Steam early access games

[GaryChildress]

What do others think of this feature on Steam. I've bought a number of "early access" games and so far most are pretty enjoyable but there are a few in my inventory which I paid for and they've been in EA for years and a couple of them are largely unplayable due to unfinished features or from the last patch which basically broke the game and hasn't been patched again for months.

Does Steam have a policy regarding these games which developer have to adhere to or is it entirely "buyer beware?"

[demyansk]

I decided not to buy early access

[shunwick]

There is a big blue box at the top of the store page just under the video. This is what it says:-

Early Access Game

"Get instant access and start playing; get involved with this game as it develops.

Note: This Early Access game is not complete and may or may not change further. If you are not excited to play this game in its current state, then you should wait to see if the game progresses further in development."


So, you are buying an incomplete game that may or may not ever be finished. You are warned of this.

Best wishes,
Steve

[Red2112]

There are some games that do have a long stay in EA status but are more then playable. That is because some devs will evolve the game as long as there´s interest in the game and/or the community request more content. For example "Rimworld", it has just got out of EA but it´s been in development for the past five years, and as such playable. At it´s current state (full release) it has a user rank of 95 on Steam. Some games will stay in development as long as the dev wants to keep working on it, and that dosent mean it´s not finished in it´s game core mechanics. "UnReal World" has been in the works for 23 years, and it´s playable. "Dwarf Fortress" came out in 2006 and it´s still in the works and playable. "Stardew Valley" has been in development since 2012, and so on...

I understand that there has been ALOT of games in EA that have not delivered what they promised, but you do have to really know what games can be the right ones to support, by that I mean you have to do some research. In any way am I saying that EA hasent burnt me more then once, what Iam saying is that some games as I metioned above, can be very playable and have been very successful games in there EA status, you just have to be careful on which games you decided to support in EA. The nature of some games and devs is to keep on evolving/adding to it so it´s not like it´s a bad thing. It´s those who have abused and/or abandon there project who have burnt the community and not the fact that the game was on EA.

The words "early access" do scare off alot of people, but if you think that for example, a flight sim, as "Prepar3D" by Lockeed Martin of which I bought it´s v2.5, and that now it´s on v4.4, would you think it´s on EA? I will add that on each version they added/fixed things, one then might be familiar with that process for it being similar to EA right? All other flight sims follow that same path, and the same goes with "Steel Beast", as well as many other games be them full releases or EA, they fix things, add things and break things, call it EA or what you fancy, but as hardware and software evolve, so do games, thus some care is needed for them to keep up with users and specs of todays demands.

Just my two cents...

Red

--

[vonRocko]

"Note: This Early Access game is not complete and may or may not change further."

Never ever will I buy a game (or anything else for that matter) that has that warning attached. Early Access is code for suckers wanted.[:)]

[budd]

I had pretty good luck with early access games.Mainly I go EA on survival games, 7 days to die, The Forest, Pamela, Subnautica, Empryion, all those worked out pretty well for me. I research a bit and as long as there is enough content when I buy into it, I take my chances, so far, so good. The one game I went EA on that really didn't deliver was "Sir, you are being Hunted" didn't really change a whole lot and not much was added before release, just not enough meat on the bone.

[zakblood]

i also have more than a few in my steam list, can't say i play them as much as i should, but when i do i feel it's worth it, with some very long term and most being well done, only a odd one i feel was poor, but then again most think the time scale of EA is weeks not months or years so most have no idea on what they are getting into with some of the EA on steam, for me it's been a good experience imo and worth it and yes i'd keep doing them and support those developer who wish to go down the same route

[Rising-Sun]

Most these early games going to have problems, unless they have time and skills to finish it. Of course most will want your money before continue to do so.

Like that Star Citizen, money and more money for that game. Look interesting, but they are slow as hell and already pissed off a lot of people.

[goodwoodrw]

One other issue with early access is early access price and release price rarely differs, and my biggest bug bare is purchasable DLCs before the final completed product.

[Kuokkanen]

ORIGINAL: goodwoodrw

One other issue with early access is early access price and release price rarely differs

At least we don't need to pay both [8|]
Or I haven't paid so.

[Lobster]

ORIGINAL: GaryChildress

What do others think of this feature on Steam. I've bought a number of "early access" games and so far most are pretty enjoyable but there are a few in my inventory which I paid for and they've been in EA for years and a couple of them are largely unplayable due to unfinished features or from the last patch which basically broke the game and hasn't been patched again for months.

Does Steam have a policy regarding these games which developer have to adhere to or is it entirely "buyer beware?"

I have a few Early Access games. Not really had any problems. Ashes of the Singularity is one that really stands out. Got the first Ashes as EA and then was given Escalation and some DLCs without even asking about it. Maybe everyone got them for free. Can't say I've ever been ripped off.

[Rising-Sun]

Well I got a some too, few are far behind and probably wont make it. Even got star citizen too, that a biggest projects I ever seen with very huge donation going on and a lot of fans out there trying to get their money back. Note star citizen isn't on steam, gotta google that one.

I have high hope for Star Citizen, as Squadron 42 whatever that is. Look almost as the real thing, except gonna need an high end pc to run it.

[Red2112]

I supported Star Citizen since day 1, in other words since there kickstart in 2012. I have just recently been able to play it a bit, and that is due to my upgrade to 16GB of ram and a GTX1060, although it stutters a bit still.

I don´t agree how SC, or Mr Chris Roberts has marketed his little dream, because one thing is that you support a dev/game and another is that the game hasent been playable for alot of backers with lower end PC and/or poor optimized netcode among other issues SC has gone through for quite some years! When Chris did his kickstart, there was no word about users needing high end PC´s, without mentioning that on kickstart it was stated that SC would be finished in 2015. Not playable for some but ship´s have been desing and sold ever since kickstart, and I wont get into prices of these eyecandy ships, so it´s been a money grab ever since day one. That for me is the WORST case of EA of them all! You not only support the dev, but you also need a new PC to do so!!!

If one supports a game in EA but the game dosent´work as intended in it´s core, and that´s how it´s been for years, then that really burns you as a supporter.

Red

[Greybriar]

ORIGINAL: demyansk

I decided not to buy early access

+1 Same here. I've gotten some good early access games, but I've also gotten quite a few stinkers. [:(]

[dougo33]

ORIGINAL: Red2112

I supported Star Citizen since day 1, in other words since there kickstart in 2012. I have just recently been able to play it a bit, and that is due to my upgrade to 16GB of ram and a GTX1060, although it stutters a bit still.

I don´t agree how SC, or Mr Chris Roberts has marketed his little dream, because one thing is that you support a dev/game and another is that the game hasent been playable for alot of backers with lower end PC and/or poor optimized netcode among other issues SC has gone through for quite some years! When Chris did his kickstart, there was no word about users needing high end PC´s, without mentioning that on kickstart it was stated that SC would be finished in 2015. Not playable for some but ship´s have been desing and sold ever since kickstart, and I wont get into prices of these eyecandy ships, so it´s been a money grab ever since day one. That for me is the WORST case of EA of them all! You not only support the dev, but you also need a new PC to do so!!!

If one supports a game in EA but the game dosent´work as intended in it´s core, and that´s how it´s been for years, then that really burns you as a supporter.

Red

I agree. I have backed Star Citizen since the beginning and had the same issue as you of needing a new PC to even try it out. Once I got the new PC a few years down the road, I was underwhelmed based on what is/was promised. I had a bad feeling when I backed it initially, but I did not listen to my gut. Live and learn.

[Rising-Sun]

ORIGINAL: dougo33

ORIGINAL: Red2112

I supported Star Citizen since day 1, in other words since there kickstart in 2012. I have just recently been able to play it a bit, and that is due to my upgrade to 16GB of ram and a GTX1060, although it stutters a bit still.

I don´t agree how SC, or Mr Chris Roberts has marketed his little dream, because one thing is that you support a dev/game and another is that the game hasent been playable for alot of backers with lower end PC and/or poor optimized netcode among other issues SC has gone through for quite some years! When Chris did his kickstart, there was no word about users needing high end PC´s, without mentioning that on kickstart it was stated that SC would be finished in 2015. Not playable for some but ship´s have been desing and sold ever since kickstart, and I wont get into prices of these eyecandy ships, so it´s been a money grab ever since day one. That for me is the WORST case of EA of them all! You not only support the dev, but you also need a new PC to do so!!!

If one supports a game in EA but the game dosent´work as intended in it´s core, and that´s how it´s been for years, then that really burns you as a supporter.

Red

I agree. I have backed Star Citizen since the beginning and had the same issue as you of needing a new PC to even try it out. Once I got the new PC a few years down the road, I was underwhelmed based on what is/was promised. I had a bad feeling when I backed it initially, but I did not listen to my gut. Live and learn.

Remember reading something that will be out by 2020, but got a feeling that will be Beta. So much cash giving to them and wanted some more. Sure are greedy, least someone doesn't do nothing for free anymore.

Back in the old days, like late 80's onward, you gotta figure it out yourself and get helps if needed before it release to the market. So many games are starting to get alpha stage for fund raising, but there no telling if they will succeed or not.