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The difference here is that Steam is collecting data on how you use steam. It's not collecting data on your computer in general. I do find it a bit insidious that EA would want to go through what all games you have installed, maybe investigate what you're doing on steam, perhaps report back any illicit installations, who knows.

 

It seems like you're quickly getting to the point where you're offering real genuine incentives to pirate EA games. Perhaps you'll be able to get an Origin free version of BF3. It's kind of like how if you pirate a movie you get to bypass all those 15 unskippable trailers ads and FBI warnings. Why do companies like EA like to punish paying customers so much?

 

Doesn't Steam collect machine information as well? I thought they released details for the percentage of their users that are using a particular OS and so on? Or is that only with an opt-in agreement from the user?

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It's an extra opt-in.

 

Steam conducts a monthly survey to collect data about what kinds of computer hardware and software our customers are using. Participation in the survey is optional, and anonymous.

 

Ahhh yeah, I was thinking that. Though many EULAs are scary, I think the real fear only comes when it's a company you don't trust. Right now I'm ok with Steam tracking some of my data but depending on how Valve goes forward in the future, that could change. It's a shame that in a system where the consumer is supposed to be the driving force that so many things we don't agree with are presented to us in a "take it or leave it" way.

Edited by MasterDex
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Well at least with TV you have Neilson boxes and people are paid to keep them in their houses and they know they're being monitored. It's almost like if Sony said "by the way, by using this TV we're selling your data to Neilson. If you don't like it don't use our TV".

 

Where is TN to defend his beloved EA on this one?

Edited by Yantelope
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Oh come on, it's the internet. We're all completely anonymous right?

 

Really though, he's been a bit of a PR guy here. My only thought is that perhaps he's not happy with the news over Origin but would rather not plainly state such. Silence speaks volumes?

 

To several of us Thursday isn't anonymous.

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Oh come on, it's the internet. We're all completely anonymous right?

 

Really though, he's been a bit of a PR guy here. My only thought is that perhaps he's not happy with the news over Origin but would rather not plainly state such. Silence speaks volumes?

 

To several of us Thursday isn't anonymous.

 

Hmmm... I wonder if he's on my Google+

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Oh come on, it's the internet. We're all completely anonymous right?

 

Really though, he's been a bit of a PR guy here. My only thought is that perhaps he's not happy with the news over Origin but would rather not plainly state such. Silence speaks volumes?

 

*shakes hand* Hi, I'm Johnny and you can find my full name on any of my pressxordie articles.

 

Anonymity my ass.

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Well the EULA got revised and it's still a load of crap. They're still going to collect all the info they want they're just not going to sell it to anyone. The whole problem is I don't want EA spying on everything I do. I love the bit they threw in there at the end "nor would it ever use spyware or install spyware on users' machines." If that were even remotely true then they would have removed this section entirely.

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I can't recall what it was in relation to but it sounds like they're just using a loophole in the system. I remember something along the lines of a company allowing people to opt-out of giving their information to third-parties but that said information would still be stored. The kicker was that the information they were allowed to give also contained the information of people that didn't allow that information to be forwarded on, the only difference being that the latter came with a precursory note stating that they opted out.

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Sorry chaps, I was on holiday in Portugal last week. Didn't even look at an internet. :D

 

If you have genuine concerns over the telemetry data then bear this in mind:

 

EULA

To the extent that anything in this section conflicts with the terms of EA’s Privacy Policy, the terms of the Privacy Policy shall control.

 

[Note, that's a crap sentence, but basically the Privacy Policy takes precedence.]

 

Privacy Policy

We will retain your information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide you services. If you wish to cancel your account or request that we no longer use your information contact the Privacy Policy Administrator in your country listed on our site at privacyadmin.ea.com, or if your country is not listed, by contacting the Privacy Policy Administrator in the United States. There may be instances where we are legally required to retain your information.

 

So there you go. EA is not evil, collecting data from everyone is useful for everything from ensuring that EA software can run on a high percentage of machines to seeing which games are no longer being played so that EA can shut down those servers.

 

The obvious question is "Why have it a default opt in and a pain in the arse way of opting out?" It's probably because providing opt out in software is risky because if the opt out breaks and data is collected when someone has explicitly unchecked the box then EA technically breaks the law.

 

P.S. If anyone feels like paying me as much as EA does, I'll gladly make them my beloved instead. ;)

 

P.P.S. I am so totally anonymous! Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.

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I just object to collecting data not pertaining directly to origin. If they only collected data from what I'm doing on Origin I'd be okay with that. Valve also does voluntary hardware surveys which I'd be fine with too. I don't want Origin collecting what games I'm playing on steam and such.

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Yeah I would have thought the obvious question would be why Origin needs to collect all the information it wants to collect?

 

As others have said Steam collects hardware information, but only optionally, and the rest of it's information is restricted to within Steam and the games it runs. Which I'd assume would be so they can do this: http://steamcommunity.com/id/deanbmmv

and these

http://store.steampowered.com/stats/

 

 

Of which Origin has neither.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Ahh, digital pricing, how I loathe thee. Some companies are still really struggling to work out what the right price is for digital content.

 

Do you stick with retail parity and enjoy a bigger margin while hoping that your consumers will get used to it? Or do you drop your price so that you have the same profit per unit and risk the ire of retailers?

 

Will a customer look at the download price and say "Oh, it's £20 less on here! Purchased!" or look at the retail price and go "Pfffft I'm not buying that in the shops! It's £20 more than the download! No sale!"?

 

If the content is the same on both delivery methods, then should a company charge the consumer less or is it the game itself that is "worth" £45 / $60 / whatever. If you value digital goods at a low price will the game itself be perceived to be lower quality?

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I suppose it's no longer true but digital goods are seen as more temporary than physical media. I suppose this doesn't matter now that physical media comes steamlocked already. I suppose they're both equally devalued now. It still brings to mind the worry in any gamers mind that in 15 years I won't be able to play my games anymore. I know there are assurances that this is not the case but there's still lingering doubt there. I suppose the fact that EA can never make up their mind on what on earth their online strategy is doesn't help us trust them any more.

Edited by Yantelope
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