Origin, it claims, is more than a store–it’s a digital gaming service with “awesome games you want to play.” Since it’s (almost) 2015, you can stream your play from Origin, chat with friends, etc.–you know the deal. But the “On The House” promotional feature from Electronic Arts is one of the coolest parts. There’s always some gaming experience you can grab absolutely free at Origin. Full versions of the games, too: “No catch” and “no cost.” It’s about discovery.
The latest freebie is SimCity 2000, which despite its name is celebrating its 20th anniversary. (SimCity 2000 was released in 1994; the first SimCity came out five years earlier.) SimCity 2000 was an incredibly popular game when it came out, and it played a unique role in the gamer landscape. SimCity converted lots of people who weren’t naturally gamers. It changed the perception for many of what a video game was. It’ll be interesting to see whether the fresh excitement around SimCity 2000 is mostly nostalgia, or whether the game will hold up and hold people’s interest in today’s faster world. If it’s not for you, just keep checking back at Origin’s On The House: something else will be free soon.
