I propose 2024 is the year of early access games boycott.
Bring back completed games only.
It's an odd concept for sure. People pay extra money to be beta testers for a game company. That's an actual paid career, yet people are willing to pay to do it.
Most of the EA games I buy (not all, but a significant majority) are sold for less, sometimes a lot less, than their final sale price, and I get tangible input on the design decisions before 1.0. I'm a big fan. I get to provide funding and feedback to a game I'm excited to see, get it for a good discount, get to see it grow up, and then when it blows up and everyone loves the game I'm considered a source of arcane ancient knowledge about it. It's fun.
Mostly I enjoy being able to go on a game forum and say "this sucks, we should consider changing A to B" and then logging in next week to find B implemented.
Yep, it really comes down to knowing you're buying an unfinished project that has the potential to never change from its current state. Never buy a game based on the promises, buy it based on whether you'll enjoy it now. It also helps if the dev has a good track record of releases. Things like valheim and palworld im OK with buying because even if they never change, I still had many hours of fun with them for the price.
Maybe instead we should push the revoke the law that forces you to buy early access games?
No! I want my illusion of choice!
Yep everyone just needs to slow their roll. I don't even go for DLC, not part of the original game not buying it.
I also love the convenience of bulk buying dlcs and games in steam sales. 80% off everything? Now the whole deal costs less than one DLC 4 years ago? Boy howdy.
I don't go for early access games anymore since the Starbound fiasco.
If ppl are too dumb to learn this lesson it's on them. It won't stop other indie developers from making great games.
No. I like supporting great artist like Tynan Silvester early on.
Yup. I've made a rule for myself to buy only finished indie games. AAA games are way too long anyway. And paying $70 for an oversized hard drive hogging bugged out mess is just wrong. No beta, no early access, no pre-order. When in doubt replay Stardew Valley to soothe the soul.
I avoid AAA games because...well they're corporate crap, simply put. I don't like how they operate as a business, I don't like the aggressive monetization, I don't like how they treat their creative staff...so I buy from small studios and indies.
I do occasionally buy games in early access. I typically join the campaign fairly late, I don't kickstart three pieces of concept art and a "now hiring programmers," I want to see a pattern of updates along with regular communication that shows a pattern of being honest and transparent. I'll join in when the game is already in a playable and fun state.
It was painful waiting for them to fix the Baldur's Gate 3 xbox save bug before buying it, while everyone was abuzz. But I stand by my principles, the game must work!
How about people spend their own money on whatever they want because it's none of your business