Pre-order Battlefield 3 on Origin and get a free game

by David Hinkle on Aug 15th 2011 5:15PM

We already knew that pre-ordering Battlefield 3 on Origin (the only place on PC to offer the game digitally) would net gamers access to an early beta in September, but it would seem EA is sweetening the pot with another offer: a free game. According to Ars Technica, one individual was sent the following statement via email after pre-ordering the game through Origin:

As a special thank you for pre-ordering Battlefield 3 early at Origin, we're offering you a bonus PC digital download game. Please apply the code below at the shopping cart to redeem one PC Digital version of one of our recommended shooter titles: Mass Effect 2, Dead Space 2 or Medal of Honor. The price will be reduced to $0 after applying the code at your shopping cart. Hurry-this offer is only good for the month of August, and is exclusive to Origin customers only. See below for more details.

Regardless of how you feel about EA's new platform, the publisher has given you another reason to consider it.

Source: Ars Technica

Tags: battlefield-3, dead-space-2, dice, ea, ea-origin, mass-effect-2, medal-of-honor, origin, pc, pre-order

Reader Comments (101)

I have most EA games I'd want. Doesn't interest me in the slightest.

If anything I'll originally buy Battlefield 3 on my 360 or ps3. Then get on the pc, once I'm not stuck on one service.

@SpecBlank So, you are going to buy a game TWICE, because you don't like Origin? That makes total sense.

@SpecBlank This is getting ridiculous. All I hear anymore is "WAHH WAHH IT'S NOT ON STEAM!" Even when EA is giving you extra stuff, including a free game, people find ways to complain.

WHO CARES? Whether it's on Steam or Origin, once you've launched the game, it doesn't matter where you downloaded it from.

@whatisdelicious

That's not what I said. I'm getting it on the pc eventually, but not right now. Can't run it. What I meant was that I hope it won't go service specific, just like steamwork games, which I do not enjoy having to rely on steam.

Might have not made myself clear enough.

@SpecBlank

Edit: I can run it, I just can't play it on my pc right now. Not till December.

@SpecBlank

Hopefully Battlefield 3 is really meant for PC. Probably won't get it at all because I don't want to sign up for another DRM service as I am already on Steam.

@whatisdelicious

You are going to care once you face Punkbuster......

@whatisdelicious
I agree. Nearly everyone uses Steam exclusively, so what's the big deal with just launching it via a different program. I feel like PC gamers exaggerate and get overly mad whenever something goes the way they don't want it to.

@The Cole Train

You don't understand the amount of logins to DRM networks PC gamers have to keep track of. I am not against the existence of Origin. I am against it not being on my preferred platform which is Steam. I just don't want to support a game that continues a trend of having every publish having their own DRM network. I would fully support Valve games on Origin.

Also it is why some people choose Xbox vs PS3. The games are the same but all their online friends are on a particular network. I don't want to figure out who is on what network with each login. It really is analogous to a game going platform exclusive.

If EA wants to play this game, let them. They just won't get my money.

I was a huge Battlefield fan playing way too many hours of 1942 and to a lesser extent Battlefield 2. I even forgave them for BF Vietnam. But here is where I cut the ties. I understand some people want Battlefield vs. Call of Duty and we should all take the evil Activision down but I simply don't care about that. If Battlefield is done right, they shouldn't even be similar.

@The Cole Train
I don't have a problem with Origin, actually I do. It is just that EA finds excuses to take their games off of Steam. I wanted to get Crysis 2 to go right next to my already purchased Crysis 1 and Warhead. Nope, Crysis 2 is gone. Now gone is Battlefield 3, then possibly Mass Effect 3. Now if Origin played nice in the sandbox with the other kid, then I would consider their service.

@SpecBlank So you're gonna give your money to EA twice because you don't like their service? Makes perfect sense...

@trickybuz93

Why do these reply's keep surfacing! I'm wondering if people are reading the whole section, where I explain that I might have not made myself clear or if they're only reading the first post.

Wish Joystiq had an edit button.

@Dance Mofo
It isn't so much as finding excuses to remove games from Steam as it is being caught with their hand in the cookie jar.

Steam's policy is that all DLC and whatnot should be downloaded via the Steam network.

EA's idea is to completely bypass the Steam store by offering DLC through a portal within Steam such that the user is buying directly from EA without going through the usual Steam checkout process.

That is the point of contention between EA and Steam or at least the gist of the argument.

Even though I don't like Origin and I won't be using it, I have to admit that is a pretty good deal.

@Ospov

sense making on the joystiq comments?!

someone grab my monocle, it seems to have popped off!

@Ospov The serpent and the apple, need I say more?

@Ospov

yeah, it´s a great deal.... it´s called bait, and fishes all over the world have enjoyed the results of it for generations.........

@Ospov

Good deal or even more blatant begging on the part of EA for you to use their service?

@Ospov - Are you playing BF3 on the PC? If so, I don't think you have a choice but to use it, even if you buy the game retail.

@BananaBoat

I'll actually be buying it for PS3. I was on the fence between PS3 and PC a while ago, but once they said it was Origin only I decided I was just going to be getting the PS3 version. I'm fine with that because I had a big group of friends that I played BC2 with all the time and they're all getting it for PS3 too. It just sucks because I would really like to test out my PC with all them purdy graphics and what have you :(

I still think EA's trying to buy people, to get Origin off the ground and say it's a success. For every person that goes for a deal like this, that's just another stat they can claim.

@Copybass Ah jeez zombies Who cares its a free game.Hope you dont lose too much sleep in your protest line.

@Copybass Ah jeez zombies But that's the benefit of competition. Sure, they're just trying to buy your love, but who cares? You're getting a free game out of it regardless. Steam does the same stuff.

@Copybass Ah jeez zombies

Exactly. EA has gamers figured out. Buy them off with a free game. "Steam who?"

the medal of honor multiplayer was very poor and it was done on the DICE engine. my greatest fear with BF 3 is that it will retain a lot of the mechanics of MoH multiplayer...

@Tradio I have played BF3 and it's nothing like MoH. Do not fear, it is great, and you will see more of the game tomorrow including conquest and jets :D

@Tradio

Why go directly to that game? It was (by comparison) a half arsed attempt at multi player.. BC2 was made under the "dice engine" (frostbite engine, which is being refreshed anyway) don't you think it would be far more likely to retain features from that, which is far from a bad thing in my opinion..

@Tradio I didn't see any problem with the mechanics in that game, MOH problem was about spawn system, map design, and a killstreak system that rewarded camping. Actually i'm looking a lot of MOH in BF3, how the maps and the guns look, some animations for the players and the amazing sound design.

This should be the new norm for PC Digital Pre-orders or the cool discount for Pre-ordering.

I would love if publishers and developers gave out the previous editions of their games when you pre-order a new one.

For example, if I pre-order Mass Effect 3, I should get Mass Effect 2 and Mass Effect 1 for free.

or

Give me a good discount for pre-ordering the games and/or give me a bigger discount for owning the previous games.

A lot of publishers and developers already do this, but it would be amazing if it were a standard. They would get more PC gamers to buy the game on launch instead of waiting.

Add some hats also for those that care for hats XD

@xiLeShadow

In most cases when you pre-order a game that up-front money is going to the retailer, not the company making the game. In this case, there's an exception to that rule because EA owns both Origin and BF.

In general, it wouldn't make sense for publishers/devs. They'd undoubtedly be losing out on some sales from folks who decide that they're not going to buy a game because they can get it free at some point down the line, and in exchange they're giving the retailers, whom they have no connection to, extra money to invest up front.

@Vcize

Wait what?

In the digital download realm, developers and publishers get their money on a sale to sale basis.

For example, when someone buys a game off Steam. The publisher/developer of that game gets a 70-ish% of that sale. The other part goes to Steam.

Now if they give away a game, Steam won't get anything from that.

Steam and the Publisher will get their cuts based upon the full sale.

This doesn't apply to physical retailers of course. The publishers sell off their copies to retailers and then retailers mark up that price to get a profit.

Sorry, EA, there is only room for one portal to PC gaming in my heart.

@Ryan P

Cool, lets have a monopoly.

I'll admit Steam is awesome but monopolies are not awesome.

@Ryan P Yeah, I hate capitalism too. If we're lucky, pretty soon, Steam will put Direct2Drive, GamersGate and all the rest of the dregs out of business. Even when Steam's competitor's are giving away free games with the game I want, I'm completely unwilling to budge.

GOD I HATE COMPETITION.

@xiLeShadow

How is Steam a monopoly?!

Oh wait, you're right. OnLive, D2D, Gamestop, Amazon, Gamersgate, Impulse, and soon to be Gamefly totally don't exist and Steam is a monopoly.

Yep.

@xiLeShadow

I would argue that EA's form of vertical integration is more harmful to consumers than Steam's natural quasi-monopoly.

@xiLeShadow

yeah!!! let´s have a monopoly, let´s release the game only on one digital distribution service instead of giving the choice to the users.......THAT¨S what ea is doing..........so good way to fight a monopoly.......

@PrimeSynergy

I never said Steam was a monopoly....-.-

and EA are doing the same thing developer/retailers are doing.

Valve's games are exclusive to Steam.
Stardock's games are/were exclusive to Impluse.

@xiLeShadow

I don't have a problem with EA making their own competitor to Steam. What I do have a problem with is them (willfully?) violating Steam's TOS with their games that are already on Steam and then making those games exclusive to Origin. That is exactly the type of behavior that I would expect from a company with a monopoly. It is perplexing, though, because EA does not have a monopoly on the market, but I my guess is that they feel that they are big enough that they can get away with it.

@xiLeShadow

How about we have BF3 on Origin and Steam. That would be real competition.

@Hunter141072 - Battlefield 3 is available on a ton of digital retailers, just not Steam.

There are more download retailers than just Steam.

@Mcmax3000

Maybe because EVERYBODY always buys on steam........adn at the end it doesn´t mater ´cause the game needs Origin in order to work......

I think this time for Joystiq to do a Guide to Pre-Order, because I'm utterly confused.

Hahaha, I got into the BF3 alpha in that last sweep and they sent me the same offer "as a thank you for helping test the game." Only they said it was good for the next 3 days. After that the deal was gone for good. Right.

As much as I still dislike being forced onto Origin this was nice and unnecessary of EA.

Highly recommend Mass Effect 2 to whoever hasn't picked it up yet!

I get a little bummed every time i see a headline containing the word Origin. Not that I have any problem with the service, haven't tried it. No, I get bummed cause I think its going to be some new Wing Commander or Privateer! Nope.

@SThompson I get a little bummed every time I see the word Origin in a Joystiq headline because I know it's going to be another tabloid baitfest where Joystiq abandons any pretense of journalistic integrity and continues to propagate the ea vs steam battle to get hits.

I think that if they get rid of the 2 years of non- use crap that it would bring more people in than this.

@Dirty I doubt most people know or even care about that.

@Enigma7ic

I forgot that PC gamers were an uniformed and quiet bunch.

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Battlefield 3

Pre-order Battlefield 3 on Origin and get a free game

Reader Comments (101)

Posted: Aug 15th 2011 5:19PM SpecBlank said

Posted: Aug 15th 2011 5:21PM PercyChuggs said

Posted: Aug 15th 2011 5:25PM whatisdelicious said

Posted: Aug 15th 2011 5:28PM SpecBlank said

Posted: Aug 15th 2011 5:28PM SpecBlank said

Posted: Aug 15th 2011 5:44PM FriedConsole said

Posted: Aug 15th 2011 5:46PM Hunter141072 said

Posted: Aug 15th 2011 6:08PM The Cole Train said

Posted: Aug 15th 2011 6:25PM FriedConsole said

Posted: Aug 15th 2011 6:49PM Dance Mofo said

Posted: Aug 15th 2011 11:48PM trickybuz93 said

Posted: Aug 15th 2011 11:52PM SpecBlank said

Posted: Aug 16th 2011 1:17AM mahouneko said

Posted: Aug 15th 2011 5:20PM Ospov said

Posted: Aug 15th 2011 5:33PM Its The Rocketeer said

Posted: Aug 15th 2011 5:47PM RX3115 said

Posted: Aug 15th 2011 5:48PM Hunter141072 said

Posted: Aug 15th 2011 6:28PM arkweld said

Posted: Aug 15th 2011 9:11PM BananaBoat said

Posted: Aug 16th 2011 1:49AM Ospov said

Posted: Aug 15th 2011 5:22PM Copybass Ah jeez zombies said

Posted: Aug 15th 2011 5:42PM alucard3000 said

Posted: Aug 15th 2011 5:45PM whatisdelicious said

Posted: Aug 16th 2011 12:25AM i77ogical said

Posted: Aug 15th 2011 5:22PM Tradio said

Posted: Aug 15th 2011 5:31PM littlejay2o02 said

Posted: Aug 15th 2011 5:34PM ClarkyAC said

Posted: Aug 15th 2011 5:39PM jmr1986 said

Posted: Aug 15th 2011 5:23PM xiLeShadow said

Posted: Aug 15th 2011 5:33PM Vcize said

Posted: Aug 15th 2011 6:07PM xiLeShadow said

Posted: Aug 15th 2011 5:24PM Ryan P said

Posted: Aug 15th 2011 5:28PM xiLeShadow said

Posted: Aug 15th 2011 5:40PM whatisdelicious said

Posted: Aug 15th 2011 5:44PM PrimeSynergy said

Posted: Aug 15th 2011 5:45PM mattsmeesh said

Posted: Aug 15th 2011 5:50PM Hunter141072 said

Posted: Aug 15th 2011 6:01PM xiLeShadow said

Posted: Aug 15th 2011 6:06PM Ryan P said

Posted: Aug 15th 2011 7:22PM FriedConsole said

Posted: Aug 15th 2011 9:20PM Mcmax3000 said

Posted: Aug 15th 2011 10:29PM Hunter141072 said

Posted: Aug 15th 2011 5:24PM Joeybeast said

Posted: Aug 15th 2011 5:25PM geeksunny said

Posted: Aug 15th 2011 5:26PM Serafin said

Posted: Aug 15th 2011 5:29PM SThompson said

Posted: Aug 15th 2011 6:26PM Limimi said

Posted: Aug 15th 2011 5:29PM Dirty said

Posted: Aug 15th 2011 6:18PM Enigma7ic said

Posted: Aug 15th 2011 6:36PM Dirty said

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