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For gamers, waiting can be the hardest part

By WTOP Staff

DERRIK J. LANG
AP Entertainment Writer

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — When it comes to video games, are they better late than never?

At this week’s GameStop Expo, the video game retailer’s annual consumer-centric event, more than 3,000 attendees had the chance to test drive highly anticipated titles like “Evolve,” ”Dying Light” and “Battlefield Hardline” in the halls of the Anaheim Convention Center. However, it’s probably the last time this year that gamers will be able to play those particular titles.

That’s because they’re among the growing list of games initially set to be released in 2014 that have been delayed until 2015. The publishers behind the monster fighter “Evolve,” zombie survival adventure “Dying Light” and cops-and-robbers romp “Battlefield Hardline” each postponed their release dates earlier this year so developers had more time to tweak the titles.

It’s a frustrating trend that’s prompting many players to bemoan the least fun game of all: The Waiting Game.

“Oh, it sucks,” said Dan Adams, an expo attendee who came to preview games like “Far Cry 4” and “Call of Duty” on the show floor. “I know games are delayed to make them better, but it definitely feels like it’s happening more often these days. It really messes with your expectations when you think you know when a game is coming out, and then — boom — it’s next year.”

Other games previously set for release this year that have been pushed to 2015 include the online apocalyptic shooter “Tom Clancy’s The Division,” the Dark Knight sequel “Batman: Arkham Knight,” the supernatural historical adventure “The Order: 1886,” the sprawling role-playing sequel “The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt” and the open-world movie adaptation “Mad Max.”

“There are so many games for next year, it makes me worried sometimes,” said Yves Guillemot, CEO of Ubisoft, at the Electronic Entertainment Expo in June. “We are always caught between two things: How can we make it better but take full advantage of what we started a few years ago? It’s always a difficult decision because there are always other games coming.”

Deciding to delay is as much a business decision as it is a creative one.

While setting a release date helps to build hype for a game, if it comes out on time but doesn’t meet gamers’ expectations, there’s less chance a publisher will greenlight a sequel. Historically, consumers are forgiving of most overdue games. For instance, the fourth-month delay of last year’s “Grand Theft Auto V” hardly seemed to impact sales.

That’s likely to be true for the latest batch of tardy titles, which also aren’t expected to affect the sales of the newer PlayStation 4 and Xbox One consoles. In fact, pushing games like “Evolve” to Feb. 10 and “Batman: Arkham Knight” to June 5 might actually boost the bottom line for publishers like 2K Games and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment.

“I don’t think any of the delayed games are system sellers, so I don’t really think it makes a lot of difference,” said Michael Pachter, an analyst at Wedbush Morgan. “The games coming out will benefit from lower competition, and the delays smooth out the release calendar, so they’ll probably create an opportunity for greater success all around.”

It also means newcomers like “Evolve,” ”The Order” and “Division” won’t have to compete with the latest editions of long-running series, such as military shooter “Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare,” fantasy epic “Dragon Age: Inquisition,” shoot-’em-up “Far Cry 4” and French Revolution-set “Assassin’s Creed: Unity.” They’re still on track to come out in 2014 — well, for now.

“It’s still the best slate of games I’ve seen since I’ve been here, and I’ve been here nine years,” said Tony Bartel, president of GameStop Corp. “There are plenty of genres. We think it’s all going to come down to affordability. We’re working on programs specifically around trades to put currency in the hands of our customers, so they can afford all of those games.”

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Online:

http://www.gamestop.com/expo

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Follow AP Entertainment Writer Derrik J. Lang on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/derrikjlang.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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