PC Bargains

[Wizardry]

Is there any reason to get Star Control 2 from GOG in light of the existance of "Ur-Quan Masters?"
Probably not. But I was giving approval to the games themselves rather than whether they are worth the money or not.

[TillEulenspiegel]

Is there any reason to get Star Control 2 from GOG in light of the existance of "Ur-Quan Masters?"
There are a few small differences:
http://wiki.uqm.stack.nl/Version_Comparison

Anyone know if the starmap PDF in the GOG package is any good? That would be nice to have, seeing as mine is 4000 miles away, covered in pencil marks, and slightly ruined with coffee stains.

[vinraith]

There are a few small differences:
http://wiki.uqm.stack.nl/Version_Comparison

Anyone know if the starmap PDF in the GOG package is any good? That would be nice to have, seeing as mine is 4000 miles away, covered in pencil marks, and slightly ruined with coffee stains.

*smacks forehead* How could I have forgotten GOG's penchant for excellent extras? It's a valid point that having that stuff, for those of us without an old boxed copy, is probably justification enough at this price.

[Heliocentric]

Wizardry approves beating off, the ladies/gentlemen, with a stick, because of being too sexy.
I assume.

[Kodeen]

The Last Remnant is $10. Anyone here played it? I like JRPG's okay, assuming they're done correctly. FF12 good, FF13 bad (very bad).

[Megagun]

The Maps section (http://www.star-control.com/starmaps.php) of the Pages of Now and Forever has quite a few maps; #1 is the full-color version that came with various versions of the game, and #6/#9 is the black&white version that came with other versions of the game. I like #3 the most, though.

Here (http://starcontroller.com/?p=1776) is starcontroller.com's article on Star Control at gog.com, in which something slightly interesting is revealed:

I sent an e-mail to Paul and Fred about what they think about this addition to GOG. They informed me that “Atari’s right to publish these games expired years ago” and they were not contacted before the game was added. They’re not getting their share of the profits. In addition, Paul said that he made an attempt to contact GOG about this and hopefully resolve this.

[Oak]

Men of War Weekend (http://www.gamersgate.com/games?prio=relevance&q=menofwarweekend) at GamersGate. No Vietnam, though; I guess you could say it was too soon?

[endintears]

The Last Remnant is $10. Anyone here played it? I like JRPG's okay, assuming they're done correctly. FF12 good, FF13 bad (very bad).

For clarification, this is on Steam. I'm in two minds about it, it's been on my wishlist for a long time and this is a deep discount (£5 for us in the UK) but a lot of people have bad things to say about the game.

[Casimir Effect]

For clarification, this is on Steam. I'm in two minds about it, it's been on my wishlist for a long time and this is a deep discount (£5 for us in the UK) but a lot of people have bad things to say about the game.
I love it and would recommend it. If it helps then apparently it is the spiritual successor to Ogre Battle and Romancing SaGa, being very similar in combat. But I've never played those games so have no idea. You can find things myself and others have written about it in this forum and I think the general feeling is it's a good game to most and an excellent game to some.
If the game does click with you - and mostly this comes down to whether or not you like the combat - then you'll definitely get your moneys worth (there's hundreds of hours of gameplay in this thing). I'll warn that it can be hard to get into though, and a gamepad is preferable to a keyboard.

[Nullkigan]

Men of War Weekend (http://www.gamersgate.com/games?prio=relevance&q=menofwarweekend) at GamersGate. No Vietnam, though; I guess you could say it was too soon?

This is no big loss. Vietnam is 1. On the old engine (pre-AS), 2. Has core functionality removed for DLC (multiplayer, which has no coop and only 3 maps) 3. Completely lacking in large-scale engagements 4. a reskin of the original (i.e. no new mechanics, M16s are SMGs, M14s are garands) and 5. Hard as fuck. It also 6. cost more than AS did on release.

Even if you loved red tide, this is a bit shit.

[mrchinchin25]

Men of War Weekend (http://www.gamersgate.com/games?prio=relevance&q=menofwarweekend) at GamersGate. No Vietnam, though; I guess you could say it was too soon?

I'm thinking of picking one of these up - and only one of them. Which should I do? Tempted with the original as it's cheapest, but then would Ass-Squad not be better as its more modern and should be the most improved?

[Nullkigan]

The original Men of War is a good game, it has a nice balance of squad and company scale missions. It has coop for just about all missions.

Red Tide is a mod-gone-commercial singleplayer only offering, which features almost exclusivel small scale missions.

Men of War: Assault Squad has some excellent new features (such as tracers on the minimap, more detailed models), but suffers greatly for the lack of a varied singleplayer experience. All of the missions in the core game are exactly the same, three per nation (Ger, Ru, US, JP, UK), and involve attacking a series of points and working your way up a map against increasingly stiff defences. It makes up for this with much better balanced multiplayer. The multiplayer balance is mostly achieved through penetration modelling against tanks, which now has poorly angled shots stun the crew rather than destroy the hull or bounce off.

So, if you want a more sim-like game and singleplayer variety get MoW. If you prefer multiplayer or are willing to dig for mod/missionpacks, get MoW:AS.

[mrchinchin25]

Hmm I think based off this I'll get the first one and give it a thrashing- thanks

[Giaddon]

Impulse has Section 8:Prejudice on sale for $5. There's around 12 people playing online, but the game has full bot support. Recommended!

[Smashbox]

I'm thinking of picking one of these up - and only one of them. Which should I do? Tempted with the original as it's cheapest, but then would Ass-Squad not be better as its more modern and should be the most improved?

Smashbox gives his approval to:

Ass-Squad

[Heliocentric]

RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 Platinum £3.25
This product is available for purchase worldwide.
This product is DRM Free and is not eligible for refunds. (http://www.direct2drive.co.uk/557/5957/product/Buy-RollerCoaster-Tycoon-3-Platinum-Download)

Grand Theft Auto The Complete Package £8.74
Grand Theft Auto, Grand Theft Auto 2, Grand Theft Auto III, Grand Theft Auto Vice City, Grand Theft Auto San Andreas, Grand Theft Auto IV, Grand Theft Auto: Episodes From Liberty City (http://www.gamersgate.co.uk/DDB-GTACC/grand-theft-auto-brthe-complete-package-bundle)

[Cable]

Just wondering how worthwhile people think the episodes for GTAIV are?

[acidtestportfolio]

Just wondering how worthwhile people think the episodes for GTAIV are?

if they are anything like the core game then absolutely not

[Heliocentric]

if they are anything like the core game then absolutely not

H8tr gone H8t

If you don't own any gta4 and don't care for story slap on a 100% complete save and xliveless and presto gta 4 sandbox.

[Althea]

Just wondering how worthwhile people think the episodes for GTAIV are?
Well, I think if you even care about GTA IV's story then they're absolutely worthwhile. They fill in some of the blanks and they do have their good moments.

TLaD is probably the middling title, and it's got the lovely Ashley Butcher in it (Yeah, weird crush I know). The bike riding is really much better in it, and there's some good weapons and vehicles. That said, the multiplayer for it is practically dead.

TBoGT is my least favourite, because it has an irritating mission complete screen and at times it seems too focused on "gimmicky" play. It has a lot of fun things to do, and some incredibly powerful weapons, plus a bunch of new vehicles. Multiplayer seemed a little dead on it too, but it's been a while.

[Smashbox]

If you can stomach more of the structure, go for it. I had a lot of fun with TBoGT after not playing GTA for a couple of years. Gimicky, yes.

The good: the main character's friends don't constantly harangue him on the cellophone.

The bad: same mission structure/narrative problems imposed by it.

That new version of the ICEhancer mod is coming out soon though, and for my money it's hard to beat the atmosphere of the city, especially if you haven't visited in a while. RECOMMEND. If it's on sale, all the better. LaTD is good too, but it didn't hook me for whatever reason (Jersey sucks).

[Kodeen]

I loved GTA4. I hated TLaD, just cared nothing for the characters and they somehow made Liberty City feel more constricted. I was so put off by it that I haven't even tried TBoGT, I would imagine it's between the prior 2.

[Giaddon]

That dang Kohan Warchest is on sale at impulse. $7 for some of the best RTS games ever coded. (http://impulsedriven.com/products/ESD-IMP-W949)

[Kelron]

What makes them special? People keep saying they're great, but they look like any number of other RTS games on the face of it.

[vinraith]

That dang Kohan Warchest is on sale at impulse. $7 for some of the best RTS games ever coded. (http://impulsedriven.com/products/ESD-IMP-W949)

What Kelron said. Also, how are their campaigns structured? Linear story-based, or something more interesting?

[Giaddon]

The campaigns are linear and story based. (The Kohan 2 campaign is one of the better RTS campaigns, as each mission actually plays like a skirmish match). The skirmish matches are where it's at, though. It has a full random map generator. Some AI's here: http://www.strategyplanet.com/kohan/...gai_custom.htm (http://www.strategyplanet.com/kohan/kag/kagai_custom.htm)

But as to why Kohan is great, here's a few bullets:

+Flow-based resources: rather than stockpile non-gold resources, they act as inputs, to counterbalance the output of unit upkeep. So if I have a lumbermill, that gives me +10 wood. I build a unit of bowmen, and they have an upkeep of 3 wood, so now my wood total is 7. My archers die, and its back to 10. Etc.

+Units are squads: Each unit in the game is a squad with four components: the four frontline troops, two axillary, two support, and one leader. You can create your own combinations to create units for different tasks, like a unit of all swordsmen, or swordsmen supported by archers and one healer. Or whatever. So you can field an army with 32 soldiers, but only have to worry about managing 4 units.

+Minimal unit management: The unit engagements are very wargame-like. Units have three stances (good combat, slow speed, medium, and fast with poor combat), and the terrain affects unit attack, speed, and defense. Units have a zone of control, and once two zones of control overlap, the units begin combat. Once in combat, the only order the player can make is retreat. Individual units handle all the spellcasting, healing, abilities, attacking, etc. Flanking and formations have actual impact.

+Supply: Units in supply constantly recover. If a decimated force successfully retreats back to supply it will be reinforced over time.

+Cities: Like Rise of Nations (which was an obvious descendent), players construct several cities over a map. Each level of city can have a certain number of buildings, which naturally prompts expansion. No one city can do everything. This is one of the biggest differences between Kohan and its sequel: in the original, you can found a city everywhere, in 2, only on preset locations.

Uh, those are some strong reasons off the top of my head. Feel free to ask more.

And vinraith, there's full speed control.

Demo for Ahriman's Gift (http://www.fileplanet.com/69683/60000/fileinfo/Kohan:-Ahriman%27s-Gift)
Demo for Kings of War (http://www.fileplanet.com/145846/140000/fileinfo/Kohan-II-Demo)

[raddevon]

EVE Online (http://store.steampowered.com/app/8500/) is $5 on Steam today.

[squareking]

EVE Online (http://store.steampowered.com/app/8500/) is $5 on Steam today.

I want to live in an alternate universe where EVE is a single player/offline game and this sale exists.

[Althea]

I want to live in an alternate universe where EVE is a single player/offline game and this sale exists.
Same. Something about EVE has me interested, but it's an MMO and I'd just be buying it for the character creator, if I'm honest.

[Kelron]

X3/Evochron are probably the closest you'll get. I can't imagine why anyone would want to play EVE without the player-driven aspects, it's the defining feature of the game.

[Heliocentric]

Kohan Kohan Kohan Kohan
Kohan Kohan Kohan Kohan Kohan Kohan Kohan Kohan Kohan Kohan Kohan Kohan Kohan Kohan Kohan Kohan Kohan Kohan Kohan
Kohan Kohan Kohan Kohan Kohan Kohan Kohan Kohan Kohan Kohan Kohan Kohan Kohan
Okay, you sold me on it, fileplanets Kohan 2 demo hosting is badman though, so anyone interested try this.
http://www.timegate.com/download_kow.php

[vinraith]

@Giaddon

Thanks for the detailed rundown. How does an average skirmish in one of the Kohan games compare in length and scope to a skirmish in Rise of Nations?

[Giaddon]

I'd say pretty comparable. A Kohan match is probably longer (the default speed is quite slow, but, again, controllable). An hour to an hour and a half? (my RON games are usually no more than an hour).

[vinraith]

Cool, thanks again. I don't really want to have to reinstall Impulse (I only have GalCiv2 and Sins on the service, and don't care for the latter) but if/when this crops up at a good price on a service I use, I'll probably pick it up. Any compatibility problems with Win 7 64?

[Giaddon]

Not in my experience.

[squareking]

X3/Evochron are probably the closest you'll get. I can't imagine why anyone would want to play EVE without the player-driven aspects, it's the defining feature of the game.

Oh yeah, this alt universe would have wickedly human AI in place of the player-driven aspects.

[Althea]

X3/Evochron are probably the closest you'll get. I can't imagine why anyone would want to play EVE without the player-driven aspects, it's the defining feature of the game.
Because people are dicks.

[Giaddon]

Grand Ages: Rome: Gold for $5 on Impulse (http://impulsedriven.com/gromegold). Not sure if this works outside the US, Impulse' recent track record is poor in that regard.

[Anthile]

Grand Ages: Rome: Gold for $5 on Impulse (http://impulsedriven.com/gromegold). Not sure if this works outside the US, Impulse' recent track record is poor in that regard.

It does - but they made it 4.99€ instead. Of course. Still a good price, though.

[Giaddon]

Cool, glad to hear it. I didn't say this in my post, but GA:R is a very solid city builder. I like it.

[Heliocentric]

My enthusiasm for Kohan (2) faded during the campaign mission with generic Lady "I fear nothing" Priestess and her Sir "will die in the second act" Knight. The AI turtles forcing you to grind out a win, on the field the AI seems senile, charging and retreating without reaching me. The ranged blob near an outpost seems all conquering and customisation isn't as bold as the game suggests trapping builders as complete builder squads. Formations promote busywork. Love the simplified economy though.

[Lewie Procter]

Don't miss this one:
DXHR for a tenner (http://www.pcworlddownloads.co.uk/product/lp26867/deus-ex-human-revolution-/)

[Smashbox]

Don't miss this one:
DXHR for a tenner (http://www.pcworlddownloads.co.uk/product/lp26867/deus-ex-human-revolution-/)

More than worth it. Trustworthy site?

[Lewie Procter]

Well it is PC World/Dixons Group. They're bastards, but they're not going to run off with your money or anything.

[field_studies]

Cool, glad to hear it. I didn't say this in my post, but GA:R is a very solid city builder. I like it.

Agreed. I got distracted half-way through the campaign and have never gone back to finish it (though not for lack of intent), but i really enjoyed it. The military engagement feels a little week or awkward, but the building is varied (many building types, much negotiating with terrain) and the building is based on that proximity model (effectiveness dependent on proximity between service buildings, industry, and the type of citizens dwellings etc). Has anyone played the Augustus expansion (I think maybe its stand-alone)

[izal]

Thanks Lewie.

[drawlien]

Don't miss this one:
DXHR for a tenner (http://www.pcworlddownloads.co.uk/product/lp26867/deus-ex-human-revolution-/)

It's gone up to £17.99 now. :(

[Heliocentric]

Don't miss this one:
DXHR for a tenner (http://www.pcworlddownloads.co.uk/product/lp26867/deus-ex-human-revolution-/)

I see 17.99, ip issue?

[Althea]

Arkham Asylum and LEGO Batman are on sale for £4.99 each on Steam, or £9.99 for both together.

In other words, buy both together and pay more! :D

[Heliocentric]

They are both ace.

[Citruspunch]

is Batman AA any good on PC though?

[Althea]

is Batman AA any good on PC though?
As far as console ports go, yes. I would recommend you use a controller, however. The game works perfectly with the 360 one (Well, it is GfW + GfWL, so I should bloody hope it does), and is pretty good.

I'm not sure it's as good as some would say, but it is a good game and easily worth the £5 for the GotY edition.

[JohnnyK]

Just note that AA is a bit of a hassle to start (AFAIK just the first time) if you don't have your "My Documents" folder in the default location.
I bought the GOTY at some Steam sale and can't be bothered to play it because of that.

[Citruspunch]

SOLD! thanks guys.

[airtekh]

As far as console ports go, yes. I would recommend you use a controller, however. The game works perfectly with the 360 one

I found the mouse and keyboard controls in Arkham Asylum to work perfectly, and display the correct prompts for keyboard keys (unlike some other ports I could mention). I had no problems with M+KB for my playthrough.

Of course if you're more comfortable with a pad then go right ahead.

[Althea]

I found the mouse and keyboard controls in Arkham Asylum to work perfectly, and display the correct prompts for keyboard keys (unlike some other ports I could mention). I had no problems with M+KB for my playthrough.

Of course if you're more comfortable with a pad then go right ahead.
I'm just thinking that the combat system feels much more organic on the controller. Any game with a system like that (Fable 3, The First Templar, Arkham) I find much better on the controller. Of course, I could be the only one ;)

[sabrage]

Just chiming in that AA controlled beautifully with M+KB, and I usually prefer controllers for any third-person perspective.

[hamster]

Batman bugged out on me and because of no manual slaves and only one self overwriting autosave slot, i am STUCK at the Aviary. SO just remember at the Aviary in the room with the bombs on the hostage...DON'T DIE.

[Juan Carlo]

50% off if pretty crap for Batman: Arkham Asylum, though. It's usually 66%-75% off. Plus, is there any game that has been on sale on steam more than BAtman: AA? I swear they have a sale on it at least once a month.

[Althea]

50% off if pretty crap for Batman: Arkham Asylum, though. It's usually 66%-75% off. Plus, is there any game that has been on sale on steam more than BAtman: AA? I swear they have a sale on it at least once a month.
Titan Quest, Trine, Metro 2033, Red Faction: Guerilla... Uh... Um...

Actually, 50% off isn't bad. It looks like the game has been reduced to £10 at some point recently (I thought it was more than that?), and it's easily worth £5.

[Janek]

Kings Bounty is on sale pretty often too.

[dadioflex]

FYI there's a sale on over at the Game Creators

http://www.thegamecreators.com/?m=view_bundle&id=50

Includes Dark Basic Pro and FPS Creator and some models for use with FPS creator. No idea what the scene is like these days and AFAIK both products are pretty old tech.

[Icarus]

DarkBasic? Jesus, I remember messing around with the trial version of that when I was in high school and -that- was over 10 years ago.

[Juan Carlo]

Kings Bounty is on sale pretty often too.

LOL

KB is the one game that I currently really want on steam. I stupidly didn't get them during the summer sale and they haven't been on sale since (unless I missed something), even though they do seem to be perpetually on sale somewhere.

[Username]

KB was a daily deal or somesuch a month or two ago. (On Steam)

Sword of the Stars: Complete is 75% off (http://store.steampowered.com/app/42890/) ($5 in NA) in celebration of Sword of the Stars III's appearance (http://store.steampowered.com/news/6555/) on Steam. Lasts until SotS2's release on Oct. 28.

[TailSwallower]

Sword of the Stars: Complete is 75% off (http://store.steampowered.com/app/42890/) ($5 in NA) in celebration of Sword of the Stars III's appearance (http://store.steampowered.com/news/6555/) on Steam.

Still unsure if I'll get into it, but at that price it's too cheap to pass up - though it's available at the same price at GamersGate (mentioned a few posts back). I don't have an account with GG so I'll stick with Steam, but presumably the devs will get more money from a GG sale.

[JamesG]

Not exactly a gaming deal, but I imagine I'll be putting it towards games.

UK Only: £15 Paypal credit for £5 (SOLD OUT)
Now, I admit that this one sounds a bit dodgy, but as far as I can tell its not an outright scam. It does seem to be a bit of a faff though, and you'll be waiting a while before you get your credit.

http://www.gumtreedeals.com/deals/uk/

So, if you've not heard of them, Gumtree are a respectable company, operating a free-ads website. I've checked the primary gumtree website, which does link back to gumtree deals.

So you pay £5 for a voucher, that will credit your Paypal account with £15. You'll receive the voucher once the deal ends, the voucher MUST be credited to your Paypal account by 3rd November, although apparently it is possible to get refunds on unused vouchers. (I doubt that'll be easy though) The credit will go on Nov 10th.

So not a quick deal by any means, and I wouldn't be surprised if there is more faffing you about.

Edit: Apparently they are now sold out. I hadn't realized stock was limited, but probably should have guessed.

[Arona Daal]

Well, KB is still 2 bucks on Getgames.

http://isthereanydeal.com/?by=price:asc

Press ctrl+f,type in "King", press the Red button with the "2,00 Euro",buy ,enjoy

Easy as Pie...

btw: Getgames has only a Download Client,the games itself start like a normal CD Install.
Ah, and the Patches you can download from the same Webpage as the game.

If anyone knows a better Bargain-Searchengine , let me know. :)

[applecup]

Not exactly a gaming deal, but I imagine I'll be putting it towards games.

UK Only: £15 Paypal credit for £5 (Ends 23rd October)
Now, I admit that this one sounds a bit dodgy, but as far as I can tell its not an outright scam. It does seem to be a bit of a faff though, and you'll be waiting a while before you get your credit.

http://www.gumtreedeals.com/deals/uk/

So, if you've not heard of them, Gumtree are a respectable company, operating a free-ads website. I've checked the primary gumtree website, which does link back to gumtree deals.

So you pay £5 for a voucher, that will credit your Paypal account with £15. You'll receive the voucher once the deal ends, the voucher MUST be credited to your Paypal account by 3rd November, although apparently it is possible to get refunds on unused vouchers. (I doubt that'll be easy though) The credit will go on Nov 10th.

So not a quick deal by any means, and I wouldn't be surprised if there is more faffing you about.

They're all sold out, surprise surprise.

[JamesG]

Thanks, I've edited the original post to make that clear. Sorry, hadn't realized stock was limited (should have guessed), or I'd have mentioned it earlier.

[Althea]

Steam just got a bargain.

DoW II Retribution's new Last Stand hero, the Tau Commander. £6.50.

Is that a bargain or what?!

[Heliocentric]

Steam just got a bargain.

DoW II Retribution's new Last Stand hero, the Tau Commander. £6.50.

Is that a bargain or what?!

I'm going to go with "what".

[Kodeen]

Alice: Madness Returns is half off on Steam, and apparently it had a price drop in there as well, so $15.

Edit: Looking at the Steam forums, it might be US only.

[acidtestportfolio]

Alice: Madness Returns is half off on Steam, and apparently it had a price drop in there as well, so $15.

i'm tempted, as it includes the regular game, but i remember the zero punctuation review

[Kodeen]

i'm tempted, as it includes the regular game

Not on Steam, unfortunately.

[acidtestportfolio]

Not on Steam, unfortunately.

god dammit. no sale, then.

[Rauten]

Actually, I bought Alice on release, physical; Last EA game I'm buying for a looong time (Mirror's Edge 2 time), and while the platforming is subpar and repetitive and bug-laden, and the combat gets tiresome and boring very quickly, I still very much enjoyed it.
Really liked the locales, the voices, and in particular those 2D cutscenes drawn as if they're being represented by cardboard cutouts.

So yeah, I liked it, but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.

Also, the price cut is US only; We do get the 50% off in the EU, but it's still 25€ vs US 15$. OUCH.

[Flint]

It's -50% in UK as well, making it £15.

This week's weekend deal in Steam is GTA3 -66%. I remember reading people having a lot of technical problems with running the game in modern machines, can anyone confirm/deny this? I know it's only tinymoney right now but I just have a wonk about spending any money on things that might not run properly on my comp.

[Althea]

It's -50% in UK as well, making it £15.

This week's weekend deal in Steam is GTA3 -66%. I remember reading people having a lot of technical problems with running the game in modern machines, can anyone confirm/deny this? I know it's only tinymoney right now but I just have a wonk about spending any money on things that might not run properly on my comp.
If it hasn't been updated since I last played it, I found it to stutter a lot. GTA IV is more playable. I think that says it all.

[Delusibeta]

In a remarkable demonstration of Pants-On-Head marketing, the GTA Complete bundle is a fiver on Steam.

[BenWah]

You can get every GTA ever made for $12.50 on steam this weekend too, it's 75% off for that package.

My favorites in the series were Vice City and San Andreas. I didn't like GTA 4 as much.
If you run GTA SA try it with the "things to do " mod.
http://www.gtaforums.com/index.php?showtopic=302908&st=1600

[JamesG]

Wow, and to think I thought the Gamersgate bundle looked good earlier this week. Fortunately I uhmed and ahhed over it, but at £4.99 its difficult to go wrong, even if I am mainly buying for VC and GTAIV.

[bsplines]

VC is the best GTA game in my opinion, but GTA IV flat out refused to play properly in my PC. Even with the lowest settings.
Also, Gamersgate has reduced the price for the GTA bundle to match the Steam deal

[Hensler]

I'm thinking about re-buying GTA IV even though I have it on consoles, since it's so cheap right now. Does anybody know if the mods posted in the Mods and Ends feature last week are compatible with Lost and the Damned and Gay Tony? I don't really want to play Nico's story again, but really want to check out those other ones.

[Rauten]

This week's weekend deal in Steam is GTA3 -66%. I remember reading people having a lot of technical problems with running the game in modern machines, can anyone confirm/deny this? I know it's only tinymoney right now but I just have a wonk about spending any money on things that might not run properly on my comp.

Bought the bundle some time ago, and GTA3 played without a problem on a Windows7 64bit, core 2 duo machine. Maybe I just got lucky, though.

[Duke Nasty VI]

Football Manager 2012 (released today) for $32: http://bit.ly/mRm8ko

Registers on Steam.

Just remember to pay in USD, otherwise it's more expensive for some reason.

[Colonel J]

Alice: Madness Returns is half off on Steam, and apparently it had a price drop in there as well, so $15.

Edit: Looking at the Steam forums, it might be US only.


i'm tempted, as it includes the regular game, but i remember the zero punctuation review


Not on Steam, unfortunately.

Yeah no sale for me too, I want it but not enough to pay more than £10 having read the reviews. Leave it on the wishlist until the Christmas sales, it's £19.99 full price at Origin & GMG so bound to go cheaper in the next big sale. Is anywhere still selling it for with the first game bundled in or was that just a preorder offer? I wouldn't mind having the first Alice I really enjoyed it back in the day and can't find my copy.

[Althea]

It was an offer only for our console friends.

[Colonel J]

It was an offer only for our console friends.

Drat.

*waits for GOG version*

[elephant god]

What are the RPS community's thoughts on Cargo: The Quest for Gravity? It sounds positively bonkers, and on sale for <7€ for the next 23 hours.

[Althea]

What are the RPS community's thoughts on Cargo: The Quest for Gravity? It sounds positively bonkers, and on sale for <7€ for the next 23 hours.
I tried the demo and wasn't overly impressed. It's got weird naked people.

[Citruspunch]

Tempted to pick up the gta bundle dispite my 'will never buy another rockstar game again' - mostly because they will make a mere pittance off my purchase given the steam cut and also because of the recent awesome looking mods.

Update: Nah, screw em. Sticking to my principles on this one.

Update 2: If your in Canada, Brink PC is only $9.99 on NCIX - I'm fairly sure I posted when it was on at $19.99 so I'm guessing in another month or so they'll be giving it away.

[Smashbox]

will never buy another rockstar game again'

Why's that?

[Citruspunch]

Assuming you're not being ironic.... I used to work for them. NDA pretty much covers most things I could say.

[Wolfenswan]

Ubisoft Action Pack (http://www.gog.com/en/news/ubisoft_action_pack_up_to_60_off) - 60% off
- Beyond good & evil
- Prince of Percia: Sands of Time
- Rayman 1-3 (seperate titles)

It's another one of those "the more you buy, the higher the discount" deals so you'll want to shuffle around a bit to figure out the best deal for you.

[Casimir Effect]

Assuming you're not being ironic.... I used to work for them. NDA pretty much covers most things I could say.
Guessing it's related the the terrible working conditions alluded to by those blogs a while back. I think there was one being done by the wife of a Rockstar employee somewhere who said it was.

Found it: http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/RockstarSpouse/20100107/4032/Wives_of_Rockstar_San_Diego_employees_have_collect ed_themselves.php

[Colonel J]

Hard Reset 50% off - £11.48 (http://www.greenmangaming.co.uk/games/shooter/hard-reset/). GMG weekend deal. Steamworks game.

I don't think GMG has any discount codes this weekend to get more off that?

[Vague-rant]

I've been looking at Project Zomboid and the Captain Forever series now that both are on sale (coincidently both for around a fiver). However, I'm often without an internet connection and I remember Captain Forever requiring you to go to Farb's site and log on to play. Is the series still like this?

Also, hows project Zomboid for offline play? I understand it's a bit like Minecraft, in that it auto-updates, but still retains offline capabilities.

[Althea]

Also, hows project Zomboid for offline play? I understand it's a bit like Minecraft, in that it auto-updates, but still retains offline capabilities.
You might want to hold off on that purchase (http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/forums/showthread.php?1721-Laptops-stolen-from-Indie-Stone-%28Project-Zomboid%29).

[Vague-rant]

Delayed progress doesn't actually mean that much to me. As someone who hasn't been keeping track of development and hasn't played anything beyond that pre-alpha demo ages ago (which I enjoyed despite zombie overload), everything appears new and shiny anyway. As far as I can discern, progress is still going ahead albeit slowly (I'll probably be churning through the Baldur's Gates for a while anyway).

[Althea]

Delayed progress doesn't actually mean that much to me. As someone who hasn't been keeping track of development and hasn't played anything beyond that pre-alpha demo ages ago (which I enjoyed despite zombie overload), everything appears new and shiny anyway. As far as I can discern, progress is still going ahead albeit slowly (I'll probably be churning through the Baldur's Gates for a while anyway).
I'd advise you to hold off, personally, just to see how things turn out.

[SirKicksalot]

EA titles on Green Man Gaming can be purchased outside the UK and are shown in dollars. Some are on sale. I just bought Dead Space 2 for 12 dollars.

[lhzr]

I'd advise you to hold off, personally, just to see how things turn out.

what are you going on about?

vague-rant, check the last two posts on their blog: http://projectzomboid.com/blog/

"The overall quality of Project Zomboid has not been compromised, in fact we’re now even more determined to create the game we’ve always dreamt of. "

the game is pretty amazing even in this very early stage and i can't see how you could come away from playing it without a cool story to tell.
there's not a whole lot of content yet, but if you like the demo just go ahead and buy it, instead of listening to people who didn't play it give you advice based on stuff posted by other people, who also didn't play it.

[Smashbox]

EA titles on Green Man Gaming can be purchased outside the UK and are shown in dollars. Some are on sale. I just bought Dead Space 2 for 12 dollars.

Beware ye who have US banks. Pyrchysing from yon emerald men hath caused cancellation of mine own debit card and many headaches.

[acidtestportfolio]

Beware ye who have US banks. Pyrchysing from yon emerald men hath caused cancellation of mine own debit card and many headaches.

maybe if you didn't bank with king stupid and the knights of the every coin is a chocolate coin this wouldn't have happened

[TigerMike74]

Is The First Templar worth $7.50 (on Steam)? It has a terrible Metacritic score so I'm scared.

[SirKicksalot]

Gamespot and Eurogamer gave it positive reviews. Are you up for a two-pack?

[Althea]

It's good. It's like a poor man's Arkham Asylum. But yeah, certainly worth it if you have no aversion to European games and the quality they often arrive in.

[Heliocentric]

Impulse, seem to be worldwide
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. - Shadow of Chernobyl
£2.49 (http://impulsedriven.com/stalker)

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. - Call of Pripyat Loyalty Edition
£3.13 (http://impulsedriven.com/stalkercop)

Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines™
£3.13 (http://impulsedriven.com/vampire)
Gamersgate worldwide i think
Amnesia: The Dark Descent
£3.24 (http://www.gamersgate.co.uk/DDB-ATDD/amnesia-the-dark-descent-bundle)

Condemned - Criminal Origins
£3.38 (http://www.gamersgate.co.uk/DD-COND/condemned-criminal-origins)

Cryostasis - Sleep of Reason
£3.38 (http://www.gamersgate.co.uk/DD-CRYO/cryostasis-sleep-of-reason)

Zombie Driver
£3.18 (http://www.gamersgate.co.uk/DD-ZD/zombie-driver) (its a much better game now then when it first graced metacritic, but those reviews have not changed to reflect that.)

[Althea]

If only VtM:B was on a sale a year or two ago. Would have saved me £12.

[sabrage]

If only VtM:B was on a sale a year or two ago. Would have saved me £12.

Your reasoning for hating this game is bewildering at best.

[Althea]

Your reasoning for hating this game is bewildering at best.
I didn't say I hated it. I said I disliked it.

[icupnimpn2]

Back to the Future $10 at Steam. Played about half of the first one. Is it worth picking up the series?

[DrBee]

Can we play the First Templar co-op on one PC or do we need two PCs? I'm tempted to buy it for me and the missus.

[Althea]

Can we play the First Templar co-op on one PC or do we need two PCs? I'm tempted to buy it for me and the missus.
Well, I just checked and realised the box wasn't changed much from the XBox version, and it says "...that can be played solo or cooperatively with two players on the same console or via Xbox Live" (It's not GfWL, by the way), so I would guess two on the same PC.

[hamster]

Gamersgate has F.E.A.R 2: Project Origin on sale too. 3.38 USD. Thoughts? I really liked the first one but some of the designs in 2 for the soldiers (square and obolong) put me off (judging from the screenshots, that is).

[Giaddon]

I like FEAR 2! The pacing and level diversity is much better than the original, and it takes itself about 1/3 as seriously (which is great). The fights are fun and frantic (although the gunplay is a bit worse than the original). It does fall into a predictable pattern (shooty shooty shooty spooky), but the momentum of the game overcomes that. Great deal for $3.

[DrBee]

Well, I just checked and realised the box wasn't changed much from the XBox version, and it says "...that can be played solo or cooperatively with two players on the same console or via Xbox Live" (It's not GfWL, by the way), so I would guess two on the same PC.

Thank you very much! I bought it.

[Althea]

Thank you very much! I bought it.
Enjoy, and enjoy the lady with realistic proportions!

[Smashbox]

Back to the Future $10 at Steam. Played about half of the first one. Is it worth picking up the series?

Personally, I really disliked it. If you're into Tell Tale (or is it Telltale?) adventures, go for it. It hews close to the standard formula.

[sabrage]

I'm sure that everyone saw IndieRoyale (http://www.indieroyale.com/)on the front page, but I'm putting it here to remind everyone how awesome Gemini Rue is. And Nimbus looks rather lovely, doesn't it?

[Tikey]

Grid is 75% off on steam.
Is it any good? And most important, does it have split screen mode?

[ComradePenguin]

I enjoyed my time with it a lot but there is no split screen sadly. The multiplayer servers have been turned off too (though there are workarounds) so it's pretty much a single player experience you're buying.

[Kelron]

Grid's good single player, as long as you don't take your pretend cars too seriously.

[Colonel J]

I'm sure that everyone saw IndieRoyale (http://indiegames.com/index.html)on the front page, but I'm putting it here to remind everyone how awesome Gemini Rue is. And Nimbus looks rather lovely, doesn't it?

Brilliant bundle, bad timing for the Gemini Rue devs though, considering it only came out on Steam today? I was just about to press buy for £5.94 for GR on Steam about two hours ago but got distracted, had dinner, came back and found this. It made me pay £5 for Indie Royale to get over my feeling of guilt for the GR people...

[Jorum]

Cryptic Comic (Armageddon Empires, Solium Infernum, six gun saga) have 50% sale for two weeks.
use discount code "neveronsteam".
details here http://bit.ly/rpYG83

So no excuse not to go and get SI - especially as mini-expansion is out.

[vinraith]

So no excuse not to go and get SI - especially as mini-expansion is out.

Sure there is, it's functionally an MP-only game. Not only that, it requires a number of players that many people will simply never be able to assemble from their pool of gaming friends.

[Heliocentric]

I really want to play Solium Infernum with my girlfriend, but $50 is more than I have spent on games so far all added together, and I have bought about 30 games. Between the humble bundles, GTA bundle and various other bobbins, even with the 50% off it seems steep.

Right now I can get 4 newish games for about 25% of what one copy of solium costs, and that's with a 50% off solium code applied.

Never on steam? Fine, never competitively priced? No ta.

[cwoac]

I really want to play Solium Infernum with my girlfriend, but $50 is more than I have spent on games so far all added togethe

eh? two copies with the voucher code come to $50 total, not $100...

[Heliocentric]

eh? two copies with the voucher code come to $50 total, not $100...

Seems I edited before you hit quote eh?

[Kelron]

How is $12.50 for an in-depth strategy game not competitively priced? I agree with him about the devaluation of indie games if that kind of attitude is common. It might be more expensive than some other games, but compared to the prices of games in general and specifically the prices of similar games, it's a great deal. And a great game.

I'd like to know what people think of Six Gun Saga. I'll try the demo of course, but other opinions help.

[cwoac]

Seems I edited before you hit quote eh?
No, I am just unable to read at this time of night (read it as 'but is $50 more').


I'd like to know what people think of Six Gun Saga.
I'm semi-intrigued as well, although iirc isn't that one SP only?

[TailSwallower]

I'm really interested in Solinium Infernum after reading the RPS diaries of their game, but I'm not sure how much multi I'll play...

I'm guessing it's play-by-correspondence style? So it doesn't matter if everyone isn't online at the same time?

How are the other 2 games? I've not heard much of them.

[Kelron]

There's plenty of SI players here. Any games starting usually gather 6 players soon enough.

Armageddon Empires is a straight war game (compared to SI), single player only. You build a deck of cards that are used to construct bases and deploy units in game, and try to wipe out the enemy players. There's 4 distinct factions, a large variety of units with different abilities, and lots of independent forces and random event type things scattered around the map. The AI is fairly strong but not without its flaws. I like it, try the demo.

[vinraith]

I think Six Gun Saga is a lot of fun, for what that's worth. It's quick to play, clever, executes its theme well, and has some real depth. The AI is at least decent (I'm not good enough at the game to say anything beyond that). The only thing I'd criticize is that I wish combat executed the "poker" idea in a more substantial way. As it is, you don't really play poker, it's just a die roll with cards.

[TailSwallower]

I think I'm mostly interested in SI and AE, so I'm downloading the demos now. As for SI, as long as there are a couple of games I can join with RPS people I think it'll be worth the $12.50 it'll cost me.

Also, if anyone has their eye on a GMG title, I saw this at Kotak(a)u: Green Man Gaming 10% off code (http://www.greenmangaming.com/promo/gmglovesyou/) – GMG10-PERCE-NTOFF
Personally I'm hoping GMG gets Saints Row the Third for preorder and a decent coupon...

[Oak]

Necessary companion reading for the AE demo. (http://dubiousquality.blogspot.com/2007/08/armageddon-empires-play-guide-part-one_23.html)

[TailSwallower]

Necessary companion reading for the AE demo. (http://dubiousquality.blogspot.com/2007/08/armageddon-empires-play-guide-part-one_23.html)

Thank you, kind sir. Looks like that will be a big help. I suppose SI plays quite similarly, so it should help with that too.

[Heliocentric]

How is $12.50 for an in-depth strategy game not competitively priced? I agree with him about the devaluation of indie games if that kind of attitude is common.
Indie games? I don't discriminate, $12.50 (or ~£8 I guess) is an amount I rarely need to spend on an individual game (or even bundles), now I am a year behind (if that) but I get to consume obscene swathes of games without bankruptcy.

I'm backlogged to high heaven and I'm cynical enough to ignore the hype machine by default, I'm a blight on gaming am-I-not?

[oceanclub]

Does anyone know if the version of VtMB on Impulse is compatibible with the unofficial patch? Almost 4 (four) of my shiny euro depend on this answer.

P.

[Estel]

Steam Halloween Sale (http://store.steampowered.com/sale/scary_sale_2011?snr=1_4_4__118)

Featuring, Dead Island (http://store.steampowered.com/app/91310/) (50% Off - now £20), Zombie Driver (http://store.steampowered.com/app/31410/) (75% off, now £1.75) and Railworks 3: Trains vs. Zombies (http://store.steampowered.com/app/65235/). Wait... what!?

[airtekh]

Some interesting stuff in that Halloween sale.

Amnesia for 3 euro is an insanely good bargain.

[Rauten]

Railworks 3: Trains vs. Zombies (http://store.steampowered.com/app/65235/). Wait... what!?

Exactly what I thought; I'm not into the niche audience of train simulators, yet I'm still tempted to buy it, just to see what the hell it's about.

[Kelron]

I'm backlogged to high heaven and I'm cynical enough to ignore the hype machine by default, I'm a blight on gaming am-I-not?

Sorry, I didn't mean to attack you personally, more express general exasperation. Maybe in a year or two Vic will try a bargain bin sale to see how it works out, SI will probably still have active players then. In the meantime, it's an excellent price for anyone interested in devious multiplayer strategy.

[aquamarine]

Steam Halloween Sale (http://store.steampowered.com/sale/scary_sale_2011?snr=1_4_4__118)


Having never played F.E.A.R., Bioshock, Terraria, or Amnesia, this is a pretty awesome sale. I've also been wanting to play Cthulhu Saves the World. And just when I was thinking I had been doing well on extraneous game expenditures, Steam figures out another way to take my monies. Damn you Steam, DAMN YOU!

[sabrage]

I don't see how anyone can justify not getting Breath of Death VII+Cthulhu Saves the World at that price. The gameplay itself is a little bland, but the writing is excellent and worth the dollar alone.

If you liked Amnesia, Penumbra is along the same lines and at $5 for the game and both expansions is a steal.

[Smashbox]

Steam Halloween Sale (http://store.steampowered.com/sale/scary_sale_2011?snr=1_4_4__118)

Featuring, Dead Island (http://store.steampowered.com/app/91310/) (50% Off - now £20), Zombie Driver (http://store.steampowered.com/app/31410/) (75% off, now £1.75) and Railworks 3: Trains vs. Zombies (http://store.steampowered.com/app/65235/). Wait... what!?

Dead Island only showing 25% for me ... :/

[Bobtree]

Saint's Row: The Third is currently $40 to preorder on Amazon for a Steam key (it's a steamworks game, and also an in-house port).

[sopabuena]

What's the word on Ghostbusters: The Video Game (http://store.steampowered.com/app/9870/)? Pretty cheap for $2.50. Also the Dead Space pack seems quite interesting, but the games might be too scary too play. Wonder if new items will appear in the sale, any ideas? Was hopping for Costume Quest

[TailSwallower]

Also the Dead Space pack seems quite interesting, but the games might be too scary too play.

I'm awful with scary games, but I still played, finished and enjoyed the first Dead Space (haven't tried the 2nd, though I've heard good things). It's definitely scariest at the beginning, but you start to feel more confident as you get armour and weapon upgrades.

What's the general consensus on Left 4 Dead 1 vs 2? And any Aussies know if 2 is still censored? Played the censored demo on 360 and the graphics looked awful, but I don't know how much of that was the console and how much was the lack of gorey detail making it look bland.

[vinraith]

What's the general consensus on Left 4 Dead 1 vs 2? And any Aussies know if 2 is still censored? Played the censored demo on 360 and the graphics looked awful, but I don't know how much of that was the console and how much was the lack of gorey detail making it look bland.

There is, emphatically, NO reason to buy 1. It's an obsoleted product, to the point where all the L4D1 campaigns have been officially ported into L4D2.

[sacred_flame]

And any Aussies know if 2 is still censored?

To the best of my knowledge it is ,and will stay that way untill we get a R18 rating.

If you want the uncensored version go to the smuggling ring (http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/forums/showthread.php?73-RPS-Data-Smuggling-Ring-2-Smugglier&highlight=data) im sure someone will help you out

[TailSwallower]

There is, emphatically, NO reason to buy 1. It's an obsoleted product, to the point where all the L4D1 campaigns have been officially ported into L4D2.

Good to know. I would have assumed as much, but they're both being sold at the same price, so I wasn't sure.


To the best of my knowledge it is ,and will stay that way untill we get a R18 rating.

If you want the uncensored version go to the smuggling ring (http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/forums/showthread.php?73-RPS-Data-Smuggling-Ring-2-Smugglier&highlight=data) im sure someone will help you out

Cheers. I'm still not convinced that I'll play the MP enough to make it worthwhile, but I thoroughly enjoyed playing L4D at a LAN with friends a couple of years back.

[TheRed]

Terraria's £2.49 or something on Steam. I'd resisted so far but the lady is away so thought I'd get it, wasn't at all sure I'd be into it, then spent 5 hours playing it 'by accident'. So.. value for money compared to a trip to the cinema already hugely in the positive.. Trouble is, the building element and mining are likely to suck me in. I had to ban myself from playing open transport tycoon because I kept compulsively expaning my train networks and making efficiency improvements on a massive UK map. And I'm not even someone who is hugely into strategy, let alone trains. So.. dangerous.

[BenWah]

Yeah, terraria is one of the best dollar/fun values around.
Only problem is it isn't that fun until you've kept at it a couple hours, and the graphics aren't exciting, so it can scare away newcomers.

Steam also has borderlands GOTY for $7.50, great buy still!!!

i'm going to buy killing floor now and maybe sword of the stars II.

[LowKey]

What's the word on bioshock 2? I enjoyed the first one for all its faults and am tempted by that price

[DrBee]

Dead Island only showing 25% for me ... :/

Ha, not showing up in Germany at all! Damn it!

[Althea]

What's the word on bioshock 2? I enjoyed the first one for all its faults and am tempted by that price
Let's see. BioShock 2 is a bloated port which explains why "too many cooks spoil the broth" is a saying. It's split into two parts, BS2 SP and BS2 MP. The specs are too high for what it is, it's clunky, it's still not that pretty, and it uses GfWL. But the single player is pretty good. It didn't have the same effect on you as BS1 did with its WYK moment, but I found it a very enjoyable game despite its flaws. It won't really satisfy you too much, but if you enjoyed BS1 then BS2 should be right up your street.

As for the L4D1 and L4D2 debate above - It depends. If you play Single Player only, I'll say L4D1. If you play multiplayer, chances are you'll get more use from L4D2. I personally feel that L4D2 is an inferior product. The cast is much less interesting, the new weapons make no sense, melée goes against common sense, the new support items are stupid, and the game has none of the feel of the original L4D. L4D1 was a dark comedy at times, L4D2 is just "lol let's try to be Zombieland". Oh, and for some reason the player's hand is about 150% of the size of what it was in L4D1.

[Heliocentric]

What's the word on bioshock 2? I enjoyed the first one for all its faults and am tempted by that price

Let me answer that with a question. How long ago did you last play and how many times did you finish bioshock?

If you've played it to familiarity and not long ago the likeness will grate a little. You might play as a big daddy but it doesn't show except for the drill. The weapons are meh except the excellence of the drill and shotgun, but you'll be glad to shoot up with the gene tonic that strips you of all fire arms but makes you a drill + plasmid demon.

The plasmids both new and old are excellent, but be warned you won't get to try them all.

The story was much more meaningful than bioshock but maybe it got a head start with me already being a father.

At that price its a steal, but know this, while the multiplayer is theoretical wonderful peer to peer and match making and GFWL reduce it to an unworkable mess.

[sabrage]

I just read the whole Gameboys from Hell diaries, and decided that I REALLY want Solium Infernum. Between that Indie Royale, the GoG Ubi sale, a fortuitous Steam trade, and now this Halloween sale, I've added like 15 new games in the past several weeks.... But it's hard to pass up at that price. Think I'll sleep on it.

[LowKey]

As for the L4D1 and L4D2 debate above - It depends. If you play Single Player only, I'll say L4D1. If you play multiplayer, chances are you'll get more use from L4D2. I personally feel that L4D2 is an inferior product. The cast is much less interesting, the new weapons make no sense, melée goes against common sense, the new support items are stupid, and the game has none of the feel of the original L4D. L4D1 was a dark comedy at times, L4D2 is just "lol let's try to be Zombieland". Oh, and for some reason the player's hand is about 150% of the size of what it was in L4D1.

thanks for the feedback, have to disagree with you L4D2 though I really enjoy the new characters, think the melee makes it a lot more visceral (and I think makes as much sense as butting them with your guns) I think the adren and defib can be useful and offers an interesting alternative, the new special infected are great and the maps are good especially the finale on parish (although I can see what you mean that they are more comedic -particularly Carnival - but I did enjoy the change in pace)

[TailSwallower]

Oh, and for some reason the player's hand is about 150% of the size of what it was in L4D1.

My guess would be that's actually the FOV, but I'd have to play it and see if it made me sick to know for sure. But being a Valve game I trust they'd have options to change it.

[Serenegoose]

What's the word on bioshock 2? I enjoyed the first one for all its faults and am tempted by that price

found that the single player was better than Bioshock 1 in every way. The plot meant something, I cared for the characters and their outcomes, the weapons were better and more varied, the drill was fun, the little sister battles were more threatening than any big daddy encounter, and the plasmids were more enjoyable to wield. Could have done a lot more with you being a big daddy, but then that's a general complaint with most videogame twists - they tend to back out of delivering their own potential, like they're apologetic for bringing it up.

[Smashbox]

Bioshock 2 attempts to hit all the same notes as the first game. Its writing reeks of imitation and you've already experienced the 'wow' of Rapture if you played its predecessor. The gunplay is better, though, and if all you want is more Bioshock, it's worthwhile. I've also heard good things about that late-release DLC, but I haven't played it myself.

[Giaddon]

Unless you want MORE BIOSHOCK, pass. It's not a unique enough game to be worth the $$$/time. There're so many fantastic, original games that are more worthy of same. (Unless, again, you really want more of the same, but a bit better).

[Althea]

Unless you want MORE BIOSHOCK, pass. It's not a unique enough game to be worth the $$$/time. There're so many fantastic, original games that are more worthy of same. (Unless, again, you really want more of the same, but a bit better).
It's massively cheap at £3.49. It's worth the money.

[vinraith]

As for the L4D1 and L4D2 debate above - It depends. If you play Single Player only, I'll say L4D1.


If you play single player only, don't waste your money on either of them, they're both completely awful when played that way. The bots are incredibly dumb.

[Giaddon]

It's massively cheap at £3.49. It's worth the money.

Assuming that you just have 3.50 to spend on a game right this second, there are better ones to spend it on. Hence, not worth it. Obviously if you don't have a budget (and don't weigh your spending between items) then the cost issue is meaningless. Time thing is still valid though.

EDIT: Don't know why I feel the need to clarify, but: yes, there is absolutely 3.50 of value in BioShock 2. It's not "overpriced" in that sense. But, if you approach the gaming market (rather than that one product) with your 3.50, it's probably better spent elsewhere.

[Giaddon]

If you play single player only, don't waste your money on either of them, they're both completely awful when played that way. The bots are incredibly dumb.

How's the game with random online people (campaign games)?

[ComradePenguin]

A slightly different question on this Bioshock debate that may prove impossible to answer. Both 1 and 2 bypassed me during a period when I wasn't gaming. Much of the criticism of two here appears to be that it looses a lot by being your second experience of the world though the gunplay and perhaps even the plot is better. As such being someone who has missed both would I be better off getting 2 for the improvements and the first experience of the world or does too much hinge on knowledge of the first to work as an experience by itself?

Secondly has anyone played either of the Sherlock Holmes games on offer? They seem to have a very varied critical response and my gut reaction to something called "Sherlock Holmes versus Jack the Ripper" isn't positive. However I am a fan of the books and some of the adaptations of them (though not the most recent tv series) so if they capture something of the characters I can imagine them being worthwhile.

[ntw]

Friends > random internets people

always and for every game.

[Giaddon]

Secondly has anyone played either of the Sherlock Holmes games on offer? They seem to have a very varied critical response and my gut reaction to something called "Sherlock Holmes versus Jack the Ripper" isn't positive. However I am a fan of the books and some of the adaptations of them (though not the most recent tv series) so if they capture something of the characters I can imagine them being worthwhile.

If you are a Sherlock Holmes fan, both those games are worth it at that price. But, as with most adventure games, they are very slow-paced, puzzling affairs. I would actually say vs. Jack the Ripper is the better of the two, especially if you have any interest / knowledge of the murders. It's not a schlocky mash-up, as you may be fearing, but a collision that attempts to be true to both originals, as well as London at the time. Indeed, it is a relentlessly serious game (something I appreciate a lot, since the current trend for adventure games has been stupid humor). A lot of the game consists of having strange conversations with various characters, and some of the things the puzzles force you to do are stupid, but it has a very interesting "deduction board" mechanic that lets you use your observations to solve the puzzles. If you are approaching it as a Sherlock fan, (rather than an adventure game fan) I would play the game with a walkthrough and not hesitate to use it when things get stupid.

Awakened is more schlocky (they are confronting Lovecraftian horrors, after all), but still fun.

[Giaddon]

Friends > random internets people

always and for every game.

Agreed, but that's a different question than "is it still OK with randoms?"

[Smashbox]

A slightly different question on this Bioshock debate that may prove impossible to answer. Both 1 and 2 bypassed me during a period when I wasn't gaming. Much of the criticism of two here appears to be that it looses a lot by being your second experience of the world though the gunplay and perhaps even the plot is better. As such being someone who has missed both would I be better off getting 2 for the improvements and the first experience of the world or does too much hinge on knowledge of the first to work as an experience by itself?

Secondly has anyone played either of the Sherlock Holmes games on offer? They seem to have a very varied critical response and my gut reaction to something called "Sherlock Holmes versus Jack the Ripper" isn't positive. However I am a fan of the books and some of the adaptations of them (though not the most recent tv series) so if they capture something of the characters I can imagine them being worthwhile.

Bioshock is important for its writing and characters, though the moment-to-moment action is fairly good. In my mind, the sequel is more of a B-team imitation, the characters hollow shells of their inspirations. I will capitalize this for effect: PLAY THE FIRST ONE!

It's indisputably a better game (if it hasn't been spoiled for you).

[Althea]

A slightly different question on this Bioshock debate that may prove impossible to answer. Both 1 and 2 bypassed me during a period when I wasn't gaming. Much of the criticism of two here appears to be that it looses a lot by being your second experience of the world though the gunplay and perhaps even the plot is better. As such being someone who has missed both would I be better off getting 2 for the improvements and the first experience of the world or does too much hinge on knowledge of the first to work as an experience by itself?
2 doesn't require knowledge of 1, but it does help.

[Heliocentric]

It's indisputably a better game (if it hasn't been spoiled for you).

Objection!

2 is a better action game, 1 was a better world.

You just got disputed.

[Smashbox]

I thought it impossible, but yes, you just disputed the shit outta me. Time for Plan B.

http://blog.marshallstrategy.com/files/2011/05/Woman-plugging-ears.jpg

[Vandelay]

I agree with Heliocentric. The combat in 2 is a lot better than the first. Being able to wield Plasmids and weapons at the same time makes the world of differences.

The level design in two doesn't reach the same heights as the first, but it is probably more consistently better. Slightly disappointing, considering the lead on the game designed the best level of the first and was also the level designer that made Thief 3's The Cradle.

Personally, I would say play both.

[Althea]

Personally, I would say play both.
That's the only sensible option, especially at the prices they're commanding on Steam.

[vinraith]

How's the game with random online people (campaign games)?

My experiences with the L4D community have been universally unpleasant, but your mileage may vary. The games require genuine cooperation, and you are very strongly dependent on the others in your party. This creates a minor version of the DotA-effect, where half the randoms you play with won't play well, which screws you, and the other half insist you're not playing well enough and scream your ear off.

[Giaddon]

Sounds awful! Thanks for the tip.

[Tikey]

Left 4 dead is best played with friends.
And nowadays it doesn't make sense to buy the first one as it has been ported almost entirely to the second one (with all the new features and stuff)

[Heliocentric]

My experiences with the L4D community have been universally unpleasant, but your mileage may vary. The games require genuine cooperation, and you are very strongly dependent on the others in your party. This creates a minor version of the DotA-effect, where half the randoms you play with won't play well, which screws you, and the other half insist you're not playing well enough and scream your ear off.

My experience of random is 10% rubbish 10% shouts 20% talk the whole time in Serbian (my guess) and the remaining 60% play competently but 10 of that 60 use voicechat.

[ComradePenguin]

Thanks for the Bioshock advice. I'll get the first one and if it compels me the second one too. Given my limitations with FPSs I'll only go for the one initially as my bendy eyes and shaky mouse hand means I usually end up chugging through them slowly so by the time I complete it the next sale will be on.

Being both a Sherlock and adventure game fan that sounds delicious Giaddon so they will get chucked at top the backlog too.

[airtekh]

How's the game with random online people (campaign games)?

I spent most of my time in L4D1 and 2 playing campaign mode with randoms. I found it mostly ok with only the occasional asshat that spoiled the game.

It's versus mode with randoms you want to avoid; an absolutely horrible experience.

[Althea]

And nowadays it doesn't make sense to buy the first one as it has been ported almost entirely to the second one (with all the new features and stuff)
And? It's not the same experience at all. I ran through most of No Mercy today, and it just didn't feel... right. Zoey using a D. Eagle is wrong. Just wrong.

[vinraith]

Bioshock is important for its writing and characters, though the moment-to-moment action is fairly good. In my mind, the sequel is more of a B-team imitation, the characters hollow shells of their inspirations. I will capitalize this for effect: PLAY THE FIRST ONE!

It's indisputably a better game (if it hasn't been spoiled for you).

The beginning of 2 felt so much like the bad parts of 1 that I couldn't make it more than a couple of hours in. Maybe there's a good story in there, I don't know, but the setting and mechanics wore out their welcome after the first one for me.

[sabrage]

Agreed, but that's a different question than "is it still OK with randoms?"

I would say no, it is not. When I played it (back around release) the team that lost the first round usually ragequit. It's been an issue with the series for a long time, and sometimes new players just don't connect. You will also likely get matched up with people who simply don't know what to do (not as big an issue when you start out playing, but it will become one) and someone who's utterly clueless can just fuck up your entire round.

[Althea]

Beating Steam, Impulse and... that's about it, Direct2Drive has Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines for a whopping £1.85 (UK site), and Borderlands GotY for about £7, as well as some other crap you won't care about.

Would like to mention Borderlands might make a few people ill, and there's no fix for the broken FoV, so if you're that way inclined then don't get it.

[ComradePenguin]

Borderlands GotY for about £7, as well as some other crap you won't care about.


Steam has Borderlands GOTY for £5 despite only advertising the base game in the sale for the same price. You can also pick up a four pack for £15. D2D are 24p cheaper than Steam on the Penumbra Collection at £3.75 which appears to contain the same stuff as the Penumbra Collector Pack.

[TheRed]

Turns out my comments on Terrarie were prescient. I've now put 13 hours into it in 2 days. The lady really shouldn't go away for a few days, particularly when there's a sandbox build-fest on for less than £3.

[ntw]

Rather than telling her that, you should probably stick with "You shouldn't go away because I miss you darling".

[ComradePenguin]

If your internet is up to it purveyors of the future Onlive have a free weekend on for Amnesia, Metro 2033, FEAR 3 and Orcs Must Die. Would serve as a decent demo if you're on the fence about buying any of them.

[Heliocentric]

If you're internet is up to it purveyors of the future Onlive have a free weekend on for Amnesia, Metro 2033, FEAR 3 and Orcs Must Die. Would serve as a decent demo if you're on the fence about buying any of them.

Orks must die is a lovely candidate for onlive mushy interaction,casually themed and strategic, the other 3 are incredibly unsuited being twitchy, atmospheric and action based.

[TheRed]

Rather than telling her that, you should probably stick with "You shouldn't go away because I miss you darling".

Believe me, I won't be telling her. I'll bee too tired after cleaning up after regressing to student-style slobbery for 48 hours. Although as she's taken the 8 week old baby with her, it means I've had more sleep over the last two nights than I have in the six before. Talk about guilty pleasures...

[QuantaCat]

Believe me, I won't be telling her. I'll bee too tired after cleaning up after regressing to student-style slobbery for 48 hours. Although as she's taken the 8 week old baby with her, it means I've had more sleep over the last two nights than I have in the six before. Talk about guilty pleasures...

This sounds extremely familiar. But mine are 8 & 6 already, and I have to admit, Ive gotten better :D

[TheRed]

Got better? At Terraria, right? That's what matters, right? TELL ME THAT'S WHAT MATTERS!

[TheRed]

Incidentally - I know there's a groundswell of yes to this question - but is V:TM really worth it? I know it's filthy cheap right now, but I missed it when it came out, don't know why but maybe just wasn't playing anything much at the time, or felt it wouldn't appeal. Yet it seems today there is a real appreciate of it, a sort of rough diamond that, had it been more polished, would have been a standout all-time classic. Can someone tell me WHY this is, and if, in the modern climate, it's genuinely worth playing properly?

[R-F]

Incidentally - I know there's a groundswell of yes to this question - but is V:TM really worth it? I know it's filthy cheap right now, but I missed it when it came out, don't know why but maybe just wasn't playing anything much at the time, or felt it wouldn't appeal. Yet it seems today there is a real appreciate of it, a sort of rough diamond that, had it been more polished, would have been a standout all-time classic. Can someone tell me WHY this is, and if, in the modern climate, it's genuinely worth playing properly?

It still IS an all-time classic, it's just one with rough edges. The fan patches completely fixed that, too.

Basically, your character choice was pretty complex, there was a lot of different playstyle (and, in fact, quite a bit of different storyline) depending on what bloodline you picked and it was just a pretty good game in general. There was later gameplay issues to do with whether or not you'd taken combat skills (no combat skills = no game finish, since it turns into a unskippable fight fest about 2/3 of the way through), but I think they might've been fixed in the fan patches too.

The thing that really shines about VtM, though, is it's storyline and atmosphere. They're both things that Obsidian do amazingly and they've never really been recreated in a game (or, at least, never done quite as well). Obviously, they're things that you need to play to understand or make an opinion of for yourself.

Also, at least finish the Haunted Hotel before giving up on the game. That place is just amazing.

[Heliocentric]

but is V:TM really worth it?

Yes, but without moddery focus on melee weapons partially and give up at "that sewer level" and its an absolute bargain, 90% of the good stuff is early on anyway.

[sabrage]

Limbo must have just been added to the Halloween sale on Steam today, because I didn't see it before. I don't know if it's worth $7.50; I beat it in about 3-4 hours (accounting for deaths) and I'll likely beat it again some day, but if you're already cynical about the art style and the minimalist gameplay I doubt that actually playing it will sway your pretensions. That said, I absolutely loved it. The spider sequences in particular were incredibly well done.

[oceanclub]

Incidentally - I know there's a groundswell of yes to this question - but is V:TM really worth it? I know it's filthy cheap right now, but I missed it when it came out, don't know why but maybe just wasn't playing anything much at the time, or felt it wouldn't appeal. Yet it seems today there is a real appreciate of it, a sort of rough diamond that, had it been more polished, would have been a standout all-time classic. Can someone tell me WHY this is, and if, in the modern climate, it's genuinely worth playing properly?

I have to say a resounding "yes". I bought it in the sale just to have it on Steam (I loaned my copy out to a mate), installed Werner's community patch and the Clanquest patch, and decided to just play it for a little, but have been totally sucked in again. The atmosphere, soundtrack and characters are just brilliant, and even 7 years after release, it still looks good (the textures are a bit ropey, but the animation and lighting just makes the opening area of Santa Monica seem atmospheric even now). It really is worth a fiver just to experience it, and it's true it's a crying shame there have been no game like it since (yes, even DE:HR).

P.

[somini]

After searching for a while a discovered a xliveless equivalent for Bioshock 2: http://timeslip.users.sourceforge.net/current/bioshock2-xlive.7z. No more GFWL tyranny! I can't test it right now, but I guess it's working good.

[Heliocentric]

Steam sale Depths of Peril £2.75
www.cpugamer.com/reviews/2772/Depths-of-Peril-Review

Never heard of it but this seems exceptionally interesting.

[vinraith]

Steam sale Depths of Peril £2.75
www.cpugamer.com/reviews/2772/Depths-of-Peril-Review

Never heard of it but this seems exceptionally interesting.

It's a Soldak game, which means it's ugly but brilliant. Steam really are bastards for not having accepted Din's Curse and its expansion, those games are great. Depths of Peril is a bit older and I've not played it, so while I can vouch for the devs I can't vouch for the game.

[Heliocentric]

It's a Soldak game, which means it's ugly but brilliant.
Oh... It's going to be uglier and jankier than din's curse!

[cowthief skank]

I vaguely remember reading a review of Depths of Peril in (probably) PC Gamer. Here if you are interested:

http://www.gamesradar.com/depths-of-peril/

[vinraith]

Oh... It's going to be uglier and jankier than din's curse!

Ugly? Yes. Janky? I didn't really find Din's Curse so. Anyway, Depths has a pretty substantial demo, apparently, if you want to check it out. It's on Soldak's site.

[TheRed]

Thanks for answers regarding V:TM

[oceanclub]

Costume Quest on Steam for 66% off (€4.65 for me). I'm buying this one just for the writing and to support Tim Shaeffer!

P.

[sabrage]

Costume Quest on Steam for 66% off (€4.65 for me). I'm buying this one just for the writing and to support Tim Shaeffer!

P.
Damn it! I'm leaving my computer off for the Winter sale. My wallet just can't take such a beating.

[Heliocentric]

Costume Quest on Steam for 66% off (€4.65 for me). I'm buying this one just for the writing and to support Tim Shaeffer!

P.
called it.

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2011/10/15/costume-quest-pc/#comment-837844

[vinraith]

A bit of a warning about a non-bargain: Steam's deal of the day is Hegemony: Phillip of Macedon. The game is great, but the version Steam has is NOT the Gold version, nor does a gold upgrade appear to be available. You do not want the non-gold version of this game, as Hegemony Gold adds an enormous amount of really excellent content (including two Peloponnesian War campaigns). So, to summarize, DO buy Hegemony Gold, DO NOT buy Hegemony: Phillip of Macedon off of Steam as it's not the "whole game" and there's no way to upgrade. .

Edit: Or do, but if you do make sure you buy the upgrade direct from Longbow per Giaddon's post below.

[Giaddon]

Fortunately vinraith is wrong: Longbow will upgrade your Steam version of Hegemony to Gold for 9.99, and with the coupon code ROME (entered at checkout), it becomes 7.50, for a total of 14.30 (steam purchase + upgrade cost), less than half the price of Gold normally. Details on Longbow's store page (http://www.longbowgames.com/hegemony/buy/).

So go ahead and buy Hegemony: Phillip of Macedon off of Steam if you want to.

[vinraith]

Fortunately vinraith is wrong: Longbow will upgrade your Steam version of Hegemony to Gold for 9.99, and with the coupon code ROME (entered at checkout), it becomes 7.50, for a total of 14.30 (steam purchase + upgrade cost), less than half the price of Gold normally. Details on Longbow's store page (http://www.longbowgames.com/hegemony/buy/).

So go ahead and buy Hegemony: Phillip of Macedon off of Steam if you want to.

I'm very glad to be wrong, as that would have been incredibly stupid. Post edited accordingly.

Longbow rocks, everyone give them money! I'm really looking forward to Rise of Caesar.

[Heliocentric]

so, do they send a steam key or what? oh i see, site registration, cool.

[Giaddon]

There is no gold version on Steam, so you will get the Gold version from Longbow's own store.

[vinraith]

There is no gold version on Steam, so you will get the Gold version from Longbow's own store.

Which is to say that you won't have the gold version on Steam, correct? You'll just be able to install the Gold version over your Steam version? Personally I've got Gold from Gamersgate, so I don't know how this works.

[Kelron]

You can register the key from the Steam version of Hegemony with the Longbow store, so you can then buy the Gold upgrade from them. And play it without using Steam.

[squareking]

Evil Genius and Bastion are 75% and 50% off, respectively. 2.50 and 7.50 Ameribucks.

[Althea]

Evil Genius and Bastion are 75% and 50% off, respectively. 2.50 and 7.50 Ameribucks.
Where? GamersGate, Steam...?

[Giaddon]

Steam.

EG is the daily deal, bastion the midweek deal.

[squareking]

Oops! Meant to finish that post but got sidetracked. Steam:

Evil Genius (http://store.steampowered.com/app/3720/)
Bastion (http://store.steampowered.com/app/107100/?snr=1_4_4__40)

[Citruspunch]

Hmmm. Bastion IS on the wish list, but super busy right now with BF3, batman and MW3. I'm going to skip it, it's BOUND to be cheaper at Xmas anyway.

[Cable]

They've added the binding of isaac and blocks that matter to the humble indie thing. Apparently they're both pretty alright.

Also Bastion is tempting but i think i shall hold of as I have a million other games to play (and exams to pass) at the moment.

[Heliocentric]

http://www.humblebundle.com/
linky if you like.

[Lewie Procter]

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, PC (http://savygamer.co.uk/2011/11/01/the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim-pc-22-30/) – £22.30 delivered

Battlefield 3, PC (http://savygamer.co.uk/2011/11/01/battlefield-3-pc-23-98/) – £23.98 delivered

[TailSwallower]

They've added the binding of isaac and blocks that matter to the humble indie thing.

I bought the HIB thing half-expecting more games to be added. I've been umming-and-ahhing about Binding of Isaac so this is a pleasant surprise.

[Kodeen]

They've added the binding of isaac and blocks that matter to the humble indie thing. Apparently they're both pretty alright.

Also Bastion is tempting but i think i shall hold of as I have a million other games to play (and exams to pass) at the moment.

Damnit, after reading Vinraith's comment in the Steam Halloween sale thread about not buying games just because they're on sale, I was resolved to do the same. I also have a tremendous backlog that'll take me a very long time to get through.

Then these two things happen. I've already caved on the HIB (though admittedly I'll probably get to Isaac pretty soon), and Bastion is very tempting. I am weak.

[Janek]

The entire Geneforge series is now on Steam, £13.59 for the lot. That's an awful lot of game.

I'm hoping the Avernum series follows, given that's the one I've not played.

[Kodeen]

The entire Geneforge series is now on Steam, £13.59 for the lot. That's an awful lot of game.

I'm hoping the Avernum series follows, given that's the one I've not played.

Glad I didn't buy the CD from their site during the sale. Then again, it had been rumored for a little while, someone saw these on the Steam registry.

Old Avernum probably won't be released, since he's rewriting those. The new versions will likely be released on Steam as they are released in the real world, one at a time.

Edit: Looks like the Windows version only? Odd.

[vinraith]

The entire Geneforge series is now on Steam, £13.59 for the lot. That's an awful lot of game.

I'm hoping the Avernum series follows, given that's the one I've not played.

Ouch. Not completely unexpected, but another one bites the discount dust. I'm really not sure that every game being $5 is good for the industry, or for gamers. Vogel was one of the hold outs, it's a little sad to see him go this route. I certainly hope it works out for him, regardless.

[Giaddon]

You can only buy them as a collection, so you still have to hand over a larger lump sum.

[vinraith]

I'm not sure $15 is large for, what is it, 5 games? Granted, 5 older games, but he put Avadon up for $10. I don't know, this "cheap, disposable game" thing makes me uncomfortable on a fundamental level. Some games being that way is one thing, but it seems like the expectation, and increasingly the reality, is that they're all becoming that way.

[Giaddon]

I'm not sure $15 is large for, what is it, 5 games? Granted, 5 older games, but he put Avadon up for $10. I don't know, this "cheap, disposable game" thing makes me uncomfortable on a fundamental level. Some games being that way is one thing, but it seems like the expectation, and increasingly the reality, is that they're all becoming that way.

Let's talk (http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/forums/showthread.php?1933-Games-price-let-s-rap&p=52963#post52963).

[Juan Carlo]

Ouch. Not completely unexpected, but another one bites the discount dust. I'm really not sure that every game being $5 is good for the industry, or for gamers. Vogel was one of the hold outs, it's a little sad to see him go this route. I certainly hope it works out for him, regardless.

Yeah, but he was really skeptical and cautious about putting Avadon on steam. He flat out said at the time in a blog post that it was an experiment and that if it didn't pay off he wouldn't release any other games on steam.

Obviously, it must have payed off pretty well given that the Geneforge games are arguably the "crown jewel" of Spiderweb software and he's now releasing them on steam as well. No one was forcing him, so I doubt he'd have done it if he didn't think it would pay off (and spiderweb, moreso than any indie developer, probably doesn't really need steam given that they have been in business for nearly 20 years and have a small, but solid, base of loyal fans who will buy whatever they release regardless. All steam is doing for them is opening them up to a bunch more people who had never heard of them).

Plus, I'm guessing sales of the Geneforge games to his loyal fans have pretty leveled off by now. He's said in the past that they all have been profitable, so sticking them all on steam is a way of generating extra revenue without actually having to invest money in creating a new game. When you have as a big a back catalog of games as spiderweb does you can make quite a bit of money off them if you can find a way to sell them.

[Kodeen]

Looks like the Windows version only? Odd.

Replying to myself, Vogel has explained this:


Due to complicated technical reasons, we are unable to put the Mac Geneforge games on Steam. Sorry about that. We know it sucks.

(Short explanation for the tech-savvy: Their system cannot handle Macintosh files with resource forks, and our older games are full of those. It would take a ton of reworking to get them to work, and we don't have time.)

- Jeff Vogel

What are resource forks?

[thegooseking]

If you can put up with Dixons Downloads (maybe UK only?) Cities XL 2012 is currently £14.99 over there (http://www.dixonsdownloads.co.uk/product/lp27696/cities-xl-2012/) (or £9.99 to upgrade from 2011, but that's not such a great saving). I seem to remember some people were interested but didn't want to pay £30.

[deano2099]

Plus, I'm guessing sales of the Geneforge games to his loyal fans have pretty leveled off by now. He's said in the past that they all have been profitable, so sticking them all on steam is a way of generating extra revenue without actually having to invest money in creating a new game. When you have as a big a back catalog of games as spiderweb does you can make quite a bit of money off them if you can find a way to sell them.
His argument against big discounts before is that those sales didn't actually level up. They kept coming in, at a slow rate, but at a rate that was basically his livelihood. He was concerned on cashing that in for a single big Steam payout.

Also interesting that his games are still the same price on his own website - he's mentioned before that different markets expect different prices, and some of his fans will still buy direct anyway.

[TailSwallower]

I've been interested in the Geneforge games for a little while, so anyone want to tell me how they actually play. I don't mind the look of the graphics, but how's the UI?

And on top of that, how are the games in general? I've heard good things, but that was coming from people who would probably love any RPG just as long as it was isometric and turn-based.

[Juan Carlo]

@tailswallorer

I've only played through part of the first Geneforge and I like it a good deal so far. And I don't really consider myself an RPG purist or anything (I love the Witcher and Oblivion as much as anyone). Strangely, the interface seems exactly the same as Avadon (the only other Spiderweb game I've played)--so it seems Vogle hasn't changed much in the past 10 years. It's basically point and click intuitive (like any other RPG)--although with a few strange quirks (like, for example, you can click on chests and stuff with the mouse to open them and click on items in your inventory to move them around and stuff, but strangely, if an item is on the ground in the gameworld you have to press "g" to pick it up rather than just clicking on it. This takes some getting used to, but once you do it becomes second nature).

So yeah, the interface is OK. The artdirection is uglier than sin, though. And I don't mean graphics. A game can have low tech graphics and still look appealing, but spiderweb games have always been pretty ugly. They really don't have a cohesive aesthetic and just generally look like amateur hour (Which, I don't think is necessary despite their budget given that there are tons of indie games made for less than spiderweb games are, yet which look 1,000 times better). But the graphics are entirely functional, so once you get immersed in the game you really don't notice any longer how awful they are.

But demos of all the spiderweb games are readily available, so if you want to know I say just download and try before buying.

[Vexing Vision]

I disliked Geneforge 1 to 3. The setting did nothing for me, although I tried to like them (because I'm a huge fan of Spiderweb's Exile - and later Avernum - series).

However, Geneforge 5 is amazing. It is THE best story-branching RPG out there - extremely immersive, brilliant story-telling techniques, and after the first half an hour you will ALWAYS feel in total control of how you interact with any character. Basically, there's five factions (each one providing an entirely different main story line), and you can betray or assist everyone and everything at very nearly any point of the game. The insanely high replay-value means that I'd recommend that

The UI works rather well once you spent ten minutes to do the tutorial. It's functional and not cluttered.

[deano2099]

All five games have huge demos too if you want to give them a shot.

[Tikey]

Gamersgate is having a total war weekend (http://www.gamersgate.com/games?prio=relevance&q=totalwarweekend)
Shogun 2 is 83% off and other sweet deals.

[Smashbox]

Shogun's great - whatta deal!

[Kodeen]

A question to anyone who has played Avadon and some/all of the Geneforge games. I really enjoyed Avadon, but the map structure (go to the desert, go to the woods, go back to the same desert, go back to the same woods ...) eventually got to me. The third time I was told to go to Kva I just quit.

So how is the map structure in the Geneforge games? Will I have the same motive for ragequitting?

[Mana_Garmr]

Is anyone else seeing the original list price for Shogun 2 as $90, marked down to $15? That seems a little, insane, for the starting point.

[Lewie Procter]

Saints Row: The Third [Professor Genki Limited Edition], PC (http://savygamer.co.uk/2011/11/03/saints-row-the-third-professor-genki-limited-edition-pc-18-90/) – £18.90 delivered

[GraveyardJimmy]

IL2 Cliffs of Dover is Cheap at both JustFlight and GetGamesGo:
http://www.getgamesgo.com/product/il-2-sturmovik-cliffs-of-dover

£8.75

[Ghil]

is Shogun 2 from GG redeemable on Steam?