Here I was, all set to be angry with you, and the remainder of the gaming community, for bitching about MMORPGs when THEIR input was sought and used to build a game.  I can't be angry with this article, however, because you lay out some things that are relatively truthful.  As long as we accept the behavior of game developers and publishers, in this regard, we are supporting them as being correct, and they will continue to develop what they believe we see as right, and are willing to support by giving them money for it.

Now, if you want to talk about what I originally thought this article was about, game companies should just build the damn games, and announce Closed Beta when they've done their internal testing.  This seeking the advice of gamers as to what they want to see in a game poisons the original vision the developers of the game have, and that just turns the game into another grind-fest-y ball of garbage.

Originally posted by Aethaeryn

Originally posted by AwDiddums

Taking a stand against poorly released games, overhyped products, missing features etc really hasn't produced what gamers where after. 

What stand was taken?

Stand = Not buying a product from a piss poor developer.

Your not keeping up with this thread now are you.

Amazing article!

Only thing I would add is for such a type movement to succeed is that there needs to be a group of 4 or more reviewers (maybe on this site) that make it a point to preorder and get into betas for the sole purpose of beating down the BS hype.

Stuff like that only works with a group because everyone can check each other to make sure no one falls into they're marketing traps.

Most of this is not the devs or even the gaming companies fault, more closer to the investers and the enviroment it produces. That Enviroment is one where investors exploit gamers eagerness to want to try and play new games.

Gamers do not shop around

Originally posted by Matticus75

Gamers do not shop around

Gamers cannot shop around, there is no true competition in the game industry.  If there was all of these companies and bad practices would disappear.  This is a major issue with todays mega corps and psuedo monopolies that extend into almost everything we buy today.  I'd love to see true competition brought back, but until then a hungry gamer will play most any POS you put infront of them.  That has been one of there tactics, keep the gamer hungry.

KingsIsle Entertainment is just as bad as EA. Ripping off players, shit not only we pay subscriptions but on top of that we also have to gamble just to get the items we want...

Well said!  I too am done pre-ordereing.  if a game companies want my money they can make games and demonstrate to me they are worth playing.

I have also seen myself returning to more single player games,  MMOs in my esimation have never exceeded the single player experience in terms of gameplay..  What they have in social interaction i.e. another dimension that wasn't ptrsent in the single player experience. yet even that has changed.  The whole MMO dynamic has shifted.  In the absence of membership in a good guild, you are essentially playing an inferior game alongside a bunch of other people.

This was most evident to me in SWTOR.  I found the storylines for each class excellent but it didn't really promote play with others.. Once finished with most of the story quest, the multiplayer experience left me wanting.  This will go down in history as my last collector's edition.

“In the case of SimCity, there’s an added wrinkle. There is evidence to suggest that SimCity may not even need online connectivity to function”

DA does know that the drive to put every game online is for security and marketing purposes? Multiplayer has become a must have add on to games; but verifing the game is not a copy, marketing DLC and creating a social network of gaming friends which makes you want to buy more games is what this is about.

It is the creation of that social network which helps makes players preorder. You want to be there from day one with all your mates. And that’s what online is all about for gaming companies, making you give them your money before the product has even been reviewed.

Your Bottom Line should read:

Never preorder a game, think about why you are preordering. What is the point of handing over money before you even know what you are getting? Let others crash and burn, wait for a month after launch, read the reviews, then buy.