BBC: Sid Meier warns the games industry about monetisation

[uhu]

"The real challenge and the real opportunity is keeping our focus on gameplay," says American developer Sid Meier.
[...]
when we start to forget about making great games and start thinking about games as a vehicle or an opportunity for something else, that's when we stray a little bit further from the path."

I have the impression, he is not so much concerned about absolute game prices or opportunity costs relative to alternative enjoyable activities, rather gameplay being hampered by unbalanced, incoherent mechanisms and adding too much needless superficialities / distracting features for the purpose of monetisation to the core engine.

"I think we need to be sure that our games continue to be high quality and fun to play [...] we need to be sure we realise how critical gameplay is - and how that is the engine that really keeps players happy, engaged and having fun."

Amen

 

[coolhandluke147]

My understanding of NFT games is this:

Instead of purchasing a digital download on Steam (for example) for a game, you purchase a NFT for $75 (or whatever the price of the game) from Steam (or publisher).
You need one of these tokens to play the game.

As someone said it is predatory, b'cos AFAIK in typical NFT games, winning gives you more tokens. Losing, loses you tokens.
That's gambling.

NFT Casinos basically.

This model totally doesn't suit Civ IMO.

But there may be other models. IDK

This isnt a whole lot different from what we have now,its still going to be a one and zero outcome,the value of the token doesnt really matter.
Your no longer going to be playing a game but rather your going to be played by the game for your money.
This has already started. eg is legends of runterra,(card game).its not a real game persay but a game that "plays"you for your money by pitching you against content you dont own and owning your ass with it,in an impressive way,encouraging you to do buy and do this to others by spending your tokens,its still a one and zero outcome
Instead of playing a game you will now be played by it.

ps. civ 6 was by far the worst civ game to date.utterly boring,and after they removed strategy codes from multiplayer it will now always be a torrent game for me. (whatever dev pulled the trigger on this is a huge dickhead).ok i know who you are and if you stood infront of me id say it to your face.
;] its good to let it out guys.have a nice day

 

[japanesesamurai]

Yeah so Sid’s game is crashing constantly when you add DLC.
LOL. Before criticising others, it’s fair to say he should look to his own team first.
With Civ 6 you basically pay extra for crashes.
I despise hypocrisy

 

[aieeegrunt]

The saving grace of how Civ6 did monetization was making it modular, so I can turn off the stuff I don’t like.

I hope they do this for Civ7

 

[uhu]

I can turn off the stuff I don’t like.

Afair, that's R&F, GS and NFP ... right?

I hope they do this for Civ7 [again]

You'll be the super geek; playing the final game from day one! (preordered vanilla)

 

[aieeegrunt]

Afair, that's R&F, GS and NFP ... right?
You'll be the super geek; playing the final game from day one! (preordered vanilla)

R&F is as far as I go. I find the other expansions full of mechanics that are broken, both gameplay and bugwise

 

[fredrikslicer]

Sid Meier is an actual person?

 

[TheMarshmallowBear]

Yeah so Sid’s game is crashing constantly when you add DLC.
LOL. Before criticising others, it’s fair to say he should look to his own team first.
With Civ 6 you basically pay extra for crashes.
I despise hypocrisy

I feel like people look at this in a really weird and unjust way.

Prior to NFP, the game was fine, everything was worked.

The experiment just went awry, the game should have never gone with monthly updates, because it gives the entire team and QA only 30ish days to ensure everything clicks together WHILE adding more content on top of it.

Civ 6 was, as far as I recall, in a fairly stable state compared to what it is now. I saw this happen with Sims 4 and it's just as bad.

Also people need to realise Sid Meier doesn't make Civilization games anymore, he doesn't work on them first-hand, it's not his design, it's just his name and his initial idea from 90s in play here.

 

[uhu]

I find the other expansions full of mechanics that are broken, both gameplay and bugwise

We mostly agree, I also like being able to turn off stuff I don’t like. In principle. -- Just, I feel civ6 is partly in a FOOBAR state, because one said too often: that is ok to remain broken, because it can be turned off ...

The experiment just went awry, the game should have never gone with monthly updates, because it gives the entire team and QA only 30ish days to ensure everything clicks together WHILE adding more content on top of it.

No, that is not an experiment which went awry. Somebody is responsible for a structural under-financed budget for the development of the core of the game. Sure, monthly updates made the situation significantly worse. Somebody is responsible for this 30ish days cycle stress and the results. Somebody is responsible for planning a year ahead this conditions and then expects NO FINAL PATCH BEING NECESSARY. Somebody is responsible for 2 years of radio silence before New Frontier and soon™ one year after.
I imagine somebody thinks, people who are playing games should be treated like kids.

Also people need to realise Sid Meier doesn't make Civilization games anymore, he doesn't work on them first-hand, it's not his design, it's just his name and his initial idea from 90s in play here.

It's also his legacy which is hampered. I feel, he is quite clear in his statements. And suppose that's pretty much the influence he still has.
He left Microprose/SpectrumHolobyte, had the freedom to found Firaxis and continue making good Civilization games; now 2k calls the shots.

Life ain't a pony farm. After mid way in development Old World's initial publisher, Starbreeze, had encountered financial difficulties, they made an Epic Games Store exclusive deal, that provided all the funding they needed to complete the game. Despite I don't like Epic at all, this was definitely pro-consumer.

 

[uhu]

After mid way in development Old World's initial publisher, Starbreeze, had encountered financial difficulties, they made an Epic Games Store exclusive deal, that provided all the funding they needed to complete the game

Old World's "Epic exclusive" period is coming to an end soon: release date on Steam & GOG : 19th of May (along with the first expansion pack, six new historical scenarios, released at the same time and apparently for free the first 2 weeks then!)

Old World on Epic
Old World on Steam
Old World on GOG