"If creators are willing to change the fundamentals of their art just because the audience didn't like it, then clearly those creators didn't care all that much about what they were doing or saying in the first place."
You didn't just describe Doom 3 as art did you?
Did you?
ME3's ending/s was/were mis-advertised as well as being frankly awful. It/they need fixing.
Making the flashlight in Doom 3 a menu toggle option would give those that wish to have the original configuration as well as those that find it an improvment the chance to play the way they wish. Options... scarry concept no?
"A creator who panders to an audience is treating them as predictable dupes rather than respected equals. An audience being spoon-fed what they think they want is being treated as a consumer of product rather than an appreciator of art."
If being a "respected equal" means getting tripe like ME3's ending then I'll settle for being a consumer that instead gets what they're advertised and bought.
Once games manage to be consistent products then they can get anxious over being art or not. We're paying £30 - £40 for these products. They need to do what they're advertised to do. I'm not paying good money so a developer can stroke their ego and be considered an artist. I'm paying to be entertained.
Loose the assault rifles, bring back the more creative armoury of DS 1+2. Get friendly fire in. If the player is thick enough to shoot their co-op partner having a consequence of that might teach them to aim better.
Please, whoever is playing the demos in the videos, quit rolling for no reason. Perhaps if you used a mouse you'd hit something as well...
While I don't think it should be glamourised I do think violence needs to be stomach turning, repelent, shocking and nauseating, victims should be writhing in agony, pitiful messes as opposed to throw away events that happen so frequently and fetishised to such an extent that the player either doesn't care or views it as a fun thing to do.
We know that games can provoke strong emotional connections and reactions between the player and characters - for example Bioware rpgs (Mass Effect) or Visual Novels (Katawa Shoujo). Lets extend that to representations of actions be they positive or negative.
If gaming wants to grow up then it needs to approach violence as well as sex in a beliveable manner as opposed to adolescent fantasy - largely unaware of consequence.
Shying away from an issue will help no one. If gaming wants to remain or be perceived as a "childs medium" then so be it. Just don't tell me that games are grown up or viable as art when they aren't handling issues in an adult manner.
Rather than avoid an issue it would be great to see someone who feels strongly and with the abilty to affect change like Warren Spector lead that movement, seek to represent violence in a manner that is appropriate, beneficial to a narrative and respectful. Better that than planting their head in the sand like an ostrich.
It would be naive to think that this is anything but business. The developer is going to need to turn a profit or go bust - that simple.
Dreams of idealism and fighting the big nasty publisher tend to go out the window when accounts are rapidly dwindling and employees need paying. Dreams of creativity aren't going to pay bills in most cases.
msfan1289 put it brilliantly where there is a need for communication between customers and the developer. If the product is a dud the reputation will be even more heavily damaged if it has been crowd financed.
Going purely on "good faith" is a nice ideal but when they're in a competitive market place they need to address those things: the rights, legal issues and communication issues with customers that you find so pesky. They'll need to do it to protect their backs, their intellectual property and to maintain a positive reputation. While a long time fan of a developer will stick by them the average customer isn't going to care less. Only how good the end product is.
Funding based on the people developing - what if the little shinning stars leaves the development team? Do you ask for your money back because you don't like the remainder of the team as much? This despite the lets assume good quality of the product they are making?
That's the only "good" that's really going to matter when it comes down to the balance sheet.
@msfan1289 Throwing their toys out the pram because EA has something to do with the distribution, nevermind that it is an optional outlet to purchase from.
Best of luck with your project that you and your team are working on. It's only my opinion but I think you have a healthy attitude to Kickstarter and how it can work, but also how it can backfire. : )
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