EA pulls recent games from Steam

MrG said:
Are prices this bad just because Origin supports South African Rands directly?
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I suspect so yes.
Same as local store-bought WoW gamecards.
The price is set in stone in ZAR.
But I play US. Sometimes I get to buy the cards at a MASSIVE discount due to $ differences.

Same thing with Steam. Because we're working in $, you might get really good deals when the dollar slumps a little. With EA, they support ZAR directly and thus the price is (as mentioned) set in stone, with no possible conversion savings coming into it.
 
Will only be using origin when forced to do this so. Much prefer steam,gamersgate and gog. Having dealt with EA customer support all I have to say it compares is pathetic. Last time I dealt with them , they actually had no fucking clue that dragon age origins were one of their games, thankfully the bioware developers at their own forum helped me out while it is actually the support service job...I seriously hope they have improved before launching this platform...
 
And so it starts. The reason why we should not be tied in to ANY distribution system. Wonder where all those are that said steam games will always be supported. This is just the first and if there is a backlass to EA there will be one to steam as well. Steam's popularity will fall and more will withdraw from it repeating the cycle.

Tank said:
nice little diatribe you got going there. funny thing? back when steam launched it was also labeled crap. by almost everyone but it was given a chance to grow. but now once more you people (generalisation) can't do the same for the new platforms.

jokes on me? nah. bunch of hypocrites? for sure
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Funny how it works. Steam was ridiculed and "boycotted" for the exact same reasons but now some people can't seem to get enough from their addiction.

I can't say I'm crazy over this but I'm not against it either. It just seems silly that people can be so in love with their steam, that they would complain about installing a new platform. Think about it every time you install a new game you are doing just that! And if everyone is really so pissed at it then just don't use it, there's a steam emulator so there will be one for origin as well in no time.

As for steam support, is everybody forgetting about Valve's failures of people getting non-working codes with Valve blaming the publishers and the publishers blaming Valve with no immediate solution? Then there is also the letter from Hannes in the latest PCFormat. He bought the game only to find out the key was already used. Steam refused to give him a new one because according to them the till slip must be in color. He managed a refund from the store directly but is now one game he really wanted and a lot of time short. GREAT support there from steam I must say. Seems it's only the fanbois who find it so perfect.
 
Hannes didn't not buy his game directly from steam. He bough his game from the store hence his first port of call should have been to the store in the first place. Is it really steams job to sort out retail issues?? Most online distributors would tell Hannes its not their problem, at least steam case they offered to help if he had documentation meeting their standards.

As to the second part. Steam gets their codes from either the developers or distributors of the game. Hence if their is a lot of issues with the codes it almost certainly came from the developer/publisher.

Personally I have always had great support. Any issue I have had has been sorted within 24 hours, no matter what time of the week,ect by steam. Can't say the same about ea or most of the local stores/distributors...
 
Stefan9 said:
Hannes didn't not buy his game directly from steam. He bough his game from the store hence his first port of call should have been to the store in the first place. Is it really steams job to sort out retail issues?? Most online distributors would tell Hannes its not their problem, at least steam case they offered to help if he had documentation meeting their standards.
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Yes it is. If steam just happened to be an unrelated distribution platform it wouldn't be the case but they are also the authentication platform. The DRM comes bundled with the store and vice versa. What you are saying is that they can want their bread buttered on both sides but the real world doesn't work this way. The first port of call for steam games is actually steam itself but their standards for offering help are unfortunately set up to fail the South African user. If you read the letter you'll see a legitimate buyer is now considering piracy, steam and other DRM serves as nothing more than to inconvenience legitimate buyers and I'll be glad when it's known as just another passing phase.

Stefan9 said:
As to the second part. Steam gets their codes from either the developers or distributors of the game. Hence if their is a lot of issues with the codes it almost certainly came from the developer/publisher.
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So now it's not the retailers fault but the publisher? More passing the buck. Steam runs the system with the codes and authenticates them. Seems right that the publisher should blame steam as if the codes supplied by them were in the system they should have worked.

Steam may seem like the ideal platform for some but face it they have the same issues. So people who condemn other platforms for it but at the same time praise steam just seams to me like Tank said... hypocritical. It's the behaviour we see from fanbois.
 
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If the protection used was securom or one of the other formats, I am pretty sure he wouldn't have contacted them first but would have gone to the store or the local distributor...

The first port of call when it comes to retail is always where you bought your product, since they have a legal binding contract with you. Do you go directly to nvidia if you have an issue with your gfx or to your local store??

Also I don't see how their service is setup to fail the south african user. If he had the till slip in the format they require they would have helped him out no problem. They also helped out a lot of south african users very efficiently when "buying directly" from them.

Only if the codes were correctly supplied. No way to know who is righ and who is wrong.

No doudt steam does occasional have the odd issue but their response to fixing it has been quick every time I have dealt with them.
 
As i mentioned in another thread, i find it amusing how people are attacking EA over this move, but they forget that Blizzard/Activision have been doing this since the beginning of time or did everyone suddenly forget?

Show me where you buy any digital Blizzard game? Definitely not on Steam. You have to buy it from Battle.NET/Blizzard , period. I don't see Blizzard losing any sales what-so-ever by doing this.

Steam will ultimately become a platform for indie and small game developers if things are going the way i predict. Unlike D2D/Gamersgate i'm certain Steam/Valve has become a little like Apple with all kinds of rules and demands made from the likes of EA/Activision.

The reports i've read was not that EA removed Crysis 2, it was VALVE who removed it because EA broke some rule [probably the way DLCs are being sold] .

There's no reason why a PUBLISHER shouldn't have their own digital store. That is exactly what a PUBLISHER is. EA and Activision and Ubisoft have been lazy and slow allowing Steam to operate without any competition. I fully expected EA/Activision/Ubi to have had online stores of their own eventually...matter of time. I mean this is what a PUBLISHER is!
 
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Stefan9 said:
If the protection used was securom or one of the other formats, I am pretty sure he wouldn't have contacted them first but would have gone to the store or the local distributor...

The first port of call when it comes to retail is always where you bought your product, since they have a legal binding contract with you. Do you go directly to nvidia if you have an issue with your gfx or to your local store??
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If there is no product activation required I see no need to return it. The only time I ever returned a product was when it was in a different language and obviously had to be swopped but not for a non working code. Retailers are not very enthusiastic about returning games, something which the CPA hopefully will change. Last time I bought a game from CNA they made me sign a form stating I read the system requirements and could not return it.

Sorry but this is not the way it works and is the reason why there is a system in place with steam which everybody using it knows is supposed to be the first port of call. And no retailers don't have a legal binding contract, I've bought plenty of products, especially pharmaceuticals, stating to contact the manufacturer directly for any problems or returns.

Stefan9 said:
Also I don't see how their service is setup to fail the south african user. If he had the till slip in the format they require they would have helped him out no problem. They also helped out a lot of south african users very efficiently when "buying directly" from them.
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That's exactly it. It WAS in the correct format, a color photo. They refused to accept it because the slip was not in color. Steam can also trace the code but the shop can't. The shop did take it back but I wouldn't have been happy if I had to give up a game I really wanted and still think somebody lost out on this deal.


Anyway my gripe is not with steam, other than it being another restrictive DRM that should and would eventually die out. I used the examples to point out that there were and still are major problems with it. If someone doesn't want to give any other platform a chance that smacks of fanboiism.

Steam started out the same way and with more issues but some people can't seem to get enough of it now. The way I see it any competition can only be good so just give Origin (makes me think of F.E.A.R. :D ) a chance. In time steam will be a platform for selling indie games if the large publishers withdraw and we won't have to put up with this stupid DRM nonsense any more.

And if anybody wants to disapprove this post as well be my guest. It's clear from the first comment that one or two people on this forum are playing the man and not the ball because I post on bblounge as well. Grow up ffs. :rolleyes:
 
I agree with you, a non-working code for a Steam game is Steam's problem, because if your code doesn't work it means somewhere somebody is playing the game with your code. If that isn't reason enough to trace the code and revoke it, what is? Also, how many stores have colored till slips? I can't remember the last one I saw with a colored slip.

On the other hand, though, I don't agree with you saying Steam will die off. It's way too big and too many people (me included) love it for it to simply die out.
 
Lycanthrope said:
Not sure how willing I am to buy into this. Steam has numerous games listed that are available on other digital distribution platforms (GOG, Impulse, Direct2Drive, etc). Why only Crysis 2?

/waits for more clarification.
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It is more to do with Crytek than with EA actually.

http://www.giantbomb.com/news/crysi...relationship-with-steam-unknown-updated/3382/
UPDATE: Electronic Arts has responded to my questions regarding its current relationship with Steam, claiming Crysis 2 was not removed from Steam because EA asked. Instead, EA claims Steam "imposed a set of business terms" that resulted in an existing agreement Crytek had regarding Crysis 2 that "violates the new rules," resulting in the "expulsion" of Crysis 2.

I've asked EA for better clarification on what "business terms" have changed and why games like Alice: Madness Returns are no longer on Steam. I've also requested comment from Valve.

The full statement is below:

"It’s unfortunate that Steam has removed Crysis 2 from their service. This was not an EA decision or the result of any action by EA.

Steam has imposed a set of business terms for developers hoping to sell content on that service – many of which are not imposed by other online game services. Unfortunately, Crytek has an agreement with another download service which violates the new rules from Steam and resulted in its expulsion of Crysis 2 from Steam.

Crysis 2 continues to be available on several other download services including GameStop, Amazon, Origin.com and more."
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diabolus said:
It is more to do with Crytek than with EA actually.
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That just confuses me more: so whose "fault" is it? Crytek, EA or Valve?

Valve have numerous other cross-digital distribution platform games so while they pulled it, I don't think they would've done so without being made to do so.

EA apparently say it's not them.

And why would Crytek have had something to do with it? They're the developers, the intellectual property rights belong to EA.

I love a good drama :D
 
Prometheus said:
Anyway my gripe is not with steam, other than it being another restrictive DRM that should and would eventually die out. I used the examples to point out that there were and still are major problems with it. If someone doesn't want to give any other platform a chance that smacks of fanboiism.

Steam started out the same way and with more issues but some people can't seem to get enough of it now. The way I see it any competition can only be good so just give Origin (makes me think of F.E.A.R. :D ) a chance. In time steam will be a platform for selling indie games if the large publishers withdraw and we won't have to put up with this stupid DRM nonsense any more.
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Personally I see steam as very soft drm, you won't have many problems as long as you have a working proper internet connection.

Also don't see how origin is exactaly attempting to grow the digital distribution market. Its merely trying to pocket EA exclusive revenue their games. If EA were really confident about their platform and doesn't was about growing the market and not cashing in it wouldn't be exclusive deals.

More competition is always good but this isn't an honest attempt at more competition.


Back on the topic the issue apparently comes from crytek allowing in game dlc purchases thus bypassing steam and not willing to addopt their verion of the game like fable 3,ect to go to the steam store. Hence the rules they didn't abide by.


diabolus said:
As i mentioned in another thread, i find it amusing how people are attacking EA over this move, but they forget that Blizzard/Activision have been doing this since the beginning of time or did everyone suddenly forget?

Show me where you buy any digital Blizzard game? Definitely not on Steam. You have to buy it from Battle.NET/Blizzard , period. I don't see Blizzard losing any sales what-so-ever by doing this.

Steam will ultimately become a platform for indie and small game developers if things are going the way i predict. Unlike D2D/Gamersgate i'm certain Steam/Valve has become a little like Apple with all kinds of rules and demands made from the likes of EA/Activision.

The reports i've read was not that EA removed Crysis 2, it was VALVE who removed it because EA broke some rule [probably the way DLCs are being sold] .

There's no reason why a PUBLISHER shouldn't have their own digital store. That is exactly what a PUBLISHER is. EA and Activision and Ubisoft have been lazy and slow allowing Steam to operate without any competition. I fully expected EA/Activision/Ubi to have had online stores of their own eventually...matter of time. I mean this is what a PUBLISHER is!
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Blizzard releases so few games that it hardly has an impact, when companies who releases lots of games starting doing it it becomes an issue.

I have no issue with publisher having their own digital stores. Atari has had for quite some time. I have an issue with exclusive deals on these platforms and willing to offer the games on different platforms hence forcing gamers to buy from them. Would be much happier with them offering the buyer incentives to buy from them instead of forcing gamers to buy from them.
 
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Lycanthrope said:
Valve have numerous other cross-digital distribution platform games so while they pulled it, I don't think they would've done so without being made to do so.
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I don't think being against their terms can "make" them pull anything. Sure if they don't enforce their terms they essentially become useless but it's still their decision. It seems like Valve is imposing rules that publishers can no longer reasonably abide by and Steam is coming full circle.

Stefan9 said:
Also don't see how origin is exactaly attempting to grow the digital distribution market. Its merely trying to pocket EA exclusive revenue their games. If EA were really confident about their platform and doesn't was about growing the market and not cashing in it wouldn't be exclusive deals.

More competition is always good but this isn't an honest attempt at more competition.
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The deals people were complaining about are returning to steam so it's by no means exclusive yet. Sure EA wouldn't be doing it if there was nothing in it for them but so it was with Valve and steam as well. In the end I don't care how competition emerges as it's monopolies I'm more worried about. If I can choose between downloading my game with DRM from a number of stores or buy a boxed DRM-free version I'm happy and that seems to be the direction it's heading in.
 
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