Why I will no longer buy Early Access and its not what you think.

[Zoltan]

After all these years buy Early Access games I will no longer do this.

Sure there are many dishonest devs not finishing their games, but this has more to do with playing the game when its at its best.

I have played many great games that were 50% done. But I am finding out a pattern that I lose interest in the game and don't come back to play it when it is finally done. This means I am missing out on the experience of a great game. Especially early access story games. These games should not even be early access. I really feel no need to replay a whole story even if they added a few twists and turns.

I would prefer to just play finish games for now on with its full content. Time is precious and I just don't want to miss out on the good stuff anymore.

[DarkCrystalMethod]

I simply avoid Early Access games because they're not real games yet...
Wishlisting/following the interesting ones of course, and if the demo is available, but no buying or exploring othrewise until it escapes from EA hell.

[Zarineth]

I can see that actually. I too had that problem with few EA games. I still buy them, but only because I want to support devs of those games. Then I just make sure, that I will be notified of any updates, so I know when the game is finished. And if it isn't, oh well. At least now I know, that playing it won't ruin my future fun.

[Low Standards]

That is funny. I just bought "I am future" this morning. I tend to do this with most game under $15.

[Aachen]

Well, that is why they warn you that the software may or may not change.

Glad you’ve settled on your preference wRt EA — but who knows? Perhaps you’ll buy something particularly catchy sometime hence.

[Thermal Lance]

Sometimes I buy early access games when it's already fun for me as is. But, otherwise I don't gamble on them.

[Zoltan]

Zarineth の投稿を引用：

I can see that actually. I too had that problem with few EA games. I still buy them, but only because I want to support devs of those games. Then I just make sure, that I will be notified of any updates, so I know when the game is finished. And if it isn't, oh well. At least now I know, that playing it won't ruin my future fun.

I suppose its a way to support the devs, but then you should buy it at full price. Then years later you have to remember to play it when its fully done. That still might be a problem for some of us when more shiny stuff comes out and excites us.

[✨Saint✨]

Early access, I always thought it was " get your money early" imo.
Early access is often a gamble, some games will never leave the EA stage, some will just fail, it is EA after all, you should know what you do not get from it, well kinda.

[Zoltan]

There is a pattern I am noticing too. When an update comes out suddenly players are getting back into it but this last only for a fews days and it drops off again.

This is more for multiplayer games that die off and get resurrected with an update only to die off again. I usually play a game for a month or more.

When the final release comes out the resurrection will last a bit longer but still dies off.

Its like we are a bunch of migrating birds waiting for the next new game release or the next big update. Its like we have to follow this flow if we want multiplayer.

Like if we are trying to satisfy an addiction

[Aachen]

An addiction, eh?

I suppose that you never vary your diet lest you get too addicted to culinary novelty?

[TGC> The Games Collector]

Some games can be worth it, and also worth waiting for. And a few are quite playable in its early access state.

But yeah, you basically have a half-baked game sitting in your library for over a year.

Personally I don't mind it. But I have plenty of other games to keep me busy while waiting for the next big update.

[Crazy Tiger]

I put most Early Access games on my wishlist and buy them when they have a good price point. Which usually is long after they got their 1.0 version.

There are exceptions, though. Sometimes I buy one when they're late in the development cycle (for example Slay the Spire when it got the final act, Griftlands when it got the second character, etc). In all those cases I bought them knowing that if development would stop the very next day, I would still be happy with the game and content.

The latter is the crux. Don't purchase for what it might become, purchase for what the content is at that moment. And if you cannot accept that the game will not get updated or finished, DO NOT BUY THEM.

[J4MESOX4D]

I don't buy into early access games these days because by the time they are finished, I don't have much motivation to return and have moved onto other things. I will however happily buy a game that was in early access and is now finished if it's of a good quality and appeals.

The original concept of EA was interesting but it's just been abused so much over the years and other games have failed to live up to their expectations or initial plans. There's been plenty of huge success stories but lots of disappointments.

It's also risky for developers because it's easy to run out of working capital especially if your game fizzles out. Then your reputation is screwed in the industry forever.

[DarkCrystalMethod]

Anyone miss Steam Greenlight?

[✨Saint✨]

DarkCrystalMethod の投稿を引用：

Anyone miss Steam Greenlight?

Like the plague.

[Pierce Dalton]

✨Saint✨ の投稿を引用：

DarkCrystalMethod の投稿を引用：

Anyone miss Steam Greenlight?

Like the plague.

:saint:

They replaced Greenlight with Steam Direct, a plague that is even worse if you ask me. Now there are thousands and thousands of indie games on Steam, which only makes finding the decent ones even harder.