EA Boss Nods To Core Gamers' Issue with Origin
Nobody likes the new kid on the block apparently... at least not the core crowd.
EA's digital distribution platform, Origin, is essentially the new kid on the digital block, a block that has been dominated by Valve Software's Steam platform for almost a decade. Naturally customers are going to view Origin with some prejudice given that it's owned by the biggest games publisher on the Earth (for now). The service seemingly exists only to fatten EA's wallet even further while imposing annoying DRM.
Based on that, EA recognizes that -- just as they did with Steam back in 2003 to 2004 -- core gamers will have an issue with the new service until the construction dusts settles and customers see what the new platform has to offer.
"The hardcore sometimes has issues with Origin, but they seem to love these crowd-funded games," said Origin chief David DeMartini. "It was one of the few things we have done that wasn’t controversial and nobody had anything negative to say."
DeMartini refers to the company's new promotion which offers Kicksterter-funded games the opportunity to be listed free on Origin for the crutial first three months. That means the authors won't be required to pay EA publishing fees or share revenue. EA will make no money during this timeperiod save for collecting transaction fees stemming from credit card purchases and so on.
Still, despite what it's doing for the Kickstarter community, DeMartini realizes that whenever EA does anything in the industry, it generates a "certain reaction." However he insists that Origin isn't out to rule the world, that all the publisher wants to do is offer gamers another choice.
"People forget that when Steam launched, there was a lot of backlash from the core," DeMartini added. "Origin represents a change, and anytime EA does something that is significant in the industry, it generates a certain amount of reaction. Really it’s just to give customers an opportunity for choice."
Just last month, DeMartini said that Origin's first year was a huge success, stating that gamers downloaded around 12 million copies of the Origin software. He also said that EA wants Origin to be better than Steam, comparing both platforms to MySpace and Facebook.
"If MySpace had stayed the one answer in social networking and no one switched to Facebook, then we'd all be stuck on MySpace right now and we wouldn't have had the Facebook phenomenon," said DeMartini. "There are better mousetraps that ultimately get built out of this innovation and the only way you get to the innovation is to have other people try and do a better version of what someone has previously done. And that's what we're attempting to do on Origin."
"I didn't expect to be able to out-feature Steam within the first 12 months. But I'm quite optimistic we will differentiate ourselves as a service. We've built the foundation and now we are starting to add value to the service off of that foundation," he added.
'Dem sound like fightin' words.
Really? How is BF3 (and other) being Origin exclusive, choice?
There is a long list of games that I want and the only reason that keeps me from getting them is crappy DRM.
Btw you add value FIRST, then people come to your service. Forcing it using exclusive AAA titles... well for me EA is on my black list for some time now.
Really? How is BF3 (and other) being Origin exclusive, choice?
There is a long list of games that I want and the only reason that keeps me from getting them is crappy DRM.
Btw you add value FIRST, then people come to your service. Forcing it using exclusive AAA titles... well for me EA is on my black list for some time now.
It's one of those 'hear no evil, see no evil," deals. They chose to ignore the community.
But I know that just bcuz I don't like Origiin that doesn't mean that everybody else has a problem with it.
If they want my money ever, they better kill SecuROM.
And I see them only getting bigger since they do new and release day title to these days, not only classic games.
No, all they want to do is earn money, choice and consumers be damned.
how many of u here migrate from Myspace to Facebook "cost" you a lot of money?
But, at least for now, Steam is Facebook and Origin is MySpace. Steam is cheaper, easier, sexier, and has a much better catalog.
Not to mention buggy when i first used Origin to buy starwars the old republic it did not realize that i actually bought it and would not give me a game code.
Although EA fixed the problem this should have been tested more before rolling it out to the public.
Buying a digital copy of the game should be cheaper that"s the whole idea of digital distribution.
Do what everyone else does and sell a toothpick on eBay, with the game as a gift item free
That is the Deluxe version. The Limited Edition version, which I assume is the normal version is $59.99.
I don't like Origin that much either, they don't really have many good sales, there's not very big library and the software itself is sluggish, locks up a lot and sometimes you can't even connect. Steam is somewhat slow as well, but not nearly as bad a Origin.
Origin is meh right now, but I am not gonna let a gripes with it get in the way with playing some games I like with my friends.
EA, if you want Origin to become successful, you're going to have to either cut DRM, cut prices or offer loads of bonus content to make up for the first two (sounds like GOG, anyone?). The only reason I use Steam is because it's ridiculously cheap (during the sales).
And please, if you're so stubborn on 'we can do DLC / our own game distribution better than Steam' then actually do it. I'm still (after what? 2 years?) waiting for an ME2 DLC sale. The original Alice on Origin would be nice too, considering you didn't forget to give the console owners a copy.