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STEAM | December 2014 - Read OP for winter sale questions

A

ashecitism

Member
It's just really tiresome at this point. It's an endless cycle. Steam, their games. Huge base, yet lots of discontent and bitterness. Then if Valve on the rare occasion does something good one part forgives them, but the other part stays cynical. Is this healthy for both parties? I don't know.
 
H

Hero Prinny

Member
well folks, I'm ready to play some more games today. today I'll be tackling the snowy place where the sacred urn is held in Origins. I did a bit of it yesterday and i realized something: i fucking hate mage enemies. why they so op, son? like the fight starts and they just wham you with a AOE fire spell that takes a nice chunk of health AND knocks you down. like yo, that shit should at the very least have some start up time, it shouldn't just be instant. I always either do 1 of two things against a mage: 1) fuck that mage, everyone go after it, Wynn and Morrigan will heal while the dog will stun everyone when I feel theres enough people in its effect radius so YOLO that shit. or 2) Morrigian cast a hex that makes all the mage's moves miss till I'm able to kill enough folks to safely kill the mage.
 
jshackles

jshackles

Gentlemen, we can rebuild it. We have the capability to make the world's first enhanced store. Steam will be that store. Better than it was before.
Bubbavelli said:
You went to valve? Did you meet our lord and saviour? Also, whens episode 3 coming out?
Click to expand...

Yeah, back in March I was invited to tour Valve. I didn't get a chance to speak with Gabe, although I saw him on the ground floor walking with his posse (they were talking about superhero powers - total respect).

No news about HL-3, but I saw an unusually large group of people working on Left 4 Dead. Although, they wouldn't say exactly that it was Left 4 Dead 3, I'm pretty certain that that large of a group wouldn't be working on L4D2 considering how stagnant it's been this year.

It's a really fun place, though it was my second time visiting. This time I got to take my wife and kids along and got a little more exclusive access. Hopefully some day I'll be back.
 
M

MMBosstones86

Member
jshackles said:
Yeah, back in March I was invited to tour Valve. I didn't get a chance to speak with Gabe, although I saw him on the ground floor walking with his posse (they were talking about superhero powers - total respect).

No news about HL-3, but I saw an unusually large group of people working on Left 4 Dead. Although, they wouldn't say exactly that it was Left 4 Dead 3, I'm pretty certain that that large of a group wouldn't be working on L4D2 considering how stagnant it's been this year.

It's a really fun place, though it was my second time visiting. This time I got to take my wife and kids along and got a little more exclusive access. Hopefully some day I'll be back.
Click to expand...

that fedora.

never forget.
 
M

Maniac

Banned
jshackles said:
Well I haven't been to Valve since March, but I can say that they're probably right about Dota 2. From my casual observations back then, almost 1/3 (or about 100) of the employees were in Dota 2 development.
Click to expand...

Well in that case... That's... A lot of stragglers.

And I really can't imagine why the content updates are so damn slow for that aswell, then. :p

... And it wasn't even 'close' to TI, huh... Interesting.

Although it is bloody weird that pros were told that the "core" dota team was like 20-ish people. o_O

Then again... Wheels man. Desks. ON WHEELS!

Speaking of Valve and the people there; correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't (wasn't?) TF2 used for 'training' new hires and showing them the ropes and how things work around Valve, or am I indeed mistaken or outdated in my informationorino?
 
H

Hero Prinny

Member
jshackles said:
Yeah, back in March I was invited to tour Valve. I didn't get a chance to speak with Gabe, although I saw him on the ground floor walking with his posse (they were talking about superhero powers - total respect).

No news about HL-3, but I saw an unusually large group of people working on Left 4 Dead. Although, they wouldn't say exactly that it was Left 4 Dead 3, I'm pretty certain that that large of a group wouldn't be working on L4D2 considering how stagnant it's been this year.

It's a really fun place, though it was my second time visiting. This time I got to take my wife and kids along and got a little more exclusive access. Hopefully some day I'll be back.
Click to expand...

its not left 4 dead 3. everyone knows they can't count to 3, its like the forbidden number or something. probably a new IP thats similar to L4D.
 
C

Corpekata

Banned
Amzin said:
Isn't that the normal price? It's only $9.99 on Steam. 6.99 British units sounds about the same, and it's the Euro getting screwed (as usual)?
Click to expand...

It's 10 bucks for the season pass on Steam. What they are reporting is the season pass PLUS the game itself.
 
M

Maniac

Banned
jshackles said:
Yeah, back in March I was invited to tour Valve. I didn't get a chance to speak with Gabe, although I saw him on the ground floor walking with his posse (they were talking about superhero powers - total respect).

No news about HL-3, but I saw an unusually large group of people working on Left 4 Dead. Although, they wouldn't say exactly that it was Left 4 Dead 3, I'm pretty certain that that large of a group wouldn't be working on L4D2 considering how stagnant it's been this year.

It's a really fun place, though it was my second time visiting. This time I got to take my wife and kids along and got a little more exclusive access. Hopefully some day I'll be back.
Click to expand...
You know what they say. I'EL BE BACH

Please do be bach though. We need Steam to be enhanced from within.

And that's a fabulous hat, sir.
ashecitism said:
It's just really tiresome at this point. It's an endless cycle. Steam, their games. Huge base, yet lots of discontent and bitterness. Then if Valve on the rare occasion does something good one part forgives them, but the other part stays cynical. Is this healthy for both parties? I don't know.
Click to expand...

Probably not healthy for either. But to be fair, Valve fans are notoriously difficult and they attract a lot more cynics than most other playerbases and communities. Nothing will please the majority of their fans, and that's just a fact. They go above and beyond in supporting their games, especially compared to... Well, just about any and every other company out there. But nothing's good enough, and I fear that's how it'll always be :p
 
S

Sini

Member
maty said:
Finished Never Alone - game #46 of the year (thanks CosmicQueso for this unexpected gift).



Never Alone (Kisima Ingitchuna) was developed in collaboration with the Iñupiat, an Alaska Native people and Its story, narrated entirely in Inupiaq, is based around Alaskan indigenous folklore.

You play as a young girl whose village is hit by a blizzard. And so she sets on a journey to find the source of it. Along the way you find a fox that will aid you by calling the spirits that help you get to places you wouldn't be able to reach by yourself and solve a few puzzles. The game offers 2 ways to play, you can either play solo and control both characters or with local coop each person can control the girl while the other the fox.

The game plays pretty much like Trine but it is much simpler at least in single player.

The visuals look beautiful and show how much the developers cared to tell this story and about these indigenous people's culture. In every stage you will also find some owls (which are not very hidden) that will unlock cultural insights vignettes. These will provide more information on the Iñupiat and how the elements of their folklore were put into the game.

While the game is a little short, the charming tale makes you want to finish it.


I took several screenshots of it and those on my friend's list will be able to see them. I only wish Steam would let me specify the order of the screenshots being uploaded when you do so in a large batch.
Click to expand...
Is the character handling something like in LIMBO? Or is it responsive like in traditional sidescrollers?
Playing LIMBO was pain and suffering for me thanks to floaty character handling.
It would be very saddening if it's like that because game looks very interesting.
 
jshackles

jshackles

Gentlemen, we can rebuild it. We have the capability to make the world's first enhanced store. Steam will be that store. Better than it was before.
MMBosstones86 said:
that fedora.

never forget.
Click to expand...

Well, I thought about pulling it out of my closet for Real Profile Pic January or whatever it's called...

Maniac said:
Well in that case... That's... A lot of stragglers.

And I really can't imagine why the content updates are so damn slow for that aswell, then. :p

... And it wasn't even 'close' to TI, huh... Interesting.

Although it is bloody weird that pros were told that the "core" dota team was like 20-ish people. o_O

Then again... Wheels man. Desks. ON WHEELS!

Speaking of Valve and the people there; correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't (wasn't?) TF2 used for 'training' new hires and showing them the ropes and how things work around Valve, or am I indeed mistaken or outdated in my informationorino?
Click to expand...

Well they could be correct that the core development team for new updates is only about 20 people. Most of the people there (who weren't just playing the game) were most likely doing regular maintenance: fixing existing bugs and things like that. I imagine that the updates for Dota 2 (or any Valve game, really) start out with a small team of people who get together and decide to do a content update. They lay out the framework of what will be included and what will be unique about it. As the project rolls forward, more people jump on board. When it's finally time to ship, most of the development team is working on it.

Also I'm not sure they do very much "training" at Valve. From my understanding, most of the artists and Source developers they hire are people who have worked with it from outside the company as modders. It's possible that when the Source engine was first released they used TF2 internally to train people, but I'd be really shocked if they hired a Source developer now that wasn't already intimately familiar with the Source engine.

Hero Prinny said:
its not left 4 dead 3. everyone knows they can't count to 3, its like the forbidden number or something. probably a new IP thats similar to L4D.
Click to expand...

I think they're just waiting to reveal it officially because the longer they go without releasing a "3" game, the more excited people will be.
 
D

dex3108

Member
jshackles said:
I think they're just waiting to reveal it officially because the longer they go without releasing a "3" game, the more excited people will be.
Click to expand...

Day when valve announces game with number 3 in name will be end of the gaming as we know :D Also i don't think that it is good idea to release game with number 3 in name that is not Half Life :D
 
M

MUnited83

For you.
Ricochet 3: Wrong Number

3nIAKwg.gif
 
A

ashecitism

Member
Maniac said:
Probably not healthy for either. But to be fair, Valve fans are notoriously difficult and they attract a lot more cynics than most other playerbases and communities. Nothing will please the majority of their fans, and that's just a fact. They go above and beyond in supporting their games, especially compared to... Well, just about any and every other company out there. But nothing's good enough, and I fear that's how it'll always be :p
Click to expand...

I'm not putting the blame solely on Valve, but they could amend the situation. Yes, the fandom is hard to handle. It's big, diverse, spoiled (save for HL) and unevenly handled. It's all about perception and communication. It's no wonder TF, GO and HL players are calling out Dota. Dota has been Valve's liebling all these years. Lots of attention (Dota fans might argue about it now lol), lots of public raving about it (GabeN, Erik Johnson etc), they have an annual fan event for it... So naturally people think it's taking away resources and attention from their games. And then there's Steam too.

jshackles said:
I think they're just waiting to reveal it officially because the longer they go without releasing a "3" game, the more excited people will be.
Click to expand...

I can guarantee you now the moment L4D3 becomes official there are going to be some tomatoes thrown. That is not the "3" a lot of people have been waiting for and it's especially not the type of game people have been waiting for. Especially if the reveal won't look hot, which has a chance if the reaction to early Source 2 are any indication. So, maybe Valve shouldn't "excite" people like this.
 
J

JustLynx

Member
I just noticed this earlier today, seems like they added new info to trade window, pretty cool
Code: 
[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/rUAY8SW.png[/IMG]
 
M

Maniac

Banned
lashman said:
more screenshots from American Truck Simulator :)

I'm throwing money at the screen but nothing's happening ; _ ;
Click to expand...

OH MY GOD I HAD NO IDEA THIS WAS A THING

IT'S LIKE A SUCCESSOR TO ETS

OH

MY

GOD. I really, really prefer the look of american trucks, they're fab. Although some of the landscape is very 'meh', but then again they did pick some of the more 'meh' bits of europe for ETS, so... Fine by me!

I NEED IT, I NEED IT IN MY VEINS!
 
A

Alasfree

Member
I seriously hope left 4 dead 3 is some mindblowing shit because as far as i am concerned zombie shooter in 2014 are pretty creatively bankrupt.
 
A

Amzin

Member
N

Nzyme32

Member
Alasfree said:
I seriously hope left 4 dead 3 is some mindblowing shit because as far as i am concerned zombie shooter in 2014 are pretty creatively bankrupt.
Click to expand...

The same. Although my hopes are entirely pinned on there being some sort of biometric sensing hardware being released in tandem with it, and having some sort of significant impact on gameplay.
 
P

Pudge

Member
As someone who plays TF2 a lot, or at least I used to, it's been sad to see it be so neglected over the last year or so. No new maps, no new weapons, no real reason to play other than hats, and even those haven't been that interesting (A lot of beards and jackets, nothing too outlandish). And the fact that you have to pay for the duck thing is insulting, especially considering its a nonsense statistic that only lasts until the middle of January!

I have to wonder what's going to happen to the Steam economy when TF2 finally does stop getting updates. If people aren't playing the game, I'd imagine that the Mann Co Keys are going to bottom out in price. I know DOTA Keys aren't really a thing anymore, would that make CS:GO the standard? So much stuff is built around TF2 items, it would be crazy for all that to just vanish overnight.
 
J

JawesomeJaw

Member
It is always fun to see Dota be the scapegoat when it also goes months without updates at times, had two holiday events canceled this year and still doesn't have full hero parity with Warcraft 3.
 
M

Maniac

Banned
JustLynx said:
I just noticed this earlier today, seems like they added new info to trade window, pretty cool
Code: 
[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/rUAY8SW.png[/IMG]
Click to expand...
Silly me, I've traded loooots today. But it's the first time I've been trading since getting Enhanced Steam Standalone, so I thought it was part of that, lol. >_<
Alasfree said:
I seriously hope left 4 dead 3 is some mindblowing shit because as far as i am concerned zombie shooter in 2014 are pretty creatively bankrupt.
Click to expand...
I really, really want to disagree with you, but... I can't. Most newer stuff is all about aping DayZ, DayZ is all about aping the worst misery possible in real life, but with zombies, and... I can't for the life of me think of any sort of 'new' zombie shooter that hasn't been aping something else.

I personally hope L4D3 has lots of urban environments, overgrown with flora and teeming with infected that've gone through more horrible mutations... And... Just, something unique gameplay-wise. :|
 
N

Nzyme32

Member
Pudge said:
As someone who plays TF2 a lot, or at least I used to, it's been sad to see it be so neglected over the last year or so. No new maps, no new weapons, no real reason to play other than hats, and even those haven't been that interesting (A lot of beards and jackets, nothing too outlandish). And the fact that you have to pay for the duck thing is insulting, especially considering its a nonsense statistic that only lasts until the middle of January!

I have to wonder what's going to happen to the Steam economy when TF2 finally does stop getting updates. If people aren't playing the game, I'd imagine that the Mann Co Keys are going to bottom out in price. I know DOTA Keys aren't really a thing anymore, would that make CS:GO the standard? So much stuff is built around TF2 items, it would be crazy for all that to just vanish overnight.
Click to expand...

Isn't this kind of similar across Valve games? DOTA got the explanation that there would be an engine overhaul of sorts, which suggests source 2. Perhaps other games will slowly be moved over as well, in the hopes that they can maintain them for longer, and more easily than via Source. Maybe...
 
C

Copons

Member
SalsaShark said:
$0 balance

real life got real
Click to expand...

I hear you.
At this moment, in my Steam Wallet I've got exactly 22€ more than what I have on my bank account.
And I have 21€ in the Steam Wallet.
also, moments of true despair

But at least, until jshackles doesn't come up with a way to change steamcash into realcash, I'll be able to buy plenty of 90% games!
 
A

ashecitism

Member
My expectation: L4D3 is going to be a prettier L4D. With a service attached to it. That's it.

Nzyme32 said:
The same. Although my hopes are entirely pinned on there being some sort of biometric sensing hardware being released in tandem with it, and having some sort of significant impact on gameplay.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't expect much regarding that. Valve are already having problems launching their SU initiative, a bio sensor shouldn't be no easy feat too. Not to mention not everyone would buy it. Gabe already said they aren't tying their games to unproven, unreleased technology. Not to mention we haven't heard anything about since January. Meanwhile their VR team has been hard at work.

Maniac said:
I really, really want to disagree with you, but... I can't. Most newer stuff is all about aping DayZ, DayZ is all about aping the worst misery possible in real life, but with zombies, and... I can't for the life of me think of any sort of 'new' zombie shooter that hasn't been aping something else.

I personally hope L4D3 has lots of urban environments, overgrown with flora and teeming with infected that've gone through more horrible mutations... And... Just, something unique gameplay-wise. :|
Click to expand...

L4D definitely won't be aping DayZ. Maybe if Hocking was still there. I bet it's going to focus more on competitive modes.
 
M

Maniac

Banned
So yeah, I was finally done (for the fifth time) with idling.

Then you cheeky cunts had to point out that the new Bundlestars bundle existed. So now I've got stuff to idle again.

Damn you guys. Damn you and your beautiful hearts.

PS: If you're not an american, I suggest installing Hola or a similar VPN-extension and buying the bundle from the US. I saved 1 euro by the click of a button, lol.
ashecitism said:
My expectation: L4D3 is going to be a prettier L4D. With a service attached to it. That's it.



I wouldn't expect much regarding that. Valve are already having problems launching their SU initiative, a bio sensor shouldn't be no easy feat too. Not to mention not everyone would buy it. Gabe already said they aren't tying their games to unproven, unreleased technology. Not to mention we haven't heard anything about since January. Meanwhile their VR team has been hard at work.



L4D definitely won't be aping DayZ. Maybe if Hocking was still there. I bet it's going to focus more on competitive modes.
Click to expand...

Hah, I wasn't really suggesting it would. Just that everyone else seems to be doing so. I really do fear you're right though, I'm getting tired of Valve focusing on competitive games so damn much though. I just want something that's sodding fun and hopefully gorgeous. Hopefully it's a purdy left 4 dead, but... Hopefully it's also competent and full of great gamemodes and some more lovely story bits.

I mean, it's hard enough juggling competitive Dota 2 and CS:GO, I'd not be able to keep up with L4D3 aswell, lol.
 
S

Salsa

Member
RPS is really making me wanna play Neo Scavenger

it's like their favorite game ever by now

I got it for a dollar and only played on a very early state. Think im going in
 
Z

Zia

Member
Here is my take (from the End of the Line thread) on the TF2 stuff:

Zia said:
I liked the film okay, but the update is TF2's worst, following on the heels of the worst Halloween update.

Buy a badge for $5 that lets you view the Star Bits leaderboard. That's literally it. You run over ducks dropped from foes and that increases your duck-o-meter. Compare your duck-o-meter with your friends' because apparently we've come full circle and Cow Clickers are cool again.

Even the update page is a poorly designed, unreadable and poorly written ("This sounds like something Valve would say but I'm not actually a writer so I don't realize how awkward and unfunny this reads!") mess.

Everyone involved should be embarrassed, and I feel bad for the dude that spent nearly two years (?) on the short.
Click to expand...

I consider myself a Valve "fan" because I think they're interesting and for the most part ethical and I don't really get bent out of shape or feel entitled about game tapes stuff, but the update is really, really bad. On top of that, the Halloween update was kind of shit and it took two weeks for it to get patched to the state it should have launched in.

Additionally, I think this update really frustrated me with the $5 leaderboard because Valve has really been pushing the monetization envelope lately. In Dota 2 you have the Arcana that lets you participate in the event, and that's kind of whatever, but then you have the $.79 betting token that has a fucking popup when you start the game. That's really intrusive and gross. Then you have the additional missions for the last CS: GO Operation combined with the fact that I think their monetization of that game is really cynical to begin with (GO crates makes gashapon machines look like a great investment). It feels like they're really starting to take advantage of their image in the worst way possible, and I totally don't buy the excuses that they don't have to properly support their shit because it's free -- these are games-as-services. They need to provide a service people want.
 
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