Dre_G_Writer
Member
Ok, that may be true about what your saying. But can we focus on the content thats IN the game and not focus on whats NOT in the game???
Destiny review copies being sent out one day before release, impacting review dates
- Thread starter jbug617
- Start date
Ok, that may be true about what your saying. But can we focus on the content thats IN the game and not focus on whats NOT in the game???
LookAtMeGo
Member
Eh, the public events are a huge part of the experience and the experience is lackluster in a barren world, so is the experience in the tower. I saw this myself. Playing the alpha it was a wasteland and in the beta it was populated and it made an enormous difference. I think their reasoning here is justified.
That Destiny has a small fire team system does not mean the experience will be the same with or without a healthy player population. Systems such public events, Crucible matchmaking and the behind the scenes matchmaking that brings players together in the explore modes and tower require a good number of players to work well. Those are some of the pillars that Destiny is built on, so I would say it is important that they be functional in order to fully evaluate the game.
Has it occurred to anyone that maybe Activision/Bungie want to see how good their game does without relying on immediate if not 'biased' reviews to help drive sales. For once it's like they're taking a leap of faith, and banking on 'word of mouth'. It's either that, or they've (already) recouped their development expenses, and remain worry free about residuals.
This could be doppleganged by future pubs/devs if everything goes right.
RespectThySole
Member
I'm looking forward to this game, but I have to agree. Bungie's attitude has been very condescending and it's a shame considering their past and what they once meant to fans. Bungie's PR/Community team needs major work.
Ivory Samoan
Gold Member
This... this makes more sense.
If you think about it like an MMO, this is perfectly normal... too many strictly SP/MP style goggles on regarding this decision.
LookAtMeGo
Member
It's a good theory and it does seem to be a new trend but I actually think that for this one it really does have to do with Bungie wanting their game to be reviewed by playing the game the way it was designed to be played, on fully populated servers.
Citation needed.
Bungie/Activision sending out this game late doesn't concern me because I've already played the game twice (Alpha and Beta) and I had fun. That's all that really matters. The only thing game review sites do is give biased opinions and make consumers doubt what it is they really want.
We don't need someone to play the game and tell people about the experience because as alpha and beta testers, we basically already did that and there's tons of user generated content to show for it online.
We don't need someone to play the game and tell people about the experience because as alpha and beta testers, we basically already did that and there's tons of user generated content to show for it online.
LookAtMeGo
Member
RiccochetJ
Gold Member
I have no idea why some of you want reviewers to have early access after the whole Sim City fiasco without a strong caveat that they're only talking about the content itself.
I think Joystiq had the right idea with their whole "State of Service" articles. They continue to talk about the game post launch with those articles. I haven't seem them do one since Titanfall, but this seems like a good time to start back up again.
I think Joystiq had the right idea with their whole "State of Service" articles. They continue to talk about the game post launch with those articles. I haven't seem them do one since Titanfall, but this seems like a good time to start back up again.
Ryouji Gunblade
Member
Quantity versus quality guys. CoD comes to mind.
DeadlyVirus
Member
LOL at people saying they're going to cancel preorders.
Like there's a diference between a 7, 8 or 9 when a game is fun. People already played the Alpha and the Beta, more than enough to make up their minds
Like there's a diference between a 7, 8 or 9 when a game is fun. People already played the Alpha and the Beta, more than enough to make up their minds
We'll see come Friday, I suppose. We still don't really know if there are aspects of the game that rely on lots of players, such as ripple effects or Ur-Dragon type things, or new Destiny things. PVP. Faction stuff. You just don't know, man.
Edit: That Timmins guy or whatever at Bungie even mentioned this during the PAX panel the other day, about how it worries him for reviewers to play the game before the world is populated, or something or other.
Yeah, at this point even 10s across the board aren't gonna get me to buy this on day 1.
Abandapart82
Member
Beta was enough to convince me. I won't be buying it day one because I won't get paid until 15th but still getting it regardless.
Conversely, 1's across the board wouldn't get me to avoid the game at this point.
Reviews meaningless to gamers who have their minds set, confirmed.
Would make me sad, of course, though.
Coolbgdog12
Member
I only play games that score 9 or higher. Heck even a 9/10 is average to me these days.
RadicalVelocity
Member
Buncha undeserving jerks don't get to play days before me, NOR do they get to spoil all the surprises. Fuck yeah.
To be serious, I think this is a good decision. Better late and accurate to the atmosphere of the game than on-time and inaccurate. That's not something that typically gets applied to reviews, but this is acceptable from my perspective. But, of course, I almost never read reviews, and far more rarely give much credit to the views expressed in them, so of course I'm okay with this. I'm now curious as to what percentage of day-one purchasers even use such reviews to inform their decision. Those that are, of course, will not lose much by waiting to see how the game turns out.
It does suck for the reviewers and sites that will pull in far less traffic and therefore money from this decision.
To be serious, I think this is a good decision. Better late and accurate to the atmosphere of the game than on-time and inaccurate. That's not something that typically gets applied to reviews, but this is acceptable from my perspective. But, of course, I almost never read reviews, and far more rarely give much credit to the views expressed in them, so of course I'm okay with this. I'm now curious as to what percentage of day-one purchasers even use such reviews to inform their decision. Those that are, of course, will not lose much by waiting to see how the game turns out.
It does suck for the reviewers and sites that will pull in far less traffic and therefore money from this decision.
HiredN00bs
Banned
Bungie wants to put their best foot forward for review, and I can't blame them after reading that contract that leaked on May 21, 2012.
At this point, they could outright deny websites the game entirely and make them get their own copies like everyone else. It won't matter either way. A game with this amount of marketing doesn't need any website coverage.
Let them stand out at midnight/wait for the download like the rest of us. No one needs reviewers or journalists for this game.
Let them stand out at midnight/wait for the download like the rest of us. No one needs reviewers or journalists for this game.
Trojan
Member
Can you clarify what parts you're talking about? I know that they have a 10 plan for Destiny that setup the contract but I would be curious if you know other pertinent details as it relates to initial sales (as you're implying).
I don't have Metacritic average data right in front of me, but I'm fairly confident that reviews from 2014 have been significantly lower than previous years' based on learning new consoles and the dearth of quality games delayed. If 9/10 is average, you've probably missed a shit load of games this year.
They are basically no games I couldn't wait a week for. So I could easily just cancel preorder on principal because I think holding review is stupid. But the extensive Alpha and Beta tests and the impressions from them all tell me it will be good enough. Unless they are hiding something incredibly bad.
GillianSeed79
Member
I enjoyed my time with the beta but sending out review copies a day before a game like this releases means that Destiny reviews will be fucking worthless and pointless. I'm not going to trust a single one of them. If you are really on the fence about destiny and want to wait on review scores, wait a month and read some impressions from people on GAF or something because there is no way in hell you can accurately review a game like this a day before release. It's like a reviewing a multiplayer shooter or MMO a day before release. Sorry.
Vire
Member
Weird, I got the exact opposite impression. They continually make light of themselves, including the video they just recently put out for the ALS challenge poking fun at the whole "Wizard came from the moon" line from the alpha.
RadicalVelocity
Member
I would imagine it's the part that delineates the bonuses based on the metacritic score, perhaps other things too.
Yup, and Destiny is a MMO clearly. It is FPS meets World of Warcraft.
If you played a MMO, Destiny plays exactly like one. Go to world, see areas where enemies are there, they respawn in that same area, get loot, rinse and repeat.
Go to Moon. Go see new area. Go see new enemies. Go kill them, same mobs respawn at same locations, get loot, rinse and repeat.
Good thing the beta was available for everyone. We don't need to read poorly thought-out, badly written reviews for this game. Anyone that participated in the beta can make up their own minds.
"Game criticism" from "professional" outlets is complete mindless drivel. Does anyone actually care about the opinions of these people?
ArkkAngel007
Member
Well, I did cancel my preorder despite really enjoying the Alpha and Beta. Hell, I was even turning around on the janky PvP.
3 pets getting fleas, needing full set of tires, spaying a dog, and boarding those pets for a week soon and 3 weeks soon after can disembowel your luxury budget
lifeexpectancy
Member
At first glance I really wanted to agree and understand that Bungie wouldn't want reviewers playing the game because without a fully-populated game, the multiplayer-centric aspect (matchmaking for strikes and crucible, finding people to join up with for 6-man raids) would be nonexistent and thus impact reviews.
Then I got to thinkin... the bulk of Destiny is done pretty much solo or in small groups. If review outlets have 3 Xbox Ones on hand, surely they could muster together and play through the missions/strikes?
That just leaves crucible and raids. I don't think anyone's expecting a review on Raids right out the gate Day 1, because it will take time to get there.
That just leaves the crucible.... Surely the reviewers could all play against each other in the crucible? Besides the crucible likely hasn't changed much from the beta, so they could do a review based on the main storyline content and 3-man strikes, and then go over their notes on the Beta's crucible.
Just seems a bit disingenous to use the excuse of unpopulated servers as a reason not to allow reviewers early access.
Disclaimer: I'm not a reviewer (although I wish I were).
Destiny is very much a multiplayer experience. I feel sorry for anyone that plays "the bulk of it" solo.
RadicalVelocity
Member
This ignores one of the most important features to Bungie: seamless matchmaking with other players in the world. When a player is travelling--even solo--they will still come across other guardians from outside their fireteam. Regardless of whether you agree on that aspect's importance to the game, Bungie very much believes it is.
The extreme example is to magine Journey without other players. It would have been an amazing experience, still, but a lesser one.
Arrogant Bastard
Banned
Lul, ok.
You didn't enjoy the beta, thus it's a 7. If this game scores lower than an 85 on metacritic I would be shocked as shit.
The fact that you think it was held back because of PS360 is telling. I guess that is what held Infamous, Killzone, Ryse, Dead Rising 3, etc. back. You know what 'held' those games back, releasing within the first year of a new console.
lifeexpectancy
Member
I did say "solo or in small groups".
I realize it is designed as a social experience, but there is no proximity voice chat and no text communications.
Dancing/waving/pointing with nearby players isn't very social.
The only thing really lacking (IMHO) pre-release is the matchmaking for strikes, and in my experience (in the beta), people constantly quit out of strikes anyway, leaving me solo. To experience strikes properly I usually had to go in with two friends that I was already in a party with. And in some ways strikes were actually more fun solo at times. I did the level 4 strike on Hard by myself when I was level 2 or 3. It was a struggle and enemies were bullet sponges from hell, but I got through it, and felt a much greater sense of accomplishment at the end than I did running through it in a 3-man squad.
Running past random players in the open world isn't much more social than passing by NPC players. You could even have scripted NPC vs NPC fights that you could jump in and assist with, and it wouldn't feel very different than the 'shared world' of Destiny, because you can't TALK to people.
Don't get me wrong. I love Destiny and I'm hyped as hell to play it, but it is a huge missed opportunity not to have proximity chat. They did it in Halo so I know they know HOW to do it. Open-mic proximity chat (with the option to turn it off or selectively mute players) would make the game feel drastically more social, not to mention making it easier to find people to group up for Raids later on.
Imagine running past someone in the world and helping them out. You see that they're decent at the game (not wasting shots, not going down a lot, etc). So you click the mute button on your mic to unmute it and say 'hey man, gonna be attempting the Raid in a bit with a few buddies but we need two more, wanna join us?'. That would be a godsend and might mitigate the need to use outside sources (forums/clan pages/etc) to find teams for strikes/raids. Playing even strikes with randoms is much less satisfying than playing with a couple people that you know from the outset are there to play with you as opposed to just 'getting theirs' or quitting out midway.
March of the Crabs
Member
Reviews aren't needed anymore. "Reviewers" are not any more qualified than all of us here on GAF to determine whether a game is good or not. This is a step in the right direction. If you are unsure about a game, don't pay full price first day.
lifeexpectancy
Member
Yeah this too to be honest. If I'm unsure about a game I either gamefly it or ask a friend whose opinion I trust. There are far too many 8+ scores given out by review outlets. Why bother having a 1-10 scale if the numbers 1-5 are rarely if ever used? I think a lot more games would get a "5" if people realized that a "5" is just a middle-of the road, average game, which MOST games actually are. Most of my game ratings are between 5 and 7, with only the occassional 8 and the rare 9 or 10, and the occassional 3 or 4 with a rare 1 to 2. Bottom line is most games are just average. Not great, but not terrible.
Reading review outlets, it's like better than 60% of the games are between 8 and 10 (or at least it seems that way, I haven't actually sat down and counted). Sorry, but there aren't THAT many steller titles out there, and not everything is as 'ground-breaking' and 'revolutionary' they would lead us to believe.
This will end like Diablo 3. Reviews Day 1 means nothing if you don´t see the end content for such a huge game. So all the 9s and 10s that gaming sites will give out on the 9. September will properly be only for leveling from 1 to 20. Better wait for the reviews of users and sites who knows what awaits you beyond Level 20.
I thought you couldn't talk to randoms?
ROUGE_BLOCK
Member
It's rather odd to post what possible scores this game will get, and seeing the marketing budget Activision has put behind destiny and the amount of people who have played and enjoyed the game through the alpha and beta I'm pretty sure it will do just fine.
Similar threads
- Poll