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EA Wii U games require Origin account for online play

New Electronic Arts policy document reveals players will need Origin account to play EA title's online; "Nintendo Network ID" revealed.

By Eddie Makuch on October 22, 2012 at 4:48PM PDT

An updated Electronic Arts privacy policy document confirms that Wii U gamers wishing to play EA titles online will need a Origin account to do so.

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Additionally, by signing up for a Origin account for Wii U, players must agree to allow EA to collect their email address, Mii information, friend list, country, language, and date of birth.

Further, the document spells out "Nintendo Network ID." Nintendo has previously confirmed that Friend Codes from the Wii era would return for the Wii U, but it is not clear if "Nintendo Network ID" is a new name for these.

A Nintendo representative was not immediately available for comment.

Having an EA Origin account to play EA games online is not an exclusive requirement for the Wii U. The same policy is in place for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 gamers. In all cases and for all platforms, players will not need to agree to share their credit card number or other personal financial account information.

Launched in June 2011, Origin is a replacement for the EA Store, and it serves as a hub and infrastructure for downloading and playing PC games, as well as ordering boxed products for other platforms. It boasts 12 million users and more than 50 publishing partners.

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Good thing EA has only a limited number of online games that play best on consoles and even fewer for Nintendo. Origin isn't so bad on the PC, very little personally identifiable information is required, and I am very, ah, circumspect about the information I provide.

Upvote • 12 years ago

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@Unfallen_Satan I don't care that EA has my info. Hell a lot of companies have my info. I care that Origin is a bad service. Their costumer service is horrendous.

Upvote • 12 years ago

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@ExplicitMike That has never been a problem for me. I never expect any businesses, including EA and Origin, other than what they clearly say they will deliver, preferably only things they've demonstrated they can deliver to other customers. So I have never had the need to contact customer service. I also think Origin is unimpressive, but for providing basic online services for games like ME3 and BF3, I find it adequate.

Upvote • 12 years ago

deactivated-5b25acd1439fc

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deactivated-5b25acd1439fc

@ExplicitMike Too late, Windows 8 will allow you to sign in to Microsoft account to sync your OS settings. Although it's optional.

Upvote • 12 years ago

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@ExplicitMike I see Origin and Battlelog as a part of BF3. It's the way EA made the game; the game and the online portal are not separate. In this limited way, it doesn't bother me. As Origin, indeed any other similar service, begin to encompass more games, it annoys me more and more. All of a sudden I need to supply my name, email, maybe phone number and address, perhaps even credit card info down the road, for games that cannot possibly make use of them. My biggest worry is the trend expands to all software and finally my OS, so that at some point there is just no way not to avoid giving out my information or using extra services I don't want. I mean, letting my BF3 collect dust doesn't bother me, but there is no way I am giving up using my computer.

Upvote • 12 years ago

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@Unfallen_Satan I am glad you didn't have problems. But I must ask someone. Why do I need Origin and Battlelog to play BF3. Can't they just pick one pointless thing for me to do. Do you see how unnecessary I see these things to be?

Upvote • 12 years ago

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Haven't played any EA game since DA:O and even then, I refused to get any of the DLC.

Upvote • 12 years ago

mario-nin-freak

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mario-nin-freak

EA, stop trying to bring gaming down with you.

Upvote • 12 years ago

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Then EA brags about how many people are using Origin. I will never sign up for that service. Unfortunately that means missing out on some games like Sim City until it is hopefully released on Steam or I decide to play it for free. I would pay full price for it if Origin wasn't required though. I'd even play it with a required online connection....but not with Origin.

Upvote • 12 years ago

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@jmr1986 You need it for Sim City 5, you have to log in to play it.

Upvote • 12 years ago

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Edited By jmr1986

@Jinzo_111887 And for C&C Generals 2 too.

Upvote • 12 years ago

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@jmr1986 @Jinzo_111887 i gave up on all hope with the C&C series at this point. Just from what i hear about CCG2 i know its going to be crap. That series is dead to me. Welp back to CCG1 because an awesome game stays awesome.

Upvote • 12 years ago

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Don't see the big fuzz about it. If you have played an online game developed by EA in the recent years you already have an Origin account cause your old EA account it's an Origin account now. Many of them (the latest NFS games being an example) required to log in in order to play the game online.

You don't need Origin on your console to run the game, you just need to login on your account to play. I wonder how many of the commentators in here already have an Origin account without knowing and came here to leave a dumb hate comment.

Upvote • 12 years ago

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@jmr1986 The point is each time something has to interrupt the turn on system and play. Why do I need Uplay, why every time I play max Payne 3 do I need to login for anything steam is already DRM. What the hell. I just wanna launch my game and play.

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deactivated-59d995040c2ae

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Edited By deactivated-59d995040c2ae

@jmr1986

This is true. The issue to me is more about the death of pick-up and play console gaming. I weep for the grandmothers and small children stumped or discouraged by extra steps to play some multiplayer.

Upvote • 12 years ago

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@PrimeLazarus @jmr1986 This reminds me when I first bought my PS3, two controllers, and a copy of Burnout Paradise. Then invited my friend around while I hooked it up.

Yeah, that's right. No local multiplayer.

We went to the pub instead.

Upvote • 12 years ago

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Edited By alenth

That happens when you stay 6 years behind the competition in online platforms.

Upvote • 12 years ago

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@alenth

So what's Sony/Microsoft's excuse?

Upvote • 12 years ago

2188

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@alenth No this is what happens when you act like a pr**k to your customers and make crappy products.

Upvote • 12 years ago

3245

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Origin... a point that is also known as "0". Some would think it's a fitting name for EA's online service because that's what they think of them. Personally, I'm going to go out of my way to avoid even playing EA's newer titles just like I do with all other games that use online pass and other anti-used game practices, even though I would have bought new otherwise.

Upvote • 12 years ago

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Edited By mtait01

so you need a Nintendo Network ID, then an Origin Account and THEN an online pass.......... really? wow

Upvote • 12 years ago

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@mtait01 Remember the days when you would by a cartridge and that was it? You'd slip it out of its protective packaging and there it was.. you now owned a copy of game "X"! Wanna play it? Sure.. slip it in, flick the power switch and your playing. You didn't even have to wait for anything to load either. Ah the good old days.. When games were shipped completed and packed with enough goodness to keep you playing and not requiring DLC to keep content fresh.

Upvote • 12 years ago

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@mtait01 What? Where? Huh? Did we both read the same story? Online Pass? You have Live correct? That is a BLOODY ONLINE PASS! EA Origin is free, as in do not pay for a thing, just a log in so you can be identified online and also links up to your other EA games no matter which console you use. Your reading and comprehension skills...just wow, I'm not trying to be rude or anything but you really have to take a second look at your post. That last part is conjecture and it's grossly off base.

Upvote • 12 years ago

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@SavageEvil @mtait01 I...I dont even..... Live is not a pain in the arse and neither is PSN or WII service(what ever its called). Having an origin account on TOP of that with a pass on TOP of that is crazy.

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Edited By SavageEvil

@MW2ismygame @mtait01 Are you serious? How is having an Origin Account on top of having Wii U service crazy since Wii U most likely still goes by anonymous friend codes? So what on earth is the problem, you guys make a mountain out of a mole hill. This is just EA online service to keep everything from them in one place so you don't have to use multiple accounts to log on. You just sign up once, and go online and link all your gaming consoles ID to it and you are golden. Makes me wonder about the state of US schools when the product are a bunch of anxious crazies. No one is pausing and saying stop wait this is no different from MS EULA and PS3 EULA to play online, Wii U still will use friend codes so Nintendo probably won't have one like this, so you will directly have to link up your Wii Friend Codes either by going to Origin on the web or when you pop in an EA game on the Wii U simple as pie.

I had the honor of reading some other guy who is so hardheaded he rather not see the truth, but still insists that opting out isn't the same as EA telling you in writing that they will not sell your personally identifiable information...see that guy really needs to pause and think.

Upvote • 12 years ago

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No thanks EA.

Upvote • 12 years ago

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*Need some account to play some game online* ... what else is new?

Upvote • 12 years ago

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Edited By jayd02

@GamerOuTLaWz

But EA has been doing this for years now. I'm also pretty sure the main subject of this article was EA as well.

Upvote • 12 years ago

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@GamerOuTLaWz I'm also pretty sure that EA owns Origin. EA just gave it a different name and some new management from their previous store. My statement still stands, they have been doing this for years.

Upvote • 12 years ago

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It has been a while since I have played an EA game on any of these consoles, does this mean that if you lose the disc, or it gets damaged, that EA will allow you to re-download the game digitally free of charge as well?

Upvote • 12 years ago

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Edited By jayd02

I love you gamespot but how is this news? They have been doing this for years now and they don't plan on stopping anytime soon for anything.

Upvote • 12 years ago

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@jayd02 *for a year. Origin exists since BF3 exist which is 1 year ago

Upvote • 12 years ago

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@GamerOuTLaWz @jayd02 I think he's referring to pre-Origin, which was the same thing, except it was known then as an EA Account. So jayd02 is correct when he says 'for years'

Upvote • 12 years ago

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Looks like another desperate attempt by EA to promote ORIGIN, "well sir i say ENOUGH ...!!!!!"

Upvote • 12 years ago

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Use your keyboard!

ESC

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