How bad does EA's Origin BETA launcher suck?

[ubercake]

EA has forced a less than functioning BETA release on its paying customers.

Within the context of BF3, how bad do you think this not-ready-for-prime-time tool sucks?

Since the recent BF3 update, it seems the Origin launcher has brought along its own issues.

For instance, often I don't know if the launcher will hang on the 'Initializing...', 'Logging in...', or 'Connecting...' phase of the game launch. At least in Bad Company 2 (which Origin hijacked once it installed on my machine), prior to Origin BETA the game would start and you'd choose a server from within the game. There was none of this defective browser-based launcher crap.

Now, when the Origin BETA launcher hangs on one of the aforementioned phases in BF3, clicking the 'Close Game' button results in a hung BF3.exe process. The launcher has no ability to shut the process down whether the launcher is hung at one of the phases or you just decide to hit the 'Close Game' button because you've decided you don't want to play.

When you proceed with closing Origin and the BF3.exe process through the task manager, you get the warning about ending the process could result in the loss of data and lead to application instability. This warning is REAL when it comes to Origin BETA.

Additionally, I had an experience last night that pissed me off even more...

I installed PGA Tour 2012 last night. After the install, Origin would not successfully launch the game. It just sat their with this little window with nothing but blank white space in it. Then I though to myself 'now I've done it...'.

So I tried to launch BF3 and it wouldn't launch either resulting in a hung BF3.exe process. I had to cancel the process through task manager. After repeatedly trying to launch BF3, I had to uninstall and re-install BF3 to successfully pass the 'Logging in...' phase. After the re-install of BF3, I was able to play BF3 and after I repaired the install of PGA Tour 2012 (that I just installed from disk), I was able to launch the launcher for PGA 2012 and update the game.

I have wasted so many hours re-installing BF3 due to unsuccessful launches coupled with the Origin BETA product's inability to gracefully end its own process when clicking the 'Close Game' button. After the last update, even a reboot won't give me a successful launch of the game. If EA can't even get the launch part of process right with the Origin BETA product, they shouldn't force it on the customer.

Each re-install of BF3 involves a full 15.4 GB download from EA because the disk I bought is just a token physical product which in no way is part of any install once Origin BETA is installed.

Even though MW3 is so remedial in comparison to BF3, it's looking better and better daily due to the lack of hassle Steam gives me.

 

[Marc_W1771ams]

Personally not had any issues since launch, have BF3 crysis 2 need for speed the run all installed through origin. I initially did notice some issues where my SSD boot speeds meant that origin was trying to sign in before my network connection had kicked in. This was easily resolved by removing it from my startup items.

 

[mercer95]

just remember beta is beta.

 

[Spoony]

Origin and steam both suck more than a 2 dollor hooker. why you might ask well lets see using a 3rd party to have to play games for a start, and when there servers have issues you cant t play the game single or multiplayer, so that for me is enough said.

i pay for the game so its mine to install play and do with as i choose, I HAVE the licence not them its MY CD KEY since i paid for the ownership of it and i will play with it how I WISH.

so in short sunshine Origin and Steam are both shite and there for should be banned full stop for freedom or ownership is no longer presant while these 2 programs are around

 

[ubercake]

just remember beta is beta.

I know what you're saying, but when I bought BF3, I didn't buy anything beta.

 

[Marc_W1771ams]

I know what you're saying, but when I bought BF3, I didn't buy anything beta.

Well how does the battlefield issues relate to Origin, all origin does is download the files and launch battlelog. the disconnection issues ect are battlelog issues and are nothing to do with origin.

 

[Marc_W1771ams]

P.S. If you played bad company 2 at all, you will know that buying any battlefield game is essentially buying a beta they may call it a final product but they always release buggy and get patched as they go along.

 

[ubercake]

Well how does the battlefield issues relate to Origin, all origin does is download the files and launch battlelog. the disconnection issues ect are battlelog issues and are nothing to do with origin.

How does that explain the issue when launching PGA Tour just after installation which does not use battlelog? Check for updates through Origin BETA didn't even work. I had to choose the repair option even though Origin showed the title as 'ready to play'.

 

[Marc_W1771ams]

Touché

I hadn't actually read that bit, not a game I own myself so hard to say. I assume this was downloaded and installed through origin?

 

[ubercake]

Touché

I hadn't actually read that bit, not a game I own myself so hard to say. I assume this was downloaded and installed through origin?

This one was installed from a disk, but since Origin was running it automatically tied in. I was surprised the entire PGA Tour game didn't download like BF3 did when I put the disk in during my BF3 initial install.

 

[Marc_W1771ams]

Well Battlefield requires origin, maybe PGA can run without if its not installed, have you tried verifying the game files through origin?

 

[ubercake]

Verifying? Do you mean through the repair process within Origin?

 

[Marc_W1771ams]

Not got origin loaded on this Pc so couldn't get the right terminology but I believe that's right.

P.S. SLI 680's now thats spunk worthy!

 

[ubercake]

Not got origin loaded on this Pc so couldn't get the right terminology but I believe that's right.

P.S. SLI 680's now thats spunk worthy!

Same here. No Origin on this one. But the repair process never worked on BF3. I actually had to run the 'Repair...' option against the golf game right after installing from disk because the 'Check for Updates' option didn't work for the golf game. It actually threw an error. I don't remember what it was exactly, but something about not a valid option. Once the 'Repair' option ran, I was able to start up the game and within the game itself, it told me an update was required, so I updated it and was able to play.

BTW- The 680s crank. I love them. On top of that, they run 20-25C cooler than my 580s did. Both pumped out great performance, but the temperature advantage with the 680s is substantial.

 

[Marc_W1771ams]

Yet another EA fail, I read today that there is a possibility of them being taken over by Nexus. Who knows maybe then their games will work straight out of the box.

 

[ubercake]

Yet another EA fail, I read today that there is a possibility of them being taken over by Nexus. Who knows maybe then their games will work straight out of the box.

I saw that story. It's probably a rumor the top shareholders put out there to drive up the stock price so they can offload a few shares to pay for the summer vacation on a private island.

 

[Marc_W1771ams]

20-25c is impressive in an sli setup. Hell my single 480 was a bitch for heat till I fitted the accellero cooler. That dropped temps at stock speeds by 32c and meant overclocked my card was still 25c cooler. But it ain't no 680.

 

[ubercake]

I also figured out that running 16x/8x rather than 16x/16x on my X58 board gives me the same performance. Also, having the cards separated by 2 slots gives me the makes for 10C of that lower temp. The 680s design improvements allow it to run cooler in general and make up the other 10-15C decrease. They rarely exceed the mid 60Cs and that's at full load with the stock cooler.

 

[Marc_W1771ams]

Well when you get bored of them I'd be happy to take them as a donation

 

[ubercake]

Well when you get bored of them I'd be happy to take them as a donation

Set up the charity sometime next summer when the 700(?) series arrives and we'll talk.

 

[Mozart25]

Judging by the responses, it looks like you have irrational EA haters and people without any problems. I haven't had any issue with the beta.

 

[punkrock_43]

The origin beta software sucks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Because you must pay like from R300 up to R500 for the game cd and then go home and still pay for your internet usage.
THAT SUCKS

 

[ubercake]

The launcher worked pretty well from June through July, but when they updated the servers in August, I'm back to keeping my task manager up full time to kill the BF3 and EAcoreServer processes. It's just a way of life now.

Try to start the game.

Now, the times when it does lock up, it locks on the initializing phase. When it locks there, there's no turning back so...
If it locks on 'Initializing...':

- Click 'Close Game' which doesn't end the BF3 process. It simply closes battlelog's game launcher sub-window.
- Close the browser.
- Kill BF3.exe in task manager.
- Kill EAcoreServer in task manager.
- Logout of the Origin client.
- Close the Origin Login prompt.
- Restart Origin and try again (hopefully the server you were trying to join still has a vacancy).

Also, the software update process through Origin blows. Each time there's a BF3 game update (such as the one earlier this week), I have to do a repair immediatly after the update or re-install completely. Otherwise, battlelog doesn't register that the update was performed not allowing me to start playing until I perform the update I just successfully (accoding to the Origin still-BETA Launcher) performed. Even after closing the browser, logging out and logging back in.