Tag: Origin

EA Introduces Origin Guarantee


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Who ever heard of being able to return a digital download? The rare case on Steam, maybe, but otherwise you’re pretty much out of luck when it comes to digital purchases. Electronic Arts has unveiled the Great Game Guarantee, a new system that allows customers to return products that they don’t like, for a full refund.

The new Origin Great Game Guarantee works like this: You may return EA full game downloads (PC or Mac) purchased on Origin for a full refund–within 24 hours after you first launch the game, within seven days from when you purchased it, or within the first seven days after the game’s release date if you pre-ordered it (whichever of these conditions happens first).

Your reason for returning the game doesn’t even have to be technical. EA will accept returns even if you just didn’t like the game.

(Source: Origin)

The Secret World 50% Off On Origin


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Good news, gamers. You can now pick up The Secret World through EA’s Origin store for 50% off, or $14.99 USD. The purchase gives access to the full Secret World experience minus the DLC expansions and the items available in the cash shop. Otherwise, The Secret World is completely subscription free (ignore the outdated notice at the bottom of the origin page). The offer does not include all countries, so if you see the game at its standard price, you probably aren’t included in it.

You do not need to download Origin in order to play The Secret World. Simply log in or create a Funcom account and apply your key, then download the client from the Secret World website.

(Source: Origin)

EA Sends Origin Coupons In Response To Playstation Store Downtime


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Update: EA has retracted its free game offer, noting that the original notice was created in mistake. EA CFO Blake Jorgensen reached out to MMO Fallout to explain what was simply a case of mistaken identity:

Electronic Arts stands at the head of a large number of subsidiaries, and it’s become so hard to  keep track of how many we’ve had to apologize for that we decided to set up an automated system we call the Apology Bot 3000. Unfortunately the system still has some kinks to work out and sent out the coupons under the false pretense that EA owns Sony. We apologize for the mistaken apology and to compensate our users, we will be sending each of our members an unlock code for a free copy of Peggle on the Playstation Vita.

Original Story: In an unexpected and unexplainable move, Electronic Arts has reached out in apology to Playstation 3 owners affected by today’s Playstation Store downtime, and has offered the console users a free Origin game as compensation for their frustration and time. Gamers are admittedly confused by the sudden move, since EA is neither responsible for the Playstation Store, or are they at fault for the store’s extended downtime. Still, it’s rude to look a gift horse in the mouth, and EA is offering players a free copy of Battleforge, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Need For Speed World, and Warhammer Online: Wrath of Heroes.

We will hopefully have a comment from Sony on the matter once they stop screening our calls.

[Not An MMO] Report Bugs in Sim City, Or EA Will Ban You


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There was a time long ago when beta testing was a privilege, an agreement between the user and the developer that you would test the game for bugs or to offer feedback on balancing or features, and in return you got to play the game early. The state of beta tests today, which mostly serve as little more than promotional tools and early access demos, is one that the industry only need to look to itself to find who to blame. Perhaps spending years treating a beta like it is a giant pre-release party instead of the low-key bug-busting event it should be was a poor choice.

Recently we’ve seen developers trying to bring beta tests back to their roots, generally through the enforcement of a strict nondisclosure agreement and close discussion with users on the community forums, and a stern reminder that the test is indeed just that: A test. In the case of Electronic Arts and the upcoming beta test for SimCity, they responded in the same manner they always do: They threaten bans. In fact, according to the EULA, if EA thinks you knew about a bug and didn’t report it, you could lose access to “all EA products.”

“It is understood and agreed that, as part of your participation in the Beta Program, it is your responsibility to report all known bugs, abuse of ‘bugs’, ‘undocumented features’ or other defects and problems related to the Game and Beta Software to EA as soon as they are found (‘Bugs’). If you know about a Bug or have heard about a Bug and fail to report the Bug to EA, we reserve the right to treat you no differently from someone who abuses the Bug. You acknowledge that EA reserve the right to lock anyone caught abusing a Bug out of all EA products.”

As you might have guessed, actually banning for such an act would be difficult, if not impossible without the help of a specialized team of psychic mind readers. The wording offers a clear difference between someone failing to report a bug and a person who abuses a bug. So how do you prove someone knows a bug exists? If their account was spotted experiencing but not abusing said bug? There are a million different contexts in which a person could experience a bug and either pass over it due to inexperience in bug testing, not recognize it as being a bug, or not report it for whatever reason. Does that person really deserve to lose access to their entire Origin account for such a crime?

Of course not. It’s likely just a scare tactic. Hopefully.

(Source: Side Questing)

Ultima Online Ask & Answer #6


Ultima Online has published the sixth Ask & Answer and there are some interesting questions for gamers, regardless of whether you play Ultima Online or not. For instance, did you know Ultima Online doesn’t have a full personal message system in place? The team is working on one, according to the Q&A. In addition to upgrading the game’s personal message system, there are plans in the works to add in new tools to help players find vendors in crowded cities. Unfortunately, once again the question of will there be a classic shard is a sound no.

There are a few more questions in the Q&A. Ultima Online recently celebrated its fifteenth year of service with the introduction of the new ruler of Britannia: Lord Blackthorn.

(Source: Ultima Online)

The Old Republic: Now With Limited Quantities


Good news, fans of Star Wars, The Old Republic, and Bioware: Starting today, you may preorder EA’s upcoming MMO through selected retailers. While supplies last. Yes, if you want to preorder through Origin.com, you will have to go through the arduous “I’m not worthy” process of submitting a request to pre-order, waiting for your confirmation, and hopefully getting a spot. Oh and there’s a $5 “fee” to preorder, and a $20 fee to pre-order the collector’s edition (which is now out of stock).

Don’t worry, the limited supply is not because of something technically related, Bioware is artificially limiting supply:

BioWare has always had a history of delivering high quality experiences for our customers and we are dedicated to making sure that track record continues with Star Wars: The Old Republic. Our focus is on not only delivering a high quality game, but also in developing a thriving online environment. In order to ensure a great user experience we have decided to limit initial launch supply. Further supplies will be released post-launch.

It should also be noted that Origin is not accepting orders from Australian or South American users. But still, The Old Republic must be a great game if players are being billed a “fee” for the privilege of getting in line to possibly preorder a game, right? This is how EA plans to beat Steam in the digital distribution market? It is unknown how this is affecting stores outside of Origin, if at all.

What They Can Do Vs What They Will Do


One of the most common tips sent to the MMO Fallout email address (mmofallout at gmail) relates to Terms of Service and End User License Agreements, and people (understandably) have a tendency to take the wording of said documents as an open door for the company to abuse its customers down the road, rather than its real intention: Covering the company’s collective asses.

The reason I’m writing this article today is because of a recent discovery in EA’s Origin download manager that states your account may be deleted for inactivity after two years of no action by the user. After many contacts to EA’s customer service, by myself and others, I can conclude that EA has no intent of following through and deactivating accounts for anyone with games. Doing so would cause irreparable harm to the company’s reputation among gamers.

Steam, EA, and virtually every company have clauses where your license can be terminated for any reason whatsoever, and in some agreements for no reason whatsoever. This doesn’t mean Valve or John Smedley are going to one day say “hey let’s ban ten thousand people and see how many buy their games back,” rather I can say from someone who has worked customer service in the gaming industry, that it’s an end-all beat-all for people who try to circumvent the wording of the Terms of Service to evade a ban. It’s similar to when you would try to get around your parents by saying “well you didn’t specifically say I couldn’t do this,” and they would respond with “well I’m the adult and what I say goes in this house.”

For the record, such a clause is indeed legal. It’s similar to how EA can shut down online services for various games each year but retailers can keep the games on shelf with their original box art, or how an MMO can shut down without legal repercussion (they do have to take the boxes down in that case, however). The biggest drawback to terms of service and EULA’s is that they always favor the company, no exceptions, and will always grant full control over the game to the company. In the case of MMOs, this translates to you own nothing regarding your account, your characters, your items, etc. What you, as a consumer, must take into consideration is how much trust you put in that company.

But as I have always maintained here at MMO Fallout: Vote with your wallet. If you still don’t trust Origin and want to buy The Old Republic or a similar game, buy the boxed copy. Or don’t buy it at all. It might also be productive to email EA to express your discontent for the service.