Anthem (New Bioware IP) - February 19, 2019

[Andalusian girls]

p sad what's happening to them. Bioware was my first great dev love for their work on Baldur's Gate II. but now what's left of them with so much of the senior talent from those games, KotOR, Mass Effect, and Dragon Age gone.

[Malithar]

Except a game like Anthem is built on the idea of DLC and future content. That type of philosophy is fine for a single-player game where the shipped product is the final product or a PvP game where the only additional content is map packs (or micro-transaction driven seasons now-a-days), but the point of persistent world games is to keep players invested so you can keep building the world with DLC and content releases.

Have there been any games-as-a-service type of games that promised future content, then went bottom up? I'm just curious at the backlash or recourse for such a thing. Some likely made a purchase with the thought that free content for a year+ is a good entertainment investment if they enjoy the game.

Edit: More on-topic addition for the failures of Anthem, Bellular put out a solid vid going over the development history based on previous news as well as the newest reports. Maybe better for those that don't want to read the article or recall what else happened in the past.

[Lucavi]

I fucking love it. This isn't even catharsis; this is simple action and consequence. That many years of deflection, defensiveness and stubborn stupidity could only lead to a single result. This is the same thing that Blizzard staff struggle with; that all studios that lock themselves up in their exclusive ivory towers and engage in nothing but echo-chamber repetition and PR knob-slobbering end up creating: complete and utter shit games that were dead long before they ever shipped out of the office.

Everyone's saying the same thing; complaining about the same burnout, yet they run to another company to do the same thing, again and again and again. Jim Sterling was right 10 years ago. AAA is doomed to repeat this.

[Serra]

Have there been any games-as-a-service type of games that promised future content, then went bottom up? I'm just curious at the backlash or recourse for such a thing. Some likely made a purchase with the thought that free content for a year+ is a good entertainment investment if they enjoy the game.

I think it's a question of what they promised. Like Destiny, the DLC was advertised at release and included in bundles, so I feel they'd have to put out that content. But a game like FFXI, if that had failed in the first month, I don't think there would have been much recourse. Anthem has a release schedule, so if that stuff was all included in the pre-release material, they probably have to put that content out.

[Malithar]

I think it's a question of what they promised. Like Destiny, the DLC was advertised at release and included in bundles, so I feel they'd have to put out that content. But a game like FFXI, if that had failed in the first month, I don't think there would have been much recourse. Anthem has a release schedule, so if that stuff was all included in the pre-release material, they probably have to put that content out.

Yeah, no doubt. I'm more curious about ones that promise additional free content rather than paid releases or expansions. With the prevalence of this game model, it feels like it's only a matter of time before some big name game releases, flops, then doesn't get the support that was promised. I guess Andromeda comes to mind, I recall paid DLC being announced but it was all cut. I don't think there's any recourse there, maybe some fan backlash but that'd be about it. I'm more thinking of free DLC promises though, I know both the Division 2 and Anthem have released under this premise. I'm sure there are others.

[Serra]

It sounds like the kinda thing that class-action lawsuits are built around, but I say that with the expertise of a person who knows next to nothing about class-action lawsuits.

[Malithar]

That's where my mind was going too. It's yet to happen of course, but I'd be surprised if it doesn't at some point in the near future. I wonder if the EULAs we're so good at clicking ok on mention any forfeiture of the ability to go that route. I remember a few months back when Discord updated their EULA and there was some backlash cause of a forced arbitration clause.

[6souls]

https://twitter.com/jasonschreier/st...54146067402752

[Elcura]

This is the greatest. I was hoping Anthem would give me entertainment, I just didn't think it would be this.

[Serra]

Was thinking about it, and isn't the initial idea for Anthem Mira from Xenoblade Chronicles X?

[Greedouw]

That's where my mind was going too. It's yet to happen of course, but I'd be surprised if it doesn't at some point in the near future. I wonder if the EULAs we're so good at clicking ok on mention any forfeiture of the ability to go that route. I remember a few months back when Discord updated their EULA and there was some backlash cause of a forced arbitration clause.

Which is basically in every contract imaginable in the US. However, even those are being challenged (Hi, California)

Wouldn't be surprised if there was a waiver of class action as well.

[Eleven19]

Was thinking about it, and isn't the initial idea for Anthem Mira from Xenoblade Chronicles X?

Yeah. Its almost the exact concept. I like the original idea better even if it would have been a rip of Chronicles X. Should have kept the same pace, get flight later after exploring and learning.

Shit, just make Xenoblade Chronicles X with 4 player drop in drop out multiplayer. Job done.

[6souls]

EA/Anthem EULA - https://tos.ea.com/legalapp/WEBTERMS/US/en/PC/

D. Limitations

YOU AND EA AGREE THAT EACH MAY BRING CLAIMS AGAINST THE OTHER ONLY IN YOUR OR ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, AND NOT AS A PLAINTIFF OR CLASS MEMBER IN ANY PURPORTED CLASS OR REPRESENTATIVE PROCEEDING. The arbitrator shall not consolidate another person's claims with your claims, and shall not preside over any type of representative or class proceeding. The arbitrator may award declaratory or injunctive relief only in favor of the individual party seeking relief and only to the extent necessary to provide relief warranted by that party's individual claim. If this specific subsection is found to be unenforceable, then the entirety of this agreement to arbitrate shall be null and void.

[Koul]

This shit has me MUCH more cautious about DA4.

[Lucavi]

The fact that nearly everyone who worked on the original 3 is long gone should have you more cautious than anything.

Games never turn out when when the original minds that created them aren't there to work on them. Remember Command and Conquer post-Westwood?

[Krandor]

Company experiences turnover during a 12 year period. Who would have thought.

[Andalusian girls]

Origins was 10 years ago, Inquisition 5. anyways Gaider (Origins director) left in 2016 and Laidlaw (Inquisition director) left in 2017. and both those bros wrote for / produced the games in the trilogy they didn't direct. 4 is gonna be the first under new leadership.

[Krandor]

I was thinking Mass Effect for some reason, not DA.

[Andalusian girls]

hell Casey Hudson left too until they lured him back with a corporate gig. turnover at any company is expected but in recent years the rate at which Bioware has hemorrhaged the creative talent who made their name is unusual.

[Lucavi]

Read the article. The point was the extreme level of burnout and turnover over a single project.