Alvin Flummux wrote:...it applies to all the major (and qutie a few minor) industry players. I just feel that their basic standards (and probably their pride in their work) have fallen so dramatically that a harsh wake-up call is necessary...
...Perhaps if enough of us could sign government petitions to demand legislation on basic product quality..? In this digital age, demanding regulatory oversight of the industry might be all we can do.
I do agree that many publishers have got into the mindset of "a disc is a download key". I think part of the issue is that, particularly for MMO-type games, the disc approach doesn't really work now. Such games are in development right up until launch... and are further developed post launch. Tbh the resultant frustration doesn't really apply if you choose the download version but, for the disc option - which has been manufactured at least six weeks before release and can't hold the full install size - it is a pain. It is one of the factors that has led me to switch to downloading rather than buying discs. But, yes, for folk who prefer discs - and/or don't have the option of downloading - these are frustrating times.
Alvin Flummux wrote:Oh, you're absolutely right, and it applies to all the major (and qutie a few minor) industry players. I just feel that their basic standards (and probably their pride in their work) have fallen so dramatically that a harsh wake-up call is necessary...
...Perhaps if enough of us could sign government petitions to demand legislation on basic product quality..? In this digital age, demanding regulatory oversight of the industry might be all we can do.
I think that, over time, we have become "conditioned" to accepting a poor deal from publishers. But... a "quality" bar just isn't going to happen and, tbh, I wouldn't want one. Who would assess the "quality" of a game? It would be pretty subjective. I do, however, agree that people should vote with their wallet - if a game doesn't appeal, or you are unhappy with the publishing, don't buy it.
Finally - going into Bethesda Defence Force mode - I feel that Fallout 76 is suffering at present because the "internet opinion" machine is in full force. The game style isn't what some folk wanted, the engine isn't what some folk wanted and so everything about the game is being ridiculed... even by some folk who have not looked too closely at the game. The Beta was a good idea but the resultant bugs are being called out as "major issues" and that gains bad publicity. The game certainly will require on-going development but, well, that applies to all MMOs. There are plenty of glooomy videos out there but look a little deeper and there are positive ones, too. Even so... people are, of course, free to call out their views and that's exactly as it should be.
Edit: Fior clarity, my use of the description "internet opinion" is not referring to GR posts; more the wave of consensus across the web.