36 replies to this topic

[Revis Volek]

Lord Scarlett Johan, on 09 November 2015 - 11:14 AM, said:

Oi... I forgot all about FO. I remember preordering FO3 because I loved FO1 and 2.

FO3 was the worst preorder I've ever made in my entire life. When I think of the massive plethora of games I've played, no game makes me as salty, grouchy, cranky, bitter, or downright cantankerous as Fallout 3 did.

I did the exact same thing...and it ruined my preorder experience forever. Was maybe the 2nd thing i ever jump out and got early like that.

Never again, dont care how much i love Bethesda, i cant just throw money at them anymore.

[stjobe]

Each purchase, be it a kickstarter, a new computer, or just some groceries, should be evaluated on its own merits. Is this a good deal? Will I get my money's worth? Do I really need this, or do I just want it? If I don't need it but do want it, how much am I prepared to pay for it? And so on.

For me, backing HBS' BATTLETECH was almost a no-brainer from the first I heard of it; it sounded almost exactly like a game I've been dreaming of for 25 years now - a digital, playable version of the Mechwarrior's Handbook. Couple that with the fact that I loved all three Shadowrun games, and that this was Jordan Weisman and Mitch Gitelman and not some no-name Canadians, and it was open-and-shut. The only doubt I even momentarily experienced was when I first heard they were going to use PGI's models, but I soon realized HBS is more than capable of removing the atrocity that is the variable geometry and put something good-looking in there instead. And the art is pretty much the best thing with MWO anyway.

So do I need it? No. Do I want it? Hell yes. How much was I prepared to pay for it? $335, apparently.

That's a ridiculous amount of money for a game, yes, but it's about half of what I've spent on MWO over the years, and this time it's not pretty words from a smoke-and-mirrors no-name dev studio, it's pretty words from a dev studio with a proven track record and the best BattleTech lore pedigree anyone could ask for.

And seeing as I'm middle-aged, well-paid, grown kids, single, and have been a gamer since I was a pre-teen, games are what I spend my money on. I can easily afford it, which made the decision a lot easier.

Now I'm going to go back to watching that damn hour hand creep ever so freaking slowly towards FO4 release hour... Yes, I pre-ordered, but only last week.

[CDLord HHGD]

I threw $25 at them. No more. I bought the FTP trap hook like and sinker with MWO. I go into the new game a more learned individual. I have no regrets on the money I have spent and will probably keep spending on MWO, but the likelyhood of it migrating to the new game (btw, do we have an acronym yet?) is slim.

I also threw $130 at Star Citizen.

Edited by cdlord, 09 November 2015 - 01:04 PM.

[Hawk_eye]

I backed quite a few Kickstarter games and I have yet to be disappointed.

Completed:

Shadowrun Returns
Wasteland 2
Ogre (Boardgame/TT)
Xenonauts
Traveller V (P&P RPG)
Space 1889 (P&P RPG)

Still in production:
The Bards Tale IV
Descent Underground
Torment: Tides of Numenera
Star Citizen
BattleTech


The point is: It all comes down to trust and what kind of game I am supporting.

A run-of-the-mill FPS game?
You gotta be kidding me!

A couple of completely unknown guys, trying to make the game of the century with 100k?
Yeah, sure.

Anything that combines publisher/investor and crowdfunding (this is actually the worst ever, getting you the bad stuff from both systems and none of the benefits)?
F*** OFF!

But a dev with a long history and a name to lose, creating something that has been off the market for a decade that I long for?
Yeah, I´ll probably back that.

Edit (hit post too soon):

If you moan and groan about no turn based RPG being made anymore, if you are agonizing over the fact that space sims are dead and _then_ someone trustworthy starts a crowdfunding campaign to create just that you have a choice.
The saying: "Put your money where your mouth is" just comes to mind.

Edited by Antecursor Venatus, 09 November 2015 - 01:43 PM.

[TLBFestus]

Reading all the negative comments about Fallout 3, and it affecting choice on Fallout 4, made me look back and I actually enjoyed a lot of FO3.

Sure there were bugs, but they fixed a lot of them eventually, and I ended up quite enjoying the game. Part of that I suspect is that I had played them all and am just loyal to the series. I still think that the trailer for this one is great and I suppose you can add it to my list of games that I pre-ordered, but I don't worry about it the same way that others implicitly trust HBS and Battletech.




OH...and in about 7 hours, it's not pre-order anymore..it's out.

Then the bug fixes can begin.

Edited by TLBFestus, 09 November 2015 - 02:39 PM.

[Ghogiel]

I didn't. shadow run was a low budget B game version of xcom to me. No chance of me dropping crowdfunding money on something like that. Having said that I know that HBS will have upped their game since then, they will be working with same tech and as a studio will be much better in these types of games. Hopefully they reach higher for the battletech game.

[ShinobiHunter]

Battletech is the first game I've ever preordered. Typically I don't even buy games immediately after they are released. I wait for the bugs to get worked out and see what other people think of the game. I have preordered music in the past and with 3 albums, 2 were crap. So yeah, pre-ordering is not something I'm too likely to do. BT will likely determine if I ever preorder anything again.

[WarHippy]

I don't normally get in on Kickstarter things and early access games unless it is something that really strikes a cord with me. I did it for MWO because it was Mechwarrior. I gave HBS $450 because it is Battletech and because of who is involved.

[MeiSooHaityu]

Ehh. It's gambling I suppose, and gambling isn't for everyone.

Sometimes I've won.. (Minecraft, MWO, Kerbal, Elite)

Sometimes I've lost...(Space Base 9)

Some remain to be seen (Space Engineers, Starmade, Next Car Game: Wreckfest, Sky Rogue, Battletech).

Some I am just waiting to see...(Mighty No. 9, Star Citizen)

I figure, if it works, Awesome! If it doesn't, oh well. I don't feel nearly as bad because I knew I was gambling anyway.

Besides, I'd rather give some money to a small developer in the hopes they make their game then Preorder a big developer game and have them with their resources deliver crap (I'm looking at you EA, can we say Simcity?).

Overall though, I feel good about Battletech. Good developer, love of the material, and they are producing something familiar (game type) to what they have done in the past. I consider it a low risk investment. Time will tell though, so we will see.

[MeiSooHaityu]

P.S. If you loved the old PlayStation Air Combat/Ace Combat franchise by Namco, you will probably love Sky Rogue (again in early access though).

[Troutmonkey]

I've only kickstarter'd one game, and it was Chivalry: Medieval Warfare. Amazing game, super fun. No regrets at all.

Would I kickstart another game? No, never.

After seeing so many early access / kickstarter disasters I put Chivalry down to being lucky. Putting money down on a game that won't be released for another year or two just seems crazy to me.

[Jetfire]

TLBFestus, on 09 November 2015 - 10:47 AM, said:

I know a bunch of people just supported the kickstarter for BattleTech, but how many didn't
support it?

Even though I read about, and was informed about the good record of HBS in producing kickstarted games, I just couldn't bring myself to support a game that is'nt even made yet.

It took some time, a couple of years actually, to come to the conclusion that paying for kickstarters, "early access", or "beta access" games similar to MWO is just not a good idea.

Let's see, some of "those" games I supported:


H1Z1
Rust
DayZ
Planetary Annihilation
The Fifth Day (OMG..what was I thinking?)
MWO


Those are just off the top of my head, I know that there are at least that many I can't think of at this moment (posting from work....and yes..i'm THE BOSS so it's OK).

Rust is actually OK, MWO is better than most as well, but both of them took YEARS to actually come anywhere close to meeting the expectations that the developers were selling.

Nowadays I see a game on STEAM and I think.."Oh..that looks cool" and then i scroll a bit further and see the words, "EARLY ACCESS". At that point I move along. Too many disappointments, too many broken promises or big ideas that sound good on paper but later get dumped.

I'm done with giving my money away without getting the product finished, and upfront.

My last contribution was the Marauder deal, where I pay in advance and wait for my "product". I just don't think I can' even do that anymore. Anyone else just "DONE" with pay ahead and hope deals like early access?

No and honestly I have made many great Kickstarter picks. The fact there are successes and failures does not at all dull my interest in the concept. You should know going in that is how it works. You are taking a risk.


Rust - don't play it anymore but definitely had more than $20 worth of fun, future state unknown
DayZ - don't play it anymore but definitely had more than $20 worth of fun, future state unknown
Planetary Annihilation - nothing I can see terribly wrong with this game
MWO - This has been a great early access opportunity, not pure gold, but I have had tons of fun with it. It isn't perfect and there have been many ups and downs, but I wouldn't take my money back given the option.
SC - Looks more promising everyday
Strike Suit Zero - entertaining space game
Strike Vector - was fun but the MM or lack thereof killed it, this was a game literally killed by the community that just wanted to stomp pugs
Xia - great 4x space game
HBS Shadowrun games - great tactical games with lots of flavor from the Shadowrun series
Shovel Knight - great old school platformer
Mighty No9 - demo shows a lot of Megaman goodness is coming

The trick to early access is be cautious, don't just bet on what you wish would happen or what sounds cool. Bet on reputations and track records. Also, be willing to lose some bets, otherwise wait for release.

The downside to demanding only finished products is you may end up never getting some of the cool things that could have existed. It is a choice and I am not done by a long shot.

[Speedy Plysitkos]

starcitizen. will never go that route.

After 8 months, i got FULL refund. i do not regret. Game that is orienting on space sim and FPS same time, couldnt be good enough. Too much sides. And i was rly sick of seeing 400$ non-pilotable ships over and over and over. that project is fail, no matter 100m funds. It wont help the game itself. 3d hangar is fine, but thats it.

[Mechteric]

I didn't back the Shadowrun games, but I sure did buy and enjoy all of them upon release. Considering how much more into BattleTech I am than Shadowrun it just made sense that I could help make the game happen.

And that's really what kickstarter is about: making games happen. The good happens along with the bad, its just the reality of how things work.

[Lucian Nostra]

Still amazes me how many people view Kickstarter as a pre-order system. Your buying into a vision/dream/hope not a finished product. If you don't feel strongly enough about those individuals vision for a game, don't back it.

One of the great things about the Battletech kickstarter is that they said at it's core the game will come out, the base skirmish mode vs AI. the Kickstarter was about making it into a full fledged game.. so if you missed that portion of their kickstarter than read more in the future.

Also HBS has produced 3 (maybe more) games now with kickstarter backing? They know what they're doing and I don't see (outside of some external problems) them failing to deliver

[Scar Glamour]

Pre-order and Kickstarter are as different as concept can be.

Pre-ordered game has already been developed or is in development at the moment. It is going to come out anyway, you merely stand to gain early access to it or some kind of unique content as a reward.

Kickstarter is used to launch projects without a publisher. This makes the world of a difference when it comes to genres/titles that aren't mainstream at the moment and wouldn't get financing otherwise. Also it releases the developer from limitations imposed by the publisher. Remember VtM:B, KOTOR2, and any number of other titles which were rushed out because of the publisher and instead of solid gaming experience became the last nail in the coffin of the dev studio?

I back stuff on Kickstarter because I believe in people who initiate it and in the product they are going to produce. I fully anticipate that the end result would be a game I might not have purchased otherwise for a number of reasons. But the risk is quite small and the reward of getting a title like Pillars of Eternity, which would never have existed if it weren't for Kickstarter, is quite worth it.

So, yeah, I backed Battletech, because I believe that HBS will be able to create a good quality turn-based tactical game well worth our money.

[zagibu]

I generally don't do Kickstarter or Early Access, but would have done it for Battletech, because I've already played two very solid games HBS has delivered using the same financing model. I then decided against it because I could see that they will easily reach the goal I was interested in without my support, and because I can use the money for other things.