Update 2: EA Dismisses Dungeon Keeper Mobile Criticism

[Chimpzy_v1legacy]

So what they're basically saying is "Our game isn't bad becuase look at all the downloads it has gotten and look at all the people discussing this game, that obviously means that our game is fantastic and does not need changing we have definitely decided."

Yeah, seems they are confusing success for quality. Then again, as far as EA is concerned, success probably really is quality.

Ok so, EA released another piece of shit. Time to move on and look for that Dungeon Keeper fix elsewhere. Something like ...

Spoiler: War For The Overworld

Just look at it. It's Dungeon Keeper in all but name. That's still no guarantee that it is a worthy successor, but it does look a damn sight better than EA's wallet draining borefest.

In any case, here's the website [https://wftogame.com/] and there is a beta on Steam.

 

[themilo504]

I?m sure that there are people who like this game a lot and I won?t judge those people, but those people are not dungeon keeper fans most of them probably never even heard of dungeon keeper, so why do you call this game dungeon keeper?

Is ea really this stupid and out of touch with their audience? Or have they invented a machine that turns anger into money?

 

[major_chaos]

Yea I honestly don't understand the rage here either. Obviously part of my problem is that I thought the original was kinda awful and don't understand why its considered a classic but even setting that aside this new mobile version just seems like a fairly typical example of the "pay2notwait" junk that Zynga proved was horrifyingly profitable, and I can't really blame EA for doing what works.

 

[Sunrider]

Are you implying that one's career should be worth more than one's pride, character and honesty?

I doubt that's what he was saying, but in all honesty, it kind of is. There are some bridges you don't want to burn when you have a family to support. The best is obviously to balance the two if possible, but when it comes to the decision of losing your job or to be dishonest, you're most likely better off choosing dishonesty. It's not easy getting a new job, especially right now.

I'd love to be the optimistic, principle-driven person I was as a teenager, but that's unfortunately not how life works for many, if not most.

Disclaimer, because this forum often needs it, which baffles me:
I'm not defending the game, nor do I agree with the statement. The game looks like a steaming pile of shit, and I'd rather cut my fingers off than defile the memory of one of the best games from my childhood by even trying it.

 

[Andy Shandy]

You know what, EA, I usually defend you on the site, but this time I can't. By pretty much all accounts this is complete and utter horseshit being peddled and trying to sweep the criticism you rightly get as "angry reactions we've seen around the internet" is fucking awful.

Especially going on about the hardcore Dungeon Keeper fans expecting a Dungeon Keeper experience. Perhaps a valid criticism (I doubt it) but you want to know how you could've avoided that? By not calling the thing fucking Dungeon Keeper. But I'm guessing you called it that specifically to play on those people's nostalgia, so that whole excuse can go out the window immediately anyway.

So yes, on this matter anyway, fuck you EA, and fuck that abomination you call Dungeon Keeper Mobile.

EDIT: And of course it's only going to get 5 stars when this is your rating system.

Which if you choose the 1-4 stars option takes you to the below picture

So instead of letting you rate it less than 5 stars, you're basically given a support ticket.

 

[Hawkeye21]

Yea I honestly don't understand the rage here either. Obviously part of my problem is that I thought the original was kinda awful and don't understand why its considered a classic but even setting that aside this new mobile version just seems like a fairly typical example of the "pay2notwait" junk that Zynga proved was horrifyingly profitable, and I can't really blame EA for doing what works.

Well, how about effectively blocking anything less than a 5-star rating when asking to rate app in-game? If you try to give it 1-4 stars it redirects you to make a support ticket.

 

[BeeGeenie]

To be fair, I'm sure most of the people at Mythic were just doing their jobs. The artists probably put a lot of effort into their work. The programmers made sure the code worked according to the producer's specifications. They're just trying to make a paycheck.

It's just too bad that EA and this Skalski chump were the ones giving out orders, making them waste their talent on this dreck.

EA, your "game" is bad, and you should feel bad.

 

[CorvusFerreum]

I like the one and only positive review from this guy [http://www.metacritic.com/user/Rick_from_Yemen] on Metacritic.

Of course if spending Gems? isn't your style, then that's fine, the wonderful developers of this great game (Mythic?, subsidiary of Electronic Arts, LLC) have made accommodations for players like you! You can just wait and build at your leisure!
For instance to get the same amount of tiles mined as the most cost-effective Gem? package (14,000 Gems? at the low price of just $0.007 per gem or $109.99) you'll just have to wait 56 days, which isn't very long at all. Just remember to log in and tell Horny? to set a new tile to be dug each day, or you may end up waiting longer! ;-P

I'm honestly not sure if this is one of the bluntest attemps at astroturfing I have seen to this day or if this guy is just taking the piss. Either way: I'ts just glorious!
Edit: Awwwwww, it's down



It's a shame really that this still seems to make them money. As long as this goes on, there is no real chance for mobile gaming to really shine. I honestly feel sad for this, because there are mobile titles that work reasonably well without being too shallow or exploitive. But the few good examples are just burried under tons of cowclickers and more cowclickers.
I think one problem is that many people are for some reson not okay with purchasing a mobile title but are okay with paying money in-app. In the end the problem is that people are still willing to throw money at shit like this.

 

[SwagLordYoloson]

First Evil Genius is disgraced with a 'social' release, then Simcity, now Dungeon Keeper. This business model must be very successful, these 'reboots' seem to prey on those blinded by nostalgia to try out the new edition of one of their old favorite games.

 

[OldNewNewOld]

There is a reason why the game has such a high rating and it's the in game rating.
If gives you two options. First is 5 star rating which will redirect you directly to the google play store page and select 5 stars.
The other option is 1-4, which will redirect you to a EA page asking for e-mail, other information and opens a fucking Origin support ticked, but doesn't link you to the store page to let you vote.

 

[Gunner 51]

Well, look on the bright side.

I know this game is going to be a steaming pile - but this just ruins EA's credibility further. Which means less people buying their products in the future, which in turn means less profits for them in the future.

Though it's sort of funny and sad how the EA stamp is fast becoming the new LJN Rainbow. (An old developer who kept making bad movie related games and inevitably went out of business.)

 

[Playful Pony]

Muh, to be expected I suppose. Shouldn't we just... Stop buying EA games sometime soon?

I guess we might as well start living with the knowledge that the game franchises of old exist only in our memories now (and GOG.com)... They destroyed Sim City -the first game series I ever played- and broke my heart, but I have only my self to blame for not having seen it coming. They did it to Battlefield too, and they'll do it to any other series I ever enjoyed. When SW: Battlefront went to EA and Dice I went ahead and declared that fanchise dead as well! Maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised, but I'm not optimistic X3.

 

[Teoes]

They've done some legitimately good things of late, indicating a desire to not be the scumbag of the industry; then they go and act like scumbags again. Anyone who might have been developing a shred of empathy for them forgets all their recent progress and busts out the well-used torches and pitchforks.

 

[KnightOfTwo]

Why am I not surprised? EA Employee defends EA business practices. Nothing new here.

I will however add this in. I went to look at the Google Play store page to see the reviews - over 65,000 5 stars and counting - and while searching for it I came across this.

http://www.gamezebo.com/news/2014/02/03/why-are-you-so-mad-about-dungeon-keeper

The defense of this pathetic excuse for a game from someone who doesn't work for EA is what baffles me. So because I can buy old Dungeon Keeper on GOG then I have no leg to stand on to say that this is an inferior experience (and barely an experience at that)? It's a good game but people just have the wrong expectations on what that is? It's ok because they are just trying to copy another freemium game that was succesful (that's EAs corporate mottto. "Copy it, but more expensive"). I'm sorry, but that's what offends me more than anything anyone from EA says because we know they will defend it. If you like the game, that's fine. I can't consider you as having an opinion worth listening to, but fine. But to have the gall to say that it's a great exerpience but that it's the players fault for having the wrong expectations on what kind of experience it is? That's ridiculous

(Just a disclaimer because this is the internet and it's hard to say what people might do. I am not condoning, nor am I supporting or advocating that the person writing the piece should be spammed with angry comments, emails, private messages, twitter posts, or anything of a similar sort. This is not sarcasm or any attempt at being fascetious, but a 100% genuine statement.)

 

[Furioso]

Of course it has a high rating, they give you free gems if you give the game 5 stars. This whole thing is despicable.

 

[gibboss28]

I think you could have done a bit more research mr Skalski, Richard Ridings did the voice of your Mentor in Dungeon Keeper 1 + 2, not the voice of Horny. Hell Horny didn't have a voice in DK1. Only time he had a voice was in the DK3 trailer.

 

[Oskuro]

"Our intention with the mobile version was to give as many people as possible a taste of that original Dungeon Keeper experience, and for some people, that's not the way they want to re-visit the franchise."

This is a massive problem with the entertainment industry in general nowadays: They take a brand name, use it to benefit from that brand's established audience, and then act surprised when it turns out that said audience expected the brand to be faithful to the original.

This is, probably, a textbook case of trying to "have a cake and eat it too". Slapping a recognized brand on something is easy. Actually doing work to make sure those who seek a familiar brand feel at home? Not so easy, specially with cases like Dungeon Keeper, where you try to adapt an old-school PC game into the app market.

The really sad thing here is that this type of brand abuse is going to blow up on their faces. All these entertainment companies are burning down their precious brands and IPs, and building up a lot of resentment from audiences, which could result in brands becoming worthless, thus losing the industry a way of increasing profits.

Short term thinking screwing up everybody yet again.

 

[BeerTent]

Muh, to be expected I suppose. Shouldn't we just... Stop buying EA games sometime soon?

I guess we might as well start living with the knowledge that the game franchises of old exist only in our memories now (and GOG.com)... They destroyed Sim City -the first game series I ever played- and broke my heart, but I have only my self to blame for not having seen it coming. They did it to Battlefield too, and they'll do it to any other series I ever enjoyed. When SW: Battlefront went to EA and Dice I went ahead and declared that fanchise dead as well! Maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised, but I'm not optimistic X3.

Isn't it frustrating, being the only person with half a mind to control their spending habits? I haven't touched an EA game since Mass Effect 1, I tried ME2 without buying, and I probably haven't missed anything since then. It blows my mind that I see people who are "Fuck EA. They should die!" and then they put their smartphone away, walk into the store, and buy Battlefield, FIFA, and Sim city.

If you actually haven't bought anything from them for that long, Kudos, and you're not alone.

 

[Erttheking]

And I thought EA might've have actually been turning over a new leaf there. Well, one step forward, two steps back.