Suggestion..: Early access refund when developer cancel the game

[Delle(DK)]

Hello
I like to support early access games and the developers.
But truth is sometimes developers all of a sudden just stop working on the game or cancel it since they run out of money.

With other words all people who help the developer economicly are left behind with an unfinished product that often are kind of worthelss.. Example a midle age fighting game you only can play online, but if the game is canceled then there fast wont be anybody to play with = 0 value.

I would like to suggest that if the developer cancel/leave then he/she shall refund a minimum of 50% of the value of the product when it is not a finished product.
So the developer shall be forced to put 50% of the income in a locked account here on steam until the game is released.. When game is finished steal released the money to the developer.

I simply do not feel it is fair people help a developer that "just" take the money and dont punt in a real efford to produce the game anyway and then just run away with "people money".

[Seretti]

http://store.steampowered.com/earlyaccessfaq/

You should be aware that some teams will be unable to 'finish' their game. So you should only buy an Early Access game if you are excited about playing it in its current state.

[LowJack_VA1]

The risk with EA games are well documented and don't need changing. EA are not pre-orders and should not be treated as such. It seems like we have this discussion every few days.

[Start_Running]

Eyup.

OP when you buy an EA game you are purchasing an unfinished game. That's it. So even if the developers cancel you still have what you purchased. AN unfinished game.

[76561198001062896]

People really need to start taking responsibility for their purchases especially with the clear warnings

[LowJack_VA1]

引用自 Zetikla：

People really need to start taking responsibility for their purchases especially with the clear warnings

Amen!!!

[Delle(DK)]

引用自 LowJack_VA1：

The risk with EA games are well documented and don't need changing. EA are not pre-orders and should not be treated as such. It seems like we have this discussion every few days.

Super, the more it is debated the higher the chance someone wake up and do something about the problem.
Early access is not the same as being an "investor".
When people buy on steam they buy a product, and if that product is not 100% completed then they bought a defective product, and are entitled to either get a refund or a replacment product.

It is very clear acording to the EU consumer law. ( games sold to EU customors apply to EU law )
- Under EU rules, a trader must repair, replace, reduce the price or give you a refund if goods you bought turn out to be faulty or do not look or work as advertised.

In my oppinion, when you buy early access you expect that sometday there will be a finished product, with other words... when you do not get a finished product someday, then the product and intentions are not as advertised on the shop page....

when a devloper cancel and do not deliver a finished product he/she apply to the above.
Some developers know for many month economy is not good, but though they keep it secret and cancel the game without warning people so they can ask for a refund.
Some people buy a game the devleoper have abandoned and have no time to ask fora refund since the developer do not inform he/she have anbandoned the project and is no longer working on the title.

I dont think it is okay people can just run away, without being economicly punished.
Clearly some developers are using it to earn money and run.

[Seretti]

引用自 Delle(DK)：

In my oppinion, when you buy early access you expect that sometday there will be a finished product, with other words...

You buy the game as is. There are clear warnings that the product may or may not change in the future. If you don't like it in it's current state, you should not buy it.

[76561198001062896]

引用自 Delle(DK)：

引用自 LowJack_VA1：

The risk with EA games are well documented and don't need changing. EA are not pre-orders and should not be treated as such. It seems like we have this discussion every few days.

Super, the more it is debated the higher the chance someone wake up and do something about the problem.
Early access is not the same as being an "investor".
When people buy on steam they buy a product, and if that product is not 100% completed then they bought a defective product, and are entitled to either get a refund or a replacment product.

It is very clear acording to the EU consumer law. ( games sold to EU customors apply to EU law )
- Under EU rules, a trader must repair, replace, reduce the price or give you a refund if goods you bought turn out to be faulty or do not look or work as advertised.

In my oppinion, when you buy early access you expect that sometday there will be a finished product, with other words... when you do not get a finished product someday, then the product and intentions are not as advertised on the shop page....

when a devloper cancel and do not deliver a finished product he/she apply to the above.
Some developers know for many month economy is not good, but though they keep it secret and cancel the game without warning people so they can ask for a refund.
Some people buy a game the devleoper have abandoned and have no time to ask fora refund since the developer do not inform he/she have anbandoned the project and is no longer working on the title.

I dont think it is okay people can just run away, without being economicly punished.
Clearly some developers are using it to earn money and run.

Except there isnt any "problem", despite the common myth, there are more succesful EA projects than failed ones and most buyers are happy with their purchase.

Consumer law doesnt override early acces guidelines, because you agree that the game may stay as is or be completely changed. That in itself isnt illegal or breaching consumer rights


Abuse isnt restricted to early acces and i can guarantee that most devs who try and pull off a scam will bury their names in the dirt so much that its not worth the effort

[Start_Running]

引用自 Delle(DK)：

引用自 LowJack_VA1：

The risk with EA games are well documented and don't need changing. EA are not pre-orders and should not be treated as such. It seems like we have this discussion every few days.

Super, the more it is debated the higher the chance someone wake up and do something about the problem.
Early access is not the same as being an "investor".
When people buy on steam they buy a product, and if that product is not 100% completed then they bought a defective product, and are entitled to either get a refund or a replacment product.

If you buy a second hand car yyou are buying a second hand car. ergo it is not likely to be new.

It is very clear acording to the EU consumer law. ( games sold to EU customors apply to EU law )
- Under EU rules, a trader must repair, replace, reduce the price or give you a refund if goods you bought turn out to be faulty or do not look or work as advertised.

Yes if the product is not as described. You really should look into those laws properly.

You are allowed to sell an object in pretty much any state. So long as the state is clearly described, labelled and visible to the buyer.

I can sell a broken TV quite legally so long as I clearly label the produyct as 'Broken TV'.

EA products are clearly labeled as unfinished, ergo you are buying an unfinished game. There's nothing that says games have to be 100% complete to be on steam. Never mind that no game is ever really 100% complete.

[76561198001062896]

引用自 Start_Running：

引用自 Delle(DK)：

Super, the more it is debated the higher the chance someone wake up and do something about the problem.
Early access is not the same as being an "investor".
When people buy on steam they buy a product, and if that product is not 100% completed then they bought a defective product, and are entitled to either get a refund or a replacment product.

If you buy a second hand car yyou are buying a second hand car. ergo it is not likely to be new.

It is very clear acording to the EU consumer law. ( games sold to EU customors apply to EU law )
- Under EU rules, a trader must repair, replace, reduce the price or give you a refund if goods you bought turn out to be faulty or do not look or work as advertised.

Yes if the product is not as described. You really should look into those laws properly.

You are allowed to sell an object in pretty much any state. So long as the state is clearly described, labelled and visible to the buyer.

I can sell a broken TV quite legally so long as I clearly label the produyct as 'Broken TV'.

EA products are clearly labeled as unfinished, ergo you are buying an unfinished game. There's nothing that says games have to be 100% complete to be on steam. Never mind that no game is ever really 100% complete.

Most ppl who pull off the "but mah rights!!" card dont even know what the law says or fail to point out any actual proofs that certain clause can be applied to such situation.

[LowJack_VA1]

引用自 Zetikla：

引用自 Delle(DK)：

Super, the more it is debated the higher the chance someone wake up and do something about the problem.
Early access is not the same as being an "investor".
When people buy on steam they buy a product, and if that product is not 100% completed then they bought a defective product, and are entitled to either get a refund or a replacment product.

It is very clear acording to the EU consumer law. ( games sold to EU customors apply to EU law )
- Under EU rules, a trader must repair, replace, reduce the price or give you a refund if goods you bought turn out to be faulty or do not look or work as advertised.

In my oppinion, when you buy early access you expect that sometday there will be a finished product, with other words... when you do not get a finished product someday, then the product and intentions are not as advertised on the shop page....

when a devloper cancel and do not deliver a finished product he/she apply to the above.
Some developers know for many month economy is not good, but though they keep it secret and cancel the game without warning people so they can ask for a refund.
Some people buy a game the devleoper have abandoned and have no time to ask fora refund since the developer do not inform he/she have anbandoned the project and is no longer working on the title.

I dont think it is okay people can just run away, without being economicly punished.
Clearly some developers are using it to earn money and run.

Except there isnt any "problem", despite the common myth, there are more succesful EA projects than failed ones and most buyers are happy with their purchase.

Consumer law doesnt override early acces guidelines, because you agree that the game may stay as is or be completely changed. That in itself isnt illegal or breaching consumer rights


Abuse isnt restricted to early acces and i can guarantee that most devs who try and pull off a scam will bury their names in the dirt so much that its not worth the effort

Case in point, I buy EA games all the time and I have been happy with all my purchases, even with the publisher's and developers that stopped working on the game. That is the point of EA games. Didn't this discussion just come up?

[Washell]

引用自 Delle(DK)：

In my oppinion, when you buy early access you expect that sometday there will be a finished product, with other words... when you do not get a finished product someday, then the product and intentions are not as advertised on the shop page....

This is the advertisement on the shop page:

Early Access Game
Get instant access and start playing; get involved with this game as it develops.
Note: This Early Access game is not complete and may or may not change further. If you are not excited to play this game in its current state, then you should wait to see if the game progresses further in development. Learn more

This is what you're complaining about:

引用自 Delle(DK)：

But truth is sometimes developers all of a sudden just stop working on the game or cancel it since they run out of money.

Lets compare:
This Early Access game may not change further vs developers all of a sudden just stop working
How is that not exactly as advertised?

Furthermore, holding 50% back is likely to increase the incidences of "cancel it since they run out of money.", so you're kind of shooting yourself in the foot with that rule.

Here's my opinion (and action): Early access games go on my wishlist. If and when they're finished I check them out again, and if I still like what I see, I buy them. It's not that hard to play within the system, unless you're lacking in patience.

[El poco nuez del muerte]

引用自 Delle(DK)：

But truth is sometimes developers all of a sudden just stop working on the game or cancel it since they run out of money.

Ok, so, they stop working because they ran out of money. As in, they do not have any more money. You know, money, the thing they need to develop.

引用自 Delle(DK)：

I would like to suggest that if the developer cancel/leave then he/she shall refund a minimum of 50% of the value of the product when it is not a finished product.

Where the hell does that money come from if they ran out of money?

Who on earth would take that risk?

[B l u e b e r r y P o p t a r t]

Sorry but nope, you are given all the information and warning about the purchase of an EA title, if you don't want to take the risk of it not going anywhere then wait untill it's released as a full title.