One of the topics of concern when being a video gamer is that as more games are released which we want to play, there’s a concern that the money we spend on them is only going to greedy corporations who only released the game for the purpose of making money.
I’ve spoken previously about video games’ status as art, and whether or not it matters.
But even industries producing traditionally understood art forms, like motion pictures, are still a commercial industry.
Therefore, video games should not be considered any different than as a product.
Doesn’t it make sense that investors deserve a return on their investment?
Video games are often pitched with a business plan, explaining why they’re worth developing, publishing and marketing.
Even at their inception, they’re planned as money-making products.
Especially games that are part of a recognised brand; there’s a lot of reputation at stake that could risk the sustainability of the bigger picture.
If a game is enjoyable, doesn’t it make sense that the developers are rewarded with financial success based on how many people are recommending it?
Worth of mouth is, after all, the most effective marketing there is.
It’s certainly the marketing I trust the most.
These developers do have a career; developing video games is their profession.
If you’re involved in someone’s profession (which you are, by playing the game they’ve developed), it’s unfair to expect them not to profit from it.
And besides, the corporate executives aren’t the only people benefiting from game sales – their publishers (and employees) receive a percentage, which is itself funnelled into their developers (and employees).
It’s a stream of benefit that says “What you do is sustaining us, so we’ll keep sustaining you”.
This is how industries work, and when it stops working, we get the video games crash (again).
True, there are some very artistic games.
But how have you played them?
Steam?
That means money is being returned to who made it, because you can, in fact, care about artistic quality and monetary gain at the same time.
In fact, it’s often an advantage to, because you’ll make more money from games that are better than others.
It comes back to the same point I made earlier – if you’re enjoying a game, what’s wrong with the people who made it benefiting financially?
You don’t want them to no longer possess the resources they need to make more, do you?
Because those “art games” couldn’t be made without an industry that sells first person shooters.
And when those art game developers do reap the rewards of their creations, what do you think they’re going to do?
Rinse and repeat.
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