Community MetaSteam | April 2020 - A Disaster Report From Raccoon City

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Madventure

The Angel of Deaf
Nov 17, 2018
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This is totally unexpected but absolutely cool.

Good move, Bethesda.
Yeah that's awesome


As far as people asking if it's worth their time just ask yourself if you like Rust or Ark or Conan Exiles or Something similar to that with friends and then if you like fallout and you have your answer.

I mean I have 2k hours into Rust and 900 hours in Ark and I like Fallout 76 but that's because it's fairly similar in genre to that but they're literally making it into what people THOUGHT it would be which is a fallout with multiplayer and not a Survival game with fallout paint
 
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Amzin

No one beats me 17 times in a row!
Dec 5, 2018
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It hardly feels like a restriction if you make full use of your tools, since you can always quickly generate the ammo you need and the process of doing so only takes a second, as it rewards you with plenty of ammo for each type. It only feels like a restriction if you insist on using only your favorite weapon or two and thus have to chainsaw more often.
You know what I was saying. Eternal is very stingy on ammo and requires you to play the way you described in order to get any. The game is fun for you because it requires you to manage your resources very tightly. That wouldn't be possible without ammo being restricted and maybe I'm wrong but I recall Hugo Martin making that point during the game's demonstrations.

Anyway, I think we're going to argue in circles here and I don't want to annoy you, I'll let it go :).
This was part of my problem. Shoot 4 basic enemies and have to switch weapons or use chainsaw? That's not what I play an FPS for. And that's shooting just to get low enough to Glory kill, since shooting through staggered health takes almost the same amount of ammo. I've mentioned before but I do not buy an FPS to spam melee animations over and over and over again. Doom Eternal, at least in the first 2 hours, is just a bunch of QTE hidden behind a pile of systems. It's not a standard FPS game and it leaves behind all the things I enjoyed about Doom 2016, and many of the other excellent shooters of the past decade, in favor of forcing you to do so many certain things. People keep saying "it's just filled with decisions" but it's not. You have to Glory kill constantly, you have to chainsaw often, you have to focus on the face-shoved weak spots, and since you can't actually rebind actions very well you end up having to only use certain abilities a certain way (slow time rune, for example).

The reason those third person Eternal clips look reasonable is because that's what Eternal is, a third person action game. And to be fair, I enjoyed my 2 hours with it more than I have with most games in that genre like DMC, but I didn't enjoy it $60 worth and since I wanted to play an FPS I just refunded it and I'll go replay Titanfall 2 or I might grab MW. I thought HL:A being right around the corner would scratch that itch but HL:A suffers from some of the same design choice problems. It's not really a FPS/VR shooter, it's an extended Ravenholm experience with fewer options for how to play, which is the opposite of the direction VR should be taking us.

It's just frustrating that I enjoy single player FPS games and 2 big name ones right after another have gone away from the core focus and loops of FPS games. Even games where you only carry 1 or 2 weapons at a time feel less choice restricting than both of these.
 
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freshVeggie

almost there
Sep 7, 2018
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This is totally unexpected but absolutely cool.

Good move, Bethesda.
Would have been sweet if they'd give Steam keys but it'll probably just auto-redeem it on the linked account. Still cool though.
 

Firewithin

MetaMember
Dec 19, 2018
791
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so saw lashman post Sea of Thieves is coming to steam which is cool. ive resisted trying this out on gamepass because didnt this turn into a trolling gankfest or whatever if you werent playing with people in a group? or am i mistaken and it was never really like that?
 
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Swenhir

Spaceships!
Apr 18, 2019
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This was part of my problem. Shoot 4 basic enemies and have to switch weapons or use chainsaw? That's not what I play an FPS for. And that's shooting just to get low enough to Glory kill, since shooting through staggered health takes almost the same amount of ammo. I've mentioned before but I do not buy an FPS to spam melee animations over and over and over again. Doom Eternal, at least in the first 2 hours, is just a bunch of QTE hidden behind a pile of systems. It's not a standard FPS game and it leaves behind all the things I enjoyed about Doom 2016, and many of the other excellent shooters of the past decade, in favor of forcing you to do so many certain things. People keep saying "it's just filled with decisions" but it's not. You have to Glory kill constantly, you have to chainsaw often, you have to focus on the face-shoved weak spots, and since you can't actually rebind actions very well you end up having to only use certain abilities a certain way (slow time rune, for example).
I couldn't agree more. To be fair, the game does open up in freedom toward the later third where you start having everything, but then... Well, you kind of find what works for you and the game puts so much pressure on you that you can't really do anything other than SSG>ballista, And a bit of fun with the RL in-between. It was genuinely not fun for me, and I say this as someone who loved the hell out of Q3CPMA.

The game is very authoritarian in design and is rather well-rounded around that specific mindset. That's fine for folks who enjoy this sort of game. I do not but clearly people have been feeling immense joy at playing it and that's an amazing thing. Hektor's post shortly after release was heartening :).

However where I take issue is when I'm being told other FPS suddenly aren't skillful because they don't do the exact things Eternal does. That suddenly every FPS prior to it is "too easy", that difficulty has intrinsic worth and if I don't like the game it's because I'm bad. That I just want easier games and snickers DooM Eternal just isn't for me.

It's the Dark Souls effect and it ruins online discussion. The design can be considered poor from a certain standpoint and there is a discussion to be had whether the game really needed to be that forceful about weak points for instance. Whether the chainsaw indeed is a good way to obtain ammo.

Basically, I'm of the opinion that this is a melee action game's mechanics applied to a shooter. It's in my opinion not the best idea, even though id made it work. Space Marine comes to mind as a triumph of that design, but it worked because melee was intrinsically part of the combat. I would argue that melee isn't doom and that those moments where you have to get in the mob's face to get your items are bothersome to many people for that reason. There are many more elements of the design to pick at in the same way.

It doesn't invalidate that many loved Eternal and that it worked for them, but it's entirely reasonable to dislike it.
 
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Mor

Me llamo Willy y no hice la mili, pero vendo Chili
Sep 7, 2018
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Bleeding Edge is so dead that not even the Community page shows the player number (what's the limit, 500?).
No wonder why, release was completely silent and hype from community was pretty low, I don't know if GamePass is saving it a bit but yeah, this game is DOA.
 

Arsene

On a break
Apr 17, 2019
3,280
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Canada

Bleeding Edge is so dead that not even the Community page shows the player number (what's the limit, 500?).
You need 300 CCU to have it show on the community hub. Right now it has 250.
 
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fantomena

MetaMember
Dec 17, 2018
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I don't think even game pass people play Bleeding Edge, I mean I have game pass and I don't play it.

Might grab Gears 5 and AoE 1 DE.

But isn't Minecraft Dungeons hitting Steam?
 

Mor

Me llamo Willy y no hice la mili, pero vendo Chili
Sep 7, 2018
7,115
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But isn't Minecraft Dungeons hitting Steam?
Nothing confirmed but things are pointing that is NOT coming to Steam, I tried asking some journalists but nothing, no answer.
 

prudis

anime occult member
Sep 19, 2018
10,314
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The Kingdom of Beer and Porn
twitter.com
By Inkle:
lol, just made a thread for it
 

Arsene

On a break
Apr 17, 2019
3,280
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Canada
Nothing confirmed but things are pointing that is NOT coming to Steam, I tried asking some journalists but nothing, no answer.
It honestly blows my fucking mind. Mojang needed to make a non-windows 10 version and the game uses Microsoft accounts so they cant put it in the regular java minecraft launcher. It should be obvious what the solution is right?

Now normally you'd think they would follow every other Xbox Game Studio and use Steam as their platform for Windows 7/8 users, But no. They decided to make another launcher JUST for a spin-off.

Like i'm still gonna buy it because the regional pricing is good and its only $30 for the Hero edition, But holy fucking shit Mojang really?
 
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prudis

anime occult member
Sep 19, 2018
10,314
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The Kingdom of Beer and Porn
twitter.com
new game by Satellite Reign devs
 

madjoki

👀 I see you
Sep 19, 2018
3,074
11,535
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Pinball FX3 Care Package
Free until April 8th at 10am Pacific
Includes the following Pinball FX3 DLC:
  • Pinball FX3 - Star Wars Pinball
  • Pinball FX3 - Aliens vs. Pinball
  • Pinball FX3 - Marvel Pinball: Heavy Hitters


 

Acidote

Omega Yul
Jun 16, 2019
327
638
93
Pinball FX3 Care Package
Free until April 8th at 10am Pacific
Includes the following Pinball FX3 DLC:
  • Pinball FX3 - Star Wars Pinball
  • Pinball FX3 - Aliens vs. Pinball
  • Pinball FX3 - Marvel Pinball: Heavy Hitters


cool cool cool
 

Swenhir

Spaceships!
Apr 18, 2019
3,534
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new game by Satellite Reign devs
This looks amazing and while I couldn't get into SR despite backing it, this seems right up my alley. The problem is... It's deep silver, and by the looks of it UE4 to boot.

So probably EGS exclusive.
 
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prudis

anime occult member
Sep 19, 2018
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The Kingdom of Beer and Porn
twitter.com
and another cool stuff revealed today

 

Joe Spangle

Playing....
Apr 17, 2019
2,474
8,411
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Im starting another playthrough of Prey. Newgame ++. This time im going to try and do all the side quests and find all the people etc. Ive got loads of Neuromods so should be well overpowered. I gave Mooncrash a go but it didnt really click with me and i was looking through my backlog and nothing really sparked my interest and so diving back into Prey.
 

Spamlynguist

I can never decide on an avatar
Dec 31, 2018
1,035
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26

For the few that actually bought Fallout 76 (or got a very cheap key), you can get the Steam version of 76 for free if you link your Steam account before 11:59pm ET, April 12th. You also receive the Fallout Classic Collection.
 

Joe Spangle

Playing....
Apr 17, 2019
2,474
8,411
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Still not that interested in Fallout 76. Seems like they took out the bits of the games i like and added in bit of games that i dont like. Pleased its coming to Steam though so that those that do enjoy it might get a boost in players to interact with.
 

Dragon1893

MetaMember
Apr 17, 2019
1,710
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Next time I have a couple of months to dedicate to my backlog I absolutely need to check out Prey and Hitman.
Not gonna happen this year though.
Considering I won't be able to afford neither a new console or a PC upgrade, I guess I'll have plenty of time to catch up next year and beyond.
I'll still be able to play CS4 and the remaining Yakuza games so there will be plenty to do for a while, even if I'll be locked out of AAA gaming for a while.

Holy shit, I was literally just wondering if TLOU2 would be delayed again because of Corona.
Man, this is by far my most anticipated game, this is really starting to suck.
 

PC-tan

Low Tier Weeb
Jan 19, 2019
3,837
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California
I think there was some hype for the Iron Man game. Was there a demo or something for it that release a while ago that people really liked?
 

fantomena

MetaMember
Dec 17, 2018
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I can see other games being delayed as well, like Ghost of Tsushima.

I think there was some hype for the Iron Man game. Was there a demo or something for it that release a while ago that people really liked?
Never been a demo. Game does look good though.
 

Wildebeet

First Stage Hero
Dec 5, 2018
798
1,883
93
Im starting another playthrough of Prey. Newgame ++. This time im going to try and do all the side quests and find all the people etc. Ive got loads of Neuromods so should be well overpowered. I gave Mooncrash a go but it didnt really click with me and i was looking through my backlog and nothing really sparked my interest and so diving back into Prey.
Prey is the kind of game you can sort of live in for months. I've also got an itch to do some OP NG+ playthroughs.
 
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yuraya

MetaMember
May 4, 2019
2,816
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I played Sea of thieves for maybe like 1 hour some time last year. It was boring and directionless. And I had no one to play with so I dropped it instantly and uninstalled. Wasn't a fan of the art or gameplay either. Just an average experience across the board.

Surprised Ubisoft still hasn't released their pirate multiplayer game. That is one I would check out as it looked interesting. So many delays for it tho.


They weren't gonna release Tsushima and TLOU2 so close together anyway. Its smart to delay one of them for PS5 launch at this point.

I am expecting every big upcoming game to be delayed by a few months. This virus is the worst possible thing for the current crunch hell culture that is this industry. Tho I guess many devs are happy as they get to rest at home. At least those with job security.

Also I bet Cyberpunk is getting pushed back to Nov or early next year :(
 

Wildebeet

First Stage Hero
Dec 5, 2018
798
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I wonder if it has more to do with the actual game's story than the logistics of wfh game production.

Seems like a bad time to release a game with that subject matter.
No way. People need to train up and prepare with video games.
 
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Eferis

MetaMember
Nov 12, 2018
1,343
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So we now have three games already pushed back due to coronavirus, the first three of a long series, I fear. Working for home can only achieve so much for games that are actively in development right now and not close to gold. Cyberpunk will most likely be delayed as well at this point, along with the new unannounced Assassin's Creed, if that was actually planned to release this year and a few other games. Nothing they can do about it though.
 

Amzin

No one beats me 17 times in a row!
Dec 5, 2018
1,001
2,110
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I couldn't agree more. To be fair, the game does open up in freedom toward the later third where you start having everything, but then... Well, you kind of find what works for you and the game puts so much pressure on you that you can't really do anything other than SSG>ballista, And a bit of fun with the RL in-between. It was genuinely not fun for me, and I say this as someone who loved the hell out of Q3CPMA.

The game is very authoritarian in design and is rather well-rounded around that specific mindset. That's fine for folks who enjoy this sort of game. I do not but clearly people have been feeling immense joy at playing it and that's an amazing thing. Hektor's post shortly after release was heartening :).

However where I take issue is when I'm being told other FPS suddenly aren't skillful because they don't do the exact things Eternal does. That suddenly every FPS prior to it is "too easy", that difficulty has intrinsic worth and if I don't like the game it's because I'm bad. That I just want easier games and snickers DooM Eternal just isn't for me.

It's the Dark Souls effect and it ruins online discussion. The design can be considered poor from a certain standpoint and there is a discussion to be had whether the game really needed to be that forceful about weak points for instance. Whether the chainsaw indeed is a good way to obtain ammo.

Basically, I'm of the opinion that this is a melee action game's mechanics applied to a shooter. It's in my opinion not the best idea, even though id made it work. Space Marine comes to mind as a triumph of that design, but it worked because melee was intrinsically part of the combat. I would argue that melee isn't doom and that those moments where you have to get in the mob's face to get your items are bothersome to many people for that reason. There are many more elements of the design to pick at in the same way.

It doesn't invalidate that many loved Eternal and that it worked for them, but it's entirely reasonable to dislike it.
That's a good write up. I had to cut my time with it because I didn't want to miss my refund window, but most of my time playing it I was just thinking about other things I could be playing. It's fine if people like this, but I would definitely never agree that it's some kind of step forward or paragon of FPS design because it's almost the opposite. It's an interesting merger of other genres into an FPS body, but I don't enjoy some of those genres very much. I was legitimately bored of Glory kills and Chainsaw after my 2 hours and that's coming from someone who played through actual melee FPS Dark Messiah like 8 times, and always picks the martial arts character in every other game when I can, but again not in a shooter.

It's also a huge problem in the Souls fandom, because people constantly misconstrue tedium as challenge which is not true, but "difficult" games have been making "lost time" as extra punishment for so long it's just expected. Furi, Thumper, Hard West, Sekiro, tons of games just add wastes of time to your fail states for no actual reason. Forcing me to switch weapons every 3-4 seconds in Eternal isn't "frantic", it's tedious. Having to spend a bunch of time searching around in HL:A because I am worried I'll be 1 clip short of the next fight isn't fun, it's stressful.

It's fine for the people that enjoy those things but it's disappointing to me as someone who doesn't like survival horror games, doesn't like DMC style games, but loves FPS campaigns, to be handed these expectations of classic, staple FPS entries and instead get something else. It'd be like if they released Symphony of the Night 2 but you never had any movement abilities and the levels were completely linear with no exploration: It could still be a good 2D platformer, but it'd be a shitty metroidvania.
 
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FunnyJay

Powered by the Cloud
Apr 6, 2019
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I love Dark Souls, but those games are. way. too. long..... Never got passed Anor Londo in DS1 even though I've played countless hours.
DS1 I've got 50+ hours and I'm halfway through perhaps?

They are great indeed, but too freaking long.
 
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Swenhir

Spaceships!
Apr 18, 2019
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It's also a huge problem in the Souls fandom, because people constantly misconstrue tedium as challenge which is not true, but "difficult" games have been making "lost time" as extra punishment for so long it's just expected. Furi, Thumper, Hard West, Sekiro, tons of games just add wastes of time to your fail states for no actual reason.
I agree with your post but this part resonated with me in particular. I'm glad I'm not the only one seeing tedium and "punishment" as a cheap and hard to justify design decision. Mechanical difficulty, reading the boss, creativity, all of these are interesting aspects. Having to redo something over and over again with no player engagement involved, just to make the victory "meaningful" is abusive toward the player in my opinion and a failing at every level of design.

I can't see a single positive side to tedium that superior design couldn't achieve. It's cheap.

There's so much I'd criticize about From's games but I don't want to turn this thread into a ranting quagmire. I'm just glad I'm not the only one to have an issue with them :).
 
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rybrad

Junior Member
Apr 22, 2019
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Has anyone here bought the Humble COVID-19 Bundle?
It looks really nice, but I have a third or so of the games and another third is not interesting at all. Add also that I have already bought a few new games the last couple of months which I haven't had time to look into.
I picked it up. What games are you looking for from it? A fair amount were dupes for me.
 
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