When you think of the word “cheating”, you often think of someone doing something so that they and they alone can benefit. However, there are cases where cheating benefits an entire group, and thus many people cheat to try and help that happen. This occurs in video games a lot more than you might think, and a recent case has popped up featuring a somewhat prominent developer in regards to Insel Games, the team behind Guardians of Ember and Wild Buster: Heroes of Titan. For they tried to con Steam, and failed.
Valve has revealed that Insel tried to manipulate the review system by having its own employees post positive reviews of their games. While in theory this isn’t a “bad” idea, or notion, when done in bulk? Yeah, it can skewer reviews, and a lot of Steam users looks at how good the game is doing reviews wise before purchasing a title.
So, what did Valve decide to do? Well, after an investigation, they took action:
For these reasons, we are ending our business relationship with Insel Games Ltd. and removing their games from our store. If you have previously purchased this game, it will remain accessible in your Steam library.
But wait! There’s a twist in this tale, for it appears as though the CEO of Insel Games decided to basically threaten his employees into doing these false reviews. Check it out:
“Of course I cannot force you to write a review (let alone tell you what to write) but I should not have to,” read the email. “Neglecting the importance of reviews will ultimately cost jobs. If [Wild Buster] fails, Insel fails […] and then we all will have no job next year.”
Unfortunately for all of them, this act may have doomed the company outright. For once this reaches the others of other publishers, it might cause similar things.
I definitely don’t feel sorry for the company at all. Shady practices should equal punishment.