So Steam is now promoting Early-Access Games. What do you think?

[Pink Gregory]

I know selling early-access betas isn't particularly new, but now that I've noticed that there's a certain promotional aspect going on on the Steam Store at the moment.

So what do you reckon? In theory, it gives the consumer the chance to influence the final product, but DRM already on early access?

Thoughts?

 

[Terminate421]

People will soon complain that there are bugs and they are not free.

 

[Aeshi]

I actually have all the ones I would've been interested in already from before this (Kerbal Space Program, Gear Up & Kinetic Void) so I don't really care either way.

 

[Jodah]

Eh, not for me. I would rather wait to see how a game is developing before paying to beta test it.

 

[Paulo Belato]

I rather like it. Some games, like Don't Starve, already did something similar, where you pre-purchase the game and get early beta access. I was eagerly awaiting for some of these games to get to Steam (I have no international credit card, so I can only buy from digital stores that allow national debit cards), and I already bought Gnomoria and Prison Architect.

This new category will allow for more informed purchases, as it will give an oficial place for "games that have been released as complete but are obviously on beta/alpha" (see Towns and War Z).

 

[Vegosiux]

I don't think it's a new thing, but it's one of those things to which I say "No thanks, Steam, I'll check it when it's finished, maybe".

Just a little self-control.

 

[idarkphoenixi]

It's pretty much just placing a pre-order except you get to play it. If you're going to encourage people to put down money on a game before it's even officially released then this is a pretty good way to do it. The only one I'm interesting in is ARMA because hey...it's fucking ARMA.

I can't have a problem with it because it's up to the individual to decide to buy it or not. Plus I'll probably get ARMA so who am I to complain.

 

[Smooth Operator]

If devs deliver as promised then it's cool.

However selling games is a business and all business is centered around being a cutthroat ****, people will over-promise then never deliver and Valve will only step in on the most extremest cases... which leaves the doors wide open for all sorts of hustlers.
Not to mention EA will quickly follow up with yet another revenue stream, enjoy the free betas while they last.

 

[Antari]

I know selling early-access betas isn't particularly new, but now that I've noticed that there's a certain promotional aspect going on on the Steam Store at the moment.

So what do you reckon? In theory, it gives the consumer the chance to influence the final product, but DRM already on early access?

Thoughts?

Steam just provides the service area for the sellers and buyers. They aren't nessisarily promoting early access games. The game makers are because the large majority of them have EA fever.

 

[Adam Jensen_v1legacy]

I'm not gonna pay for an unfinished product.

 

[Jedi-Hunter4]

So what do you reckon? In theory, it gives the consumer the chance to influence the final product, but DRM already on early access?

Thoughts?

I like it, got the ARMA III alpha, which gives me access to the beta and final game, thought it was a novel way to get people on board early an it's almost a bit of a crown funding aspect to it, could seen smaller studios funding themselves by it, producing a very basic alpha and funding the remainder of the project that way.

An yer I'm paying less than I will for the final game (I believe) but I'm getting more for my money, getting early access, get to try the alpha & beta, very happy consumer!

what do you mean by DRM already on early access? Such a broad ranging term, I mean CD's have DRM so wasn't sure what you were getting at.

 

[Another]

Finally. That's my thought.

After the War Z fiasco, I am glad steam has a place to drop games that are still in beta. As opposed to putting the alongside finished products.

I probably won't use it much myself, unless I have done my research on a pre-release prior to that point.

 

[Ed130 The Vanguard]

It's ok.

I can see it really helping Kickstarter projects in terms of keeping alpha/betas up to date with patches as well as providing infrastructure for bug reports.

 

[devotedsniper]

I don't think it's a bad thing provided the devs state whats actually in the game at that moment in time rather than what happened with the WarZ where they put a false description and fake images (i paid for it, the graphics are no where near what they show on the store)

 

[ScaryAlmond]

Love it I think the community will moderate this stuff by saying early access at least people are aware that it is not the finished product and we won't have a game like warz on our hands again.
But what I really like about this is that it encourages games to continue intermittent updates as they already will have a fan base that expects that.
Happy to finally get some games like KSP want to see the steam workshop get on that plus it gives some under the radar games more exposure and gives them more of a chance to get to the mine craft cult status.
Games like Dayz were featured on the damn Arma 2 page and you couldn't get it through steam was entirely ridiculous having to install an entirely new service when steam could have easily sufficed

 

[snekadid]

This new category will allow for more informed purchases, as it will give an official place for "games that have been released as complete but are obviously on beta/alpha" (see Towns and War Z).

This is where my thoughts are at with this development. I don't like the idea of people selling games while they are in beta/alpha, its a fairly sleazy practice in my mind as the visible majority of them are used to bilk money for a product that wont be finished for a long time if ever. This section (if made mandatory for unfinished games) should help keep abuse like what we saw with War Z from happening again, or at the very least limit the damage to stupid people that don't read.

 

[Dryk]

This new category will allow for more informed purchases, as it will give an oficial place for "games that have been released as complete but are obviously on beta/alpha" (see Towns and War Z).

That's my view too. I wouldn't be surprised if this section exists BECAUSE of all the problems lately. It's nice to have them off in their own section where people can be informed and decide whether or not they want to bother with any of them.

 

[Strazdas]

People will soon complain that there are bugs and they are not free.

OF course they will. Because they shoudl be paying us to bug-hunt their game and not vice versa. we are beta-testing their game, in effect we are working for them, and we pay them to ahve this ability? nope i got better things to do.

 

[teqrevisited]

It's alright. Not something I would personally use though. I'd rather wait for the release versions and read up on what I'm getting. A surprising number of problems can just disappear if you have patience.