Just another <DRM> hunt

[Vindekarr]

So, I got a call on Sunday saying Aliens: Colonial Marines was OUT(released, for sale) so this morning I walked down to EB games, picked up the Collector's Edition I pre-ordered last December, engaged in some small-talk with shop staff and returned home, only to discover that, thanks to the flustertruck that is STEAM, I now have to wait several days to play a game I legitimately bought and own on disc. Completely ruined my afternoon-the game's already been out on consoles for nearly 3 days in Australia, but thanks to STEAM, I have to wait for the significantly delayed STEAM release. I must say I wonder how studios feel about this; they released the game on the 9th, and now STEAM is making players wait until the 15th? I'd be almost as annoyed as I currently am from the consumer's perspective.

[Rational314]

One, the PC release has always been scheduled for the 12th of February. Two STEAM doesn't dictate the release of a game the publisher does.

 

So next time do your research before going off on a tangent.

[Vindekarr]

It came out on the 10th here. I suppose my complaint really is the lack of communication? is it out early because EB games broke the street date, was the release moved forwards? Whatever the case it's left a lot of Australians with a game they can't play yet. Edited February 11, 2013 by Vindekarr

[Vindekarr]

STEAM's community are pretty up-in-arms about this game. I don't think I've ever seen them so upset. The finished launch code of the game was infact launched with several important bits of code, missing completely or corrupted. Literally all 50 or so players I've spoken to about the game have reported it literally being unstartable. Seems like Gearbox really has dropped the ball afterall.

[Dark0ne]

It's getting annihilated by critics.

[Vindekarr]

So it should be. The majority of customers can't even play it. From what I've seen it's pretty good, good by the standards of when developement began, but it should be pitched at an indy price, not $120. It feels more like a Doom 3 total-conversion than a full game, complete with graphics from 2003. The real problem is the reliability, most of the people can't even get it to start. Of those who do, many have reported it's barely functional, with horrendously bad optimisation and multiple CTDs. Destructoid got it right.

[Ihoe]

Dude are you a Die-Hard Aliens fan? did you really pay 120$ for a missing exe, Prehistoric graphics and God-Awful game design? maybe I'm just too broke but I hope whatever happened through the development of this controversial game, and it's backlash, Hits the Publishers the most. they're always the damn culprits when customer abuse is the crime.

[Vindekarr]

Ihoe-Based on available info it was actually Gearbox at fault. They procrastinated so much developing the game that when Sega gave them a final deadline and threatened to sue, they outsourced the game to Timegate. In this case, the publisher was innocent, Gearbox themselves are not wholely to be hated either; they had to choose between this or Borderlands 2; one was going to be a titanic money spinner, and was nearly done, the other was in pre-alpha and in bad shape already. They made the only possible decision under the circumstances.

[Ihoe]

Ihoe-Based on available info it was actually Gearbox at fault. They procrastinated so much developing the game that when Sega gave them a final deadline and threatened to sue, they outsourced the game to Timegate. In this case, the publisher was innocent, Gearbox themselves are not wholely to be hated either; they had to choose between this or Borderlands 2; one was going to be a titanic money spinner, and was nearly done, the other was in pre-alpha and in bad shape already. They made the only possible decision under the circumstances.

 

Well, now... can't they be allowed to be hurt a tiny tad? Why won't EA get blown to pieces?

Although this has escalated quickly (!) to become a hive for conspiracy theorists, one can never be too sure of what has exactly happened though.

[JimboUK]

Sega should have pulled the plug on this a long time ago, much like they should have done with Alpha Protocol, it seems to me Sega are taking their eye off the ball too often, it won't do their reputation much good if they're involved with many more stinkers. As for Gearbox, surely their reputation is a good as ruined? first Duke Nukem and now this, who in their right mind would ever pre order a game from them again?