I am worried about steam.

[GigaHz]

I only own two games on Origin, Battlefield 3 and SWTOR, so I can't really judge the service as a whole.

If these games are any indication of how Origin functions, then it's practically useless. It doesn't feel as if the service truly integrates the games. It seems as if it's just a digital store with community features. The games themselves are played outside of Origin, even though Origin runs as an overlay in the background.

At least, this is the case with Battlefield and SWTOR. Battlefield runs from your browser through 'Battlelog' and SWTOR runs in it's own client. Maybe there are some games that fit more seamlessly into Origin, but for now, Steam feels more self-contained and refined. Plus the deals don't hurt either.

 

[GrandmaFunk]

Why would anyone hate Steam?

Because 1$ =|= 1?, for example?

That issue is not of Steam/Valve's making...those price points are set by the publishers themselves and I believe in most cases they're locked in because of agreements they have with brick&mortar retailers.

 

[Lightslei]

I just don't see the purpose of using a rather cheap imitator. I'll keep the decent EA games on Consoles if I can, and avoid origin altogether (honestly, I don't like their attempt to branch off, because I'm waiting for every developer to do it, and I don't like that concept).

Steam saves me time, money, and if I want to buy a package it makes it rather easy.

 

[CulixCupric]

Origin gives EA too much power, and they abuse it, "ban hammers all 'round", and such. they ban people's accounts, which have the games attached, and now they can't play a game that they paid for. seems wrong, and it seems like a con to me.

 

[Zipa]

Steam is hands down the winner in digital distribution and will be extremely hard to dislodge, they were the first and have had the longest to make their system very impressive.
Its easy to use , well laid out and the UI overlay / friends feature is a real deal sealer.
Plus it helps with MP matchmaking in some games which again is very useful. Oh and they have epic sales.

Downside is they are sometimes dicks with regional releases and release dates (why does a game have to come out later in some countries than others, its a digital service ffs)


GFWL lacks games and charges you XBL style nowadays to use its MP functions. That crap doesn't fly on pc when everything GFWL does the competition does better and for free.

Origin is a half done rushed product or it feels like it.
I have it for BF3 and TOR, you can not do simple things like change credit card information on Origin between pre ordering a game and its release without having to jump through hoops, many people have had this issue with SWTOR. Newsflash EA cards change often due to expiration dates , lost cards and fraud. Plus the client itself is clunky and far harder to navigate and use than steam.

Impulse used to be a decent alternative for some games and they sometimes have games steam doesn't. I won't use it any longer since its now owned by gamestop, one of the biggest enemies and haters of PC gaming that exists. I didn't mind supporting Stardock and Brad Wardell but fuck Gamestop. Its main downside though vs steam is the lack of a actual in game overlay and friends / matchmaking system for games.

GOG - A interesting one to watch for the future, they are DRM free and are supposed to be expanding to do new games as well as old. So watch this space if they do it right they could be a viable contender for steam in the future. Again though as far as im aware it lacks the UI overlay features of Steam.

Gamersgate - Again I have no issue with these guys , Paradox have done a good job with the service. Its pretty decent to use and I have used them in the past to get around stupid regional crap of Steam and the UK. (THQ im looking at you)

This is just from my experience from using the services though so make of it what you will.

 

[JET1971]

Personaly I am not a fan of having a game launcher utility that you MUST have to play a game. Yes I would be happier if i didnt need steam for Valve games, but I love Valve games so use steam. I wanted BF3 but I didnt buy it because of the MUST USE ORIGIN issue and I wont be buying any EA game that requires it.

 

[Canadamus Prime]

So my real questions are quite numerous: EA said things like; "BF3 will be on steam eventually". Do you thing this will happen?

I don't really care since I'm not interested in Battlefield 3 anyway

Also do you ting that this tension damages the EA games sales?

I certainly hope so.

Do you (assuming steam user) wish that all the games were on steam?

It would be nice, but I'm not overly concerned since I'm now boycotting EA anyway.

 

[kyogen]

I use GoG and Steam. I won't do any business at all with EA, so Origin isn't a problem.

 

[Flames66]

Tell you what, actually fucking read the EULA, then you can start spouting bullshit.

2. Consent to Collection and Use of Data.

You agree that EA may collect, use, store and transmit technical and related information that identifies your computer (including the Internet Protocol Address), operating system, Application usage (including but not limited to successful installation and/or removal), software, software usage and peripheral hardware, that may be gathered periodically to facilitate the provision of software updates, dynamically served content, product support and other services to you, including online services. EA may also use this information combined with personal information for marketing purposes and to improve our products and services. We may also share that data with our third party service providers in a form that does not personally identify you. IF YOU DO NOT WANT EA TO COLLECT, USE, STORE, TRANSMIT OR DISPLAY THE DATA DESCRIBED IN THIS SECTION, PLEASE DO NOT INSTALL OR USE THE APPLICATION. This and all other data provided to EA and/or collected by EA in connection with your installation and use of this Application is collected, used, stored and transmitted in accordance with EA?s Privacy Policy located at www.ea.com. To the extent that anything in this section conflicts with the terms of EA?s Privacy Policy, the terms of the Privacy Policy shall control.

When you use EA online and mobile products and services or you play our games on your PC or console, we may collect certain non-personal demographic information including gender, zip code, information about your computer, hardware, software, platform, media, mobile device, mobile device ID, console ID, incident data, Internet Protocol (IP) address, network Media Access Control (MAC) address and connection. We also collect other non-personal information such as feature usage, game play statistics and scores, user rankings and click paths.

There we go.

 

[Nergy]

I had no idea there were people who disliked steam. The only person i know is that guy from youtube who didn't seem to know how computers worked.

Prepare to have your brain fall out of your nose:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCEQZ_4V7NY

Anyway, i'm never using Origin, the amount of bad crap i've seen it do has put me off. Though i'm tempted by things like GOG, they seem cool.

 

[BathorysGraveland]

I suppose Steam is okay if you buy from there, but past that, it is a nuisance for me as some games these days require Steam to install regardless of if it is a retail version or not. And I refuse to spend money on a damned download. Something about that just seems so stupid to me, same with music.

 

[Grygor]

What really bugs me about people complaining that they can no longer buy EA games on Steam is that Valve does exactly the same thing.

Except worse.

If you want to buy a Valve game online, you do it on Steam - period. They simply do not make their games available on any other digital distribution network. Not Origin, not Impulse, not Direct2Drive, not Good Old Games - you can't even play their games on OnLive...

At least with EA, Steam is the only distribution network you CAN'T buy them on. Heck, Origin even sells games like Saints Row: the Third, which requires Steam to play.

EA is not the devil, and Valve is no angel; they're both large corporations that want your money more than anything else you can give them.

 

[Nergy]

I suppose Steam is okay if you buy from there, but past that, it is a nuisance for me as some games these days require Steam to install regardless of if it is a retail version or not. And I refuse to spend money on a damned download. Something about that just seems so stupid to me, same with music.

I had that fear at first, I was afraid that not having a physical copy of the game meant I didn't "own" it. But now I have like 70 games on steam. I actually like games that have steam integration:

Achievements are easy to keep track of.

I can talk to friends and even join them in the same game.

If I'm having trouble I can go to the game-specific forum right there and then.

If I chose to reinstall the game, i don't have go through the installer exe, i can just click "install" in the steam library and do other things while i'm waiting.

This isn't including the other features and perks i get through steam. The Sales, man. The Sales.