Do you remember back when the PlayStation 2 and Original Xbox where just launched?
When you could have spent your “Pocket Money” on a magazine just to get a Demo Disk that included a playable first level of a game you’ve been waiting for? Or when you would pre-order an upcoming game in order to get the an included “BETA” download for another upcoming game, this would have often meant that two different publishers and developers would work hand in hand to advertise each over, thus helping boost each others sales and giving their fans something new to try-out.
However in today’s modern marketplace there is no time or space for “Demo Disks” and instead platforms like Steam’s “Early Access” system are implemented, making it easier for developers to get their game out and accessible to the public which theoretically should provide gamers with fresh new content and unique games to try-out, from both small and big-time developers, but does it really achieve what it aims to do? I’ll admit that yes, sometimes it really does work and small developers have had their dream game played by the world! but most of the time, well…it leads to less than happy gamers.
See the problem with Early Access in my opinion is that the majority of Developers are charging Full Price! for a greatly unfinished game, Early-Access is designed for Developers to get funding to make their game even better, but most Developers now see it as a way to say: “Hey, we have an idea for a game, here’s a rough look at how it plays, pay us and we’ll finish it at some point” I can personally guarantee you that over half of the games featured on Steam “Early-Access” are either poorly made or in a very early “Alpha” Stage which would fine if they where either free or reduced from the final price, in short what you are paying for is an “Incomplete Game” and paying full price for something that isn’t close to being complete.
Now on the flip-side a big advantage to this “Early Access” system is that you can directly support the Developers of the game, aside from a cut that Steam may take, Developers get the majority of your payment unlike a bigger company or team which would split the money around different resources, aside from donating directly to the Developer this is by far the easiest and most effective way to fund a Developer and show your support.
If you where to ask me personally, I feel Early-Access can ruin some games and gamers expectations, not only that but from a Reviewers point of view it can be a real hindrance as they may find or be told to review a certain Early-Access game which quite literally is an “Unfinished Game” so what they are reviewing is what they are seeing at that time, yet in a month or two months the entire concept and way that game plays could change this making their Review meaningless.
