Mass Effect 3 Gives Steam a Miss at Launch

[Doom972]

While I am a Steam user, I was planning to get a retail copy since I already own retail copies of ME1 & 2 and because I'm hoping for a good collector's edition.
I'm not too worried about Origin. I got Fallout 3 shortly after launch and I was able to quickly find a fix that removed GFWL from the game completely (It improved performance and reduced crashing). I hope ME3 will get the same treatment.
I'll do whatever I can to avoid Origin since I already chose a digital distribution program and I won't use multiple programs.

 

[Kakashi on crack]

Has anyone else noticed that whenever a company has an issue with another company's policy, they play the blame game and accuse the other company of being "too restrictive" in some sense or another?

I mean, it happens all the time, and I'm pretty sure this is just EA creating another excuse to keep its games off of steam to promote origin without just flat out saying so.


Gods... Well lets put it this way: I've already pre-bought Mass Effect 3, so after that, don't EVER expect me to give you money again EA, you've basically been pissing on anyone who disagrees with you since 2008...

Now if for some reason another mass effect game comes out, I'll just have to circumvent paying EA.

 

[008Zulu_v1legacy]

Once again, read their ToS/EULA and Privacy Policy, it is written in plain English. Of course I recommend reading the ToS/EULA before applying any updates to make sure the terms you originally agreed to still apply. If they change the EULA/ToS you have the right to revert the agreement to the one you first agreed to if you contact them about it.

Yeah I have read it, the vagueness of the wording doesn't expressly forbid them from raiding your computer, collecting and selling your info. If it were as plain english as you suggest, then they would explicitly state that they will not scan your computer, compile your information and sell it.

 

[Kakashi on crack]

Translation:

EA: Hey Valve, check out Mass Effect 3.
Valve: Cool game! Oh, it has spyware in it... well, unfortunately you'll need to remove that from the game before we can put it on Steam.
EA: LOL! STFU NOOB IM GONNA TELL THE INTRNETS HOW MUCH STEAM SUX CUZ UR LAME!
Valve: . . .

Oddly enough, that's a scenario that played out in my head when I heard this bit of news. Thinking on it as if Valve and EA were a couple of snot-nosed kids in school.

'Course, it's the same thing I thought of when EA started all of this PR bullshit back when they pulled the same shenanigans with Crysis 2 and Dragon Age 2. (for those who don't know, EA basically made any and all further DLC, updates, and bug fixes available ONLY on Origin. Thus nerfing the Steam version, and all other versions for that matter. Hence, why Valve removed those games from the Steam store. This was around the time EA started pointing the finger at Valve saying they had adopted "restrictive policies". Funny how, even after MONTHS of spewing this bullshit, they've yet to actually SAY what those policies are.)

Still, you typing it out mustered a few laughs from me. So thanks. Made my otherwise miserable day a bit better. (not related to the topic)

And as a continuation of my last rant, this kinda summed it up also.

 

[thirion1850]

Oh no. It's like EA doesn't want my money. Again.

Guess I'll have to make do by using a better service provider with frequent sales, a huge community, run by the equivalent of the benevolent Gods of this medium. The horror!

 

[Gather]

It's actually Valve that's being the greedy company here (Or well... Both companies being the "greedy company" just Valve being greedier). The "restrictive" polices has nothing to do with spying, it has something to do with the delivery of downloadable content. Valve wants a slice out of those sales as well now.

And Valve SHOULD get a cut of the DLC sales. Valve/Steam is paying to host the content, paying to advertise it and deliver it to you. Why wouldn't they get a part of the profits?

Think if it like a regular store. If Mass Effect DLC was sold at Best Buy, they get a cut.

Except that Mass Effect DLC isn't being sold on Steam. It's being sold on a separate website; bandwidth and all.

 

[wsmieszek]

"Playing Mass Effect 3 multiplayer will require a constant connection."

Well there's plenty of other games to play anyway, looks like ME3 can wait.

It's a multiplayer mode they are talking about. Multiplayer. Online. Think about it.


---


Oh well, and so it goes that I won't be able to play yet another game because of EA's "problems" with Steam. I'm sure as hell not paying US60 (game) + 40 (delivery to where I live) for the physical copy and not touching Origin as it is f-ed-up in Hong Kong.

 

[samsonguy920]

And for once, playing Mass Effect on consoles was a good idea.

And you won't have to feel guilty getting it used from GameStop.

 

[Candidus]

Just so that people are informed...

Origin scans your entire registry, and peeks at files which have nothing to do with your installed Origin games or Origin itself.

Other programs that have been *demonstrated* to do the exact, same, thing? Steam.

Origin doesn't need to be initialised in any mode (on or offline) for you to run your executables. Considering that both Origin and Steam are essentially malware if you don't opt-out of data distribution and spyware even if you do (because data-mining continues anyway), it's impossible to give one a pass and not the other.

In fact, the one that doesn't nanny my own f'ing executables is the one I'll give the gold star to. 1-0 to Origin there. The only people rallying against Origin but dutifully using Steam are the people currently swinging from Gabe's nutsack.

 

[brainslurper]

It won't be released on steam because of restrictive patching terms.
You also won't be able to play it without using our steam knockoff.
Totally unrelated, for realziez.

 

[Blunderboy]

It's a good thing that my Shepard is on my 360 then, because I won't install Origin on my computer.

Pretty much this. Anyway I've played the first two games on the xbox, so I'm certainly playing the final one on there too.
I just wish they were honest about the reasons. (money)

 

[brainslurper]

Oh no. It's like EA doesn't want my money. Again.

Guess I'll have to make do by using a better service provider with frequent sales, a huge community, run by the equivalent of the benevolent Gods of this medium. The horror!

Yep, time to go buy portal 2 a couple more times.

 

[xDarc]

Required to have Origin? Screw that.

Sorry Bioware, You just lost a sale.

Agreed. I'm getting kind of sick of this crap.

I was looking forward to this game, but I'm not gonna deal with EA's bullshit. No sale.

Oh, and another thing-

I've decided BioWare can drop off the face of the earth as well. After this, they will have milked their mass effect udders dry and I expect the studio will stumble around for several years until they eventually close their doors. Probably doing something awful to the mass effect universe in the process.

I've never played a dragon age game, and that appears to be the only other thing they're good for. Looking over their sales, they started out with a small hit and after the sequel the interest appears to be trending down, not enough to sustain them.

 

[KingsGambit_v1legacy]

The blame is once again being laid at Valve's door, with Priestly saying that Steam's restrictive policies regarding downloadable content and interaction with customers. He didn't say that the game would never be available on Steam, but implied that Valve would have to change its policy before that could happen.

You sir, Mr. Priestley are a liar. The fault is not valve's, it is EA's. Don't try to blame someone else because you're a fool. I assure you I won't be buying this on Origin or any other digital platform. If you want my money, put it on steam and stop bit****g and whining. Steam worked for you for YEARS, then suddenly you release Origin, steal your own customers money, lock them out of their legally purchased games and then complain it's Valve's fault.

I hoped BioWare could make it as far as the end of the Mass Effect series before the EA buyout became too evident. That was a misplaced hope. BioWare was a great games developer before EA bought them out, and ME3 is the last title I'll have any faith in and only then because the trilogy was conceptualised before the buyout. Screw you EA and screw Origin. I'll wait for the Steam release. Or maybe just get a physical copy *gasp*.

 

[KingsGambit_v1legacy]

Mass Effect 3 Gives Steam a Miss at Launch

Here's another headline: "Thousands of fans give Mass Effect 3 a miss at launch"

 

[lapan]

If i wasn't already not gonna buy it this settles it.

 

[Clive Howlitzer]

It's actually Valve that's being the greedy company here (Or well... Both companies being the "greedy company" just Valve being greedier). The "restrictive" polices has nothing to do with spying, it has something to do with the delivery of downloadable content. Valve wants a slice out of those sales as well now.

And Valve SHOULD get a cut of the DLC sales. Valve/Steam is paying to host the content, paying to advertise it and deliver it to you. Why wouldn't they get a part of the profits?

Think if it like a regular store. If Mass Effect DLC was sold at Best Buy, they get a cut.

Except that Mass Effect DLC isn't being sold on Steam. It's being sold on a separate website; bandwidth and all.

Valve just wants the DLC available on steam in addition to wherever else EA wants to sell it. No one forces it to be purchased through Steam. If its carried there, it can be downloaded from Steam's servers. Valve wouldn't get any profit from DLC purchased elsewhere. The Mass Effect DLC purchased with Bioware points, Valve gets none of that.

 

[Marik Bentusi]

I wonder if they are going to blame the sale loss resulting from this on "PC gaming dying".

Then again, just because EA is a terrible publisher on several levels, doesn't mean they're UbiSoft.

 

[Metalrocks]

I wonder if they are going to blame the sale loss resulting from this on "PC gaming dying".

Then again, just because EA is a terrible publisher on several levels, doesn't mean they're UbiSoft.

lol. i rather give ubisoft my money then ?A. at least ubis DRM is working fine and i play the AC games without any hassle. they have fixed the constant online crap to offline.

 

[Mausthemighty]

I will still buy Mass Effect 3. Why should I be against Origin, if I already have given my information to Steam, GFWL and Battle.net? As long as they provide good service in return I see no problem with Origin.