104 réponses à ce sujet

[Fredvdp]

I never buy games with always online DRM on principle, and so far, It's working out nicely. Assassin's Creed 2, Diablo 3 and now SimCity all suffered from this. AC2 later removed it, if I'm not mistaken, and Diablo 3 still has the DRM but has been stabilized. I truly hope for SimCity fans that EA will get their act together and perhaps even remove the DRM altogether.

I think I'll play some more SimCity 3000. It has sewers, big cities, and it's playable.

You can always sign the petition. Perhaps this will change EA's mind, but I doubt it. https://www.change.o...nd-future-games

[Cultist]

i wonder why they failed to learn after people bombed their ratings in Spore. But I think I know the answer:

[Isichar]

@Cultist

To be fair in the zelda image you would still get the silly noob sword for free, but then they would have some glowing sword of destruction capable of killing any enemy in the game in 1 hit beside it for 4.99.

Kinda like paying for the privledge to cheat.

Modifié par Isichar, 09 mars 2013 - 10:30 .

[wolfsite]

Allan Schumacher wrote...

I think it's safe to say that EA recognizes this as a snafu:

http://www.ea.com/ne...or-your-trouble

Interesting how people who are trying to be rational in the comments on that are getting hit by down votes.

[Siven80]

I am glad that some reviewers have finally realized that their reviews should include the service that the customers get along with the actual game.

Maybe this will be a wake up call to devs and publishers that you have to provide a good service along with a good game now.

Hopefully reviewers will continue this practice going forward.

[Brockololly]

Allan Schumacher wrote...
Lucy Bradshaw recognizes that it's a serious issue, and has even conceded that it's entirely fair for review scores to be negatively affected by this (even if they think the game itself is quite solid).

I don't know.. I have trouble reconciling how Bradshaw or anyone can think that the game itself is solid when by Maxis' own admissions (and Bradshaw even in that interview) they designed the game from the ground up to be played always online, with servers and so forth. So if the fundamental design of the game lies in the online aspect (as Maxis has said often to defend against accusations its just always online DRM), then the total cluster**** of the online servers just failing miserably and not having an offline mode as an alternative seems like a rather critical core design failure of the game.

That's whats baffling to me. This whole thing could have easily been prevented. I just don't buy that the "advanced simulation" stuff is so complex that no gaming PC could handle it by itself. Maybe you'd need a beefier PC in terms of specs to play that way but not having an offline mode for a traditionally offline, single player focused franchise seems incredibly myopic and misguided of the developers. Hell, people have confirmed on some other forums that when they physically disconnect their internet connection while playing the game, they can keep playing just fine!


I don't necessarily buy the argument that the always online aspect was  some sinister plot to have always online DRM. But you can't deny that even if that wasn't their intent, it IS always online DRM. And especially for people that have little to no interest in playing multiplayer, the online aspect isn't adding much value to their gaming experience and in many cases its making it so they can't play at all! And even then, assuming it works, you can see that in many reviews of the game one of the big criticisms is the small city size and fact that the multiplayer aspect doesn't add much when people would rather build a sprawling mega city.

Its worrisome too because I can easily forsee many more games using this framework for their games. It started with Diablo and now SimCity where developers deflect always online DRM criticisms with the argument that they're simply designing some connected, social experience central to the design of the game.

And especially with devs pushing "Games as a service!" then they better be damned sure that their service works when they release their game.

Modifié par Brockololly, 09 mars 2013 - 04:21 .

[sympathy4sarenreturns]

I think its funny how the EA rep said always online DRM is clearly awesome and they wouldn't waste marketing on it.

Lolol.

[Allan Schumacher]

I don't know.. I have trouble reconciling how Bradshaw or anyone can think that the game itself is solid when by Maxis' own admissions (and Bradshaw even in that interview) they designed the game from the ground up to be played always online, with servers and so forth. So if the fundamental design of the game lies in the online aspect (as Maxis has said often to defend against accusations its just always online DRM), then the total cluster**** of the online servers just failing miserably and not having an offline mode as an alternative seems like a rather critical core design failure of the game.

Probably because a reviewer like Polygon started with a high 9+, and then continually downgraded the score the longer the server issues persisted.

I have not played the game, but every person I personally know that *has* played the game feels that the gameplay itself is rather excellent. The issue lies with connecting to the game.

So if you have problems reconciling the statement, then I suspect you're looking at the statement differently than other people, since it seems pretty obvious what people like Polygon, Lucy Bradshaw, and a host of other gamers are talking about when they literally say that the game itself is great, but the online requirement is very frustrating.

[Brockololly]

Allan Schumacher wrote...
I have not played the game, but every person I personally know that *has* played the game feels that the gameplay itself is rather excellent. The issue lies with connecting to the game.

Yeah, I know where you're coming from. I played in a bunch of the Betas they had and thought it was indeed pretty slick and a nice game but not without some kind of big issues tied to city size. But sure, the game in terms of managing a single city seemed pretty good.

Allan Schumacher wrote...
So if you have problems reconciling the statement, then I suspect you're looking at the statement differently than other people, since it seems pretty obvious what people like Polygon, Lucy Bradshaw, and a host of other gamers are talking about when they literally say that the game itself is great, but the online requirement is very frustrating.

I guess I'm just not separating the "game" part from the always online, server aspect. They're one and the same given how Maxis/EA decided to do things. The online requirement is part of the gameplay with the regions and syncing your city and so forth, so from my point of view, if there is an issue with that side of the game, you've got an issue with the core of the game. The way Maxis has sold it is that the reason for having the always online servers is that it made up the backbone of their core design in having lots of smaller cities in a region interacting with each other.  But then when you've got such crippling technical problems getting that design to technically work, that's a fundamental, foundational design issue for your game, IMO.

But I do understand what you're saying.

Modifié par Brockololly, 09 mars 2013 - 08:01 .

[MingWolf]

Alleged EA Employee Writes Missive, Join's SimCity's Public Flogging

Interesting to read this one, if in fact the said poster in the article is indeed an employee.

[Volus Warlord]

Well, it seems EA is trying to resolve the situation amiably.. which is surprising tbh.

I was expecting something along the lines of "hur hur hur you're s-o-l"

Modifié par Volus Warlord, 10 mars 2013 - 03:41 .

[sympathy4sarenreturns]

I'm glad reviewers like Polygon and Game Spot included absolutely everything in the review, GS giving it a 50 and Polygon lowering it from a 9.5 down to an 8, and then lowering it to a 4. Props to them.

If these companies want to ram online down people's throat and Origin, well guess what, the review will be on both together. Just like the game actually is. There should be no differentiation in the reviews.

And let's face it: the 1's on Amazon from confirmed purchasers and 0's on Metacritic are 100% reasonable and legitimate. When you buy a new game, a brand new game, and it literally doesn't work and you can't play it, those scores are legitimate. Wouldn't be an issue except for something the publisher mandated and hordes despise and don't want to begin with.

Modifié par sympathy4sarenreturns, 10 mars 2013 - 03:41 .

[Volus Warlord]

MingWolf wrote...

Alleged EA Employee Writes Missive, Join's SimCity's Public Flogging

Interesting to read this one, if in fact the said poster in the article is indeed an employee.

I know this may seem stupid, but the credibility of this "rumored" and "alleged" crap is kinda nonexistant and just seems like an excuse for some random idiot to plug in dramaticism.

[MingWolf]

Volus Warlord wrote...

MingWolf wrote...

Alleged EA Employee Writes Missive, Join's SimCity's Public Flogging

Interesting to read this one, if in fact the said poster in the article is indeed an employee.

I know this may seem stupid, but the credibility of this "rumored" and "alleged" crap is kinda nonexistant and just seems like an excuse for some random idiot to plug in dramaticism.

Perhaps, but then, this random Joe did cite an e-mail that EA employees got from HR VP from the day, which apparently was confirmed by some other EA employees.  It can still be some random idiot, but in spite of this, it makes the story a little more convincing.

[Farbautisonn]

I think most gaming magazines and websites got a warning with ME3. If your review differs significantly from the opinion of the buying customers and their sentiments, you stand to loose credibility with your reader base. The paycheck. However I think some editors had upuntil that point the view that the paycheck came from ads, sponsors and perks like getting invited to vegas. I myself dont trust any gaming magazine review at all. I have mates and e-buddies with similar tastes in communities where we share our tastes with likeminded, and I prefer those reviews to reviews where half the income of the magazine is supported by EA/Blizzard advertizing. Conflict of interest and all that.

You cant give good ratings to a game that you cant play. Its that simple.



I am however rather amazed that EA would risk botching this release. We are in the middle of a fiancial crisis, EA stock is underperforming when it comes to both other gaming publishers as well as the NASDAQ and EA has frankly had enough bad PR to last for quite some time. Riccietellos promises of a focus on quality and innovative gaming does seem to be rather hollowed out by the actions and results of late. People tend to judge companies and individuals more by the results, their actions, and the quality of their products than by their PR. and words.

The question here is: Once the intial ****storm settles, what bugs will then turn up? Will the clientbase feel that they were heard? Its not like EA hasnt had warnings. The DRM issues with D3 were a red flag for most in the industry I wager. To see EA march straight into the same minefield doesnt strike me as particular sound business. Or thinking.

Its no secret, that I am not a fan of EA. At all. But despite my schadenfreude, even I am puzzed as to how the hell they keep managing doing an Irish jig in the PR and Marketing minefield of disaster. People will remember this. People will cease with preorders for future games. People will leave the IP.  Sure glitzy centerspread reviews and glossy images and posters plus big release parties will buy attention, but it costs a ****eload more money than just announcing your product on a webpage and then having loyal fans preorder. Money that I dont think any gaming publisher in a time of economic crisis can afford to shell out too often. 

The only people who really benetfit from this are the competition.

[Lotion Soronarr]

atlatl wrote...

mickey111 wrote...

amazing how gaming just grows in popularity the more it's stripped down of content. wtf kind of ass backwards planet are we living on?

It's sad isn't it? I remember when I first saw this

still shocking.

That picture is nothing but self-dellusion and nostalgia goggles.

Yeah, level design CAN be totally horrible today. But it cna also be brilliant (case inpoint: Crysis)
But it wasn't that good back then either.

Unless backtracking a dozen times to get a key to open a door (so you dont' really have freedom) is brilliant desing.
Let's also not forget that tons of levels back then MADE NO LOGICAL SENSE WHATSOEVER.

[wolfsite]

www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/122604-SimCity-Offline-Mode-Patch-Wont-Be-Arriving-Any-Time-Soon


Interesting quote from this one.


    "Hey, this is on Maxis. EA does not force design upon us. We own it, we are working 24/7 to fix it, and we are making progress"

Modifié par wolfsite, 10 mars 2013 - 02:47 .

[Kaiser Arian XVII]

Lotion Soronnar wrote...

atlatl wrote...

mickey111 wrote...

amazing how gaming just grows in popularity the more it's stripped down of content. wtf kind of ass backwards planet are we living on?

It's sad isn't it? I remember when I first saw this

still shocking.

That picture is nothing but self-dellusion and nostalgia goggles.

Yeah, level design CAN be totally horrible today. But it cna also be brilliant (case inpoint: Crysis)
But it wasn't that good back then either.

Unless backtracking a dozen times to get a key to open a door (so you dont' really have freedom) is brilliant desing.
Let's also not forget that tons of levels back then MADE NO LOGICAL SENSE WHATSOEVER.

But Doom and Blood were glorious!

[EpicBoot2daFace]

atlatl wrote...

mickey111 wrote...

amazing how gaming just grows in popularity the more it's stripped down of content. wtf kind of ass backwards planet are we living on?

It's sad isn't it? I remember when I first saw this

still shocking.

The one on the right reminds me of the ME1 map.

[Farbautisonn]

wolfsite wrote...

www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/122604-SimCity-Offline-Mode-Patch-Wont-Be-Arriving-Any-Time-Soon


Interesting quote from this one.


    "Hey, this is on Maxis. EA does not force design upon us. We own it, we are working 24/7 to fix it, and we are making progress"

Its a song and dance we heard from Origins, Bullfrog, Westwood, Bioware....

[eroeru]

Lotion Soronnar wrote...

MADE NO LOGICAL SENSE WHATSOEVER.

What's bad about that?

[slimgrin]

sympathy4sarenreturns wrote...

I'm glad reviewers like Polygon and Game Spot included absolutely everything in the review, GS giving it a 50 and Polygon lowering it from a 9.5 down to an 8, and then lowering it to a 4. Props to them.

If these companies want to ram online down people's throat and Origin, well guess what, the review will be on both together. Just like the game actually is. There should be no differentiation in the reviews.

And let's face it: the 1's on Amazon from confirmed purchasers and 0's on Metacritic are 100% reasonable and legitimate. When you buy a new game, a brand new game, and it literally doesn't work and you can't play it, those scores are legitimate. Wouldn't be an issue except for something the publisher mandated and hordes despise and don't want to begin with.

I've noticed more reviewers are paying attention to this. And they should. Draconian DRM should be factored into the final score.

Modifié par slimgrin, 10 mars 2013 - 06:01 .

[wolfsite]

Farbautisonn wrote...

wolfsite wrote...

www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/122604-SimCity-Offline-Mode-Patch-Wont-Be-Arriving-Any-Time-Soon


Interesting quote from this one.


    "Hey, this is on Maxis. EA does not force design upon us. We own it, we are working 24/7 to fix it, and we are making progress"

Its a song and dance we heard from Origins, Bullfrog, Westwood, Bioware....

Got to love this attitude.

Demand answers but when you get them you refuse to believe them..... and people wonder why some game companies don't communicate.

[Battlebloodmage]

DRM online games are the worst idea they could come up with. ATM, there is pirated version of the game, and I suspect that it plays a lot better than the official version. This is not a way to treat their paying customers. EA is punishing legit buyers while it doesn't actually affect the pirates. Those who want to buy the game will buy it and those who pirated the game wouldn't buy a cent in the first place.