Origin's 'Great Game Guarantee' announced, allows you to return games

StickSkills writes, "Origin & EA have come out guns blazing, announcing the "Great Game Guarantee". To put it simply, you'll be able to return games on Origin if they don't meet your standards. There is criteria that you have to meet, obviously, and we've outlined it below."

[cyguration]

Wow this is great news.

[shivvy24]

this is really great ! gotta love competition !

[ZodTheRipper]

Steam will be really p*ssed off :D
Nobody wanted to use Origin before now there's a reason to buy there ...so Steam has to counter that with something similar to keep people away from Origin.

[aliengmr]

Valve has been FAR more gracious with its own library for years.

[starchild]

Yep, competition is great. That's one thing I like on PC more than on my consoles: there is competition between different services and digital game portals.

[cyguration]

Yep.

I don't like Origin but at least they're trying to be competitive.

I kind of do hope that Steam does the next best thing and allow for digital license trades. That would be... that would be orgasmic.

[Rageanitus]

It's not just that.... you can buy game keys from various sites around the world without worrying about TAX.

This is what console only gamers DO not see. We reap the benefits direct from steam and origin (more from steam) plus these random discounts from random e-stores.

[TekoIie]

This is great news! Hopefully it'll force Valve to change their TOS on game refunds!

[chaldo]

nice nice.. First removed online passes now this.

Keep up the good work EA (y)

[LocutusEstBorg]

Would have been if I hadn't sworn never to buy another EA game again because they raised priced to 350% in my country.

[cyguration]

Well I would never suggest you buy EA games, it's just good for the people who do and would like to get a refund.

Remember that Simcity fiasco? Even as the news spread and people found out the game was unplayable due to DRM they couldn't even get refunds unless they bought it from Amazon.

[-Foxtrot]

I'm sorry, I blacked out there for a sec...still trying to look for a catch

http://24.media.tumblr.com/...

[JackOfAllBlades]

Oh so this is for when the next game like SimCity comes out?

[JackOfAllBlades]

Why the disagree? Are you honestly going to sit here and argue the case that when the newest SimCity came out that you were like this is awesome, I totally don't want to return this amazing gem of a game!!! *MASS SARCASM*

[Jdoki]

Actually I put about 25 hours in to Sim City when it released. It had some big annoyances but they could be worked around. I agree that it should not have been released in that state - but I still had a lot of fun and it was a nice, lighter, counterpoint to the more serious Sim City 4 and Cities XL.

Stuff like the traffic issue was something that needed to be worked around and was pretty amusing if you didn't take it seriously. Accepting that RCI no longer linked properly was just a different approach (incredibly stupid, but different) and actually allowed different strategies (e.g. It allowed serious specialisation without worrying about the razor edge balance of RCI, as in SimCity 4).

The day 1 problems getting on the server were unacceptable, but not enough to return the game (I've been through numerous MMO launches, so know the drill!) The DRM is BS, especially for those who play on planes etc, but again - not a deal breaker for me, and I like the idea of a global market. but they should add an offline mode.

Yes, it was a huge mistake by EA / Maxis to launch early just to pull the profit for that financial year. Only now is it evolving in to the game it should have been on Day 1, but people were massively over reacting at the time.

[pandehz]

Is it really...I mean is it true...I mean....

http://www.youtube.com/watc...

[inf3cted1]

Origin is starting to get some competition going, nice.

[Corpser]

Hmm first the humble origin bundle now this, making good moves EA

[starchild]

Yeah, some good moves indeed. I loved the humble origin bundle.

[Eldyraen]

I still haven't bought it--but I have it Favorited.

I have most of the games already and know I'll pick it up but not sure what I want to give for it yet (mostly want for DS3 as just too cheap of an offer to pass it up). I'm actually thinking of giving more than I normally would simply as its unexpected from EA ;) Not a huge amount but just to show appreciation plus its for a good cause.

[GrilledCheeseBook]

Now EA needs to get a strong selection of non-EA games on Origin to put some real pressure on Steam.

[ifritAlkhemyst]

Here here. Steam has become rather bloated with its Facebook obsession. I like Origin a lot, better than the rest of these game clients, and would use it for the bigger games instead of Steam if I could.

[Eldyraen]

I wouldn't go that far, but its not as bad as a lot make it out to be either ;)

Origin is shaping up nicely and hopefully it continues positive trend (goes for EA too--past couple weeks gained some good karma in my book) but for now at least I'll still spend most of my money elsewhere.

To each their own though as I've personally not had a bad experience with Origin yet, just not as good of one as from others. Price or incentives often come into play here though--I tend to preorder from Steam a lot as occasionally get bonus games or further discount for owning earlier games in same franchise.

[showtimefolks]

for all the rightful hate ON EA

Origins is a great service and the competition between origins and steam should be great for us

[OhReginald]

hmmm....sounds to good to be true. but damn i can't even imagine how many people will misuse this service.

[Eldyraen]

Pretty cool idea, hopefully I'll never need to use it though.

At least now I'm more prone to use Origin to buy EA games and not say Gamestop App ;)

https://help.ea.com/article...
-- A little more background about it as had to go snooping--official help site about the service.

[Iltapalanyymi]

wow. for once origin is doing something right.

[Deividas]

Damn, absolutely great news! this is a huge step for PC gaming. Now you know Steam is going to be implement something like this in the near future. Nothing wrong with some healthy competition!

[aliengmr]

EA has the power to do what it wants with its own library but not third party titles. So competition really doesn't enter into it.

The vast majority of games on Steam are third-party games. So its highly unlikely they would do that.

[Sy_Wolf]

Wait, EA did something pro consumer? Isn't that a sign of the apocalypse in Genesis?

[mic_cala]

Is the humble bundle still availbe tryed lookin for it the other day and couldnt find ut on origin ????

[Goro]

https://www.humblebundle.co...

[Goro]

EA said they were going to try harder a few months back after winning "Worst company in America" for the 2nd time.
I didn't think they were serious at first but i have to admit they've done a pretty good job of it so far.

[Saryk]

Not bad. Wish they would allow those who bought a lot of their items a chance to do that once!

[mydyingparadiselost]

This is a nice gesture but also pretty limited as far as returns go compared to other products. Also it's only EA games that the return works on. anything third party is non refundable. Also the 24 hours after you play bothers me, although it is better than nothing alot of the game breaking glitches happen during a playthrough, like a ME2 autosave freeze bug that deletes data (happened at 30 hours in).
Like I said it's better than nothing but still not great.

[sovietsoldier]

there has to be some kind of catch because they would go bankrupt fast, we all know how ea and most of their games are like.

[Xristo]

Wow, I'm surprised I'm actually saying this.

Your move, Valve!

(although honestly, Valve probably just said, "Who? ... oh, that EA thingy.")

[GentlemenRUs]

Change the snooping part in the EULA and Origin might just be worth it!

EDIT:

"2. Consent to Collection and Use of Data.

You agree that EA may collect, use, store and transmit technical and related information that identifies your computer (including the Internet Protocol Address), operating system, Application usage (including but not limited to successful installation and/or removal), software, software usage and peripheral hardware, that may be gathered periodically to facilitate the provision of software updates, dynamically served content, product support and other services to you, including online services. EA may also use this information combined with personal information for marketing purposes and to improve our products and services. We may also share that data with our third party service providers in a form that does not personally identify you. IF YOU DO NOT WANT EA TO COLLECT, USE, STORE, TRANSMIT OR DISPLAY THE DATA DESCRIBED IN THIS SECTION, PLEASE DO NOT INSTALL OR USE THE APPLICATION."

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

[ninjahunter]

Wow, as a laptop gamer I cannot describe how valuable this is, A couple games ive bought have had very serious performance... incompatibilities with laptops. Im looking at you witcher 2.

Im not gonna say my laptop is a tank to rule the world, but when i can play 80% or so games maxed out its kind of expected that all games will work in one form or another. And when that doesnt turn out to be true, well, i would sleep better knowing i can get a refund.

[aliengmr]

It only applies to EA games and doesn't specify whether its store credit or not. So...

[0pie]

EA titles only!
Which mean, i dont care since i dont buy any game from EA since they are a bunch of scumbags.

[Str8Chaos74]

I think I am in the PC gaming Twilight Zone. EA actually does something to benefit customers, and MS is finally going to kill GFWL next year.