I’m not one to defend DRMs, but they rarely play a part in games sales. In the case of BF2042, I believe other factors played much bigger roles: bug-ridden beta (and early release), confusing hero system and gameplay, and missing features.
That isn’t really a defense of DRM’s. The acknowledgement swings both ways; if DRM doesn’t play a part in game sales, it is unnecessary.
The post’s characterisation is still accurate because of what the impact of DRM is imagined to be by game studio execs, rather than what it materially is.
I usually don’t use lightly the word “scam” but in my opinion it was a scam at release. It was barely playable during the free WE I tried it. Even simple things like binding Keyboard keys wasn’t working properly. Flying an helicopter felt impossible despite hundreds of hours doing so in previous games. Full of bugs and far from any emblematic BF games. A terrible experience to the point I thought I had opened the wrong game on metacritic and just couldn’t believe we played the same game as these reviewers.
Now my hope is that DICE drops the license and some other studios tries to do something more authentic and polished. The recent Delta Force release despite its shortcomings makes me hopeful that other studios than EA/DICE has interest in this type of games.
I’m not one to defend DRMs, but they rarely play a part in games sales. In the case of BF2042, I believe other factors played much bigger roles: bug-ridden beta (and early release), confusing hero system and gameplay, and missing features.
That isn’t really a defense of DRM’s. The acknowledgement swings both ways; if DRM doesn’t play a part in game sales, it is unnecessary.
The post’s characterisation is still accurate because of what the impact of DRM is imagined to be by game studio execs, rather than what it materially is.
But the critics said it was a great game at release. Remember that IGN?
It’s at this point that I understood some big reviewers are mostly bullshit.
The metacritics score is in the low 60s and having played the game at release I was mostly underwhelmed.
I usually don’t use lightly the word “scam” but in my opinion it was a scam at release. It was barely playable during the free WE I tried it. Even simple things like binding Keyboard keys wasn’t working properly. Flying an helicopter felt impossible despite hundreds of hours doing so in previous games. Full of bugs and far from any emblematic BF games. A terrible experience to the point I thought I had opened the wrong game on metacritic and just couldn’t believe we played the same game as these reviewers.
Now my hope is that DICE drops the license and some other studios tries to do something more authentic and polished. The recent Delta Force release despite its shortcomings makes me hopeful that other studios than EA/DICE has interest in this type of games.