Origin (EA)

Origin is an online gaming, Digital Distribution and Digital Rights Management platform developed by Electronic Arts that allows users to purchase games on the internet for PC, consoles, and mobile platforms, and download them with the Origin client (formerly EA Download Manager, EA Downloader and EA Link).

EA acquired the trademark Origin when it purchased Origin Systems in 1992. Origin Systems was a major game studio in the 1980s and 1990s, best known for its Ultima, Wing Commander, and Crusader game franchises.

Origin Access

Sometime in 2016, EA released a subscription service for accessing and playing their games on PC, this service is similar to their EA Access, which is for consoles. Origin Access gives subscribers a 10% discount on all purchases and even offers third-party titles and indie games. During E3 2018, EA announces Origin Access Premier, which is a premium tier that gives subscribers the bonus of playing future EA games early, these games will be the full version, unlike the "First Trials" which is for basic members.

Tropes used in Origin (EA) include:

7-Day Free Trial: EA offers a free week trial, just to test Origin and see if one likes it.
A Day in the Limelight: EA quietly killed off it's On The House program, now if one wants to play old classics, he must invest with Origin Premiere.
Arson, Murder, and Jaywalking: According to some newspapers, the German version of EA Origins violates several laws, including the ones concern privacy and customer protection.
- According to Thomas Hoeren, the German EULA is the exact same version as the original and therefore not advance enough to get private information, like photos.
Allegedly Free Game: Origin has the "On the House" program, were EA gives away a free game, along with said game's expansions. It's also the gamer's to keep.^[1]
Digital Distribution
Digital Rights Management
Internet Backdraft: Just as insanely buggy as Steam and Uplay when they first came out.
- Justified. Also, EA isn't helping, what with its infamous reputation among gamers.
- Also removing most of their games from Steam, like Crysis 2, earlier.
Indie Games: Origin also sells these, they're now called "EA Originals." Just to set them apart from the AA and AAA games.^[2]
Literal Surveillance Bug: EA Origin's was accused of being this, since there's a passage in the EULA permitting EA to spy on, edit, or remove material at their own discretion.
- EA made a statement saying that they "do not have access to huge information such as pictures, personal data, and the like."
No Export for You: Most of the Electronic Arts games are Origins exclusives, especially if one wants to play older games from the Vault.
- Averted, when a few of these games haven't been removed from rival companies' clients, like Steam, or are sold in GOG.com.
Swiss Cheese Security: Played straight, Origin's XMPP chat functions aren't encrypted properly. This results are that the innocent game chats might be misconstrue for evil, like terrorism.
We Sell Everything: Averted, they sell only EA Games.
- Somewhat averted, besides their own titles, EA also sells their competitors' games, like Square Enix.

Games and series for download from Origins include:

↑ [1]
↑ [2]

[1] [1]

[2] [2]

[1]

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