If Mass Effect 3 requires origin...

[Terzo]

Whether I like it or not, I do think digital distribution (especially steam and similar services) will continue to dominate pc gaming.

While steam is certainly the digital goliath, I expect more companies to try and push their own competing programs. A potential barrier to that is it seems that many people don't want to be bothered with running multiple game clients and would prefer everything be available through steam.

Then again, I don't think steam had a warm reception upon release, but Valve was able to push it due to the exclusivity of games such as Half Life 2. It seems EA is poised to head down the same path, with Battlefield 3 being the first game to require origin. Blizzard has gone a slightly different route, requiring battlenet accounts for Starcraft 2 and Diablo 3.

I'm curious to see if these companies can work towards competing with steam by requiring their own services. Is steam's competition doomed to fail, or can they build a solid foundation by making their games exclusive to their platform?

I anticipate most consumers' desire to play games will outweigh their aversion (if any) to running multiple game clients. I doubt many people have not purchased Battlefield 3 due to origin and I expect EA could use Mass Effect 3 to push origin to even more consumers.

 

[DaveSimmons]

We'll see. I certainly won't be preordering an Origin-only Mass Effect 3, if that happens I'll just play a bunch of my Steam sale games while I wait to see whether EA sticks with it.

 

[terry107]

95% likely I'll end up getting the game within the first week, Origin requirement or not, so long as the reviews are ok.

 

[irishScott]

It would be a pre-order for me either way. From what I've seen Origin isn't any more intrusive than Steam. Wouldn't make a regular habit of it, the ME series is an exception.

 

[Dumac]

There is no way I would ever use Origin.

So no, if it requires origin I will not get it.

I won't get it at launch no matter what though. I don't think it is worth it.

 

[Childs]

There needs to be another option...buy whether it requires Origin or not, but only on sale, cause I'm a cheap sob. I hated the idea of BF3 requiring Origin, but the only time I deal with it is when I reboot my system.

 

[irishScott]

There needs to be another option...buy whether it requires Origin or not, but only on sale, cause I'm a cheap sob. I hated the idea of BF3 requiring Origin, but the only time I deal with it is when I reboot my system.

Start->run->msconfig->startup tab

 

[Anteaus]

I'm very much pro Steam. I was distressed when EA came out with Origin, not so much that EA was getting into the digital distribution business (it was inevitable), but that it would set a precendent which would mean every major publisher would have it's own client cluttering everything up.

I still feel kinda iffy about it, however I've gotten to a point where I can either get over it and just get to playing some games or stay disgruntled and bitter.

If ME3 comes out on Steam, then that is my first choice and will always be preferrable, but if using Origin means the difference between playing ME3 and not playing ME3 then that's just what I'm gonna have to do.

 

[Bateluer]

Origin required? Fvck that. I'll sooner slice out my left testicle.

 

[zokudu]

I will not buy it unless it is on steam. I will not condone EAs anti competitive practices give me a whole competitive product to steam and I will use your service. Same reason I do not have Battlefield 3.

 

[Cyco]

I haven't finished 1, just bought 2 during Steam's autumn sale. By the time I get around to finishing those, 3 should be on sale for 5 bucks on Steam unless of course it isn't available via Steam.

 

[Zenoth]

I don't like Origin, but I already have to use it for Bad Company 2 and Dragon Age 2, if I want to download them again, since it's only possible via Origin (I bought them both from EA store before Origin was released). If Mass Effect 3 requires Origin it'll then be my first and only game to be bought from Origin, since I'll want ME3 at all costs (as a side note as far as BF3 is concerned I'm still waiting for it to be on Steam to buy it, and if it never happens, I'll never own BF3, that simple).

If ME3 ends up on Steam then of course I'll buy it on Steam. My problem with the probable ME3/Origin combo is its popularity and hype (ME3's). If EA decides that ME3 goes on Origin only, then you can bet it's going to serve as a good bait to force fans to go with Origin, since obviously ME3 is one-of-a-kind title, the type of game that's the last of a superb trilogy, it's something that doesn't happen every year in the gaming industry, ME3 is the behemoth title (perhaps more so than BF3) that will ensure that people do go with Origin "instead" of Steam just to get it ASAP at or shortly after its release.

I'm starting to have nightmares and I'm not sleeping yet.

 

[irishScott]

I will not buy it unless it is on steam. I will not condone EAs anti competitive practices give me a whole competitive product to steam and I will use your service. Same reason I do not have Battlefield 3.

Wait, so EA forcing people to use its own service over Steam, and thereby attempting to compete with Steam, is anti-competitive?

 

[Powermoloch]

If it's requires on origin, I can wait till it hits the bargain bin.

 

[Childs]

Wait, so EA forcing people to use its own service over Steam, and thereby attempting to compete with Steam, is anti-competitive?

To be fair, competing would imply BF3 was on Steam. And you could buy it from other digital download serves like Amazon. Just not Steam.

 

[KaOTiK]

I'll wait till it is around $10 maybe $15 if Origin is required.

 

[TakeNoPrisoners]

I don't really care about Origin, I used it for the BF3 beta and Crysis 2 and I didn't have a problem with it.

If ME3 is as good as ME2 was then I'm in.

 

[Cheesetogo]

If ME3 requires Origin and it is available from "alternative" sources without it, I may be disinclined to pay for the game. I think I'm going to look into Origin a bit more though -- I get the impression that a lot of the "spyware" claims and so forth are overblown.

 

[RavenSEAL]

If it's anything like ME2, no thanks.

Biggest waste of $60 right next to DNF & BF3.

 

[IGemini]

I get to bypass this one since my character files are on 360. But if it was Origin-exclusive it would certainly delay my purchase.

 

[Red Hawk]

ME3 is a Collector's Edition pre-order for me. Requiring Origin doesn't change that. It actually would be nice for it to be an Origin game, as that means once I register it to Origin I can download and install it to any PC and play without the disks just like a Steam game. I would prefer it to be a Steamworks game, but it doesn't make that much of a difference to me. I see no difference between Steam and Origin with regards to invasiveness, and Origin is actually a little bit better in that you don't need to have Origin running when you play games installed through Origin.

As for Origin being anti-competitive, EA has been pushing for Origin to be a similar service to Steam with third-party games, such as Batman: Arkham City. Right now, no Valve games are on Origin. So if Battlefield 3 not being on Steam is anti-competitive, doesn't that mean that no Valve games being on Origin is also anti-competitive?

 

[Childs]

As for Origin being anti-competitive, EA has been pushing for Origin to be a similar service to Steam with third-party games, such as Batman: Arkham City. Right now, no Valve games are on Origin. So if Battlefield 3 not being on Steam is anti-competitive, doesn't that mean that no Valve games being on Origin is also anti-competitive?

What online service besides Steam allows you to buy Valve games? I'm thinking this is on Valve as well.

 

[Red Hawk]

Indeed. If Valve limits their own games to Steam, Steam fanboys have no right to criticize EA for keeping their games off of Steam.

 

[Krakn3Dfx]

Prediction: Mass Effect 3 will require Origin. Calling it now. Mark my words.

 

[Rifter]

If it does i will not purchase it, plain and simple.

Steam is the best digital download program out there and i refuse to get tied up with multiple digital distribution software programs. Im going to vote with my wallet and not purchase it unless its on steam.