No Man's Sky is a huge (marketing) success

[Crni Vuk]

At this point everyone who got No Mans Sky, should try to get a refund, and showing the midle finger to sloppy developers and publishers, make it an example. I really really hope that this will become the norm and that Steam will be more lenient with refunds in the future as far as shoddy marketing and bugs goes. Or I don't ever see how this whole mess in gaming will ever improve, if publishers and developers don't feel like they can not get away with EVERYTHING.

 

[aenemic]

At this point everyone who got No Mans Sky, should try to get a refund, and showing the midle finger to sloppy developers and publishers, make it an example. I really really hope that this will become the norm and that Steam will be more lenient with refunds in the future as far as shoddy marketing and bugs goes. Or I don't ever see how this whole mess in gaming will ever improve, if publishers and developers don't feel like they can not get away with EVERYTHING.

While I agree, it's also understandable that there is a time limit. Too many people would just finish a game and then return it otherwise. But they should definitely be more aware of when games simply are sub-par or not working as intended. Still, I'd be a case to case scenario and people (being the whiny bitches they are) would demand more and more leniancy. So I can imagine that would be A LOT of work on Steam's end, and just having a set time limit saves them a whole lot of trouble.

The whole idea of purchasing games on Steam and the likes is something I don't really like at all actually. It took me a long time to finally cave and get Steam. I mean, you're more or less forced to these days. But I hate the thought of not owning a physical copy. Ever wonder what would happen if Steam just went away? As far as I know (granted, I haven't really looked it up), users are not covered in any way were that to happen. Sure, we get keys for each game. But who outside of Steam would accept them, if Steam for some reason was no longer available?

Sorry, got sidetracked there.

 

[Irwin John Finster]

NMS is down to 46% approval rating on Steam by the way.
Come on "Mostly Negative", here we come!

At this point everyone who got No Mans Sky, should try to get a refund, and showing the midle finger to sloppy developers and publishers, make it an example. I really really hope that this will become the norm and that Steam will be more lenient with refunds in the future as far as shoddy marketing and bugs goes. Or I don't ever see how this whole mess in gaming will ever improve, if publishers and developers don't feel like they can not get away with EVERYTHING.

No Man's Sky...More like "No Man's Gonna Own This Game Anymore" am I right guys???? guys?????

Well that's impressive that people with more than 2 hours of playtime can get a refund.

Yes it is quite impressive that the game was so bad that Steam and playstation altered their refund policy specifically for that game lol.

I'm personally excited for the forthcoming No Man's Workshop DLC!

 

[Mr Fish]

Has there been any news from the developers? Like, an interview or tweets or whatever?

 

[Irwin John Finster]

Has there been any news from the developers? Like, an interview or tweets or whatever?

Last I saw they were actually going the "This is fine" route and pretending like nothing happened and continued discussing future patches.

This is so far my favorite "critic" review of all time, giving the game 100/100:
http://www.digitallydownloaded.net/2016/08/review-no-mans-sky-sony-playstation-4.html

Game is so awful that it's not just Steam issuing refunds. Sony and amazon are also and probably GOG as well. Of course this situation could have been avoided if idiots would stop pre-ordering videogames.

 

[Risewild]

While I agree, it's also understandable that there is a time limit. Too many people would just finish a game and then return it otherwise. But they should definitely be more aware of when games simply are sub-par or not working as intended. Still, I'd be a case to case scenario and people (being the whiny bitches they are) would demand more and more leniancy. So I can imagine that would be A LOT of work on Steam's end, and just having a set time limit saves them a whole lot of trouble.

The whole idea of purchasing games on Steam and the likes is something I don't really like at all actually. It took me a long time to finally cave and get Steam. I mean, you're more or less forced to these days. But I hate the thought of not owning a physical copy. Ever wonder what would happen if Steam just went away? As far as I know (granted, I haven't really looked it up), users are not covered in any way were that to happen. Sure, we get keys for each game. But who outside of Steam would accept them, if Steam for some reason was no longer available?

Sorry, got sidetracked there.

If I was steam I would make a requirement that any paid game has to have a steam achievement called something like "Point of no return" that would get "awarded" after the player plays past a certain part of the game. Smaller games would have it sooner and bigger games would have it later.
If you got the achievement, then no return for you. If you didn't get the achievement then you could return the game at any time.
At least this would make the achievement system work for something useful.

 

[Irwin John Finster]

If I was steam I would make a requirement that any paid game has to have a steam achievement called something like "Point of no return" that would get "awarded" after the player plays past a certain part of the game. Smaller games would have it sooner and bigger games would have it later.
If you got the achievement, then no return for you. If you didn't get the achievement then you could return the game at any time.
At least this would make the achievement system work for something useful.

That wouldn't work with NMS because you don't ever achieve anything lol.

 

[Elaxter]

Pioneer is a free space sim that features realistic space physics, moving planets, a large universe, planetary landing, and a number of different activities. It's inspired by the Elite series. It's pretty good, and free to boot!

Oolite is a free reboot of the classic Elite games. It has all the features of the classic 1984 Elite game, plus some more stuff. It's also highly mod friendly, with hundreds of mods available to tailor the game to your liking.

Both are better than No Man's Sky.

 

[Hassknecht]

I can also recommend Naev for fans of Escape Velocity. It's less about exploration and more about trading and stuff, but it's a really neat game in my opinion, and getting new features all the time.

 

[Dr Fallout]

I love this thread, just for all the free space games. Keep it up!

 

[Risewild]

Pioneer is a free space sim that features realistic space physics, moving planets, a large universe, planetary landing, and a number of different activities. It's inspired by the Elite series. It's pretty good, and free to boot!

Oolite is a free reboot of the classic Elite games. It has all the features of the classic 1984 Elite game, plus some more stuff. It's also highly mod friendly, with hundreds of mods available to tailor the game to your liking.

Both are better than No Man's Sky.

To be honest by what I saw of No Man's Sky's even an old Atari (I think) game called Captain Blood released in the 80's and made by some french studio is better than NMS. I loved that game (although I played the ZX Spectrum version and not the Atari version).
If you don't know about this 80's game, check it out. Sure it's totally dated but it had a depth I rarely (or pretty much never) see in modern space games.

 

[Irwin John Finster]

Just thought I'd point this out. This is from the review I linked to in the previous post:

"No game, film, book or otherwise has been more effective in capturing what the experience of exploring the universe must be." - this guy must not play games, watch films, or read books. Like at all. This is even more grandiose hype than Sean Murray gave the game lol

That is how you clickbait right there. Post that 100/100 critic review on metacritic for a game so bad that even Sony is issuing refunds and wait for the clicks to start rolling in. Game is at 44% on Steam lol. If you look at the NMS Steam page it's still using those ridiculous E3 trailers and misleading screenshots to advertise the game LOL.

To be honest by what I saw of No Man's Sky's even an old Atari (I think) game called Captain Blood released in the 80's and made by some french studio is better than NMS. I loved that game (although I played the ZX Spectrum version and not the Atari version).
If you don't know about this 80's game, check it out. Sure it's totally dated but it had a depth I rarely (or pretty much never) see in modern space games.

What I find amusing is the people smugly saying things like "You don't like NMS? Well it's a very niche game that's not for everyone and you have to make your own story and adventure and it's just not like those other casual games you're probably used to and blah blah blah" - Yahtzee correctly pointed out that No Man's Sky is none of those things - that's what Elite Dangerous is.

Why anyone would spend $60 on NMS when Elite Dangerous exists is beyond me. Elite is objectively better at everything except the number of procedurally generated testicle monsters. The developers of No Man's Sky were quite literally advertising their game to have the features of Elite Dangerous when it actually fails at all of them.

 

[Deleted member 93956]

FTL is also very good, it is kind of the only sci-fi strategy roguelike, aka Star Trek simulator.
It sort of has the Papers, Please "morale"; it won't affect your karma, as there isn't any, but stealing from civillians, leaving crew behind and finishing off surrebdered foe ships is kinda fucked up.
The combat plays very well too, hybrid RTS with a pause button.

 

[Mr Fish]

Is it wrong that I'm sporting a chubby?

 

[Irwin John Finster]

Is it wrong that I'm sporting a chubby?

View attachment 5022

I honestly don't know what's more stupid: the fact that the game has a 44% rating on Steam and a 2.9 rating on Metacritic, or the fact that enough people bought this overhyped AAA marketing garbage for $60 to have nearly 58,000 Steam reviews currently.

Coincidentally, I'm announcing my new space game guys. It's going to be the best ****ing space game of all time. You see that star over there? You can climb it, it's not just a backdrop. Now get out your wallet give me $60 for this concept art I made and you'll get the pre-order bonus of a unique, procedurally generated testicle monster.*

*Game delayed indefinitely.

 

[NotAcasul]

I honestly don't know what's more stupid: the fact that the game has a 44% rating on Steam and a 2.9 rating on Metacritic, or the fact that enough people bought this overhyped AAA marketing garbage for $60 to have nearly 58,000 Steam reviews currently.

You're so much more superior than those normie video-game-players man. Ugh, those normies don't understand reeal video-games.

https://www.reddit.com/r/gaming/comments/4zxfon/sony_steam_and_amazon_issuing_full_refunds_for_no/

https://www.reddit.com/r/gaming/comments/4zslu6/psa_steam_is_refunding_no_mans_sky_even_if_you/

https://www.reddit.com/r/gaming/comments/4y0ia1/new_disappointment_discovered_no_mans_sky/

https://www.reddit.com/r/gaming/comments/4z2jq2/no_mans_disappointment/

https://www.reddit.com/r/gaming/comments/4y6nyc/no_mans_sky_how_the_media_hyped_the_game_and_now/

https://www.reddit.com/r/gaming/comments/4zkwfc/controversy_surrounding_no_mans_sky_reminded_me/

Pretty much everyone gets that they're dumb for falling for the hype.

 

[Irwin John Finster]

FTL is also very good, it is kind of the only sci-fi strategy roguelike, aka Star Trek simulator.
It sort of has the Papers, Please "morale"; it won't affect your karma, as there isn't any, but stealing from civillians, leaving crew behind and finishing off surrebdered foe ships is kinda fucked up.
The combat plays very well too, hybrid RTS with a pause button.

Love Faster Than Light! It's affordably priced and has gameplay that is reasonably complex while being very accessible to anyone. Within 20 minutes anyone, even those who never play videogames, will be having great fun with it.

It really hits the sweetspot between interesting gameplay and design simplicity. I also really like Duskers for that reason.

 

[Deleted member 93956]

Love Faster Than Light! It's affordably priced and has gameplay that is reasonably complex while being very accessible to anyone. Within 20 minutes anyone, even those who never play videogames, will be having great fun with it.

It really hits the sweetspot between interesting gameplay and design simplicity. I also really like Duskers for that reason.

True, i have found everywhere FTL being reccomended for non-gamers for some reason. Too bad that the devs have gone radio silent, and the forums are deserted. A sequel or a spiritual succesor would be awesome.
It could be an incredible RPG if it focused a bit more on crew skills and events. Imagine being able to choose a faction, joining the rebel's pursuit, or play double agent. And more gamemodes...
Kestrel B for the win, by the way

 

[Millim]

I'm in two minds about the whole refunds thing.
On one hand, yeah, the game isn't worth the asking price. There's not a lot to it and after four hours of playing it at work one day, I just thought to myself "I never have to play this again."
£50 is way too much to ask for a game which should be 10 at most.

On the other hand, I don't think this is the Devs fault. I'm sure they just wanted to make this little game which sadly got blown way out of proportion.
I don't dislike Sean Murray, he was obviously very passionate and he looked nervous in interviews. Like he was just there and didn't really know what he was doing. I'm not saying he is blameless, he didn't need to outright lie about certain things and he should have tried his best to calm the hype down.
I think Sony is more at fault, and for it, a games studio will probably get shut down.

I do agree however, it was way too ambitious.

 

[Irwin John Finster]

On the other hand, I don't think this is the Devs fault.

Why not? They're the ones that made the game, went on national TV hyping the game, said there would be a whole list of features that never showed up in the game.

Jim Sterling has delved into this issue, and while I will never personally agree with his ridiculous 9.5/10 rating of Fallout 4, he's right about this one:

To summarize the video: the devs were talking absolute bollocks for years.

And to the people saying "oh those poor devs everyone hates them" - you realize how much money this game raked in in pre-orders alone? I'm sure the millions in sales will be more than enough comfort. Developers know what their game is worth, and Hello Games would have known that their game was nowhere near the $60 asking price. If they just went into Early Access with a $20 price tag, none of this would be happening.

Now of course don't think they're entirely at fault - it's also the consumers who have too much money and too little critical thinking skills and can't discern BS marketing, E3 trailers, and concept art from a real product. If this was the first time this had happened I might be surprised, but this happens all the time. Colonial Marines wasn't the first, and NMS certainly won't be the last. The cycle will continue.

If the people pre-ordering NMS would have done a quick 30 second search on Steam for Hello Games, they would have seen that their only other game is a cheesy bicycle game that might actually be good on its own, but is nowhere near the production value or scope of what they were advertising with No Man's Sky.