Poll: Are gamers today too self entitiled?

[Squidbulb]

Yes the ME3 ending was bad but do gamers really have the right to demand it to be re-written? It's kind of like buying a book, reading it and finding it really good up until the ending which sucked and then writing to the writer demanding they re-write it, it just doesn't happen but it seems to be okay for gamers to do this.

Thing is, gamers promised an ending that isn't an "A, B, C" choice. And despite that promise, that's exactly what they got.

As a consumer, I'd demand a refund on the basis that the product doesn't do what I was lead to believe it does.

You're rarely going to get something 100% as you were told it was. It's called business. Businessmen exaggerate. That's how advertising works. It's like those fitness programs that claim to be able to make you lose 10 stone or whatever yet in reality you'll lose about 5 grams (probably. I've never actually tried one).
Nothing you buy is ever going to be exactly what you expected, and you can't change that.

 

[Dragoon]

Yes the ME3 ending was bad but do gamers really have the right to demand it to be re-written? It's kind of like buying a book, reading it and finding it really good up until the ending which sucked and then writing to the writer demanding they re-write it, it just doesn't happen but it seems to be okay for gamers to do this.

Thing is, gamers promised an ending that isn't an "A, B, C" choice. And despite that promise, that's exactly what they got.

As a consumer, one could demand a refund on the basis that the product doesn't do what they were lead to believe it does. That's the issue. The gamers aren't unhappy with the ending because the ending is "bad", they're unhappy because they were specifically promised they'd not get an Endingtron 3000 yet that's exactly what they got. As opposed to the many, many different endings that they can afford to make since it's the last game and they don't have to worry about continuity.

Yeah I agree that it was not what we were promised, I just made that point for discussion value. I think that in the future Bioware will be more careful about making promises they aren't going to keep because the backlash has been horrible for them, not that it isn't deserved.

 

[Phasmal]

I was tempted just to post: Do bears shit in the woods?

Obviously some gamers sometimes are going to be entitled. I mean, you can't please everyone, add that to all the expectations that get built up over development time from teasers or concept art and if you are presented with something not as good- some people are gonna get pissed. This is not always a good thing, but it's not so terrible either.

Besides, Mass Effect ending sucked. If we just accepted that and said nothing game companies would think it was okay to put out things that suck. And it's not. Cause they suck.

 

[Vegosiux]

You're rarely going to get something 100% as you were told it was. It's called business. Businessmen exaggerate. That's how advertising works. It's like those fitness programs that claim to be able to make you lose 10 stone or whatever yet in reality you'll lose about 5 grams (probably. I've never actually tried one).

Uh. Yeah. I'd tell you why I think it works, but then I'd have to ask myself if I kiss my mother with this mouth...oh no wait, if I eat with these hands. In any case, it wouldn't be too kind on the society.

*ahem*

I'll just say my job entails plenty of infomercials; and I always go "Who in their right mind would buy that junk?" Turns out...they always do.

 

[Smiley Face]

I think we're a little too self-entitled, but only a little. Some of the extremes being thrown around are definitely out of line. People should demand good products, and they should present vocal opposition to things they have a problem with. They shouldn't lose their sense of perspective though - too often, credit isn't gven where it's due, and things are blown WAY out of proportion. But I think it's a good thing that there's such an active, vocal consumer base - clarifies the issues, gets people on the same page.

 

[Antari]

I have noticed just recently that a large number of gamers seem to complain alot about many things they feel they are entitled to. For example a better ending for Mass Effect 3 and just recently the removal/alternative to Games for Windows Live for the PC release of Dark Souls. I know that the ending for ME was pretty bad and there are many threads out there discussing that, but this is not about that.

Whenever anything that people don't like is announced or found there always seems to be a massive uproar about it with petitions and many angry posts flying over the internet. This is by no way a new thing but just recently its exploded in popularity.

TLDR- Are we as gamers too self entitled today or are we right in demanding things be changed just because we don't like it?

I think its alright to complain about some things such as witheld game content but I don't think its right to demand that a developer change their games story just because people don't like it.

The only thing that this industry needs to realize is the customer is always right. Every other industry can't function if they don't listen to customers. But gaming? Well if we let them do what they want (Electronic Arts), we see the results. As to demanding changes AFTER the fact, I find it pretty pointless and stupid. But demanding the company change its ways before any further purchases is more than appropriate.

 

[RedDeadFred]

In regards to the ending of Mass Effect 3, no. The entitlement there I feel is justified.

In regards to most other things, yes we can be way too entitled.

 

[Fujimora_Pantsu]

No. Consumers have the right to a full, workable product that fulfills the promises made by the producers. Numerous people have massive problems using GFWL, taking 10 tries just to access the servers. They should have access to the servers, because that is one of the fundamental features of Dark Souls, in fact, it was a key selling point for several consumers.

As for the Mass Effect ending, it fails to live up to the promises made by the developers, things which were advertised with the game. These were the "decisions which completely shape your experience? and ?radically different ending scenarios.? The ending fails to live up to that, as the ending is mostly unrelated to any choice you made in the game, and comes down to one final paragon or renegade choice.

Was it wrong for gamers to refuse to buy The Darkness 2 or Gotham City Impostors because of the lack of a FOV slider? Again, no, because that was necessary to prevent a downright painful playing experience for a large group of the consumers.

The consumer is entitled to all of these things, and if companies fail to provide them, well I highly doubt that complaints should be coming across as self-entitled whining.

 

[burningdragoon]

Eh depends. The ME3 definitely got out of hand, but it's not entitlement at its core.

The Dark Souls GFWL thing is a functional complaint, not a thematic/"artistic" one. Should be a pretty obvious difference.

Gaming is a more interactive medium than books so you feel more involved in it. I didn't like the ending to the Harry Potter books, and the Darren Shan ending was a total mind fuck, but I was okay with that. I'm also okay with the vast majority of bad game endings. I just shrug and move on. However I was attached to the ME3 ending because I was attached to most of the game before it, my decisions were shaping the story up to the point of the ending, therefore that's why I want it changed. I have no decisions to make in a book, I'm reading someone elses imagination and story hence people are less pissed off.

Gaming is a more directly interactive medium than books, yeah. That doesn't mean there aren't people that are extremely attached to book stories, cuz there are. But you know what, there is plenty of merit to why people feel more involved in games like Mass Effect. Plenty.

However. There is another group of people who are way, way waayyyyyyyyyyyyyyy more involved than any of us. The people who made it. A single run through the whole series is what, 100 hours? That's about 2 weeks of work for BioWare employees. That's not an "artistic integrity" thing either. It's a they care way more about their game than most of us act like and way more than most of us think we do.

Doesn't mean they shouldn't change their work, but we need to understand that our investment is minuscule compared to theirs.

 

[Trippy Turtle]

Not every gamer is self entitled. You describe everyone in the same way. For all of those who voted yes are you saying that every gamer, no matter if they just play angry birds occasionally is self entitled?

 

[TrevHead]

Those who truly care about the state of gaming and customers rights, enough to put their money where their mouth is are sadly in a tiny minority compared to most gamers who act like entitled fanboys.

Look at this with EA, they have been a diabolical company for ages (see that Are EA evil thread) where most ppl didnt bat an eyelid, but because the Mass Effect 3 has a rubbish ending they suddenly get voted in as the worlds worst company.

Give it another month or 2 and all this will have been forgotten and most folk will have their wallets open and ready for another gouging

 

[Doc Reaper]

Yes, definitely. I beat ME3 and picked "an Ending" and it was perfectly fine (admittedly i'm a little curious to see what happens next; which is helped by the new dlc). i can see where they're coming from about the ending just coming out of nowhere, but i was perfectly fine with how it ends; so yeah, definitely. I'm an ME fan (i've beaten ME 1&2 numerous times) but when i finished it, i basically went "ending was okay; now onto my next game" so as i said, the ending didn't bother me as much as other people

 

[zehydra]

It's difficult to say that MOST gamers are too entitled, but there definitely seems to be an air of entitlement everywhere I go in threads like these.

I really do hate the idea of the fan having any input in the creation of my game. If you like it, fine. If you don't like it, fine. Just keep your hands out of my work, will ya?

 

[Asuka Soryu]

"It'd be like me not having enough cookies, and you not having one. I go bake you a special cookie that takes up a lot of my time and effort. Then, you decide that I didn't use the right chocolate chips in my cookie, and you throw it in my face. Isn't that a bit of a dick move?"

That might be the worst analogy I've ever heard.

In actuality, it would be like you running a business. A cookie baking business. You create and sell cookies for a profit. I'm a long time customer who is a fan of your chocolate chip cookies. I order your latest chocolate chip cookie, only to find after eating it you decided to make it oatmeal raisin instead, because you thought that would be more interesting. I complain, and you call me entitled. And then you ask me to buy some DLC raisins.

Is it wrong that I laughed at DLC raisins?

 

[Samantha Burt]

That might be the worst analogy I've ever heard.

In actuality, it would be like you running a business. A cookie baking business. You create and sell cookies for a profit. I'm a long time customer who is a fan of your chocolate chip cookies. I order your latest chocolate chip cookie, only to find after eating it you decided to make it oatmeal raisin instead, because you thought that would be more interesting. I complain, and you call me entitled. And then you ask me to buy some DLC raisins.

DLC Raisins would be a good name for a band.

Captcha: June july (hear that, bioware? )

 

[spartan231490]

For the most part, no. The concerns are legitimate. People see gamers acting like consumers of any other product, and ddcide that they're all self-entitled little twerps.

When was the last time a movie with a bad ending had a complaint filed against it with the FTC? I'm sorry, but that argument is paper thin at best.

A little. I think it's just that because our medium is interactive we get used to having a say in things tend to feel that that say is a little more than it actually is.

 

[Canadamus Prime]

People deserve to play Dark Souls using a system that doesn't completely break the game.

Uh uh, wrong! When it comes to entertainment, people don't deserve anything. Television, movies, video games, books etc, these are all privileges; luxuries if you will. Nothing when it comes to any of them is deserved.

 

[Clive Howlitzer]

Not even a little bit. Game publishers wouldn't even exist if not for us, they should be bending over backwards to please us, not the other way around.

 

[imperialwar]

When I buy a product, I expect it to work as advertised, be of a similar quality to similar products I have purchased at a similar price, and not have any unforeseeable problems.

If the product does not do these things, then I, as a consumer should:

- Inform the manufacturer of the product why I wasn't satisfied with the product

- Advise other consumers to not purchase said product

- Take my business elsewhere

This applies to everything, including games. Unfortunately, gamers are really good at the first to things, but not very good at taking their business elsewhere. So, if anything, gamers aren't acting entitled enough.

Although the Mass Effect 3 ending thing is ridiculous, but that's less of entitlement and more of gamers not having their priorities straight.

Words right out of my mouth.
Except the ME stuff as I didnt touch that with a 10ft pole ( the second one just didnt grab me in any meaningful way )
Most games that come out here are $110 new (PS3) and about $80 (PC).
That's a lot of money out of my income to invest in something that is released in 2nd rate condition. Only few games sellers now offer a return policy, really turning it into tough luck territory.
Not every one has internet connection so this day 1 DLC bullshit is just that: crap.
I have few vices and even less money to spare on said vices.
I do extensive research on products I buy, not just games. But games are subjective, there's no guarantee it will be any good, let alone if i will actually enjoy it.

 

[Clive Howlitzer]

People deserve to play Dark Souls using a system that doesn't completely break the game.

Uh uh, wrong! When it comes to entertainment, people don't deserve anything. Television, movies, video games, books etc, these are all privileges; luxuries if you will. Nothing when it comes to any of them is deserved.

By that same token though, none of us are REQUIRED to buy them. Game developers and publishers owe their entire existence to us. If we stop buying their products, they stop existing. Therefore, they should be expected to take some steps to ensure they keep their consumers happy. Lately, it feels like all gamers are expected to bend over backwards to accommodate the publishers, when it should be the other way around. If they don't want to play ball and accommodate us a bit, then they should just go out of business. It is about time gamers became responsible consumers instead of throwing money at every piece of trash out there.