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As the big blue box states:
"get involved with this game as it develops."
And here is the informational page about Early Access:
https://steamhost.cn/earlyaccessfaq/
So no. It is not exclusively for indie titles nor for funding development of the project.
Once again, mismanaged expectations and an inability to understand plainly worded statements has brought us another thread of incorrect assumptions.
https://partner.steamgames.com/doc/store/earlyaccess
If you are afraid of getting "scammed" you already have the best tool available.
Do not buy EarlyAccess, wait for the game to go gold/finished.
The storepage has warnings on every EarlyAccess title.
Nothing to change, it's fine as it is.
Being supposedly funded by tencent doesn't mean there's an unlimited funds cheat code for development.
The link that you provide is information directed at players, at potential purchasers of Early Access title. It provides tips and information on how to go about getting into an Early Access game and what to look out for, what there is to beware.
Let's try another link which is NOT directed at consumers.
Here's the opening line of that link.
EARLY ACCESS is understood as a funding model. The purpose of Early Access if to provide funding for small and indie studios to develop their titles.
Companies like Grinding Gear Games do NOT need funding support from anyone. GGG is abusing the Early Access funding model to gouge money from players.
No its accurate, the developer is able to use the funds to continue development but its not a requirement of EA. They CAN use it as a funding source if they wish, but its not required that they use it as a funding source.
Some use it just as a means of engagement with users while the game is developing. Also just because GGG CAN fund a game without it is no reason they can't use it. They are free to use it, and you are free to not buy the game if you disagree with it.
It's not abuse
Try quoting Valve as that is what Early Access Games on Steam are for. A general Wikipedia does not change what the developer/publisher agreed to on Steam.
https://partner.steamgames.com/doc/store/earlyaccess
In addition to what has already been said as well:
That page is informing Developers of what they need to have in order to enter "Early Access"... i.e. NOT a Tech Demo, they need a playable game. Therefore, distinguishing "Early Access" from "Crowdfunding" is necessary because for "Crowdfunding" you don't need anything.
For "Crowdfunding" all you need to do, is have access to a group of people with money in their pockets and say: Hey guys, I have a project but I need some funding, can you help a brother out?
For "EARLY ACCESS" Valve wants you to have more than a proposal, more than a Tech Demo, they want you to have something playable, something that will have already received some investment.
Huh sounds like Path of Exile 2 which is playable and which i'm playing now. They have been making adjustments to the game based on the feedback of the players, which is also one of the benefits of EA.
EA is more then just a means of funding, its a way to engage the community while developing the game. I see nothing wrong with that and neither does Valve hence why they allow companies like them to do so.
If YOU don't like it then don't buy it, but trying to dictate to others they can't do it makes no sense.
Steam is not Kickstarter.
It shows Valve's stance on the issue, far better then a Wikipedia page for the general term "Early Access." Minecraft was in that kind of "Early Access" long before Valve added their versions of Early Access to Steam.
You are free to ignore the evidence provided, but at least those reading are now better informed on the matter.
Exactly. And Valve has rules in place to ensure that Steam does not become Kickstarter. Their forward facing rules are a reflection of their developer agreements.
So, you agree that "Steam is NOT Kickstarter" but are going to ignore the same distinction between "Early Access" and "Crowdfunding" ??? i.e. that the link you provided has NOTHING to do with this discussion.
Crowfunding is the difference between what Kickstarter is and what Steam's Early Access isn't.
I am NOT conflating Early Access and Crowdfunding or Kickstarting.
Early Access is a funding model. It is NOT Crowdfunding or Kickstarter. As I already said, the requirements are clearly different.