Humble Bundle releases EA/Origin bundle | Hacker News Reader

Humble Bundle releases EA/Origin bundle

humblebundle.com

79 pointsmasterzora77 comments

The involvement of Origin means this is really a loss leader. Buy a small library of EA games on Origin for $25, and suddenly you have a starter library. They sell you the razor at a low cost, donate to charity (good PR footnote), and then they can hopefully sell you more blades.

They need this because Steam has a head start of years, with many people who have huge libraries they won't want to leave, and the availability of titles from almost every publisher but EA. And customers are likely as not to look at purchasing things on Origin as not just being DRM (which Steam also is), but having to deal with running and operating yet another client instead of having almost everything in one place.

This is to EA's strategic benefit whether or not they receive any money via Humble Bundle.

> The involvement of Origin means this is really a loss leader.

The involvement of Origin is the reason why I am not picking up this bundle. Such a shame not all the games are available via Steam.

I NEVER install Origin games on my PC, and this won't change this...

The same also applies to that Ubisoft weird thingy too.

I actually have Origin installed on my laptop that my SO uses. She loves The Sims 3 that I had bought a retail copy of. I later bought a Steam copy on a sale just for convenience sake of not needing the disc. The problem came in when I wanted to play a Steam game but she wanted to play The Sims 3 on the laptop. Since I had a retail copy, I just activated the key on Origin (something I could not do on Steam) and now she can play with all the convenience of digital delivery but not impact my gaming time by making me log out of Steam.

That's a perfect use case for Origin, in my mind :)

Why not pick up the bundle and only use the Steam keys? It's still a great deal...

I'm not the person to which you are replying, but as I have the same attitude I can at least answer for myself:

I already own the games that register on Steam that are interesting. I would only be interested in the games that don't register on Steam, but I do not want to use Origin.

I'm not sure what the big deal is. Clearly you aren't that interested in the games in the first place, and it's not really an Origin issue.

Steam has some pretty shitty policies as well, like the fact that you can no longer log in on multiple computers. This means you can't play two different games on the same account. Working backwards from the days when if you bought two games, two people could play them simultaneously.

Clearly you aren't that interested in the games in the first place, and it's not really an Origin issue.

Clearly how? You are correct that I am not sufficiently interested in order to go through the additional hassle of Origin. I have in the past been very interested in some games but did not want to add on the hassle of Origin and so I never got them. That's pretty much the same case as here.

Steam has some pretty shitty policies as well, like the fact that you can no longer log in on multiple computers.

It does but I don't find that relevant at all. For one, I have no need to log into multiple computers anyway. But for the more general case of Steam policies, I have found them a sufficient tradeoff for value. My issue with Origin is not strictly their policies but the fact that I already have Steam running with >500 games in my library and I don't want to be running Origin on top of that. It's unnecessary hassle and it's wasteful of resources.

If I got my buy-in on Origin first, odds are I'd be saying things the other way around.

Not every game has a steam key on there (even ones that happen to be on Steam already, such as Sims 3).

http://penny-arcade.com/report/article/the-humble-bundle-tea...

You could always just scale your payment by how many of the games you can get on steam.

Considering games one already owns and games one doesn't want, that's what not purchasing this bundle is for me.

I am really only interested in the Sims (I've never played any of them and am at least interested) which doesn't activate on Steam. It seems like you'd need to download Origin to get the game, which I am unwilling to do.

I wouldn't mind having Mirror's Edge but I loved the game so much that I burned myself out on the demo on PS3. I really love Burnout Paradise but already have it for PS3 (and am unlikely to put anymore time into it from scratch).

Aside from the ideological reasons for not installing the Origin client, are there others? I'm wary of clients such as these installing loads of additional software and wondering if the Origin client is guilty of the same?

Not a risk I am willing to take, no matter how good the deal may seem. What is very sad (for me anyway since I only want The Sims) is that the Sims is available on Steam, yet there will not be a Steam unlock code for it.

A great way to make Steam a monopoly where every consumer will lose.

How does Origin solve this problem for me?

That was my first thought as well. I assumed however they would all be Origin only but was happy to see that most are on Steam as well. I will likely not even bother installing the Origin only games.

This is, further, not anti-consumer, like so many of EA's policies in the past have been. While this doesn't come close to making up for their past transgressions, it's certainly a good act of buying goodwill.

> This is to EA's strategic benefit whether or not they receive any money via Humble Bundle.

No shit! Why would any business enter voluntarily into an agreement that was to their detriment?

Any individual or organisation distributing on Humble Bundle is going to use it for their benefit one way or another.

Full disclosure: EA pays my rent.

Genuine philanthropy (not just to promote Origin etc.) is not unknown.

Kind of interesting that these "corporate" bundles always remove the EFF from the list of charities.

Not that interesting. Origin uses DRM, and the EFF is quite vocal in opposing DRM, software patents, threats to P2P software, and overly-extensive copyright. They have a long history of standing in opposition to groups like the RIAA/MPAA.

In that case EFF would also avoid Steam

You assume it's EFF that's doing the avoiding. Why would they turn down an opportunity to get donations?

All other bundles were delivered DRM-free, Steam was never the focus of any promotion until customers asked if they could get Steam keys.

The EFF quite possibly asks to be removed themselves.

Why? I would doubt that.

Perhaps something about lending/associating their name/reputation/whatever to/with something that they don't support. I'm just guessing here.

Note that EA / Origin is not getting money from this, their share of the money is given to charities (see the text box right under the game list on the page).

They do, although indirectly. I mean, through mandatory advertisement and data collection using Origin.

These are available on Steam, so you don't even run Origin:

  Crysis 2 Maximum Edition
  Dead Space 1
  Burnout Paradise: The Ultimate Box
  Mirror's Edge
  Medal of Honor

AFAIK, the steam versions also run trough Origin. I no this for a fact with Uplay, I think it's the same here.

Judging from Steam forums it seems that they are mostly Origin-free and do not chain DRM schemes like it was the case with U-play.

Some may require "EA activation" which pops up at the first run of the game, but they don't require origin if they have a Steam key.

Anyone knows which games do this, and which don't?

This is absolutely incorrect. Valve puts up with Uplay because they aren't a competing marketplace, but when EA wanted to make their new games sold on Steam require Origin installation as well, Valve told them to go fly a kite. That's why games like Battlefield 3 are not available on Steam at all.

I think it's more that EA don't want platform-selling titles like BF3 on Steam, not that Steam told them to get lost.

Do any of these games offer DLC? Who profits from that?

They all offer DLC; depending on the game, some, all, or none of that DLC is included:

- Burnout Paradise: offered version contains all DLC

- Crysis 2: offered version contains all DLC

- Dead Space: tons of weapons DLC, not included. They're effectively cosmetic or so overpowered it's like buying cheat codes.

- Dead Space 3: tons of weapons DLC, not included. Like above, they're either cosmetic or shootable cheat codes.

- Medal of Honor: missing the DLC map packs

- Mirror's Edge: missing time trials DLC; DLC is incompatible with the Steam version

- Sims 3: contains a small fraction of the available packaged DLC; game is centered around micro-transactions for things your home (i.e., there are countless items not included).

- Battlefield 3: missing the DLC map packs

EA, of course, profits from DLC purchases not included in the games on offer: they're not sold through the Humble Bundle.

BF3 has several DLC and I Origin would get 100% of those purchases. In fact BF3 was recently a free PS+ game; I'm guessing with the idea to drive people to buy the mulitple $14.99 DLC packs

Also note that the EFF isn't one of the available charities.

Any insight as to why this is the case? This was the first thing I noticed.

EFF and EA aren't exactly best buds.

One note on complaints that I hear about Humble Bundles that consist of titles from big publishers (such as the recent THQ bundle).

There are multiple Humble Bundles. The Humble Indie Bundle is not the only Humble Bundle. There are ebooks, music, and big publisher bundles as well. Just because a Humble Bundle is not all indie titles does not mean it's not a Humble Bundle.

Well, it's a bundle all right, but there is nothing humble about EA :) I'll wait for the next Humble Bundle, so I can buy more games I don't have time to play.

> I'll wait for the next Humble Bundle, so I can buy more games I don't have time to play.

So much this. Virtually my entire Steam library, Civilization is the only exception I think, is from Humble Bundles, and I can count the games I've played through on no fingers.

(I love the soundtracks they often include, though. Those actually get some listening time.)

No problem with it being from big publishers.

Only on Origin though? Ayup, that's a dealbreaker.

"The Humble Bundle hasn't weakened its brand! It's just split itself into several brands, some of which are in philosophical opposition to the original brand! Totally different!"

They've changed focus - not all of their early bundles were labeled 'indie', but the ethos was there. I stopped caring about them when they started spamming weekly deals.

Still, 'humble' and 'EA' do not go together semantically.

It's humble in that they don't require you to pay the standard prices.

The Humble Bundles did start with indie games, and one big selling point was the lack of DRM. The ebook and music bundles also had no DRM. Not only do these "big publisher" bundles have DRM, this particular one is also specifically promoting a DRM encumbered platform. That seems like a step backwards to me.

Having said that, I still bought this one. The donation to charity is another big aspect of the bundles that I like, and it's nice to see EA give their share.

I remember when Humble Bundle meant DRM free and cross-platform. Man, did they ruin that brand.

That was Humble INDIE bundle.

And source code after $1M.

One mac and zero linux games. Am I counting that right?

Are you lacking confidence in your ability to count to one? :)

Haha! Well the page lacks the usual fanfare about cross platform support that I have come to expect from Humble. I noticed it said that the Sims was available for Mac, I had to deduce it was the only one, and Linux support was altogether missing.

When fanfare is conspicuously missing, it's generally safe to assume it wasn't an accident.

As much as people detest Origin, they really forget how awful Steam was and sometimes continues to be. I just launched the Desktop application, and it literally took 30 seconds to become usable. About 30x slower than a browser takes. I can't speak for Origin, but the market could use some competition, and it will also hopefully drive the DRM schemes to become more open, at which point we can ultimately build a non-centralized platform.

This looks like a good deal, but I heard something about Origin being full of spyware. Is there any truth to this or is it just FUD?

FUD. It installs, at worst will ask you if you want it to launch on login (you can turn that off). origin.exe pretty much does what it says on the tin: allows you to download games and play them.

Why FUD? DRM always has a risk of spyware. It's in the definition of DRM.

DRM always has a risk of spyware

There is also a risk of centipedes.

Let's not forget what FUD stands for: fear, uncertainty, doubt.

You ignore the definition. DRM means - publisher doesn't trust the user and the user doesn't trust the publisher. So DRM by design dictates the risk of malware and privacy violation by the publisher (as a natural mirror towards DRM assuming that users are potential criminal infringers by default). It's a good reason to avoid using any DRMed services - i.e. lack of trust inherent in the DRM by definition.

If you prefer to call it FUD, start with the DRM itself. It's FUD towards the users. Naturally users should have a symmetric FUD towards the publishers who shove DRM in their throats.

Seems like a smart move. It could help to dampen the perception of evil attached to EA's reputation, whilst making a sizable ($1m+) difference to a number of charities.

That said, it would be nice to see a greater choice in the number of charities. My own preference would be to donate to smaller and more focused variety. Or, even combining it with charitable crowdfunded projects. eg[1][2]

Although, it may also be logistically harder to pull that off.

[1] http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/kite-patch

[2] http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/let-s-build-a-goddamn-tesl...

More than anything, I am bewildered by the general attitude here. Steam is the good guy, and Origin is akin to a malware? Pepsi and Coke, in my opinion. (I have never used Origin, but I intend to install it for this bundle)

The last time I used Origin, I think it summoned a demon.

Is this why I should never `git pull origin master`? ;)

Ah yes, I love Ultima 8: Pagan. That was an awesome game.

....really? I was more a fan of the Underworld diptych :)

Reposting my comment from the other discussion:

I don't understand why people are complaining about the Humble Bundles lack of indieness and humbleness now. They have been very popular for a good amount of time, voiding its ability to call itself humble. Even though they popularized themselves through indie games, the humble bundle chose not to restrict itself to just indie games. You also have the weekly sales, which also adds to their delivering of non-indie games. And from an average user standpoint, it seams odd that people are complaining about inexpensive games.

This deal sounds great, but I'll take a pass. There's no point in denying that EA is doing something good, but knowing their way of doing business leads me to believe that they're just doing this to make Origin more popular and get more possible future customers. That's certainly not a bad thing, after all they're a company that wants to make more money, but I choose to avoid participating in anything they do.

Very disappointing. They should concentrate on DRM free, cross platform bundles. Recently they have too many "Steam only" stuff. Now Origin? No thanks.

Bought this and activated all the steam keys. Haven't heard anything good about Origin but since I've never tried it myself I decided to give it a go. Seems to be a steam knock-off and the first thing it told me was that key redemption was currently down. Its like they only want me to use steam.

Does anyone managed to activate a game on origin? It's loading forever here.

Key redeems are not functional at the moment, either on their Origin client or on their website.

Doesn't help that every major website I've been to today has reported this deal. :)

the only games that require origin is battlefield and sims. Worth getting the rest if you ask me.

Ha, gross. Why would the Humble Bundle people associate with EA?

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