How many abandoned game prototypes are going to be still up for sale in Early Access before Steam actually does something?

[Booyah]

I appreciate the text, warning users that a game hasn't been touched in over 9 years but

If you have to warn customers like that...maybe it just shouldn't be for sale anymore.

[Chika Ogiue]

No one is forcing you to buy an Early Access game, bro.

[Thiesen]

Originally posted by Chika Ogiue:

No one is forcing you to buy an Early Access game, bro.

And no one is forcing you to defend it either...

[datCookie]

I wouldn't be against a game having the "buy" button greyed out if a game hasn't received any updates in 2 years. If the developers come back to the game, or have apparently been around the whole time, they can contact Valve to arrange for the game to be made available again.

Games in this state should also not be visible on the Steam store and should only be found during a direct search.

[Booyah]

Originally posted by datCookie:

I wouldn't be against a game having the "buy" button greyed out if a game hasn't received any updates in 2 years. If the developers come back to the game, or have apparently been around the whole time, they can contact Valve to arrange for the game to be made available again.

Games in this state should also not be visible on the Steam store and should only be found during a direct search.

There's definitely a lot of factors to consider. But if a dev hasn't had an update in years, unless they specifically say "yes we are still working on it", I really think it should be dropped from the store.

Early Access is already incredibly lenient. There's no time limit (which is fine, I'm not complaining) and clearly, there's very little oversight, but when there's money involved, I think the system should, at least, be treated like a real store front.

[Chika Ogiue]

Originally posted by Thiesen:

And no one is forcing you to defend it either...

Where did I defend it? Why do people take one statement and immediately try to read into it words that were not said?

[HikariLight]

BIG BLUE BOX on every Early Access game tells you what you are getting.

It WARNS you that the game MAY OR MAY NOT be updated and you are getting the game for its CURRENT state.

Failing to read and understand that is the users problem, not Steam's.

[Booyah]

Originally posted by HikariLight:

BIG BLUE BOX on every Early Access game tells you what you are getting.

It WARNS you that the game MAY OR MAY NOT be updated and you are getting the game for its CURRENT state.

Failing to read and understand that is the users problem, not Steam's.

The name of the system is "Early Access". Early Access means you're accessing something that will be released in the future.

It MAY OR MAY NOT change from it's CURRENT state. But it should have some conclusion, whether that is release or official abandonment.

[datCookie]

Originally posted by 🎀Booyah🎀:

Originally posted by HikariLight:

BIG BLUE BOX on every Early Access game tells you what you are getting.

It WARNS you that the game MAY OR MAY NOT be updated and you are getting the game for its CURRENT state.

Failing to read and understand that is the users problem, not Steam's.

The name of the system is "Early Access". Early Access means you're accessing something that will be released in the future.

From a technical standpoint, as per Steam's own definition: When you purchase an Early Access game, you are buying it as is, with the hope (yes, devs love to promise) that it will see a release in the future.

I am still of the opinion that any game which does not see an update in at least 2 years, should not be available for purchase on the store. Whilst customers are always encouraged to do their due diligence, Valve should ensure that a bit more fairness is applied here.

[Booyah]

Originally posted by datCookie:

Originally posted by 🎀Booyah🎀:

The name of the system is "Early Access". Early Access means you're accessing something that will be released in the future.

From a technical standpoint, as per Steam's own definition: When you purchase an Early Access game, you are buying it as is, with the hope (yes, devs love to promise) that it will see a release in the future.

I am still of the opinion that any game which does not see an update in at least 2 years, should not be available for purchase on the store. Whilst customers are always encouraged to do their due diligence, Valve should ensure that a bit more fairness is applied here.

I'm not saying anyone is breaking Steam's rules, I'm saying I think Steam should have some additional ones to help with abandoned projects.

[nullable]

Originally posted by 🎀Booyah🎀:

Originally posted by HikariLight:

BIG BLUE BOX on every Early Access game tells you what you are getting.

It WARNS you that the game MAY OR MAY NOT be updated and you are getting the game for its CURRENT state.

Failing to read and understand that is the users problem, not Steam's.

The name of the system is "Early Access". Early Access means you're accessing something that will be released in the future.

It MAY OR MAY NOT change from it's CURRENT state. But it should have some conclusion, whether that is release or official abandonment.

I understand your thinking. But that claim is something you invented. And your interpretation isn't what Steam operates around.

End of the day Valve simply doesn't manage other people's projects. And the reality is nothing is stopping people from releasing unfinished games without going through Early Access, or arbitrarily moving games out of Early Access. Everyone who wants to create a strict framework where unless specific "goals" are met in a limited time frame then there's consequences just completely misses the point: Valve doesn't manage other people's projects. And Early Access isn't a scheme to gain control over projects. Steam is not a scheme to manage developers.

[Amaterasu]

If you want to get rid of Early Access, you're going to have to get rid of over 80 of AAA games. Sure, they don't release in "Early Access", but they might as well be beta builds rather than fully fleshed out and polished games. And do often get abandoned. Kinda like Early Access.

[Booyah]

Originally posted by Amaterasu:

If you want to get rid of Early Access

I don't, and didn't say I did

[Booyah]

Originally posted by nullable:

Originally posted by 🎀Booyah🎀:

The name of the system is "Early Access". Early Access means you're accessing something that will be released in the future.

It MAY OR MAY NOT change from it's CURRENT state. But it should have some conclusion, whether that is release or official abandonment.

I understand your thinking. But that claim is something you invented. And your interpretation isn't what Steam operates around.

End of the day Valve simply doesn't manage other people's projects. And the reality is nothing is stopping people from releasing unfinished games without going through Early Access, or arbitrarily moving games out of Early Access. Everyone who wants to create a strict framework where unless specific "goals" are met in a limited time frame then there's consequences just completely misses the point: Valve doesn't manage other people's projects. And Early Access isn't a scheme to gain control over projects. Steam is not a scheme to manage developers.

Right, and I am saying that I think Steam should manage Early Access titles a little more than they currently do. (not "manage", but "do something at all" about projects no longer in development)

Specifically to help deal with the abandoned projects.

[Mad Scientist]

Originally posted by 🎀Booyah🎀:

The name of the system is "Early Access". Early Access means you're accessing something that will be released in the future.

Though it does say may or may not be updated. Small studios/devs can have things happen that stops development. Heck, a AAA Dev shutdown their game when one of their lead individuals dies in an accident.

Originally posted by 🎀Booyah🎀:

It MAY OR MAY NOT change from it's CURRENT state. But it should have some conclusion, whether that is release or official abandonment.

Which can happen unexpectedly, so it's best not to assume it will survive random events that are entirely out of control of those working on it. If it's within their control, they can use announcements etc.

[nullable]

Originally posted by 🎀Booyah🎀:

Originally posted by nullable:

I understand your thinking. But that claim is something you invented. And your interpretation isn't what Steam operates around.

End of the day Valve simply doesn't manage other people's projects. And the reality is nothing is stopping people from releasing unfinished games without going through Early Access, or arbitrarily moving games out of Early Access. Everyone who wants to create a strict framework where unless specific "goals" are met in a limited time frame then there's consequences just completely misses the point: Valve doesn't manage other people's projects. And Early Access isn't a scheme to gain control over projects. Steam is not a scheme to manage developers.

Right, and I am saying that I think Steam should manage Early Access titles a little more than they currently do. (not "manage", but "do something at all" about projects no longer in development)

Specifically to help deal with the abandoned projects.

Ok. And I am saying I don't think Steam needs to do anything. They don't manage other people's projects and I agree with that position.

Opinions are fine and all, but most of the time they have no value and no weight. And sometimes these opinions are just busy-body OCD hand wringing nonsense. Your need to manage things that aren't your concern doesn't create a problem that needs to be solved in reality.

So to answer your topic question.

How many abandoned game prototypes are going to be still up for sale in Early Access before Steam actually does something?

Never is a valid response, regardless how you feel about it.

Or maybe 2035, whenever Steam decides there's something actionable they want to do. But that's going to be on their own timeline, and you're probably not going to be privy to that.

All you can really do is stop worrying about things you have no control over or input about, that don't really affect you, and aren't really a problem.