The idea of releasing a game as an Early Access version is not a new idea or a new system, but it is more common in independent games, new ideas and some online games, but during the current year we have followed the release of more than one AAA game as an Early Access version, which is a little strange because we always expect that the big games should be released Completely and definitively.
We followed the postponement of the Cyberpunk 2077 game again and it is clear that the Cd Projekt team completely refuses to release the game in a deficient way and refuses to even release it as an Early Access version that is developed over time, as happened with a lot of titles during the current year.
Also, the year 2020 so far does not provide many good titles, and we cannot consider Early Access games like the 2020 games that enter the evaluation because these versions always have a special evaluation linked to the size of the content they present at the present time and also do not pay attention to many problems The technology inside it.
Of course, Early Access versions affect the games industry in some way, but the question here is is this effect positive or negative?
What are Early Access versions?
We can consider these versions as incomplete games, as they are an initial version of a game that has reached an advanced stage of development and has become playable in some way.
These versions deal with the game in a very unique way because they are subject to change in almost all aspects of the game, so the gameplay itself can change when the final version of the game is released.
Also, the level of graphics and story events are subject to modification or even deletion and addition, and in this way, the playing experience can differ in all aspects when the final version is released.
Some people may think that these copies are just complete games, but they still have some technical problems that are addressed with time, but the idea is that these copies are not only limited to technical problems as we have explained, but rather extend to all aspects and elements of the game.
The biggest problem is that we do not know the final date for the release of the final version, the game is released as an early version and the developer starts working on it and updating it continuously until he feels that he has completely finished the title and then he will release the final version so sometimes we find that the game continues as an early release version for several years.
The most prominent early Access versions of 2020.
Mount and Blade Bannerlord
This game was very much anticipated by its fans because it took a very long time during the development process and was postponed more than once to the point that we started to lose hope in seeing it.
After that, the game was announced during the current year, but an early release version, which was frustrating to some and my enthusiasm for others, who could not wait any longer.
With the launch of the game, the importance of this title appeared, as the game had the best launch on the Steam store during the current year.
By the way, personally, I was considered one of the most fans of this series, and I was waiting for the game on pins and needles in any way, even if it was an alpha version, and when the game was released I immediately tried it and reviewed it.
Unfortunately, when I tried the game, I found it very fun and entertaining, but it was not suitable for anyone who did not know the series originally, because the game was full of technical problems and construction problems to the extent that I think it will only be acceptable to someone who really loves this game.
Without looking at the technical problems in the game, unfortunately it suffered from major problems in the main building that could ruin the experience.
For example, the kingdoms in the game were significantly different in strength and the events of the game proceeded faster than necessary to the point that after only several hours you find kingdoms that completely disappeared from the map and their castles and cities became in the grip of other kingdoms and this should not happen because the game belongs to The quality of games is supposed to extend for a very long time.
Also, its economic system was poor and superficial, and you simply find yourself possessing money that can buy all the map and the best gear and weapons.
After that, the developer began to issue many successive updates, including the big and important ones, and the small ones working to solve some simple problems, and now the game has become fully playable and anyone who tries it will like it even if it is new to the series. For example, the aforementioned kingdoms problem has been solved, but of course there are still some The problems the developer is working on at the moment.
Baldur’s Gate III.
One of the most important role-playing games released this year and the game was very much anticipated because it belongs to a series that is the oldest and most important in this type of games and the interest increased after we knew that it was coming from the development of the Larian Studios team, which is the team that provided us with the game Divinity Original Sin 2 Which is considered one of the best role-playing experiences during the current generation.
When I tried the game, I found that it offers an experience imitating the deepest roles so far this year, as it has an irreplaceable dialogue system that engages the game and its events completely.
But, unfortunately, the game suffers greatly in terms of lip movement and incomplete graphic designs at all, all of this is not a problem and can be dealt with, but the real crisis lies in the incomplete story in the first place because the story of the game was divided into three chapters and the launch version contains only the first chapter and it needs to Approximately 30 hours of gameplay.
After I finished the first chapter, I became highly suspended, so I need to complete the story, especially since it is wonderful, but unfortunately I have to wait now until the second and third chapters are published, which may take the developer a whole year according to their official statements.
The days are taking us and I am afraid that when the second and third chapters come out, I will either have forgotten the game originally or no longer shouted on my list of interests, which is very sad and personally I would have preferred this game to be released in 2021 or even 2022, but completely and without any decrease because this game if it was issued in its final form It could have been some of the best games of the year.
Feasibility of Early Access copies.
So far, the early launch versions that were released during the year 2020 took more of the games than they presented, as all the games are very much deficient, and the problem here is that the first impression lasts and also many other titles are released that may make the player forget to follow the old games and their updates.
In most cases, issuing early launch versions is intended to push the budget of the developer and publisher forward, as a lot of money has been spent during the development process without a real financial return because the game was not released.
Also, in some cases, the early release is due to public pressure on the developer and publisher and their desire to try the game, and this situation is due to the wrong time plans drawn up by the companies or early detection of the game
The perfect format for Early Access versions.
Standards must be set for these copies so that they do not destroy many important and good titles. Perhaps the most prominent of these criteria is the necessity to finish the game in a controlled and accurate technique, games should be issued with the least number of problems and technical faults, which unfortunately is something that we do not see much even with the final versions where it is adopted The developer is releasing updates that improve these technical problems.
If companies want to issue a limited version of the game, it must be limited in a specific way, for example, the version of the game in its main phase only, provided that the rest of the game stages and online modes are added at a later time.
Also, the game can be issued with a limited number of characters and tools sufficient to end the game without problems.
Conclusion
Companies should pay attention to providing full games, especially if the titles are large or expected with great anticipation and personally very respectful of CD Projekt Red's position when it announced the postponement of its very important game Cyberpunk because the most important thing is its success and that it is consistent with the expectations of the fans.
As for us players, I do not advise anyone to buy Early Access games, especially given the wrong understanding of the developer for this type of games, so we must at least wait until we read a review from a reliable and neutral place about these copies until we know the size of the experience that we will get.
This action is not only intended to conserve money but also to maintain the level of enthusiasm for the game we have been waiting for.