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Advertising Standards launches investigation into No Man's Sky
- Thread starter Gamezone
- Start date
It has nothing to do with how bad or how good it is, it's about how they continously lied.
UpUpDownDown
Member
Ha.
There will be people in here referring to Sean Murray as a scumbag shortly.
All over a video game *shrug*
It's Pokemon Snap in space.
Ordinaryundone
Member
On one hand I guess it sets a firm precedent that will hopefully prevent this sort of thing in the future, but it does seem overly harsh. They got away with it this time but now they have to carry this albatross for the rest of their company's lifespan (and maybe their individual careers). The market will sort them out.
Bioshock Infinite didn't mislead anyone as later footage ended being closer to the final product and they didn't show the concept footage.
There were also clear on what was and wasn't video game footage during their TV advert.
Not exactly a good mindset to have as if a game was misleading in its advert then it's misleading regardless if a game was good or not.
Zombie James
Banned
Let me tell you about Radiant AI and Fallout 3's 200 endings.
DrROBschiz
Member
Dark Souls 2 did it as well.
Yeah, Watch Dogs and Bioshock Infinite, while not 100% the same product as advertised in the beginning, did eventually advertise the final product. Also, how many of those trailers say "Work in progress, subject to change" or whatever it says.
Soapbox Killer
Grand Nagus
Starting to seem like a bit of a "witch-hunt". Yes then game swung for the fences and the bat flew out and hit a congressman but still...
In my opinion...
Yes, It doesnt matter if you are indy or AAA this behaviour shouldn't be ignored.
Bl@de
Member
Look at the Steam page: http://store.steampowered.com/app/275850
The videos and pictures are not like the game. Different UI, footage from early E3 trailers that don't represent the product. Not just some difference between ultra quality downsampled bullshots and 1080p graphics.
It's not about a witch hunt. It's about the advertisments. And they are misleading to this day.
EDIT: Just noticed that it has 11% positive reviews. Brutal.
The Advertising Standards Authority doesn't hunt for witches. They hunt for scumbags.
It's not that bad but that's not the point. Advertising continues to lean heavily on material that arguably does not accurately enough represent the actual game as purchasable today.
The game could be 100% on Metacritic and the argument would remain the same regarding the advertising.
TBH its about time more visibility was given to how bad video-game standards can be in terms of accurate advertising and crossing line into misleading the customer.
Companies need checks and balances too, beside what the free market decides. And don't forget the free market already made Hello Games multi-millionaires for this product.
It's always odd to see consumers advocating lower standards of integrity from organizations out for your money. Greed is the underpinning of most modern economies, and greed corrupts when left unchecked.
DrROBschiz
Member
We have this toxic mix of unrealistic expectations from the customer base and overly ambitious posturing from developers
Should we really encourage lack of ambition even if they fail?
I hate this idea that failure is not on option. What should be a learning experience for everyone involved is devolving into witch hunts and bullying
Didnt you guys get refunds? Isnt the market repercussions and criticism an acceptable consequences?
Whats with this toxic revenge porn behaviour
Should we really encourage lack of ambition even if they fail?
I hate this idea that failure is not on option. What should be a learning experience for everyone involved is devolving into witch hunts and bullying
Didnt you guys get refunds? Isnt the market repercussions and criticism an acceptable consequences?
Whats with this toxic revenge porn behaviour
Lol. Real world problems. People complaining about a product that doesn't meet their expectations and "promises"... it's like everyday life...
And for worse, not aiming at a big company, but to someone that at least tryied to give some fresh experience out there.
That is real sad. You deserve CoD and AC games every year.
And for worse, not aiming at a big company, but to someone that at least tryied to give some fresh experience out there.
That is real sad. You deserve CoD and AC games every year.
Pie and Beans
Look for me on the local news, I'll be the guy arrested for trying to burn down a Nintendo exec's house.
The original trailers which still feature on Steam and Playstation channels should have "CGI FOOTAGE: NOT REPRESENTATIVE OF GAME" forced upon them they're that far from the final game.
Murray deserves every single snipe sent his way. He even went beyond Molyneux in several ways. Hello Games continued silence is absurd. We'll be 2 months later soon and probably a whole quarter of a year after release until they show any signs of a content update.
Failing is fine, shouldn't be frowned upon. Failing and lying about it and letting people pay $60 because you're dishonest is not fine. Murray and co did nothing to manage expectations even the day after release. Thats what was fucking unacceptable.
Murray deserves every single snipe sent his way. He even went beyond Molyneux in several ways. Hello Games continued silence is absurd. We'll be 2 months later soon and probably a whole quarter of a year after release until they show any signs of a content update.
Failing is fine, shouldn't be frowned upon. Failing and lying about it and letting people pay $60 because you're dishonest is not fine. Murray and co did nothing to manage expectations even the day after release. Thats what was fucking unacceptable.
Daffy Duck
Member
Going to be interesting how this one plays out that's for sure.
SuperEpicMan
Banned
I think Hello Games has already made a killing from this game, and limiting search results or pulling videos is a bit late.
I returned my copy a week or so after launch for a full refund, but it is a shame for the people who also felt a bit misled and were not able to get their money back.
I returned my copy a week or so after launch for a full refund, but it is a shame for the people who also felt a bit misled and were not able to get their money back.
letmetrythisname
Member
I don't wanna be a dick and wish ill upon Hello Games, but I hope ASA can make an example out of them. Don't lie about what's in your game, people.
UpUpDownDown
Member
Don't buy the game?
Be an informed consumer?
...ah, never mind.
Buy first and expect a refund is the new way I guess.
digoutyoursoul
Member
Ask yourself why is there such negativity surrounding the game in the first place.
If this investigation turns out to have some substance, what then? Indie or not? Why is the game full price if it just a very small studio with an indie project?
Personally I would rather this game turned out a success for everyone, critically & commercially.
??? What are you even on about.
Also, you can't simultaneously blame "unrealistic expectations" from the customer base, then IMMEDIATELY stating overly ambitious posturing from the devs.
One of those things literally caused the other. One of those two are to blame. Sean built this entire game on a mountain of ambiguous statements and half truths. Now it's all crumbling down.
Also, no, not "everyone" got refunds because unless you got lucky on the PS4, or happened to still have under 2 hours on PC, you weren't getting one.
Interrobang
Member
Everyone mentions the radio silence is because anything he says would just fuel the fire, but in my opinion, his silence is what is driving everyone insane.
The game is bad, yes, but that's not why I personally am outraged. I'm outraged because I can not fathom how he's getting away with not answering to anyone.
I ask my friends everyday, why are journalists not reporting on this every single day? Especially for the clickbaity outlets who need sensationalized news. There should be a "Sean Murray is still not tweeting" article once a day until he answers.
It's unbelievable to me that he's getting away with not reporting to anyone.
The game is bad, yes, but that's not why I personally am outraged. I'm outraged because I can not fathom how he's getting away with not answering to anyone.
I ask my friends everyday, why are journalists not reporting on this every single day? Especially for the clickbaity outlets who need sensationalized news. There should be a "Sean Murray is still not tweeting" article once a day until he answers.
It's unbelievable to me that he's getting away with not reporting to anyone.
dead monkey uk
Member
Permanently A
Junior Member
Yes he is a scumbag. What else are you supposed to call someone who continuously lies about his product to his fans up till the night of the release and then goes AWOL?
DrROBschiz
Member
To take the opposite position though
There was a lot Murray could have done to get ahead of this
Even if it mean losing sales out the gate
There was a lot Murray could have done to get ahead of this
Even if it mean losing sales out the gate
False advertising is never okay, no.
Yup.
For gamers that didn't follow the development of the game closely, the trailers and interviews are deceiving.
But some gamers "in the know" are at fault too, how gullible can they be? They're supposed to know how the industry works but they still want to believe in unrealistic and dream projects and can't see the false promises. Show them something that looks EPIC (TM) and all reason goes out the window.
paperspace
Member
I'd say it certainly has to do with how bad/good it is. If people loved the game no one would really care if the marketing was misleading.
SlipperyFishes
Banned
And he dared to claim that everything people expected due to his terrible PR was down to "What you imagined this game as"
Thats not how it works lol
If they advertise the product to be something and it turns out to be something else, thats not the consumers fault. Literally they were misinformed by the creator.
So I'm supposed to get informed by looking up all the available information and trailers and footage and..
Oh wait.
Those didn't actually represent the final game.
valkillmore
Member
About time
fuck
holy shit this whole situation is unbelievable. i cannot believe the reversal of fortune for these guys. but, and this is absolutely clear, they brought it on themselves. I know they're passionate & this is a work of love, but it's clearly not the game that was advertised, right up until release. That Angry Joe review . . . fucking devastating.
Shaking my head at this whole clusterfuck
DrROBschiz
Member
What defense force
The consequences in my eyes appear to already be levied to a significant degree
I suppose its not enough based on the reactions in this thread
Permanently A
Junior Member
So am I an informed consumer when I watch Sean Murray's interview with Colbert where he says you can meet a friend in the game and say to myself "wow, that sounds like a really cool and rare thing to happen, I will buy the game for the possibility of that happening?" Or should I have been a truly informed consumer and able to see through his lie?
Speaking for myself, I knew the marketing and interviews were obviously kind of bullshit, but I just didn't know how much bullshit. I thought it might still be a good game despite all the over the top claims (Fable and Fable 2 were decent despite getting the full Molyneux treatment).
That's why I bought it on release day... I expected a decent, novel game. What I got was something I wouldn't even call a game. I know there are some people out there who are enjoying it, but speaking for myself it seemed like an outright joke. "Live in space as a pirate or a trader. Play the game how you want" hahaha
Mass_Pincup
Banned
Do tell where did Ubisoft lied about Watch Dogs?
Yeah we deserve games with actual depth and content.
dead monkey uk
Member
You think Advertising Standards conduct witch-hunts, you really need to look into them more closely.
Why is it always COD lmao
legacyzero
Banned
Good.
They need to be held to account for their silence. I absolutely love the game, but all this has been handled poorly, and they've earned the negativity.
They need to be held to account for their silence. I absolutely love the game, but all this has been handled poorly, and they've earned the negativity.