Origin (sales platform)

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Origin

Origin.svg
Basic data

developer Electronic Arts
Current  version 5/10/41
(June 19, 2019)
operating system Windows , macOS
category Sales platform
License Proprietary / Freeware
German speaking Yes
www.origin.com

Origin ( Engl. For origin , origin ) is an Internet distribution platform for digital distribution of video games , which from the game manufacturer Electronic Arts is developed (EA) and operated. It emerged from the EA Store and EA Download Manager . Origin enables customers to buy computer games online and then download and play them using client software.

The system enables online distribution , maintenance ( patching ) and usage control ( DRM ) of the games as well as communication between the players. Since the introduction of Origin, the installation of the Origin client has been a prerequisite for almost all newly released PC games from Electronic Arts. In addition to its own games, EA also offers titles from other manufacturers via Origin.

As of July 31, 2012, Origin claims to have over 21 million user accounts, including nine million mobile users.

Components

Origin Store

The Origin Store allows users to purchase and download games from Electronic Arts and selected partners. Instead of receiving a box with a CD and serial number, the game is linked directly to the Origin user account. The game can now be loaded as often as required with this user account and the Origin client. EA guarantees that the game will be available for download for 12 months.

Origin Client

The Origin Client is the program for downloading purchased games and related extensions. It shows which games are available and playable if they have already been downloaded. The structure of the program is comparable to Steam . Most EA titles released since then require Origin to be installed in order to launch and play. Multiplayer games require a connection to the Origin server. For single player mode, however, these can also be used offline without a connection to the Origin server.

Origin Access

Origin Access is a subscription for a period between one month and one year, with which you have free access to a certain selection of games in the store after paying a fixed price for this period (game flat rate ). After the phase has expired, however, the games are no longer playable. The selection of games changes over time. There are also discounts and demo versions. The concept is based on EA Access for the Xbox One . On July 30, 2018, the Origin Access Premier service was launched, providing access to all EA games in Origin and allowing games to be played five days before their actual release.

history

The EA Downloader started at the end of 2005 and was replaced by EA Link in November 2006 . EA Link also made it possible to load video, demos and additional content for games. A new version followed in September 2007 with an integrated EA Store and EA Download Manager, which replaced EA Link. Users could buy games in the EA Store and then download them using the download manager. All games used with EA Link could still be used with the download manager. On June 3, 2011, the name was changed to Origin.

The first release was the Modern Combat expansion for the game Battlefield 2: Special Forces , followed by most of the current EA games. Until the release of Battlefield 3 , Spore Creature Creator was the largest product launch to date. On October 27, 2011, Electronic Arts announced that it would also offer games from other publishers on Origin in the future.

At gamescom 2012, Electronic Arts announced that it would support Android and offer a variant for smart TV devices and Facebook .

From version 9.1.6, Origin is also available for the macOS operating system.

brand

EA acquired the Origin brand when it bought Origin Systems in 1992. Origin Systems was one of the leading game developers of the 1980s and 1990s, known for the games Ultima , Wing Commander and Crusader .

criticism

Anger among the fans of the Battlefield series caused that Origin features slowed down or crashed the game Battlefield 3, which was published exclusively on this platform . As a result, the CPU consumption was restricted in version 8.6. However, Origin still uses comparatively large amounts of memory, even if it is not needed.

As can be seen from comments and ratings outside Electronic Arts' sphere of influence, but also evident in their own forums, many players are annoyed by the many technical errors and design flaws, some of which have not been corrected to this day. So was z. B. specified as a system requirement for the Battlefield 3 Limited Edition (which only contains one expansion pack) when purchasing 20 GB of hard drive space, but because of the forced use of Origin, significantly more space is now being used - with data for expansion packs that are used by limited edition owners but then are not authorized at all.

privacy

With the acceptance of the original license agreement when installing Origin, Electronic Arts was given extensive rights with regard to the data on the computer used.

According to the license agreement, EA was allowed to:

  • automatically check license rights for some or all EA products on the respective computer without notification
  • EA may use software information about hardware, media, software and the "use of the applications on the computer" to "check license rights and update the application"
  • EA and partners are permitted to collect, save, transfer and use technical and related information about the computer and the user. It is not clear who the partners are or which data is actually being used.

From a legal point of view, this involved multiple violations of consumer and data protection rights. The license agreement was adjusted a few weeks after the release of Battlefield 3 and some critical passages were removed.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ https://secure.download.dm.origin.com/releasenotes/10.5.41/de_DE.html
  2. ↑ Electronic Arts : Electronic Arts Reports Q1 FY13 Financial Results ( English ) In: Quarterly Report 1/2013 . November 13, 2016. Retrieved August 1, 2012: “ EA's Origin ™ platform for downloading digital games and services has registered over 21 million users, including 9 million mobile users. Origin has signed agreements with 57 independent developers. "
  3. ↑ Origin Frequently Asked Questions ( Memento from December 17, 2012 in the web archive archive.today )
  4. ↑ Origin FAQ ( Memento from December 17th, 2012 in the web archive archive.today )
  5. ↑ Origin. Retrieved July 27, 2018 .
  6. ↑ Origin Access: Is the subscription worth it? Retrieved July 27, 2018 .
  7. ↑ Electronic Arts: EA Access - Play the best EA titles on Xbox One - EA Official Site . In: Electronic Arts Inc. July 19, 2018 ( ea.com [accessed July 27, 2018]).
  8. ↑ Origin Access Premier - release date, starting price known - GameStar . ( gamestar.de [accessed on July 28, 2018]).
  9. ↑ EA Origin: "Origin Access Premier" is coming, "Auf's Haus" is going . In: PC Games Hardware . ( pcgameshardware.de [accessed on July 28, 2018]).
  10. ↑ EA soft-launches Link ( Memento from July 3, 2013 in the Internet Archive )
  11. ^ Leigh Alexander: Electronic Arts Closes EA Link Service, Unveils EA Store . In: Gamasutra . UBM plc . September 24, 2007. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
  12. ↑ EA Store ( Memento from March 17, 2011 in the web archive archive.today )
  13. ↑ ea.com/ealink ( Memento of October 9, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) Footnote on EA Link's website: Games bought via EA Link was downloadable using the EA Download Manager.
  14. ↑ EA Launches PC Digital Delivery Service . In: Gamasutra . UBM plc . Retrieved November 13, 2016.
  15. ↑ Electronic Arts : Origin Expands to Offer Games from Major Publishers - Warner Bros., THQ and Capcom Bringing Top Titles to EA's Direct Download Platform . In: Official website . October 27, 2011. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
  16. ↑ Sebastian Klix: Origin - Officially confirmed for Mac and other platforms . In: GameStar . IDG . August 14, 2012. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
  17. ↑ Info on Origin at Electronic Arts
  18. ↑ Allen Varney: The Conquest of Origin ( English ) In: The Escapist . Themis Media . October 11, 2005. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
  19. ↑ AVAILABLE NOW: GET THE NEWEST VERSION OF ORIGIN ( Memento from May 11, 2012 in the Internet Archive )
  20. ↑ http://www.futurelooks.com/origin-vs-steam-in-dept-comparison-of-the-software-platforms/
  21. ↑ http://www.chip.de/downloads/Origin-EA-Download-Manager_48892896.html
  22. ↑ http://battlelog.battlefield.com/bf3/forum/threadview/2832654489594608448/
  23. ↑ http://www.amazon.de/EA-Battlefield-3-Limited-Edition/dp/B004M17DVM
  24. ↑ http://battlelog.battlefield.com/bf3/forum/threadview/2832654625461768671/
  25. ↑ Electronic Arts: Games giant wants to spy on customers from October 28, 2011 on spiegel.de
  26. ↑ Analysis of the EULA from EA Origin: The Devil in the contract details from October 25, 2011 on gamestar.de
  27. ↑ Data protection deficiencies in “Battlefield 3”: Electronic Arts gives in after player protests ( memento from December 19, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) from November 1, 2011 on tagesschau.de
Internet distribution platforms for computer games


Personal computer

Battle.net • Desura • Discord Store • Epic Games Store • GOG.com • Humble Store • Itch.io • Microsoft Store • Nutaku • Origin • Robot Cache • Steam • Uplay • WeGame

Game console

Microsoft Store • Nintendo eShop • PlayStation Store • Xbox Live Arcade

Mobile devices

Amazon Appstore • App Store (iOS) • F-Droid • Google Play • Nutaku • Samsung Galaxy Store