Dragon Age II Pulled From Steam, EA Points Finger at Valve

What happens to the people who've already bought the game? Can they still redownload it at will or have they effectively lost a game?

Hey look! I can use Amazon as a digital storefront to get EA games...
 
Oh, right... Origin is EVIL! Sorry.

@Peewi said:

@MEATBALL: Since you clearly know all about Steam's business terms, I think we'd all like to hear the details.

Easy, pally, where did I make that claim exactly? Hell, I didn't even make any kind of definitive statement. I only know as much as various news reports on the matter have told me, and as far as I can see this situation isn't as black and white as Steam being the good guy and EA being the bad guy or vice versa.

EA points finger at Valve? Oh that's rich. Yep. This has nothing to do with Origin(aka shitstore). Riiiiiight. I hate you EA. HATE.

Weird. So is EA just throwing public temper tantrums like a spoiled 3 year old to get Origins in the news on a regular basis? Any advertisement is good right?

Valve has handled the EA crybaby tantrums with a lot of class so far. No comments or very little and just the facts.

My guess is that it comes down to the DLC terms and conditions. EA wants to wholesale rape their customers and Steam's terms and conditions don't allow all the filthy deals and tricks necessary to pull it off.

Oh no! Not Dragon Age 2!

Would really like to hear what Valve has to say. 

<sigh> *almost* everyone here fails reading comprehension <sigh>

I guess this means I'm going to buy The Old Republic on Origin... gross.

EA could easily stop this nonsense by allowing the consumer to have the choice which platform to buy the dlc on. Other games that have in-game stores also allow you buy the dlc through steam.

EAs newer games give you no choice, which isn't allowed by Steam. If they allowed that, then they would open up the door to abuse by free-to-play and inexpensive games being downloaded on their service that are basically hubs for people to buy dlc outside of steam. At least give people the choice to use steam to pay for their purchases EA. I bet Steam would even allow some kind of system where you buy Origin Bux or whatever through Steam.

The responses by EA seem like they were written by robots. I hate that.

Hm...is this whole thing is from EA making the PC version of the DA2 DLC exclusive to Origin and/or another Download provider?

Crysis 2 was taken down as the developer(Crytek) got an exclusive deal for the DLC with D2D, apparently.

Has anyone seen the DA2 DLC anywhere other than Origin for PC? If so, I guess thats why.

When Battlefield 3 comes out Valve will be really stupid if they do anything to prevent it coming to Steam & EA will be really stupid if they don't comply with Steam's terms.

Can you download stuff you've purchased if it's been pulled from the store?

// And relating to that: I hate it how on Xbox Live MS populate DL history with free shit so you can't get to your old stuff.

There are plenty of games on Steam, even EA games, that have DLC you have to get through non-Steam means.   This seems to be EA trying to influence people to think poorly of Valve's service and move over to Origin.

This is because of Steams policy, and not some powerplay by EA to force you to play and buy games only on origin. If that was the case, why are there still EA games for download on Direct 2 Drive which actually has Dragon Age 2, and EA games on Amazon and GAMESTOP. GAMESTOP of all places! You know, the one evil that EA has publicly said against their evil brick and mortar industries with their used games practices are holding EA games for download. 
 
Oh right, some of you are rabid Valve fanboys who think their saints and can do no wrong, and if something goes wrong it's certainly not their fault.

@Jackhole said:

I guess this means I'm going to buy The Old Republic on Origin... gross.

You do know that Origin is going to be required to play SWTOR right. It was announced awhile back that Origin will be required to download the patchs and to play the game. Even the boxed copy is going to make you install Origin just like Steam based games that you buy in a box.

This is because of Steams policy, and not some powerplay by EA to force you to play and buy games only on origin. If that was the case, why are there still EA games for download on Direct 2 Drive which actually has Dragon Age 2, and EA games on Amazon and GAMESTOP. GAMESTOP of all places! You know, the one evil that EA has publicly said against their evil brick and mortar industries with their used games practices are holding EA games for download.   Oh right, some of you are rabid Valve fanboys who think their saints and can do no wrong, and if something goes wrong it's certainly not their fault.

@Rhaknar said:

@Chibi_Kaji said:

Has any other publisher had this problem with Steam?

not yet. the closest example would be Games For Windows live games, they have their own marketplace as you know, but they also release their DLC on steam, like the Fable 3 stuff for example. Actually, Dirt 3 has a fuckton of GFW dlc that isnt on steam, and the game wasnt pulled...

And that doesn't raise any red flags in your mind on Valve's part? Why are they singling out EA? Why does THQ/Codies get to keep their DLC on a different platform?

EA are entitled to compete with Steam -  i get that not having all your games in one place can be upsetting but competition is usually beneficial for us consumers.

If Steam would simply chime in with exactly what their terms are, then we would know...

@GreggD said:

@Rhaknar said:

@Chibi_Kaji said:

Has any other publisher had this problem with Steam?

not yet. the closest example would be Games For Windows live games, they have their own marketplace as you know, but they also release their DLC on steam, like the Fable 3 stuff for example. Actually, Dirt 3 has a fuckton of GFW dlc that isnt on steam, and the game wasnt pulled...

And that doesn't raise any red flags in your mind on Valve's part? Why are they singling out EA? Why does THQ/Codies get to keep their DLC on a different platform?

My guess is that the deals for those games were made before Valve changed their hosting agreement.

@ajamafalous said:

@GreggD said:

@Rhaknar said:

@Chibi_Kaji said:

Has any other publisher had this problem with Steam?

not yet. the closest example would be Games For Windows live games, they have their own marketplace as you know, but they also release their DLC on steam, like the Fable 3 stuff for example. Actually, Dirt 3 has a fuckton of GFW dlc that isnt on steam, and the game wasnt pulled...

And that doesn't raise any red flags in your mind on Valve's part? Why are they singling out EA? Why does THQ/Codies get to keep their DLC on a different platform?

My guess is that the deals for those games were made before Valve changed their hosting agreement.

Maybe, but it still seems kind of odd, to me. EA doesn't seem like the kind of company that would put up a game for sale, and then do something that would have it taken down within months of its release. That doesn't seem like good sense.

If it's terms are that restrictive, why is only EA having issues with steam? Why aren't more games disappearing?
Stop pointing fingers EA. I woun't install Origin, just because you are quick with statements that it's other people's fault.

@Bravestar:

Because EA is trying to pull exclusive DLC deals to certain platforms.

So you can't buy DLC X because you happened to have bought it on Steam for example, or that's what it sounds like.

@ajamafalous said:

@GreggD said:

@Rhaknar said:

@Chibi_Kaji said:

Has any other publisher had this problem with Steam?

not yet. the closest example would be Games For Windows live games, they have their own marketplace as you know, but they also release their DLC on steam, like the Fable 3 stuff for example. Actually, Dirt 3 has a fuckton of GFW dlc that isnt on steam, and the game wasnt pulled...

And that doesn't raise any red flags in your mind on Valve's part? Why are they singling out EA? Why does THQ/Codies get to keep their DLC on a different platform?

My guess is that the deals for those games were made before Valve changed their hosting agreement.

I've never used GFWL before or played any games that used it but I though it was because EA were trying to sell the DLC in-game (which is running on top of steam) as opposed to games like DiRT3 which have the DLC on a separate service (GFWL-Marketplace Client/Website) Meaning if EA sold their DLC on Origin and not within the game they could keep the games on Steam.

I could be wrong though.

@OldGuy said:

But... is it really about Origin? Since I can go to DirectToDrive to get my DAII and Crysis 2...

Sorry... I shouldn't have shifted focus from the EA is EVIL vibe... carry on...

Steam is the biggest online retailer.

If you decrease their sales while offering your product on Origins with other bells and whistles they are increasing Origin's use.

It's quite simple math. Not sure whats so hard to understand about it. I'd probably do the same in their position.

EA are entitled to compete with Steam -  i get that not having all your games in one place can be upsetting but competition is usually beneficial for us consumers.

So basically this article is EA wants to use a seperate distribuitor, so Valve decides to take it's ball and go home. Cool.

@Vextroid said:

@ajamafalous said:

@GreggD said:

@Rhaknar said:

@Chibi_Kaji said:

Has any other publisher had this problem with Steam?

not yet. the closest example would be Games For Windows live games, they have their own marketplace as you know, but they also release their DLC on steam, like the Fable 3 stuff for example. Actually, Dirt 3 has a fuckton of GFW dlc that isnt on steam, and the game wasnt pulled...

And that doesn't raise any red flags in your mind on Valve's part? Why are they singling out EA? Why does THQ/Codies get to keep their DLC on a different platform?

My guess is that the deals for those games were made before Valve changed their hosting agreement.

I've never used GFWL before or played any games that used it but I though it was because EA were trying to sell the DLC in-game (which is running on top of steam) as opposed to games like DiRT3 which have the DLC on a separate service (GFWL-Marketplace Client/Website) Meaning if EA sold their DLC on Origin and not within the game they could keep the games on Steam.

I could be wrong though.

That makes sense, but if that's their policy, it is incredibly dumb.

Awww did wittle EA take their ball and go home?

Open way for Steam fan boys vs. Origin. I'll take steam.

This looks like a case of two dudes trying to sit on the same chair, at the same time, with no desire to compromise.

Not my best analogy.

This rubbish needs to end, Steam's terms seem a bit too restrictive, but it feels like EA are all too happy to simply take their ball and go home. Hopefully both sides will figure out something at some point.

This is why we need a online service that isn't owned by another dev/pub.

EA you so fucking fail.

I'm sticking by Valve, Origin can burn in hell for all I care.

EA has enough games that I'm interested in to warrant having Origins installed. I don't care about my e-penis either (having a huge Steam library) so I really don't mind Origins. Only that the prices are a bit more expensive than Steam.

@lacke: Wow a smart person who isn't sucking VALVe's cock for once.Pretty rare breed.

@AttroPheed said:

EA you so fucking fail.

Your a fucking fail. Valve is being the dick in this scenario not EA. Why else is Steam the only place thats pulled EAs games?

It comes down to who is hosting the data required to play these DLCs if Valve hosts the files for steam users then it is understandable that they would want a cut of the profits if EA is hosting the content then perhaps they should be allowed sell through their own in-game store. Valve need to distinguish between F2P games and full retail games.

Steam has proven itself, origin is just terrible. Good one EA.

"At EA, we offer our games and content to all major download services including GameStop, Amazon, Direct2Drive and Steam," said EA senior VP of global e-commerce David DeMartini in an emailed statement. "Unfortunately, Steam has adopted a set of restrictive terms of service which limit how developers interact with customers to sell downloadable content. No other download service has adopted this practice. Consequently some of our games have been removed by Steam."
 
TRANSLATION:
 
"Valve thinks Day 1 DLC is immoral, and they're being super mean about us making obscene amounts of money from this immoral practice".

Until a game besides one published by EA is removed from steam, EA are not completely free of any blame in my mind.

dunno who's right or wrong in this, do know that steam is awesome and where i buy all my games so too bad for you EA.