tr1ptych

@(Unverified)
This...is a really silly and arrogant comment.

@Squishy3
Something a lot of people seem to consistently be missing here is that the BF3 client is going to have the EA Origin store built into the game. This means if DLC comes out, the game can prompt the player "HEY GUY, NEW DLC OUT" just like Steam prompts you with preorders, sales, and new releases through a window when you boot up the client. If you want to buy the shiny new BF3 DLC, you can do so right then and there--which is EA Origin's store.

Valve obviously has a problem with this, because they won't be getting a cut of that sale, even though the game was their sale to begin with. Not to mention the game is explicitly connected a rival's store within their own store.

No business has a problem with you going down the street for a similar product or something you can't get at their own store--they might try to push their own sale but they can't really stop you from taking your own time to go to another store. Maybe you like Papa John's pizza but prefer Little Caeser's Crazy Bread. PJ isn't going to get bent out of shape because you got your pizza and then went down the road to buy some crazy bread to go with it. PJ will, however, have a problem if Little Caesers comes over with a cart and sells their bread sticks right there inside of Papa John's.

The other online retailers don't do business the way Steam does. The others are no different from brick stores. You pay for the game and it's yours. Steam is an always connected store. You don't download the game and walk away, you have to use Steam to use that purchase, which means you're always inside of Steam's store.

It's completely understandable that Valve wants to protect Steam's storefront from rivals setting up sales carts within their store.

It's also completely understandable that a company that just launched their own digital delivery service wants to integrate that service into their own games to deliver content to their users directly and as easily as possible--you load up the game and you're there.

Neither company is really at fault of anything other than trying to conduct business. There's nothing underhanded here other than whiny gamers who honestly believe Valve should be the only retailer in the world because it would be more convenient for them.

@JoshMilewski
Noticed that as well.

@Khalus
I'm confused. Why would you ever need to "run back and forth along the hotbar" when you can just press the number keys?

If anyone still need to buy the game, Direct2Drive's 20% off everything sale might be a great place to start.

No word on them giving this side of the pond's collector's box both extra characters?

Classic Ubi in the west-- no truly complete edition. We'll eventually get access to everything as DLC, but not separately. They'll just release a single DLC bundle including all bonus content in one purchase. I'm not sure if buying the CE is worth that BS again.

Can't top Symphony of the Night.

Forge World, for sure.

I'll wait for a NA CE announcement before I decide what I do. I don't even care about the chest or the codex or whatever. I'm just a huge AC fan that loves the extra in-game content right from the start.

Buying the North American AC2 CE left me with only two of the three CE DLCs. Then when they decide the CE exclusivity is over they simply release a bundle. I'm not re-buying two things I already paid for just for the one I'm missing, even if it is only a few bucks.

Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater.