Honsou Gaming

Since EA’s decision to keep BF3 exclusively on Origin and removing their games from Steam, It has set a dangerous precedent for PC gaming. The last thing PC gaming needs is another Steam rival to split up the only thing that keeps PC gaming going.

The list of why Steam is better then Origin is way to long to mention and is not really the point of this post. Steam was the first platform for the PC, and the most supportive for PC gaming, especially against the consoles. We should keep this in mind when we are NOT given the choice between Origin, Impulse, Steam to play our games on made to load whatever platform I’m sure publishers will try and force on PC gamers. At least Impulse is optional, and lists many good Indy games that Steam does not have. Origin will simply put off gamers on the fence on whether to buy their games for PC or console. It makes consoles much more simpler then they already are and more attractive over the superior PC (Bias much?).

If your a PC gamer, and support the PC platform, then you need to support Steam. If you agree, then you need to;

• Use Steam – Buy games on Steam, use Steams many great features, and attached non-steam games to Steams library. You can get alot of use from Steam outside of its influence in gaming, so use it and explore its uses. Join a community, make a profile etc.
• Retail v Steam v Origin – Until Origin gets super anal, try and stick with Steam and if that is not an option, go for retail. Avoid Origin at all cost.
• Spread the word! – BF3 will be a massive success and will ultimately cement Origin on our PC’s, but the opinions of people is important for the long term reputation of a company. Not everyone feels passionate and alot of people don’t really care. Planting the idea that Steam is better and Steam is why PC gaming is good marginalizes Origin.
• EA delayed released V Steam – Chances are, once Origin picks up the amount of gamers on release of any game, they might trickle down those games to Steam. Why is it worth the wait for Steam besides supporting it? Almost every game now requires a patch to address immediate issues. BF3 will most likely have issues on release like Bad Company 2 had. Waiting should not be an issue for patient gamers who don’t mind letting other people test the initial release for them.

EA know they are on a winner with BF3. EA are a publisher, a private business out for money. Steam is no different, but at least Steam was here first and has gone out of its way to cater for gamers and has so far made PC gaming much more easier and enjoyable (as far as platforms go). EA’s Origin is simply to try and cash in on Steams success. If we are not careful, eventually every publisher will have its own platform that is required to play their games, complete with mandatory software with varying success that will water down the PC gaming experience. The customer still has a choice, and BF3 is the catalyst for something very dangerous. Forget how awesome the game is for the moment, and think of the consequences of what Origin will bring when publishers start pulling their games from Steam for there own (probably slow and crappy) platform.

If you play games on PC and have been living under a rock, you can find Steam here.

Honsou.

Any comments about this would be welcome. The comment interface below is a bit chunky but its all I have at the moment.