The Steam Thread

[Thomkal]

Like I needed to waste more time playing my Steam games, thanks a lot Steam.

Steam Trading Cards leave beta on Wednesday, ahead of event "everyone can be excited about" | News | PC Gamer

[mckerney]

The trading cards system is a great way to add a little money to your Steam wallet with the summer sale around the corner.

[RendeR]

Got an email notice that "Endless Space" is on sale for like 10 bucks. I've been eyeing it for some time. Anyone got a review of teh game or any comments on it at all?



space, not universe!

[Blackadar]

Originally Posted by RendeR

Got an email notice that "Endless Universe" is on sale for like 10 bucks. I've been eyeing it for some time. Anyone got a review of teh game or any comments on it at all?

Do you mean Endless Space?

[RendeR]

Yes yes I did, had a flashback to an old sci fi novel I 've read a dozen times.

[Blackadar]

Originally Posted by RendeR

Yes yes I did, had a flashback to an old sci fi novel I 've read a dozen times.

It's a 4x game, so of course I have it. I played it for about 30 hours. It's ok. It does the basics well - research, diplomacy, expansion, etc. The interface is good and all the mechanics are there. It even has some leaders to provide bonuses either on your ships or in your systems. It added some random events and has a few wonders. As I said, the foundation is there and it's a passable 4x space game. The AI is barely competent, but it is competent.

So why don't I love it? You don't control combat directly. In fact, you pretty much sit there and watch it. To me, that's a big downside and more than a little boring. What's worse is that the game tends to not have a lot of soul. That's hard to put your finger on, but it feels much like a spreadsheet at times.

You could do worse at $10. It doesn't have the AI of Gal Civ 2, but it's probably just about as good - both games suffer from a lack of personality. But don't expect to have it become your go-to 4x game for long because you'll probably grow bored sooner rather than later.

[RendeR]

Thanks for the review!!

[Critch]

Carrying on with the 4X theme, StarDrive is on a daily sale now. 50% off.

I know that when it was released the general review was that it was released unfinished, but does anybody know if it ever got patched to a playable state?

[RendeR]

Maybe I've just missed this but can someone please define what a "4x" game is? I feel so out of the loop with the lingo around here =)

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally Posted by RendeR

Maybe I've just missed this but can someone please define what a "4x" game is? I feel so out of the loop with the lingo around here =)

4x means: "explore, expand, exploit, and exterminate".

It's been a part of the computer game and geek lexicon for about 20 years now. It refers to games like "Master of Orion" and even Civ. Your geek cred is currently under review.

[Blackadar]

Originally Posted by Critch

Carrying on with the 4X theme, StarDrive is on a daily sale now. 50% off.

I know that when it was released the general review was that it was released unfinished, but does anybody know if it ever got patched to a playable state?

Magic Eight Ball says: Try Again Later

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by RendeR

Maybe I've just missed this but can someone please define what a "4x" game is? I feel so out of the loop with the lingo around here =)

Don't feel bad, first time I recall hearing it as well.

[Izulde]

I've heard the term 4x before, but always assumed it referred specifically to space games, since that's the only context I can recall hearing it. Didn't know Civ, etc. applied to it.

[Critch]

Originally Posted by Blackadar

Magic Eight Ball says: Try Again Later

I didnt wait long enough for your warning, unfortunately. It might be buggy, but it's certainly pretty.

[BYU 14]

Anyone played Infestation? Looks cool, but then I read on the forums about hackers on some of the servers spoiling the experience.

I want a good Zombie game since I got into The Walking Dead, but thinking I will be waiting until the release of Dead State to get it.

[mckerney]

Originally Posted by BYU 14

Anyone played Infestation? Looks cool, but then I read on the forums about hackers on some of the servers spoiling the experience.

I want a good Zombie game since I got into The Walking Dead, but thinking I will be waiting until the release of Dead State to get it.

[mckerney]

State of Decay is coming to Steam at some point down the line if you want a zombie survival game.

[BYU 14]

Originally Posted by mckerney

State of Decay is coming to Steam at some point down the line if you want a zombie survival game.

Thanks for saving me 15 bucks

May check out State of Decay on the Xbox, reviews generally pretty good it seems.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by BYU 14

Thanks for saving me 15 bucks

May check out State of Decay on the Xbox, reviews generally pretty good it seems.

It's not bad at all, but I'd personally still call it more potential than payoff right now.

A lot of your reaction probably depends upon how forgiving of things like zombies glitching through doors, getting stuck in walls, etc. you are. If that stuff doesn't bother you then it's kinda like Dead Island combat but with a constant need to manage resources ... and no respawning of dead characters; i.e. if somebody dies they're gone for good.

Note: I haven't played since the patch was released a couple of days ago, supposedly that will fix a lot of the graphic issues ... but my son just told me that they're still getting stuck in walls & whatnot.

[BYU 14]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

It's not bad at all, but I'd personally still call it more potential than payoff right now.

A lot of your reaction probably depends upon how forgiving of things like zombies glitching through doors, getting stuck in walls, etc. you are. If that stuff doesn't bother you then it's kinda like Dead Island combat but with a constant need to manage resources ... and no respawning of dead characters; i.e. if somebody dies they're gone for good.

Note: I haven't played since the patch was released a couple of days ago, supposedly that will fix a lot of the graphic issues ... but my son just told me that they're still getting stuck in walls & whatnot.

Played the trial and pulled the trigger, I can overlook the glitches and it seems to have some replayabilty, so what the heck. Definitely see some room to expand with DLC. It will keep me busy until Dead State in December.

[WVUFAN]

Shadowrun is looking pretty spiffy.

[MizzouRah]

Where is Blackadar?

Horizon - new 4x game just unlocked (alpha) I'm always interested in new 4x games.

[spleen1015]

Originally Posted by MizzouRah

Where is Blackadar?

Horizon - new 4x game just unlocked (alpha) I'm always interested in new 4x games.

Damn it, Todd.

[Dutch]

Originally Posted by WVUFAN

Shadowrun is looking pretty spiffy.

Yup.

[MizzouRah]

Originally Posted by spleen1015

Damn it, Todd.

There are a few videos.. looks pretty decent, no major crashes that I've seen reported yet.

I'm getting closer to pulling that trigger....

[Blackadar]

Originally Posted by MizzouRah

Where is Blackadar?

Horizon - new 4x game just unlocked (alpha) I'm always interested in new 4x games.

I haven't even bothered with this one. Supposedly what's in the game functions. but essentially it's a big empty universe and nowhere close to feature complete. I won't even think about buying this one until next year.

Some games you can play as an alpha and still enjoy (Kerbal Space Program, I'm looking at you). 4X games, however, depend on features, AI and overall balance for their gameplay aspects. As such, it's usually not worth playing a 4x game before general release.

[Blackadar]

Originally Posted by WVUFAN

Shadowrun is looking pretty spiffy.

That one is already preordered. Looks awesome.

[SirFozzie]

was hoping to have the editor by now (I'm going to need it for an event at GenCon, where we have four hours to build a module)

[frnk55]

Originally Posted by Blackadar

That one is already preordered. Looks awesome.

+2546

[MizzouRah]

Originally Posted by Blackadar

I haven't even bothered with this one. Supposedly what's in the game functions. but essentially it's a big empty universe and nowhere close to feature complete. I won't even think about buying this one until next year.

Some games you can play as an alpha and still enjoy (Kerbal Space Program, I'm looking at you). 4X games, however, depend on features, AI and overall balance for their gameplay aspects. As such, it's usually not worth playing a 4x game before general release.

For me, the fun of buying a 4x game in Alpha is I get to learn the game much better and get to give feedback on what I'd like to see changed/added.

As long as it's not a Legends of PegaCRAP.

Looks like I'm finally going to get my money back on that one after many emails to Steam support.

[mckerney]

Final Fantasy VII has made its way onto Steam after being in the registry for years.

[Abe Sargent]

That is about time

[frnk55]

Originally Posted by mckerney

Final Fantasy VII has made its way onto Steam after being in the registry for years.

I'm tempted. I've never played any FF games and I do like turn based games. Is there anything that stands out that is different about this game?
Is it just level up and upgrade weapons and armor like a typical RPG?

[Blackadar]

Well...shit, no Steam sale this week. Why do they have to do the fucking sale every time I'm on vacation?

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by frnk55

I'm tempted. I've never played any FF games and I do like turn based games. Is there anything that stands out that is different about this game?
Is it just level up and upgrade weapons and armor like a typical RPG?

Combat system is fantastic and it's probably the apex of the storytelling aspect of the FF series. So many games after it tried to model what they did with that game.

[Neon_Chaos]

Remember though, it's a 17 year old console game... It doesn't hold up as well as others. I always thoughy the story was quite unecessarily bloated.

FF6 > FF7 imho.

[Vince, Pt. II]

Originally Posted by Neon_Chaos

Remember though, it's a 17 year old console game... It doesn't hold up as well as others. I always thoughy the story was quite unecessarily bloated.

FF6 > FF7 imho.

I'm in this line. VII was fantastic, but VI was the best of the lot.

I want to say VII was the first 3D RPG, was it not?

[Izulde]

FFT was the best of all, but of the numbered ones, 6 kicks the crap out of 7. I didn't like 7 all that much TBH.

[mckerney]

Originally Posted by Vince, Pt. II

I want to say VII was the first 3D RPG, was it not?

Possibly, though it might depend on if you would consider a game that wasn't fully 3D for that title. The characters are in 3D but all of the environments and backgrounds are 2D.

[Abe Sargent]

I've already put in about 4 hours into FF7 today

[sterlingice]

Great gameplay, good music, and one hell of a trendsetter. Iconic but wholly unlikable characters and, whoa, that plot looks even worse now than at the time. If you can get past that, it's one hell of a game.

SI

[mckerney]

Originally Posted by sterlingice

Iconic but wholly unlikable characters and, whoa, that plot looks even worse now than at the time.

Well sure, if you're going to go ahead and compare them to games other than the newer Final Fantasy games.

[Draft Dodger]

Originally Posted by sterlingice

Great gameplay, good music, and one hell of a trendsetter. Iconic but wholly unlikable characters and, whoa, that plot looks even worse now than at the time. If you can get past that, it's one hell of a game.

SI

yeah I played it through once and that's probably good enough for me. wouldn't mind seeing FFXII ported to the PC though

[sterlingice]

I really like good video game music and it did quite well on that front so I may play through it again once more for atmosphere. But I've played through FF4 a half dozen times, CT a few, and FF6 a couple. Every time I think about FF7, the fact that I don't want to save the world for that bunch of characters is enough to say "there are other games out there I want to play".

Heck, even when I play cross-world games like Kingdom Hearts or Dissidia, I'm reminded how much that part of the game just blows. Hell, at least in FF8, most of the other character besides Squall are likable even if the plot ended at the end of disc 2 and it was a 4 disc game.

SI

[Neon_Chaos]

I remember thinking that the steampunk setting midgar was awesome. Once you get to the world map, it nosedives. And apart from the one memorable scene, the game just dragged...

And I aggree that FFT was better than the numbered ones.

[Izulde]

FF 12 really restored my faith in the series that I'd lost since 7.

The only thing I loved about 7 was the Chocobo Racing.

[Vince, Pt. II]

I love Tactics, but I feel it doesn't even belong in the discussion - it's a wholly different game.

[Abe Sargent]

So, I felt like an RPG all this week. I picked up Geneforge and tried it ,it seemed up my ally. Put about five hours into it and juuuuuust wasn;t feeling
it.

Then i loaded up Eschalon Book 1 and began it and put about 3 hours into it. Still wasnt feeling it that much.

So fine, its time to commit. I bought some games at the Steam sale in teh winter expeting o play them sooner or later, and it was time. Time for Skyrim, which everyone tells me is unbelievable.

Put three hours into it, and was shaking my head, "really?" Then I saw that FF7 was released yesterday, and I've already dropped 8 hours into it. *This* is what I wanted.

Thanks Squaresoft!

[Abe Sargent]

Just got TPKd and that's my sign that its likely bed time for m after a day of fun, work and FF7

[MizzouRah]

Originally Posted by WVUFAN

Shadowrun is looking pretty spiffy.

Preordered..