Boycott Origin

[AyashiKaibutsu]

I haven't bought an EA game in the longest time, and don't intend to in the future. However, I think starting a political movement against them is a bit much.

 

[BurnItDwn]

I've never heard of this "Origin" before, but it sounds like a nightmare!

 

[Raduque]

Thanks for the link. That really is a stupid move on EA's part. I think the sales for BF3 will be huge regardless, but this strategy will hurt them long term.

I'm betting this has more to do with steam's policy - the one that caused Crysis 2 to be removed. Had something to do with patches being available through other methods than Steam, if I recall correctly, somebody is sure to correct me on this, though.

 

[pw38]

I've used Origin for a few games and have nothing negative to say about it. I started using it when it was the EADM and Origin is the exact same product, just a different name. I guess the EA hate is justified in quite a few situations but eh I just don't care that much to be a party pooper.

 

[Throckmorton]

The fact EA gives you any guaranteed time period to play your games after you purchase them is more than what's promised with Steam. Valve's subscriber agreement says they can cancel your subscriptions to any of your games at any time. A lot of other download services have similar terms.

Nobody has ever had a game expire on Steam. On the other hand, EA digital downloads have been expiring for as long as they have offered them. They used to charge you an extra $5 to extend the download term past 6 months, or something like that.

 

[KaOTiK]

I'm betting this has more to do with steam's policy - the one that caused Crysis 2 to be removed. Had something to do with patches being available through other methods than Steam, if I recall correctly, somebody is sure to correct me on this, though.

It was actually due to some DLC with Crysis 2 from what I read. Basically Steams policy is you can not have DLC handled by a third party exclusively and not available anywhere else (not counting the developer or the publisher who can be the sole provider). Crytek had made a deal with Gamespy to handle all of the Crysis 2 DLC purchased inside of the game, thus it was a breach of contract with Steams policy.

 

[Inspector Jihad]

someone want to write a story in advance of how BF3 and SW:TOR will sell like shit on PC and it gets blamed on piracy and not on the fact that most people don't want to touch Origin with a 10 foot pole.

 

[Kev]

does anyone remember how much everybody hated steam when it first came out? yeah

 

[Beev]

does anyone remember how much everybody hated steam when it first came out? yeah

Yeah, Steam had quite a few issues, but it was crap software by a great company. Origin is shit by shit created by shits who think like shit 😛

 

[dpodblood]

does anyone remember how much everybody hated steam when it first came out? yeah

It's not the quality of the service that makes Origin an issue for me. I just don't want to support a publisher specific service. I wouldn't use Steam either if you could only buy Valve games.

 

[SunnyD]

I'm not sure why all you people are getting your panties in such a bunch about this.

#1 - EADM always downloaded the full standalone installer for games. You had to hunt to find it, but this was well documented. Even if EA pulled a title from download, you could always have this backup and/or burn it to a disc.

#2 - As I found out yesterday downloading Darkspore for the kids (thereby "upgrading" EADM to Origin), Origin actually makes #1 a HELL of a lot easier with a checkbox in the settings menu that explicitly says "Keep Downloaded Game Installers" with a text field below it that lets you specific EXACTLY where you want those installers saved. Oh, and there's another button on the same page that will automatically open up the folder with your saved installers should you so desire.

Seriously people, if you're going to bitch about something, at least do it right.

 

[KaOTiK]

I'm not sure why all you people are getting your panties in such a bunch about this.

#1 - EADM always downloaded the full standalone installer for games. You had to hunt to find it, but this was well documented. Even if EA pulled a title from download, you could always have this backup and/or burn it to a disc.

#2 - As I found out yesterday downloading Darkspore for the kids (thereby "upgrading" EADM to Origin), Origin actually makes #1 a HELL of a lot easier with a checkbox in the settings menu that explicitly says "Keep Downloaded Game Installers" with a text field below it that lets you specific EXACTLY where you want those installers saved. Oh, and there's another button on the same page that will automatically open up the folder with your saved installers should you so desire.

Seriously people, if you're going to bitch about something, at least do it right.

I'm pretty sure no one is bitching about those things. The issues at hand are some of the policies in place, it being publisher specific and could pave the road for other publishers to follow suit if it shows to be profitable, and that it is EA and their track record speaks volumes and we have a fair idea how things will go in the future with Origin if they get their way.

A lot of people are trying to nip this in the bud before shit hits the fans.

 

[SunnyD]

I'm pretty sure no one is bitching about those things. The issues at hand are some of the policies in place, it being publisher specific and could pave the road for other publishers to follow suit if it shows to be profitable, and that it is EA and their track record speaks volumes and we have a fair idea how things will go in the future with Origin if they get their way.

A lot of people are trying to nip this in the bud before shit hits the fans.

This is hardly new though. DigitalRiver has for a long time offered only limited downloads of digital titles, with the option of purchasing "extended" download ability.

Yeah, while I hate the fact that EA will shut down servers for even popular games once they think they've run their course... that's their decision to do so. Personally, I think the fact that EA has made the process to back up your games in a fairly easy manner, well, they've gone out of their way to mitigate any future issues here. If you don't take advantage of this, then you're screwed.

Look at Steam as a counter-example. If Steam shuts down and you have no server to authenticate against, well you're shit out of luck. You'll be able to play your games for about a month before you're screwed. Don't even talk about REINSTALLING them after the fact.

Which one is worse?

 

[Beev]

This is hardly new though. DigitalRiver has for a long time offered only limited downloads of digital titles, with the option of purchasing "extended" download ability.

Yeah, while I hate the fact that EA will shut down servers for even popular games once they think they've run their course... that's their decision to do so. Personally, I think the fact that EA has made the process to back up your games in a fairly easy manner, well, they've gone out of their way to mitigate any future issues here. If you don't take advantage of this, then you're screwed.

Look at Steam as a counter-example. If Steam shuts down and you have no server to authenticate against, well you're shit out of luck. You'll be able to play your games for about a month before you're screwed. Don't even talk about REINSTALLING them after the fact.

Which one is worse?

If Steam "shut down" for whatever reason I see Valve doing something so that games no longer need to authenticate against the Steam servers.

 

[SunnyD]

If Steam "shut down" for whatever reason I see Valve doing something so that games no longer need to authenticate against the Steam servers.

You see that in an ideal world, but in practice it's more complicated than that. There's no promise from Valve that they would do something of the sort. And there's no interim sort of contingency plan in place.

Again, I'm not thrilled with the direction software has been heading for a while. But honestly, the rant the OP makes is unfounded at best.

 

[KaOTiK]

This is hardly new though. DigitalRiver has for a long time offered only limited downloads of digital titles, with the option of purchasing "extended" download ability.

Yeah, while I hate the fact that EA will shut down servers for even popular games once they think they've run their course... that's their decision to do so. Personally, I think the fact that EA has made the process to back up your games in a fairly easy manner, well, they've gone out of their way to mitigate any future issues here. If you don't take advantage of this, then you're screwed.

Look at Steam as a counter-example. If Steam shuts down and you have no server to authenticate against, well you're shit out of luck. You'll be able to play your games for about a month before you're screwed. Don't even talk about REINSTALLING them after the fact.

Which one is worse?

Yea and digital river sucked balls and was hardly ever used by any sane minded individuals.

I'd still give my money to Valve/Steam over EA/Origin. Track records speak volumes. While there isn't anything concrete or in the EULA etc for Steam about it shutting down and what they do, they did state that they would unlock the games in the event they were to shutdown. Now if that is true they would great, but that is all we have to go on currently and I would take that iffy statement rather then EA's word still. Soon as EA sees a way to make a buck you'll be roadkill. I worked for that company for a short bit and believe me, money is the only thing the higher ups give to shits about, if they could somehow get your souls and sell them for pennies, they would.

 

[dpodblood]

If Steam "shut down" for whatever reason I see Valve doing something so that games no longer need to authenticate against the Steam servers.

This would be my guess as well. At the very least the community would come up with some kind of work around for those who are smart enough to back up their installers.

 

[Golgatha]

Yeah, Steam had quite a few issues, but it was crap software by a great company. Origin is shit by shit created by shits who think like shit 😛

That might be the easiest and most correct explanation I've seen yet for the hate Origin has accrued.

 

[SithSolo1]

Given a choice I tend to buy hard copies but I've used both Steam and Origin. I haven't had issues with either. Origin also downloads faster than Steam for me, I dunno why.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

Neither steam or origin will be closing thier doors anytime soon, it's much more likely that they would be sold to someone else (like impulse) the real question would be does the new owner allow free downloads for life? Personally I think steam is a very fair compromise