Can you muppets stop throwing away money on awful companies producing subpar games?

Eh, early access isn't the problem. Palworld has been wrecking Pokemon despite being Early Access

Can 2024 instead be the year of bad game boycott? When an early access game is better than most AAA completed games, then there's a serious problem

I mean, just do a little due diligence, Jesus. I've bought PalWorld, Planet Crafter, Traveler's Rest, and more in early access and had a blast with all of them. In fact, I'd say it's some of the best bang for my buck in the last ten years of gaming. I've also not bought early access games because the five minutes of due diligence suggested that it was a garbage game.

I particularly think it's fine with small, indie studios that don't have a lot of devs or resources. No way in fuck am I buying an early access AAA release.

The games I have bought in early access:

• Kerbal Space Program
• Factorio
• Satisfactory
• Subnautica

Early access isn't the problem.

I bought Deep Rock Galactic, Subnautica, annd Satisfactory in early access and have no regrets. These are great games and I would rather pay to be a beta tester on them than play many AAA finished pieces of junk. I think in general it’s not a bad thing to be wary about early access but I’m not sure it warrants an all or nothing approach.

The thing is, early access games aren't necessary unplayable.

If they are good enough in their current form to warrant the price, then that is a good time to buy them. The updates are only a bonus at that point.

But don't buy early access for the promised features, since they may never arrive.

RimWorld, Subnautica, darkest dungeon, streets of rogue, project zomboid, oxygen not included, starsector, skull the hero slayer, dead cells, caves of qud quasimorph and universim are games i bought in early access that I do not regret in the slightest.

I'd say the biggest problem is these big companies who release "finished" games that are clearly not finished and the people who keep pre-ordering them

I like early access games because at least you know the game is unfinished.

And the game is making money while still being in development, so the devs can take their time without having to worry about deadlines.

Early access games can also change fundamental gameplay aspects since it's in development, so if a feature sucks, they can just remove it.

I'm very anti-pre-order, but early access I'm okay with. It comes with the same decision process as buying anything else, is what I'm getting right now worth the money I'm paying? If yes, then buy it, if no then don't. I don't buy promises, I buy products.

Baldurs gate 3 is a good example of early access done right. I knew going in I was getting the first 4 levels and roughly 1/4 - 1/3 of the planned final game, but what was there already was worth the price I paid, even if they never finished or released it, I got my money's worth imo. I put like 200+ hours into it before it released, i can't be mad at that for 30 bucks.

The biggest hypocrisy are games in early access that release a DLC before v1

There's nothing wrong with buying early access games. You as a buyer just need to be happy with the current state of the game at the time of purchase.

Where does "buying it 10 years later so that it can run on whatever the modern equivalent of a teacup is" fit in?

Playing witcher 3 on steamdeck for the first time.

Too late. Everybody buying Palworld.

Enjoying palworld quite a bit despite bugs, and the input (and money) will probably make the end product a better game. BG3 is another example of a game that was wildly successful due to EA.

I'll judge these on a case by case basis. But I think the issue is less EA titles and more titles that are released not as EA but obviously broken.

Nah, I'll continue spending my money on whatever I want, thanks.

Nah, I'll buy quality games whether or not they're EA. As with everything, you have to put in the effort to find the good shit mixed in with the bad. I've easily had at least a half dozen EA games that I've bought and played hundreds of hours, and more than a half dozen "completed" games that were absolute trash. Games like KSP, Minecraft, Factorio, Satisfactory, Oxygen Not Included, and DSP are some of my most played games, and all bought during early access/pre-release. And those are just the ones that come to the top of my head lol.

When you buy something early access you have to know what you're getting, and you have to understand this is potentially all you're getting. With any early access game I purchased, I made sure that I'm okay with the game I purchasing and that I don't feel like more justify my purchase. With that mentality I've never been disappointed in my choices for early access purchases, and the games I've purchased have all come a long way and some have even gotten to "completed"/1.0 level.

My rule is that I only buy an Early Access game if I'd still be happy with it even if the devs never made another update (because sometimes they don't).

I respect people who wait for games to leave early access, but there are genuinely great indies in EA that are more polished than most AAA titles. Take each title on a case by case basis. Don't give shitty devs/pubs your hard earned money.

Palworlds mad fun though...so ....sorry!

I've been happy with many, if not most, of the early access games I bought. But I tend to stick with cheaper indie games anyway. I don't think I've paid more than $30 dollars for a game in over a decade.

This is more applicable to over-hyped, AAA titles. A lot of the games mentioned in comments are smaller, indie developed passion projects that get the TLC they deserve.

Ah yes, "completed" games like Cyberpunk, Fallout 76 or Battlefield 4.

What year is it that people don't realize the only difference between early access and AAA releases at this point is lies?

I'm buying 2 more copies of Palworld just because you're whining.

Buying early access makes you an investor. Which has the possibility of the product failing. It is a bet, treat it as such.

laughs in 🏴‍☠️ Palworld

Ironically, despite being version 0.1.3. it's in a better shape than some "full" releases. Looking at you, Starfield.

Yeah, after all that Baldur's Gate 3 early access thing came out terribly.

Patient gamer gang

I buy quite a few early access games on Steam. I read the reviews first. If it seems okay, then I buy and play. If I don't like it then return. Seems pretty safe if you proceed with caution.

I've been playing beamNg for 4+ years and it's been in ea the entire time since 2015, possibly the best car game you can get for 20€.

Slay the spire I've also owned since early access, it's maybe the most beautiful single player card game to exist. Although it only spent 1-2 years in ea.

Don't be the first to buy ea games I guess but if the game is already fun why not.

If the company has a history of releasing solid, complete products or properly using Early Access for its intended purpose (BG3), or is punching above its weight and just doesn't have the money to reach the finish line (Palworld) I don't see it as intrinsically bad, as long as you as a consumer understand that there's a risk that the end result is dissapointing. On the other hand, there's Paradox, that releases supposedly complete games and advertises them as such despite clearly having the means to slow down and put them through QA before selling them in a mechanically broken state. They'll still become great games though, after 8 years of further development and 14 DLC.

Regarding pre-ordering games, I think Eric Cartman said it best

Enshrouded too good

I've played early access games far better than full releases and vice versa. The divide between early access vs not early access is arbitrary and unnecessary in my opinion. Buy games that are worth the price for the fun they offer for you. The only blanket rule I would say is to avoid pre-ordering.

I buy what game I want, whether it is EA or not. Worked out great with BG3. Palworld is another one with tons of content for an EA title and I had a blad with the universim during all of EA and it is now released with even more content.

Techtonica is early access and looks like it's going to be amazing.

The real problem is old companies like EA and Bethesda releasing crap on Launch Day and expecting its customers to be its beta testers for the next couple of years while they slowly patch the game into a playable state. (Or not. Why should they care? They got your money.)

It's a democratic economy! Why should capitalists get to make all the stupid decisions?

I have 10 times more full release fail buys than early access. While early access often costs half of a AAA title. So you better switch those images.

I wait until the complete game is on sale and has mods that are stable. Just got firewatch for $2 and got the VR mod off itch.io which has its own single mod manager. Such a awesome game so far, story wise and with the vr mod.

I don't regret the $20 I spent on Dyson Sphere Program, spent more time enjoying that than I have playing most of my library of supposedly "finished" games.

Don't preorder, and only buy early access if you're happy with the game as it is at the moment you buy it

Project zomboid fans 🫥

What do you mean? Suicide squad early access purchasers got their games automatically completed!

I don't go for early access games anymore since the Starbound fiasco.

yall spend money on GAMES?

No! I want my illusion of choice!

Maybe instead we should push the revoke the law that forces you to buy early access games?

No. I like supporting great artist like Tynan Silvester early on.

It was painful waiting for them to fix the Baldur's Gate 3 xbox save bug before buying it, while everyone was abuzz. But I stand by my principles, the game must work!

Yup. I've made a rule for myself to buy only finished indie games. AAA games are way too long anyway. And paying $70 for an oversized hard drive hogging bugged out mess is just wrong. No beta, no early access, no pre-order. When in doubt replay Stardew Valley to soothe the soul.

EA allows people to create games who normally wouldn't have the money to do it.

My Summer Car was and is worth it. Fucking love that game and it's been early access for eight years. Though it's built by one dude so it makes sense.

I also love the convenience of bulk buying dlcs and games in steam sales. 80% off everything? Now the whole deal costs less than one DLC 4 years ago? Boy howdy.

I buy most of my games at Steam sales. I don't care about the latest hype and I'd never buy anything that hasn't been thoroughly tested in the real world.

If ppl are too dumb to learn this lesson it's on them. It won't stop other indie developers from making great games.

It's an odd concept for sure. People pay extra money to be beta testers for a game company. That's an actual paid career, yet people are willing to pay to do it.

I haven't been.

Yep everyone just needs to slow their roll. I don't even go for DLC, not part of the original game not buying it.

the last game I bought on launch day was no man's sky. I'm done playing money to be a beta tester for half a game, you'll get my money when it's an entire game that works or not at all.

It's like when you buy something half finished with a big IOU stapled to it, you don't know what you're actually buying or something 😱

Oh, sweet summer child...

For me, it depends. If the developer has a good reputation and is doing early access to present a better game at its full launch, I definitely don't have an issue with it. Unfortunately, devs and games like that are uncommon.

Correction: Completed game under $20. 🧐

I think you’re a little late on that with Palworld and all.

Nah. I propose instead you watch YouTube gameplay videos before buying games. Plenty of “completed games” are trash and early access titles absolute gems. Also regardless, you’re buying incredibly complicated software that people sunk countless hours of labor into developing for pennies on the dollar so like whatever. If a game is bad I won’t play it. If it’s janky I will move on with my life.

As a fan of the Diablo franchise, I knew D4$ was going to be complete dogshit, so I never bought it. Every time I watch one of the professional streamers complain, I laugh my ass off. I think Hawg had it right; their plan is to dribble content to the player base a little at a time as a money grab.

Don't look at me. I learned my lesson back with Batman: Arkham Knight.

Which dumb rubes are going to pay to bug check your ultimately completed game then huh, smart guy? Not the fuckin studios, that's for sure!

The only game I ever considered pre-ordering was Hogwarts legacy. I've always loved the world of Harry Potter, and it looked like everything I've ever asked for. I was going to pre-order it, but I wasn't able to, for financial reasons. Then the game came out, and after watching a video I was like... Oh, this is boring. I learned my lesson.

How about you care about your own stuff? I gonna buy Norland as soon as I can.

I've had a good experience so far, so, no.

I primarily play indie games anyways, so this doesn't really apply to me.

How about people spend their own money on whatever they want because it's none of your business

It's the same with lifestyle and politics. The "woke" people I know that talk about anti capitalist ideology but then buy the dumbest novelty shit and junk food you can imagine, not as a need but as a want. Shit, I had "woke" person whole heartedly defend marvel superhero movies as if it was a fight against hunger and natural right.

When I say woke, I mean anyone that uses the term woke seriously. I do not mean actual kind hearted down to earth open-minded progressive people.

there's a lot of fun in being the first to figure something out... (like cod zombies easter eggs)
plus a lot more people to play with online in the beginning...
also, these muppets are how the games get tested and completed by the time you get it...