EA/Origin News and NOT Sims News… At least not yet anyways, or maybe it kinda is?
So it seems that EA has added another game to the slowly increasing list of games that ALWAYS require Origin to run. This time it’s Mass Effect 3. What’s that? You bought the retail version thus you don’t HAVE to use Origin? WRONG! It’s bad enough that some require a constant internet connection, i.e. Darkspore and Sims FreePlay, but Origin as well? The only thing worse than this is if Origin was secretly Spyware used by EA to what else, spy on us Simmers and gamers who use their games. Oh wait, IT IS! But EA still denies it, even though it’s printed clear as day in Origin’s EULA.
If you want to take a stand against EA’s PC download service Origin and you’re looking forward to playing Mass Effect 3, it looks like you’ll be playing the game on console. According to a post on BioWare’s forums, Origin is required to play the PC game, whether you plan on downloading it or buying it at retail. “We are intent on providing Mass Effect to players with the best possible experience no matter where they purchase or play their game, and are happy to partner with any download service that does not restrict our ability to connect directly with our consumers.”
Priestly also addresses user concerns about Origin being spyware (surprisingly enough, he says it’s not), and says that players will be able to opt out of the game’s data-collection services.
EA are really determined to kill themselves off as a company aren’t they.
This means that The Sims 4 if it ever comes out will almost certainly have Origin and be required to play.
So that will be 100% the end of the line for me. I don’t buy games that require Steam and now Origin…
And the games companies wonder why people download pirate versions of the games!
@tickleonthetum steam doesn’t scan your system, it even says in the steam subscriber agreement.
Well if people didn’t steal their games left and right there wouldn’t be a need for this stuff.
I guess EA feels that this will be the definitive way to end piracy, once and for all. Right.
Ha. People are really blowing this out of proportion. I have a spyware monitoring module on my firewall and have NEVER had origin trigger it by trying to send information that I hadn’t authorized.
On the other hand, Google, Amazon, Microsoft and several other so called SAFE sites have triggered the firewall.
Origin scans your whole system! How do you know exactly what it is sending back to EA?
Also, it is the principle of the thing. EA are making Origin into another Steam, something you have to have to be able to play their games. It may also require a permanent Internet connection in the near future.
It’s the disturbing trend that is causing the most worry.
Very soon you will need to a have an always on Internet connection the whole time you are playing a game. The Origin (or Steam, MS for that matter) will scan your system and remove anything that EA (or Valve/MS) doesn’t like you owning/using/pirating. Looking into all your personal documents/emails/History to see what you like so they can target ads specifically at you in game!
How will you feel about all that? It’s the future… and it’s bleak…
@Doe Well they made the whole dumb system that made people want pirate stuff to avoid it.
@tickleontheturn
Steam NEVER touch anything except steam games, which means they cant do anything to you if you have pirated non-steam games.They only made it to prevent their own games got pirated. EA however, never promised that they only check EA game folder.
Hi Judson is a nice article. But one thing I wanted to write shortly. Darkspore runs without Origin. You don’t need necessarily this tool. Otherwise, I blocked origin in the firewall (norton). Is only switched of “on” for updates. More rights get this tool not on my machine. 🙂
Have nice week and best greetings
Liz
Nonsense. The pirates aren’t even affected by this kind of draconian measure, only legitimate gamers.
If you actually bothered to read EA’s Origin EULA, you will see that you actually have zero rights over any product you purchase on that service. EA retains all rights and then goes one stage further by demanding the right to access your PC’s hard drive for reasons that aren’t explained and your refusal to grant them this right (via Origin) results in your access to those games you’ve purchased being revoked. In other words, surrender your privacy or we’ll lock you out of your games/account.
Pirates also don’t have to deal with a second issue – a lockout from games if they badmouth EA or their practices on the official forums. Guess what happens to legitimate customers? Google BioWare – the past masters at treating their customers like criminal scum, but for fuck’s sake: Wake up.
This is ridiculous. You really shouldn’t believe everything you read on the Internet! Numerous security Blogs and people that know a lot more about this than you took a closer look at Origin and all of them said that Origin does not do anything that can even remotely be construed as malicious.
EA even issued a statement regarding the situation explaining how some people might have thought that it did stuff that it actually didn’t do. Since then, Origin even got patched to avoid further misunderstandings!
Next time, please do a little more research before you take out your torch…
Actually if you read the EULA, you’ll learn that it is Spyware. You need to read the entire EULA for Origin and then look up the definition of Spyware. Also, LOSE the attitude.
Good to know that you just want to spread some fud. I actually thought you’re someone that doesn’t know any better. Well, my bad. I guess I should have done a little more research about you before posting.