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Starfield design lead says players are "disconnected" from how games are actually made: "Don't fool yourself into thinking you know why it is the way it is" (www.gamesradar.com)

submitted 11 months ago by alyaza@beehaw.org to c/gaming@beehaw.org

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apparently this is in response to a few threads on Reddit flaming Starfield—in general, it's been rather interesting to see Bethesda take what i can only describe as a "try to debate Starfield to popularity" approach with the game's skeptics in the past month or two. not entirely sure it's a winning strategy, personally.

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[–] Kwakigra@beehaw.org 23 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (2 children)

I wish people knew more about the way business works in general. Focusing on quality of product or service is a strategy only the smallest businesses can afford. In the big leagues it's all about triggering purchasing behavior and minimizing price sensitivity by using well-proven psychological techniques to sell cheap minimally-viable and soon to be obsolete products to as many people as possible, and sell them the solutions to the problems left in the original product as "optional" add-ons. Developers all want to make good games, but the businesses they work for couldn't care less since they make their money in other ways. Welcome to the 21t century, consumers!

[–] aksdb@feddit.de 13 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Yeah but businesses typically don't go out and rub that in their customers faces. That's basically what most of the complaints are about: Bethesda should just shut the fuck up and swallow their pride. Is some/most of the stuff people throw at them unfair? Likely. Is it completely unwarranted? No. Should they defend it? Also no.

[–] Kwakigra@beehaw.org 7 points 10 months ago (1 children)

A lot of these comments from developers read to me like "We really tried guys, but you don't know what it was like." Given this is usually without commenting that industry norms are toxic since that can get you blacklisted. Their marketing department doing damage control is of course way less sympathetic to me.

[–] aksdb@feddit.de 8 points 10 months ago

I would consider Todd Howard to be part of development (since he directs the creative and narrative angle, from what I understand).

He defended bad performance with "get better hardware". He defended criticism of the content with "you play the game wrong".

Both are bullshit "excuses". The first one was even debunked by modders who showed that there was potential for optimization. And modders are far more limited than engine devs. The game doesn't look ugly, but there are far better looking games with more scene complexity out there that run better.

And "you play it wrong" is bullshit because if enough people play it wrong to have an effect on the rating of the game, then the game is badly designed. Part of game design is making sure the game explains itself or subtly pulls players in the right direction. Either they failed with that, or there simply is no clear direction. But that's not the players fault.

[–] millie@beehaw.org 3 points 10 months ago

Sounds like a terrible business model that deserves the problems it runs into. If a company doesn't prioritize the quality of its offerings, why should anyone give them a cent?