Veil of Crows?

[jomni]

  a very early access game.

No point reviewing anything at this stage.

[HoodedHorseJoe]

  a very early access game.

No point reviewing anything at this stage.

I don't think anyone has come up with a good solution to early access coverage yet, other than perhaps the video/streaming community... that medium is less about 'verdicts' than it is about commentary during play, and it allows people to see what it's like prior to any purchasing decision.

But text-based outlets? It's a difficult one - at the end of the day though, this is something that people can pay for, so as far as I'm concerned it's open to *careful* criticism and analysis. I would never go so far as to actually apply a score to an Early Access title, but I find review-language perfectly acceptable provided one tries to take into account the big picture.

People sometimes bring up Kickstarter as a counter or supporting point (depending on their argument), but Kickstarter is an entirely different context. It's less "Pay Money, Get a Thing", it's more "Here's my idea, here's how much I'd like." You invest in the future of the thing and sometimes that means you get early access, mostly it simply means you get a completed product when it's ready.

Early Access though? It carries the exact same context as buying any other game, except that the game you're buying isn't finished yet. You pay money and instantly get something, which in my mind leaves it open to criticism, but there are several angles to bear in mind:

* Does the future look promising (You can give your money now and just sit on it until it's done.)
* What's it like now? (Is it playable enough that you can still actually get your money's worth if you buy now.)
* What is the likely hood of this game ever being finished/made into a playable state? (Perhaps it's better to not give any money until further down the line.)

It's a difficult one, to be sure.

[Jarhead0331]

There is absolutely nothing wrong with publishing impressions of an early access game, but like you said, it needs to be done carefully. It needs to take into consideration, with every statement and every opinion, that the game is unfinished and most likely subject to change. If judgment is going to be rendered, it needs to strongly factor and consider the state of the game, and must only judge by this very different standard from that of a finished retail product.

What RPS has done with its "premature evaluation" is flagrantly in disregard of any journalistic rule or ethic in this regard. It's not enough to call it a "premature evaluation" noting in the first sentence that the game is under development, but then write the rest of the piece as if it's a standard review. The conclusion of the RPS "review" is that veil of crows is bad, and the player is better off waiting for M&B II.  This is unprofessional in my opinion and borderline libelous. Its about as close to fake news as a game site can get. It unfairly causes irreparable damage to the game and the developer, especially a small indie one, the kind RPS is always claiming to support.

[undercovergeek]

RPS have just been sold to 'the man' so hopefully the sjw may stop and the need to promote 8 bit shite will go along with accepting that people really do prefer AAA or at least decent publishers

[Jarhead0331]

RPS have just been sold to 'the man' so hopefully the sjw may stop and the need to promote 8 bit shite will go along with accepting that people really do prefer AAA or at least decent publishers

Really? Which man bought?

[undercovergeek]

https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/05/03/psa-rps-is-now-owned-by-gamer-network/

Gamer network I guess

[MikeGER]

Rock Paper Shotgun  Bitchslapped  ^-^

[undercovergeek]

Yeah I get the impression everyone is putting on happy faces and getting quotes on ferraris but once the content hammer comes down I imagine there'll be grumpy faces all round

But that sound of screeching tyres you hear is JH burning to gamer network for a quote on grogheads

[Con]

I think a grogheads sale should be able to allow JH to afford enough ammo for one of his guns (probably a small caliber)

[Jarhead0331]

I think a grogheads sale should be able to allow JH to afford enough ammo for one of his guns (probably a small caliber)

That's just rude.

[Gusington]

One gun? Hmm...

[Ubercat]

Is JH our owner? I didn't know that.

[Gusington]

All your JHs belong to us.

[Jarhead0331]

Is JH our owner? I didn't know that.

I just supply the fluffers.