Strategyking92 said:
I have pretty much given up on community games. It's a shame too, as some of them are really good. But, there is so much crap (such as a pong clone that costs $2.50) That I have just literally given up on community games, as They aren't even worth the effort to download. My opinion is that Community games are the biggest disapointment of the NXE.
So, have you given up on community games?
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The only negative comment anyone should make regarding the Community Games service on Live would be one about price. As far as content goes, these are mostly, if not all, amateur developers who's programming skills are still works in progress, or game enthusiasts who just want to throw something out there to be more a part of gaming culture. No more, no less and anyone who decides to take advantage of what's up there should reserve their expectations and opinions for the legitimate releases from developers who've built their careers around gaming.
The idea behind it, letting almost anyone and everyone publish their own creations onto a downloadable forum, is in my opinion the most innovative and community inspiring development to come along in this generation. Unfortunately, and this is the only reason for someone to feel let down by it, what hurts it is the cost that Microsoft attaches to some of the games.
I downloaded the title you mentioned, Aceball, and I actually think it's worth my time, it's a decent attempt at re-creating Pong while making the gameplay more challenging. But, there's no leaderboards, online play, score-tracking.... It's just a game. All the other stuff woulda been nice, but, it was only $2.50. If I even get 1 hour out of it, I think it's worth the price.
There is of course going to be a whole lot of filler, again, these are mostly hobbyists enjoying what they do and wanting to share it. So don't get discouraged because you can't find something that completely blows you away... why should you? If Harry the Electrician decides to make a game in his spare time just for kicks, it's more than likely going to feel like a game that some dude named Harry the Electrician made in his spare time.
Microsoft wanted to capture the spirit and garage-band sensibilities of regular people making totally independant games and give them the environment to share whatever they've created. Weirdly imaginative, strangely interesting or punishingly stupid. Either way, I think the Community Games service on Live is a huuuuge addition to what the 360 offers, unfortunately, they're just charging a little too much while at the same time, we've come to expect a little too much.
The quality of what's on there shouldn't be an issue, price... well....maybe. But in defense of Microsoft, they're giving at the very least 50% back to the developer. I can afford $2.50 to be split between the guy who made it and the guy who's offering it. That's less than a Big Mac, and I only get to enjoy that for all of three minutes... furthermore, if I want to enjoy that same Big Mac again, it can get pretty disgusting. In that context, the Pong clone I downloaded wins hands down.
