Cheat Code
Member
People were calling it Destiny's Child at reveal for a reason.
-
Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.
No Man's Sky: Free updates coming, potential paid DLC in future depending on budget
- Thread starter TheSpoiler
- Start date
People were calling it Destiny's Child at reveal for a reason.
gunstarhero
Member
Well, that's not what I was saying.They are a small studio. Being a small company means limited resources. They want to stay in business. So they either spend their resources and time making a new game, or support this one. In either case, they need to SELL something. It's pretty easy to grasp IMO.
Regarding the sales - doesn't Sony get a cut? I thought they helped fund this game?
They sold this game at $60 with, IMO, barebones content. Also Sony picked up the marketing tab, usually the biggest expense for a game. Along with this game selling gangbusters, Im more than sure they have the money to provide some free content to their consumers especially after once touted content has seemly been cut
UnforgivenTwin
Member
Then Murray shouldn't have said that there wouldn't be paid DLC.
Emperor_Uriel
Member
He's an artist, not a PR person. He made promises that coincided with his original vision for the game, things that he sincerely believed he could deliver on, without a rep from Sony standing nearby to say "that's actually not a feature they've implemented yet" or "substantial DLC will be paid." The gamey elements are lacking because... honestly... Hello Games probably doesn't have anyone who knows how to make functional online multiplayer, or good combat, or rewarding survival mechanics.
Molyneux is different, because he made a career out of overpromising and underdelivering. Todd Howard is too, because Bethesda's games are always bursting at the seams with content, despite missing some interesting concepts that were promised during development.
Murray's still on his first offense, so he's not Molyneux, but NMS is nowhere near a Bethesda game despite being the same price as one, so he's not Howard either. He can still salvage this, but it's going to take a lot of free updates and CDPR-style goodwill moves.
NMS is a perfect example of an indie studio getting in over their heads, as well as a reminder of why PR people exist.
AcademicSaucer
Member
gunstarhero
Member
Sorry, but I edited my post before you quoted.
Didn't Sony help fund this game?
And yes, I'm not saying they shouldn't release ANY free content. But paid content should be a priority for them.
VlaudTheImpaler
tl;dr
I don't even know what to say...
I mean, way before the controversy stuff happened and I was hyped for this game I had still always thought and said that charging $60 was the wrong move and was going to bite them.
Come launch I can't even count the amount of posts that I've read that state they wish they hadn't paid $60 dollars and that they think it should have been way less.
Now there are whispers that they might be charging for DLC that they made so apparent would be free that people would use it as a point of defense against the outrageous pricetag. I mean the dream was basically a minecraft style system of updates and support...
I mean, way before the controversy stuff happened and I was hyped for this game I had still always thought and said that charging $60 was the wrong move and was going to bite them.
Come launch I can't even count the amount of posts that I've read that state they wish they hadn't paid $60 dollars and that they think it should have been way less.
Now there are whispers that they might be charging for DLC that they made so apparent would be free that people would use it as a point of defense against the outrageous pricetag. I mean the dream was basically a minecraft style system of updates and support...
Robert at Zeboyd Games
Banned
NMS is, by all accounts, going to be one of the best-selling games of the year and due to the small studio size, their development costs were most likely relatively low. There's no real reason why they can't add staff members and support continued development on NMS while still working on a new game. And in fact, they already announced that they hired additional staff & QA support after the game came out to help deal with all the demands on their time due to the huge success of the game.
I believe Sony only did a marketing deal (console exclusivity or timed exclusivity in exchange for marketing) & didn't actually fund any part of development.
Not they funded the Marketing, not the development
Kowashitai
Banned
They survived creating No Man's Sky off the money from Joe Danger. 2 downloadable games that didn't light up the charts. Unless they massively expand or their next project takes ages, I don't think Hello Games will have an issue living off the NMS money until their next game comes out.
gunstarhero
Member
Ah - I didn't realize this. Didn't he also say it was multiplayer?
Murray should stop saying things.
And...I didn't know that either. I'll shut up now.
stuminus3
Member
Like Populous did? Are you mental?
travisbickle
Member
I don't see how that's unreasonable?
The title should be NMS may have free content forever, but paid not ruled out for costs.
Blackleg-sanji1
Banned
That's the plan
J
Jpop
Unconfirmed Member
It probably was then he saw how much the game sold and was like, "Shit, I can make a ton more money if I charge these guys for DLC."
This is all true. However, they just sold a shitload of copies of a small indie game for $60 that is missing some very considerable features despite it being a cute little indie experience. And they did so while not letting players know those features were not there and possibly never existed at all, and while maintaining that DLC would be free.
So from the consumer's point of view: they bought a game that was far more limited than was advertised for AAA price and now have to possibly pay more to get a more full-featured NMS experience.
The cool thing to do would be to release at least ONE major DLC for free so that the OG price tag is more justified and then look toward paid DLC.
Ollie Pooch
In a perfect world, we'd all be homersexual
I think this is a bit overblown but maybe... get the bare bones content in the game up to a $60 standard then they can reasonably talk about paid DLC.
Blackleg-sanji1
Banned
I'll agree to this. I'll take it a bit further tho, make sure people aren't getting crashes before talking about dlc, I personally haven't had a single one but I think it's inexcusable so many have
This isn't really shocking. I expect the studio has plans to pump out plenty of free content updates over time, but this is clearly a project they are hoping to keep alive for many years, so the fact that they are at least considering the prospect of paid DLC in the future is not at all surprising.
Still the op makes it sound like paid would be the norm instead of a possibility. The article headline is: No Man's Sky director Sean Murray doesn't rule out paid DLC - but wants to remain free
I can agree with this
EL CUCO
Member
At this point, nobody knows what the norm is...
TheSpoiler
Member
No, what it's saying is No Man's Sky might have Paid DLC in the future, but the prospect of Free DLC only isn't completely ruled out. Nothing in my title implies any norm, consider there is no standard set at the moment.
Rising_Hei
Member
He shouldn't just be that honest all the time knowing how some people are tracking every word he says literally all the day.
Ollie Pooch
In a perfect world, we'd all be homersexual
I've had a few hard locks of my PS4 and some other buggy glitches but nothing terrible. Still, it's reasonable to expect it'll be patched pretty fast and I'm sure they're on it.
I think the narrative of these guys being all 'take the money and run' is a bit unfair, despite Murray's propensity to talk a lot of grandiose bullshit. Still, he could afford to be far more accurate and careful about what he blabs out in interviews, given the massive audience and AAA-level price.
TemplaerDude
Member
Such an odd and annoying minefield for the indie developer with AAA attention on him. I feel for him, he needs to watch what he says in the future though.
Blackleg-sanji1
Banned
Definitely agree with this I love the game but pr is a hard game to play and Sean Murray needs to get alil practice in because I don't think he's a bad dude just really bad with communication right now
TheDarkKnight774
Member
I'm still not sure why everyone is getting mad and riled up? I read those quotes and I don't see anything that contradicts what he said before. I'll wait and see how the game is supported with updates and what paid DLC looks like if/when it's announced before forming a strong opinion
Going to try something rare around here called..wait and see
Going to try something rare around here called..wait and see
FarFromAnyGame
Banned
I honestly don't mind paying for full-fledged expansions.
You know what I get out of it? He said it after the game is fucking out already. It's amazing how many possibilities changed once this game actually released.
TheSpoiler
Member
Maybe try reading the OP now, both links included, and then seeing why people are slightly upset then. It might help.
I'll continue to repeat what I've said before: if you don't like it, or do like it, that's fine either way. You can be upset as a consumer, or you can ignore it/embrace it. Whatever. No need to tell others what to think or feel with their purchase.
I'll give him credit personally for changing his stance, even though I think he waited too long to do so. But for me, keeping the game was dependent on free updates, however feasible that might be. It's possible that they'll still be meaty, but considering his track record, I'll wait until release day to judge. If it's serviceable, I'll fuck with the DLC and support it with my money.
If you or anyone else has opinions on that matter, that's all good. Just don't tell others how they should feel. It's just tacky.
Ollie Pooch
In a perfect world, we'd all be homersexual
I think at this point it's safe to say he's been built up by everyone as a bit of a villain, which I don't really agree with. He's definitely stretched the truth and been quite vague at times. It's quite misleading, IMO.
texhnolyze
Banned
As long as there's no micro-transactions I really don't see the issue.
Geez guys, sometimes plans change.
*One month later, Sean Murray decides to add microtransactions into NMS.
Geez guys, sometimes plans change.
Pestilence11
Member
I don't mind either as long as there's smaller free updates in between that add options, fixes and maybe bits of content originally supposed to be in the game.
Irishonion
Member
I was honestly having a ton of fun. Then I warped. And then it was.. Hey more planets to find some material rocks and... Find some material rocks.
TheDarkKnight774
Member
Ah ok I see. Yea that's a tap dance there. I'll still reserve judgment on how the support of the base game goes. If paid DLC amounts to Expansion pack level DLC and the game got a ton of free updates too (I.e. Driveclub) I'm personally fine with it. So we'll see
I dont mind either as long as the core game is brought up to a full fledge experience via free content update. IMO its not right now
orthodoxy1095
Banned
Jacksinthe
Banned
Sean Murray's statements procedurally generated by more money!
Nothing wrong with doing anything they've done with the game except the part where he keeps talking about shit that doesn't happen in an effort to sell you on a product then change the channel.
I know too many devs worth their salt that would give their left arm to have the exposure this guy did to cut this asshat any slack. You don't do what this guy is doing. What a shit-show.
Nothing wrong with doing anything they've done with the game except the part where he keeps talking about shit that doesn't happen in an effort to sell you on a product then change the channel.
I know too many devs worth their salt that would give their left arm to have the exposure this guy did to cut this asshat any slack. You don't do what this guy is doing. What a shit-show.