I never thought I'd be making one of these threads. But, I bought BF3 on release day. I had to build a new rig to play the game. I finish my new rig and install the game on Saturday November 26th, 2001 and the game would not run. Origin kept giving me an error saying that I was not online nor was it able to validate my game. I got online with an EA rep and was talking to him until 11pm last night. The end result? They issued me a new product key. I uninstalled/reinstalled/redownloaded the game under this new product key and I still get the error. I want my money back. I will no longer support them I paid $60 for a literal broken game.

Everyone complains about Bethesda/Obsidian. Well, I've never had an issue with anything Beth makes. This isn't the first time I've had an issue with an EA product but it will be my last. I'm done with them.

Generally if the product is open stores will not refund the money

Usually all they can do is exchange your game for another copy of same the game (same thing for movies). In California that is not only the typical store policy it is the law (I don't know if this varies from state to state). Of course depending on where you got it and if you complain enough you might, might, be able to get a refund or an exchange for a different game.

Edit: Also, man you got your BF3 copy early! 2001? Man you are lucky!

He meant 2011 right?

Yes, 2011. Sometimes my ZBoard keyboard keys stick. I attribute that to switching the faces out constantly.

I'm so fed up with this game. I was really looking forward to playing it but I wait all day for it to download and install then it won't work. Maybe I can get Gamestop to exchange it for Batman: Arkham City.

Even in jurisdictions that state that goods must be fit for purpose, the software industry's lobbyists have pretty much ensured that they're exempt from this ruling, which kind of svcks. Quite a lot.

So, basically I'd be stuck with a $60 coaster and a bad taste in my mouth from EA. Lovely.

They really can't figure out what's wrong? Not only is that awful customer service, it has me really worried since I'm building my new computer later this week and installing BF3.

Nope. They've issued me a new product code and I still get the same errors. On top of that if I do a manual launch through the Start Button I get a "Release Date Check" that it fails every single time.


Honestly, if you haven't opened the game take it back and get something else.


Like you I built a new rig just for BF3 and Skyrim. And I haven't had one single issue with Skyrim AT ALL. The game runs flawlessly on HIGH settings.

On top of that, I'm online with yet another EA rep and they asked me to post a DXDiag for them. I did so, now I haven't heard from the person in over 30 minutes. Guess that means I'm [censored]. There may be a YouTube video of my brother-in-law shotting BF3 with one of his guns soon.

I hate requests to post DXdiags: though once in a while someone actually looks at it, they're usually just a means of batting the problem back to you for long enough to bugger off and not do anything, and because they're so excessively long, it's a pretty much guaranteed thread-killer that ensures nobody else helps either.

What the heck does DX have to do with this problem? It sounds like a major authentication server issue. I don't know what Origin is or what I'm gonna need to do when I install BF3, but this sounds like something on their end, not a DX issue.

Origin is like Steam I'm guessing? It's saying you aren't online and therefore cannot validate the key? Is that the problem?

Well it says on the box that you need to use Origin to play and the Origin ToS clearly states that you don't actually OWN the game, you just bought a license to play it. EA still owns the game. :shrug:

It's the reason I didn't buy BF3, because if something happens like the OP describes... there isn't much you can do about it.

Strap on your sue boots and go to town.

Good idea, waste even more money on a hopeless cause

Wasting money on hopeless causes is what this country was founded on!

Ah good point. Carry on then :nod:

Is that actually legal, though? I guess it depends where one lives, but software EULAs seem to be becoming quite infamous for including unenforceable clauses: I guess it's to con the naive and otherwise throw people off exercising their statutory rights rather than because they necessarily carry any legal weight.

Unfortunately yes it's completely legal

Speaking of the EULA... I suppose you could try getting in contact with EA and saying you do not accept the terms and conditions and thus need a refund....

... and they have the temerity to accuse their customers of being pirates. :facepalm:

That'd be great. Except I haven't found a direct way to contact them. I don't have Twitter, nor Facebook and I've tried the online chat thing 3 times.

To whomever asked if Origin is like Steam. It is and it isn't. It's not as user friendly as Steam and it's been poorly implemented. Even back when it was EA DOWNLOADER it was bad. With Steam at least you get the feeling you have a product and it always works. I've had both Origin (EA DOWNLOADER) and Steam since they were released and I've never had a problem with Steam.

I'm taking BF3 back to GAMESTOP on Wednesday. I'm going to explain to them them game is detective and that I'd like to exchange it for a different game and see what happens. I don't have high hopes for anything good to cone out of this. But it is worth a shot. I do know one thing. I won't be buying another EA title.

Call up EA support, [censored] and moan about how you cannot activate your game, be willing to email them a receipt as proof of purchase of said game, etc, do anything and everything until they give you a solution

Edit: Found these with a quick and dirty google search:

http://forum.ea.com/eaforum/posts/list/7565158.page

http://forum.ea.com/eaforum/posts/list/7667466.page

If you post exactly what error you are having (word for word or upload a picture) maybe someone can find a solution, otherwise dig through those threads and see if anyone has come up with a solution.

Edit2:Also, throwing this out there, if Origin is having issues contacting the web, it's possible it is a problem with your Router/local firewall. Disable your local firewall/antivirus (temporarily) and make sure UPnP is enabled on your router. Perhaps manually port forward all the related ports for Origin: http://portforward.com/english/applications/port_forwarding/Origin/Originindex.htm

Edit3: Oh, wow, really EA? That could be a huge problem. Ports 80 and 443 are apparently used for Origin. A LOT of ISPs block incomming requests on those ports due to them being web server ports and want you to pay for their business internet before allowing you to use them. If EA has some incomming connection (gawd, I don't even want to know why they would :shakehead:) related to authentication on one of those ports, that could potentially be the problem.

This is the best way to start. Remember that the business relationship you have is with Gamestop, not EA, so they are the ones you'll need to get the refund out of. Also, if they absolute refuse a refund or store credit, then one thing to try if you paid using a credit card is to contest the charge, claiming that you were provided with defective goods and upon bringing this to the attention of the merchant a refund was refused. If both Gamestop and your CC company shoot you down then unfortunately there's not much more that can be reasonably done, at least not within the confines of the law.

As long as Origin is required, I'm not even considering the possibility of maybe getting any EA game. Right now I'm guessing that means I'm missing the last part of Shepard's story. There's too much uncertainty about what EA is trying to do with Origin, and that is beside the point of "If you're banned on the forums you lose access to your Origin games" thing. http://www.technolawguy.com/2011/08/ea-if-you-dont-like-our-privacy-policy.html At least you have the choice of opting out of giving Steam your information.

There is a thread that is now over a 100 pages on Bioware's ME3 forum. There hasn't been any official statement one way or the other by EA yet. I doubt there will be until the last possible minute. http://social.bioware.com/forum/1/topic/323/index/8498716/1

Problem is, Gamestop's ToS is basically 'If the product is a failure, we will take it and give you a new copy' or so said my reciept when I got SR3, so I'd imagine it's a general company policy.

These days buying an EA game is the equivalent of standing in the path of a bus, you know only bad things can come of it.

But your EULA is with EA. Gamestop is just the retailer, if you have a problem with the product I'd take it up directly with the publisher.