Let’s settle this once and for all – is advanced access in video games a problematic practice, or not?

Alright, I’ve never been a big fan of corporate thinking. The other day, I read on social media that a toothpaste manufacturer made the opening to their tubes a millimeter thicker and saw increased sales, since everyone inadvertently used more toothpaste.

And you know what? People were celebrating the ingenuity behind it. Great, let’s all celebrate how someone found a way to extract more out of people without giving them any value in return. That’s the kind of corporate thinking I’m against, just so we’re clear.

Package up my favorite game with a 20″ monster figurine, a flag, seven t-shirts, and then make it $300? Great, sure, there’s added value, I’ll bite. But make it $40 more expensive and then only offer me two days extra access in return? I think I’ll skip.

And so we’ve finally arrived at the crux of the argument. It’s one I’ve tried to have before, but it didn’t garner all that much interest. I thought gamers loved to complain? I know I do.

Reddit user eculley has taken a stab at sparking this debate on the forum website, and I’m seeing so many mixed messages in the comments. Some, like me, feel like it’s just another corporate exploitation tool. Take user The-Choo-Choo-Shoe for example (epic username, by the way), who says: “It’s not really early access, that’s just the release date. For everyone that is “too poor” to pay the higher price you get punished for a few days and can’t play on release.”

Others simply don’t care, but there are some who even seem to like it. One Reddit user, whose name is a bit too disturbing to share here, says: “Honestly, I like it.”

They go on to explain that seeing footage early is the core reason, not actually playing the game early. A little odd, but alright. If you actually like advanced access, please do leave a comment with why. I’d love to hear more.

Advanced access vs. early access

There is one last thing I’d like to clear up before we get into the comments here, and that’s what to call this phenomenon. Early access is simply a launch into anything before 1.0. If a game isn’t fully baked yet, it launches into early access — we’ve had those for years now.

If it’s simply the chance to play a game before its “release date,” then it’s referred to as advanced access.

Anyway, this isn’t exactly a new topic, but with yet more releases following this advanced access route in the near future, what are your thoughts? Let’s settle this once and for all.

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Star Trek Voyager: Across the Unknown is coming soon to PC and consoles, and it could be the next big thing in the world of narrative-driven survival titles.

Whether you’re a gamer or a sci-fi lover, chances are that you’ve heard about Star Trek at least once. Star Trek Voyager: Across the Unknown puts you in charge of the ship and decides its fate. This guide will help you keep track of the upcoming launch.

Star Trek Voyager: Across the Unknown release countdown

Star Trek Voyager: Across the Unknown will be going live globally on Wednesday, Feb. 18. The released date was announced earlier by publishers Daedalic. The following countdown will expire once the game goes live.

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The countdown is based on the following timings.

• 7am PT
• 9am CT
• 10am ET
• 3pm UTC
• 4pm CET

The timings are based on the information available on SteamDB and the PSN store. While Star Trek Voyager: Across the Unknown will be released on consoles, there’s no regional launch. Both console and PC will follow the same launch schedule.

What to expect from Star Trek Voyager: Across the Unknown

Star Trek Voyager: Across the Unknown puts you in charge of the ship. While survival is the key goal, you have to manage your resources carefully and make tricky decisions along the way. There will be several key moments when you’ll need to make tough decisions.

If you ever watched movies and series and wondered what you would have done instead, well, now is your chance. There’s no correct or wrong decision, as every choice has certain ramifications. You can currently wishlist Star Trek Voyager: Across the Unknown on Steam or pre-purchase on the PSN/Xbox stores. You can also try out a free demo that’s available at the time of writing.

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