Well we really can't blame anyone but ourselves.
The concept of making complete games for market without relying on people buynig it, patching it later, fixing it over two years or however long something takes to make it "playable".
Impatient docile consumers have essentually ruined their own entertainment by buying whatever is shoved at them.
There are some exceptions to well rounded games that aren't crutching on the teet of their money marshmallow bag customers.
It's a sad state of affairs.
MacKoga, on 25 March 2013 - 10:48 AM, said:
Something I've noticed in games is that I still run into founders accounts pretty much every match. Given that some founders have alternate accounts, this suggests to me that the core userbase has not actually expanded a whole lot. This also suggests that this is a game in which people are inclined to stick with and support, so long as it is sufficiently good.
But over the past months, there have been a number of things that seem to be alienating to some of the core userbase, which, while many of us stick around, keeps us from continuing to spend money while we're waiting to see if the direction of game development is something we're interested in. Further, whether we can, are able, or are interested in bringing in our friends, also depends on where the game is headed. I, for one, have not seen point to bring in friends, until we hit community warfare.
The point of what I'm showing, is that PGI's been trying to reach out to this nebulus "gamer market," with the goal of increasing profitability, but from what I can piece together about their actual market, is that they would be in a better position for profitability by keeping the quality of the game high, not diluting it with things that feel P2W, casual, etc, and regain the trust of its core market. Then live and thrive on a strong, paying market/playerbase.
Most things that try to cover the most broadest market lose the ability to really appeal to any one group. I.e, "blah."
PGI, I recommend reading Seth Godin's "Purple Cow." It's about businesses and entrepreneurs in your position and how to be profitable and survive, and is a quick, easy read.
Darkfall survived for many years with their product, catering to a niche market and they are now or have released Darkfall 2.0.
Not sure if Darkfall is a smaller product than MWO in terms of staff and what they have to pay out, but it is most certainly a more adventurous game with a more adventurous vision.
Edited by PANZERBUNNY, 25 March 2013 - 10:52 AM.