I have never been one to participate in online forum talk. It has always been hard to sometimes understand peoples points of view from typed messages or convey my own. Others just act act in a manner which they wouldn't do outside of the internet. So find it easy to get away with in the virtual world. For these reasons I have usually stayed away. However, this topic has made me feel compelled to do so.
Having played every iteration of GT, and having brought two consoles specifically - which I am sure alot of other people on GTplanet have done as well - I am not sure it gives me more right to voice my opinions on this franchise that we all love or loved at one point, but it does give me some insight on my once favorite video games franchise, and it's gradual decline.
Now I am done with my introduction. Bear with me. Here is my two cents:
So much was promised with GT6, as it was with GT5 before it. And the promises haven't been kept, up until now! I honestly do not know of any other developer with such a bad track record. Or in this age of internet and communication, such lack of feedback to the buying public. Yes, the promised updates might arrive, but when? Alot of gamers might have moved on by then and feel cheated or disenchanted.
Yet, Kazunori Yamauchi finds time to take part in real GT races and participate in a documentary about himself. Yet he, and his company have recieved the profits of a unfinished product, with no idea if or when it will be completed.
I give you an example:
Say you hire a builder and his employees to build you an extension to your home. Something you could enjoy during an important family occasion, or the during the summer season. Say he draws a plan. Shows you prints, ideas, photos of what the extension might look like. You pay him the full amount of money for the labor and material costs. The work stops, and you were left with just a basic room, with no electricity, heating, or a big open patio. Things that you had payed for beforehand, believing you wouldn't have to wait long for it to be all completed. But now have no idea if or when they will be included. You have not been contacted by the main builder. And find out he is enjoying himself, indulging in his favorite pastime; mountain climbing? Would you be not be happy? Feel cheated? Yes, the amount of money involved would be to a completely different level. But can't parallels still be drawn between the two?
I know of no other developer that charges £20 for a larger than a glorified demo in the GT prologue editions. Consistently fail on their promises. And give complete lack of information on when these promises will be met. The amount of sales PD makes from the full and prologue versions far out do other racing game franchises, despite GT6's slow sales. Therefore, they are making enough profit to hire more staff. More sales, means more profit, means more money to spend. So what is their excuse to not hire more staff? It certainly isn't the lack of good programmers available. Other devolpers have proved that by, upstaging PD in some areas. and with alot less experience than the 15 years that GT has existed. But like they say, 'If you are already number 1, then why try harder?' I, along with other impatiant buyers am partly to blame.
Kaz has made himself available to the public eye. He is willing to accept awards. Streets named after him. Documentaries filmed about him. He is willing to accept the accolades that come with being the creator of the GT franchise. He has allowed himself to be put in the spotlight to accept the praise for GT's positives. He has chosen to be the face of GT. Therefore, is it not only fair that he accepts shortcomings, and the buying publics backlash of the franchises negatives?
I have voted yes with the other 29%.
Thank you for reading my post.
