What's the Beef With Origin?

[TehCookie]

My issue is the fact the first statement is completely false, you can't download your games everywhere

You can....Has it not worked for you or something? At one point me and my friend shared a Steam account so he wouldn't have to pay for Half-Life 2. More recently I've downloaded the same game to multiple computers.

Not if you don't have internet, and when I travel I don't have internet access, or when I reformatted my PC and lost the network driver CD. Even if you installed the game without internet you can't play it. My DRM free games can easily be installed and played. Or if my unreliable third world level internet goes out I still want to be able to play my games, especially since I can't lurk on the net.

and even if you have them downloaded you can't play them anytime. Which is the most important aspect of games, being able to play them.

Yes and this point is worth discussing. Both Origin and Steam have offline modes apparently (at least when SimCity isn't concerned) that require a verification IIRC, and still Steam is more accepted whilst Origin is not.

As for me, I would prefer that I only have to use one Gaming Client, so I avoid anything that requires me to use Origin (and I don't buy games with the EA label, so it goes hand in hand). But I can't effectively judge Origin. I don't want to use it, but I can't say if it's bad.

And then there's Blizzard's Diablo III always-online requirement which has no exceptions. I'm still curious about Starcraft 2 though, it only requires to log-in once.

Steam still has the issue you have to go online to select offline which makes absolutely no sense. If it worked reliably I wouldn't have an issue with it, but because of my crappy internet issues I've had way to many times where it goes down leaving me unable to play my games since Steam's offline feature decided to not work. I haven't tried Origin either, but since it limits my ability to play my games I hate the concept of it (as with Steam, I tried it thinking it wouldn't be bad but it was way worse than I imagined).

 

[mokes310]

It's DRM and I despise any form of it. I don't have a beef with Origin particularly.

I'm a big girl I can take care of my things so I don't need a corporation breathing down my neck holding my games away from me and only letting me play them how and when they allow me to.

Exactly that. I want to play FIFA Manager 12, but sadly, I'm required to have an Origin account, and can only play the game if my computer is connected to the internet. Funny how my copy of FIFA Manager 11 doesn't require me to be online to play a single player game? Me thinks I'll stick with that iteration rather than update and be told when I'm allowed to play my game...

 

[Lovely Mixture]

Not if you don't have internet, and when I travel I don't have internet access, or when I reformatted my PC and lost the network driver CD. Even if you installed the game without internet you can't play it. My DRM free games can easily be installed and played. Or if my unreliable third world level internet goes out I still want to be able to play my games, especially since I can't lurk on the net.

Yes, but "download" implies you have internet. You made it sound as if you could only install games on one computer via Steam (which would be just as bad as SecuROM which was a very infamous DRM). Playing them is the other issue we are arguing.

Steam still has the issue you have to go online to select offline which makes absolutely no sense.

It makes sense.....Well as much as DRM makes sense, DRM works as a concept (as in that there should be a method to prevent piracy), but fails in execution (pirates still get the games, legitimate customers get disadvantages)

If it worked reliably I wouldn't have an issue with it, but because of my crappy internet issues I've had way to many times where it goes down leaving me unable to play my games since Steam's offline feature decided to not work. I haven't tried Origin either, but since it limits my ability to play my games I hate the concept of it (as with Steam, I tried it thinking it wouldn't be bad but it was way worse than I imagined).

I do agree with this though. If there is a problem for users, they should be doing their best to fix it.
As far as I know people have had good and bad experiences with the offline mode. Valve should work on making it automatic and reliable.

 

[Windcaler]

My primary problem with origin and the reason why Ive boycotted it is its spyware. I will not under any circumstances allow spyware on my PC. No one should. The second problem (and I have this same issue with Steam) is its glorified DRM and I despise any form of DRM because it harms my experience as a gamer.

Just to be clear I dont care that the service is run by EA, I wouldnt care if it were run by valve, Ubisoft, or anyone else.

I cant speak to how good origin is as a digital distribution platform since I dont use it but last I heard people were using it (or forced into it depending on your point of view) just to play games that EA publishes. Almost everyone I know who does use it are unwilling participants. Now Im not saying that people should only use steam, thats like saying you should only shop at safeway for your groceries. I welcome more competition in the market because that breeds innovation and better consumer practices. However EA is pretty clear that its not interested in completing with other digital distribution platforms. It seems like they just dont want to give valve their 30% for each sale and frankly I dont blame them for that because that cut is bleeping rediculous

Having a digital distribution service run by a publisher where you can only get their games (remember every EA game I know of was pulled from STEAM, GoG, Impulse, Desura, etc) is a bit of a conflict of interest IMO

For my money GoG and their no DRM policy is the best digital distribution platform out there. I will always buy my games from them if I can because their service doesnt get in the way of my gaming