Why linking Classic games to the Web is "inhumane": The Bethesda Experience
Despite the fact that most mobile games require a constant Internet connection and registration to work, console players are not ready for a similar practice yet. This is evidenced by what happened to Bethesda and the DOOM trilogy reissued by it.
Over the weekend, Bethesda unexpectedly released the original DOOM trilogy on smartphones and Switch. The wow effect of the event was spoiled by binding ports to Bethesda.net . It turned out that there is no access to a number of functions in games without a network connection.
Internet is not required to play the first two parts of DOOM. The user must create an account in Bethesda.net and enter it once. After that, he will be able to play DOOM and DOOM 2 offline.
In contrast, DOOM 3 has restricted access to “certain functions and content.” You can unlock them only if you play with a permanent internet connection.
Players’ reaction
Some of the players were happy about the release of DOOM even in this form. Others reacted with dissatisfaction to the requirement to log in to the network.
Because you have messed up with your DRM management and you want us all to make BethesdaNet login to play a silly retro game called “DOOM”, I won’t buy your games anymore. #BoycottBethesda
— Xaander (@XaanderOfficial) July 27, 2019
DOOM fans found it funny that all three games came out long before Bethesda.net , as well as the tradition of linking games to the Internet. According to the players, in the case of DOOM and DOOM 2, the Bethesda account does not give anything at all, since there are no online components in them.
DOOM 1/2/3 on Switch/PS4/X1 requires a mandatory login to the BethesdaNet account
DOOM 1/2/3 can already be recognized as the worst ports in the history of mankind, because the mandatory LOGIN in the 1993-2006 games is simply inhumane— GalizoooN (@galizooonn) July 26, 2019@bethesda A login and #bethesdanet account for the re-released classic #Doom games?
Кое-кто из пользователей сделал смелое предположение. Якобы привязка игроков к сети нужна, чтобы Bethesda могла добывать криптовалюту.
Are you mental? Why? Are you mining some cryptocurrency in the background while the games are played?
— Lasse Börn ? (@indubioproretro) July 28, 2019″You need to log in to Bethesda.net to play the re-released classic DOOM?
Are you nuts? Well, why? Are you out there quietly mining cryptocurrency while we’re playing?”
In addition, many users are enraged by the service window Bethesda.net , pop-up right during the game. And a number of players could not launch remasters for several days due to an account error.
@bethesda Wow thanks alot, 2 days later and i still cant play DOOM and DOOM 2 because of login error with your lame bethesdanet shit, guess i have to get a refund, Thanks again for fucking shit up you cunts.
— ED13 (@zombie3eater) July 27, 2019″Thank you, it’s been two days, and I still can’t play DOOM and DOOM 2 because of a bug in your damn BethesdaNet.
I think I’m going to need a refand.”
And, of course, not without memes. Users spontaneously began to “implement” the binding to Bethesda.net in completely different titles.
pic.twitter.com/WasozfkFMe
— ok (@urethralcancer) July 26, 2019
Please connect to the internet to continue,” – examples from the Mario and Undertale series.
Bethesda Reaction
The company itself assures that the binding to the account was introduced for the Doom – Slayers Club fan club.
Update on our new classic DOOM releases:
The BethesdaNet login requirement was included for the Slayers Club, to reward members for playing the classic DOOM games.
The login should be optional, and we are working on changing the requirement to optional now.
— Bethesda (@bethesda) July 27, 2019Also on the topic:
При помощи Bethesda.net разработчики хотели поощрить участников клуба за то, что они играют в классический DOOM. Вход в учетную запись должен производиться по выбору игрока, как пишет студия. На деле вышло наоборот. Сейчас Bethesda работает над патчем, который сделает привязку к сети опциональной.
Если не принимать во внимание историю с Bethesda.net, то сами порты DOOM и так оказались неидеальны. Судя по гневным комментариям в соцсетях, большую часть фанатов расстроил некачественный звук.
