Famicom Dojo Podcast: Gamer and Developer Entitlement

by Sean "TheOrange" Corse, filed in Famicom Dojo Podcast, Podcasts on Jun.01, 2012

In the waning years of the 20th century, secret codes were a common feature in games that would unlock secret content or make the challenge a bit less difficult. But now if you want those extras, you can “unlock” them for just a few dollars! Is that this a terrible shift in developer entitlement, or another example of how gamers feel like they shouldn’t have to pay more than a few dollars for a new game? Sean and Vinnk look at the things that developers do to get more money out of gamers, and what gamers do to make developers believe that they can’t get paid fairly for their work. Used games aren’t evil, but some developers want you to think they are. Developers aren’t evil, but there are gamers who… well, you know the rest. Is one side more entitled than the other?

Direct Link: Famicom Dojo Podcast 48: Gamer and Developer Entitlement

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http://famicomdojo.tv/podcast/48

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Tags: Action Replay, Game Shark, iOS, iPhone, Konami, Mass Effect 3, NES, Square EnixBioWare, Super NES

BumblebeeZ3

Ghost Trick is/was worth it.
Still waiting for Capcom to decide they want to take my money for the second Miles Edgeworth game.
I’ll admit that, as a gamer, I feel entitled for a publisher to release a game in a series that they have already hooked us on.

Regarding DLC, I’ll generally wait for the collectors/game of the year edition disc that has all the DLC unlocked. Although I did buy some of the TF:WFC multiplayer DLC on my PS3. It helps them if I have to buy a prepaid card where it is already removed from the money in my wallet/bank account.

Regarding cheap games…all these bundle things they put out from Indigala to Groupees or what have you make me cave and purchase games I wouldn’t necessarily purchase if they have at least one game that I want. As a result my Steam stack of shame has grown, and it makes me really think about, “Am I actually going to play this game soon if I purchase it?”

http://www.facebook.com/jacknife451 William Talley

I have the same problem as Bumblebee when it comes to Steam and GamersGate. I tend to grab stuff when it’s onsale and not play it for weeks.

As far as entitlement, I think it’s both gamers and developers. With games costing $60 and more, there is obviously gonna be some hesitation to grab it day one. Many of us have grown up playing video games, and right now we got families to feed and bills to pay, so even though we love games, they tend to take a back seat.

Gamers however, have got to understand it’s in part because of used games that DLC exists. Developers and publishers have to recoup the money they spent developing, marketing, and supporting the game. While some of it is shady (I hit on this in my top 5 article a month back, read it at http://powet.tv/powetblog/2012/04/07/powet-top-5-top-5-issues-in-gaming-that-need-to-be-addressed/#more-24984) a lot of it can extend the life of a game and even keep the developers working during downtime. Lot of times we forget that game developers have families to feed and bills to pay too.

As far as cheap games, while a price tag can scare off people worried about quality, there are a lot of quality titles that were only $20 when they were first released, such as various compilation discs, indie titles, and lets not forget all of 2004’s sega sports titles.

http://regdarandthefighters.com/ VomitHatSteve

re: Companies that have maintained sales numbers without discounting their games – “Infinity Blade managed to avoid any sales.” Can I get either fewer or MORE hilarious word choices as DLC?

http://www.famicomdojo.tv/ Sean “TheOrange” Corse

XD

uglyjoe

– I bought the “Make Vinnk Bring Back the Old Man Character” DLC!

– Both sides should feel entitled. Gamers want cheaper games? Not a publisher’s problem. Publishers aren’t making enough money? Not a gamer’s problem. It’s up to each side to find their own solution.

– Ghost Trick has been on my shame pile since Christmas…

– Aw man! I should have bought the “Vinnk’s Videogame Vestibule (V3) Coverage” DLC!

http://www.famicomdojo.tv/ Sean “TheOrange” Corse

Awesome! That’s at least one ping for the Old Man. 😀 (There may be more… not telling.)

Yeah, forget VinnkCon! V3 is where it’s at, baby.
Vinnk

OK, I guess I could make the trip to V3 to cover it for you… Hmm…

As for the old man. Keep an eye on our new videos.

Daniel hathcock

I’m sorry. I didn’t listen to the podcast. You had me when you said I could pay you to do things. I just donated you guys $2. Pretty sure I did. You may want to double check that. But still that’s more than most/all the games on my phone.
So. Here’s what I’d like: For one of those dollars, I’d like my name mentioned on air, and that we’re BFF’s, but we just can’t get our get our schedules to sync up to hang out. For my other dollar, I want Sean I think, to watch the Silent Hill movie and give us his take on the ending.
Thanks!

http://www.famicomdojo.tv/ Sean “TheOrange” Corse

HAHAHA, okay. 😉

dtadgh

the problem I have with DLC is not the perceived value of the content, but rather the business model, that is designed by a marketing team with the purpose of squeezing every possible dollar out of the consumer, often in an overtly deceptive and underhanded way. I think the backlash against Street Fighter X Tekken, and other pre-planned DLC titles, is due to the developing seemingly deceiving the consumer into buying what they think is a complete product, only to announce in short time that they were withholding content thay you may buy at a later date at a premium. it’s no wonder people feel ripped off in such cases. the whole matter could be avoided if they instead were upfront with their costumers and gave them options at the launch of the title, like we’ve seen before with special editions, that give you the extra content at a premium price.

in short, it’s about being honest and upfront with your costumers and not trying to employ underhanded marketing schemes that leave people feeling cheated.
Tony Theriault

From what remember from watching episodes of Game Center CX on You Tube, some of the early Japanese developed Famicom/NES game had a hidden continue option, just by pressing select and A. It also works to save the original NES version of Legend Of Zelda, if you use the 2nd controller. It saves the game, without needing to die.
Tony Theriault

I’m a retro gamer on a budget, with no credit card. That means instead of getting a new console or disk game, I get an older, usually cheaper, cartridge game. Also, since getting an iTunes card leaves me with upgrading my ‘free’ apps on my iPod more often than not, I tend not to do that too much, either. It’s not entitlement. It’s a lack of funds.

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