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Cool.... but just finished my full complete and moved on. =(

I'm sorry but these are terrible.

@Teeree
They didn't say it's impossible, they said unlikely and "not designed to". It's hard to say either side is lying until the facts are in. If there is a way to find Credit Card info I'm sure it will be fixed. You have to remember that nothing is really safe from modification in the digital world, you just hold back the hackers for as long as you can, then when they make headway, you change it up. It's a symbiotic relationship you see.

@BeatFreaker
Oh course information is stored there. That's what hard drives are for... Games, Profile Info (sometimes including your name), Save Games. They don't wipe it because of Credit Card info. They wipe it so people don't get free access to games or profiles.

@RyanS
I'm with you on that one. I'm just finishing Skyrim and next up is Kingdoms of Amalur... Mass Effect 3 has yet to be purchased. Maybe the game will be completed by the time I get to it.

@Mcmax3000
Well I don't need to prove my credentials to you, so I won't, but I will say I know about the industry and economics to boot. I also know the current "model" of this failing and ancient system media houses are using and the tactics they use to prove they're still relevant.
To put it bluntly, they are not relevant anymore and this is where we get to see them have a tantrum and kick and scream to hang on to their money.

You are basically proving my point with what you said:

"If studio X's game sells like crap, do you really think they're going to get funding for a sequel? Or worse, a new IP?"

Why should they make a sequel? Where are they getting the funding for this failed game in the fist place? If you cut out the publisher this company would be working on a very low budget to start, then build into something over time. Any risk they take is their own.

"If they're owned by the publisher, one or two flops & they're likely out of a job because the publisher will shut down the studio. If not, they're going to have a seriously tough time getting the funds from another publisher & will likely go out of business."

I don't even know what you're saying here??

Take the "publisher" out and these studios would survive on mediocre sales. In fact the entire industry needs to change how it does business and losing a publisher-house is the first step.

The biggest problem with these major publishers is that if you don't make a blockbuster, you get shut down. This is a problem. You see it time and time again, some unknown studio is suddenly making a "supposed" AAA game and it turns out to be a turd, then the studio is closed.
Cut out the publisher, and the talent in the studio gets to start small like any other business and then grow if people like their product. They build capital, they gain a following, and over time they make great games! Going from nothing to million dollar risk is just stupid and ultimately will kill the industry, and all that will be left are mobile games. (not that those are bad games).
Anyway that's it.

Has anyone ever thought of starting a Gamers Union? Like a collection of gaming consumers who could actually make a difference? All this whining on message boards does nothing, but if we were to all band together, and be a collective unit, it could actually mean something.

It's one thing for a few people to not buy a product, but if a million people didn't buy a product..... that would force hands. That would make a difference. We should really stand up and say enough is enough. It's not just with gaming either, it's with all media; movies, tv, music... I think it's time we stood up and showed these companies the real power of the consumer!

The best part is it would take NO EFFORT. Your duty would be to not buy something! Not only would you save money, but you would actually be in control of the media industry!

Also, don't worry about the game studios, this would only affect the publishers (and they do NOTHING anyway!). There will always be a demand for entertainment and it's not going to go away. What needs to go away is this idea that the creative force needs to pay some CEO and his cronies money so they they can be creative! Cut out all those unnecessary salaries and perhaps a selling 100k units of a game would actually produce a sizable profit!

I was trapped in my own universe that was of my own creation and functioned by my will and desires. It lasted THE. WHOLE. NIGHT!

"Leaving aside the fact that Metacritic is a woefully unbalanced aggregation of review scores.."

Doesn't Joystiq often site Metacritic when a blockbuster game comes out? Personally I think Metacritic is leaps and bounds over Rotten Tomatoes or IMDB in terms of reliability.

@Powerlord
I get so confused by the names!! Wonder Boy III was the one on Master System where you change into the different creatures right? Man I love(d) that game!! They should beef up the graphics for a wide-screen remake.

Last time I played Monster World IV was on an emulator with home-brew translation. Funny how people will do stuff for free isn't it?

Master System was awesome, so many good memories.... sigh.