The Beginning of the End of Digital Downloads

Electronic Arts has announced that it will be releasing more titles exclusively to Origin, its digital distribution platform. EA also plans to offer exclusive and unique content for games sold on Origin. Does this mean that there will be one more contender vying for exclusive pre-order bonuses, or does it suggest something much worse?

[pungello1988]

Not a fan of The Old Republic being an Origin exclusive hopefully this doesn't get too out of control

[jesscamegan]

That is definitely something to think about. I do love digital downloads for their convince. I would not be super happy if specific games were only available to certain companies.

[outwar6010]

apparently the origins games you pay for are only yours for 2 years.

[morganfell]

"apparently the origins games you pay for are only yours for 2 years."

Where is that piece of information? It isn't in the article. I am not saying that the two year issue isn't a fact, only that it isn't in the article. In addition I have only seen this posted by a few people, most on N4G, and none of them official spokespeople for EA.

If I am going to rail against something I want it's existence to be legitimate.

[radphil]

@morganfell

It's in the TOS on the site.

Edit: Terms of Sales, not Terms of Service fyi.

As far as the whole 2 years thing though, i'm not sure on, but I know it says you only have a LEAST year:

http://tos.ea.com/legalapp/...

Go under "Performance of the Contract"

"The products and services that we make available on the Websites may be downloaded or accessed for at least one year after you have completed your purchase."

So there's no guarantee that it'll be more or less than 2 years, but that wording worries me.

Edit again: I just looked more into it:

http://store.origin.com/DRH...

"1. Extended Download Service - Upon payment of the specified fee, Digital River, Inc. ("DR") agrees to provide you (the "End User") a service that enables the End User to make multiple downloads of digital computer software products (a "Product" or "Products") purchased in a single order (an "Order") and downloaded from this Web site (the "Site") for a period of five (5) years after the End User purchases the Product (the "Service")."

So apparently there is some sort of time limit on your purchases. -_-

[Beahmscream]

DAMN YOU ORIGIN! DAMN YOU!

[TheFodi]

I was just warming up to the concept of digital downloads.

[reznik_zerosum]

i use only digital download - pirate bay

[LightofDarkness]

Oh for god's sake EA F**K OFF.

[BioRevenant]

Competition breeds advancement, lets see where this goes before we jump to conclusions, shall we?

[CaptCalvin]

Well in this case it just leads to higher prices on their games, since it's their game and you can only get it from them, they can set their prices to whatever they want them to be. This actually eliminates competition.

[zeal0us]

a digital store that only sells ea games....not really advancement more like cutting out the middleman just to get profit to me. Not to mention dividing gamers, if it somehow works with steam and or GFWL, I will take back everything I said and apologize.

" EA also plans to offer exclusive and unique content for games"

They could of done this with the regular Estore. I don't really see how this is going to be any different.

First EA, then every other big name company. I wouldn't be surprise if Activision announces their "new" sell platform Activision Elite. Domino effect here we come.....

[BioRevenant]

I'm not saying this is a good thing, I'm just saying we should take a wait and see approach with this. Jumping to conclusions without having any real info is never a good thing to do.

[Rhythmattic]

zeal0us

Definitely cutting out the middleman and making a huge Markup..

I did post this in another thread, But this really gets up my goat--

For digital delivery... a US $60 game, taking into account the exchanged rate and adding GST it should be around $62 - 65 Aussie dollars.

DeadSpace/Crysis2/Mass Effect 3 and more .... $80..

I Still cant beleive it !!!! OMG

$80 on the Oz store ??????? GO F yourself EA !!!