Steam > GFWL > Origin
Why this order?
Steam does things well, and doesn't make me hate using it. There really isn't any major reason to prefer any other software to Steam, and it keeps my library in one place. Steam also gives me easier screen caps and such without major performance hits. Also, the selection is tolerable.
GFWL is realllllly crumby. Not unplayable, but the updates only happen when you run a game, take forever, and the DRM is clunky and painful. However, while there is no purpose to buying games on it, there are free offerings like AoE:Online that require it. While I would prefer not to use GFWL, it is unfortunately required by some Steam games. However, it is not the only source for the games on the platform and realizes that it can't really compete commercially.
Origin is the worst, IMO, because of the stupidity of the model. It attempts to challenge Steam, resulting in EA games being less common on Steam so I won't buy them, since Steam and DRM/client free are my two major digital distribution sources, and finally just makes me want to stab EA again because it takes games off the common market and distributes them, locked into an online client, in a package that is less appealing. I mean, I've seen F2P MMO launchers that are better, and it's another one of those 1/10th of a GB programs that eat up my RAM. If it was a viable contender to Steam, then I'd understand, but it's not.
Comment has been collapsed.
agreed. i've contacted their customer service over 20 times in the last year because of the damage that client does to their own games and my pc. microsoft told me that ea is lying when it says origin is not spyware. it totally is. gfwl is clunky, slow, but so far i havent had the gamebreaking save corruptions that gfwl is infamous for (crosses fingers)
Comment has been collapsed.
GFWL isn't even that bad really. Obviously I prefer Steam but I've never had any troubles with GFWL.
Comment has been collapsed.
They're all DRM, but if it comes to which one is the lesser evil, i'd go with Steam.
Comment has been collapsed.
Origin is the best because EA is really a fantastic company.
Comment has been collapsed.
Steam: thanks to this i enter in the legal games market (i use to play games that umm... fall of a truck), and is great;
best chat system ever(i love the shift+tab thing)
GFWL: micrososft gives a fuck about my country, and this doesn´t work here
Origins: SUCKS, EA SUCKS, and you will get ban for say that in their forums...
Comment has been collapsed.
How did you forget to include uplay? Best service ever. Give me more Ubisoft! Oh yes! I love your DRM to prevent pirates!
Comment has been collapsed.
Steam > GFWL > Origin. I don't know why people hate GFWL so much, I just login once and that's it, never have to touch it again. Origin on the other side is fucking annoying.
Comment has been collapsed.
How about not being able to log in, because the damn thing needs to update your account?
Or how about not being able to download patches, because it just stops at 99% EVERY TIME.
Or not being able to get your pre-order stuff for a few days, because the store is down?
And those corrupted saves that you lose everytime you change your OS or reinstall it. Sweet!
Srsly, GFWL is just bad, but tolerable once you know it's flaws and how to avoid them.
Origin however is a bugged piece of crap that's just unnecessary.
Comment has been collapsed.
True if internet lost connection , you need redownload patch.
Comment has been collapsed.
Pony11 said it best, "Steam > Origin >>>>> GFWL".
I'm just going to mention a few of my major problems with each service.
GFWL: The pure fact I can't change the e-mail for the account without an Xbox pisses me off alone. But mostly it just feels clunky as heck.
Origin: The ingame overlay is a little buggy and tends to just die off, it still shows little message windows that I can't bring up due to that. The browser has no support for tabs, so having multiple windows open is a little annoying. Needs more sales.
Steam: Only "major" problem I have is lack of a Ad Blocker type program in the browser...
Comment has been collapsed.
1.Steam - because of the library. all my games in one place, including non-steam games. and sales.
2.Desura - it's different enough to steam to deserve being installed. it's open source. you can buy alpha games and many other weird indie titles that steam doesn't sale.
3.Impulse - it's down on the list because it's a little too similar to steam. I only have a need for one library. worth having if you have an interest in stardock games. unfortunately owned by long-time PC haters, gamestop.
4.Origin - owned by EA. client itself might be okay. I don't know.
GFWL doesn't belong. GOG before all, though. But but not included because it doesn't come with a client/library.
EDIT: forgot to add why.
Comment has been collapsed.
Steam, there is no other choice.
But for indies I just love Desura, also I have never had any problems with GFWL (I only have Gears of War though) and I have never used Origin, since in my country all of the EA games are more expensive that in the US I refuse to give my money to a greedy company.
TL;DR: Steam, Desura, GFWL, Origin. In that order :D
Comment has been collapsed.
33 Comments - Last post 24 minutes ago by doomofdoom
23 Comments - Last post 1 hour ago by Inkyyy
1,177 Comments - Last post 1 hour ago by J1mmyG1ft
2,317 Comments - Last post 1 hour ago by MonoceroS
330 Comments - Last post 2 hours ago by aquatorrent
4 Comments - Last post 2 hours ago by hbarkas
207 Comments - Last post 3 hours ago by anditsung
18 Comments - Last post 6 minutes ago by Channel28
2 Comments - Last post 7 minutes ago by Golwar
160 Comments - Last post 13 minutes ago by OneNonLy
29 Comments - Last post 19 minutes ago by AceBerg42
2,889 Comments - Last post 35 minutes ago by JMM72
39 Comments - Last post 55 minutes ago by PapaSmok
243 Comments - Last post 59 minutes ago by quijote3000
Comment has been collapsed.