So by now most of us have seen that EA took their worst company prize once again, to me it begged the question that I'd been asking myself for some time now. Does publisher really matter?
I know as fans of certain properties and games in general we tend to be a bit more savvy than the average consumer when it comes to our hobby fodder, and as such we tend to discuss many of the finer points surrounding their creation and the companies that behind them, but for all of that discussion, for all of the raging that has been done over a game or a property (and I of course am including myself in that demo, not lampooning anyone or anything,) does it really matter?
Has a publisher or their bad decisions in the past caused you to think twice about or stopped you from buying a game?
I will say personally, that as much as I would like to think of myself as a fairly savvy consumer, the idea of not buying a game because of a publisher or the decisions they have made has never come up. I have noticed that I will look at a company that MAKES games and then the games themselves as almost entirely different entities. I am just in two different mindsets when I think about the two I guess.
While I will often be found shaking my head at the unscrupulous decisions and behavior exhibited by a publisher or developer while reading about them online, when physically in my local game store looking for a new title to play the connection is never made. I tend to look at a game on its merits, or at the very least on what I have heard and/or read about it. I never really even think twice about the company logos found in the corner of the box.
The only caveat to that for me actually, is that an exemplary publisher can convince me to buy a game I am wary of. The prime example is Atlus, who, over the years had proven to me that they are the kings of taking a game that looks like pure insanity at face value and turning it into a work of art. If I'm wary of trying a new game, and see their logo on the cover I will more often than not give it a shot.
So there is my personal introspection on the matter. Of course my logic is fairly flawed and I'm not sure why there is that disconnect, but it's probably not likely to change. What I am interested in however is knowing your thoughts on the matter, and even your experiences if a publisher or company behind making a game has ever heavily influenced your decision on playing the game itself.
I know as fans of certain properties and games in general we tend to be a bit more savvy than the average consumer when it comes to our hobby fodder, and as such we tend to discuss many of the finer points surrounding their creation and the companies that behind them, but for all of that discussion, for all of the raging that has been done over a game or a property (and I of course am including myself in that demo, not lampooning anyone or anything,) does it really matter?
Has a publisher or their bad decisions in the past caused you to think twice about or stopped you from buying a game?
I will say personally, that as much as I would like to think of myself as a fairly savvy consumer, the idea of not buying a game because of a publisher or the decisions they have made has never come up. I have noticed that I will look at a company that MAKES games and then the games themselves as almost entirely different entities. I am just in two different mindsets when I think about the two I guess.
While I will often be found shaking my head at the unscrupulous decisions and behavior exhibited by a publisher or developer while reading about them online, when physically in my local game store looking for a new title to play the connection is never made. I tend to look at a game on its merits, or at the very least on what I have heard and/or read about it. I never really even think twice about the company logos found in the corner of the box.
The only caveat to that for me actually, is that an exemplary publisher can convince me to buy a game I am wary of. The prime example is Atlus, who, over the years had proven to me that they are the kings of taking a game that looks like pure insanity at face value and turning it into a work of art. If I'm wary of trying a new game, and see their logo on the cover I will more often than not give it a shot.
So there is my personal introspection on the matter. Of course my logic is fairly flawed and I'm not sure why there is that disconnect, but it's probably not likely to change. What I am interested in however is knowing your thoughts on the matter, and even your experiences if a publisher or company behind making a game has ever heavily influenced your decision on playing the game itself.
