So many awful games.

[Vara]

Took a look through the Steam store. Wow. That was terrible.

It would appear that recently we've struck quite a bump, a bump in gaming quality versus quantity. Hentai, Early Access, and the awful Indie Game Market manifesting nothing but broken, below par, and pricy games with little content. For a while it's been clear that Valve doesn't want top of the line quality ganes filling their stores, but is instead focusing more towards quantity over quality.

I, for one, would happily remove hundreds of games from the Steam market if I had even the slightest chance. Staring with the hundreds of Hentai/Anime games that completely plauge the market. Afterwards, I'd completely remove Early Access entirely; Early Access developers have no reason to finish a game if it's already sold thousands of copies. In short, Early Access just doesn't work. It's like pizza: The devs make the pizza half baked and 'promise' to bake the other half, but never do. They just give you a half finished pizza for the full price.

It's so revolting to see promises broke right before your eyes and that game you were promised turn into something so disgusting you can't even stomach it. Make it so you can refund an EA game ANYTIME, that'd fix it quick and make this greedy devs work. I'd also make sure those Indie game creators are placed under a heavy thumb so they can't release their foul 'games' anymore.

What are your thoughts? Tell me!

[TheStoryteller01]

Początkowo opublikowane przez |ICH| Der Typ mit der Wumme:

Don't get me wrong, I am totally glad that Steam is open for Indie Dev's (apart from the fact that MRS. Alpha Wolfe claims totally populistic bullcrap..... Sorry!), the point is that I think their policy of letting everything pass (not having any QA) is in fact lowering the sales of them! As for me, totally subjective spoken, I was once very open minded to buy samll Indie titles. I was glad to get my hands on stuff like Meatboy, Braid, Eufloria, Binding of Isaac, etc. , etc. , etc...... Bought a lot, because I had, at least, a little trust and faith. Now, it is more likely that I am to skip these titles in my queue and that is simply due to the fact, that they overflooded the market by opening it for all titles and such that want to become one! I could puke, when I am clicking on "not interested" for the 52nd time A DAY!!! I know I am kind of weird, but I like to keep my shop page, that is also my front page, tidied up and clean, I don't want no recommendations of anything that I am not interested in! I simply don't want to see it there, and since there IS NO WORKING method of filtering games properly (which is the second mechanic that needs to be implemented or improved, apart from a working QA system), I have no choice but to click through all games, until I reach the point on which I am told "Sorry, there is nothing more Steam could offer you" ! Guys, I know this is just me and not required and I am also aware that a open business model should be kept (at least to some degree) open! But by not implementing techniques to let people like me "work around the s..tpile" or navigate properly through this "minefield", they are actually making things harder for the same clients they opened up the gates for in first place: the indie Dev's!!! Which leads to fact that the lower sales generate lower income and money, leading to a necessarily higher output rate at a lower quality standard at the same time (not to speak of the fact that it also pushes the rate of "Scam" tries, leading to even more people just clicking through, not spending a second look). This is simply put a corresponding positive feedback effect, making the business less accesible for Indie Dev's while making the market more unattractive for customers! Without the implementation of regulatory tools, Valve is killing the Indie scene for a profit, what leaves them in a moral obligation!

My opinion.....

You make a good point.

To be recognized in the mudhole that makes the ever growing number of generic Early Access games, the developers who come up with something that is both new and has a high production value are having a hard time to actually get the attention they deserve.

[techiewitch]

If you don't like it, don't use steam. Or just ignore it, simple as that.

[TheStoryteller01]

Początkowo opublikowane przez Start_Running:

Początkowo opublikowane przez ((WOLVES))MRS.ALPHA WOLFE(HTBAF):

These game developers are trying to make a living on their titles. If you think you can make a higher quality game do so and spend your money making it. I bet it would fall badly. Give these new devs some ease not being a complete ♥♥♥♥

Easy critique the cook when you never have to touch the stove as they say.

They also say: "It doesn't need a master chef to know that a roast is burnt"

[|ICH| Der Typ mit der Wumme]

Początkowo opublikowane przez Icehawk:

If you don't like it, don't use steam. Or just ignore it, simple as that.

No, it is not as simple as that as well as this answer is pretty much narrow minded.... It is about an economical miscalculation which leads to a shrinking diversity of quality products all the while quantitatively this effect isn't recognizable and therefore hard to see!

A lot of indie developers themselves are complaining about the flooded market, as it is not making it easier neither for them, nor the customer!

As referrence, read some of the discussions on gamasutra.com , you can see a lot of indie developers themselves having this topic there on their top agenda everyday! For example, take this indie develper quote from there:

"1) Will my Games not be discovered any more because of the mass of new games published?

You're forgetting one key very important part - before the algorithm can recommend your game to anyone, it needs to collect data. And if hundreds of new games are released every day, most of it garbage, players will be reluctant to even give new games a try if they haven't heard of them before, which means steam will have a much harder time to even learn about your game enough to decide if it's worth recommending or not. In addition, the system will simply be unable to give all these new games the "trial visibility" that games get today.

As for external sources? That's far from the majority of players, the majority of visits come from the discovery queue and main carousel, which are based on recommendations.

Last, even getting youtubers interested in your game will be much harder with 100 of new steam games every day. Right now, having a steam key by itself helps you get influencers attention (obviously not always, but it helps).

2) Ratings will get more important - get good Ratings :)

My point above applies. Without the initial player base (which may be severely reduced due to inflation of garbage game releases), you will not be able to get ratings at all (except for friends and family of course)"

I for myself am convinced that it is of utmost importance as well for the developers as for the customers to move and work with Valve on this issue to improve the market situation.

But yes, of course, if I don't like it, I won't use Steam..... Thank you for this qualified contribution to the discussion!

[|ICH| Der Typ mit der Wumme]

I need to add this quote from a Indie Dev, because it is in a very short form nailing the problem! Some of us still remember...... :

"This reminds me of the Great Video Game Crash of '83: What caused it? Unreliability in quality. What fixed it? Reliability in quality."

[cinedine]

Początkowo opublikowane przez |ICH| Der Typ mit der Wumme:

Początkowo opublikowane przez Icehawk:

If you don't like it, don't use steam. Or just ignore it, simple as that.

No, it is not as simple as that as well as this answer is pretty much narrow minded.... It is about an economical miscalculation which leads to a shrinking diversity of quality products all the while quantitatively this effect isn't recognizable and therefore hard to see!

A lot of indie developers themselves are complaining about the flooded market, as it is not making it easier neither for them, nor the customer!

As referrence, read some of the discussions on gamasutra.com , you can see a lot of indie developers themselves having this topic there on their top agenda everyday! For example, take this indie develper quote from there:
[...]

The real issue is that indie studios SUCK at marketing. The current situation only accelaretes the issue. If Steam was to only release 5 games a month - those five games would not compete with each other, but still the entire catalogue. You'd get more visibility, but that only holds for so long anyway. And a popular game now will have around the same time span on the popular new releases list as before.

[Start_Running]

Początkowo opublikowane przez |ICH| Der Typ mit der Wumme:

I need to add this quote from a Indie Dev, because it is in a very short form nailing the problem! Some of us still remember...... :

"This reminds me of the Great Video Game Crash of '83: What caused it? Unreliability in quality. What fixed it? Reliability in quality."

Incorrect on both terms. What you're referring to was the Northe American Console game crash of 83. Arcade games experience a boom in the same period and pc games were unaffected, also didn't really register in japan or europe.

Because it had nothing to do with quality. It was not a crash that was created by a fall in demand. It was a fall in supply. Demand for video games was as high as ever in 83, that's what the NES and MS took off the way they did.

It's one of those popular mistellings of history people do because it's easier to repeat a fact you've heard as opposed to research it. Right up there with Napoleon was SHort and Columbus discovered america or columbus figured the earth was round.

[TheStoryteller01]

Początkowo opublikowane przez cinedine:

Początkowo opublikowane przez |ICH| Der Typ mit der Wumme:

No, it is not as simple as that as well as this answer is pretty much narrow minded.... It is about an economical miscalculation which leads to a shrinking diversity of quality products all the while quantitatively this effect isn't recognizable and therefore hard to see!

A lot of indie developers themselves are complaining about the flooded market, as it is not making it easier neither for them, nor the customer!

As referrence, read some of the discussions on gamasutra.com , you can see a lot of indie developers themselves having this topic there on their top agenda everyday! For example, take this indie develper quote from there:
[...]

The real issue is that indie studios SUCK at marketing. The current situation only accelaretes the issue. If Steam was to only release 5 games a month - those five games would not compete with each other, but still the entire catalogue. You'd get more visibility, but that only holds for so long anyway. And a popular game now will have around the same time span on the popular new releases list as before.

And unfortunately - like in any other industry - the ones who make the highest effort to develop a great product, tend to neglect the marketing aspect and fall behind those who might have an inferior product but made marketing the #1 priority.

For better or for worse, the times are long gone where an innovative and well-designed game with good critiques from a handful of media outlets and a decent word-of-mouth recommendation was enough to make it a top seller.

[RIP]

Początkowo opublikowane przez Vara:

Took a look through the Steam store. Wow. That was terrible.

It would appear that recently we've struck quite a bump, a bump in gaming quality versus quantity. Hentai, Early Access, and the awful Indie Game Market manifesting nothing but broken, below par, and pricy games with little content. For a while it's been clear that Valve doesn't want top of the line quality ganes filling their stores but instead focusing more on quantity, which is a bad thing for you if you want a good game.

I, for one would happily remove hundreds of games from the Steam market if I had the chance, staring with the hundreds of Hentai/Anime games that completely plauge the market. Afterwards, I'd completely REMOVE Early Access; Early Access doesn't work. It's so revolting to see promises break before your eyes and that game you were promised turn into something so disgusting. Make it so you can refuse an EA game ANYTIME, that'd fix it quick. Then I'd make sure those Indie Game creators are placed under a heavy thumb so they can't release crap no more.

What are your thoughts? Tell me!

You can say all that again. there's not a game in the last 6 or 7 months I didn't take a chance on and not one in 12 months that didn't make me drop to my knees an beg for a refund.

[BlackSpawn]

Indeed, Scratch.

Nice discussion here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=raIef6QXu0E

[Tux]

Początkowo opublikowane przez Scratch:

Początkowo opublikowane przez Vara:

Took a look through the Steam store. Wow. That was terrible.

It would appear that recently we've struck quite a bump, a bump in gaming quality versus quantity. Hentai, Early Access, and the awful Indie Game Market manifesting nothing but broken, below par, and pricy games with little content. For a while it's been clear that Valve doesn't want top of the line quality ganes filling their stores but instead focusing more on quantity, which is a bad thing for you if you want a good game.

I, for one would happily remove hundreds of games from the Steam market if I had the chance, staring with the hundreds of Hentai/Anime games that completely plauge the market. Afterwards, I'd completely REMOVE Early Access; Early Access doesn't work. It's so revolting to see promises break before your eyes and that game you were promised turn into something so disgusting. Make it so you can refuse an EA game ANYTIME, that'd fix it quick. Then I'd make sure those Indie Game creators are placed under a heavy thumb so they can't release crap no more.

What are your thoughts? Tell me!

You can say all that again. there's not a game in the last 6 or 7 months I didn't take a chance on and not one in 12 months that didn't make me drop to my knees an beg for a refund.

The fantastic games I have been exposed to over the last 3 years has been better by a large margin then literally ALL the games I have ever gotten going back to about 1987.

I have been gaming for that long and by a HUGE margin the games that are out now over the last 3 years make this era of gaming by a LARGE margin the best in history.

I can provide you a list of examples if you like. I think my list has 1 maybe 2 non-early access titles

[Gallifrey - CSSC Gaming Founder]

Początkowo opublikowane przez Tux:

Początkowo opublikowane przez Scratch:

You can say all that again. there's not a game in the last 6 or 7 months I didn't take a chance on and not one in 12 months that didn't make me drop to my knees an beg for a refund.

The fantastic games I have been exposed to over the last 3 years has been better by a large margin then literally ALL the games I have ever gotten going back to about 1987.

I have been gaming for that long and by a HUGE margin the games that are out now over the last 3 years make this era of gaming by a LARGE margin the best in history.

I can provide you a list of examples if you like. I think my list has 1 maybe 2 non-early access titles

I'd like to see the list. Can you do it with hyperlinks to the Steam store pages ?

S.x.

[Tux]

Początkowo opublikowane przez gallifrey:

Początkowo opublikowane przez Tux:

The fantastic games I have been exposed to over the last 3 years has been better by a large margin then literally ALL the games I have ever gotten going back to about 1987.

I have been gaming for that long and by a HUGE margin the games that are out now over the last 3 years make this era of gaming by a LARGE margin the best in history.

I can provide you a list of examples if you like. I think my list has 1 maybe 2 non-early access titles

I'd like to see the list. Can you do it with hyperlinks to the Steam store pages ?

S.x.

actually lets do this it will be easier for both of us.
Look at my game profile, sorted by most hours played.

[Gallifrey - CSSC Gaming Founder]

Początkowo opublikowane przez Tux:

Początkowo opublikowane przez gallifrey:

I'd like to see the list. Can you do it with hyperlinks to the Steam store pages ?

S.x.

actually lets do this it will be easier for both of us.
Look at my game profile, sorted by most hours played.

I was worried you weren't the real Tux until I saw your play list.

Didn't you like GTA V ?

I've got a feeling you'd really like Tropico 4 - should be pretty cheap next sale.

S.x.

[Tux]

Początkowo opublikowane przez gallifrey:

Początkowo opublikowane przez Tux:

actually lets do this it will be easier for both of us.
Look at my game profile, sorted by most hours played.

I was worried you weren't the real Tux until I saw your play list.

Didn't you like GTA V ?

I've got a feeling you'd really like Tropico 4 - should be pretty cheap next sale.

S.x.

I really didnt care for GTA 5, same for GTA 4 and 3 for that matter, san andreas was not too bad as long as you played with cheats but not really a lot of staying power that game either.

then again, I am older then 14