That guy Darren who runs Republic of Play channel made a video of his thoughts. I like his videos a lot.
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I sometimes watch Republic of Play, and he's got some good points, such as that Paradox was very open about what the game was from the beginning. His work on Imperator, though, has been a regular fount of negativity on the game, with him releasing a clickbaitey "is the game still shit"-style video with each patch. The prevailing attitude of his video, "I don't care... but also I'm an expert and the game isn't worthwhile," is highly dismissive.
In truth I was going to avoid stepping on a potential hornet's nest and not comment, until I hit one moment. Offhand comments in the less-filtered streaming environment are one thing, but when editing and publishing on Youtube, choosing to keep a comment of "sucks for him" about a major I:R content creator (Lambert) is really beyond the pale - don't mock fellow content creators when something like this happens to a core game in their portfolio. Not. Cool.
In truth I was going to avoid stepping on a potential hornet's nest and not comment, until I hit one moment. Offhand comments in the less-filtered streaming environment are one thing, but when editing and publishing on Youtube, choosing to keep a comment of "sucks for him" about a major I:R content creator (Lambert) is really beyond the pale - don't mock fellow content creators when something like this happens to a core game in their portfolio. Not. Cool.
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I watched the whole thing waiting for some input but...I guess it was summed up by his thoughts in the first 30s? He played before launch, thought it was a bad game, and didnt care for the updates. So why should he care about the news.
Totally fair, not sure what it is supposed to add though.
Totally fair, not sure what it is supposed to add though.
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13 minutes to tell us that:
(side note: games should stop representing the colossus of Rhodes with spread legs.)
- the game was bad at the start
- he doesn't care about it
(side note: games should stop representing the colossus of Rhodes with spread legs.)
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Thank you for the link. It is interesting to listen to discordant voices, group think is something we all have to avoid.
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Playing devils advocate here, his view was tarnished by the launch. He didn't go back because the updates had more negative review.
2.0 was too late to save him -and you have to assume- many others returning to the game.
We already know the game launched too soon and was too reliant on mana.
2.0 is great. Enjoyable, really playable and solid. But 1.0 turned many away, for good.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing.
2.0 was too late to save him -and you have to assume- many others returning to the game.
We already know the game launched too soon and was too reliant on mana.
2.0 is great. Enjoyable, really playable and solid. But 1.0 turned many away, for good.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing.
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Thanks for summary. Will not click and earn him more cash
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Hey there, Darren here from the video.
If I may, let me explain my position as there's only half the story in the replies here.
Before Imperator came out, I was the most viewed channel for it. I was very interested in the game and covered the diaries, sometimes positively, sometimes negatively.
When the game launched, my review was largely negative. I enoyed characters, and the battle system, but not much else.
Because I had built up the audience for the game, each time it was updated, I would get asked by the 100's "Is it fixed?" - so I covered each major Patch with the title "Imperator ROME 1.X - Is it fixed". You can call it clickbaity, but that's literally the subject of the video, is the game worth coming back to etc.
1.1 - Positive Review
1.2 - Very Positive Review
It was at this time I started a Let's Play for the game, I wanted to get the word out, and uploaded a 40 part LP as Bosporan Kingdom, on a mission to secure the Black Sea completely. I also did a 1.2 Quick Summary video to tell people the biggest issues were fixed.
1.3 - Mostly Positive, though I wasn't a fan of missions.
I started another Let's Play, focused on Carthage conquering the Med on VH. This was 60 episodes.
1.4 - Negative Impressions overall.
1.5 - Negative Impressions overall.
If you want more info, watch the videos, they're deep dives on each mechanic and thorough explanations of why I like or don't like them.
Whether positive, mixed or negative, the videos were always called "Is it fixed" because that's what people asked me.
Because the game was going in a direction I didn't like anymore, and to stop being negative, I stopped covering the game. I said 1.5 would be my last video on it, because I don't like to be negative, it's awkward, confrontational, and I'd rather promote games I enjoy.
When 2.0 came out, it was received very well. I played it and also think it's good, though my "problems" with the game, is a lack of content. It's great they improve systems, but I didn't personally have an issue with Religion, Culture, Military, Loyalty, Republics etc. My issue is that I don't like that there's no unique buildings, units or proper diversity between cultures that doesn't amount to modifiers. To me, there are 3 playstyles in the game; Tribe, Monarchy and Republic, and once you've played one, it's just a different location, but the same gameplay. That's just me, you don't have to share that opinion. So seeing that 2.0 was so well received, but knowing it wasn't really for me still, I kept quiet. No point dragging a game when others enjoy it.
But, because I became somewhat known for Imperator, I still get asked about it all the time, and asked if I'll cover 2.0 in a video etc. Here, in this video, on a stream, I was informed that the game was stopping development, and my summary take is "sucks for the people who like it, but I'm not going to pretend I care on a personal note, that'd be fake" I also mention that "it's not a good thing, I'm not happy it's stopping development" but I also argue the logic behind "if it can improve their other games by reinforcing them, and I was a business, I would also kill the least played game after a couple years of support, which is more than most companies give it"
Again, I know here especially this will be an unpopular take. But at least you have more context than "ra ra he's a clickbaity hate youtuber, he never liked the game"
edit*
I should also add that I've never hoped the game would fail, or cease development. I've only stated my surprise that they didn't abandon it earlier, not that they should have. When the reviews for the game turned positive with 2.0, I was very happy, even though it wasn't for me anymore. I stand nothing to gain from a PDX game not doing well.
If I may, let me explain my position as there's only half the story in the replies here.
Before Imperator came out, I was the most viewed channel for it. I was very interested in the game and covered the diaries, sometimes positively, sometimes negatively.
When the game launched, my review was largely negative. I enoyed characters, and the battle system, but not much else.
Because I had built up the audience for the game, each time it was updated, I would get asked by the 100's "Is it fixed?" - so I covered each major Patch with the title "Imperator ROME 1.X - Is it fixed". You can call it clickbaity, but that's literally the subject of the video, is the game worth coming back to etc.
1.1 - Positive Review
1.2 - Very Positive Review
It was at this time I started a Let's Play for the game, I wanted to get the word out, and uploaded a 40 part LP as Bosporan Kingdom, on a mission to secure the Black Sea completely. I also did a 1.2 Quick Summary video to tell people the biggest issues were fixed.
1.3 - Mostly Positive, though I wasn't a fan of missions.
I started another Let's Play, focused on Carthage conquering the Med on VH. This was 60 episodes.
1.4 - Negative Impressions overall.
1.5 - Negative Impressions overall.
If you want more info, watch the videos, they're deep dives on each mechanic and thorough explanations of why I like or don't like them.
Whether positive, mixed or negative, the videos were always called "Is it fixed" because that's what people asked me.
Because the game was going in a direction I didn't like anymore, and to stop being negative, I stopped covering the game. I said 1.5 would be my last video on it, because I don't like to be negative, it's awkward, confrontational, and I'd rather promote games I enjoy.
When 2.0 came out, it was received very well. I played it and also think it's good, though my "problems" with the game, is a lack of content. It's great they improve systems, but I didn't personally have an issue with Religion, Culture, Military, Loyalty, Republics etc. My issue is that I don't like that there's no unique buildings, units or proper diversity between cultures that doesn't amount to modifiers. To me, there are 3 playstyles in the game; Tribe, Monarchy and Republic, and once you've played one, it's just a different location, but the same gameplay. That's just me, you don't have to share that opinion. So seeing that 2.0 was so well received, but knowing it wasn't really for me still, I kept quiet. No point dragging a game when others enjoy it.
But, because I became somewhat known for Imperator, I still get asked about it all the time, and asked if I'll cover 2.0 in a video etc. Here, in this video, on a stream, I was informed that the game was stopping development, and my summary take is "sucks for the people who like it, but I'm not going to pretend I care on a personal note, that'd be fake" I also mention that "it's not a good thing, I'm not happy it's stopping development" but I also argue the logic behind "if it can improve their other games by reinforcing them, and I was a business, I would also kill the least played game after a couple years of support, which is more than most companies give it"
Again, I know here especially this will be an unpopular take. But at least you have more context than "ra ra he's a clickbaity hate youtuber, he never liked the game"
edit*
I should also add that I've never hoped the game would fail, or cease development. I've only stated my surprise that they didn't abandon it earlier, not that they should have. When the reviews for the game turned positive with 2.0, I was very happy, even though it wasn't for me anymore. I stand nothing to gain from a PDX game not doing well.
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The video, while it might not have been intended to come off as gloating, felt like it.
I also really didn't appreciate the snipe at Lord Lambert whatsoever.
I also really didn't appreciate the snipe at Lord Lambert whatsoever.
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Hey, I've seen the vid, please don't feel the need to be offended on my behalf. If this was a scripted video and that was something indended to be a part of it then sure, that wouldn't be on... but as an off the cuff response to someone mentioning me being pissed at the news I don't feel it was out of line or out of order or anything. I get on relatively well with Darren, even when we disagree on some things, and I genuinely think he is a well meaning, reasonable human being.
Appreciate the concern but I'm just gonna take this as some un-asked for promotion from a bigger channel
Appreciate the concern but I'm just gonna take this as some un-asked for promotion from a bigger channel
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He made it pretty clear how he doesn't care about the game, so I really don't care about his opinion on it either.
Usually I quite like his content, but he just seems so chock full of the most absolute contempt towards Imperator, it becomes very hard to even take him seriously on this matter.
I don't know if there's some bad blood here from PDX blacklisting him, but as I've only heard one side of the story, I'll refrain from passing any judgement.
Usually I quite like his content, but he just seems so chock full of the most absolute contempt towards Imperator, it becomes very hard to even take him seriously on this matter.
I don't know if there's some bad blood here from PDX blacklisting him, but as I've only heard one side of the story, I'll refrain from passing any judgement.
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Just FYI I don't share his opinion of not liking the game. I like Imperator a lot. But his previous videos on the game have been good imo.
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There was no point to this except for him to snipe and gloat, it was a classic "I told you so" vid. He hated the game, he quit the game eons ago, he wasn't covering the game either. Just not needed when you have other channels who cared about the game covering its death. Someone mentioned he was blacklisted by PDX, I don't know if that is true or not but it would explain the excess of salt and bile.
Quite ironic that in the background he's playing a 17 year old mobile/IPAD port nostalgia cash-grab with a terrible UI (isn't there another game in the news right now with a much criticized UI?) - much of which looks like it's been done in Excel and Word.
But, well yeah, that's just like, my opinion, man.
Quite ironic that in the background he's playing a 17 year old mobile/IPAD port nostalgia cash-grab with a terrible UI (isn't there another game in the news right now with a much criticized UI?) - much of which looks like it's been done in Excel and Word.
But, well yeah, that's just like, my opinion, man.
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I review strategy games, of course I'm playing it, it was the day after it just released. Not sure what's ironic about that.
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I agree 100% with this.
With the Religion and Culture updates I felt it was adding new cool, innovative stuff, but not solving the main issues dragging from release: culture uniqueness, which allows the player to go back to the game and try a new fresh campaign that doesn't feel exactly a repetition of the previous one.
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Closing this for a bit to decide if it stays open.
Given the video creator has joined the conversation, I don't want this to become focused around that and unfairly favour one creator over another.
edit: Opening this back up, but liable to close - it's close to promotional at this point.
Given the video creator has joined the conversation, I don't want this to become focused around that and unfairly favour one creator over another.
edit: Opening this back up, but liable to close - it's close to promotional at this point.
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Maybe Darren has a different take on the game versus some here, but I think it's pretty classy he stopped covering the game instead of continuing negative coverage, even though the videos were well viewed. Ultimately we may not disagree but we all want the game to be good and for people to enjoy it.
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