While I don't entirely disagree with your overall assertion, I'd like to say that a number of your examples are seriously flawed.
Computer Software generally comes packaged as "a finished product." This is patently false. PC games that are sold balanced, let alone 100% bug free are extremely rare. I can count on one hand the number of games I haven't needed additional tech support or patches to make work.
As for novels, some of the most popular pieces of fiction of the 20th century had missing pieces (LoTR, for instance). What the author intended and what makes it on paper are often two different things. The work is not necessarily diminished by the omission. Also, RPGs have an infinite number of possible uses in the context of a multitude of different gaming groups. The novel remains the same regardless of who buys it.
The "money pouring in from all angles" for football is only in the college and professional arenas. How much money is pouring in to the pick up game that goes on in my local park on Saturday? Not much. That neighborly game is the equivalent to my biweekly RPG session. Comparing gaming to the NFL isn't appropriate.
The RPG industry has the same problems as the PC game industry in that they are producing complex material that will be explored intesively by many individuals once it hits the shelves. In effect, the public becomes the final beta testers. I'm not happy with this situation, but I can understand how spending the additional time and money for 5000 playtesters could make the cost of the final product prohibitive.
But really, it all comes out in the wash. Is every RPG released poorly edited? No. Are some? Sure. If you don't like the quality of a game then don't buy it. If your standard of quality before you buy a product is 100% error free, then I wish you luck. Checkers can be a fun game... try that.
While I don't entirely disagree with your overall assertion, I'd like to say that a number of your examples are seriously flawed.
Computer Software generally comes packaged as "a finished product." This is patently false. PC games that are sold balanced, let alone 100% bug free are extremely rare. I can count on one hand the number of games I haven't needed additional tech support or patches to make work.
As for novels, some of the most popular pieces of fiction of the 20th century had missing pieces (LoTR, for instance). What the author intended and what makes it on paper are often two different things. The work is not necessarily diminished by the omission. Also, RPGs have an infinite number of possible uses in the context of a multitude of different gaming groups. The novel remains the same regardless of who buys it.
The "money pouring in from all angles" for football is only in the college and professional arenas. How much money is pouring in to the pick up game that goes on in my local park on Saturday? Not much. That neighborly game is the equivalent to my biweekly RPG session. Comparing gaming to the NFL isn't appropriate.
The RPG industry has the same problems as the PC game industry in that they are producing complex material that will be explored intesively by many individuals once it hits the shelves. In effect, the public becomes the final beta testers. I'm not happy with this situation, but I can understand how spending the additional time and money for 5000 playtesters could make the cost of the final product prohibitive.
But really, it all comes out in the wash. Is every RPG released poorly edited? No. Are some? Sure. If you don't like the quality of a game then don't buy it. If your standard of quality before you buy a product is 100% error free, then I wish you luck. Checkers can be a fun game... try that.