Must say, looks cool.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaF638MBSAE&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ebadassmofo%2Ecom%2F
Much better art style than the version of TF2 being shown 3 or 5 years ago.
Team Fortress 2
Honestly, it's time to end the Steam boycott. It's not as bad as you think it is, especially since it's 2 versions from the shape it was in for HL2's release. (For example: authenticating every time you play a single player game isn't true. Nor is it true that it must run in the background of your PC all the time.)
As Gordo points out, what's the difference between Steam authenticating your copy of TF2 or UO/SW:G/EVE authenticating you to play their game? (In Cakedaddy's case this question is even more important as he doesn't play single player games.)
It gets pointed out that no MMO can ever replicate what UO was, and I'm pointing out that software like Steam or X-Box live or the ones the other developers are working on are the future.
Would you rather deal with Steam or StarForce?
As Gordo points out, what's the difference between Steam authenticating your copy of TF2 or UO/SW:G/EVE authenticating you to play their game? (In Cakedaddy's case this question is even more important as he doesn't play single player games.)
It gets pointed out that no MMO can ever replicate what UO was, and I'm pointing out that software like Steam or X-Box live or the ones the other developers are working on are the future.
Would you rather deal with Steam or StarForce?
“Every record been destroyed or falsified, books rewritten, pictures repainted, statues, street building renamed, every date altered. The process is continuing day by day. History stops. Nothing exists except endless present in which the Party is right.”
With Steam, I dunno.
I just saw an article while doing a bit of research to make sure my facts were straight that said you can get around the authentication process. Legally too. You can actually find instructions on Steam's own site.
Gabe Newall has stated that if Valve goes under or Steam goes under another service, they are going to remove the need for authentication from all their games. If true, that's a good thing.
Also, Steam hasn't wiped anyone's PC and then denied everything. And again, remember that Steam is more than just about authenticating. The other night I installed HL2:Ep1 on my new PC. I realized I didn't have HL2 installed (not that I needed it), but I did want it installed, so instead of getting out the disks, I just had Steam install it in the background while I played around on pogo.com. Steam knows I own a copy, so they install it without question. That was nice. If my house burns down and I lose my PC and all my disks, when I get a new PC I'll have access to all the games I own that are sold on Steam. Extreme situation and a luxury, but still...
Valve is a good company and makes some damn fine games. They're using Steam now to help smaller developers get their products out there that normally wouldn't get distributed like "The Ship".
I'm not in love with the whole concept of Steam, but I just don't see Valve as the bad guys.
Take Cake's boycott against EA, now THAT I get. EA has done some shitty stuff to the gaming world from buying great companies to destroying established franchises to ignoring the PC market when it comes to their sports games. Not to mention the "censorship" that Cake started hating them for.
“Every record been destroyed or falsified, books rewritten, pictures repainted, statues, street building renamed, every date altered. The process is continuing day by day. History stops. Nothing exists except endless present in which the Party is right.”
Steam Games
You've got $10 to go on HL2. I expect you could see it drop before or after the holidays as HL2:Ep 2 will be out this holiday season.
Is HL2 your only desire as far as Steam games though? I mean, once you have Steam, you have it. Thus, ANY game you purchase with Steam should be justification enough, right? You didn't post trailers for Portal and TF2 because you weren't interested in them...
HL2:Ep 1 is $20, as is Sin Ep1.
That doesn't list all the free content though. If you buy HL2, I'm pretty sure the remade HL 1 is free. If you buy Sin Ep1, the original Sin is free. Point is, prices vary based on your account.
CS is $10.
The Ship is $20 and both TPR and I have said we'd get it.
Darwinia which according to all the gaming media is the surprise of the year is $20.
There's a lot more there too and I only see three games above $20 on that list. (I can't speak on the third party games, obviously.)
You've got $10 to go on HL2. I expect you could see it drop before or after the holidays as HL2:Ep 2 will be out this holiday season.
Is HL2 your only desire as far as Steam games though? I mean, once you have Steam, you have it. Thus, ANY game you purchase with Steam should be justification enough, right? You didn't post trailers for Portal and TF2 because you weren't interested in them...
HL2:Ep 1 is $20, as is Sin Ep1.
That doesn't list all the free content though. If you buy HL2, I'm pretty sure the remade HL 1 is free. If you buy Sin Ep1, the original Sin is free. Point is, prices vary based on your account.
CS is $10.
The Ship is $20 and both TPR and I have said we'd get it.
Darwinia which according to all the gaming media is the surprise of the year is $20.
There's a lot more there too and I only see three games above $20 on that list. (I can't speak on the third party games, obviously.)
“Every record been destroyed or falsified, books rewritten, pictures repainted, statues, street building renamed, every date altered. The process is continuing day by day. History stops. Nothing exists except endless present in which the Party is right.”
I saw HL2:Ep1 on amazon for about $15, yesterday.
And Portal looked interesting, but it might possibly be more thinking than I want to do when I want to turn off my brain and play a FPS. That's why I always liked the original Team Fortress. Once you learned the maps, it was a pretty simple game.
A lot of FPS is twitch. Portal looked to require a certain amount of planning and strategizing. I can see lots and lots of restores from a save point until you get a certain move just right.
And Portal looked interesting, but it might possibly be more thinking than I want to do when I want to turn off my brain and play a FPS. That's why I always liked the original Team Fortress. Once you learned the maps, it was a pretty simple game.
A lot of FPS is twitch. Portal looked to require a certain amount of planning and strategizing. I can see lots and lots of restores from a save point until you get a certain move just right.
"Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid."
Wait, The Ship is a Steam game?
I may retrack that choice, then. I'll have to think about it.
It's distributed on Steam, that doesn't mean it requires Steam.
I saw HL2:Ep1 on amazon for about $15, yesterday.
I just looked and HL2 is $24.99 there used, $44.99 new (GotY edition?). Pricewatch has it for $27.99 (not the GotY edition).
Apparently, since the Game of the Year edition is on shelves, the price is still high. So the Pricewatch price is cheapest, although to save $2, I'd just go get it off Steam.
I didn't see Portal as an FPS. I saw it as more of an FPP (First Person Puzzle). I didn't see any bad guys other than the stationary turrets. Could be wrong though. But in any case, I still wouldn't call it a shooter in the traditional sense.
I got the same impression.
Edited By Leisher on 1153427557
“Every record been destroyed or falsified, books rewritten, pictures repainted, statues, street building renamed, every date altered. The process is continuing day by day. History stops. Nothing exists except endless present in which the Party is right.”
The difference between steam and EVE/UO/Etc is that the MMO's, my account is on THEIR hardware, not mine. So of COURSE I want it protected. They aren't making sure I've bought a copy of the game, they are making sure I am who I say I am so I don't damage someone's account. I don't want to have a problem playing my games on my laptop when on vacation with no Internet connection available. I saw that you can disable it for HL:2, but what about all the others? How difficult of a process is it? Can I have the game installed on all my PCs but only play it on one at a time? If two PCs are on at the same time and both have it installed, does it flag me as a pirate?
I understand their need to protect their property. And they walk a fine line between attacking their fans (RIAA) and making using their product a cumbersome event. So, maybe the solution is to lower the price of the games, instead of raising them, as the trend seems. Make it so it's too cheap to even bother with working around the protection. Make it up in volume. I can't help but wonder how many people pirate because they don't have the $50+ that most games cost. But, they'd think nothing of dropping $15. Not to mention all the extra sales because $15 is easier to afford and people are more likely to impulse spend. See the VHS market pre and post Top Gun for an example.
I understand their need to protect their property. And they walk a fine line between attacking their fans (RIAA) and making using their product a cumbersome event. So, maybe the solution is to lower the price of the games, instead of raising them, as the trend seems. Make it so it's too cheap to even bother with working around the protection. Make it up in volume. I can't help but wonder how many people pirate because they don't have the $50+ that most games cost. But, they'd think nothing of dropping $15. Not to mention all the extra sales because $15 is easier to afford and people are more likely to impulse spend. See the VHS market pre and post Top Gun for an example.
The difference between steam and EVE/UO/Etc is that the MMO's, my account is on THEIR hardware, not mine. So of COURSE I want it protected. They aren't making sure I've bought a copy of the game, they are making sure I am who I say I am so I don't damage someone's account. I don't want to have a problem playing my games on my laptop when on vacation with no Internet connection available. I saw that you can disable it for HL:2, but what about all the others? How difficult of a process is it? Can I have the game installed on all my PCs but only play it on one at a time? If two PCs are on at the same time and both have it installed, does it flag me as a pirate?
Legit concerns, every one.
I think you should hit the Steam site and do some research. Why? Because you are missing some good games, and would miss TF2! That is one we've talked about multiing for years.
From my understanding, you can disable Steam for all the games. Your "laptop on vacation" scenario is one of the reasons why you can and why the instructions are right on Steam's site.
And that's my point. Valve has really worked with people here. They are taking concerns and addressing them. Compare it to StarForce who are telling their customers to go fuck themselves.
Again, not saying I love the technology, but I have come to realize it's our future whether we like it or not and I'd rather support companies who do it with their customers in mind and not just cash. Let's see how EA handles there customer complaints when their version of Steam hits.
Look at consoles, you can't get online unless you use their branded service. Sony has theirs and the X-Box has Live which is also coming to Vista. It's the same thing as Steam. It's distributes patches, updates, allows for peeps to hook up for games, etc. Do you think it isn't scanning for pirated stuff? Plus, their services are pay services.
So, maybe the solution is to lower the price of the games, instead of raising them, as the trend seems. Make it so it's too cheap to even bother with working around the protection. Make it up in volume. I can't help but wonder how many people pirate because they don't have the $50+ that most games cost. But, they'd think nothing of dropping $15. Not to mention all the extra sales because $15 is easier to afford and people are more likely to impulse spend. See the VHS market pre and post Top Gun for an example.
As I noted in a few other chains, PC games ARE actually dropping in price overall. Microsoft is making a HUGE push to bring PC Gaming back to the top of the mountain where it should be. One of their "talking points" is the price of PC games which START from $19.99 to $49.99 with big names titles being anywhere in that range. Meanwhile X-Box 360 games are $10 more than X-Box games at $59.99 while Sony games are rumored to be anywhere from $59.99 to $100!!! Sony would NOT deny those rumors and in fact alluded to the fact that their games may be on the pricey side.
By the way, go look at the link I posted earlier in this thread and look at the prices of all the Steam games. If I remember, $39.99 was the highest price.
Steam is required for the multiplayer.
Name a MMO that doesn't require you to login and prove who you are? I'm pretty sure that the Battlefield servers validate your copy of the game. EVERY console multiplayer game does...
Edited By Leisher on 1153429244
“Every record been destroyed or falsified, books rewritten, pictures repainted, statues, street building renamed, every date altered. The process is continuing day by day. History stops. Nothing exists except endless present in which the Party is right.”