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EA (service)

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This article is about content delivery. For scientific graphing and data analysis software, see Origin (software).
Origin
Developer(s)Electronic Arts
Initial releaseJune 3, 2011 (2011-06-03)
Stable release
9.0.11.77 - 192632
Operating systemMicrosoft Windows, OS X
Size50MB Download, Expands to 100MB, (Approx)
TypeContent delivery
Digital rights management
Social networking
Websitestore.origin.com

Origin (formerly EA Store) is a digital distribution, digital rights management system from Electronic Arts that allows users to purchase games on the internet for PC and mobile platforms, and download them with the Origin client (formerly EA Download Manager, EA Downloader and EA Link). It is currently[when?] in Beta.

Origin features social features like profile management, networking with friends with chat and direct game joining along with an in-game overlay, sharing of game library and community integration with networking sites like Facebook, Xbox Live and PlayStation Network. Electronic Arts has stated that it wants Origin to match Valve's Steam service, Origin's leading competitor, by the end of March 2012, by adding cloud game saves, auto-patching, achievements and rewards, and cross-platform releases.[1]

Since Origin's launch, the service has received criticism over EA's practice of suspending or deleting accounts for disputed infractions, suspected monitoring of users' computer activity, and for requiring users to forfeit their right to sue before using the software. Origin users are identified by their unified Origin account, which supersedes an EA account and may be canceled if left unused after 24 months if there are not any premium games on it.[dubious – discuss] As of February 2012, Origin has been installed by 9.3 million users.[2]

Components

Origin store

Origin web store

The Origin store allows users to browse and purchase games from Electronic Arts' catalogs. Instead of receiving a box, disc, or even CD key, purchased software is immediately attached to the user's Origin account and is to be downloaded with the corresponding Origin client. Origin guarantees download availability for at least one year after purchase,[3] and there is no limit to the number of times a game can be downloaded.

Users may also add certain EA games to their Origin account by using CD keys from retail copies, and digital copies obtained from other digital distribution services. However, the addition of retail keys to Origin is restricted to games from 2009 onwards and older keys will not work even if the game is available on Origin.[4]

The Origin store redirects users to a regional store and charges a different price depending on the location of the customer and declines payments from foreign account holders when a consumer uses a VPN to access another region's store to pay that regional price. One justification for this is that it allows the game to be sold for a lower price in regions of the world that cannot afford the higher prices in the first world nations. However, as a result of regional differences and economic currency fluctuations, these prices may be dramatically different. For example, Medal of Honor: Airborne costs $21.15 AUD in the United States but costs $99.99 AUD in Australia as of July 2008,[5] Spore costs £22.21 GBP (£26.11 after Sales Tax) in the United States but costs £39.99 GBP VAT included in the United Kingdom as of September 2008, Battlefield: Bad Company 2 costs 599 RUB ($20) in Russia, $49.99 in USA and $63.50 in Denmark as of February 2010 and more recently Battlefield 3 costs $80 AUD in Australia but costs $60 USD in the United States, representing a 30% markup with a current currency exchange rate of 1 USD to 1.05AUD. Differential pricing in Origin is also applied to most Latin American countries, where a customer there is required to pay for games in Euros, and thus actually paying much more for them; because the conversion is 1 USD = 1 EURO instead of using current market value. This is in stark contrast with services like GameStop's Impulse, which always charges in local currency, or GOG.com which has a global price policy for all games.

Origin client

The Origin client is self-updating software that allows users to download games, expansion packs, content booster packs and patches from Electronic Arts. It shows the status of components available. The Origin client is designed to be similar to its competitor, Steam. Users can allegedly uninstall the client and the game will still run fine. The predecessor of the Origin client had caused issues with games such as Battlefield 2 and Spore Creature Creator, leading to crashes of a related standalone product.[6]

Origin Mobile

Electronic Arts also plans to launch the Origin platform for mobile devices (such as iOS devices) and achievements can be synced across both platforms. Scrabble Network will be incorporated into Origin mobile. These services will be free of charge.[7]

History

EA Downloader was launched in late 2005.[8] It was replaced by EA Link in November 2006, adding trailers, demos and special content to the content delivery service. In September 2007, it was once again replaced by the combination of EA Store and EA Download Manager.[9] Users purchase from the EA Store website and use the downloadable EADM client to download their games.[10] Games bought via EA Link were downloadable using the EA Download Manager.[11] The store and client was reopened under the Origin name on June 3, 2011. The constant changes in the software and branding is criticized for being hard to follow.

The digital distribution software was first used to deliver the Battlefield 2: Special Forces expansion pack,[12] and subsequently most EA titles. The biggest product launch on the software is Spore Creature Creator.

Trademark

EA acquired the trademark Origin when it purchased Origin Systems in 1992. Origin Systems was a major game studio in the 1980s and 1990s, best known for its Ultima, Wing Commander, and Crusader game franchises.[13]

Criticism

Removal of Crysis 2 from Steam and Origin exclusives

Shortly after the launch of Origin, Crysis 2 was pulled from Steam and appeared on EA's website with an "only on Origin" claim, though it remains available on other distribution services. This led to speculation that EA would be pulling games from Steam and possibly other download services to make them exclusive to Origin.[14][15] EA has since stated that Valve removed Crysis 2 due to imposed "business terms" and that "this was not an EA decision or the result of any action by EA."[16] Valve has yet to comment.

More recently, Crysis 2: Maximum Edition (a re-release of Crysis 2 with all the DLCs) has been released on Steam, matching EA's story about pulling Crysis 2 due to DLC restraints.[17] Alice: Madness Returns, a title initially released with the "only on Origin" claim (but was also on other services besides Steam), has also since appeared on Steam.[18] EA has confirmed that Battlefield 3 would not be available through Steam,[19] though the game is currently available for purchase on other non-Origin services such as GameFly[20] or GamersGate.[21] However, all versions of Battlefield 3, no matter where it was purchased, must be activated on Origin.

The download version of Star Wars: The Old Republic is the only game so far to be announced as Origin exclusive.[22] EA has also announced that limited editions of games would be exclusive to Origin.[23] An example of this is Alice: Madness Returns The Complete Collection which included DLC items available on the console version, but have yet to be made available again for PC since the promotion ended.[24][25]

Origin account bans

Origin's Terms of Service agreement allows EA to suspend or terminate a user's account, resulting in the inability to install or play any games that are associated with it, with no prior warning and without refund or reimbursement for any purchased content.[26] There have been several instances of EA enforcing such bans for what critics argue are comparatively minor infractions, such as making rude comments in EA or BioWare's official forums or in chat.[27][28]

An early example of this practice occurred in March 2011. A user named "Arno" made the comment "Have you sold your souls to the EA devil?" in the BioWare forums.[29] For this post Arno's account was banned for 72 hours which prevented him from installing any of his purchased Origin games, including the just-released Dragon Age II.[30] When he protested the ban on BioWare's forum under a different username, a moderator responded that the appropriate punishment had been applied and subsequently locked the thread. Other threads that made reference to the issue were also locked by moderators. After reporting on the details of the incident, website Rock, Paper, Shotgun received a statement from EA saying that Arno's account ban was a mistake, and that future violations on the forums would not interfere with Origin users' access to their games.[31]

Despite EA's assurances, several more account bans were again reported in November and December 2011, at least three of which were for infractions that did not violate the Terms of Service. In one case, a user named "Rob" received a 72-hour account suspension for posting a link to a network troubleshooting guide in the EA forums. EA interpreted this as a "commercial" link, even though the same link had been posted elsewhere in the forums for several years prior, and EA's own corporate support site and FAQ contained exactly the same link.[32] A different user named "James" had his entire account permanently deleted for quoting another forum user's use of the term "e-peen." When James contacted EA support for an explanation, he was told that the deletion was "necessary due to the repeated nature of the offense on the account" and that no further communication regarding the issue would be available.[32]

Another account belonging to a user named "Aaron" was first suspended and then permanently deleted after a Battlefield 3 user insulted him in EA's forums. The offending post included coarse language, and because it contained Aaron's name EA's content filter automatically applied the ban to his account, but not to the user who actually wrote the post.[33] EA has not made any further comment regarding specific account bans.

On March 8, 2012, EA issued an updated "Suspension Policy" via their support site. The update states that users whose accounts have been disabled would be able to play single-player games through Origin's offline mode.[34] However, the update leaves open the question of whether users with disabled accounts would still be able to download their games that are not already installed on their computers. In addition, the availability of online play has not been addressed, and the relevant clause in the Terms of Service regarding account suspension and termination remains unchanged.

Accusations of spying

Origin's End-user license agreement (EULA) gives EA permission to collect information about users' computers regardless of its relation to the Origin program itself, including "application usage (including but not limited to successful installation and/or removal), software, software usage and peripheral hardware."[35] Initially, the EULA also contained a passage permitting EA to more explicitly monitor activity as well as to edit or remove material at their discretion.[36] However, this section was removed following an outcry over privacy implications. That outcry was fueled in part by pictures and video captured by several German gamers which showed Origin accessing tax programs and other unrelated software, as well as a report by the newspaper Der Spiegel investigating the allegations.[37][38][39] In response to the controversy, EA issued a statement claiming they "do not have access to information such as pictures, documents or personal data, which have nothing to do with the execution of the Origin program on the system of the player, neither will they be collected by us."[40] EA also added a sentence to the EULA stating that they would not "use spyware or install spyware on users' machines," though users must still consent to allowing EA to collect information about their computers.[41]

All Origin users must agree to settle any disputes between themselves and EA through arbitration, requiring that they waive their right to sue EA, receive a jury trial, or join a class action.[42] This restriction also applies to EA's other online services not related to Origin, such as online play and DLC on dedicated game consoles. The clause was implemented following the U.S. Supreme Court decision in AT&T Mobility LLC v. Concepcion, in which the court held that companies could force their customers to accept arbitration in service contracts.[43] The clause has been criticized in the gaming community as a method of avoiding public exposure of misconduct by the company.[42][44]

Situation in Germany

According to reports in German newspapers, the German version of Origin's EULA violates several German laws, mainly laws protecting consumers and users' privacy.[37][45] According to Thomas Hoeren, a judge and professor for information, telecommunication and media law at the University of Münster, the German version of the EULA is a direct translation of the original without any modifications and its clauses are "null and void".[37]

Community

On May 8, 2012 at 10AM PDT, EA hosted a live Q&A in which the public got to vote on a series of polls and ask questions that would be hand selected and answered.[46]

See also

References

  1. ^ "PDF E3 2011 Investor Presentation" (PDF). Electronic Arts. Retrieved 2011-07-10.
  2. ^ Senior, Tom (2012-02-02). "Origin is doing quite well: 9.3 million users". PC Gamer. Retrieved 2012-02-22.
  3. ^ "Origin Frequently Asked Questions". Electronic Arts. Retrieved 2011-06-22.
  4. ^ "Adding EA games to Origin". Retrieved 2011-08-02.
  5. ^ "Aussies paying five times more for software". News Limited. 2008-07-01. Retrieved 2007-07-09.[dead link]
  6. ^ "Why is Spore Creature Creator Crashing?". Electronic Arts UK Forum. Retrieved 2008-07-01.
  7. ^ "Origin for mobile FAQs". Electronic Arts. Retrieved 2011-07-10.
  8. ^ "EA soft-launches Link". GameSpot. Retrieved 2008-07-01.
  9. ^ "Electronic Arts Closes EA Link Service, Unveils EA Store". GamaSutra. Retrieved 2007-09-24.
  10. ^ "EA Store". Electronic Arts. Retrieved 2007-07-18.
  11. ^ "Footnote on EA Link's website". Electronic Arts. Retrieved 2012-08-30. All your EA Link games will continue to work and can be downloaded again at anytime using the new EA Download Manager
  12. ^ "EA Launches PC Digital Delivery Service". GamaSutra. Retrieved 2005-11-11.
  13. ^ Varney, Allen (2005-10-11). "The Conquest of Origin". The Escapist. Retrieved 2011-04-10.
  14. ^ McWhertor, Michael (2011-06-14). "Crysis 2 Pulled From Steam, Now Only On EA's Origin". Kotaku. Retrieved 2011-10-03.
  15. ^ "EA Pulls Crysis 2 PC From Steam, Makes Exclusive To Origin". 2011-06-15. Retrieved 2011-10-03.
  16. ^ McWhertor, Michael (2011-06-15). "EA Says It Was Valve Who Expelled Crysis 2 From Steam". Kotaku. Retrieved 2011-10-04.
  17. ^ "Crysis 2 returns to Steam, EA silent on other absences". Retrieved 2012-07-06. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  18. ^ "Alice: Madness Returns on Steam".
  19. ^ Klepek, Patrick (2011-06-20). "Crysis 2 Was Removed From Steam Over DLC Distribution Deal". GiantBomb. Retrieved 2012-07-06. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  20. ^ "Battlefield 3 on GameFly".
  21. ^ "Battlefield 3 on GamersGate".
  22. ^ Biessener, Adam (2011-06-03). "The Old Republic To Be Digitally Exclusive To EA's Origin Service". Gameinformer. Retrieved 2011-10-03.
  23. ^ Hatfield, Tom (2011-06-03). "EA's Origin Digital Download Service Detailed, Beta Launching Later On Today". PC Gamer. Retrieved 2011-10-03.
  24. ^ "Alice: Madness Returns for PC download". Electronic Arts.
  25. ^ Electronic Arts (2011-06-13). "The Alice: Madness Returns Complete Collection will only be available until the 17th". Twitter. Retrieved 2012-08-30.
  26. ^ "Electronic Arts Terms of Service". 2011-11-28. Retrieved 2012-02-16.
  27. ^ Zacny, Rob (2011-11-14). "EA forum bans reportedly locking users out of games". PC Gamer. Retrieved 2012-02-16.
  28. ^ Usher, William (2011-11-14). "EA Forum Bans Resulting In Origin Account, Content Deletion". Gaming Blend. Retrieved 2012-02-16.
  29. ^ "Suspended account, Unable to activate and play DA2". BioWare Social Network. 2011-03-10. Retrieved 2012-02-16.
  30. ^ Walker, John (2011-03-11). "EA Forum Bans Can Lock You Out Of Games". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Retrieved 2012-02-16.
  31. ^ Walker, John (2011-03-11). "EA Retracts Game Ban For Forum Violation". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Retrieved 2012-02-16.
  32. ^ a b Walker, John (2011-10-14). "EA Forum Bans Are STILL Affecting Games". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Retrieved 2012-02-16.
  33. ^ "EA now issuing permanent Origin bans through content filter". The Escapist Forums. 2011-12-01. Retrieved 2012-02-16.
  34. ^ "Electronic Arts Account Suspension Policy". 2012-03-08. Retrieved 2012-04-16.
  35. ^ "Origin End User License Agreement". Electronic Arts. Retrieved 2011-08-25.
  36. ^ Magrino, Tom (2011-08-24). "EA Origin EULA sparks privacy concerns". GameSpot. Retrieved 2012-02-16.
  37. ^ a b c Lischka, Konrad (2011-10-28). "Spiele-Gigant will Kunden ausspionieren" (in German). Der Spiegel Online. Retrieved 2012-02-16.
  38. ^ Chalk, Andy. "Internet Explodes Over Origin's Invasion of Privacy". Escapist Magazine. Retrieved 2011-08-25.
  39. ^ "Spyware Origin spioniert meine Steuerprogramm-Dateien aus" (in German). 2011-10-28. Retrieved 2012-02-16.
  40. ^ Phillips, Tom (2011-11-01). "EA denies spying on Battlefield 3 Origin users". Eurogamer. Retrieved 2012-02-16.
  41. ^ Fletcher, JC (2011-10-26). "EA revises Origin EULA; data collection is still in, collection for marketing is out". Joystiq. Retrieved 2012-02-16.
  42. ^ a b Plunkett, Luke (2011-09-23). "Remember, Electronic Arts Won't let you Sue Them, Either". Kotaku. Retrieved 2012-02-16.
  43. ^ Foresman, Chris (2011-04-27). "Supreme Court: AT&T can force arbitration, block class-action suits". Ars Technica. Retrieved 2012-02-16.
  44. ^ Chalk, Andy (2011-09-26). "EA Changes Origin Terms of Services, Forbids Class Action Lawsuits". The Escapist. Retrieved 2012-02-16.
  45. ^ Schwenke, Thomas (2011-10-25). "Der Teufel im Vertragsdetail" (in German). GameStar. Retrieved 2011-10-28.
  46. ^ "Origin Community Chat". Electronic Arts. Retrieved 2012-08-30.

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