Tech and Talk > Gaming > PC gaming GAMES > EA Boss: Steam sales "cheapen intellectual property"

This sounds exactly like something someone would say if they were directly trying to compete with said service they were slandering. It doesn't surprise me one bit that someone from EA would say something like this. Steam has to be the bane for tons of people at EA and if I were EA trying to compete against the beast that is Steam, I would be pretty pissy too.

While maybe not competing in direct sales of specific titles, you can guarantee Origin wishes they had as much penetration and market share as Steam does, and that is where they're absolutely competitors.

He can attempt to dismiss and say that he isn't concerned blah blah...bullshit. If so, they wouldn't be so bitchy about going with Steam and spending so much to get their own solution up and running. Do I blame them, no, but lets be adults here and not lie about your reasoning or the whole reason they've started it.

I really don't understand why they are pissy though. EA can and does have sales on Origin. So why are they complaining about Steam sales if they are doing it themselves? Its dumb.

Yeah, but that's the point...their goal is to get some of that other 30 million, so that even if its 1 out of every 10 that buys something, that adds up to quite a bit, and 1 out of 10 out of 10 Mill vs 40 mill is nothing to sneeze at...and the reason Steam has those accounts is because they're not dicks, and they'll never get that kind of market share with the attitude they have. They can say they're fine with it, but I think the reality is they want what the other guy has.

While Steam doesn't carry new EA titles, they are still competing in a way.. While there will always be a big majority who will buy the game regardless of who, what, where, when, why, how much, etc., there is still a significant amount of people who have a certain budget for games with no particular game in their mind. They are competing for those people.

And frankly, Steam is simply steamrolling them with these people. How many of us bought games that we had no reason to buy, never heard of it, never needed it, but got it anyway because it was on special? How many of us just go browse through with a certain amount set aside for a game? And how many of us do that with Steam? Yeah... now how many of us do that with Origin? Anyone?
I know that I definitely look at Steam, not at Origin in that situation. I still have plenty of old games I never started (won't even bother bringing up the ones I haven't finished,) yet I still visit steam every 2-3 days to see what's there, and still get games. Chances of me doing that with Origin? Haha! Yeah, it's zero.

While Steam doesn't carry new EA titles, they are still competing in a way.. While there will always be a big majority who will buy the game regardless of who, what, where, when, why, how much, etc., there is still a significant amount of people who have a certain budget for games with no particular game in their mind. They are competing for those people.

And frankly, Steam is simply steamrolling them with these people. How many of us bought games that we had no reason to buy, never heard of it, never needed it, but got it anyway because it was on special? How many of us just go browse through with a certain amount set aside for a game? And how many of us do that with Steam? Yeah... now how many of us do that with Origin? Anyone?
I know that I definitely look at Steam, not at Origin in that situation. I still have plenty of old games I never started (won't even bother bringing up the ones I haven't finished,) yet I still visit steam every 2-3 days to see what's there, and still get games. Chances of me doing that with Origin? Haha! Yeah, it's zero.

While Steam doesn't carry new EA titles, they are still competing in a way.. While there will always be a big majority who will buy the game regardless of who, what, where, when, why, how much, etc., there is still a significant amount of people who have a certain budget for games with no particular game in their mind. They are competing for those people.

And frankly, Steam is simply steamrolling them with these people. How many of us bought games that we had no reason to buy, never heard of it, never needed it, but got it anyway because it was on special? How many of us just go browse through with a certain amount set aside for a game? And how many of us do that with Steam? Yeah... now how many of us do that with Origin? Anyone?
I know that I definitely look at Steam, not at Origin in that situation. I still have plenty of old games I never started (won't even bother bringing up the ones I haven't finished,) yet I still visit steam every 2-3 days to see what's there, and still get games. Chances of me doing that with Origin? Haha! Yeah, it's zero.

I agree 100% with this statement. These kinds of gamers are very niche though. I know many gamers who won't buy a game just because its on special. I spent $8 for Fear 3 because it was on sale, even though I have beat it already since my brother owns it and I played it on his system. So why buy it if I beat it already? It was on sale. To say that these kinds of buyers make up more than 50% of the gamer population is a gross overestimation.

Another thing that factors into that is the game library. If Origin wants a slice of that buyer demographic, they have to get more games and have sales on their games. EA has sales on their games as well.

I am not trying to be an argumentative prick, but it all comes down to the size of the library and the steam sales (which happens 2 times a year for big sales and a handful of titles per week), and that is where Steam excels. EA just doesn't have the games to put on sale.

EA should be focusing on their future releases like Simcity and getting distribution rights for future games. Good luck for them on the later though, because Steam is so popular, many game companies looking for an online distribution platform will go with the big dog.

If you preordered Battlefield 3, you got Crysis 2 for free.

There is a big difference between people who will buy a game when it goes on sale and people who will make an impulse buy of a game when it goes on sale. Not everyone will just spend money on a game when it goes on sale. You think that everyone will just buy a game thats on sale for the hell of it? Thats a special group or sect of people that will do that. You do it, I do it, but I know many gamers who won't just freely spend cash like that. Since there is no data to confirm or deny that kind of buying attitude, we will just have to consider it a draw.

Origin has had a 25% off sale last month on most of their major titles. They had Battlefield 3 50% off at Christmas. If you preordered Battlefield 3, you got Crysis 2 for free. They had Mass Effect 3 on special a couple months ago as well. So tell me, how can you say that you call BS on what I said when I can point out many sales that Origin has had in the last half year? With their 90 game library, I am not expecting a sale every week. Steam has over 500 games in their library and they have a midweek madness sale every week. With more titles come more power to discount more often.

It really sounds to me that you did no research on Origin or you haven't bought a game off Origin before. It really helps if you research or know the product before you debate someone on it.

The only reason why you believe that Steam has that in spades right now is because you are actively checking it.

You're not making sense here....go back and read what you've posted and let me know if you're saying what you mean to be saying. I don't buy games "for the hell of it, because they're on sale". I think that is the part you may be missing. I buy games that I am interested in, but would never buy at the retail price point. My interest doesn't go far enough to pay X for title, but when I see it on sale, or I hear it's on sale, or I hear from people on here that X game is on sale..a must buy! Great game! Then I'll pick it up, as I've minimized my risk AND gotten a great deal. I consider that to be just smart shopping, and I bet there are a lot of ppl like me out there.

25% on $60 or whatever they are going for is still a pretty hefty price, not saying it isn't worth it, but for to fork over $60 bucks takes a lot more than for me to fork over something at $20 or lower.

I just took a look at the front page sale that's going on on Origin right now and they're kind of a joke, dude...they still want $20 for Alan Wake CE? BF:BC2 CE is a great game, but again...I don't know that I'm a buyer @ $30 for a last gen game. I could jkeep going...$20 to unlock all the weapons in BF3? Holy crap....

I don't check Origin often, you're right...as their deals aren't deals. They bring the price down to what it probably should be retail.

Look...I do like Steam, I think they've proven where their interests lie. I wouldn't say I'm a fan boi, but I've never seen them do anything to try and dick people over, take advantage, charge inflated prices for games, all the while being innovators, and making software available to the masses for good prices, time and time again.

I've seen you on the Origin side of the argument a few times before, so I'll respect that you like them, but you're right...they're nothing a like at all.