Incomplete (Alpha stage) game for sale becoming the norm?

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[City Builder]

Hi,

I was just playing (another) pre-alpha stage game that was for sale on Impulse (Miner Wars 2081) (on sale at impulse for about $11.40 - 70% off) and it struck me that I've now seen 3 games in the very recent time that have been either pre-alpha, alpha, or beta stage and for sale.

Star Ruler
MineCraft
Miner Wars 2081

Is this now becoming the norm for indie developers, to sell their games while they are in pre-gold release in an attempt to get money into the kitty so that they can continue having a job as a developer, or has this always been going on?

Prior to Star Ruler, I've never bought a game that wasn't considered gold release.  However Star Ruler really kind of put me off of the idea of supporting indie developers, even though they are still working on the title, it just seems blech!  for me.

However, Minecraft brought me back into the fold, I like what they've got so far and I like where the game is headed and I feel like they are actually making headway with it, so I took the chance with Miner Wars 2081, however pre-alpha it definitely is.  There is no real gameplay yet in the game, it most consists of digging around in asteroids in random galaxies and when you exit the game your ore that you've collected is sent to the Miner Wars 2081 server and converted to in game currency (currently I've only got about $187.00 in in game currency), but beyond that and shooting at some enemies that fly by every now and then, there is no real gameplay (unlike Minecraft which I think has gameplay perfectly installed into it for a sandbox game).

Anyway, I was just more curious if this is now becoming the norm, that indie developers are trying to rely on the customers buying their pre-alpha games to garner an income to keep going.

Anybody want to start a game company... We can offer our pre-pre-alpha build up for sale and hope to make ourselves rich.

[Virmin]

I think it is starting to become the norm. I bought Mount&Blade like a year before it went retail while it was in beta. It was in beta for probably a couple years. and could be purchased the entire time. It was very much an enjoyable game the entire time though.

I think it makes good sense for indie developers to take this approach since other wise they wouldn't have the funds to continue development. But even so I think there is a right way to do it and a wrong way to do it. Gameplay ought to be the first and formost element implemented into the game so that the game can be enjoyed by the customer the entire time it is in beta/alpha other wise you are only doing a diservice to your own product.

[Khalan]

I purchased all four of the above games, and I agree with you CB about Star Ruler.  Unfortunately it wasn't what I was hoping for.

There's one major developer (I think it's Gabe Newell of Valve) who is considering the idea of community funded games - idea being customers pay for the game before it's made and in return get their money back and a copy of the game upon successful release.  Not sure how well that would work.  The reason I think it works with indie games is because of small staff and and an often lack of overheads.  And no executives or major investors deciding whether the game will actually be released.


Just did a search, here's a link:
http://www.gossipgamers.com/valve-wants-you-to-fund-their-game-development/