EA's Origin and Wasteland 2 thread

[boilerM]

Origin is just one of many programs that Inxile will be using to distribute Wasteland 2. We at Inxile hope to provide multiple options for the purchase of Wasteland 2 to accommodate the different needs of our supporters.

[AgentTate]

First of all, Fargo has never said publishers are evil. At worst, he's said that they give devs something of a raw deal. People have assumed he's said they're evil and that all their games are crap because they think that. But Fargo is a businessman, and he knows that burning bridges is not good business. And, you know, he also likes a lot of the more mainstream games that are being made. He just thinks the sort of experience W2 will provide has been missing from games for a long time.

Very good point.

Secondly, and more importantly, a distribution deal is not a publishing deal. I fucking hate Origin as a player, but I wouldn't turn down the opportunity for my game to be distributed on it just because I don't like the service, because that's a terrible business decision any way you slice it. If they wanted an exclusive distribution deal, then yes, Fargo would be dumb to take it. But that's not what's happening; Origin is one of many services that will be distributing it. In addition, EA is waiving its distribution fee for ninety days, which means it's ninety days of pure Origin profit for W2. Say what you will about EA's cretinous behavior in other areas of the industry, but that's a pretty smart move that happens to be good for W2.


Yes, it's a marketing stunt to generate positive press for EA. So? It works out well for consumers, and very well for developers. If they want positive press, and they do something that's worthy of positive press, let them have their positive press. It's idiotic to scorn EA for doing something good just because it's a marketing ploy. Everything they do is a marketing ploy, because they are a business in a capitalist society. Nothing any business in a capitalist society does is purely altruistic. The thing is, supporting them when they do things like this means they will do more things like this, and that's good for consumers. Giving corporations your money and/or your approval is like giving a puppy treats: you don't give it one if it shits on the carpet, but you do give it one if it follows your commands. It is thus encouraged to follow your commands.

Well said, sir.

Look at Valve. In general, they have gamers' trust, and they have greatly benefited financially from that. Steam Workshop is no less a marketing ploy than EA's move here, in that it's a move designed to attract people to their service; the only difference is that Steam Workshop is one of about a thousand amazing things Valve's done to make their platform attractive to people, all of which were, at bottom, marketing ploys that worked, because they communicated to consumers that they would get a better deal if they bought a game on Steam than they would from buying it elsewhere. If EA wants to make Origin attractive by outdoing Valve in terms of customer satisfaction, and they're able to do that, why shouldn't they be supported in that effort? It's a win-win for consumers. EA is only as "evil" as its current policies toward consumers - which are very evil indeed, and should be called out as such until they change those policies to something better, at which point they should be praised. Because, to beat this metaphor to death, they're no longer shitting on the carpet. And if they go back to the old policies, well, we know how to get them to stop doing it now, don't we?

Again, a good summary of how good business works and should be supported.

To sum up: if you don't want to buy W2 on Origin, don't buy it on Origin. This is not a big deal, nor is it Fargo crawling back to the infernal publishers. It's just a distribution deal, one that any businessperson with sense would have taken in a heartbeat. All it's doing is expanding W2's potential customer base. That's not a bad idea, period.

Brosolid?

[batfax]

The DRM is bad on both fronts, yes, but the main issue with most people is EA's anti-user hububs that just plain turns people off of them just when they hear the name "Origin" or "EA." They didn't win the award for "Worst Company in America" because of their fine, upstanding business practices. A main thing that also feels weird is EA being so terrible to companies it publishes for whilst Brian Fargo's spent so much time saying "To hell with publishers" and getting a good chunk of the fans in on it too.

In the end, it shouldn't mess with Wasteland 2 itself at all if the deal's on the up-and-up but EA has left such a sour taste with so many consumers and developers it's easy to understand why people'll be outspoken against it being within 50 feet of them.

[Kanten]

I am completely not ok with this. When I pledged money to Wasteland 2, it was to avoid having a company like EA in the equation. That company destroys everything it touches, and I just know they will find a way to screw the team over with this deal.

This announcement better not be some kind of indication that the game is going to be exclusive on Origin, because I am never installing that hunk of spyware on my system. If this is the direction it's going, I want my donation back, because it feels like inXile took my money and set it on fire with this decision. EA and Origin are a sinking ship, and this is just desperation on their parts trying to screw over the donators who want a future free of the constant meddling and developer abuse that a company like EA has monopolized the industry with. EA is in panic mode because crowd-funding is threatening them with a future that renders them obsolete puts the industry back into the hands of the gamers, not the businessmen. I am never backing another crowd-funded project if they're going to fall for EA's BS like this. EA does not want to "support" crowd-funded projects, they want to kill it dead.

And to respond to Rune, there is a MASSIVE difference between Steam and Origin. One scans your entire hard drive in the background and sends your information away to be sold to marketers. The other lets you play games. Take a wild guess which is which. Valve built their reputation over many years of respecting their users, whereas EA has basically done everything within their power to screw them over.

[Mandemon]

No not everyone would have done it. Especially since Origin has such a bad reputation under PC gamers. If you want positive reactions go for distribution on GOG.com or steam. Getting your game on Origins will only produce hate. Hate that this game does not really need later on.

Also we know that Steam basicly controls like 50% of the digital market. Origin is just a small fish which always tries to get attention. GOG.COM is loved especially by Old-school fans and here it could sell quite a bit especially since gog tries to get newer and "indy" games as well now.

Marketing and Business wise Origin was the worst chance if there were no money deal involved here.

That... doens't even make sense. Are you going to hate the game just because one of the possible platforms is Origin? How is that games fault? If you don't like Origin, don't get it from Origin! Get it from Steam or Gog or directly from Inxile or whatever.

Also, Otaku article:

http://kotaku.com/5911567/ea-offers-cro ... -on-origin

Now read that.

It's not just Wasteland 2 (although I guess it's the main reason, but they decided go for a full mile) that is being offered the deal. It's all crowfunded games.

3 months of essentially free distribution deal? EA only starts taking it's cut after 3 months? That's like gift from heavens.

Just because Origin is possibility doesn't mean Inxile or Brian Fargo is going to suddenly drop every other platform.

[Darji]

No not everyone would have done it. Especially since Origin has such a bad reputation under PC gamers. If you want positive reactions go for distribution on GOG.com or steam. Getting your game on Origins will only produce hate. Hate that this game does not really need later on.

Also we know that Steam basicly controls like 50% of the digital market. Origin is just a small fish which always tries to get attention. GOG.COM is loved especially by Old-school fans and here it could sell quite a bit especially since gog tries to get newer and "indy" games as well now.

Marketing and Business wise Origin was the worst chance if there were no money deal involved here.

That... doens't even make sense. Are you going to hate the game just because one of the possible platforms is Origin? How is that games fault? If you don't like Origin, don't get it from Origin! Get it from Steam or Gog or directly from Inxile or whatever.

Also, Otaku article:

http://kotaku.com/5911567/ea-offers-cro ... -on-origin

Now read that.

It's not just Wasteland 2 (although I guess it's the main reason, but they decided go for a full mile) that is being offered the deal. It's all crowfunded games.

3 months of essentially free distribution deal? EA only starts taking it's cut after 3 months? That's like gift from heavens.

Just because Origin is possibility doesn't mean Inxile or Brian Fargo is going to suddenly drop every other platform.

Again...

I dont like their practices also EA was 100% one of these publishers in this video from Brain fargo for example. You remeber the satire one? And quite honestly I am sad that this game will be distributed by one of the big publishers who just want to have publicity like they tried with this EA indy bundle bullshit.

No publisher should get any sort of advantage from these kind of projects. And for future backing I really need to look more into it which games I will support and which not. I only hope Double fine and Al Lowe do not the same here. These whole projects should be 100% publisher free in my opinion.

And I know its not an exclusive deal but still it makes me sad...

[Mandemon]

What?

You got whole thing wrong pal.

EA isn't offering to be a publisher.

It's offering to be distributor.

There is a difference there.

It's same difference as Bethesda publishing Fallout New Vegas and Valve selling it.

Valve sells it. Valve isn't the publisher. It's a distributor. The same thing EA is offering to be.

[tuluse]

You're all over reacting. This is just selling the game at another store. Sure its' a store that sucks, and I'll never use, but it's still just another store.

[Darji]

What?

You got whole thing wrong pal.

EA isn't offering to be a publisher.

It's offering to be distributor.

There is a difference there.

I know this...

STill EA one of the biggest publishers is now "involved" as a distributor. Do they have any say in the project? No they dont but still they take advantage from this wich is not right in my opinion. That is all.

[Rune]

The only reason I can see (not considering user freedoms) for inXile not to put their game in Origin would be if EA took any freedoms over distribution away from them.

As long as I can get a DRM-free copy, inXile can put it on as many DRM infested distribution services as they like, be it Origin, Steam or whatever (as long as I don't have to use those services to get the game.)

[Mandemon]

Aaaand... what is the problem? Just because it's EA doing blanket offer?

Look, to me it seems EA has finaly started to pull it's head out of it's ass and noticed people don't like them.

So they pull stunts like this. To earn back customer trust.

Why should indie developers be punished for EA offering do to something good? If this doesn't stick, EA marketing will think it's the wrong approach and do some more idiocy. I rather have them take a new path where they are more supportive to newcomers than their current "Buy everything and drive it to the ground" policy.

Valve is going to be involved. GoG is going to be involved. Is that bad? Are they now going to be "involved" with the Wasteland 2? Or... are they just going to be sellers?

You logic sounds more like what is called "Insane Troll Logic" (not necessarily requires troll, but what can I do to the name?) where EA is bad and anything associated with EA is bad.

Wasteland 2 exist because EA allowed Brian Fargo to gain rights to the IP. If they hadn't, this whole thing wouldn't be happening.

[DarkTwinkie]

Hey guys,

Just to confirm what most are saying, this is not an exclusive deal. One of our core tenants has been to make our fans happy. That is why we spend so much time learning about what you want and don't want in Wasteland 2. This also spreads to distribution of the game. Some people like Steam, others Desura, Origin or GOG. If we only listened to the people who didn't like a specific distribution platform, we would have nowhere to deliver the game. For that reason, we want to include ALL distribution methods we can so that YOU can choose which one you support and download it from there. We just want people to have easy access to play the game we're going to put the next 18 months of our life into.

Chris

[Funkinator]

Because EA is anathema to PC gaming. And Fargo's videos were an indictment of current publishers. But now they are cool? And it is working with EA. Origins is EAs. And yes, you are working with Valve if you are distributing through Steam.

[eyesofastorm]

Hey guys,

Just to confirm what most are saying, this is not an exclusive deal. One of our core tenants has been to make our fans happy. That is why we spend so much time learning about what you want and don't want in Wasteland 2. This also spreads to distribution of the game. Some people like Steam, others Desura, Origin or GOG. If we only listened to the people who didn't like a specific distribution platform, we would have nowhere to deliver the game. For that reason, we want to include ALL distribution methods we can so that YOU can choose which one you support and download it from there. We just want people to have easy access to play the game we're going to put the next 18 months of our life into.

Chris

As long as it's not exclusive to Origin, I can certainly live with it even if I don't approve of dealings with EA. That said, if you or anyone from inXile ever has to enter EA's domain in a bodily manner, please, PLEASE crush few dozen cloves of garlic in some olive oil three days prior, drink a half gallon of holy water the night before, a half gallon the morning of and then rub yourselves down (don't miss any spots... even your bathing suit places) with the garlic infused olive oil. Also, a small tattoo of a crucifix over your carotid artery is rumored to be useful, but I have not confirmed this.

[CaptainPatch]

It's a good offer, 3 months of free distribution before EA starts taking it's cut. I don't see the problem.

How do you feel about the shift in emphasis between Dragon Age: Origins and Dragon Age II? That shift traces directly back to EA and its insistence that BioWare design DA2 to be MUCH more heavily Action-oriented in order to appeal to a significantly large Market segment.

EA no longer gives a damn about the customers. Its only concern is to maximize its Return On Investment -- and to hell with Quality and content. What this means to you is that once EA has its foot in the door, you WILL be paying bigger prices for less content.

[Mandemon]

"Exclusive to [insert platform here]" was never an option. Well, except for PC. I doubt we ever see Wasteland 2 outside computers (And yes, Macs are computers).

[CaptainPatch]

As long as I can get a DRM-free copy, inXile can put it on as many DRM infested distribution services as they like, be it Origin, Steam or whatever (as long as I don't have to use those services to get the game.)

On the one hand, I agree with you: the distribution sources, the better. On the other hand,... Damn, I hate to see _anything_ that helps EA become more successful.

[Mandemon]

Go and read this thread:

viewtopic.php?f=7&t=2181&p=42363

The whole thing is dealt there. EA is not offering to become a publishers, it's offering to become a distributor, you know, same as Valve or GoG. It's not even exclusive deal to Wasteland 2.

As for Quality of Bioware... Well, last 3 games I bought form them were ME2, ME3 and DA:O. Go ahead guess which one I didn't like.

[newyawk]

I think you give some special stuff to steam... Favor them in a way but they need to put it in all stores. The deal here was creating a game not under the controlling thumb of a publisher. Distribution is wholly different and a free dlc or something to that effect for steam will get a fuck you message across if kick starter didn't do that already.

This game MUST sell to succeed and prove the model. I will buy it on steam but hope they do direct2drive and any others they can including the collectors edition at ga,estop

WAit.. Already get a few copies. I will tell people to buy it on steam

[Mandemon]

If I remember correctly, Steam dictates that if game is going to have DLC, it must be also released trough Steam so you are not allowed to use outside platform for DLC. This is what caused the break between EA and Steam, EA basically planned to release games trough Steam and DLC trough Origin, but thanks to that clause they got in to fight and now all new EA games are Origin exclusive.