Could Hitman 2016 have gotten away with it?

[Igor-Rowan]

SuperBunnyHop made a video detailing Hitman 2016's troubled development that forced the game to be split even more than it was originally intended among other things that led to the game's failure. Other things include the DRM, the way the episodes were sold, the decrease of hype after episode 1, etc.

After the words "DRM" and "episodic" made its way into the preview, people turned away and did not look back as we are hard-wired to avoid any game that tries to perpetuate these things (in this case DRM more than the episodes), so this game was bad in the eyes of the public and Hitman fans in general.

What I want to ask is: Could Hitman have gotten away with all of that if the game was great? Let's not beat around the bush, imagine Hitman was not only the best Hitman game, not only the best 2016 game, but a game that awakened in you a spark that had been lacking in games in general, as it was the case with many people that got unhappy with the situation, but loved the game anyway. As Hitman disappeared after episode 1 and did not land in any Top 10 of 2016 lists I imagine people decided they did not miss anything, which means no second chances now that all of the episodes are released and when/if Season 2 ever gets released.

Something that came to mind as I was writing this is the Call of Duty 4 Remastered fiasco, when Activision decided to put people's love for this game to the test with the fact there was no way to get it without Infinite Warfare, microtransactions were added and the DLC was not included. I fear that people will associate these two events, because one of them was a conflict of interests, the other was Activision being greedy.

 

[Bilious Green_v1legacy]

Maybe, but I think a lot of people like me would have flat out refused that business model. I love the old Hitman games, but I refused to buy Hitman 2016 due to the episodic format, the always online, and Denuvo. I might have been willing to put up with one of those things, but all three was too much, no matter how good the game was.

 

[Saelune]

I have refused to buy it despite being a big Hitman fan because of just being episodic. But thats me. I dont even know if its good, I dont care, its "episodic", and thats bullshit.

 

[CaitSeith]

Let us remember: great quality doesn't sell AAA games; marketing and hype does. If your AAA game is great, consider it an extra.

 

[CaitSeith]

I have refused to buy it despite being a big Hitman fan because of just being episodic. But thats me. I dont even know if its good, I dont care, its "episodic", and thats bullshit.

Personally, between episodic and microtransactions I consider the former the lesser of two evils.

 

[Saelune]

I have refused to buy it despite being a big Hitman fan because of just being episodic. But thats me. I dont even know if its good, I dont care, its "episodic", and thats bullshit.

Personally, between episodic and microtransactions I consider the former the lesser of two evils.

It depends. Episodic DEFINATELY cuts up the game. Microtransactions -might-.

I can play Warframe in its entirety despite essentially pushing microtransactions. Same with Elder Scrolls Legends.

Though I will add that I oppose both vehemently. I dont pay for microtransactions. Most people may have given in, but I still havent.

I dont even buy costume packs in Dynasty Warrior games, and I fucking love Dynasty Warrior games.

Edit: Plus I dont think it matters here. In an alternate reality, I am boycotting this game cause it is clogged with microtransactions.

 

[Zhukov]

I have refused to buy it despite being a big Hitman fan because of just being episodic. But thats me. I dont even know if its good, I dont care, its "episodic", and thats bullshit.

Having seen you hold forth a few times on this particular game and its episodic nature I can say with certainty that your impression of it is utterly divorced from the facts of the matter.

 

[Saelune]

I have refused to buy it despite being a big Hitman fan because of just being episodic. But thats me. I dont even know if its good, I dont care, its "episodic", and thats bullshit.

Having seen you hold forth a few times on this particular game and its episodic nature I can say with certainty that your impression of it is utterly divorced from the facts of the matter.

I wanted a full Hitman game, like with Bloodmoney. This is not that.

 

[Zhukov]

I have refused to buy it despite being a big Hitman fan because of just being episodic. But thats me. I dont even know if its good, I dont care, its "episodic", and thats bullshit.

Having seen you hold forth a few times on this particular game and its episodic nature I can say with certainty that your impression of it is utterly divorced from the facts of the matter.

I wanted a full Hitman game, like with Bloodmoney. This is not that.

Yeah it is.

Plus, it's ten times better than the clunky, scaled down mess that was Blood Money.

Hands down the best Hitman game. It's what the series was always trying to be but never achieved before 2016.

Shame about the always online DRM. I don't blame people for skipping out on that. Hell, if I'd known it had that beforehand I probably would have declined to buy it myself.

 

[Saelune]

I have refused to buy it despite being a big Hitman fan because of just being episodic. But thats me. I dont even know if its good, I dont care, its "episodic", and thats bullshit.

Having seen you hold forth a few times on this particular game and its episodic nature I can say with certainty that your impression of it is utterly divorced from the facts of the matter.

I wanted a full Hitman game, like with Bloodmoney. This is not that.

Yeah it is.

Plus, it's ten times better than the clunky, scaled down mess that was Blood Money.

Hands down the best Hitman game. It's what the series was always trying to be but never achieved before 2016.

Shame about the always online DRM. I don't blame people for skipping out on that. Hell, if I'd known it had that beforehand I probably would have declined to buy it myself.

You cant break something into parts and call it a complete object.

 

[Zhukov]

You cant break something into parts and call it a complete object.

Yes you can.

Unless you want to tell me that Lord of the Rings is not a "complete object" due to it being broken into three parts.

 

[Saelune]

You cant break something into parts and call it a complete object.

Yes you can.

Unless you want to tell me that Lord of the Rings is not a "complete object" due to it being broken into three parts.

You're gonna be semantic about this I see.

They sold Hitman in a way I found objectionable and not worth it. I have every right to oppose it and to not waste my money on it that I could spend on a complete package.

And if I were to want to buy the Lord of the Rings movies, Id buy them as a complete bundle rather than each movie separately.

 

[stroopwafel]

I doubt it would have mattered much. I'm a fan of the classic Hitman games and the episodic format(with all maps being isolated from one another) didn't work to the game's detriment, and for those who hate the episodic format the entire game is now bundled so there is really no excuse.

Hitman has always been a niche title and the game didn't even perform that bad so I don't know what Squeenix is thinking. Would the game have sold better if the entire game was 'complete' from the get-go with no 'always online' nonsense? Maybe but again the game would never have the mass appeal that warrant Tomb Raider sales figures(which is what Squeenix was expecting).

To be honest after the like 12 years since Blood Money I never expected another Hitman that was a genuine return to form but Hitman 2016 was just that. Makes me sad we most likely never see another one. Same for Deus ex. FF15 did score really well though so I'm sure Squeenix is now convinced 'gamers' don't want bald assassins or moody cyborgs but what we do want is more leather boys on a road trip. And Tomb Raider. Can never have enough Tomb Raider. Without a doubt they already have another one in production that is the exact same as the previous two,

I have to say I'm surprised that Squeenix Japan actually seems to have way more affinity with videogames than their international publishing arm. Maybe they are easier on games that are developed on domestic soil like Nier Automata.

 

[Zhukov]

They sold Hitman in a way I found objectionable and not worth it. I have every right to oppose it and to not waste my money on it...

Of course you do. I'm not disputing your rights.

... that I could spend on a complete package.

And if I were to want to buy the Lord of the Rings movies, Id buy them as a complete bundle rather than each movie separately.

Sure.

The game is currently available all in one go, just like Lord of the Rings is. That's how I bought it.

(Huh. They've still got it marked at $60 I see. Would have thought a markdown would be in order by now.)

 

[BrawlMan]

My brother and I refused to to pay for any of the new Hitman on principle alone. I hate to say something like this, but I am glad it failed due to Squeenix greed. The worst thing being unfortunately is that they won't learn anything from this and try to pin the blame on someone or something else.

 

[Saelune]

They sold Hitman in a way I found objectionable and not worth it. I have every right to oppose it and to not waste my money on it...

Of course you do. I'm not disputing your rights.

... that I could spend on a complete package.

And if I were to want to buy the Lord of the Rings movies, Id buy them as a complete bundle rather than each movie separately.

Sure.

The game is currently available all in one go, just like Lord of the Rings is. That's how I bought it.

(Huh. They've still got it marked at $60 I see. Would have thought a markdown would be in order by now.)

You can tape cut paper together, but its still taped together.

It was made to be episodic and no amount of discounts or bundling will change that.

And that tends to matter more in a game than a movie (though who knows, maybe it hurts movies too)

 

[Zhukov]

You can tape cut paper together, but its still taped together.

It was made to be episodic and no amount of discounts or bundling will change that.

And that tends to matter more in a game than a movie (though who knows, maybe it hurts movies too)

Uh huh. Here's where we get to the divorced-from-the-facts part.

Before we proceed further, tell me, have you played the game at all? (Obviously you haven't bought it, but you might have played someone else's copy or something.) Have you watched gameplay of it on Youtube or Twitch or something of that nature?

 

[Saelune]

You can tape cut paper together, but its still taped together.

It was made to be episodic and no amount of discounts or bundling will change that.

And that tends to matter more in a game than a movie (though who knows, maybe it hurts movies too)

Uh huh. Here's where we get to the divorced-from-the-facts part.

Before we proceed further, tell me, have you played the game at all? (Obviously you haven't bought it, but you might have played someone else's copy or something.) Have you watched gameplay of it on Youtube or Twitch or something of that nature?

As I said in my first post, I dont care if its good. I do not want to support the business model.

Edit:

I dont even know if its good, I dont care, its "episodic", and thats bullshit.

 

[Zhukov]

As I said in my first post, I dont care if its good. I do not want to support the business model.

The point I'm aiming to make here has nothing to do with the game's quality or lack thereof.

Now, you didn't answer my question. Do you have any experience with the actual game, either first hand or by watching someone else's gameplay?

 

[Majestic_Manatee]

As I said in my first post, I dont care if its good. I do not want to support the business model.

Edit:

I dont even know if its good, I dont care, its "episodic", and thats bullshit.

Getting it pre-owned doesn't support the business model.