Will Boycotting a video game EVER work?

[GamingAwesome1]

Boycott barely ever work when applied to anything.

Thing is you have to be dedicated and most boycotters in this situation were just there for the sake of it. Hence that thread on all the MW2 boycotters playing the game anyway.
(Still hasn't bought MW2 and is proud)

 

[cleverlymadeup]

they won't work and in general most boycotts don't simply because there's not the power behind them. taking the 37k people who "boycotted" L4D2, i'm willing to bet that most of the would still go out and buy the game, heck i'm sure it would be in the high 90% range that would still buy the game they are "boycotting"

 

[Sassafrass]

If they start the boycott early, then maybe.
If it's left too late, then no, nothing will be affected.

 

[Iron Mal]

How large is your boycott group? I can guarentee you that the number of people that will ignore you completely and buy the damn game will be much, much bigger.

Video game boycotts rarely work because let's face it, it's usually a few disatisfied gamers who have a few grumbles with the game in question (nothing too major) while other movements and boycotts (for major issues) usually have followings of thousands who are dedicated to making the world a better place or improving something for the good of everyone in a society or community.

No points for guessing why we don't really have a lot of weight to throw around.

 

[xDarc]

I think it did the job it needed to do. I never expected to get dedicated servers back. But I can walk up to other gamers I know as acquaintances at work or in a coffee shop and ask them if they are boycotting MW2... and even though most of them say they're still getting it- they're at least aware that some people have an issue. Maybe after playing they'll fully understand what they're being cheated out of.

 

[Tharwen]

I don't think it can ever work, [b/]unless it is an active boycott where they wait outside the shop to mug anyone who buys the game.
or warn them not to buy the game before they go in to buy it.

That sounds more like a blockade to me.

 

[Jupsto]

it can hurt sales and encourage developers to make the right decisions. for example the l4d2 boycott is obviously not going to be cancelled but I bet valve won't be making l4d3 anytime soon. IW are just giant pricks unlike valve.

 

[HaloHappy]

they won't work and in general most boycotts don't simply because there's not the power behind them. taking the 37k people who "boycotted" L4D2, i'm willing to bet that most of the would still go out and buy the game, heck i'm sure it would be in the high 90% range that would still buy the game they are "boycotting"

Plus, I think some of those guys boycotting L4D2 were non-computer having PS3 owners.

 

[SantoUno]

Of course not.

Though i heard 50 Cent Bulletproof got boycotteed just for its violence. Pffft.

 

[Ryuk2]

No. And i don't see the point in boycotting. I don't like Modern Warfare, i was never going to buy it, i don't like that it doesn't have dedicated servers. Why weren't i boycotting them and asking for a game that doesn't smell? Because i don't care. I care about good games and no one is going to boycott good games.

 

[RanD00M]

It could work if they did anything instead of just bitching about said game.

 

[Pingieking]

It can work, if done right. But it's never been done right.
Main problem with a video game boycott is that you're relying on people who have done the research before the game release to know what's in the game. Those people make up a very small minority. You also need the devs to screw things up so bad that the vast majority of their fans get really pissed off, something that no developers has done yet (as fart as I know).
A boycott is basically an election where the vast majority of the voters either don't know or don't care about who they're voting for.

 

[Pingieking]

It could work if they did anything instead of just bitching about said game.

I'm not trying to bash you here, merely curious. What it is that you think they should do? Maybe provide a hypothetical example?

 

[Lt. Dragunov]

will boycotting that all babys stop crying work? Ok I'm sorry that was uncalled for.

 

[Marowit]

Until real numbers are out about the games performance on the PC comparing it to the original game (CoD4) you really can't dismiss the MW 'boycott'.

Yes it sold obscene numbers for the consoles so far and the infamous Steam screenshot showing some people (12ish?) not adhering to what they've said they'll do, but I know it's worked for me...and now I've got money for AC2 8)

 

[Worgen]

actualy it has worked, look at spore and the boycott and pirate campaign caused ea to re-evaluate their drm bs and it caused the industry to move away from install limits

 

[tehroc]

Boycotting will never work on the internet. It nothing but a bunch of dudes making virtual noise but not really doing anything except complaining. It like recycling, its something white people like to do to make themselves feel better by pushing for a noble cause without actually having to do any labour.

 

[Skipper1313]

I think it depends on the game. Trying to boycott a main-stream game like Call of Duty or Halo is generally pointless: far more people are going to buy it then you will ever get in on the boycott.

 

[WickedSkin]

Boycotting MW2 won't work because to many people like being treated like morons and take big things up their backsides.

To be fair some do not realize they are being treated like morons who will throw cash at anyone who asks them to.

IW and Activision went:
Remove mods and customization on MW2 to make room for our own DLC? Brilliant idea! People are so stupid they'll throw cash at us anyway! While we're at it let's charge more for the game... I mean we only removed years of content. Come to think of it we better remove dedicated server support.

Let's announce DLC: There will be DLC!

The masses went:
Let's buy MW2! Oh and let's buy all of the overpriced DLC they will release! My single player only lasted 4 hours and cost me more then any other game... why wouldn't they deserve more of my money?