Update: Stephen Reid (Sr. CM for SWTOR) confirmed you won’t need the Origin client. That means you’re free to buy a physical of digital copy
This entry needs one of those “Epic Fail” labels.
I finally pre-ordered SWTOR the other day and in the process made quite an annoying mistake. I’ve had the same EA account since EA accounts were first instituted. This is the same EA account I use for all my Battlefield, Dragon Age, and, well, all games from EA. Back then, and I’m talking a decade here at least, I had a different email address. I actually have four emails, but don’t we all? Well, that’s the reason I’m in this predicament.
Using my normal EA account, which is now an Origin account, I pre-ordered the Digital Standard Edition of SWTOR. I sat there for 20 minutes waiting for the game to appear in the “My Games” section, but the game never appeared. I checked my email and found instructions to enter a code on the official SWTOR site to credit my SWTOR account with the Pre-order status for early access and all that crap.
It didn’t even cross my mind to think about what email I associated with my SWTOR account on the website. Turns out, the two are completely different. Why wouldn’t they be? I compartmentalize my crap these days. I have my gaming emails, my blog email, my professional email, and my old/spam email. Turns out… somehow… my SWTOR website account was also used to register an EA account.
The result of activating my pre-order key on the SWTOR website to an account with a different email was the association of my purchase to an entirely different Origin account! The fact that I bought SWTOR with what I thought was my only Origin account is a moot point. I now have a separate Origin account with only SWTOR on it.
I’m really hoping that SWTOR won’t require Origin to launch. I don’t want to have two origin accounts. I’m debating if it’s worth fighting EA’s customer service. If it wasn’t tied to a stupid website account, I doubt it would be an issue. They could just move the game from one Origin account I own to the other. But this link to a website creates all kinds of problems since I assume standard EA customer service won’t be able help.
Lesson learned. Before you pre-order SWTOR and enter the key into your SWTOR website account, verify the emails match! If not, and you’re like me with multiple EA accounts over the years, you’re going to be in for a nasty surprise.
P.S. If you were able to follow along and not be completely confused by my explanation of the mishap, you’re probably smart enough to avoid making this mistake.
Lol, we’re all there in the same boat for sure. But you’ll have to download the game through Origin so yoiu might want to queue up for customer service now because at launch these kinds of things are going to make it a giant cluster to get in game unless you have all of your ducks in a row prior.
Good luck man…may the…ack, can’t do it 🙂
It’s been noted on the official forums that Origin will NOT be required. Check the Dev Tracker and you’ll find the mod post.
I’ve done some digging and found contradicting info, which is why I’m a bit confused.
From the FAQ still on the main website:
Will I require an Origin account in addition to a SWTOR account?
Yes, you will require an active Origin account in addition to a Star Wars: The Old Republic account. […]
From a post by Stephen Reid:
Star Wars: The Old Republic will not require the Origin desktop application to download, patch or play the game, regardless of whether the game was originally purchased through Origin or at a retail outlet.
I think that the distinction is account versus software. My assumption, not based on any research, is that any EA linked account (aka Bioware or Mythic) is or will be at some point, an origin account. Whether or not you use the origin software, is independent from that. Bioware has stated, several times I think (again, not researching it for confirmation because I’m lazy), that the origin software will not be required. It was going to be, but the hoohah that was raised made them back off.
Ah yeah, I see the distinction.
“Yes, you will require an active Origin account”
You will need to have an account registered with Origin…
“Star Wars: The Old Republic will not require the Origin desktop application”
…but you wont need the software.
Origin, EA, and SWTOR are all the same account. Same user name, same email address, same password. They are all linked. So if EA bans you in a game or forum, you’ll also be locked out of all your other games, including SWTOR. Keep that in mind. It’s the bad side of SWTOR using your EA account.
@ScytheNoire: Well, the FAQ contradicts that. It says you won’t be locked out of anything else. I guess the lucky thing for me is that it doesn’t matter either way, since it gave me a second Origin account. 😉
I did the same thing with BF3, I went to merge my two Origin accounts after the BF3 beta and EA support told me that they change anything with pre-ordered games on it and wait untill BF3 is released. After BF3’a release EA’s support told me they can’t merge the 2 accounts together, so now I have a seperate EA account (which I’e used for years aswell) and a seperate Origin account. SERIOUSLY cancel your pre-order and re-order with your proper account EVEN if you think Origin is not a requirement, EA is known for pulling shading things like telling you Origin is NOT a requirement then come release Origin is a requirement.
Ill have to look into that, i think i did something similar since i have a different email for origin and swtor website account…
I also pre-ordered last night & had to use an alternate email because my usual one was already in use. My main email was used to make an EA account for Red Alert 3 & I have long since lost the password. The SWTOR website says my pre-order is activated so hopefully things will work out…..
Origin did the same stupid thing to me, i Pre ordered old republic (one of the first) about 10 min after they announced pre orders but noticed they created a damn account and didnt use my EA account for the pre order. I have talked to EA and you know, they said “to bad” and that i would have to cancel my pre order with Bioware, i basicly told them to fuck off ;P
At least all of you figured out how to log in. As far as I recall, I have a Bioware account extant from Mass Effect and Dragon Age times.
When signing up interest for the SWTOR beta, I first used a random email and then when it told me they needed lots more details to make an EA account, I backtracked and said, hey I already have one from Bioware that should be linked. So I used that to sign up for the SWTOR beta, and it seemed to go through. So I’m set, no? Bioware/EA/SWTOR all linked…
…except I’ve never gotten a beta invite to that email. Nor was I able to log in with either email to the website, or trigger a “forgot my password” message to either email, and a few others for good measure.
I give up, it’s an EA thing. I’ll bother them later after the customer service recovers from the SWTOR crowds.
This is why many times I still prefer to actually buy the game in a store.
Actually, the same problem would have occurred since an origin account is required.
Stephen Reid just announced on Twitter that you won’t need to uninstall the game client. They are planning on just patching it into Early Access/Live. Sounds promising for you Keen, in that you will be able to continue logging in just like you did for Beta, maybe.
Origin/EA is a pain in the ass with their account system. I’ve had nothing but headackes with BF3 and trying to get in beta. It took me forever to figure out which account applies to which login. I’m going to just buy a copy of SWTOR from Best Buy to ensure no account issues.
@Epiny: You’ll have to create a SWTOR account regardless, which they link to an Origin account. I believe if one does not exist, they prompt you to make one.
Good info Salty, thanks!
He goes on to “suggest” that you get a new build (versus patching) if the version you are running was originally downloaded prior to this last Beta. Which isn’t to say that it won’t still work…it may be fine, but is suggesting it for the sake of cleaning up old stuff etc. All from his twitter.
EA’s CS are all Indian based, and they’re quite frankly utterly terrible / don’t understand what’s being asked most of the time.
Good luck with that lol.
Welcome to the multi-account club. I actually ended up with 3 accounts as I created my swtor.com account with my gaming email address, registered Dragon Age and Warhammer Online with my (then) main email address, and later when the swtor pre-order opened up I bought the digital version through origin.com with my (current) main email address.
I’ve tried to get this sorted out through customer service but they tell me that it won’t affect anything and I’ll be able to play without a problem. I’m still unsure about that. My original help request for it was kicked up to Tier 3 support to make sure all my purchases were moved properly without any loss over a month ago and it’s still open but I haven’t heard from them about it.
“Early Game Access* will begin on December 13th at 7:00AM EST, 2011 and ends on December 19th, 2011 at 10:01PM EST. During this time, we will be emailing invitations to join Early Game Access based on the order in which you redeemed your Pre-Order Code. Pre-load the game client now, so you’re ready to play when your Early Game Access invitation arrives. Note that download time can vary and may take awhile.”
Lol, Thats nothing. In a stupid fit I accidently put my game code into one account, and my time card into the other! Anybody knows how to resolve that?