14 DAY TRIAL // Firewatch was one of the most interesting releases of 2016 so far, a game experience that feels entirely personal but also manages to impress with the beauty of its environments, the complexity of its dialogue and a narrative filled with mystery and emotion.
But the title created by Campo Santo can be completed in about four hours or even faster by a player who moves fast and never stops to take in the sights and that has apparently prompted many of those who purchased the experience on Steam to request a refund despite the fact that they appreciated the experience.
One of the gamers who was in a position to get his money back posted a forum thread about his decision and the moral dilemma that comes associated with it, which prompted Jane Ng, an environmental artist who worked on the experience, to deliver her own take on the situation.
The answer is worth reading in full on the Steam forums, but the most important part probably is, "yes, I am sad when people think this game is not worth the money we asked for (which we thought was a fair ask). It makes me feel like I failed them. It is ok if people don't like the game, but it affects me personally a lot when people feel like it was not -worth- the time they engaged with it."
The Campo Santo artist also says that she understands that some players might need to get the money spent on Firewatch back and that those who do so should try to then get a copy of the title for a friend when it goes on sale on Steam.
The studio has plans to create more narrative-driven experiences that explore the limits of what video games can create when it comes to choice or emotion.
Valve needs to tighten up refund policy for indie games
Gamers who pick up a title on Steam have the option of asking for their money back during a 14-hour window and as long as they have not played for more than 2 hours but those who took advantage of the policy are reporting that it is more relaxed, which means many Firewatch buyers could use it.
When it comes to defective games or experiences no longer have multiplayer or other features the decision to get a refund is a simple one, but the mechanism is also affecting smaller indie games.
Many of them are built around a core idea or narrative moment that can be experienced in 2 or 3 hours.
Valve should try to create a new system when it comes to refunds for these video games or create a dynamic limit for play time that takes into account the medium time spend by gamers with the title.
Santo Campo has already delivered some updates for Firewatch, and the company has said that it is happy with the way the title was received, although it has not offered any information about sales or the number of gamers who choose to seek a refund after completing it.