Sony may add an early access program to the PS4

[TopWargamer]

Source: http://www.polygon.com/2014/7/11/5890619/early-access-playstation-4-sony

 

Steam's early access program allows players to purchase and try games that are still in active development. This allows the developers to bring in revenue that helps fund the final development of the game, while using its player-base for feedback and bug reports. Sony has now stated that it's looking at a similar system for the PlayStation 4.

 

"That’s one of the massive conversations we have internally — that, at what point does [a game meet standards of release]?" Sony's Adam Boyes said in an interview with Gamasutra. "We still at some point ensure that we're being mindful of the consumer. We don't want somebody to stumble across that title and expect a full product, and have a negative experience."

 

I personally don't think that this is a bad idea at all. I personally like Steam's early access program. I know that quite a few of you probably don't like it, and I can see why, but it really isn't that big of a deal to have an early access program. If you don't want to buy a game that's still in alpha or beta or whatever, then fine, don't buy it.

 

Many other people (myself included) don't mind early access games. It's a way for developers to get their game out there early and to start growing their audience. There's quite a few early access games that did this and became very popular. A few for example are MineCraft, DayZ, and Rust.

 

Anyways, I really hope that Sony adds early access games and whatnot to the PS4. I personally think that it's a great idea.

[BonBon Scott]

Your move, Microsoft

[XTankSlayerX]

I still don't know how I feel about early Access...

 

This is cool though

[Thebman712]

yay betas

[Katsu-K1L]

   Let them experience it fucking cunts.

[Sauron]

[Zeke]

Oh, just like they did with GTA V?

[Victorious Secret]

Fuck.

 

If theres no oversight, it just becomes a place of 5% worth buying and 95% crap that tries to pretend its in the same class as the 5%.

 

Just give us fucking demos again, why don't you? 

[Askew]

I have no problem with early access existing, if people want the choice to invest in a game that's still in development then that's up to them, it's just an added option for consumers and people who aren't interested needn't buy.

Personally I don't do early access, but I can understand people who do in some cases.

[Sauron]

I have no problem with early access existing, if people want the choice to invest in a game that's still in development then that's up to them, it's just an added option for consumers and people who aren't interested needn't buy.

Personally I don't do early access, but I can understand people who do in some cases.

 

The problem is that then developers can get away with never finishing the game, or taking however long they want to finish it.

[TopWargamer]

Fuck.

 

If theres no oversight, it just becomes a place of 5% worth buying and 95% crap that tries to pretend its in the same class as the 5%.

 

Just give us fucking demos again, why don't you? 

That all depends on how Sony regulates the early access market. We can't start spewing out numbers just yet.

[TopWargamer]

The problem is that then developers can get away with never finishing the game, or taking however long they want to finish it.

But if people are enjoying the developer's game already, then what's the issue? It's all about having fun, isn't it?

[Askew]

The problem is that then developers can get away with never finishing the game, or taking however long they want to finish it.

Yes that's why I don't do it, but if people want the option it as far as I see it it isn't harming me, if the game doesn't get finished or ends up sucking then I don't buy it.

[Vitalius]

But if people are enjoying the developer's game already, then what's the issue? It's all about having fun, isn't it?

I can't tell you... how annoying it is... to get a good early access game... and watch it die without being finished.

I'd rather not have the option at all if it means the game actually gets completed.

[dragosudeki]

Incomplete games with infinite development cycles! They need to change the idea of early access. Some of these games aren't even betas, since they never really finish the game anyway. Maybe if the system included a due date with a list of features that WILL be implemented by that time. They just need to change the idea.

[Sauron]

But if people are enjoying the developer's game already, then what's the issue? It's all about having fun, isn't it?

 

it's fun, until you realize you've played the game for a few months and a ton of game breaking bugs haven't been resolved yet.

[qwertywarrior]

i only bought an early access game once

and regret it to this day

[Misanthrope]

I know they want to accommodate indies, sadly by accommodating their worst practices like early access, but it's only a matter of weeks before either EA or Ubisoft announce an early access title that will still have dlc, season passes and microtransactions. 

I even have the name for it, it will be called "Fuck you: the videogame"

[Sauron]

Incomplete games with infinite development cycles! They need to change the idea of early access. Some of these games aren't even betas, since they never really finish the game anyway. Maybe if the system included a due date with a list of features that WILL be implemented by that time. They just need to change the idea.

 

I think they should finish the game codewise, as in remove all game-breaking bugs, make sure it's perfectly playable as it would be t launch, THEN enter early access and ask the community to give their opinion on what content they'd like to see added. A bit like starcraft 2 betas, the game works aside from minor bugs that get sniped pretty quickly and the only goal of the beta is to balance the game.

[Sauron]

I even have the name for it, it will be called "Fuck you: the videogame"

 

Nonono, it's called "bf4".

[RatedBlam]

Why not I guess.

One good thing about console gamers in my book is that they haven't been exposed to early access so they don't yet treat them as simply games that you can play before release like it's a complete bloody title.

Most pc gamers In my opinion do this.

[Misanthrope]

Nonono, it's called "bf4".

 

With BF4 they could at least be shamed into patching it, with an "early access" one they can just say "Oh it's early access we'll look into it" laugh and move on to another "early access" without ever fixing shit.

[EChondo]

I hope they have them labeled clearly.

 

Otherwise, this makes me NOT want to buy a PS4 even more.