Having read hundreds of forum posts (most inane) on various beta leaks, I felt a thread was in order for the objective discussion of this phenomena. Without a recent leak having occurred, I'm hoping this won't degenerate into a warez/flame thread.
Personally, I simply don't know what to think about leaks. Though I wouldn't hesistate in denouncing them as detrimental to the positive marketing of a game and the subsequent appeal of the finished product, I always end up flippin' getting them. I get them because I like the (very) vague hints they can give as to a game's quality - often aspects of the game that published hands-on impressions overlook or simply cannot put into words. The Half Life 2 beta, for example, conveys much of the game's curious atmosphere - the warm sunsets and glowing skies clashing completely with the rust and decay of an eastern bloc skyline. It's a simple and crude demonstration of what's in store, but also the only thing that has so far convinced me of the game's true quality (well, that and the physics making me fill my pants).
That said, I left the beta well alone after about five minutes of playing around; I could sense massive spoilers could be around any corner and, beyond a quick impression, further exposure to the game's unfinished state would only do harm to the final version. Suffice to say, however, HL2 seems destined to fulfil every ounce of the hype.
Regarding Doom III, I played the leaked alpha again out of sheer curiosity. Now I await the game even more fervently because I know how incredible it looked back then - I can only imagine what it'll look like in July.
But as much as I've drawn these small benefits from the leaks, I'll never condone them. I could, for example, quite easily have completely ruined HL2's plot through a misdirected minute of playing the beta - others will let their curiosity lead them to every corner of what's there and the game's appeal for them will suffer. I'm not going to say that they're getting what they deserve because, for many of us, curiosity is an irresistable force. Better that the opportunity didn't present itself to begin with, and let's face it - these things don't get leaked by accident.
What really annoyed me about the HL2 beta, above all the whining in threads and complete idiocy of some 'gamers', was the arrogance of the anonymous leaker. To suggest that somehow Valve deserved it because they 'lied' to consumers is utterly insane. Marketing people make tall claims, developers make ambitious deadlines and the slippage of release dates is always the result. This happens everywhere - how many movies get delayed for far lazier reasons than the fact that they're not finished? It's Valve's game, they can make it to whatever standard they wish and release it whenever they wish; if that outlook serves to disadvantage anyone it'll be Valve and Sierra themselves when their sales figures drop.
To suggest that Gabe Newell's fancy for 'fictitious' release dates is somehow an affront to hardcore gamers is also quite dumb. Anyone who buys a very expensive graphics card purely to meet the vague deadline of a game's release is being over-zealous at best, a complete muppet to be frank. What possible reason could there be for not waiting and getting the same card cheaper alongside the game's release?
I'm digressing. Essentially, I want to know what a literate community like this has to think on the subject. Are these leaks completely without merit? Are the leakers themselves somehow justified? Do the developers/publishers sometimes deserve what they get? Enlighten me.
Personally, I simply don't know what to think about leaks. Though I wouldn't hesistate in denouncing them as detrimental to the positive marketing of a game and the subsequent appeal of the finished product, I always end up flippin' getting them. I get them because I like the (very) vague hints they can give as to a game's quality - often aspects of the game that published hands-on impressions overlook or simply cannot put into words. The Half Life 2 beta, for example, conveys much of the game's curious atmosphere - the warm sunsets and glowing skies clashing completely with the rust and decay of an eastern bloc skyline. It's a simple and crude demonstration of what's in store, but also the only thing that has so far convinced me of the game's true quality (well, that and the physics making me fill my pants).
That said, I left the beta well alone after about five minutes of playing around; I could sense massive spoilers could be around any corner and, beyond a quick impression, further exposure to the game's unfinished state would only do harm to the final version. Suffice to say, however, HL2 seems destined to fulfil every ounce of the hype.
Regarding Doom III, I played the leaked alpha again out of sheer curiosity. Now I await the game even more fervently because I know how incredible it looked back then - I can only imagine what it'll look like in July.
But as much as I've drawn these small benefits from the leaks, I'll never condone them. I could, for example, quite easily have completely ruined HL2's plot through a misdirected minute of playing the beta - others will let their curiosity lead them to every corner of what's there and the game's appeal for them will suffer. I'm not going to say that they're getting what they deserve because, for many of us, curiosity is an irresistable force. Better that the opportunity didn't present itself to begin with, and let's face it - these things don't get leaked by accident.
What really annoyed me about the HL2 beta, above all the whining in threads and complete idiocy of some 'gamers', was the arrogance of the anonymous leaker. To suggest that somehow Valve deserved it because they 'lied' to consumers is utterly insane. Marketing people make tall claims, developers make ambitious deadlines and the slippage of release dates is always the result. This happens everywhere - how many movies get delayed for far lazier reasons than the fact that they're not finished? It's Valve's game, they can make it to whatever standard they wish and release it whenever they wish; if that outlook serves to disadvantage anyone it'll be Valve and Sierra themselves when their sales figures drop.
To suggest that Gabe Newell's fancy for 'fictitious' release dates is somehow an affront to hardcore gamers is also quite dumb. Anyone who buys a very expensive graphics card purely to meet the vague deadline of a game's release is being over-zealous at best, a complete muppet to be frank. What possible reason could there be for not waiting and getting the same card cheaper alongside the game's release?
I'm digressing. Essentially, I want to know what a literate community like this has to think on the subject. Are these leaks completely without merit? Are the leakers themselves somehow justified? Do the developers/publishers sometimes deserve what they get? Enlighten me.
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