Kickstarter Update #84 - Preorder, Modes, and Launch Update

I thought that after Update 79 it would be smooth sailing from there onwards, but boy was I wrong. Strap those seat belts boys and girls, we got ourselves another round of controversy (or nontroversy like holic said) before the launch of the game.

But seriously though, I find it ridiculous that some people on the KS page are promoting piracy just because of the backer exclusive content being made available to everyone. I mean, for people who backed the $60 tier for a digital copy it must definitely feel like being stabbed in the back, but that's no reason to tell people to pirate a game. I'm 30 years old, I've been gaming since I was child and I've seen so many actual dick moves and anti-consumer practices being done by publishers that this doesn't even register as one to me, so it's actually mind boggling to see that some users in the KS page think that pirating this game is justifiable.

Like I said before, I'm remaining cautiously optimistic about this game and I'd rather wait for reviews before buying it, but now I feel like pre-ordering just out of spite for those people who are promoting piracy.

Bummer about having to pay extra for the steel case but I am a cheapscape lol it's not to bad a price.

Yeah. As I said in my other thread about value, it was a bad idea from the start. Probably poorly-advised from their partners at the time, but I wouldn't be able to prove that and it's not worth digging up now.

a bit disappointed not everything will be coming out at launch as I like to rush through all the content for games like this a bunch before not touching them again until years later but when I look back at how the beta looked and see all the improvements sense then I gotta wonder how many of those improvements would not have been possible had they concentrated on stretch goals instead or would it have been wise to push the game back another year for all that to happen, doing what they did may have been the right choice.

would also just like to say that I like how the backer exclusive content was handled but the announcement about it was foolishly handled, I say it was foolish because it mentions piracy as the reason and same with no-matter what choice they made concerning the matter there are people unhappy about it and when people are unhappy about things like that its not uncommon to look at the reason given for that decision (in this case piracy) and then use that for the reason to pirate out of spite as a way of proving 505 wrong.
you never solve problems like piracy by concentrating on them directly, problems like that get solved through indirect and subtle ways that keep the practice out of the minds of those at risk of it

What about the backer slip cover and the Ayami Kojima box art for the $60+ and $100+ tiers respectively? Are those shipping with the game right from the bat?

We still getting a new update next Thursday?

I haven't had opportunity to read through all of the thread(s) about this, but please if you see posts like this use the "report post" function to bring it to our attention and we'll decide action as necessary.

Not my favorite update for sure but here's my 2 cents:

Exclusive backer content becoming paid DLC.

I think it was pretty obvious to most backers that this would happen after seeing how the original poll was managed. If two wolves and a sheep vote over what will be served for dinner the result shouldn't come to anyone as a surprise. Having said that my personal stance on the issue was to put said content on disc that way there was at least some win-win for everyone involved. Backers would still have access to the content even after Sony / MS or Nintendo closed their respective online stores for today's platforms and all fans that purchased the game would be able to enjoy said content. So the current decision to me is a lose-lose lol. Which brings me to my next point:

Stretch goals as DLC.

My preference would have been to release the game with all or most single player content on disc and releasing content requiring online access as DLC. Obviously this didn't happen but I don't think that comes as a surprise to most of us considering the game's release date. Many of us likely assumed the game wouldn't arrive until fall or winter yet we're getting it next month already. I chose GoG for my digital version of the game for this reason despite not having a gaming quality PC but once all content has been released I'll download it and burn it to M-Disc so at the very least I'll still have access via PC when the content becomes unavailable on consoles.

Positives

The new website looks good and I enjoyed the reveal of Dominique's and Zangetsu's final look. I'm assuming that was Mana's touch that made the two look as good as they do today. Job well done! I'm surprised purify hasn't updated his avatar yet.

Also might be a good idea to highlight the game's fan art gallery on the new website to showcase some of the amazing art that fans have created for this series.

Non backers aren't at fault for having the chance to get access backer exclusive content and doing so. The matter is with the publisher itself, it's all about if them sticking by their claim or not. I'm also skeptical the poll majority is that "most backers didn't seem to mind". I can't fault them too much though as at the end of the day they want this to be a hit like any publisher would, sacrificing their promise to us to appeal to everyone else in the world; it's clear what the best option is when you weigh the pros and cons of both. It is more pragmatic for them to avoid alienating everyone else that's a potential buyer than keeping a promise.

505 essentially had to choose between alienating the backers or everyone else in the world that's a potential buyer. They took the former as it makes to most sense for the game to be hit. My or anyone else's feelings don't mean a thing when it comes to somebody keeping their word, the resolve to keep a tough promise. That's the whole point at the end of the day. It would take a lot of courage and resolve for them to keep a promise that's strategically bad for the end profit of the game and I can't blame them even if it annoys me. However, that's what it comes down to, they decided to appeal to the demographic that matters more now than keeping their word.

For those that didn't back the game do capitalize on your ability to get everything but do not try to justify the company's decision as "right" or "good business model" because it works out for you to get everything even though you weren't a backer. I could sit here as well and say it's a bad business model for them to go back on their word for the backers (remember we're customers as well) which is true as now I won't back a future kickstarter if they make one. Why should I? If I can get everything later anyway there is no reason for me to let them hold my money for so long. Regardless of their reason (which makes sense business wise, I sympathize and understand what the trade off is) they went back on their word for the exclusive content. It's an undeniable fact which is why in our backer emails they give us all the explanations as why they did it and how "we know not all the backers will be happy with this".

Someone also mentioned this and it's a great point regarding shipping and import taxes. I live in Cyprus so will they cover the custom fees and taxes for multiple shipments? I would have rather they took longer if they weren't ready and ship everything in one big collector's box like they promised, we've waited for a long time anyway another month or two wouldn't make much difference at this point.