• EatATaco@lemm.ee
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    1
    ·
    6 months ago

    We aren’t talking about something in production, like this app, we are talking about play testing a game in alpha. I would be upset if this was in a released game, or even like the beta test, but if it’s still under serious development it seems incredibly reasonable to me.

    • Vespair@lemm.ee
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      0
      ·
      6 months ago

      A general NDA is reasonable, sure, but allowing only comments which glaze the game but not those which criticize it is not. I genuinely cannot even fathom how you think the contrary; I don’t mean that in offensive, so if you can articulate why you believe that way I would like to try and understand.

      • EatATaco@lemm.ee
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        0
        ·
        6 months ago

        I agree that it should just be an NDA to be the most fair. But keep in mind I’m responding to someone who is claiming this is beyond egregious and that there should be laws against this.

        It’s just not a big deal. It makes sense for them to say that you can’t disparage the game, because it’s in alpha, but why would they restrict good press? If you find this to be disagreeable, it’s alpha and you can just wait for release.

        While I find it disagreeable, I don’t see anything to be outraged over, as avoiding it is as simple as not playing a game in alpha.

        Unlike the mcdonald’s example where it is actually a released product.

        • rockSlayer@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          0
          ·
          6 months ago

          I work for a video game company, and I promise you’re being far too generous about their motives. This NDA prevents press from doing press. If the alpha is bad, they’re not allowed to say how or why it’s bad, at all.

          • EatATaco@lemm.ee
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            0
            ·
            6 months ago

            I understand exactly why they are doing it; what you say comes as no surprise. It’s 100% part of my point.

            Coming from software development, including a small amount of game development, I understand how trash alphas can be, especially if you introduce users/players. So it seems reasonable that if the point of the alpha is to flush these bugs/exploits out, which is the point, then restricting the players who are allowed in from disparaging a far from complete game is not some ridiculous overreach everyone here seems to want it to be.

            • Milk_Sheikh@lemm.ee
              link
              fedilink
              English
              arrow-up
              0
              ·
              edit-2
              6 months ago

              Okay, if they want to bug test, there’s DECADES of accepted practice. Paid/intern bug hunters or playtesters, with an airtight NDA. They’re there to stress tests and find issues, there needn’t be a public facing element.

              Marvel want free bug testers, and to get the hype train moving - but don’t want to pay for actual testers who work quietly, and want only positive commentary. Marvel want an astroturf campaign to push preorders, not actual genuine discussion or bug testing.

              I’ve been part of public alpha releases, and generally they don’t allow streaming or public commentary, outside of the invite-only forum/discord channels - BECAUSE THEY WANT THE FEEDBACK TO FIX ISSUES.

              • EatATaco@lemm.ee
                link
                fedilink
                English
                arrow-up
                0
                ·
                6 months ago

                Marvel want free bug testers, and to get the hype train moving - but don’t want to pay for actual testers who work quietly, and want only positive commentary. Marvel want an astroturf campaign to push preorders, not actual genuine discussion or bug testing.

                Okay, then the problem is with the people doing the work for free, not with Marvel realizing that people will do it for free.

                The issue is that the people who do this work for free are not like you, and want that early access. . .either for strictly personal reasons or because it benefits them financially (such as is the case with streamers).

                • Milk_Sheikh@lemm.ee
                  link
                  fedilink
                  English
                  arrow-up
                  0
                  ·
                  6 months ago

                  You’re literally defending ‘post-truth, race to the bottom standard’ capitalism. Yes dumb consumers exist, but that isn’t a free pass for corporate exploitation or false advertising. Because this isn’t an alpha, it’s advertising.

                  • EatATaco@lemm.ee
                    link
                    fedilink
                    English
                    arrow-up
                    0
                    arrow-down
                    1
                    ·
                    6 months ago

                    es dumb consumers exist, but that isn’t a free pass for corporate exploitation or false advertising.

                    Except I didn’t see where they advertised that people were going to be able to join the alpha with no restrictions, and I don’t see this as “exploitation” at all. People want to play these games first. I don’t get why, but they do. And they are being given that opportunity.