You know itBalthier? Oh, yeah.
I mean, it's not simply "greedy", it's just capitalism. Clearly Square can afford to price them that high. FInal Fantasy is also arguably a lot more well-known than Homeworld, so a title in demand can stay at a high price for much longer. Look at GTA V, that thing was full price for near half a decade.Games that old are way, way behind the curve of contemporary releases. It is really insane to me that publishers think they deserve to price them at the same point as their release, nearly two decades ago, when they did barely fuck all to make them more current. The engine is still the same and HD textures aren't exactly all that hard when the models themselves didn't see any upgrade. The gameplay update dates from 2007. This port was all things considered rather routine, so what kind of value did they provide that justifies that price premium?
This is complete nonsense, since the game was fully completed months ago and could have been released on Steam back then. Why doesn't the developer just admit they have a deal with Apple that forbids him to launch on other platforms earlier? This really pisses me off. Show some respect for your backers ffs.I used to crowdfund a decent number of games, but now I only do so for very small number of exceptions.
It has to be something that looks really great (and affordable), or from a developer who I have previous positive experiences with.
Because more frequently than not, all you get is pissed off by the nerve some of these developers exhibit.
I have yet another example.
With this game:
The developer, who also did the game Pinstripe, crowdfunded the game for PC (with a possible release for the Switch).
The game had an expected delivery of late 2018. Yeah, I now, they never release the games on time.
Anyway, somewhere in 2019, he posted the game was pretty much done.
Then, after a period of silence, he posted that the game was delayed, for reasons he couldn't explain, but it was good news. And, at the same time he revoked the keys for backer beta's on Steam.
People were expecting the game to now be an EGS exclusive.
After some time, he said no, the game will still launch on Steam, but they were delaying the game (which was done) to release simultaneously with console ports. To which platforms? Well, he couldn't say.
After another period of silence, the game launched today... on the Apple Arcade.
You know why it isn't out on PC?
Read the below text (an excerpt of the update I'll link to), and laugh.
Spoilers: it's because the Steam version is still in certification, and these things take time, while Apple were faster, to certify an Apple Arcade version that... was never previously mentioned.
Here it goes:
«Hello beautiful backer. First, thanks for your patience and your amazing support. I'm thrilled to announce that Neversong (formerly Once Upon A Coma) is in the final stages of its port to several large platforms, including Steam and some consoles! The Steam launch is incoming! Be on the look-out for an update!
I can't disclose which console platforms we are launching on at the moment though!(Please note, backers receive Steam keys, unless you purchased the Switch add-on, which was a temporary sale event in 2018). We're in a process called "cert", which basically means you finalize various aspects of your game to ensure your game abides by the various rules of each platform. Fortunately, one platform, Apple, actually passed us already, so we launched with them today! Figured I'd let you all know so you can play on your iOS with a free trial! It's actually super fun on iOS, and it's because of you guys. I'm grateful we were able to launch on Apple, because it means your support has resulted in millions of mobile players across the world being able to share in our little adventure
As you all know, every platform is different, and sometimes devs stagger launches because of various schedules and variables associated with each platform. That said, if you'd like to play Neversong on Apple Arcade, you can play with a free trial. Thanks Apple! »
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/80348891/once-upon-a-coma-from-the-creator-of-pinstripe/posts/2825399
There could be many reasons (and reasons like the wrong day sound ridiculous to me), but the conclusion is the same: do not trust this formula.Maybe this, or maybe there's no way to estimate sales by looking at wishlist numbers at all and trying to can only lead to random results.
Apart from that, the dev looks aware of the situation : game not being that appalling, being overpriced, launched on the "wrong day", people wishlisting as a reminder for incoming big cut sales...
This, as well.Also, it's 4th day after release, maybe it's too soon for conclusions about wishlist conversion ?
It is a great game, there's no question about it. I just think it doesn't deserve to come out of the gates priced as high as the likes of Witcher 3. You are right that it's capitalism, a product has the value a certain amount of people are ready to pay a given price for it. Still doesn't make it right or any less bullshit.I mean, it's not simply "greedy", it's just capitalism. Clearly Square can afford to price them that high. FInal Fantasy is also arguably a lot more well-known than Homeworld, so a title in demand can stay at a high price for much longer. Look at GTA V, that thing was full price for near half a decade.
Which goes back to what I said: Final Fantasy XII is a great game
Worse part about this is I saw your post on the Steam Forum cheering that it is not a Epic Exclusive , (Well I think it is you because the username the same)This is complete nonsense, since the game was fully completed months ago and could have been released on Steam back then. Why doesn't the developer just admit they have a deal with Apple that forbids him to launch on other platforms earlier? This really pisses me off. Show some respect for your backers ffs.
This game may have bombed hard on EGS. WWZ sold better every week according the charts, despite being over a year old and part of a giveaway.Zombie Army 4 is free on Stadia Pro, and Stadia Pro is free for two months.
As long as you keep it off Steam, I guess.
Can't agree more. I'll spend my money on other games as well.Worse part about this is I saw your post on the Steam Forum cheering that it is not a Epic Exclusive ,
Now it is in a shop that you cannot even play if you dun have apple hardware.
When the dev want your money, they be like begging for your money in the kickstarter
Moment some publisher give them money , they be like fuck you , I got mine
Gonna BL such shitty dev, As far as I am concerned my money can be used to support other developer.
Are you saying Epic secured another sub mediocre experience?but the gameplay is janky and frustrating and I don't like it.
Served them rightThis game may have bombed hard on EGS. WWZ sold better every week according the charts, despite being over a year old and part of a giveaway.
Yep, I remember Rebellion claiming that it's extremely unlikely they'll make exclusivity deals, because they respect their fans and blah blah blah. I'm curious how they are feeling about this now.Served them right
You can easily add mechwarrior 5 to the list. While in the mid 70s on metacritic, game design is so bad that random missions barely work.Served them right
Stolen from Reddit
I prefer to buy from "official" retailers exactly because of that.Edit - And yeah, I think it will be CDKeys only for me from now on. Issues have been super rare anywhere on my side, but they are not pleasant.
They should, I think. If not, I assume the humble gift link can still be used by someone else.Sorry for "bumping" my own post, but can anyone please help me out with the above?
If I, an European user, sent a Humble gift link to someone in India, would they be able to activate and run XCOM 2, with the situation described above?
They delayed the game, for reasons they never explained, back in October.I assume an Apple Arcade deal would take time to set up, you'd have to apply or be selected by Apple. It's a sub service after all, can't just just put any old crap on there, they have to be selective and I imagine it is highly competitive.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/80348891/once-upon-a-coma-from-the-creator-of-pinstripe/posts/2647610
Yes but only Russia and its old territories and I think South America. Humble will tell you the countries before you commit to generating a gift link.They should, I think. If not, I assume the humble gift link can still be used by someone else.
Is XCOM 2 keys region locked?
But it's not the same game, that's the thing.This isn't meant as an attack on you, but I couldn't disagree more .
A game that released in 2006 can't possibly be worth that much money in 2020. Sorry, I just see it as a really greedy price point from Square.
One of them is India. The message before I generate the gift link says they "may" not be able to activate the key in India.Yes but only Russia and its old territories and I think South America. Humble will tell you the countries before you commit to generating a gift link.
Did you nuke it yourself, with customer support, or was it the dealer you bought it from?Key nuked
Myself, unfortunately. The dealer is dragging its feets but should probably refund as I gave them the proofs they wanted.Did you nuke it yourself, with customer support, or was it the dealer you bought it from?
As I told you privately, you should be able to go back if you change your mind and want to re-activate your "nuked" key. Unless things are different with this particular key, that is.Strangely, I am far less enthusiastic now that my 32 euros have gone 'goodbye sweet prince'
Sorry to hear it.Myself, unfortunately. The dealer is dragging its feets but should probably refund as I gave them the proofs they wanted.
My issue with the key was that I didn't know how it would handle probable new dlc, and there was always a risk of it being revoked due to being beta. All in all, as couldn't give it back anyways, I choose to clean the slate and hope for the best.
It feels bad to basically throw 32 euros away.
So back at square one, I plan to buy Dragon Marked for Death on Steam and maybe Streets of Rage 4 on Humble.
Strangely, I am far less enthusiastic now that my 32 euros have gone 'goodbye sweet prince'
To pick at these things in order :But it's not the same game, that's the thing.
Resolution not locked to 480i
Framerate a smooth 60 fps (or higher if you want to mod it), instead of wildly fluctuating sub-30 fps.
2 new soundtracks.
Major changes to all systems.
New (to US/EU folks) content.
Japanese dub.
Turbo mode.
Achievements, cards, cloud saves.
Might not be worth the money to you, but let's not pretend that Square just repacked a PS2 iso with a crappy emulator here.
We shall fight anime on the beaches, we shall fight anime on the landing grounds, we shall never surrender. Our cause is right. The enemy will be defeated. Victory will be ours.
- Winston Molotov
Greedy publishers: Let's make sure our games aren't available on Steam. where they...shock horror... might actually sell!Zombie Army 4 is free on Stadia Pro, and Stadia Pro is free for two months.
As long as you keep it off Steam, I guess.
From what I've heard Phoenix Point and Shenmue 3 tooYou can easily add mechwarrior 5 to the list. While in the mid 70s on metacritic, game design is so bad that random missions barely work.
I'm no expert on the matter but I'm guessing that it wouldn't activate since keys of 2K games are heavily region locked.Sorry for "bumping" my own post, but can anyone please help me out with the above?
If I, an European user, sent a Humble gift link to someone in India, would they be able to activate and run XCOM 2, with the situation described above?
I extremely doubt that you'd get locked to that bastard version if you repurchase it from Steam this time.About my DMFD key...
It was pointed to me I was sold that
Steam Sub 391690 · SubID: 391690
Steam Database record for package SubID 391690 - Steam Sub 391690steamdb.info
Instead of that
Dragon Marked For Death · SubID: 391691
Steam Database record for package SubID 391691 - Dragon Marked For Deathsteamdb.info
My question is, if I revoke this shit, will I be able to buy the regular version or will steam, as written in the support page, not give me another key (and I will be back with this beta thing) ?
Refund is one aspect of things, being locked to a bastard version is another.
I mean, it was a Japanese game, of course it was coded with really bad practices.To pick at these things in order :
Resolution not locked : emulators could do it, it's really not all that much work and a feature of most engines.
Higher frame : again, likewise unless the game was coded with really bad practices.
All of this was previously exclusive to Japan though, just because a fan patch exists that translated some of it to English, doesn't make it not count.Changes to all systems : that was actually the 2007 international release if I recall.
New content : actually just old content that was never ported because fuck PC and fuck the west is Square's historical attitude.
Japanese dub : data that was already there.
They pay way, way, way more for lesser content there, soPut another way, imagine Crysis was never made available to the JP market and Crytek came out of the gate selling it at 50$ in 2020 with barely an improvement beside better textures, actually being able to run on the customer's system and data that they already had in 2007.
Do you think that price would be acceptable for the Japanese to pay?
Anyway, still regarding that crowdfunded game, I was on twitter, and checked his account to see if he had the nerve of publicizing the Apple Arcade launch.
Well, it's an interesting twitter account for sure. I'm now more happy than ever to have given my money to this guy.
The first things I see:
“Lol this whole thing is overblown just reopen already” - Indie dev that works from homeAnyway, still regarding that crowdfunded game, I was on twitter, and checked his account to see if he had the nerve of publicizing the Apple Arcade launch.
Well, it's an interesting twitter account for sure. I'm now more happy than ever to have given my money to this guy.
The first things I see:
I'm sorry but that's the crux of my argument. Exclusivity is artificial scarcity, it has no intrinsic value and adds none to the game. It's anti-consumer.All of this was previously exclusive to Japan though, just because a fan patch exists that translated some of it to English, doesn't make it not count.
I completely disagree. JP ports having insane price points is unacceptable to me, and a game being good does not divorce it from its time, lending it a given value. The release date matters, I'm not sure what the argument otherwise is. If writing was all there was to a game, planescape torment should still sell at 50$. That whole double standards Japanese games are held to is insane to me. Localization is a normal process that isn't made magical because the source language is moonrunes. Bad coding practices are bad coding practices, the cost of technical debt is the company's problem.FF12TZA price point isn't a travesty. OG release date isn't an issue, a good game is a good game. I can pay for a decent game, or alternatively wait for discounts.
Oninaki price point is. Koei-Tecmo price points are. Sega not bringing Atlus games to all platform is.
Funny you should mention it...“Lol this whole thing is overblown just reopen already” - Indie dev that works from home
Sounds like SE is simply pricing them by quality rather than ageI'll just say this much : FFXV complete edition is sold at 40 bucks, currently on sale at 20. It's a contemporary game, the same Final Fantasy brand that Square estimates is worth 10$ less than a 2007 PS2 game.
Hah!Sounds like SE is simply pricing them by quality rather than age
Which FF12 did you play?? Original version or revised and updated version which is the one we got on PC?I played FF12 on PCSX2. Worked great. I didn't see any reason to buy the PC version.
I played International Zodiac version with english patch on PCSX2. I also had the original on hardware PS2 in those days.Which FF12 did you play?? Original version or revised and updated version which is the one we got on PC?
The federal government, through its bailout during the mortgage crisis, owns the majority of the country's mortgage-backed securities (MBSs). The $1200 COVID check was not combined with a rent or mortgage freeze by design, so the vast majority of those checks will go straight to rent and mortgage, which then prevents the devaluation of MBSs and ensures that the government can continue to sell them back to hedge funds managers and investors, who will continue to bilk an arbitrary market of all it is worth, on the backs of the working class.
The gameplay improvements from the international version were never released in the west, the game has neat keyboard controls which I really loved, and with the better textures and fonts I can actually play it on a monitor without my eyes bleeding. So it has plenty of stuff over PCSX2I played FF12 on PCSX2. Worked great. I didn't see any reason to buy the PC version.
Nah like I said above I bought FF12 at retail for PS2, played the english patched International version on PCSX2. So Square and I, we're square.The gameplay improvements from the international version were never released in the west, the game has neat keyboard controls which I really loved, and with the better textures and fonts I can actually play it on a monitor without my eyes bleeding. So it has plenty of stuff over PCSX2
Also, I had never bought the PS2 version, so emulation isn't really an option. I'm assuming here you aren't advocating to pirate one of the best JRPGs of all time.