Who’s really in control?

This week, everyone’s been talking about early access releases again.

The other thing this week was mega-Wishlisted gameManor Lordsarriving in early access in, again, an unfinished state.

Manor Lords artwork showing a person armoured head-to-toe, brandishing a sword to the air as if to say “charge!”. A long red banner flaps in the battle-misted air around them.

Neither of these things is remarkable.

It’s no wonder each of the companies behind those particular games are set on using early access again.

Honestly, he’ll do well to stay on his feet.

Cover image for YouTube video

And that’s fine - if everyone agrees on everything.

But what happens when they don’t?

Other people, though, will not hesitate.

A zoomed-in screenshot of Bertie’s village in Manor Lords, as seen from the fenced perimeter of his protected manor. From this angle, we see the gently rolling hills and some of the height of the rows of small houses Bertie has built on top of it. He’s a skilled village planner, Bertie - he doesn’t get enough credit for it.

See Thomas Sala’s Ursee games -FalconeerandBulwark- as other great examples of this.

They are distinctive, singular experiences, and in the games market, that can be rare.)

Is it really as harmonious and symbiotic as we’re led to believe?

A Manor Lords screenshot. A zoomed out perspective on Bertie’s quite expansive village, in winter time. The surrounding pastoral lands and forests are carpeted in snow.

I bet it isn’t.

I wonder whether BioWare would ever have altered theMass Effect 3ending had the audience not demanded it.

Did it really have any other option - could it have refused?

I don’t think so.

At that point, the idea no longer solely belongs to you.

You are handing over some control of it.