Open-World Action-RPG game Wolcen: Lords of Mayhem (Formerly Umbra) is set to release on Early Access on March 24th. Wolcen is also well on target for its planned official release in October 2016 for PC and Linux. On top of all this good news, backers will be receiving upgrades to their reward tiers. So, why are some of Wolcen’s backers miffed at all the good news?
“An isometric open world action-RPG in a corrupted world falling apart”
Well, Wolcen: Lords of Mayhem will be releasing on Early access for a lower than expected price of $20. Unfortunately, one of their reward tiers (APPRENTICE) pledged $25 to gain Early Access. To compensate the change in price the developers upped the rewards for their backers including access to the Alpha for APPRENTICE level backers and an exclusive item with weapon pack. Despite the fact the difference is only $5, there are a few backers who are very displeased. I find it kind of funny in a sad way, that these people seem to simply want more than other people can have. It doesn’t seem like they want to back a project to support it, but just to take more from it or get exclusive items no one else can have. Need I recite that old mantra about Kickstarter not being a store and that the rewards are just incentives?
“Your good will and support has allowed us to build this company, this team, and this game, and we want to ensure your contributions feel appropriately valued and appreciated as we continue forward.”
I have seen enough Kickstarters fail or simply not deliver to roll my eyes at those who are whining about not getting a better deal than other people. It’s so petty and pathetic in my opinion. The developers are accepting feedback till the 7th of April. Maybe they should give the whiners their five dollars back and downgrade them a backer class. One problem that is actually worth having being concerned about is that we do not have a date for Linux’s Early Access release yet. All we know is it will be released at a later date. What do you think? Do these backers have the right to complain that the game is less expensive than expected? Comment down below.
I think you’re being a tad harsh, but mostly agree with you. I personally never back on Early Access levels anymore because I know the games going to end up being cheaper than that, these days if I back for an early copy it’s for the Alpha. That being said, while developers like to promote rewards tiers as some sort of deal, backers should know by now that the game will cost far less upon, or soon after, release.
Hey I may be harsh, but I can’t stand people acting worse than my 1st graders when they’re old enough to vote
If they paid for a higher tier in order to get early access, but then they give early access to everyone. Why shouldn’t they complain?
I agree that they have a right to complain, however if the dev’s made an effort to make amends, plus the difference being as small as five dollars; I’d argue the folks behind this campaign did the right thing by their backers. Trust me this isn’t the worst situation you could be in as a backer, there are plenty of horror story’s out there of teams leaving their supporters out in the cold with no information to go on.
Because their tier was also upgraded, they got alpha access, and extras for in game, but they want to whine about $5? And for what? They still get early access but other people do too and that’s enough to make them whine
I backed it and i am not bothered at all, as i backed the idea and getting the game rather then the rewards
Damn Stephanie that’s a bit harsh, don’t ya think? I mean I get the frustration from some of the backers, even if some of that frustration is a bit unrealistic! From what I read in this article, I’d have to disagree on the five dollar difference being refunded, since the dev’s in this situation appeared to have made an honest effort to make things right. Now if the difference was say $50, $100, or $500 that would be a whole other story.
I was being sarcastic, I think the backers should get a slap for being so damn pathetic
I didn’t care about the new pricing, but i find the right to complain perfectly normal.
The matter isn’t whining over 5$, i can whine over 5$ and over steam users getting the game release before backers for example. The matter isn’t a matter of money. It’s a matter of trust.
Those people that pledge their money, they did so years before, they trusted those creators while those steam users didn’t trust them or would rather seeing the game release and taking it on sale. Those people trusted, put their money on it, silently waited for years (or months). They’ve also put a lot of passion behind it, discussing with the dev going on forum, doing promotion, passing the word..being attentive to every piece of news, update, discussing on forum being constructive and such.
The least right they have is to complain when they feel cheated. I don’t think any upgrade or cosmetic change can actually lessen that feeling if you feel this way (i don’t honestly but on some other occasion, i did like for Armello). Even more if you were involved (emotionally) with the project.
This article is really looking down on every type of backer, they’re feeling, passion, trust, involvement. Not the greatest piece i’ve read on cliqist.
I’m not trying to take some moral high ground or anything like that. I have seen a number of projects simply not deliver or fail in some other way. These guys have been keeping backers updated and nothing is being taken from them. To me it seems more like greed than any matter of betrayed trust. There are plenty of backers who are happy and don’t care and that is what is far more appropriate *in my opinion*. I’m sure people back projects for a variety of reasons, but I don’t think getting something /more/, or earlier, than other people should be a prime thought. It’s very frustrating for me when I see people whine at developers for perfectly logical decisions like this. That’s why I (semi-sarcastically) said that if they’re going to whine perhaps they should refund them the $5 and downgrade them a tier. Kickstarter is meant to help bring projects to life, rewards are simply incentives and the game is a helluva lot more kick-ass than it was originally planned to be.
Also, yes this is a news site, but we are asked to also give our opinions on the subject matter rather than giving it to you vanilla. I don’t think my opinion is biased (unless it’s a bias against whining?) still, it is only my opinion, I’m just standing on my little soapbox voicing my thoughts on the matter. Still you well within your rights to disagree with me or confute my articles. I would be very happy to read a response to any of my pieces, I think it’s very cool to have an engaged audience 🙂
You’re opinion is biased when you start being judgmental of a behavior that you like it or not. I am no journalist but i think this article should have been written a different way if you wanted to voice your opinion.
In questioning the behavior of those said backers and taking your audience as the one that must make his opinion. Being neutral, stating your point of view and let people wondering if they think the same.
Here it only seems that you’re charging people and i don’t see the point.
As a journalist, what you care or what you find appropriate doesn’t matter. It is what your audience think that matter. Like i said there is no “appropriate” behavior, everyone is different, you don’t know what makes people act this way and defining what or what’s not is being appropriate is taking the ground moral..
Some people just simply value what they got don’t worth the 5$. I know i don’t care about having a cosmetic change or right to an alpha..i hardly got the time to play the game..so beta, alpha EA i leave it to those who have time.
I guess i’d rather have those 5$ back if i could. Then again i don’t care. I’ve lost way more money..in kickstarter for more stupid reason lol.
But, i wouldn’t make fun of those whining or being semi-sarcastic.
After all they’ve put their money, trust and all. it’s their right to feel annoyed, whine complain when they see something they don’t like and i wouldn’t be the one telling them their whining is inappropriate.