EA Store
Encyclopedia
Origin 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 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.
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. As of September 2011, Origin has been installed by 3.9 million users.
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.
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, 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.
, leading to crashes of a related standalone product.
The digital distribution software was first used to deliver the Battlefield 2: Special Forces expansion pack, and subsequently most EA titles. The biggest product launch on the software is Spore Creature Creator
.
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.
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. 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." Valve has yet to comment.
EA's Crysis 2 page no longer carries the "only on Origin" claim, though there has been no sign of it returning to Steam. Alice: Madness Returns
, a title initially released with the "only on Origin" claim (but was also on other services besides Steam), has since appeared on Steam. EA have confirmed that Battlefield 3
would not be available through Steam, though the game is currently available for purchase on other non-Origin services such as Direct2Drive
.
The download version of Star Wars: The Old Republic
is the only game so far to be announced as Origin exclusive. EA has also announced that limited editions of games would be exclusive to Origin. 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.
Section 2 was interpreted to grant EA the right to log data on application usage, IP addresses, operating system usage, installation and removal of software, and usage of software and peripheral hardware.
Section 3 states that using the software allows EA to monitor user activity: “EA
reserves the right to monitor communications on the Application and disclose any information EA deems necessary to (i) ensure your
compliance with this License; (ii) satisfy any applicable law, regulation or legal process; (iii) protect the rights, property and
interests of EA, its employees or the public. EA also reserves the right to edit, refuse to transfer and/or to remove any
information or materials, in whole or in part, in EA’s sole discretion.”
On August 24 2011, EA revised its End User License Agreement, removing several of the controversial sections. They released a statement saying that they had no intention to sell marketing data to third parties, nor install software akin to spyware on its customers PCs. The specific changes to the EULA removed EA's right to transfer collected personally identifiable data to third party users. However, Origin's EULA states that if there is a conflict with EA's Privacy Policy, the terms of the Privacy Policy shall prevail. EA's Privacy Policy gives EA rights to share anonymous non personal information with third parties.
EA has also received criticism for a clause within the company's privacy policy, stating that "By accepting these terms, you and EA expressly waive the right to a trial by jury or to participate in a class action." This clause has caused significant distress within the gaming community, with many fearing that the above clause is a preemptive attempt by EA to prevent legal action over the distribution of private information via its Origin platform.
, the German version of the EULA is a direct translation of the original without any modifications and its clauses "null and void".
deleted repeatedly some players' accounts on Origin after having banned them from the Origin forums, contrary to the statements they made that the management of their forums was separated from the Origin platform itself, and in some cases for offenses which were deemed questionable by journalists.
Digital rights management
Digital rights management is a class of access control technologies that are used by hardware manufacturers, publishers, copyright holders and individuals with the intent to limit the use of digital content and devices after sale. DRM is any technology that inhibits uses of digital content that...
system from Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts, Inc. is a major American developer, marketer, publisher and distributor of video games. Founded and incorporated on May 28, 1982 by Trip Hawkins, the company was a pioneer of the early home computer games industry and was notable for promoting the designers and programmers...
that allows users to purchase games on the internet for PC
Personal computer
A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
and mobile platforms, and download them with the Origin client (formerly EA Download Manager, EA Downloader and EA Link). It is currently in Beta
Beta
Beta is the second letter of the Greek alphabet. Beta or BETA may also refer to:-Biology:*Beta , a genus of flowering plants, mostly referred to as beets*Beta, a rank in a community of social animals...
.
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
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
, Xbox Live
Xbox Live
Xbox Live is an online multiplayer gaming and digital media delivery service created and operated by Microsoft Corporation. It is currently the only online gaming service on consoles that charges users a fee to play multiplayer gaming. It was first made available to the Xbox system in 2002...
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.
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. As of September 2011, Origin has been installed by 3.9 million users.
Origin 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, 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.
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
Medal of Honor: Airborne
Medal of Honor: Airborne is a World War II first-person shooter computer game and the 11th installment of the Medal of Honor series. It was developed by EA Los Angeles and was released worldwide on the PC and Xbox 360 in September 2007. A PS2 and Wii version was set to be released but was cancelled...
costs $21.15 AUD in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
but costs $99.99 AUD in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
as of July 2008, Spore
Spore (2008 video game)
Spore is a multi-genre single-player god game developed by Maxis and designed by Will Wright. The game was released for the Microsoft Windows and Macintosh operating systems in September 2008 as Spore...
costs £22.21 GBP (£26.11 after Sales Tax) in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
but costs £39.99 GBP VAT
Vat
Vat or VAT may refer to:* A type of container such as a barrel, storage tank, or tub, often constructed of welded sheet stainless steel, and used for holding, storing, and processing liquids such as milk, wine, and beer...
included in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
as of September 2008, Battlefield: Bad Company 2
Battlefield: Bad Company 2
Battlefield: Bad Company 2 is a first-person shooter video game developed by the Swedish firm EA Digital Illusions CE and published by Electronic Arts for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, iOS and Mac OS X systems. It is a direct sequel to Battlefield: Bad Company and is part of the...
costs 599 RUB
Russian ruble
The ruble or rouble is the currency of the Russian Federation and the two partially recognized republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Formerly, the ruble was also the currency of the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union prior to their breakups. Belarus and Transnistria also use currencies with...
($20) in Russia, $49.99 in USA and $63.50 in Denmark as of February 2010 and more recently Battlefield 3
Battlefield 3
Battlefield 3 is a first-person shooter video game developed by EA Digital Illusions CE and published by Electronic Arts. The game was released in North America on October 25, 2011 and in Europe on October 28, 2011 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and EA Mobile confirmed a port for...
costs $80 AUD in Australia but costs $60 USD in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, representing a 30% markup with a current currency exchange rate of 1 USD to 1.05AUD.
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 CreatorSpore Creature Creator
The Spore Creature Creator is software that allows players to create their own creatures with a standalone version of the Creature Editor from Spore; the software was one of the first aspects of the game to receive focused development, and underwent ten rewrites since the start of development...
, leading to crashes of a related standalone product.
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.History
EA Downloader was launched in late 2005. 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. Users purchase from the EA Store website and use the downloadable EADM client to download their games. Games bought via EA Link was downloadable using the EA Download Manager. 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, and subsequently most EA titles. The biggest product launch on the software is Spore Creature Creator
Spore Creature Creator
The Spore Creature Creator is software that allows players to create their own creatures with a standalone version of the Creature Editor from Spore; the software was one of the first aspects of the game to receive focused development, and underwent ten rewrites since the start of development...
.
Trademark
EA acquired the trademark Origin when it purchased Origin SystemsOrigin Systems
Origin Systems, Inc. was a computer game developer based in Austin, Texas that was active from 1983 to 2004...
in 1992. Origin Systems was a major game studio in the 1980s and 1990s, best known for its Ultima, Wing Commander
Wing Commander (franchise)
Wing Commander is a video game media franchise consisting of space combat simulation computer games from Origin Systems, Inc., an animated television series, a feature film, a collectible card game, a series of novels, and action figures...
, and Crusader game franchises.
Removal of Crysis 2 from Steam and Origin exclusives
Shortly after the launch of Origin, Crysis 2Crysis 2
Crysis 2 is a first-person shooter video game developed by Crytek, published by Electronic Arts and released in North America, Australia, and Europe in March 2011 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360...
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. EA has since stated that Valve
Valve Corporation
Valve Corporation is an American video game development and digital distribution company based in Bellevue, Washington, United States...
removed Crysis 2 due to imposed "business terms" and that "this was not an EA decision or the result of any action by EA." Valve has yet to comment.
EA's Crysis 2 page no longer carries the "only on Origin" claim, though there has been no sign of it returning to Steam. Alice: Madness Returns
Alice: Madness Returns
Alice: Madness Returns is a video game for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 released on June 14, 2011, in North America, June 16, 2011, in Europe and June 17, 2011, in the United Kingdom. It is the sequel to the 2000 Windows and Mac video game American McGee's Alice...
, a title initially released with the "only on Origin" claim (but was also on other services besides Steam), has since appeared on Steam. EA have confirmed that Battlefield 3
Battlefield 3
Battlefield 3 is a first-person shooter video game developed by EA Digital Illusions CE and published by Electronic Arts. The game was released in North America on October 25, 2011 and in Europe on October 28, 2011 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and EA Mobile confirmed a port for...
would not be available through Steam, though the game is currently available for purchase on other non-Origin services such as Direct2Drive
Direct2Drive
Direct2Drive is an online game store offering PC videogames via direct download. On May 25, 2011, Gamefly acquired Direct2Drive from IGN Entertainment Group .- Competition with Steam :...
.
The download version of Star Wars: The Old Republic
Star Wars: The Old Republic
Star Wars: The Old Republic, abbreviated as TOR or SWTOR, is an upcoming massively multiplayer online role-playing game based in the Star Wars universe. Currently in development by BioWare Austin and a supplemental team at BioWare Edmonton, the game was first announced on October 21, 2008, at an...
is the only game so far to be announced as Origin exclusive. EA has also announced that limited editions of games would be exclusive to Origin. 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.
Sharing of personal information
EA's Origin has recently come under criticism for deciding to share any and all available information they collect from users' PCs to third-party vendors, as long as they agree to install collect application. The two specific sections of the EULA drawing criticism were sections 2 and 3.Section 2 was interpreted to grant EA the right to log data on application usage, IP addresses, operating system usage, installation and removal of software, and usage of software and peripheral hardware.
Section 3 states that using the software allows EA to monitor user activity: “EA
reserves the right to monitor communications on the Application and disclose any information EA deems necessary to (i) ensure your
compliance with this License; (ii) satisfy any applicable law, regulation or legal process; (iii) protect the rights, property and
interests of EA, its employees or the public. EA also reserves the right to edit, refuse to transfer and/or to remove any
information or materials, in whole or in part, in EA’s sole discretion.”
On August 24 2011, EA revised its End User License Agreement, removing several of the controversial sections. They released a statement saying that they had no intention to sell marketing data to third parties, nor install software akin to spyware on its customers PCs. The specific changes to the EULA removed EA's right to transfer collected personally identifiable data to third party users. However, Origin's EULA states that if there is a conflict with EA's Privacy Policy, the terms of the Privacy Policy shall prevail. EA's Privacy Policy gives EA rights to share anonymous non personal information with third parties.
EA has also received criticism for a clause within the company's privacy policy, stating that "By accepting these terms, you and EA expressly waive the right to a trial by jury or to participate in a class action." This clause has caused significant distress within the gaming community, with many fearing that the above clause is a preemptive attempt by EA to prevent legal action over the distribution of private information via its Origin platform.
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. According to Thomas Hoeren, a judge and professor for information, telecommunication and media law at the University of MünsterUniversity of Münster
The University of Münster is a public university located in the city of Münster, North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany. The WWU is part of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, a society of Germany's leading research universities...
, the German version of the EULA is a direct translation of the original without any modifications and its clauses "null and void".
Origin bans
Electronic ArtsElectronic Arts
Electronic Arts, Inc. is a major American developer, marketer, publisher and distributor of video games. Founded and incorporated on May 28, 1982 by Trip Hawkins, the company was a pioneer of the early home computer games industry and was notable for promoting the designers and programmers...
deleted repeatedly some players' accounts on Origin after having banned them from the Origin forums, contrary to the statements they made that the management of their forums was separated from the Origin platform itself, and in some cases for offenses which were deemed questionable by journalists.