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Originally Posted by MysterD It's not like NBA2K13 requires Steam flat-out. At retail, it'll be Non-Steam, AFAIK. A real bummer - especially since for NBA2K12, you gave consumers options for either Non-Steam Version or Steam version...

I thought retail versions used Steam to activate/run? Why is it a bummer?

This deal made me remember The Saboteur. A friend of mine raved about it endlessly a few years ago and I actually have a copy I got on special somewhere. Despite it's technical flaws on launch, it's a great game. =D

Originally Posted by MC Kage I thought retail versions used Steam to activate/run? Why is it a bummer?

As far as I know, NBA2K12 is steamworks. I was about to buy the pc version on of these days, and in the back cover it indeed said " Steam account needed for activation"

Originally Posted by BernardoOne As far as I know, NBA2K12 is steamworks. I was about to buy the pc version on of these days, and in the back cover it indeed said " Steam account needed for activation"

Wait, wait, wait...is NBA 2K13 Steam-required everywhere?

NBA2K12 is NOT, in some places.
Amazon DVG sells both Steam and Non-Steam (Securom-laced) versions of that.

Originally Posted by MysterD Wait, wait, wait...is NBA 2K13 Steam-required everywhere? NBA2K12 is NOT, in some places. Amazon DVG sells both Steam and Non-Steam (Securom-laced) versions of that.

Well, at least the retail version of NBA2K12 is.

Originally Posted by MC Kage I thought retail versions used Steam to activate/run? Why is it a bummer?

A lot this depends on DRM types and layers; and for possible modding purposes.

When given the option b/t Steam Version and Non-Steam, I'll often go Non-Steam -- unless the Non-Steam Version's DRM is something I just don't care for.

If say Non-Steam DRM is nasty, but the Steam version actually ONLY used Steam DRM - I might go Steam.

The thing is - if Steam's required period ONLY everywhere (i.e. no extra DRM), that isn't such a bad thing. Nothing you can do about that. Of course, Steam-required is fine as long as they don't tact on extra 3rd party DRM. I do get annoyed when games have 3rd party DRM on Steam versions. Steam DRM is enough.

Usually, there's 3rd Party DRM is on the Non-Steam version; and then when they do the Steam version they just lace Steam DRM on top of it (HOW LAZY!). Steam versions should deal w/ ONE DRM layer - and that's Steam, as far as I'm concerned.

Also, it can be easier to mod a particular game w/out Steam involved -- especially true w/ older games; and especially when there's a case of possibly of modding, replacing, or screwing around w/ the EXE file. Vampire: Bloodlines is as perfect example. Both Unofficial Patches (Tess and Wesp) fix the EXE file some of the issues so it runs on Win XP and above, basically - i.e. the limited memory issue. It's known that it can be a pain to mod, if you get the Steam version - from backwards patching issues b/c you didn't turn-off auto-patching and Steam overlay/community when you modded it; to weird error messages b/c you put the mod in. I bought it from Retail, long ago.

Of course, that so is NOT true w/ games supporting Steam Workshop. Steam Workshop supported games like Portal 2 and Skyrim easy to mod and deal w/ in that regard.
Though, you might want to back-up your Steam game folder in a clean state (unmodded) for any Steam games you mod - especially if the DL is HUGE (think like RAGE, which is 20 GB) - so you don't have to redownload the monster, if somehow the game company released an official patch that breaks your modded game OR in case you screw the game-up by trying to mod it.

Originally Posted by shaggyc I just tried, and it did not work directly through origin, however, it was extremely painless to activate via the link you mentioned.

I bought my Mercenaries 2 a long time ago and its key will not work on Origin or the "painless" site either. It's never worked to give me a digital backup. I may have to wind up buying another copy to get a key that works digitally. (I already tried in the past when Bulletstorm wasn't working to go with their tech support, but that was a long ass wait to have them give me the run around. Won't do that again.) It's worth noting that Bulletstorm DID finally work yesterday, though. It's been a year since I bought that, but at last they added it to their database.

Now if they'd just get up off their butts, take their Access or whatever database of keys, add the rest of those keys to Origin, then they'd be up to spec with what they're promising. Of course, getting up and carrying a flash drive of those keys to a central computer would require getting up and they ARE rather busy playing Call of Duty to stop.

I'm not too annoyed, though. I like the notion that I have digital backups of most of their games. I want them to go back and give me digital copies of ALL their games throughout history. That'd be a great feature. And oddly enough, I tend to LIKE EA games, especially ones by Bioware. And Origin's features are getting reasonably close to Steam (though more clunky overall), which is good. Also, bonus, they allow you to choose where you install your games and where you store the downloaders. Choosing where you install your game is something even Steam is JUST adding, probably because Origin did it.

And that's good for the gamer who has a SSD and wants some games there, some games on a larger conventional drive. Steam should have done this ages ago, but the lack of real competition meant they could ADHD their way right by obvious features and everyone was just glad to have what they had. Competition means they have to go back and add in these amenities we really deserve. Don't you think it's silly we have Steam, we have cloud saves, we have achievements, we have online communication, we have a voting system for new game ideas, we have a bajillion hats, we have the steam workshop, we have bigscreen mode, we have themes, but we didn't have something as simple as an option to choose an alternative place to store games for games we don't want on the "fast drive?"

Originally Posted by HisDivineShadow I bought my Mercenaries 2 a long time ago and its key will not work on Origin or the "painless" site either. It's never worked to give me a digital backup. I may have to wind up buying another copy to get a key that works digitally. (I already tried in the past when Bulletstorm wasn't working to go with their tech support, but that was a long ass wait to have them give me the run around. Won't do that again.) It's worth noting that Bulletstorm DID finally work yesterday, though. It's been a year since I bought that, but at last they added it to their database. Now if they'd just get up off their butts, take their Access or whatever database of keys, add the rest of those keys to Origin, then they'd be up to spec with what they're promising. Of course, getting up and carrying a flash drive of those keys to a central computer would require getting up and they ARE rather busy playing Call of Duty to stop. I'm not too annoyed, though. I like the notion that I have digital backups of most of their games. I want them to go back and give me digital copies of ALL their games throughout history. That'd be a great feature. And oddly enough, I tend to LIKE EA games, especially ones by Bioware. And Origin's features are getting reasonably close to Steam (though more clunky overall), which is good. Also, bonus, they allow you to choose where you install your games and where you store the downloaders. Choosing where you install your game is something even Steam is JUST adding, probably because Origin did it. And that's good for the gamer who has a SSD and wants some games there, some games on a larger conventional drive. Steam should have done this ages ago, but the lack of real competition meant they could ADHD their way right by obvious features and everyone was just glad to have what they had. Competition means they have to go back and add in these amenities we really deserve. Don't you think it's silly we have Steam, we have cloud saves, we have achievements, we have online communication, we have a voting system for new game ideas, we have a bajillion hats, we have the steam workshop, we have bigscreen mode, we have themes, but we didn't have something as simple as an option to choose an alternative place to store games for games we don't want on the "fast drive?"

Origin support has been good for me. All on different occasions i had them add bulletstorm, saboteur retail, sim city 4 and spore. The wait time was long but I was probably watching porn while waiting anyway.

Apparently I claimed a $10 Gift Card on Amazon today. I do not remember doing this.

Hey Tony,

There's a Nordic Games Sale at Gamefly.
link

Can you price match (or put out an awesome Spellforce or Nordic Bundle)?

Originally Posted by HisDivineShadow I bought my Mercenaries 2 a long time ago and its key will not work on Origin or the "painless" site either. It's never worked to give me a digital backup. I may have to wind up buying another copy to get a key that works digitally. (I already tried in the past when Bulletstorm wasn't working to go with their tech support, but that was a long ass wait to have them give me the run around. Won't do that again.) It's worth noting that Bulletstorm DID finally work yesterday, though. It's been a year since I bought that, but at last they added it to their database. Now if they'd just get up off their butts, take their Access or whatever database of keys, add the rest of those keys to Origin, then they'd be up to spec with what they're promising. Of course, getting up and carrying a flash drive of those keys to a central computer would require getting up and they ARE rather busy playing Call of Duty to stop. I'm not too annoyed, though. I like the notion that I have digital backups of most of their games. I want them to go back and give me digital copies of ALL their games throughout history. That'd be a great feature. And oddly enough, I tend to LIKE EA games, especially ones by Bioware. And Origin's features are getting reasonably close to Steam (though more clunky overall), which is good. Also, bonus, they allow you to choose where you install your games and where you store the downloaders. Choosing where you install your game is something even Steam is JUST adding, probably because Origin did it. And that's good for the gamer who has a SSD and wants some games there, some games on a larger conventional drive. Steam should have done this ages ago, but the lack of real competition meant they could ADHD their way right by obvious features and everyone was just glad to have what they had. Competition means they have to go back and add in these amenities we really deserve. Don't you think it's silly we have Steam, we have cloud saves, we have achievements, we have online communication, we have a voting system for new game ideas, we have a bajillion hats, we have the steam workshop, we have bigscreen mode, we have themes, but we didn't have something as simple as an option to choose an alternative place to store games for games we don't want on the "fast drive?"

Trust me, the folks at Origin are not spending all day playing Call of Duty.

Battlefield maybe. But I imagine even saying anything nice about Call of Duty in EA would be an automatic trip to HR for your exit interview.

Had a leftover War of the Roses Steam key and put it up on Steamgifts if anyone's interested. Ends tomorrow night.

Originally Posted by nategator Trust me, the folks at Origin are not spending all day playing Call of Duty. Battlefield maybe. But I imagine even saying anything nice about Call of Duty in EA would be an automatic trip to HR for your exit interview.

That was the punchline.

I have a $5 voucher, I am only interested in Bulletstorm & The Saboteur, did anyone want to go halves and they can have Mirror's Edge, Burnout Paradise: The Ultimate Box and Mercenaries 2: World in Flames?

Originally Posted by nategator Trust me, the folks at Origin are not spending all day playing Call of Duty. Battlefield maybe. But I imagine even saying anything nice about Call of Duty in EA would be an automatic trip to HR for your exit interview.

LOL!

Honestly, DICE didn't need to put so much of the COD: MW formula into BF3 SP.
Though, BF3 MP is totally on another planet - BF3 MP is amazing.

Originally Posted by HisDivineShadow That was the punchline.

Hehe.

Man, I've been out of here forever. Last I'd heard, the 1C bundle had been delayed. Is that still the case, or have I missed it?

Originally Posted by JustYourAverageJoe Man, I've been out of here forever. Last I'd heard, the 1C bundle had been delayed. Is that still the case, or have I missed it?

Yeah, it's still delayed. I believe the Strategy First bundles need to come out first before the 1C bundle will.

Hey Tony,

Any idea if Medal of Honor will ever be back up for PC download? Any chance of a deal on it or perhaps some sort of pre-order deal in conjunction with Medal of Honor: Warfighter?

MysterD - Interesting, definitely not familiar with how most of the DRM licences work, or PC games in general still just yet, but I'm getting there lol. Good to know stuff

Tony, any update on the CoD sale you mentioned a few days ago?

It seems like the CoD titles pop up in most of the big Amazon sales, but always for pretty crappy prices (sorry). Any chance that we'll see MW2 for $5 again (since it's been there before on Amazon) and Black Ops for $10 in anticipation of the sequel?