@wasakawaka It's probably not the guys at Epic. It could be an external testing firm or the guys who print the disk. Those are usually low salary people who don't really care about their jobs anyways. Some years ago, when we got leaked, it was the external testing firm.
I hate when companies say "We were humbled". Everything is planned, everything is marketing or PR or any sort of opinion control, so let's not pretend that this is anything different.
@AndCarlsen Over the course of the game, you gain and lose various party members, until it's fixed about 75% through the game. The game does teach you early enough that characters will come and go, since you are put in situations where they do leave.
I think the bottom line is that I don't invest in stats that much, I'm not a min-maxer. I'm looking for a good story and I do believe that death of playable characters can enhance it.
Fully disagree. One of my favorite Final Fantasies is 4, where the party is set at every step of the way and where characters may die. Even the main character gets reset as he transforms during the game. It was a memorable experience. Likewise, Aeris in FF7.
Death in games make things feel consequential. It makes the story stronger, without the feeling that everyone is invincinble and you can just retry a situation until you get it right. In that aspect, I don't consider game stories different from movies and tv shows. The new Battlestar Galactica was my favorite series because sometimes, shit happens. It made everything more poignant, instead of the traditional status quo kept for the whole season, or even series.
@Darnasian So why doesn't Microsoft offer similar low prices on their digital offerings, such as Games on Demand? For every discount Microsoft offers, Steam offers about 50 to 100.
@Deadman_est1982 LemonCreed You are aware that some PC games already require a constant internet connection right? Blizzard has been at the forefront of that trend, and I see no reason why Microsoft wouldn't want to do the same if they feel they can get away with it.
They don't really care about their audiance, they care about the money and if having a constant internet connection brings more money, not only through less piracy but also enticing people with DLC and the likes, of course they are going to do it.
I'm a PC gamer who dabbles in console gaming (Xbox 360) from time to time. When Assassin's Creed required a constant connection, I didn't buy it. When Diablo 3 required a constant connection, I didn't buy it. If a console requires me to have a constant connection, I won't buy it. If it prevents used games sales, I won't buy it.
Steam doesn't enable used games, but instead offers them at low low prices, with that parcel of money still going to the developer. We're talking 4-5 times less than the console offering, for the same game. Microsoft can't even give multiplayer free, a feature which is free on every other system!
Regardless of what happens, I will not buy the next Xbox. That being said, should Sony also push for similar systems (internet required, no used games, etc.), I'll be avoiding this console generation altogether.
It's easy to criticize big companies for not promoting woman, but let's look at a smaller scale instead. How many woman head up their own indie projects? How many of those projects bubble to the top? I couldn't name a single female name in indie games, where the playing field is entirely equal for all. Doesn't mean they don't exist, just means that either they make unremarkable products or, more likely, they just don't enter the field. A field where you can succeed on your own.
I studied in computer sciences. Between the time I started college and when I ended, there was a large drop off of students. We started with almost no females, we finished with maybe 1. That isn't to say they can't do it, I've a friend who does programming. But they're extremely rare.
I'm all for equal opportunity, but not promoting people because they represent a minority. If you're going to be promoted, it should be because your work deserves it.
bahamutdragons' comments