in Steam for your Origin games.
    Edited by 3 at 16/01/12 @ 19:57

  • jonfon #123 1 month ago

    @Subquest
    Cheers, I didn't know that. In that case it's not as bad as I thought, I thought EA were taking their ball home and not letting anyone else play at all.

  • hiddenranbir #124 1 month ago

    @FireMonkey It is only fair if their precious valve does it. Or Apple. But if it is a company they don't like, uh oh!


    I have no issues with Origin, I registered all my EA games with it, even the ones I got from steam and basically opened myself up another avenue to access the game from.

    I'll get ME3, sigh at how derivative it is and then go back to a real sci-fi rpg space opera of epic galactic war proportions: Space Rangers 2!

    Fancy voiced dialogue and attempts to be a movie cut-scenes can not distract me!

  • StooMonster #125 1 month ago

    @Subquest just as I doubt we'd see Half Life 3 on Origin

    Will we see anyone but EA on EA's platform Origin?

  • Kami #126 1 month ago

    @uninspiredcup; Steam is by no means perfect. In the same vein, Origin isn't totally without merit.

    What I object to, personally, is the datamining of Origin, by same token I object to the fairly frequent resource-hogging of Steam. Both have their upsides, both have their downsides.

    That said however, competition happens because the market demands it - and the digital download market has many alternatives. Origin has to compete on a very direct level with all of them - from Direct2Drive, GamersGate and Metaboli (although I saw recently they too have been swallowed up by GAME). Steam is just the big gun. The big cheese, and as a service, Steam probably is just as bad as any other, except that Steam has some rules laid down about DLC these days and taking a slice of the profits. Can't be cheap to fund all that bandwidth.

    Will it work? I don't know. Origin will, quite likely, go through several initial stages trying to find its feet. The EULA and the datamining will, I suspect, eventually be reined in to appease the crowd, because EA may be forgetting the direct download market is mostly made up of gamers who kind of know when they're being screwed over.

    But it's this idea it's being billed as a Steam-killer that makes me break out into a wry smile. Sometimes, something can be so deep-rooted that it will take more than one swing of the axe to fell the stubborn tree. Steam is huge. Like, REALLY huge. Origin has to prove itself stable, reliable, capable of delivering content en-masse (the suspension of TOR purchases says no there) and be above reproach in terms of shady goings on. I don't think Origin is it. Not yet, in any case. It could take years for it to gain much traction.

    EA have also kind of thrown the baby out with the bathwater in this scenario. They also must be aware if Origin works and does gain significant market share, then they may find other publishers - Capcom, Activision et al - set up their own clients and do much the same thing to them as they did to Steam. Because they showed it can be done.

    And then you end up with a market all clinging to their exclusives and not sharing anything, setting their own prices and setting their own rules. This is the danger that Origin poses - as much as competition is a good thing, you can always have too much of a good thing.

    And it will be outlets like D2D and GamersGate that suffer in that regard, relegated to taking sides or getting nothing.

    It's a dangerous thing. As well as an interesting thing. We don't know yet - the payoff could be good, competition is good, but it could also be bad - a fragmentation of the market isn't healthy either.

    Swings and roundabouts. We'll see where we are in a years time. Things can only get better - but there is always a chance things will go very badly wrong indeed...

    Long post is long. Sorry.

  • Goosebump #127 1 month ago

    @Subquest It's probably not really a hate of Origin that people have but rather a massive distrust and dislike towards EA that puts people off.

    Dunno why Bioware don't break free and go their own way anyway instead of being EA's instrument of customer angst... Can EA really be showering them with that much cash just to stay joined at the hip? :S

  • PeacockDreams #128 1 month ago

    Oh PC gamers, you do make me laugh

  • sanctusmortis #129 1 month ago

    Bullsh*t. The issue you have is the paymasters told you Origin only, and you had no choice. Just be honest.

  • dirtysteve #130 1 month ago

    Ive been playing this series on console since the beginning, and while I don't see that changing regardless, I don't think the inclusion of Origin would be a seling point.

  • TheGuvernor #131 1 month ago

    Origin hasn't hurt Battlefield 3 one bit.

    Now they have another major title to add to their roster.
    Competition is always good: even old Gabe(pass the doughnuts)Newell was gracious about Origin.

    As an fps fanatic I appreciate the quality of titles EA has released recently & the fact they seem to have 'changed their evil ways.'

    Why do you muppets rant about being spied on when UK citizens are the most photographed in the world & you basically allow yourselves to live in a police state anyway?
    Edited by 1 at 16/01/12 @ 21:27

  • alceste007 #132 1 month ago

    I am not surprised at this move. Too many companies are already doing this. Blizzard's electronic releases are through their own store already. Valve is not letting anybody else release DOTA2 / TF.

    EA is actually letting Gamersgate / Impulsedriven release the game as well. Steam just wants too much of the profit from sales.

  • Lossenhyando #133 1 month ago

    Dick move EA; Not the Steam part, As much as I love Steam I can always add it to my games list and some hero will work out how to get the steam overlay working.

    But having to deal with the shitty DLC purchasing system (Why can't I just pay a fee for something instead of Bioware points ?!) and having to load up Origin each time to play a single player game brought from retail is just not on.

  • Gastrian #134 1 month ago

    @StooMonster

    I was going to double check but Steam is refusing to accept my product codes for both my retail Dragon Age Origins Ultimate Edition and my Origin Mass Effect 2. I've just added DA:o UE to my Origin account without issue and both of these games are still available to purchase on Steam.

    I wouldn't say you've proven me wrong though because Steam DA:o Awakening does state it needs DA:o on Steam to play yet Steam isn't accepting a legitimate non-Steam product code to activate it on Steam so at this moment the only way I can get the game on Steam (and the same goes for ME2) is to purchase it on Steam.

    Also all the threads on the subject are from 2009/10 which was before Steam made the F2P changes so may no longer apply to the current situation.

    I also mentioned King Arthur the RPG having the same message on its DLC. Also even though THQ has its own web portal and Space Marine can be bought from download sites other than Steam the chapter skins can only be purchased through Steam (stated on THQ's press release) and done a google search and no other download site, even the ones who sell the game, has the Chaos Unleashed DLC.

  • BloodSaint #135 1 month ago

    Haha enjoying the steam fanboys rage. It is EA's legal right to release their games on whichever platform of their choice. Do you see Valve's games released on other services? No? Then stfu.

  • Chufty #136 1 month ago

    Holy overcomplaining batman.

    Origin is fine, everyone stop being childish. Your PC can handle more than one application, Origin is not secretly collecting your credit card details and children's birth certificates, and Steam is just as expensive.

    Steam needs a competitor, and Origin is best placed to be that competitor. That's best for you, the consumer.

  • 7_ShininGAngel #137 1 month ago

    No steam, no buy.

  • carbonic #138 1 month ago

    Steam almost have a monopoly when it comes to a consistent buyers on the internet. This have made Valve trying to use their monopoly and make one certain way to deliver content the norm (the norm where they are necessary for everything).
    This hurts the consumers and is also some one the reasons that Steam is quite expensive. 1 dollar = 1 euro pff.

    Steam is otherwise a great product - although it was just as much a beta when it came out as Origin is today.

    But truth of the matter is, EA and their developers want centralized patching so they only have to release patches and content one place per game. Seems reasonable enough to me.

    The sad thing is that Valve, Origin and all other online stores can't agree on a unified framework for their stores to build around. This could solve most problems for all parties involved.

  • Laythe_AD #139 1 month ago

    Twats.

  • Nephirion #140 1 month ago

    Origin is a shitty service that people are forced to use.

  • wapkaplet #141 1 month ago

    Lousy restrictive terms of service that we had absolutely no problem with until we had our own competing system!

  • Matthew_Hornet #142 1 month ago

    "...happy to partner with any download service that does not restrict our ability to connect directly with our consumers."
    Except when it's XBox Live, in which case we'll be happy to bend over and pucker up - or whatever Microsoft wants, really, we just love their sweet money SO MUCH.

    People will buy ME3 anyway, because people are fucking sheep. The market has done nothing to convince me otherwise.

  • Okamiwolf #143 1 month ago

    EA is a disease on the gaming landscape. They're worse than Activision, again. Didn't take them long to regain their Crown of Suck.

  • haderach512 #144 1 month ago

    Won't be buying this game if it's only on Origin, not in a million years. EA, word of advice: expect people to pirate the sh*t out of your game. Worse, expect people that regularly BUY games to pirate it, out of principle.

  • Ahskay #145 1 month ago

    Nice, another sale lost for EA then! They can take their origin crap where crap has it's origin. Luckily there are better games around that don't use origin.

  • DDevil #146 1 month ago

    Well I'm buying it on PC, Origin or not. Having it on Steam would be preferable of course, but it's not so bad.

  • Kami #147 1 month ago

    @Chufty; "Origin is not secretly collecting your credit card details and children's birth certificates..."

    Maybe not, but the EULA states it can collect data from your browser and your hard drive, so theoretically, yes they can. Not that I'd think they'd be that ridiculous, but it's the open-ended nature of the EULA that allows them almost limitless access to what you do - which, by definition, is what Spyware does, it collects data from you. EA have expressly stated nothing will be sold on for marketing purposes, but we can assume from that denial that that was the original intention - and as others have reported, it's more than happy to dive into your Program Files and sift through all you have there - including Steam (which, as I stated, is akin to industrial espionage - sweet, where's Sam?).

    I know people will always say "What have you got to hide?". It's the wrong argument really, because some things we may not WANT to share. Just because the Kardashians open every second of their lives to scrutiny, doesn't mean we all want to do so. Working on a novel, or have a collection of shorts or poetry on your hard drive? Have details saved in Chrome or Firefox for auto-filling out tables? Used your credit card number online? Sent a dirty message through e-mail or Twitter of late? Oh, and what about your gigs of dirty, nasty, filthy, possibly borderline deviant porn?

    That said however, Steam wasn't perfect at the start, I remember the days when it was such a resource hog that it rendered some games unplayable - trying to share the memory with a new game was like trying to fit two fat blokes into a size zero dress; whichever way you slice it, that dress ain't gonna survive. And I believe it had just as many concerns in the early days about what it did with your payment information; hinting towards it being unsecured and unencrypted

    We forget that Steam got better over time; its code got better, its deals got better, it took the time to build an achievements system and it made the effort to make a community out of it as well. Very little of what you see on Steam now was there at the start - it takes time. The first few versions are rarely shining examples of how to do things.

    Origin, as I said, will likely get better over time. You can argue it has to, really, because Steam is such a giant in the market that any hint of weakness will see Origin die a death.

    But whilst yes, competition is good - competition for the sake of greed can be bad. If Origin works, it will suggest others can follow suit - and if everyone holds onto their exclusives because they have their own client and DRM unit attached to it, they can charge what they like, when they like. This is the other end of the spectrum; the other extreme, but it's an extreme worth at least being aware of.

    But to wrap up ANOTHER long post *headhitkeyboard*, you do have a choice. You can buy it on 360 or PS3. You can sandbox the Origin client to stop its dirty tendrils from creeping through your hard drive. Or you can choose not to buy it at all.

    If people really hate Origin, there are alternatives. They may not be great alternatives, but that's your choice; buy the game and put up with Origin's rather excessively open-ended definition of what constitutes data collection, buy it for console and not reuse your PC save files, or don't buy it at all and try to hurt EA through the only place they feel pain; their pockets.

  • UncleLou #148 1 month ago

    EA doesnt want to rely on Steam to deliver their game content

    Er, noone said they need to rely on Steam. It would just be nice to have the option to use Origin or Steam. That's the whole point.

  • StooMonster #149 1 month ago

    @Gastrian Steam is refusing to accept my product codes for both my retail Dragon Age Origins Ultimate Edition and my Origin Mass Effect 2 ...

    Steam isn't accepting a legitimate non-Steam product code to activate it on Steam

    That's a different issue again isn't it?

    Steam not accepting product codes from other service providers or from (most) retail discs.

    Here's a list of the games where they do accept the retail key
    https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.ph p?ref=7480-WUSF-3601

    That's different to buying DLC from GfWL or retail or Bioware's site and installing it and it working perfectly well with Steam games. Which works just fine (in my experience).

  • Frosty840 #150 1 month ago

    I will not be purchasing Mass Effect 3 unless it is available on, and fully integrated with Steam.

    To be honest, with the relentless march of fuck-customers-over DLC, I don't really intend to buy many of these so-called "triple-A" titles at all for the forseeable future.

    The version of Saints' Row 3 I bought has turned out to be (A) released incomplete (B) released at full price, with some uncertain amount of "pay some more, later, in order to get the full game".

    Fuck this. Seriously, fuck all of this. All I want is to buy a game, to know what I'm buying, and to know how much it will cost me.

    I can't *possibly* as a consumer know at the time of release whether I want to buy vanilla SR3, SR3 with all the upcoming addons, or just SR3 and the DLC that will be released two months later and the DLC that will be released five months later. That's not possible, and it's not fair to me as a customer. As such, I don't intend to be a customer of anyone inflict this bullshit on their actual customers.

    Release full-fleged expansion packs, or release full games. I'll buy them. Really I will. But this "Here's some cheats for three quid, here's some hats for a fiver, and here's three new levels for four pounds" nonsense is intolerable and I won't be a part of it anymore.

  • StooMonster #151 1 month ago

    @Frosty840 Indeed take Mass Effect 3 the regular retail might be £35 on Origin, but the Deluxe Edition that contains "Access to an additional downloadable mission and character" as well as the usual additional weapons and casual clothes for Shepard costs £55.

    http://st ore.origin.com/store/eaemea/en_GB/DisplayProductDetailsPage/ ThemeID.850300/productID.244042000

  • sugarbaron #152 1 month ago

    Guess I'll just download an illegal copy of the game instead then. I have dozens of games on Steam, I want my games in one place, not scattered across several online distributors.

  • BeachGaara #153 1 month ago

    @streetmagix It's not Steam, people, like me, like things to be in one place.

  • BeachGaara #154 1 month ago

    Glad I played all my Mass Effect on 360.

  • tankboi #155 1 month ago

    @TheGuvernor

    It hasn't hurt BF3 one bit? So you must be the guy with the multidimensional space teleporter, who travelled to the alternative reality where BF3 was on Steam so that you could compare figures with that of Origins in our dimension. For a second there I thought you were just some internet loony! Phew!

    Oh wait, you think the UK is a police state? I take it back.

  • Inmediasress #156 1 month ago

    I love the way they talk like politicians bagatelizing and twisting everything to their liking and idiots eating it up like its pie.
    Just wonderful how they promote choiches when its the exact opposite they do.
    Dear god how stupid can people be.
    Anyway half assed game to promote half assed service way to go EA.

  • Kami #157 1 month ago

    @gamingeuro; I won't defend Steam as much as some would because I know it isn't perfect. Nothing is. There's no point being fiercely fanboyish about this - competition is good. Competition works. Steam, by and large, hasn't really had much competition for a while - notable alternatives aside, Steam seems to have an abnormally large slice of the pie. That's not healthy either.

    Origin needs time. And arguably, this is time the platform can't afford to be wasting defending policies that are somewhat questionable. EA needs to show people not that Origin is a viable competitor, but a BETTER alternative. That's the nature of competition. Do things better. Then people will come to your side.

    I suspect however when push comes to shove, most people will still buy Mass Effect 3 on PC and selectively ignore the EULA quirks. But saying that, again - yes there are choices. People who don't want to support Origin do have a choice - the console versions of the game. Or they can choose not to buy it. That's a valid choice too.

    Steam isn't perfect. It's had no reason to be so; there hasn't been an alternative on the market to really compete that directly; and by becoming such a large player, a lot of games bought digitally from other places or on physical media have required Steam - for achievements, and because it's a tried and tested DRM format that protects their interests and that people seem to be happy with.

    But will Origin be the alternative? Hmm... jury's out on that one. I don't know. Predicting whether Origin sinks or swims is a bit like predicting the world ending at the end of the year.

    No-one knows but the Mayans. And truthfully, I doubt even they know...

  • Spekingur #158 1 month ago

    @Gastrian How is this Steam's fault? If the publisher wants the key to work on Steam that publisher speaks to their contacts at Steam. That publisher would prepare for such a scenario. In your cases the publisher didn't. It makes no sense to complain about Steam regarding this issue because they do not control the serial keys that a publisher gives out with their games.
    Edited by 1 at 17/01/12 @ 11:21

  • Darwa #159 1 month ago

    Oh well. I'll just grab a pirated version then if that's the way they want things.

  • FireMonkey #160 1 month ago

    @Neil__ No I am capable of finding things out and I have seen the T&C. I also know it is good form to post links to things that are being claimed to help out others who may not have seen all the same information as you rather than attacking them.

    Anyway, I was replying to someone else who posted:
    "Including sending any info they can glean from your pc - including apps that you've removed in the past, browser history, etc - to third parties of their choosing."

    What I was trying to say was that there is no evidence that Origin or EA have actually done what was written in the post. If there is evidence of this then I'd like to see it.

    The T&C does say that they can gather the info (and so do many T&C's if you bother reading them), but this could and probably is purely to improve their services.

    You seem to have a real attitude issue there. I'm guessing it's just puberty setting in though so I'll just ignore it.

  • FireMonkey #161 1 month ago

    @Nephirion - Are you not also forced to use Steam with Valve games?

  • tankboi #162 1 month ago

    @FireMonkey

    Although this is true, it is hard to compare seeing as Valve release a game only once the two moons of Zondor eclipse on the 7th season of Akarosh, and EA release about 5 before breakfast.

    I know that is not the point, but still needs consideration.

  • PlugMonkey #163 1 month ago

    @kassmageant

    Origin taking on steam kind of reminds me how google + was supposed to be facebook killer, or zune was aiming at taking out iTunes. didn't worked out that way though.

    They didn't have any exclusive content with which to push it.

    ----------------------------------

    The whole, big plus point with PC gaming over consoles is that it's an open platform. Independent developers can do whatever they like, and get their stuff to market, without having to sing to the tune of the big platform holders.

    If we allow Steam to become the only content delivery system on PC, we're marching straight up the same path. I know everyone thinks Valve are the messiah, but anyone getting a monopoly is bad. If developers have a choice of what Steam offers them or what Origin offers them, it forces both of them to offer more competitive deals. That sounds like a good thing to me.

    EA are just getting to the point where they don't need Game any more. They're hardly likely to want to immediately replace them with Valve. They don't need Valve.

    And for everyone railing against EA's methods here:

    I remember, once upon a time, many many moons ago, this game came out that I really, really wanted to play. It was called Half-Life 2.

    And if I wanted to play Half-Life 2, and I really, really did, then no matter whether I bought it online by digital download, or retail in a shop on a disc, I was forced to install this awful, barely functional, POS content delivery system called Steam...

  • shadow651 #164 1 month ago

    FFS I hope they still let me import steam saves

  • Toodle122 #165 1 month ago

    A lot of people are saying that companies should be allowed to sell DLC for Steam games from outside of Steam... I totally disagree. I have both ME1 and ME2 on PC with all DLC. Both of those games sold their DLC through the Bioware store on their website. A combination of the clunky transaction mechanics, a pretty rubbish installer, the fact that they demand you buy "Bioware points" to purchase anything on their store and unintuitive nature of their website make Steam seem like a godsend. Honestly, I would rather pay extra to buy DLC through Steam rather than having to buy it from any website EA runs.

  • TheGuvernor #166 1 month ago

    Holy, a lot of nappies need changing around here.

    Muppets

  • kassmageant #167 1 month ago

    @PlugMonkey you make good points. but for me, as a console gamer, when i see prices on steam compared to xbl or psn - steam really Rocks, and hardly is amonopoly when compared to consoles. makes me wonder how some people can face themsevles if they play pirate games, thus seriously hurting pc in eyes of developers.

  • Raptaur #168 1 month ago

    @jonfon

    There is already more people buy the game cause they can put up with Origin for it to have a negative effect.

    Don't get me wrong this isn't only for PC, I see the publish service become the way for all gaming devices... even the console.

  • Wot_the_Melon #169 1 month ago

    Convincing argument, that Steam is too restrictive (because not allowing it on Steam is very open). Or that the customer will profit from no longer having to buy their DLC via Steam for ridiculously low prices during sales, but instead having to buy Bioware points on origin for much more honest $1=€1 rates (and, incidentally, no ME DLC discounts have ever been available outside of the US).

  • scatterbrainless #170 1 month ago

    @FireMonkey "The ToS is only restrictive if you want to make more money. Basically, EA's restrictive claim is "restrictive on our wallets".

    That's fair enough though isn't it? EA are a business trying to make money after all."

    It's also fair enough to call BS on their claims that this is motivated by concern for quality to consumers.

  • matty_matt_mattmatt #171 1 month ago

    Origin blows off steam