See what they've gone and done

[evrett37]

Microsoft is whoring its flagship RTS for 10 cents if you plug into their social network/digital distribution system

http://www.evilavatar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=129888

We as lazy do nothing customers have allowed this cultural shift from games being about games to games being about drawing in as many sheep as possible as repeat customers to digital download/social network sites.

Let me repeat that so it can sink in - games no longer exist for themselves to be good games - games are about drawing in as many people as possible to one corporations form of distribution, to ensure repeat customers who will buy the next thing from their site and the next..its the megabox "club" store philosophy that says if you've got a membership - even a free one - you are more likely to return and shop with them. With the added advantage said store can now track all your buying and social habits, bundle them together and sell them like crummy mortages to the highest bidder - who pay a lot more than your $39.99 per game every few months or whatever. We have become the resource to be harvested not the customer to be satisfied.

Bottom line is that this shift in culture will ensure the next genenation of games will be targeted as the masses rather than the core. So what are we going to do about it ? Cause unlike some of these parasitic distributors/social networks, CiV's isnt optional.

 

[demidyad]

games no longer exist for themselves to be good games

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=indie+games

(just getting in before this thread is locked)

 

[ori]

Moderator Action: I'll close it for now since I do not see any relation to Civ5 nor have any obvious idea into which subforum it would fit else, evrett37: feel free to let me know what this has to do with civ5 or where else on this forum it would fit.

 

[ori]

Moderator Action: reopened and deleted/infracted the troll posts, moved to Computer Talk

 

[Genocidicbunny]

Microsoft is whoring its flagship RTS for 10 cents if you plug into their social network/digital distribution system

http://www.evilavatar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=129888

We as lazy do nothing customers have allowed this cultural shift from games being about games to games being about drawing in as many sheep as possible as repeat customers to digital download/social network sites.

Let me repeat that so it can sink in - games no longer exist for themselves to be good games - games are about drawing in as many people as possible to one corporations form of distribution, to ensure repeat customers who will buy the next thing from their site and the next..its the megabox "club" store philosophy that says if you've got a membership - even a free one - you are more likely to return and shop with them. With the added advantage said store can now track all your buying and social habits, bundle them together and sell them like crummy mortages to the highest bidder - who pay a lot more than your $39.99 per game every few months or whatever. We have become the resource to be harvested not the customer to be satisfied.

Bottom line is that this shift in culture will ensure the next genenation of games will be targeted as the masses rather than the core. So what are we going to do about it ? Cause unlike some of these parasitic distributors/social networks, CiV's isnt optional.

Guess what, games have always been about reaching as big a market as possible. Always. Only those that are making games on their own, for fun, can afford to target a very specific group of people. Those that are in the game development business make games that are both fun and profitable.

Yes, they do try to make you repeat customers, but for most people that only happens if they have a good experience. Its not a 'oh well, I already have a membership' but rather a 'Hey, last time it was easy and cheap, so Ill do it again'

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=indie+games

(just getting in before this thread is locked)

This guy is on the right track. While yes there are a lot of AAA titles out there that are rehashes, no longer fun, and merely trying to make more and more money for their corporate backer, there are still tons of games that are genuinely designed to be fun.

From the last couple of years: OTTD, Sins of a Solar Empire, Minecraft, World of Goo, TF2, Portal, Gratuitous Space Battles...I could go on.

 

[evrett37]

Naa there have been labours of love that dont aim for mass market...many idie developers do that sorta thing.

 

[Genocidicbunny]

Which I pointed out. The majority of the development business does not have this luxury. So while, I can appreciate the want we have to get a good game, I can also see why there are so many rehashes.

 

[Valkrionn]

Game companies must make money. Without profits, they cannot fund future development. This is simple fact; Games have always been developed for profit, unless you want to consider flash games (many of which generate profit via advertisements... Hmm), indie games (many of which cost a 'token' amount of money, and contain simple visuals and mechanics... Hmm again), or apps for phones (many of which, again, have a 'token' cost of 1-2 dollars...).

In any case, your argument is essentially invalid. It is a digital copy of the game (meaning it costs essentially nothing to produce), and it is an old game; Releasing it for such a low price, in order to drive membership in a failing distribution method? That's their prerogative. Were it a new game, then your argument would be valid.

 

[civ_king]

Go buy Minecraft