This is nothing "new" - moreover, some of these 'unfinished' games are still more polished and complete than titles released as 'finished' by traditional means.
While it is true that some developers and companies take advantage of the system. This holds true for all development methods.
I still see legions of people buying EA titles after EA screwing them over. Early Access is the same. There's always bad examples.
But the good ones ultimately make it worthwhile.
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It can happen...and it has happened before Early Access was even a feature (see: Towns). I don't know what the big deal is, obviously this sort of this has always had the chance of happening, at least now it's out in the open so everyone (consumers) who couldn't figure that out on their own knows it can happen.
I don't think Valve is "ok'ing" it, not really, I find it hard to believe that many developers would say "I was going to finish this game, but now that it's officially in the Early Access FAQ that the game might not be finished, I won't!"
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This is exactly the reason i do not support programs such as kickstarters.
I mean, i dont mind doing a pre order, with the understanding that the game is not finished yet, but ill receive a working copy or i can ask for a refund.
And i dont mind receiving a game that has bugs (every game has them), but there is a big difference between having some bugs and glitches, to have a beta version. regardless, devs should keep updating the game for quite some time to fix any trouble.
I mean, i have some indie games in my library that will literally not start, i cant play them because they are broken, not that i really care since they came in a bundle, but what if you bought that bundle just for that/those games?.
Some one has to put a stop to this flood of indie games, and they can start by putting restrictions on early access and start to take legal actions against any that walk away after releasing a broken game with no follow up/fix. I mean that because is a fraud, a planned fraud. Some may think twice before thinking to make a quick buck.
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Something they should have done since allowing devs to do this. Honestly though I expected that as being a risk when buying early access games. Some people need that spelled out for them though. ( I have bought two so far, 7 Days to Die, and Plague INC Evolved. Not upset with either at the moment. Oh and I think I picked up one or two from bundles. Nekro being one of them, and I like it so far so :P )
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I think some people expected that Valve would do something, if the devs gave up. By acknowledging that the games may never be finished Valve is not taking any responsibility for the games they sell in their store. But then again, there are already fully released games on Steam that are broken.
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Valve is a business, in the end their primary goal is to earn money.
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Unless the Publishers/Developers are well known and trusted, I am not giving a flying fuck to EA games.
In my book, there are only but few developers like that. Blizzard and Valve themselves are the most dominant ones. Should they offer EA, and I deem the genre good (like Diablo 4 EA, for example), I'd buy in a heartbeat.
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That part about Valve telling the Steel Storm A.M.M.O. dev to do what they can to get it out of Early Access despite the game being unfinished sure is great.
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Though I think the idea was that if they aren't going to update it then it technically is a finished product.
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"To be fair - it would be extremely hypocritical of Valve to hold anyone else to a deadline."
That comment though.....haha!
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Looks like Steam is covering their backs while at the same time seemingly OK'ing the possibility of devs just up and quitting after raking in that sweet, sweet Early Access cash.
After all, most sales happen in the first month and dry up pretty fast after that. Why bother continuing development if you've already made all the money you were ever going to make, right?
Just another reason to only buy games that are actually finished, polished and ready to play.
Source.
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