Video Game Execs Are Ruining Video Games
The cycle of mass layoffs in game development isn’t a problem of the industry’s inherent “instability.” It’s a problem of exploitation.
It's the coporatization of video games and demand that profits go up every quarter. It doesn't matter if a game is not functional and does not run, everybody in the world must pay $200 for every single release that is ever made, plus $100 for DLC, plus $50 to change character's appearanc.
It doesn't matter if a game does not load, everybidy must still be gratful that they are allowed to buy it.
To the same tune, it doesn't matter if the game is successful and an amazing game, if they can't squeeze every potential penny out of the customers they close it.
The nice part is that the indie game dev space has grown enough now that there are dozens of amazing games coming out every year, so AAA titles are becoming increasingly irrelevant for a growing number of gamers.
I'm trying to think of the last AAA game I played, and I'm coming up blank... Maybe Doom Eternal a year ago? Almost all of my playtime is indie games. I'm debating getting the Monster Hunter bundle from Humble, which might be the 2nd AAA game I play in as many years.
The last time I paid full price for a AAA title was Diablo 3, which I almost instantly regretted. What a disappointment.
Edit: Not getting Monster Hunter. I forgot that Capcom added DRM that breaks Steam Deck compatibility. I probably won't bother playing it, but I suppose I could just download a pirated copy.
I would like to find a indie military first person shooter single player campaign but it is a massive struggle. I don't like any space creature shooter games like Doom series.
If you do enjoy the gameplay loop of monster hunter in general, that humble bundle is very nice to have. Good value there, lots of hours to be had in both games + both DLCs.
It is a simple problem to solve. Quit watching their ads, tuning into their media, and playing their games no matter what they put out. Get online and say so. The internet is scraped and making such comments will be found. A bad game review is a win for those making these decisions. It shows that they made crap but you still bought it. It is a message that hype and ads/media are all that matter. Start saying you are indifferent, used to be a customer, and will not purchase as long as XYZ is in charge or they are doing ABC, and that information will make a difference, even here.
For instance, this account has been dox'd on Lemmy. I know it, but do not care. I see content suggestions tailored to stuff I have talked about on here even though I minimize my online fingerprint for the most part. Everything public is scaped and the data is filtering down to relevant sources. This is the modern world. So get the asshats fired.
This is great if you can do it, but saying it's simple is a bit of a stretch.
Execs ruin everything for short term profit, that's just their job.
It’s time to unionize when the shitheads at the top keep firing everyone after they complete a blockbuster game or a merger/acquisition for the sole purpose of padding their bank account.
A few lyrics from NoFX come to mind.
"Kick back, watch it crumble See the drowning Watch the fall I feel just terrible about it That's sarcasm, let it burn"
"Where did all their money go?
Don't we all know? Parasitic [gaming] industry As it destroys itself We'll show them how it's supposed to be"
"Dinosaurs will slowly die And I do believe no one will cry I'm just fucking glad I'm gonna be There to watch the fall
Pre-Historic [gaming] industry Three feet in La Brea tar Extinction never felt so good"
Switch a few words and it works perfectly well.
Gamers need to realise it's all about the indies. Buy indie, screw AAA. Watch them grow and hire those talented folk that deserve better than this bullshit.
