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The member formerly known as SuBX3r0 HEAT

This is not completely EA's or Valves fault. Valve has a strict set of rules that publishers must agree to for their games to be available on steam. Let us not forget that Steam has had some pretty poor customer service in the past. Peoples' accounts have been wiped out because of a false positive cheat detection and the like and with no phone support, it is very hard to make your case with just e-mails.
That being said, just because a company chooses not to release a product through a certain means, does not make said company any less supportive of their customers. If you want to buy a bottle of water in a major city, you have at least 10 choices of gas stations to go to purchase your water within a 1 minute walk. You may go to the first store you see and pay more than the furthest store. Or you might go to a certain store because you like the cashier there. Either way, the bathroom is still going to smell like crap.
I don't know where I was trying to go with that story but what I am trying to say is this: All companies have their pros and cons and just because BF3 won't be on Steam as of now, doesn't bother me one bit because a free trade market for computer gaming IS A GOOD THING.
My point is that EA IS NOT customer friendly, they may have great tech support, but if they refuse to sell their game through the sources their customers prefer, they're giving their customers the finger, I can't possibly see this move any other way.
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The member formerly known as SuBX3r0 HEAT

You can buy BF3 through every single retailer EXCEPT Steam. This is not about EA giving the middle finger to gamers. This is about Valve and EA's dispute over DLC, patches and Battlelog. To think EA wants to alienate their customers is naive.
This article sums it up nicely.
http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2011...battlefield-3/
And I will be loling when the game is released and Origin and Battlelog prove to be a solid alternative to Steam. Because when Steam was first released, the same argument and complaints about Origin were directed at Steam. Now it is the All Holy Cheese of PC gaming, when in reality, it was one of the most hated platforms at release.
That's a valid point, but Steam wasn't trying to replace Steam in 2004. We didn't like it at first, but it filled a niche that was empty. Origin is trying to fill a gap that is already filled.
That said, I actually like Origin. It has a few benefits over Steam. Steam is still my #1 choice though.

Steam has never given me any terrible issues after the first year or so. I've been using it since day one and it is great. All I'm saying is this, if a developer/publisher can design an alternative and fully functioning competitor to an existing platform, I am 100% for this. As of right now, it is estimated that Steam holds 70% of the digital distribution market. Source. If you are a fan of MMORPGs, Steam is the equivalent of WoW. Its very popular, works well but isn't for everyone. If Origin provides a stable and efficient platform for me to purchase Battlefield 3, I will not get upset over the First World Problem of brand name purchasing.
Basically what this says to me is they're alienating us unintentionally which makes them just plain dumb. I'm not sure which to consider worse.You can buy BF3 through every single retailer EXCEPT Steam. This is not about EA giving the middle finger to gamers. This is about Valve and EA's dispute over DLC, patches and Battlelog. To think EA wants to alienate their customers is naive.
Also it's EA's dispute, valve has had the same rules, EA wants them changed so they can screw their customers directly.
EA's actions ARE a middle finger to gamers. I don't care if they have good intentions (highly unlikely) it's still a big F you to steam users.
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The member formerly known as SuBX3r0 HEAT

I am about to enable caps lock to emphasize my opinion and I mean no offense by what I am about to say.
STEAM WANTS COMPLETE CONTROL OVER HOW DEVELOPERS RELEASE THEIR OWN, CODED AND WRITTEN DLC. THIS IS NOT OK. IMAGINE WRITING THE CODE FOR THE MOST BAD ASS PC GAME OF ALL TIME AND NOT BEING ALLOWED TO RELEASE FREE DLC, THAT WILL MAKE MORE PEOPLE BUY THE GAME.

After nearly a year of development and three public beta tests Battlefield 2 v1.50 is ready for release. The update will be released on Tuesday 1st September at 5pm UK, 6pm Europe. Stay tuned for release announcement in the near future!
As part of Update 1.50 we are glad to announce that not only is Highway Tampa now a required install included in the update but Euro Forces (Great Wall, Taraba Quarry and Operation Smoke Screen) and Armored Fury (Midnight Sun, Operation Harvest and Operation Road Rage) is now FREE for all Battlefield 2 players. Including the brand new map, Operation Blue Pearl this brings EIGHT new maps that everyone can play and will be added to ranked Battlefield 2 servers world wide. The Booster Pack content is included in the update and has made the file just over 2Gb in size.
http://blogs.battlefield.ea.com/bf2_...most-here.aspx
8 maps for free? Disregard and post false "facts" to prove a point.
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indeed, well after it had ceased to be relevant.
they're so transparent its almost funny... trying to build goodwill in the community to make up for the fact that most people are pissed off at the stunt they've been pulling with steam. i wouldn't trust it to last too long..
this isn't them not selling a commodity (like water) in some po-dunk gas station. this would be like not selling a major name-brand product at a major national retailer, for example, not selling Tide at Walmart.. except even stupider because the market is even smaller, with fewer alternatives
steam wants it done through their own channels for games bought on their service. this whole thing is a strawman argument anyway. EA just wants an excuse to get people's info and Valve isn't giving it to them
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