New SimCity Requires Constant Internet Connection

[a3gis]

So if SimCity5 required a connection but was on Steam, would you buy it?

I'm getting it regardless. I hate Origin, but the issue of an always on/on at login connection is not related to the content distribution platform. Steam would just be a nice plus.

I play an awful lot of online games anyhow, so games with always on connections don't bother me as much as they used to (especially since I now live in a suburb near the power station here, with underground power - I was playing BFBC2 online during cyclone Carlos last year ;P ). But i'm happy to get upset about them on other people's behalf.

[vcatkiller]

So if SimCity5 required a connection but was on Steam, would you buy it?

The chances I would buy it would increase significantly. Even further if wasn't an always on internet connection. (it doesn't sound like it needs one now, just a check at startup, but anyways...)

[libbaz]

Jesus, I said 2005 Steam because that's when HL2 shipped (remember? the Steam exclusive?), steam existed long before that. Furthermore to expect Origin to be at the same standard of current steam at Day 0 is insane, that's not how the business works. Developing such an extensive platform takes a long time and a lot of money. From a business standpoint incremental improvements are far more economical. Origin is **** now, yes, but it wont be forever.

Rolls eyes, this is exactly the blind attitude I was citing. I use Origin only where I have to due to legitimate reasons. People who boycott it simply because of its existence or some diluted sense of loyalty to Steam need a reality check.

On a side note; I really love Steam, I mentioned that earlier, but I've always been cautious of the almost monopoly its held in recent years. More people should.

[cyclobs]

need a reality check just because they don't want more **** clogging up their system sucking their ram and CPU and scanning their hard drives for questionable reasons?

**** i don't even like running steam for the 1 or 2 free games i play.

[libbaz]

seriously dude? ram? even my laptop runs 12gb these days...

[cyclobs]

my desktop has 16GB.. whats your point?

[libbaz]

you would have to run steam and origin x100 to just notice the ram usage on 16gb. Also... you don't have to run everything at the same time

hell, I just checked my task manager, firefox alone uses twice that of Origin. also worth noting, steam uses even less.

[At0mic]

Jesus, I said 2005 Steam because that's when HL2 shipped (remember? the Steam exclusive?), steam existed long before that. Furthermore to expect Origin to be at the same standard of current steam at Day 0 is insane, that's not how the business works. Developing such an extensive platform takes a long time and a lot of money. From a business standpoint incremental improvements are far more economical. Origin is **** now, yes, but it wont be forever.

Nitpicking, but HL2 was released in 2004, not 2005. Anyways, Origin is not a new product per se, and it has already been mentioned that it's a re-badged version of the EA Download Manager (EA Downloader). It's not like it appeared from scratch - the codebase already existed for a while. EA are also far larger than Valve; you mean to tell me that with that amount of power and money they couldn't hire some decent developers to make it work BETTER than Steam by now, particularly since Origin is built from its predecessor?

[libbaz]

Hey I'm not defending Origin's bugs or anything. Just noting that its not productive to dismiss an entire platform because its beta doesn't measure up to scratch.
And your right about HL2 release date, but even still, Steam went to beta in 2002 or something (memory gets hazy). Anyway, besides the point.
Also, on the topic of EA Download Manager -> Origin, meh, it may still have some of the code, but lets face it Origin is not EADM. Its target objectives are very different from what EADM was originally designed for.
In gaming terms its like comparing EA's SAGE engine with Westwood's (RIP) W3D engine.

Personally I'm happy to wait for it to improve, I just dont like being forced to use it in its current form.

[cyclobs]

I just dont like being forced to use it.

this is my reason for hating it

[akira675]

I just dont like being forced to use it.

this is my reason for hating it

If they didn't force you to use it, nobody would, then there would be no need to improve it. Having exclusive titles to their platform would have triggered a huge influx in users. Its just plain good business sense.. Theres no point hating on it for that. (Hell, Steam does the same things for Valve games. How often do you play L4D2/CSS/HalfLife/DoD/Team Fortress outside of the Steam environment?)

[libbaz]

I just dont like being forced to use it.

LOL hey! don't paraphrase me

Personally I'm happy to wait for it to improve, I just dont like being forced to use it in its current form.

[caitsith01]

If they didn't force you to use it, nobody would

So in summary, people should be forced to use something which is so bad that if they had any choice they wouldn't use it?

Interesting.

[TRB]

so how many of you turn your internet off .... ever
most of you wont even notice its needed

My net was out from around 8:30am until 6:48pm today due to a telstra fault.
So ok I can't do anything useful, I'll go play a game....oh wait....

[TRB]

Need I remind everyone of 2005 Steam? Horrible piece of software, arguably worse than what Origin released as. Now I couldn't imagine a world without it (Steam).

Spurious argument.

Its not 2005 and steam hasn't just launched.
EA doesn't need to start from nothing to make their **** platform.

It's like saying that its ok for new cars to be horse drawn with wooden wheels and no suspension because thats how the first vehicles were made...

Origin should already be BETTER then steam since all you need to do is install steam and log in to see what it offers, so you take the ideas people like about steam, add them to origin and then add new stuff to make it better.

Origin is pointless and adds nothing of value, I'm annoyed every time I play BF3 or ME3 that it starts.

in fact having to be connected adds nothing to ME3 unless someone wants to play MP.
the stupid EMS score is nothing but a pointless gimmick to try and add some justification.