"Loyal" Fans

[Lemon Of Life]

I think I'm not getting something. In this industry, fans who have enjoyed a particular franchise and have bought many of the developer's or the series' games are described as 'loyal'. There is an outcry when fans are not given what they want, which makes sense, but when the developer is described as 'betraying' the fanbase I am confused.

Even though the developer owes everything to the people who buy their games, those people aren't doing them a favour, are they? They are purely buying a game because they think it will entertain them. Rare is it that a game is simply bought for the sole purpose of supporting a company, unless it is fun or interesting. Often do developers go out of their way to offer something to the fans (read:Steam), but it is rare that the people buying the games will go out of their way to offer something in return.

Sure, it makes sense not listening to fans, from a business perspective, but betrayal really?

I'm probably being stupid, but if someone could clear this up, that'd be great, as I'm just curious.

 

[Soulgaunt]

Fans feel like they deserve something because it's just the way people are. They feel like the company is made for them only, with no intent to make a profit. They also feel that Half Life: Episode 3 should be released soon...

 

[SnowdensOfYesteryear]

I find that these "loyal" fans tend to be some of the most vindictive industry "supporters" on any planet should "THEIR" company not do what they want them to.

 

[oreopizza47]

agreed, it's just human nature.
everyone wants to believe that it's all about them at one point or another.
and they also think more things should be free on Steam.

 

[RobThePrezodent]

i agree that developers aren't "betraying" their fans. It's the equivalent of saying a sports team is betraying their fans when they lose a match. The developers don't owe anything to their fans for the reasons you pointed out.

 

[El Poncho]

I'm sure if they were loyal fans they would trust in the decisions the company was making.

 

[Lemon Of Life]

Thank God I'm not the only one.

 

[Steel_crab]

There are a few cases when I have felt 'betrayed' by a company, but only in extreme cases. For example, I was a huge fan of the first Monster Hunter. I was bored as hell after they shut down it's internet service, and bought a PS3 (partly) because the next monster hunter was planned for it. Then Capcom ditched it and decided to make one on Wii. Fair enough...I suppose it is a big market. And now, they are returning to a less casual platform, and have chosen (drumroll please) the xbox. FFFFUUUUUUU-----

 

[MR T3D]

hmmm...
I feel this topic may refer to persons such as myself, and as such, shall enlighen you to my point of view.
I'd call myself an ex-loyal CoD fan.
A 'loyal' fan, I would say, is one whom grows to like a developer because they make games that they happen to like. It almost becomes a relationship, player buying and playing games, dev making them, both are happy.
But then 'your' dev decides to make the series of games you like, well, shitty, instead of (the) game you like. you feel like the dev ignored you are your tastes, which it used to cater to, choosing an easier path to making money.
yeah, it feels like, to a 'loyal' fan of a game series/developer a betrayal when they stop making games you like. you believed, as you would, that based on previous games (which you like) that a developer would make subsequent ones similar in the manner you suspect.