Steam adds Early Access Games

[Lordcrazy]

As it would seem, Steam has added a new category to its Game tab on the store front. This will bring up games like Prison Arhitect, Gnomoria, and ARMA 3 Alpha to be purchased. Upon clicking on them it will also give a short paragraph from the developers on its current state and what to expect, but otherwise looks like a normal store page. I would guess this is another way to get games from greenlight onto the store without clogging the front page.

So what games that are currently in development are you playing or looking forward to?

My list:

• Planetary Annihilation
• Castle Story
• ARMA 3
• Project Zomboid

[elephant god]

kerbal space program. I've heard so much about it by now and it sounds ridiculously fun and challenging, but it's relatively expensive, given it's not even done yet. Is it tricky in the way that lunar lander is tricky, or is it more the managerial position you play in?

[soldant]

Is it tricky in the way that lunar lander is tricky, or is it more the managerial position you play in?

Bit of both. It's probably not Lunar Lander-style but it's definitely not a managerial sim. You'll need to read up a fair bit to do anything other than randomly launch into space. It's a combination of how well you design your ship and how good you are at flying it. It's expensive but even in its current state it's a lot of fun, I'd recommend it.

I'm considering Kinetic Void but it still looks awfully primitive for the $20 asking price. Also hope that Planetary Annihilation comes to Steam Early Access, because I backed that to get into the alpha and can't wait to try it out. While they're at it get Limit Theory on there!

[Rockin' Ranger]

As it would seem, Steam has added a new category to its Game tab on the store front. This will bring up games like Prison Arhitect, Gnomoria, and ARMA 3 Alpha to be purchased. Upon clicking on them it will also give a short paragraph from the developers on its current state and what to expect, but otherwise looks like a normal store page. I would guess this is another way to get games from greenlight onto the store without clogging the front page.

So what games that are currently in development are you playing or looking forward to?

My list:

• Planetary Annihilation
• Castle Story
• ARMA 3
• Project Zomboid

Castle Story currently uses Steam for distribution of their prototype, but they haven't been approved to be on the Steam store yet. Hopfully they will because right now it looks like a perfect candidate for the early access section.

[Rockin' Ranger]

I'm considering Kinetic Void but it still looks awfully primitive for the $20 asking price.

I have it from backing the Kickstarter, it is very primitive at the moment. Most of the interesting stuff hasn't been added yet, not worthwhile if you're looking for something to play right now.

[altras]

They have to consider making a partnership with kickstarter - there're a lot of games there and it would be perfect for post-backing :)

[grasskit]

anyone tried that dwarf fortress with tilesets lookalike game?

[JimDigritz]

Kerbal Space Program is insanely addictive. It has a very good balance (already) between hardcore sim and garry's mod.

My 7 year old loves it, and whilst he is having fun he's actually getting a primer in orbital mechanics.

[soldant]

I have it from backing the Kickstarter, it is very primitive at the moment. Most of the interesting stuff hasn't been added yet, not worthwhile if you're looking for something to play right now.

Oh... well, I guess I'll wait for a while then. Thanks for the heads up.

[TechnicalBen]

I backed it for the prototype play in Kickstarter. The Steam release, while having better graphics (which is understandable, pace of progress of development is different in each area), is less feature complete than the prototype. So don't get it right now. :/

[Smashbox]

I can't wait until they set up the Buy Now and Help Us Code The Game store.

[dartttt]

This is similar to Alpha Funding model on Desura. They launched it about a year back, where interested users can buy alpha/beta games for discounted price.

[doctor_roxo]

really glad to see this on steam now. i suggest Kenshi, Prison Architect and Under the Ocean personally. all 3 are great games and worth every penny.

[neema_t]

I already have Arma 3 (and love it dearly), but I'm actually interested in most of these games. Right now I'm itching to try StarForge and, to a lesser extent, Kinetic Void (seems quite, well, void of stuff right now).

Does anyone have StarForge and is it any good? Same goes for Kenshi. I wonder if we'll ever see Vector Thrust on here.

[DarkFenix]

I'm really interested in Kenshi, but to be honest it just looks too incomplete. It's been in development for years but still gives me the vibe of something started last week.

I did pick up StarForge a while back. Another case of 'promising, but not much actually there right now', though at least SF looks simple enough for development to proceed at a decent rate.

[Thurgret]

The concept of Kinetic Void is really interesting, but the developer is either incapable of or unwilling to meet a deadline, as far as I can tell from looking at its Kickstarter page. Not going to drop cash on something which now looks suspiciously like a cash-grab unless someone comes up with some really compelling reason to do otherwise.

What's Star Forge like, at the moment?

[TechnicalBen]

I think it's more the inability to organize really. They need someone else to move the good work they can do. Look at their forums as an example. Changed 3 times. Each time it seems (matter of opinion, I hate anything not laid out like RPS forums :P ) worse. Looses the old content/users/buzz in the process.

If the programming side of it goes like that, changing GUI/systems every month or so, it will be detrimental to the development.

[Kelron]

anyone tried that dwarf fortress with tilesets lookalike game?

Haven't tried it, what I hear is that it's DF-lite. Might be worth a shot if the DF interface puts you off that much , but don't expect the same depth.

KSP has a fairly up to date demo now, enough to see if you like it before paying.

[Malawi Frontier Guard]

Gnomoria is DF-lite with some awkward decision ressource-wise, and the interface isn't actually that much easier to use. I don't know. It's too early to say anything, really.

He's giving out Steam keys to people who bought it previously, so that's nice.

[Smashbox]

Gnomoria or Towns?