For all you true video gamers out there (so not those of you that only buy Madden and Call of Duty every year), we're entering a very interesting time in gaming. With the Next Generation Console launches quickly approaching, we're on the verge of what's to be expected as an evolution in gaming as we know it. Whether it's the PlayStation 4 or the Xbox One, both offer whole new and unique experiences. However, even during these exciting and promising times, there's been a dark cloud hanging over our beloved world of video games for quite some time. Even more worrisome is the fact that this cloud has been growing. This cloud of which I speak is surprisingly, video game launches. Now traditionally, launch days for some of the most anticipated AAA titles of the year are the most exciting and joyful days us gamers look forward to. However, in recent years I feel it's merely become nothing more than the first day the game is available. Now you're probably wondering what could possibly suck all the fun and pleasure out of these occasions for me. The answer is simple: unfinished games.
Somewhere along the line, video game companies have become complacent and feel that it's perfectly acceptable to sell their games in an incomplete or unfinished state. Gone are the days of buying a new game, taking it home and basking in the perfection of it. Tell me if this sounds familiar. Buying a game you've been looking forward to for months or even years, getting it home, ripping it open and popping it into your system faster than a pit crew working on a racecar only to realize, there's a few updates standing between you and your enjoyment. Stop me if this sounds familiar. You get your game all loaded up, your friends all rushing to play online together only to find that the servers are down, matchmaking is disabled, or you just can't connect to each other. When did it become ok for us to spend $65 of our hard earned money for something that isn't even finished yet? Would it be acceptable to buy a car and the radio not work? What about something even more important such as the brakes? Then why is it alright for video game companies to essentially do just that? When we buy most games they feature some sort of story/campaign mode and usually an online. When the online isn't working on launch day, already that's essentially half the game that's unavailable.
For all these video games studios out there that have allowed this to become commonplace, I have a suggestion for you. If only half your game is available at launch, how about you charge half the cost because I think it's laughable to expect everyone to pay full price. We as gamers need to come together, across all systems, players from all genres and unite under a single banner. We have a common goal we can all work towards. If we unite, and I mean truly make our collective voices be heard, we can create change. Throughout history, masses have united and shown that with a common goal, they can inspire change. Now I'm not so disillusioned to think that this cause is as just as some of the examples in history that may come to mind, but I still feel that multi-million dollar video games companies essentially stealing from their consumers is more than enough to issue a call to arms. With the Next Generation in gaming upon us, can we really afford (both literally and figuratively) to remain silent? The answer is a resounding "No".
Alone, these companies laugh at our complaints, look at their support forums and chuckle at our issues knowing what a general minority it is and that their games will still rake in millions of dollars for them. I'm tired of filling their pockets while I sit on a frozen loading screen or stay glued to my laptop waiting for word of a much needed patch for a game. I declare that we the gamers deserve a full and finished game when we buy it. I'm not even calling for a stop of downloadable content (as much of a scam as that is in its own right). I merely feel we deserve a fully functioning game when it releases. Companies such as Activision and EA should be put on notice that we will no longer accept their poor standards of a game come launch day. These companies don't respond to words, they respond to action. It's because of this that I challenge every TRUE gamer that reads this to in some form or another, make your protest of these actions known. When forums and emails fail to grab their attention, perhaps the time will one day come for boycotts. Imagine the power us gamers truly would wield over these companies if come launch day, all those copies of their games that they expected to sell out remained on the shelves. Imagine how things could change moving forward.
I know what I'm asking for sounds challenging and I don't claim that it'll be easy. It will surely be an uphill battle but isn't it a battle worth fighting? We work hard for our money and as such, shouldn't have it stolen from us. Games shouldn't be ready months after they hit shelves and we've long lost patience waiting. Stand up and be heard for what we are: proud gamers. This could be our last stand before the Next Generation begins. How do you want the Next Generation do be defined?
