Interesting comparison: AGE & UBI

[MarkShot]

Patches continue to be created for old (BoA) and new (A-ACW) titles alike. I don't recall seeing a disgruntled player demanding anything be fixed. If anything, I would say it is pretty hard to complete an entire GC without having at least one patch appear in the middle of your campaign.

In the meantime, if one follow's the trials and tribulations of UBI's SH4 game ... there have been two patches 1.1 and 1.2, but the game is still badly in need of some critical fixes that would take it to the point of being worthy of commercial grade software. UBI has taken the unique position of publically announcing to customers that a patch will only be contemplated if they, the customers, beg loudly and profusely.

Is it my imagination or is the arrogance of businesses these days directly proportional to the size of their operations? Well, here's hoping that AGE Studio will ultimately break the mold by being successful, growing, and retaining its already well establish reputation of customer care! Scratch one sub sim!

[Pocus]

they want to make money, then good games. We want to make good games, and if possible money. That's the difference. When they release the game, the developpers are surely shuffled to others projects asap what's more.

[Primasprit]

[...]Is it my imagination or is the arrogance of businesses these days directly proportional to the size of their operations?

Yep, especially the media industry (film, music, games). Sometimes it seems they try really hard to make their products unusable by several 'DRM' systems, region codes, copy protections, activation processes and authorization servers and would rather start a lawsuit against their customers than to help them to use their products in a practical way. But the funny thing is: It works. They still earn money this way. It seems you can sell everything with a nice look and a lot of advertisement....

Well, here's hoping that AGE Studio will ultimately break the mold by being successful, growing, and retaining its already well establish reputation of customer care! Scratch one sub sim!

They won't be able to change the situation in the game industry but they are hopefully successful and get all incredibly rich.
Without a doubt it is a company where the developers believe in their own products and want to see their customers happy.

[Moltke]

I couldn't believe they succeeded in making SH4 worse than SH3. At least I was able to enjoy SH3 despite its flaws...

UBI doesn't deserve our business and will no longer be receiving mine.

[Jagger]

they want to make money, then good games. We want to make good games, and if possible money. That's the difference. When they release the game, the developpers are surely shuffled to others projects asap what's more.

I still believe a quality product will make money as long as people are aware of the product.

Unfortunately greed/maximum profit is the driving principle of too many companies. It can work in the short term but it is so destructive to long term survival when it results in shoddy products.

[tagwyn]

Tell your friends about this excerllent company! Everyone who enjoys computer games should support such effort. Larry

[Franciscus]

Well, I most surely support AGEod, having bought AACW and become amazed, and then, mainly to support their outfit, buying BoA (still haven't played it ) and now GI...

I sincerely hope that they have success and get the just reward for their work and dedication. Nevertheless, my sceptical (cynical ?) side fears that if and when AGEod is really succesfull, they will follow the path of others - grow big and distant from their customers. or get assimilated in a larger company and start making the usual garbage that now seems to be everywhere around us... and if they do not make it, they will fade away, to other projects/jobs (Sandra, where are you... leure: ) and this will just be another beautiful dream that did not came true...