The Destiny DLC scandal
Destiny was a massive let down at launch. We were promised the world, a massive campaign, tons of content, and a 10-year game plan. Instead, we ended up with a game that had its content ripped out of it, pasted into three expansion packs, and then sold as DLC later down the line. Even more frustrating were the glitches in the game which allowed players to access areas that were locked off until The Taken King, proving that the content was all there right from the beginning.
The discovery of such a blatant rip-off was massive news among the gaming community and many immediately pointed the finger at Activision’s shameless slicing of the pizza to sell off small portions of what should’ve been the price of the whole thing. So, if you wanted to get the full game experience that should have been there from the start, you had to purchase the content…twice!
If you were one of the very few lucky ones that jumped onto the Destiny bandwagon after The Taken King was released then that was great, but if you joined Destiny by purchasing the base game and the following two expansion packs, then you would now own two copies. Sure, you were able to purchase The Taken King separately, but if the game costs £35 with everything, or £40 for the Taken King (Digital Only), then what are you going to choose?
Online woes for Dead or Alive
In recent years, even fighting games have been released incomplete. Fighting games are a genre best played with others, especially online where you’re able to increase your ranking, but when you release such a title without an online component then you’re just asking for punch in the gut. KOEI TECMO tried to counter our punches when tagging in Team Ninja for Dead or Alive 5: Last Round, only they couldn’t because they forgot to add in the online portion of the game, so they got pummelled instead.
For such an essential component, Dead or Alive 5: Last Round was very lucky to sell decently enough, but being released six months before the online component even bore fruit was a travesty. And when it did rear its ugly head, it was ranked online matches only. Where were the lobby options? Where were the friend invite options? Why bother releasing the game if something as major as the main core of the game isn’t released?
Street Fighter kicks us where it hurts
In the same genre, Street Fighter V (released this week on PS4) has made similar mistakes, being released in a half-life state rather than its full spectrometer mass. Capcom released an update on the official website last week about what will and won’t be included in the game after launch. You get the characters, their story modes, online play, and the ability to earn in-game money to spend on the store (not available at launch). Even the proper story mode isn’t launching until June, while extra characters, sub-modes, and more aren’t even coming until March. What is the point of releasing the game a month beforehand if it’s going to be released incomplete?
With DLC characters arriving each month to purchase (not with in-game money, except for Alex), then it feels like it’s another game being released too early and into the Early Access cycle that publishers can’t seem to understand. Publishers should release their games when they’re ready, not a month in advance or with features later down the line. All they’re hurting is their own credibility.
Hitman takes a snipe
Another stab in the back was Hitman by Square Enix, where the initial plan was to release the game and slowly bring you content as the game is being developed. They called this “episodic content,” although gamers saw through this and weren’t shy about voicing their dissatisfaction. Hitman was an Early Access game through and through but, thankfully—due to the public outcry—it has now been changed into proper episodic content this time. Even then, it still makes more sense to buy it once all the content has been released.
Codemasters gets it right
While some publishers are making a complete hash jobby releasing their games early and incomplete, Codemasters has proven that it can be a good thing if handled correctly. DiRT Rally released on Steam early 2015 as Early Access. The Warwickshire-based company wanted to make a Rally simulation game, but as it had never developed a true simulation title before, they wanted to get feedback from the fans before venturing into uncharted territory.
Yes, they released a game early in a broken state with almost no content, but at the same time they priced the game very cheaply at £10 and it was released with the Early Access moniker. As more content was added, the price gradually rose to £25. Dirt Rally was eventually released not long ago and the final price was £34, for the complete game. This is exactly how releasing a game from an unfinished state to a full release should be done, by getting feedback from players throughout the development cycle and delivering on that feedback.
Vote with your wallet
The main issue in buying a game in its unfinished state is that you’re potentially throwing away money. Do not spend your hard-earned cash on games that are going to be released incomplete. What you all should be doing is sitting on your money and waiting for the games to be fully completed before forking out for them. Remember, it’s your money they are working for and it’s your money you’re giving to them. Vote with your wallet and maybe we’ll see some major attitude changes.