Editor’s note: Ryan Smith is a longtime gamer and freelance writer who lives in Raleigh, NC. A graduate of East Carolina University with a degree in business and marketing, he has written in the past for WRAL Tech Wire and GameArgus.com. He currently plays Xbox 360 and PC as well as Nintendo DS. For story ideas, tips and feedback, he can be reached via e-mail (ryannicksmith@gmail.com)

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. – EA Games’ upcoming war shooter “Battlefield 3” will require the use of Origin, EA’s new digital distribution service for PC gamers.

Previously it was decided that EA would not be distributing Battlefield 3 via Valve’s Steam, so it is only logical that EA distribute the game online via their service.

However that’s not the all. Retail copies purchased in stores will also require the downloading and operating of Origin to play Battlefield 3.

Battlefield 3 is the premier release for EA this season, so it makes sense for them to begin pushing Origin with this game.

Most PC gamers are used to using Steam to play most games. But I was, at first, shocked and appalled that most games I buy for PC require me to again download the entire game via Steam, rendering the physical copies redundant. However I have gotten used to this fact and the news from EA is not surprising and really doesn’t even bother me.

Diablo 3 has also been announced to require a constant connection to Blizzard’s servers. Therefore it has just gotten to the point where if you want to PC game, you will have to be constantly connected to and monitored by the publishers of the game.

Around the gaming world

The Creative Assembly has recently announced the first expansion pack for their acclaimed Shogun 2: Total War called Rise of the Samurai.

Shogun 2 is a fantastic game, the most graphically appealing and entrancing of the Total War series – all of which are incredible. With this expansion pack we will see the time period moved back 400 years, which requires the addition of 16 new land units, 10 naval units, four agent types and four new hero units.

Check for this exciting new expansion for Shogun 2 sometime in September!

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