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Helldivers 2 Removed from Purchase on Steam in over 150 Countries

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211–220 of 244 posts

Re: Helldivers 2 Removed from Purchase on Steam in over 150 Countries

#211

I’m very happy to hear this. Too many good games have had their player bases gimped by the rise of stupid “one hit wonder” games like palworld or helldivers 2. The Finals is somehow struggling to maintain a decent player base despite being objectively one of the freshest and best game releases in a decade. I can’t get my friends to play it because they’re too busy memeing about space bugs on a mediocre shooter. Glad…

Your anger about The Finals does not make Helldivers 2 a bad game; instead if your friends are ghosting you to play it, it means that it is good.

Re: Helldivers 2 Removed from Purchase on Steam in over 150 Countries

#212
post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would make the case the consoles aren't essential for day to day life. They simply aren't general computing devices but have a very specific purpose. They've broaded somewhat to include more media features but few people are securing jobs or submitting government applications on their consoles. It's the fact that modern living simply requires a phone is why the EU is so upset with Apple and Google putting up their…

Whenever someone brings up this nebulous "General Purpose Computer" concept, I challenge them to articulate what makes a phone a general purpose computer, but not a game console. So far I haven't heard a convincing answer. They both have CPUs and typical computer architectures, and can run a wide variety of software. Surely the intention of both smartphone makers and game console makers is that their devices are not…

The issue with apples walled garden is entirely based around how widespread their use is.

Literally from the first time people argued about this, that was at the core of the issue.

Nobody cares if you're creating a hardware device that can only run your OS and Apps if its not in widespread use. The issue occurs only once they're entrenched and can use their market position as an unfair advantage, which apple unashamedly does.

(And so does Nintendo and Sony with their gaming system, yes. The reason why almost nobody cares is because they're not in widespread use. And if they abuse their market position they also get a lot of flak. A lot more then apple ever gets, that's for sure. Just look at the helldivers 2 debacle last week, Nintendo banning people that mod their games in single player etc.)

Re: Helldivers 2 Removed from Purchase on Steam in over 150 Countries

#213
post #189

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Assuming it's actually sold by unauthorized third party sellers, every step in the chain seems pretty straightforward. People in [country where PSN isn't available] want PS5s. Enterprising people see an opportunity. Sony (or their authorized resellers) in those other countries sell PS5s to the importers because to them you don't need to fill out a KYC form to buy a PS5 so they're they're indistinguishable from someon…

> The end result is not ideal and the OP acknowledges this, but I'm not seeing where the "rather twisted conception of property" is coming from. I'm just noting the continued slide from wholly owned property to buying property but only leasing the use of it. I'm sure there are many rights-owners worldwide that are thrilled with this concept.

Yes, it is becoming likely that we are just “renting” hardware since the software needed for many consumer products is closed source and you can’t run your own software.

Counterpoint is that jailbreaking is legal so you do technically own the hardware. Issue is that John Deere, Apple, Sony, Microsoft make it impossible to jailbreak hardware nowadays.

Re: Helldivers 2 Removed from Purchase on Steam in over 150 Countries

#214

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, how is it a technical difficulty to remove a skip button? Players from countries that can't legally acquire a PSN account, or don't want to get one, would have been able to return it ASAP. I guess it was easier to inflate their numbers.

The technical difficulty was that PSN was not integrated correctly so the skip button was put there so players could play without doing it In their defense there is a sentence on that Modal that does say that a PSN account is required to play. It was also included on the Steam store page that it requires a PSN account. The issue I have is that the functionality of the Modal is at odds with the messaging. In this sort…

"If the messaging had been more clear that the Skip function was only temporary and a PSN account would absolutely be mandatory in the future then that would be different"

No it wouldn't, because people would still complain. There could be a flashing popup present at all times in a corner of your screen saying "YOU MUST SIGN INTO PSN TO PLAY" and people would still complain, there's no satisfying the outrage when it happens.

Re: Helldivers 2 Removed from Purchase on Steam in over 150 Countries

#215

Earlier quoted context omitted.

On the steam page it says it is. I wasn't aware that Sony's page says otherwise.

Sony's FAQ previously (on May 3) stated that a PSN account is optional for playing games on PC On May 4, the day after this shitstorm happened, the FAQ was updated to say that some games on PC may require a PSN account This was rolled out in absolutely amateurish fashion from start to end. Sony should absolutely be taking heat for this, and no one should be going to bat for them over it.

Again, I only bought this game on Steam and

1) the Steam page made it very clear the PSN is required

2) the game makes it extremely clear with a full screen banner that says you MUST sign in to play.

Honestly, if you bought the game on Steam then Sony's FAQ is irrelevant. If you bought it from Sony then I guess there is some case there.

Re: Helldivers 2 Removed from Purchase on Steam in over 150 Countries

#216
post #177

As usual, corporate bullshit. Capitalism is shit.

Greed is not a requirement of Capitalism though.

It actually is, capitalism wants infinite growth, if that's not greed then I shudder to think what is.

Re: Helldivers 2 Removed from Purchase on Steam in over 150 Countries

#217

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The technical difficulty was that PSN was not integrated correctly so the skip button was put there so players could play without doing it In their defense there is a sentence on that Modal that does say that a PSN account is required to play. It was also included on the Steam store page that it requires a PSN account. The issue I have is that the functionality of the Modal is at odds with the messaging. In this sort…

"If the messaging had been more clear that the Skip function was only temporary and a PSN account would absolutely be mandatory in the future then that would be different" No it wouldn't, because people would still complain. There could be a flashing popup present at all times in a corner of your screen saying "YOU MUST SIGN INTO PSN TO PLAY" and people would still complain, there's no satisfying the outrage when it…

People would still complain but their complaints would not hold any water

As it stands, Sony and Arrowhead have created a mess with inconsistent messaging, inconsistent behavior, and extremely poor customer relations

Re: Helldivers 2 Removed from Purchase on Steam in over 150 Countries

#218
post #138

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> IMO they should either provide the same level of service in all countries, or be forced to charge significantly less when selling their hardware in unsupported countries. Who would force the price change though? It seems more reasonable for anyone in a country that doesn't have access to PSN just wouldn't bother buying a PS5 regardless if the price.

I bet a lot of people don't know they can't create a PSN account until after they buy it

Totally fair. That's definitely a Sony problem if it isn't clear what countries are supported. I have to assume I'd return the PS5 if I got it home and couldn't make an account.

edit: typo

Re: Helldivers 2 Removed from Purchase on Steam in over 150 Countries

#219
post #184
post #162

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why not? Regardless of the conversation above I don't understand this argument. Toyota sells car with the driving wheel on the left in the USA. Does that make them less of a Japanese company?

No, but it's a terrible analogy. The equivalent would be if Toyota started selling only left-hand drive cars in Japan.

That would be if they censored games to Japanese standards everywhere, which they don't. They use different censorship rules (and wheel positions) in different countries.

I'm not going to argue how to do analogies on the Internet on a dead thread, but I'm confused about everything you say.

Re: Helldivers 2 Removed from Purchase on Steam in over 150 Countries

#220
post #178
post #154

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This makes me so mad. Every time I have to show my nieces or nephews how to play a game, and I have to show them all the fake buttons they have to avoid to manage to play it through the dark patterns. Even Windows, the OS, is full of traps now. You can't buy any software and have it pretend to be yours anymore. Used to be the case for free mobile games at first, now it's everywhere.

Just to say: This is avoidable. Ofc one can not give Windows to a child anymore, but there is Linux. For games on Android, of course one can't install games from the Play Store anymore, but there is F-Droid. And for regular PC games, there is still a big selection that works without or with very little micro transactions. And besides, the kids system should not be capable to make any purchases no matter where they cl…

Proprietary/popular games on Linux come with the same monetization strategy on every platform. You want to play Fortnite, you get the Fortnite ads/loot boxes/nudges even on Linux (plus you'll get banned by anti-cheat quick).
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