Hitman is a “platform,” not an episodic game

For a studio with no real history of post-release updates, Hitman is brave move.

[2pacalypsenow]

So they didn't have enough time to get feedback from Absolution and they want to tweak the game on every release? Its been almost 4 years and its no secret that hardcore Hitman fans didn't like the way it was, why are they making a game like a TV season? If I buy a game I want to finish it at my own pace, damn this sucks, I had such high hopes to play this game earlier this year.

[-Foxtrot]

I think we know why...money, pure and simple

There is a reason somewhere in all this which made them do episodes with Hitman.

My opinion is that it's an experiment with an AAA games and Hitman was a good Guinea pig.

I don't know how it links into the money agenda but it could be from the game costing less to make doing it this way, the fact that they can somehow get more money out of us or in the end when you get the full game it could have less content on it then you would get from a normal retail game...less content, less money spent, same money from us...profit.

[N4GDgAPc]

How are they making more money when buying all episodes individually cost $60 but if you are willing to wait till the full version comes out its $60?

[-Foxtrot]

What about if there is less content on each episode so in the end there's less content all together then you would get in a normal full retail release

Less content means less development times and it means they've saved money

Can't say it's true but it's one of my speculations since there's a reason why they've done this

[_-EDMIX-_]

@Fox- I mean...thats just wild speculation though with no real evidence to support it.

The first part of Hitman is said to be about 4 hours.

Absolution was about 12 hours (13 or so for me personally).

I mean you have this theory on how they are doing something bad, but what if they are just releasing the game in parts to get more fans of Hitman?

Some on here have stated they would buy it as a part to see if they like it and pay as they go.

I would say thats a good thing as it means the quality of the WHOLE GAME must be worth its price.

If it has less content each EP, then clearly wouldn't fans actually voice this? Wouldn't that actually hurt them not help them?

I see what your saying, but its sorta baseless as when the parts start coming back, the feed back will be very public in terms of its quality.

Or would you rather have to pay full price this fall and not know of the feed back until after many have already bought the game?

Many games can have "meh" parts mid game, but at least you'll know with this game way ahead of time and the team can adjust that vs give you a final game at full price only to have you realize this after you've paid for it.

[xPhearR3dx]

@Foxtrot

"Less content means less development times"

By releasing it in episodic format, their spending more development time instead of working on DLC or a new project. So if anything, it would cost more to make this way. It's not like if a game is 6 hours the devs only get X amount of money versus a game that's 100 hours but took the same amount of time to develop.

Honestly I think people are looking into the release format way too hard to find a way it "screws over gamers". Yes, not getting it all at once sucks, but you can easily wait until it's all out and by the disc version.

Games need to evolve to stay fresh and relevant. I think they choose this release format to make dramatic changes (if needed) to the gameplay over the course of the year and also add more of what players want, and remove or not develop stuff people don't want. Thus, making the full disc based version the Hitman game people want. Instead of them launching yet another Hitman, only to find out certain aspects were hated or need major tweaking.

[_-EDMIX-_]

@xPhear- 100% agreed.

IF someone doesn't want to play it release by release...don't.

We still have to overall wait for games anyway lol.

Horizon Zero Dawn....we will still have to wait for its release.

If someone wants to buy it in parts, let them. If it helps the final game, then so be it.

[Lamboomington]

That doesn't make any sense.

Does their model give them more money ? No. The $5 extra for buying all episodes separately will be far outweighed by the money people WON'T spend after trying out a few episodes.

'Less content than a retail game'
We don't know that. From what I can tell, this games is going to have a lot of value by next year.

The only problem I have with this is that it's going to be difficult to hold people's attention that long.

[FallenAngel1984]

I seriously don't like the statement that a game can be considered a platform most because it has a lot of DLC. It's just pure hyperbole at that point.

This Hitman game in particular won't have an endless supply of DLC to carry it through the years. Eventually the full game has to come out, and by then it'll be obvious the game was broken into an episodic nature.

[2pacalypsenow]

I can see the good in this to release the first part for $15 and people can try it but then why not release a demo? or the full game and then you can buy it in segments if you want, and if the game is not finished, then delay it and release it when its finished.

When companies use words like "Fresh content" "A platform" "A service" It really means we can get more money by doing this.

[_-EDMIX-_]

Because they can leave feedback for future parts.

They can't do that once the full game is released.

Also why force everyone to wait based on some who don't want to buy it this way?

It literally makes no sense. If you want it as a final finished game...they are already doing that for you this fall.

Yes..they can get more money by doing this because its a pay as you go, if someone finds out they don't really like Hitman enough to buy more parts, they are free to only pay for half of the game and move on vs pay full price only to find out they don't like it mid way.

So why pay in full for a game you only like half of?

I mean...do you not understand this is helping you not hurting you?

Why is the team or Square making money a bad thing to you if it ultimately helps you?

The final game will have feed back from many gamers, each EP MUST be worth its price ALONE, thus...your getting a quality over all game vs a game only released as full priced with questionable content.

It shouldn't be this all or nothing for gamers bud.

We don't buy shows this way, music this way...why should we buy games this way? Let gaming have more options vs limited.

Again...it doesn't even hurt you if you only want the final thing, it actually ironically helps you.

[ginsunuva]

Games like CoD and Fifa need to be platforms so that they can stop with the excuses to charge $60 each time for a minor update.

[Kalebninja]

Well Fifa i agree but not CoD. They spend a lot of money making the single player and adding/adjusting mechanics, they dont just plop out the same game each time.

[Tdmd]

I don't care what are they calling it: its episodic all the same, and I don't support this format. Release a full game and Ill consider.

[ifistbrowni]

Well, I guess I buy it when this "platform" turns into a fully developed game.