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Fighting Games Weekly | July 20-26 | No Gods or Kings, Only Tears

Let me grab my tin foil hat.

Look I know it's important to make fun of Dahbomb for whatever reasons ya'll have but it doesn't mean the entire discussion has to be a zero sum game.

I mean it's entirely possible that while complaining about an non-functional beta is *in the abstract* dumb, there's also a kinda shitty business practice happening at the same time.
 
Look I know it's important to make fun of Dahbomb for whatever reasons ya'll have but it doesn't mean the entire discussion has to be a zero sum game.

I mean it's entirely possible that while complaining about an non-functional beta is *in the abstract* dumb, there's also a kinda shitty business practice happening at the same time.
You mean like paying next to nothing for entrance into a closed beta?
 
Because most beta try to slowly ramp up the load and when the game's basic components are more or less complete (ie. netcode, game play, interface) then they induce huge server loads in preparation of a launch.

You don't generally do a massive online beta right out of the gate because of this exact situation.
 
You mean like paying next to nothing for entrance into a closed beta?

I thought when you pre-ordered from PSN they charged the $60 then and it's non-refundable? Or do they charge later but it's non-cancelable.

But yeah, if it's gotta be all or nothing discussion, then I'm okay with just being represented by your sentence, because it's the less stupid of the two possible alternatives.
 
I thought when you pre-ordered from PSN they charged the $60 then and it's non-refundable? Or do they charge later but it's non-cancelable.

But yeah, if it's gotta be all or nothing discussion, then I'm okay with just being represented by your sentence, because it's the less stupid of the two possible alternatives.
You could preorder from a retailer for 5 bucks and still get access.
 
I don't think people are plunking down $60 for beta access. If I'm understanding the discussion right, you guys are saying advertising for beta access is coercing people into putting that money down? Highly doubt that's anything other than people who were gonna put that money down anyways, or that those people are ignorant of their other beta options.

I really don't like the "but how else will these people know?!" because realistically its 2015 and doing research about things is stupidly easing and your average gamer is pretty decently informed. Going one step further, discovering the game via YT and seeing pre-order options that all give you beta access is undoubtedly the way most people will become aware of such a thing, and they're most likely in possession of enough information to understand giving PSN $60 isn't their only option. Furthermore, the presence of an offer for consumers to play the game pre-release alone has financial implications, so I don't think that's inherently a problem with the pre-order process. If I want in, I'll find a way in.

That's kind of where the pre-order practices argument breaks down for me and crosses the line into faux outrage. It relies on assumptions that everyone is an idiot and cannot make some very basic decisions before opening their wallet. And then if they do spend the money so willy nilly, they will regret spending that money willy nilly and go crazy instead of being cognizant of their own spending behaviour. It's unlikelihood after unlikelihood. When is the last time you heard anyone complaining about being led astray that wasn't down to poor reading comprehension? Not often, if ever.
 
Isn't that what the closed alpha/beta was for?

Isn't that what this beta is for?
This current beta is the first of 3. It's not a correct ramp up. The final beta is the one that should be taking on the maximum load.


EnzoGT said:
If I'm understanding the discussion right, you guys are saying advertising for beta access is coercing people into putting that money down?
My arguments don't have much to do with the price of entry of the beta but rather the way they handled it.

You can just cancel the pre-order anyway.
 
You could preorder from a retailer for 5 bucks and still get access.
Does the advertisement on PSN that Beckx mention say that? Is that where you found that out?
I really don't like the "but how else will these people know?!" because realistically its 2015 and doing research about things is stupidly easing and your average gamer is pretty decently informed.
This is a terrible and incorrect assumption to make as evidenced by several major releases in the last year alone.
 
This current beta is the first of 3. It's not a correct ramp up. The final beta is the one that should be taking on the maximum load.

Well, at any rate, a beta is a beta is a beta. I'm not a developer, so I don't have the technical expertise to second guess what Capcom is doing in this particular situation.

As a player of videogames, I expect the final, shipped game to work. I don't expect betas to. Sure, it sucks that it doesn't at the moment, but whatever. It's not the final game. If, come April of next year, this shit still doesn't work despite all the testing, then we can bitch at Capcom.
 
This is a terrible and incorrect assumption to make as evidenced by several major releases in the last year alone.
Like what?

This current beta is the first of 3. It's not a correct ramp up. The final beta is the one that should be taking on the maximum load.
You expect it to gain more people over time as opposed to people wanting to get in first?

I only expect a drop off (after adding PC, of course).
 
honestly I dont care if I had to pay or not since I'd still be getting game, just feel slightly annoyed that I couldnt even play at all and I was looking forward to it
 
Ultimately my thoughts on this.

I'm not mad. I'm just disappointed.
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EnzoGT said:
Like what?
He's talking about game developers falsifying information or misleading to generate hype and sales. Some things the consumers have no one of knowing in advance without actually purchasing the game or waiting a few days until the game is released.

So even if you have perfect research on a game and you think a game might turn out fine, it might not actually turn out that way on release. Like I am sure most people expected the PC version of the Arkham Knight to be superior to the consoles but the opposite happened and now people who got the game on that platform are fucked.


As SFV is a PC game as well and many people will be getting it day 1 on Steam... if it's not up to snuff A LOT of people will refund that shit emphatically.

I guess the counter to this is "well don't pre-order or buy games day 1?" which is fine but as we all know people will still do this as the incentives to pre-order and buy games early get higher and higher.
 
I really don't like the "but how else will these people know?!" because realistically its 2015 and doing research about things is stupidly easing and your average gamer is pretty decently informed.

The end result of this is to say that any business practice is okay because you can do your research. Which does seems to be the position that people take with companies that make things they like.

Like what?


You expect it to gain more people over time as opposed to people wanting to get in first?

I only expect a drop off (after adding PC, of course).

That's why you do staged access. If the people who get access like what they see, that makes the people who don't get in keep their interest and you build up over time. Games had been doing that for a long time until it clicked for companies how to turn that desire into something that drives actual business metrics. Maybe Halo was the first series to introduce the beta-for-metrics idea? Buy Crackdown and you get beta for H3? But that's super icky and as the importance of pre-orders in the industry rose you're seeing more of beta-for-preorder. Remember all those Destiny pre-orders Activision touted in their earnings? Who knows how many were canceled (mine was) but it certainly had an effect on how analysts viewed the stock at that point.
 
He's talking about game developers falsifying information or misleading to generate hype and sales. Some things the consumers have no one of knowing in advance without actually purchasing the game or waiting a few days until the game is released.

So even if you have perfect research on a game and you think a game might turn out fine, it might not actually turn out that way on release. Like I am sure most people expected the PC version of the Arkham Knight to be superior to the consoles but the opposite happened and now people who got the game on that platform are fucked.


As SFV is a PC game as well and many people will be getting it day 1 on Steam... if it's not up to snuff A LOT of people will refund that shit emphatically.

I guess the counter to this is "well don't pre-order or buy games day 1?" which is fine but as we all know people will still do this as the incentives to pre-order and buy games early get higher and higher.

that steam refund V-reversal
 
This is a terrible and incorrect assumption to make as evidenced by several major releases in the last year alone.

Yeah I'm going to have to agree with this. I don't have a big problem with the SFV Beta and whatnot but overall, I DON'T think the average gamer is well informed about ANYTHING gaming related.

He's talking about game developers falsifying information or misleading to generate hype and sales. Some things the consumers have no one of knowing in advance without actually purchasing the game or waiting a few days until the game is released.

So even if you have perfect research on a game and you think a game might turn out fine, it might not actually turn out that way on release. Like I am sure most people expected the PC version of the Arkham Knight to be superior to the consoles but the opposite happened and now people who got the game on that platform are fucked.


As SFV is a PC game as well and many people will be getting it day 1 on Steam... if it's not up to snuff A LOT of people will refund that shit emphatically.

I guess the counter to this is "well don't pre-order or buy games day 1?" which is fine but as we all know people will still do this as the incentives to pre-order and buy games early get higher and higher.

This is true as well from the other side as well.
 
Batman, Destiny, Assassin's Creed, Halo.

I guess maybe Watch_Dogs?
Yeah but what about these games? Specifically something that is more difficult than reading your pre-order options end of a trailer?

I don't know what about Batman you are referring to, haven't kept up with the game.

Destiny was pretty much the same thing as the beta, one of the largest betas ever as well. Beta and an alpha. That's considerable accessibility for people to gauge, and just like it's large participation numbers, it also had some pretty impressive sales and a lasting, healthy online userbase.

AC had technical issues on launch. I don't understand what level of research you needed to accurately gauge the technical state of the game throughout development, but I'm assuming it's a subset of the hardcore if anything. Likewise for Halo, don't know what the "tells" were in either of these scenarios. Watch_Dogs was fairly publicized, but every casual gamer I've talked to loves that game (anecdotal; I can't make a call either way because seemingly the hardcore turned on it trying to convince everyone who was fine with it that it was trash).
 
I think those Steam Refunds and crossplay are why Capcom is developing it internally. A screwup on the PC side will be expensive with refunds.
 
I think those Steam Refunds and crossplay are why Capcom is developing it internally. A screwup on the PC side will be expensive with refunds.
The Steam refund thing is one of the best things to happen in recent years for gaming.

A year ago there would've been NO WAY that WB would've pulled Batman off of Steam just because it wasn't good.
 
How many of those offered beta access with a oreorder? Honest question, I only know of Destiny, and I don't think you even needed to preorder that one.
Yeah but what about these games? Specifically something that is more difficult than reading your pre-order options end of a trailer?

Nah you just had to sign up to get in for destiny. None of the others offered any sort of beta as far as I know. Well MCC included an MP beta for 5?

I am just saying a lot of people bought into those games without research, and they all turned out to be shit. At least 3 of those required public apologies, of them two involved compensation and one being pulled from the market.
 
I made a big thread talking about how Aksys seems to be avoiding PC gaming (more directly talking about Blazblue and Guilty Gear on PC) but I think my subject matter was too niche and my post too large. Feel free to post if you have any thoughts.

Although some points from the posters brought up were interesting. If Arc System Works is canceling their work with Aksys in an effort to go independently publishing their titles in North America, then that could result in quite the speedy move of their fighting games to PC. Though that wouldn't be good if they were developed and ported like Battle Fantasia was...
 
I probably am getting this wrong but I remember the Destiny "Alpha" in the US was a pre-order benefit.
They had an "alpha" and a "beta". The first one was Earth, with a brief intro on the moon. I think the 2nd one included some of the moon? I don't remember anymore. I think at least one of those was free maybe?
Not sure why games like Ass Creed and Batman would require an online beta.
Those games had multiplayer you know. Asscreed's was supposed to be popular? I guess they ditched the batman one after Origins, or didn't have time to shove it into AK.
 
They had an "alpha" and a "beta". The first one was Earth, with a brief intro on the moon. I think the 2nd one included some of the moon? I don't remember anymore. I think at least one of those was free maybe?

Those games had multiplayer you know. Asscreed's was supposed to be popular? I guess they ditched the batman one after Origins, or didn't have time to shove it into AK.
The multiplayer component is really minor in those games though.

Like you can get lag in those games but it doesn't really matter because you are playing co-operatively rather than VS. So the games render the world and AI to your perspective so that stuff doesn't really lag but what can lag are the other players in your world (so you see them teleporting around which doesn't really impact you because you are just playing together).
 
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