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Forums - PC - EA's Origin may be glorified Spyware, causes mass upset

twesterm on 24 August 2011

[Source Destructoid]


 

In case you hadn't heard already, Electronic Arts' Origin is more than just a petty attempt to undermine Steam. It's an insidious petty attempt to undermine Steam. The service has upset gamers since it reserves the right to act like Spyware, allowing EA to dig around in your hard drive as explicitly stated in the terms of service.

The EULA says that EA can identify your computer, operating system, installed/uninstalled software/hardware, and use that information for marketing purposes while merrily sharing it with third party companies. It's all fairly disgusting, and there's no opt-out offer. If you don't want EA to know everything about you and pass the information along, your only recourse is to not install Origin -- which will mean you can't play Battlefield 3 on PC at all. 

Reddit, known for its anger over everything, is naturally furious over this one, and is organizing the masses to complain. It's certainly a complaint I can get behind. Origin was already an annoying waste of time, but this nasty little parasitism takes it to a whole new level of sleaze. Origin really can slurp the interior of every anus in town.



 

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Vetteman94 on 24 August 2011

Yes unfortunately they got us by the balls with Battlefield 3, and unfortunately I preordered it. But I don't see anything stopping Origin from existing.



Tallgeese101 on 24 August 2011

Urgh, Was planning on getting BF3 for PC. But that does seem like giving EA a bit too much info.



PullusPardus on 24 August 2011

"The EULA says that EA can identify your computer, operating system, installed/uninstalled software/hardware, and use that information for marketing purposes while merrily sharing it with third party companies. "

Big.
fucking.
deal.

for the record , steam does this too, thats how they give you game and driver updates, and also recommend you to upgrade your graphic card or other stuff.



SeriousWB on 24 August 2011
PullusPardus said:
"The EULA says that EA can identify your computer, operating system, installed/uninstalled software/hardware, and use that information for marketing purposes while merrily sharing it with third party companies. "

Big.
fucking.
deal.

for the record , steam does this too, thats how they give you game and driver updates, and also recommend you to upgrade your graphic card or other stuff.

You have to opt-in for Steam to do this you also have the option to opt-out, as far as I know Origin has no such option.

I don't care about them gathering data based on my playing Battlefield 3 or whatever, but that is where the intrusion should stop.



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thranx on 24 August 2011

I really wanted to get this on pc, but i will not with this kind of crap. If they dont have split screen on consoles I will not buy it for those either.



twesterm on 24 August 2011
PullusPardus said:
"The EULA says that EA can identify your computer, operating system, installed/uninstalled software/hardware, and use that information for marketing purposes while merrily sharing it with third party companies. "

Big.
fucking.
deal.

for the record , steam does this too, thats how they give you game and driver updates, and also recommend you to upgrade your graphic card or other stuff.


Where does it state that in the Steam EULA?

http://store.steampowered.com/subscriber_agreement/

I admit I didbn't read it fully and only skimmed it and then searched for "collect" but I didn't see anything like that.



 

Ail on 24 August 2011

Since this comes as a huge surprise to you i guess you do not run Windows Vista right ?
Because bitching about some installed app collecting data about you when the OS already does all of that is kind of bitching for no purpose..........

http://news.softpedia.com/news/Forget-about-the-WGA-20-Windows-Vista-Features-and-Services-Harvest-User-Data-for-Microsoft-58752.shtml



PS3-Xbox360 gap : 1.5 millions and going up in PS3 favor !

PS3-Wii gap : 20 millions and going down !

NiKKoM on 24 August 2011
twesterm said:
PullusPardus said:
"The EULA says that EA can identify your computer, operating system, installed/uninstalled software/hardware, and use that information for marketing purposes while merrily sharing it with third party companies. "

Big.
fucking.
deal.

for the record , steam does this too, thats how they give you game and driver updates, and also recommend you to upgrade your graphic card or other stuff.


Where does it state that in the Steam EULA?

http://store.steampowered.com/subscriber_agreement/

I admit I didbn't read it fully and only skimmed it and then searched for "collect" but I didn't see anything like that.

it's in http://www.valvesoftware.com/privacy.html




 

Face the future.. Gamecenter ID: nikkom_nl (oh no he didn't!!) 

IllegalPaladin on 24 August 2011

http://gamepolitics.com/2011/08/24/ea039s-origin-eula-hides-data-mining-clause

"The difference between what Steam claims it can collect for data and what Origin wants to collect is remarkably different; EA isn't just data mining stuff related to Origin, it's claiming the right to gather information on your PC and do with it what it likes."

Sadly, my interest in Battlefield 3 can't overcome the annoyance of EA's actions. I'll have to pass on the game for now.