Community MetaSteam | March 2019 - The Core Values of One-Handed Fighting

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I was adding these latest exclusives, and its developers, to my ignore list, when I noticed a curious note on one of the games:


«Notice:
At the request of the publisher, Kine is unlisted on the Steam store and will not appear in search. »
 

madjoki

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they won't announce anything tomorrow ... it's a dev talk, not a pseudo-E3 press conference like epic did today

plus it won't be streamed ... they'll probably do what they always do - talk about the importance of releasing games in all regions, show a few stats, talk about the new UI a bit, etc. etc. etc. - the usual
Well, dev features are what I'm interested in (someone from Valve said there would be new features & talk about networking stuff) and I'm hoping someone will tweet stuff live :D
Also is someone review bombing anything? I wanna see how new anti-bomb feature works.
 
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lashman

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Well, dev features are what I'm interested in (someone from Valve said there would be new features & talk about networking stuff) and I'm hoping someone will tweet stuff live :D
Also is someone review bombing anything? I wanna see how new anti-bomb feature works.
well yeah, of course ... but i'm saying they will just do a "dry" dev talk ... not an entire "show" with trailer, sizzle reels etc. like epic did
 

Ge0force

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Besides investing in better algorithmic systems to determine user preferences, they could at least try some PR-friendly stuff.

Nintendo does their 25 minute Nindies thing like twice a year, and those videos only show less than 20 games. I have no idea what the cost would be, and maybe it's not worth it, but perhaps Valve could try that format, but one up them.

Say instead of twice a year, do it quarterly. Spend 10-15 minutes on the games from last quarter which might have flown under the radar, and spend 15 minutes on the games that are coming up in the next quarter. Congratulations, you just spent around 30 minutes talking directly to your users, informing them about cool games, all while putting some friendly and attractive faces forward to represent your brand.

You've now done more in four yearly videos than Valve's PR department has done for the past 5 years.
As I see it, Valves PR is your personal store page on Steam. That's where they actually show you the games that pc gamers like, your friends like and you may like based on your preferences and history. I'd think this is much more effective than any console-like PR movie, which often is heavily sponsored by the big publishers.

I have to admit I'm probably older than most of you guys, but I never watch PR videos from console manufacturers. I'd rather see Valve improving their algorithms than starting console-like PR as well.
 

prudis

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Ex-User (307)

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As I see it, Valves PR is your personal store page on Steam. That's where they actually show you the games that pc gamers like, your friends like and you may like based on your preferences and history. I'd think this is much more effective than any console-like PR movie, which often is heavily sponsored by the big publishers.

I have to admit I'm probably older than most of you guys, but I never watch PR videos from console manufacturers. I'd rather see Valve improving their algorithms than starting console-like PR as well.
That’s kind of silly. A store page is not a substitute for an actual PR initiative. Especially without substantially more advancements into the algorithmic recommendation systems, which so far, I don’t see on the horizon.

I also don’t know how you could complain about “big publisher sponsored movies” when we’re talking about an indie showcase. The whole point of showcases is to get people out of their self-created bubbles and show them stuff they didn’t know was on the horizon.
 
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oipic

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i hope they won't do that .... i mean - on one hand it would be nice, for sure .... especially for smaller devs

but on the other - they're still the biggest store on PC and doing something like that could be considered anti-competitive

plus - it could potentially kill off TONNES of key stores (like GMG etc.)
I hadn't considered the impact of Steam cutting their take on the likes of GMG, but that's a fair and valid point. By the same token, Epic's exclusives harm them more, surely? In a distopian future where many/most titles are exclusive to Epic, what role is there for GMG et al, in any case? Humble's 'exclusive' arrangement with Epic is more of a threat, I suspect.

Besides that, on the 'anti-competitiveness' aspect, how much market share or control does Epic have to have before Valve responding in any way is deemed simply 'competitive', rather than anti-competitive? According to the current narrative, a greater percentage cut of sales is "good for developers" - but yes, the games media would find a way to spin that benefit to devs as a negative somehow, were Valve to follow suit.

I suspect it's only a matter of time, however. Short of resorting to money-hatting, a revenue percentage cut is one of the few cards Valve has to play to win/retain devs and publishers, and they should probably play it while their store has many other competitive advantages feature-wise. If (and it's a big if, admittedly), EGS reaches parity of features versus Steam, while also retaining the ability to splash cash endlessly, the flow of games - and customers - to Epic will be one way traffic, I fear.

There's an element of worst-case scenario and playing devil's advocate in this post... but I hope I've somehow clumsily said what I meant!
 
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Yay, more content. (y)

I feel like SOULCALIBUR VI has passed by almost everyone, in terms of interest. It seems to have more or less vanished after launch.
But, I find the game very enjoyable (especially as a single-player gamer), so I'm hoping they continue to support it for a while.
I bought the deluxe edition, so I'm covered for this, some more DLCs.
 

prudis

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did a few threads from todays news news
 

「Echo」

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Yay, more content. (y)

I feel like SOULCALIBUR VI has passed by almost everyone, in terms of interest. It seems to have more or less vanished after launch.
But, I find the game very enjoyable (especially as a single-player gamer), so I'm hoping they continue to support it for a while.
I bought the deluxe edition, so I'm covered for this, some more DLCs.
Not me! I have it, and I love it! :D (Also got the deluxe edition) Just waiting for more DLC to come out, specifically the character creation packs. But yeah, I think I already cleared all the online achievements abusing 2B crazy OP move-set. :p
============

Also Fuck Epic. 🖕

Ain't nothin' getting me to download that PoS Spyware launcher. Not even weeb shit. I got a backlog that'll last much longer than any exclusivity period. And the devs who take those bribes? They only catching my money at historical low sale prices.

Sorry. (Sort of.)

I think worse than the 1-year exclusives is news of UbiSoft continuing the partnership. So no Ubi games on Steam anymore huh? Really not sure how I feel about that. Uplay isn't bad, but I trust steam with my banking info you know? And like, Steam handles all my mtx payments for Rainbow Six as a result? Doing all that through another store (uplay) means having my info out there even more... I dunno. Maybe this is the end of Ubi games for me. o_O
 
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lashman

lashman

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So no Ubi games on Steam anymore huh?
seems to be the case, yeah ... at least for their biggest games ... i'm sure they'll throw us a bone or two with some small stuff like Trials etc.

Maybe this is the end of Ubi games for me. o_O
it definitely is for me ... i don't own a single ubi game directly on uplay and i'm not planning on changing that
 

Frecklestein

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I think worse than the 1-year exclusives is news of UbiSoft continuing the partnership. So no Ubi games on Steam anymore huh? Really not sure how I feel about that. Uplay isn't bad, but I trust steam with my banking info you know? And like, Steam handles all my mtx payments for Rainbow Six as a result? Doing all that through another store (uplay) means having my info out there even more... I dunno. Maybe this is the end of Ubi games for me. o_O
I should've got the Rayman games while I had the chance.

:jj_mofo:
 

Derrick01

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In ubi's case they're playing some 4D chess on everyone, including Epic. They get a significant moneyhat (has to be with someone of their size) but Ubi gets to keep using uplay on every other site. They get the ~90% cut if anyone happens to actually buy the game on EGS, but for all the people who lash out in anger at Epic (and mostly not Ubi, the takers of the bribe) and choose to buy the game on uplay then Ubi gets the full 100% cut AND they also condition people to be ok with not using Steam in the long-term. And the two of them worked out that deal to eliminate key retailers from the equation after TD2 went live, basically forcing everyone else to use uplay and give Ubi the full 100%.

They've managed to negotiate a complete and total win/win for themselves at the expense of Epic's millions and they don't even get most of the backlash.
 

Digoman

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Yes, the Ubisoft deal is one that I'm very curious about the details. We didn't get even some vague PR numbers from Epic, yet they extended to more games and made Ubisoft stop giving keys to other stores. Must be a lot of money just to take some big "event" games from Steam without seeing decent sales (at least until now).

We know that Ubi epic gets a lot of advantages both short and long term. What does Epic get? Only bragging rights? Without all the community features Epic hates, why would anyone prefer to buy it on EGS?

Speaking of Ubisoft, I need to find more crap to spend 870 points....
 

Derrick01

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Yes, the Ubisoft deal is one that I'm very curious about the details. We didn't get even some vague PR numbers from Epic, yet they extended to more games and made Ubisoft stop giving keys to other stores. Must be a lot of money just to take some big "event" games from Steam without seeing decent sales (at least until now).

We know that Ubi epic gets a lot of advantages both short and long term. What does Epic get? Only bragging rights? Without all the community features Epic hates, why would anyone prefer to buy it on EGS?

Speaking of Ubisoft, I need to find more crap to spend 870 points....
Really I think Epic only cares about hurting Steam regardless of the short or long term implications for themselves or the industry. Their actions strike me as a spiteful child wildly flailing around doing anything they can think of to hurt the person who made them mad.

Who knows though maybe there is some method to it? With Division 2 I had to talk two friends out of buying it on Epic because they were under the impression it was only available on there. They don't follow gaming news like we do so they didn't know that it was not only available everywhere else but that it was also Uplay keys. They just knew it wasn't on Steam anymore.
 

Ex-User (307)

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"We're not going to have something like the console certification process involved in releasing a game," said Sweeney when I asked how Epic would apply this quality standard. "But I think we'll be aware of the quality of what's submitted prior to making a decision to list it in the store—somehow."

"Humans can make those judgment calls, and they'll be pretty reasonable," he added.
WTF does this mean anyways? Somehow? If you're not playing games, how do you know if they're crappy or not?

This game looks like another pixel-indie to toss in the heap, but it's great:



This game almost looks mobile-esque, but it's one of the best puzzle games in years:



This game looks like a gross asset flip-esque game with its horrendous graphics, but it's one of the best sandbox games around:



This looks kind of like yet another colony/town simulator, except whoa, surprise! It's the granddaddy of them all:



This looks like some generic-ass P&C game, except whoops, it's one of the best Wadjet has ever made:


I feel like I could spit out examples forever. How are humans going to be able to tell this reliably, without putting time into these games?
 

Tizoc

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I really dont want to say this but just how long van Epic manage with Fortnite money assuming their consumer base continues to play fortnite?

There is Apex Legends now, what if over time that game outtakes it. Epic can try and make updates to fortnite by including new modes etc. But will it really be enough to keep your average consumer on if thr new hotness is something else that, regardless of playing the same is what is trending right now?
 

fspm

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I really dont want to say this but just how long van Epic manage with Fortnite money assuming their consumer base continues to play fortnite?

There is Apex Legends now, what if over time that game outtakes it. Epic can try and make updates to fortnite by including new modes etc. But will it really be enough to keep your average consumer on if thr new hotness is something else that, regardless of playing the same is what is trending right now?
Not so long ago pubg was a 'nothing stops this train' thing.
 

Schnitzelfee

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Not so long ago pubg was a 'nothing stops this train' thing.
It still kinda is... The media and Pop culture got quiet around it, but that game is still a juggernaut and rakes in mountains of money.

Sadly Fortnite will be here for a long time after the peak publicity too, it will make Epic still many millions a months after people have stopped talking about it.

And that together with the Unreal money will enable them to moneyhat for a long time if they want to.
 

Wok

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I don't believe Epic would keep the moneyhat train running. Because of their goals, not because their wallet would become empty.

Indeed, their goal is to establish their store as a serious competitor of Steam, they do not want to be a second-choice, and they want that reputation NOW.

Once they have booted it all, they will be much less aggressive.
 

Deku

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I really dont want to say this but just how long van Epic manage with Fortnite money assuming their consumer base continues to play fortnite?

There is Apex Legends now, what if over time that game outtakes it. Epic can try and make updates to fortnite by including new modes etc. But will it really be enough to keep your average consumer on if thr new hotness is something else that, regardless of playing the same is what is trending right now?
If they manage it right, indefinitely? The money might slow down eventually since there's no such thing as infinite growth in life, but there's no real reason why the game can't last a decade like League of Legends, Dota 2 or CS:GO.

The game has become become a pop culture phenomenon, it's well crafted and runs well, it gets topical and interesting cosmetics around IRL events (Soccer skins around Champions League time; NFL skins around the Super Bowl; tennis skin after the Australian Open, etc); it's got a visual style that's appealing to a lot of young and casual players; they've practically pioneered a new style of unique in-game events; and perhaps most importantly it gets frequent updates that draw people to come back again and again.

Apex Legends has already stumbled with their first Battle Pass that looks like hot garbage next to what Fortnite is offering season after season. And it's appealing to a very different demographic than Fortnite.

Epic is a business, so if the EGS doesn't take off, they're not just going to waste Fortnite money on it forever, especially with multi-million dollar moneyhats. But there's also no reason right now to think that Fortnite is going to die off.
Not so long ago pubg was a 'nothing stops this train' thing.
PUBG is a pretty bad comparison, because Epic has already managed to keep Fortnite at the "top" far longer than Bluehole ever did.

PUBG came out in March 2017, basically started trending late that summer/early fall, and peaked in December. After December, the game basically went into freefall decline for all of 2018. Granted, it's still really popular in China, but Bluehole basically made nonstop mistakes after December '17, and it showed in the streaming viewership:



They only lasted 10 months before they began to screw things up. Fortnite hasn't had even one uproar at the level of the uproars that PUBG saw in late 2017 and much of 2018, and they've been sailing free for basically 17 months and counting now.
 

Le Pertti

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They could have so easily avoided all the backlash if they just didn't do the exclusive pullshit, they had all the goodwill in the world and could have done something great. .But guess they weren't that kind of people. And yeah guess devs aren't that kind of people either.. I'm mostly just so disappointed in everyone involved, really did expect better.

The dev that turns down epic money to stay on steam, that dev will get my money on day one of every game release they have, granted I have money.
 

Schnitzelfee

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Pubg together with pubg mobile is arguably still bigger than fortnite.

Streaming numbers say nothing about how much a game is played. I mean PUBG still has a daily peak concurrent of 800.000 on Steam alone. And the mobile version is way more popular. Not sure how the console versions are doing honestly.
As I said above, the pop culture moved on to fortnite. And bluehole could have played their cards better for sure. But acting like that game isn't relevant anymore is just unrealistic.

PUBG, Fortnite, and Apex probably too, will generate money for a long long time.
 

Wok

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I was adding these latest exclusives, and its developers, to my ignore list, when I noticed a curious note on one of the games:


«Notice:
At the request of the publisher, Kine is unlisted on the Steam store and will not appear in search. »
 

Mor

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I was going to make a list of it, but then found out that someone already did it
EPIC exclusive launch status, times and sheets

According to the list, "only" 29 games are timed exclusive to Epic Store
Walking Dead is listed as permanent exclusive
:drinking-blob::cat-heart-blob::cat-heart-blob::drinking-blob:
This is why I saw people entering in the morning haha, thanks for sharing it.
As the creator of the list I hope all the data is correct and I wish I could provide all but that'0s the best I could reach for the list right now.
 

Ge0force

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Enjoy your short time of respite :cat-heart-blob:
To be honest, I am enjoying it. These "Steam finally has some decent competition" and "damn now I have to use Epic's store as well" posts were frustrating the hell out of me.

That’s kind of silly. A store page is not a substitute for an actual PR initiative. Especially without substantially more advancements into the algorithmic recommendation systems, which so far, I don’t see on the horizon.
Agreed, improvement is needed. But the results of these algorithms are being shown to you every time you open Steam. This seems more effective to me than a few PR videos a year. But again, I rarely watch gaming related streams.

Humble's 'exclusive' arrangement with Epic is more of a threat, I suspect.
Absolutely. I'm gonna cry if next month's Humble Monthly consist of keys for Epic's Store.

Do we have a list somewhere of game companies who selected Epic deal?
Not yet, but I'm planning to make one here on MC next week.

Edit: seems someone already made a list.

I don't believe Epic would keep the moneyhat train running. Because of their goals, not because their wallet would become empty.

Indeed, their goal is to establish their store as a serious competitor of Steam, they do not want to be a second-choice, and they want that reputation NOW.

Once they have booted it all, they will be much less aggressive.
I really doubt that. It's Tencent we're talking about. If these moneyhats seem effective to get people using their store instead of Steam, they WILL keep doing it. Don't believe their "we"re doing it for the developers" nonsense.
 

Ex-User (307)

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Pubg together with pubg mobile is arguably still bigger than fortnite.

Streaming numbers say nothing about how much a game is played. I mean PUBG still has a daily peak concurrent of 800.000 on Steam alone. And the mobile version is way more popular. Not sure how the console versions are doing honestly.
As I said above, the pop culture moved on to fortnite. And bluehole could have played their cards better for sure. But acting like that game isn't relevant anymore is just unrealistic.

PUBG, Fortnite, and Apex probably too, will generate money for a long long time.
People forget that Fortnite mobile exists too, and is absurdly massive. The two games reportedly have fairly similar MAUs thanks to China propping the game up, but the spending difference is huge. Fortnite mobile managed to earn something like $300 million over its first 200 days, whereas PUBG only managed $100 million.

I didn't say streaming numbers are a 1:1 analogy for popularity anyways. But you can pretty easily look at a streaming viewer graph and often trace specific events that cause downturn in numbers to a viewer chart. On Fortnite's, I can actually notice a few spots where some complaints about certain items got big, and on PUBG's you can trace certain downward trends based on when dumb announcements were made (e.g., not quarantining Chinese users).

PUBG is certainly not irrelevant, but Fortnite broke into the Western pop culture mainstream in a way that PUBG didn't, and arguably, never could. Fortnite players are on TV talk shows, there's Fortnite merchandise littering every damn store you go into, kids are doing "Fortnite" dances, the game is managing concurrent peak players upwards of 7+ million, it's literally being name-dropped to shareholders as a threat to other entertainment businesses. The list goes on and on.

The point ultimately was that the thing is a sustained, growing behemoth that the game industry hasn't really seen in a long time, perhaps since peak WoW days. Betting on it failing and trying up the capital for the EGS is silly.
 
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