Further proof that being “cancelled” isn’t a thing, never has been.
Sure, a tiny few experience legal consequences for illegal actions. But in general, cancellation is just not a thing.
I think being cancelled can affect small groups and fan bases, but doesn’t have any impact on the larger population.
It didn’t help that boycotting it didn’t make much sense. The game itself goes out of it’s way to make sure it’s “inclusive”, actually boycotting it will hurt a lot of people involved in the game more than it would hurt Rowling. Supposedly the royalties are very minor for stuff that doesn’t actually include any of the Harry Potter storyline, and JK Rowling is already richer than God.
Yeah, I noticed the same thing, in fact I think the game was a bit too aggressive on that part, starts becoming too “in your face” if it makes any sense. But still, told that to a few friends and they still refuse to even pirate it, can’t say I understand.
The (Dixie) Chicks.
You’re talking about The Chicks, who just finished a tour in 84 locations, including 6 nights in Vegas?
Yeah, they took a pretty hard hit for publicly stating their political beliefs, but like true artists, they then went to make a chart-topping, award-winning song about the controversy, kept working on their craft, and just finished a tour that doubtless made them millions (I tried to find an exact number, but couldn’t).
Why yes, I do have some relatives who made the comment “Go woke, go broke” wrt The Chicks. This certainly could have gone very differently.
That’s actually a great example.
I come back to this video pretty often
I think JK Rowling is still canceled, but… HP stuff is very special to a lot of people. They’re able to separate her from the world she created I think.
If asked point blank most would probably be aware of and disagree with her stance on trans people.
Down vote me all you want, I know my opinion is the majority, just not for Lemmy people.
You can’t cancel Rowling and keep buying HP stuff. That’s giving her money, not separating anything from anything.
You can’t buy chocolate and a ton of other common ingredients without supporting slavery. There’s no ethical consumption under capitalism, the HP franchise is a small drop in the ocean of suffering. Expecting peole to be aware of all those things and also boycott every single one is not feasible and should be solved top down.
I can’t argue with that for sure, but here it’s specifically against Rowling. You can’t pretend to be boycotting her and keep giving her money through her licenses.
Oh yea true, if anyone is claiming they are boycotting Rowling then they can’t really buy any media associated with her while still boycotting her, that’s just a contradiction.
Lol OK, no shit, but that’s not what I said anyway.
Regardless of the controversy, this was just an underwhelming game. The quest design was awful and the combat was repetitive.
If it wasn’t using one of the most well known IPs in modern history it would be a financial flop and have terrible ratings.
Different take:
What we got was a pilot, an experiment to see if it is even worth going all in on the ‘Portkey Games’ route in the future. Sure, there’s young adults out there who played the old school movie tie-in games of the GameCube era. But they aren’t enough of an audience to warrant spending big on something that might flop.
Most of the game’s systems and gameplay are underwhelming, yes. And they could probably have spent some time writing a more compelling story with a lot less chosen one bullshit tropes in it. But they did manage to build a wizarding world that convincingly lets you immerse yourself in it. The game has a real sense of scale to it, unlike the older games, and my favourite thing is just walking around looking at details and letting my own fantasy do the rest.
Now here’s the thing. They did a succesful little experiment: They made a game that isn’t outright hated and lives up to some of the dreams we had as kids playing the original movie games. And they managed to do so without defaulting to the shitty loot box practises so many publishers are known for this day and age. Especially WB stuff. It all depends on what they do next.
From here they can go one of two ways: Either take the easy route and create a carbon copy of this game, rake in some profits and watch as people start seeing the cracks and slowly lose interest. Or take it seriously, spend the extra attention and actually improve upon anything this game has to offer and stand to gain even more revenue.
Chances are they take the first path and everything comes crashing down, and they’ll blame fans for losing interest. If they do opt to go the second route there is a lot of work to be done. Interested to see where it goes either way.
I think it’s worth considering the idea that shareholders will want more money. So, they make a second game and load it with mtx. They know now that people will show up for the name despite any controversy.
Exactly, and I’ll be ready - lighter and gasoline in hand - to burn bridges if they do.
I like the Wizarding World as a fantasy setting, but that is something not even our fucked up copyright laws can take away from me now. Rowling is going to hell for being a piece of shit, which is just as inevitable.
Just like Star Wars, the original creator started something amazing, ans they can fuck off now, the fans are taking over.
Sadly this world of publishers and royalties does not work this way, but I can at least cherrypick which parts of the material I get my enjoyment from.
I highly doubt it. Why would they try to make a better game when a copy paste collect-a-thon action adventure light rpg with stealth and crafting elements with Harry Potter twist ensures huge sales. What incentive do they have?
If it wasn’t using one of the most well known IPs in modern history it would be a financial flop and have terrible ratings.
That’s everything though, a good unknown game will always do worse than a bad known game
Thanks. This is the first review I’ve seen of the actual game… glad somebody rated it as a stand alone product on its own individual merit rather than by all the other noise around its release.
To me it was a pretty mid game that let you design your harry potter. Most of the plot was taken directly from the movies
Huh? What plot was taken from the movies?
It was little things for me like a snape-esque teacher, using polyjuice potion, an old wizard who takes you under his wing, a student turned evil, and the slitherin kid is bad
But the slitherin kid isn’t bad. He’s got what the slitherin house has. He isn’t evil he just chose some very bad choices to try to save his sister. In the end he turns himself in if you allow it. An old wizard that is nothing like Dumbledore. And what school doesn’t have bad kids?
I really hope that the next game will have a social sim aspect like Bully, where you have to go to class and build friendships
Exactly this. I’d’ve taken those niche depth mechanics over that huge mostly-empty world and hundreds of collectibles in a heartbeat. Free-roam, yes but a HP game doesn’t need to be a Ubisoft-a-thon
What, you dont even need to go to class at all?
Just sometimes when learning a new spell, but not as a reoccurring, routinely timetable-sequel thing
Not really surprising considering how absolutely massive of an IP Harry Potter is.
B-b-but the boycott!
I remind been in work (very geeky environment) with people patting themselves on the back about the boycott. There’s an odd silence that comes when a very vocal anti Rowling person bangs the drum but its the usual very loud minority.
“this person is still successful despite being shitty against you and I find it hilarious you are mad that people like her want you dead”
-You
I think it’s funny when boycotts fail in general, I don’t care what genitals you have or don’t, what your pronouns are. It’s objectively hilarious when boycotts fail, especially when the groups are so freaking confident it will work.
The odd silence is a vocal minority desperately trying to not be ignored by people who would want them dead. And Rowling is the one exception to put your money where your mouth is not mattering. She quite literally said people buying her shit proves she’s right.
So thanks for making her point. We get you don’t care about trans people, makes it easy for us to see who to not turn to.
Anyway how many awards did this game win? Congrats on selling your dignity on another open world game that you won’t be playing anytime soon now that the hype is down.
The odd silence is the other people in the office who just remain silent or they’ll get chewed out by the very vocal minority. I feel for the trans community, you lot are a minority within a minority but have a terrible image because of the screaming idiots in your camp garner all the attention.
However it’s objectively funny that the boycott catastrophically failed despite all the initial clout and hype for the boycott. Same thing when right wingers call for boycotts.
This year I had to leave my state of Oklahoma because my skinhead neighbors with iron cross and eagle tattoos shot at me. I’m currently 1400 miles away in Pennsylvania restarting my life in 2024.
I say this from the bottom of my heart: comparing us to right wingers angry about keurigs or Nikes or bud light is proof that you wouldn’t help us no matter what and finally helps me understand why nobody did anything during other genocides in recent human history. Thank you for explaining enlightened centrism to me so succinctly.
Hope you enjoy your laughs off our suffering. Sorry we’re so cringe. Hope they come for you some day too.
It’s a mediocre video game. I’m supremely disappointed in those who call themselves allies but can’t do the equivalent of picking a different coffee brand. I know you find us annoying. Just imagine how annoying I find contrarions and pissants like yourself when my rights and safety are stripped away using the clout and profits of shit like this game.
Oh, wait. My bad. I asked you to empathize. I know you’re incapable, I shouldn’t have bothered.
I’ve been waiting to upgrade my PC to play it properly. Looks very fun, at least for most of the game (have heard it gets a bit repetitive)
It is a fun game. If you are someone who is into HP, then it is probably really enjoyable.
I’m playing it at the mo on the recommendations of friends. As some comments here say, the quest system is a bit goofy, but I’m enjoying it. It has the same ‘go here do this’ and collectibles vibe as the recent Spider Man from Sony. I’m fine with that! Lots of puzzles, maps, treasure hunts, collectibles and so forth.
