Company
Date Published
Author
Sauce Labs
Word count
1115
Language
English
Hacker News points
None

Summary

The text discusses the historical example of the disastrous video game launch of E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial in 1982, which was blamed on rushed production and ultimately led to a large number of unsold cartridges being buried in a New Mexico desert. The article then shifts focus to modern-day examples of poor game launches, including Cyberpunk 2077, No Man's Sky, Fallout 76, and Star Wars Battlefront 2, citing common issues such as crashes, bugs, and missing features. It argues that the industry has become too accepting of mediocre products, with fans often waiting for patches and updates before playing a new game. The article highlights the importance of brand reputation, stating that one bad launch can harm an entire studio's future titles. It also notes that modern testing solutions like Sauce Labs and Backtrace can help developers find bugs early on, release high-quality products, and retain players. Ultimately, the text concludes that leveraging such tools is crucial for companies to make a great first impression in the highly competitive gaming market.