With the advances in technology behind video games and the brink of new consoles. I just wanted to take some time and make a statement about the next new era of video games. This words I say are just the cautionary advice for those that want to keep enjoying video games. Video games crafted in the ways we know, and video games crafted with mindset of evolving with the users best interests.
The new terminology that is thrown around in the video game industry is the very first item I want to address.
FREE TO PLAY MODEL
My experience with this model is expect to pay more than $60 dollars for that game. Which is completely fine if that game is everything it promised to become. Hell if I could have given Bungie at the time more than my $180 for Halo 3 (three scratched discs and dlc) I would have. For that game felt like Bungie loved pleasing me. But I would not force it upon all players that enjoyed Halo as much as me to pay $180 for that experience.
But for future gamers I would like for you to look at it from this perspective when playing free to play games. Limit yourself, establish a set amount of money in total that you would give that game. Because more and more, users are shelling out $300+ dollars on single video games.
But for future gamers I would like for you to look at it from this perspective when playing free to play games. Limit yourself, establish a set amount of money in total that you would give that game. Because more and more, users are shelling out $300+ dollars on single video games.
Fine if the game can complete all your desires there is nothing wrong with enjoying our hobby. Nothing wrong with supporting your favorite developer. But at one point you have to realize there is a publisher behind that developer and that all your money is not going solely into the hands that crafted the game.
I expect in the near future this business model will plague the video game industry. Newer players will argue with the free to play model you get to see exactly what you are getting before you buy. I would counter and say in the past we called those demos. From a demo you can determine if you enjoy a game or not. Most free to play games, place you in a “demo world” void of all the accessories that others around you are using. How do you know if you like a game when you are only allowed access to such a small percentage. That’s when you either cave in or move on. Most cave in and say $10 can’t hurt thus starting the slippery slope.
tl;dr Free to play limit yourself to only spending what you would on a normal title.
CLOSED BETA
This one is the least lethal of all the terms I want to speak about, but you can still find some flaws. Yes it feels great to see and play a product well before its release. However as a person who has been paid to play numerous games years, months before they came out i’d advise against it.
Companies need testers and if you are doing the job for free they just got over on you. Sure you may have saved them a buck or two but unless they are going to directly pass the buck onto you i’d be as bold to say you got shafted. In game titles and forum badges mean nothing in terms of economy. If you are going to do a business the favor of by passing paying for a service at least demand some in-game monetary compensation.
If a company was developing an experimental cure for cancer and they wanted to test on me. I would not do it for free, because if that cure is a success are they going to make money, yes am I going to see any of it no. I am not being greedy i am simply asking that if I am going to lend you my time and services just consider my efforts with a monetary reward. Say you are testing a new MMORPG the devs can reward you a rare armor for your time, right?
tl;dr If the devs cannot reward you for your time, then they do not value you as person.
OPEN PUBLIC BETA
This one is where the user base is the problem vs the dev. being the problem. I’ll elaborate so hear me out on this one. It’s an illusion that many crafty publishers have been using in recent times. You are not a beta tester, if you are not specifically filling out forms and questionnaire each and every time you have a play experience.
This is where most gamers that participate have it wrong they believe their feedback is valued. At the point of open Beta the company is simply data mining. They are collecting all data they need from their expected user base. If the public has access to it then they are beyond testing. To even make it to the mass market the internal testing team has already factored into the decisions presented to you. Your input is almost purely useless when it comes to public betas.
FOUNDER'S PROGRAMS
Paying for a game sight unseen is becoming rapidly popular. A little bit too popular, to the point now companies are looking at it as a way to cash in big on consumers. They are dining on fans wallets because we are overzealous with our interpretations of what they are actually selling. They can touch on buzz words and we are hooked. Them simply reading out a script of are dream scenario and boom money is being thrown at them to make it. The question is sight unseen can we really trust them to deliver.
If the concept was so unbelievably awesome then why are we not presented with a working demo? As long as you question this you are on the right track. A running presentation of what they have labored at intensely in order to gain our approval should be the normal. Why are they not showcasing an alpha build we are going to be asked to play and test. The answer to that why, people is that they can sell you a dream, and deliver a nightmare once they have your dollars. I'm not painting video game companies as evil, but more and more we can see some bad apples ruining the bunch.
JUST BE A SMARTER CONSUMER
For anyone that follows videogames and the newest and latest controversy this was written with Mechwarrior Online's latest issues. Which can stand as an example of how these ideas sound great at first but can wither very very quickly. The overall lesson is that buyer beware exists more than ever in video games. With kickstarter funds popping up for every genre possible. Now we must understand that we must go into these agreements with a list of demands and not blindly throw money at what sounds great on paper.
I love video games, I just want to continue playing them for reasonable prices, and continue the increase of user/dev communication lines.
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