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EA offers money-back Origin guarantees -- with a catch

Not satisfied with your game purchase? You'll have to act fast -- really fast -- to capitalize on EA's promise.

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Don Reisinger
Former CNET contributor Don Reisinger is a technology columnist who has covered everything from HDTVs to computers to Flowbee Haircut Systems. Besides his work with CNET, Don's work has been featured in a variety of other publications including PC World and a host of Ziff-Davis publications.
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Don Reisinger

Electronic Arts is launching a new initiative for gamers to get back money on titles they don't like.

The big-time game publisher has launched what it calls the Origin Great Game Guarantee. The offer allows gamers to receive a full refund on full-game downloads to PCs or Macs through its digital-delivery service, Origin.

"If something doesn't work out -- you aren't riveted by the storyline, or sucked in by the action, or even just if the game doesn't play well with your video card -- we've got your back," EA wrote in a blog post Monday.

But simply being dissatisfied with a game isn't enough to get a refund. According to EA, the full refund is available only within the first 24 hours after a game is launched for the first time. EA will also offer refunds within seven days after a title was purchased (but not yet launched) or seven days after a game's release date. Whichever of those conditions applies first will determine a person's ability to receive a refund.

The Origin platform is one of many digital-delivery services in the gaming business. EA has said for a long time that digital is an important piece of its corporate strategy, and Origin plays a central role in that.