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Is it ever too late to update a game?
- Thread starter wwm0nkey
- Start date
Grettir_the_Swole
Member
Sure. Take Rambo for example. Not only did the team add a patch years after the game had been released and forgotten, they released free DLC to boot. I think there were some people who enjoyed the free content but otherwise don't bother. If you wait too long to patch a game the shortcomings become a permanent fixture to the games legacy. I would only say otherwise if there are gamebreaking bugs or persistent issues. That shit shouldn't have passed the initial post release QA patches to begin with.
Still waiting on a patch.
Still waiting on a patch.
Conkerkid11
Member
I suppose it's never too late, but it's still worthwhile to mention they fucked over their fans by taking 3 years to do it.
Low quality FMVs, framerate problems and some stupid bugs with higher resolutions. For example, you can't see an enemy info when playing at higher than 720p. 1440p doesn't work at all.
Mr. Phellps
Member
Long term support, to me, is an incentive to either replay the game or to finally buy it, even if it's a long time after release. It's the reason I bought Diablo 3 on PS4, despite the game being five years old.
So maybe it's too late in some cases if the intent is to save the sales during the launch window (like, say, the last SimCity), but an improved game is an improved game, and I'm pretty sure Destiny's sales were benefited by its improvements and expansions long after its release.
So maybe it's too late in some cases if the intent is to save the sales during the launch window (like, say, the last SimCity), but an improved game is an improved game, and I'm pretty sure Destiny's sales were benefited by its improvements and expansions long after its release.
Well in the case of MCC, these games were already old and meant to be revisited, so I wouldn't mind revisiting again since that is the intention.
GuitarGuruu
Member
The way I look at it is that they already left a terrible first impression, and that is everything. It's certainly honorable to see them attempt to fix their game but for instance myself I bought NMS at launch and hated it, and now there a just too much out for me to give a damn. I think if you don't hit it strong out the gate it's hard to recover which makes it hard to determine if any effort is worth it.
Yeah but then you also have stuff like Diablo 3 and FFXIV too
It's possibly only bad for early adopters who were into the game at launch, yet lost their patience and decided to move on. Those who wait may end up with a vastly different game, like when you'd start NMS now and find a lot more content.
It's never too late, but ironically the fans who were there from the get-go may be the ones to end up burned and lose interest. One recent example for me is Dishonored 2 on pc. Thought the original was amazing. Booted up 2, it was a mess, but kept checking news on an update that didn't come immediately. Moved on to different games I don't really feel like returning now.
It's never too late, but ironically the fans who were there from the get-go may be the ones to end up burned and lose interest. One recent example for me is Dishonored 2 on pc. Thought the original was amazing. Booted up 2, it was a mess, but kept checking news on an update that didn't come immediately. Moved on to different games I don't really feel like returning now.
It would be hard to find fault in the act of updating itself.
Timing, motive, and content play more of a part in determining people's reactions.
For example, saying your broken game can't be fixed and then suddenly finding the will to fix it after three years when you have a new console to promote may come across as shitty to your dedicated fan base who bought your game at launch.
Timing, motive, and content play more of a part in determining people's reactions.
For example, saying your broken game can't be fixed and then suddenly finding the will to fix it after three years when you have a new console to promote may come across as shitty to your dedicated fan base who bought your game at launch.
FrontalMonk
Banned
Synergies were great and all, but let's be real: D2 was garbo until LOD released, and that was a year.
stan423321
Member
As little as I know about AC, I clearly remember that as being marketed as a product relaunch and not just a huge update. So the way you market it is important. And if you want to claim it's no mere patch, you actually need the update to be big.
That's some pretty big issues. SE never bothered to patch them? Well, Dark Souls still doesn't run on my laptop so I shouldn't be surprised about this dark side of PC gaming.
Honestly, it’s never too late to update a game provided it doesn’t change the original framework of the game. The problem is that we are stuck in ‘remaster hell.’
Team Fortress 2 has received countless updates over the course of time that have changed the entire scope of the game. Whether it has been for better or worse can be debated, but the fact remains that the game changed with the players to provide a new and engaging experience, and for free. With that being said, sometimes it is the initial reaction that can leave a sour taste in player’s mouths with games like No Mans Sky and Final Fantasy XV releasing with the notion that they are ‘incomplete’ or just hamstrung together. Regardless, both games did receive content updates for free.
It truly is a different playing field than it used to be. We exist now in the era of always-online, day-one patches, and DLC/microtransactions. It is very hard to pick up a game that is a complete experience on its launch day. ItÂ’s also weird to see what games tend to get greenlit for remasters and how those are handled. I am impressed with all of BluepointÂ’s remasters but certain others, like Silent Hill, are really botched and take away from the original experience.
In essence, purchasing a game on launch day only serves to hurt the initial buyers. Please see Destiny for a prime example of this as the added content was released with the game at a later date for the same price. Until developers can solve this problem, this is why studios will continue to close. Publishers want constant revenue on a product and each publisher is trying to force their own ‘loot box’ experience on games.
Just wait a couple of years and buy the ‘definitive edition,’ it’ll save you some dosh and some headaches.
Team Fortress 2 has received countless updates over the course of time that have changed the entire scope of the game. Whether it has been for better or worse can be debated, but the fact remains that the game changed with the players to provide a new and engaging experience, and for free. With that being said, sometimes it is the initial reaction that can leave a sour taste in player’s mouths with games like No Mans Sky and Final Fantasy XV releasing with the notion that they are ‘incomplete’ or just hamstrung together. Regardless, both games did receive content updates for free.
It truly is a different playing field than it used to be. We exist now in the era of always-online, day-one patches, and DLC/microtransactions. It is very hard to pick up a game that is a complete experience on its launch day. ItÂ’s also weird to see what games tend to get greenlit for remasters and how those are handled. I am impressed with all of BluepointÂ’s remasters but certain others, like Silent Hill, are really botched and take away from the original experience.
In essence, purchasing a game on launch day only serves to hurt the initial buyers. Please see Destiny for a prime example of this as the added content was released with the game at a later date for the same price. Until developers can solve this problem, this is why studios will continue to close. Publishers want constant revenue on a product and each publisher is trying to force their own ‘loot box’ experience on games.
Just wait a couple of years and buy the ‘definitive edition,’ it’ll save you some dosh and some headaches.
Unity2012
Member
For me is never too late. Especially if we really like and enjoy the game or games being updated, patched, remastered, enhanced, etc., I can never say not to improvement.
I still play some classics like MGS2, Halo:CE, SOCOM, Jade Empire, Half Life2 and many others. If they give me the option to update them and make them better, yes please, welcome.
I still play some classics like MGS2, Halo:CE, SOCOM, Jade Empire, Half Life2 and many others. If they give me the option to update them and make them better, yes please, welcome.
SilverArrow20XX
Walks in the Light of the Crystal
From a business standpoint, yes. You can get to the point where any update you make won't be worth the money because not enough people still play the game.
From a legacy standpoint, no. It's always better to have the best possible version of your game out there in the future. For your own honor and reputation. It'll probably lose you money if it takes too long though.
From a legacy standpoint, no. It's always better to have the best possible version of your game out there in the future. For your own honor and reputation. It'll probably lose you money if it takes too long though.
Exploratory
Banned
For someone to enjoy it? No.
For it to actually matter? Yes.
For it to actually matter? Yes.
Never too late, obviously you'd hope glaring issues would get fixed quickly but if a broken game suddenly became worth playing 10 years down the line I'd still give it a go. Not that I can think of an example that extreme.
Don't see the point of holding grudges on these things, better updated late then never. I've long been down on Street Fighter V for missing an arcade mode, but I'm happy as hell its being added in a future update.
Don't see the point of holding grudges on these things, better updated late then never. I've long been down on Street Fighter V for missing an arcade mode, but I'm happy as hell its being added in a future update.
This.
The line of Early Access has been blurring and blurring.
Titan Quest got an anniversary update about a decade later - welcome as there is still a community. Things like minecraft benefit as well.
Depends on the game, really, but generally I welcome any updates that improve the game... Not like the modern warfare update adding microtransactions. Fuck that.
Titan Quest got an anniversary update about a decade later - welcome as there is still a community. Things like minecraft benefit as well.
Depends on the game, really, but generally I welcome any updates that improve the game... Not like the modern warfare update adding microtransactions. Fuck that.
SatansReverence
Hipster Princess
And likewise you should never be thankful or grateful when a dev tries to fix a game they knowingly released in a broken or incomplete state.
Yeah, great, 343 claim they are having another try at fixing MCC (if it actually fixes anything is completely unknown at this point with 343's record) but they are still the ones who knowingly released a broken game and have still not fixed it nearly 3 years later.
Holy shit. What internet do you have that 500mb is something to penny pinch?
Bandwidth caps in general are complete bullshit, but that's a conversation for elsewhere.