Step #01 - Ditch UE5.
Step #02 - I don't care. Just ditch UE5.

Originally posted by swillfly:

There are so many ways a game can fail.

• devs aren't gamers themselves; just a job for them
  
• product rushed producing premature, glitchy releases
  
• mismanagement of production team(s) & projects
  
• overhyping/dumping $$$ into marketing
  
• overly controlling publisher(s)
  
• . . .

Most of the time it seems like AAA & even smaller studios are on a $$$ timeline. All understandable as devs gotta pay bills & survive while making business interests productive and markets happy.

It seems prudent to keep designers on after release for patches to avoid quality/reception problems later. But that costs more $$$/time/contracts/etc.

Maybe AI can be incorporated to save $$$ by addressing post-release QA/playtesting/etc.?
Or possibly pre-release open public betas with a meager $ incentive for bug-catching?

How do you think game designers can improve so there are less chonky titles released?

If you want better gaming experiences my answer is always the same :
Play MUDs they require a little learning Legends of the Jedi is a good game not played in long time but that is a real RP experience via text - see mudlet client.

No to using AI in games, it WILL make them worse.
It is a useful tool but trust me, just read some AI written stories and you will get my meaning.

Onto the question,
I would move to other devs the more independent ones.
The ones who cater to create a game not a walk in the park first person copy of Oblivion / GTA.

Games don't need to be mega big.
I am playing a few games currently Total War - i'm not talking about that right now but its different.
Caravaneer 2, Graphics are dated but original. Intelligent trading system interesting missions with multiple paths or play it sandbox it is up to you.
Lots of strategy and economics at play there - I love Economics and strategy - combat is more tactical turn based.

Mordheim, this game punishes stupidity. Medieval gang warfare build it up and there is no real overall campaign other than go out and fight there are campaign games but not like Grand Campaign to Rule All.
What I like is setting up my own type of game within it but I wont bore people with that.
It is tactical turn based and rewarding play.

OP makes alot of assumptions

OP forgets the most important factor: (impatient) gamers. Fix that first, OP, cause most "problems" come from that.

Originally posted by Crazy Tiger:

OP forgets the most important factor: (impatient) gamers. Fix that first, OP, cause most "problems" come from that.

No, I didn't forget about the impatient gamers who pressure devs to toss out titles before they're ready. However, this isn't a variable that will ever change or could ever be fixed. Instant-gratification consumers (gamers) dictate the target market. When a game is released those are the buyers that pay top dollar for the latest titles.

Originally posted by -OrLoK- Слава Україн:

OP makes alot of assumptions

critique denied

пейте больше водки, чтобы лучше думать

Originally posted by swillfly:

How do you think game designers can improve so there are less chonky titles released?

Not only the Devs fault but also people are more careful with their money due to the cost of living crisis.

Not everyone has $50 to buy a new game, Sometimes you have to pay the bills and eat.