Community MetaSteam | August 2020 - Come Fly With Me

[CommodoreKong]

Left 4 Dead Blog

www.l4d.com

Left 4 Dead 2 getting a community made update based on The Last Stand survival map from L4D1 that was never added into L4D2 added to the game soon. Rumor is it's a full campaign based on The Last Stand as well as a port of the survival map.

 

[Swenhir]

this is a sidenote, and maybe i'm misjudging, but i'm surprised that a pc forum so up in arms over this. i figured folks were already waiting for deals on games anyway or getting them discounted at launch. seems

Because protesting this is the right thing to do, because people do buy day one for games they are excited for and because you can bet that this increase will be reflected even on discounted prices.

You can be apathetic if you want but this matters to people like me for whom 10$ actually means something. Games are also a tremendous medium for improving mental health and happiness, they are works of imagination and many can remind people to hold on, to dream, that there is more.

They aren't any more toys than books are dense toilet paper.

 

[NarohDethan]

Entire thread is pure gold, magazine rip available there

 

[Tizoc]

Captain tsubasa hype.

 

[curi0usBystander]

On the price discussion, prices were going to go up eventually (they want more money it's that simple).

That said there are companies who have been selling their games for 70€ for quite a while (looking at you K-T, and also Microsoft).

 

[PC-tan]

Just in case anyone is interested



I picked up the set myself since I like Lego Star Wars and well this is a very iconic movie scene

 

[ISee]

It's good, not perfect and has a couple pacing problems in the middle, but it will pick up again. I promise. Worth the entry price imo.

Control Ultimate Edition PC

Control Ultimate Edition PC ✔️ CD Key ✔️ Instant download ✔️ Fantastic price ✔️ Digital Download ✔️

www.cdkeys.com

 

[fantomena]

It's good, not perfect and has a couple pacing problems in the middle, but it will pick up again. I promise. Worth the entry price imo.

Control Ultimate Edition PC

Control Ultimate Edition PC ✔️ CD Key ✔️ Instant download ✔️ Fantastic price ✔️ Digital Download ✔️

www.cdkeys.com

Pick it up again? Where did you pick it up last time?

 

[didamangi]

Pick it up again? Where did you pick it up last time?

I think he meant the pace will pick up again.

 

[Nabs]

lol They finally updated the date on The Last Campfire storepage to 2021. I hate how they've handled all of this. The website still pushes you to wishlist on Steam

 

[fantomena]

lol They finally updated the date on The Last Campfire storepage to 2021. I hate how they've handled all of this. The website still pushes you to wishlist on Steam

I guess they don't have much faith in it.

 

[ISee]

Pick it up again? Where did you pick it up last time?

think he meant the pace will pick up again.

This.

 

[Mor]

It's good, not perfect and has a couple pacing problems in the middle, but it will pick up again. I promise. Worth the entry price imo.

Control Ultimate Edition PC

Control Ultimate Edition PC ✔️ CD Key ✔️ Instant download ✔️ Fantastic price ✔️ Digital Download ✔️

www.cdkeys.com

MY MONEY IS READY, COMRADE!

lol They finally updated the date on The Last Campfire storepage to 2021. I hate how they've handled all of this. The website still pushes you to wishlist on Steam

only took them like 24 hours.

 

[Alexandros]

It's a shame Activision doesn't have a service like EA Play. I don't care at all about Call of Duty's multiplayer but I would be happy to pay for a month's subscription to play the campaigns. I haven's played most recent COD campaigns because the games are very rarely offered at a good discount.

 

[curi0usBystander]

Excluding the humble monthly have activision games ever had a big discount ?

 

[Hektor]

Just in case anyone is interested



I picked up the set myself since I like Lego Star Wars and well this is a very iconic movie scene

Where are my Anime LEGO's???

 

[fantomena]

Very excited to finally pick up Control today. Played it last year via arrr and liked it a lot despite it's flaws.

 

[Li Kao]

Control bought, 27 euros on CDKeys. I mean, wasn't worth waiting. And with the fluctuating prices on this kind of sites, barring an industrial wreck of a release it will only go up.

 

[beep boop]

Control bought, 27 euros on CDKeys. I mean, wasn't worth waiting. And with the fluctuating prices on this kind of sites, barring an industrial wreck of a release it will only go up.

The metagame of guessing the right time to buy on CDK is always fun Had a few good ones, messed up other times.

 

[madjoki]

Excluding the humble monthly have activision games ever had a big discount ?

There was - 80% CoD bundle on Steam after release of ww2. (all games & dlc, or version without dlc and some filler games)

The metagame of guessing the right time to buy on CDK is always fun Had a few good ones, messed up other times.

Never right

 

[Eferis]

In a society that tries to push the notion that the more spare money you have to purchase useless shit you like, the happier and better person you are, I really cannot understand why people can't see the problem with raising prices for games. You don't buy into that idea? Fine, I'm happy for you, but maybe try to look beyond your own personal situation? The fact is that this shitty notion has crawled into the mind of the vast majority of people and having to renounce getting something they used to be able to afford is going to make a lot of people more miserable because they'll feel part of a lesser group in society (back to the notion 'the more shit you buy, the better you are as a human being'). Richer folks will still be able to enjoy a game on day one, just like you did up until a few months ago, you'll suddenly won't anymore and you'll be left out, with obvious repercussions on your mental health.

 

[ZKenir]

Where are my Anime LEGO's???

lifesized Hatsune Miku built with LEGO

 

[Mor]

As previously said, the in-page broadcast just started, so chances for the front page banner are high, let's see what happens

 

[Readher]

I bought the highest amount of games back when new AAA titles were priced at 130-150 PLN, which is $35-40. Ever since prices increased, I only buy the games that I really want on launch (usually 1-3 per year) and only if I can find them on some third-party site priced around 150 PLN equivalent. Otherwise I just wait for sale, my backlog is huge and I don't have as much time to play as I used to anyway. Waiting for sale often makes me realize that the game isn't really worth buying at all and I end up saving money, so there's that.

 

[Li Kao]

In a society that tries to push the notion that the more spare money you have to purchase useless shit you like, the happier and better person you are, I really cannot understand why people can't see the problem with raising prices for games. You don't buy into that idea? Fine, I'm happy for you, but maybe try to look beyond your own personal situation? The fact is that this shitty notion has crawled into the mind of the vast majority of people and having to renounce getting something they used to be able to afford is going to make a lot of people more miserable because they'll feel part of a lesser group in society (back to the notion 'the more shit you buy, the better you are as a human being'). Richer folks will still be able to enjoy a game on day one, just like you did up until a few months ago, you'll suddenly won't anymore and you'll be left out, with obvious repercussions on your mental health.

Nothing new, has been a few years now (since 2008 ?) that we are in a social disestablishment period. I live it. It can eat you whole.
Only thing impressive here is our societies have been fool proofed as to have millions of people die in silence. Well not total silence, as seen in the yellow vests and other movements of this kind, but near.

If something cracks and shit hits the fan, I can't say I will shed many tears.

 

[Hektor]

lifesized Hatsune Miku built with LEGO

Are the LEGO's under her skirt black, or did they bother to make LEGO pantsus i wonder
#AskingTheImportantQuestions

 

[ZKenir]

Are the LEGO's under her skirt black, or did they bother to make LEGO pantsus i wonder
#AskingTheImportantQuestions

it has striped white and blue pantsu

 

[Hektor]

it has striped white and blue pantsu

Whoever made this is a king

 

[texhnolyze]

The colors are wrong though. And they call themselves Miku fans? Somehow.

 

[lashman]

 

[Joe Spangle]

That looks pretty fun, a bit like Driver survival mode.

 

[lashman]

That looks pretty fun, a bit like Driver survival mode.

yeah, it does!

 

[kio]

In a society that tries to push the notion that the more spare money you have to purchase useless shit you like, the happier and better person you are, I really cannot understand why people can't see the problem with raising prices for games. You don't buy into that idea? Fine, I'm happy for you, but maybe try to look beyond your own personal situation? The fact is that this shitty notion has crawled into the mind of the vast majority of people and having to renounce getting something they used to be able to afford is going to make a lot of people more miserable because they'll feel part of a lesser group in society (back to the notion 'the more shit you buy, the better you are as a human being'). Richer folks will still be able to enjoy a game on day one, just like you did up until a few months ago, you'll suddenly won't anymore and you'll be left out, with obvious repercussions on your mental health.

I understand your frustation and in a way I kinda share it but at the end of the day we're forgetting 2 very important factors:

1. Videogames, as well as all other hobbies, are luxury items. You don't need them to survive or at least they are a couple of orders of magnitude behind food, water and shelter for instance.
   As with all luxury items, apart from the rare cases when they become collectibles, they devalue extremely fast, so getting something of this category of items right on release is the worst economic decision one can make, especially considering the world and timeline we currently live in where the cost of living is increasing year after year, and not by a negletful amount, and, for the most part, income is stagnant, so the vast majority of people are becoming poorer as days go by.
   The stupidity of this whole affair is the notion that "What you have defines you". No. You're much more than a collector of stuff and in fact what you buy is the least interestingthing about you. This is an ideology years in the making that intends to dehumanize us and transform us into consumers who blindly buy the things companies tell us to buy and get hypped for the next thing. You can see it across the whole spectrum of companies and products, so obviously videogame companies share the same mindset. They prey on FOMO. They prey on hype and this tribal mentality that has been cultivated for years. We are smarter than that, we can break free but we need to stop feeding the system that's treating us like cattle.
2. The whole socio-economic struture is built upon the principles of short-term gains and continuous growth. Companies sole responsability in society lies with their shareholders and is "Do everything possible to maximize their gains/profits". There's zero fucks given to their employees or costumers, as far as the companies care we are obstacles towards their endgoal.
   The move towards 70$/€ games is the system working as intended and tbh I'm surprised it took this long. Favoring short-term burst of cash influx, praying on pre-orders and first week sales, to show signs of continuous growth to increase the share value and make the shareholders richer. And, as I said in my previous point, none of this favours you. You could easily wait 6months or a year and get the same experience that you'd have on release day for much cheaper, or even better considering how busted and unoptimized most games are nowadays on release day, but since you've been conditioned to think you NEED this right now, that it's the only thing that'll make you happy and make you fit in, there's a high chance you'll cave in as get the 70$ edition, or even a 100$ one. There's a reason companies spend millions on ads and marketting, it works.

Don't get me wrong it's fine to want things, all I'm asking is for you to start using critical thinking before consuming. I understand that if everyone acted like me the whole industry would implode but we have to put our best interests ahead of companies desires.
And if you take anything away from what I wrote, please let it be "The things that you have do NOT define you, so stop tying your happiness and selfworth to them".

 

[Swenhir]

-snip-

I understand what you are saying and thinking before consuming it definitively a good point, though the answer being "yes I want it" is perfectly fine. Still, let me ask you this : what exactly is wrong with protesting and being upset at this price increase? Without taking responsibility for others' emotions?

I see a lot of people advocate for inaction and seem to get uncomfortable when people are talking of trying to push for change. I don't get it. I don't see any positive outcome coming out of increasing the feelings of helplessness against a system that is designed to screw us over.

 

[prudis]

I understand that if everyone acted like me the whole industry would implode but we have to put our best interests ahead of companies desires.

tbh the industry need implosion pretty badly

 

[Line]

So that Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles Remaster that is not coming anytime soon on Steam is getting pretty trashed in reviews... guess we won't see it in a year.
But It's understandably why it sits at a measly 60% on Meta (, the game was always pretty terrible. From absent level design to obscenely simplistic combat that is so slow it's almost turn based when you cast spells multi player spells, with pretty much no hook for a dungeon crawler and barely any story (can't skip the endless vapid cut scenes though)...
Such a waste of artstyle and music.

The later games were better than this one, but when you start from zero, it doesn't mean much.

 

[Eferis]

-

I agree with all of the above put the point is that you're preaching to a crowd that already mostly share your point of view. In the mind of the vast majority of people, being able to purchase the "luxury" item they want is irremediably tied with the feeling of self-worth. As I said, the point is not if this change affects you or me in particular, it's how it might impact the general audience (as people) and for me it's pretty obvious: if you make an item less accessible (by whatever margin), it's definitely going to have an impact on a group of people that was (mostly) unaffected before and, in a society in which money and self-worth are as tied as they are in ours, the effects are far more severe than "having to wait a little longer to play a game". This is even more ridiculous for an industry that has been boasting of record-breaking profit every single year for more or less the past decade, as it makes clear that in no way they actually need that extra money to survive and it's just CEOs testing how much they can pull the rope until that rope snaps, but normal people are those who'll pay the consequences of that "testing".

The whole concept of "luxury" item is weird to me to begin with to be honest. Where do we draw the line on what should or should not fall under that definition? Is a yacht a luxury item? What about a 5 stars hotel? A nice dinner in a fancy restaurant? I think pretty much everyone would agree that those are luxuries, but what about a video game? A book? Buying a t-shirt you like instead of a blank one because your true "need" is simply covering yourself to protect you from the elements? Buying something you'd like to eat instead of the cheapest thing you can find on the shelf? We need to decide what should be considered a luxury and what, even if not essential to survive, should be considered as an important need for a human being living in our society today (that, as I said above, has the whole concept of working to buy shit that makes you feel a happier and more successful person well ingrained at its core). Is a book essential for the mental well-being and the development of a person? Why not a game?

 

[ISee]

I'd go even further and add that in a world that is going through a pandemic, where social contacts and activities are limited gaming is more than just a luxury item. We are not machines after all, and need more than air, water, food and shelter to survive. A price increase on an item that is able to help us out to stay sane or relax in this hard times is terrible and should not be put together with real luxury items like jewellery, exotic perfumes and other things.

TVs and basic computers are not allowed to be sold over here when somebody goes bankrupt. They are not declared luxury items, for good reasons. And games aren't luxury as well. They are entertainment and little candles of joy in dark times and everybody has a right to that.

Taking those little candles away from people or making them more unreachable is shitty and deserves a basic level of sympathy and understanding. Something that is often missing in this discussion.

 

[kio]

I understand what you are saying and thinking before consuming it definitively a good point, though the answer being "yes I want it" is perfectly fine. Still, let me ask you this : what exactly is wrong with protesting and being upset at this price increase? Without taking responsibility for others' emotions?

I see a lot of people advocate for inaction and seem to get uncomfortable when people are talking of trying to push for change. I don't get it. I don't see any positive outcome coming out of increasing the feelings of helplessness against a system that is designed to screw us over.

I'm not advocating for inaction, quite the opposite. As far as I'm concerned playing these companies' game and spending 70€ is the nonaction attitude. But I also don't believe just being vocal is the correct one. If we collectivelly bitch about these prices but they keep selling and their margins keep growing, what do think it's the message they'll take away from this?
What I'm advocating for is a "boycott", is not paying the day 1 tax, is to wait some months or years and then buy it when the price is right. That's the only way to send the message to whomever is selling the thing that it's not worth the asking price.
The "Yes I want it" is a valid answer, of course, but my point is that you'll just be sending an undesirable feedback towards the system, so, in a way, you're digging your own grave.

edit:
Francis W.M.
I guess I had much more time to think about this subject because I haven't been able to buy 60€ games day 1 for 10+ years, so in a way this is nothing new for me.

I'd go even further and add that in a world that is going through a pandemic, where social contacts and activities are limited gaming is more than just a luxury item. We are not machines after all, and need more than air, water, food and shelter to survive. A price increase on an item that is able to help us out to stay sane or relax in this hard times is terrible and should not be put together with real luxury items like jewellery, exotic perfumes and other things.

TVs and basic computers are not allowed to be sold over here when somebody goes bankrupt. They are not declared luxury items, for good reasons. And games aren't luxury as well. They are entertainment and little candles of joy in dark times and everybody has a right to that.

Taking those little candles away from people or making them more unreachable is shitty and deserves a basic level of sympathy and understanding. Something that is often missing in this discussion.

I'm willing to bet you have enough games on your backlog to keep you sane for a couple of years
But in all seriousness it's not a black and white issue. Is a car a luxury item? I need one to get to work and to buy food and to live so I think it doesn't fall in that category but it can be if we're talking about convertibles or sports cars. Same with TVs, you can say it's a necessity and I agree but a 60'' one might be a luxury item. Same with computers. Same with clothes. And same with games.

 

[Hektor]

Alternative idea, we arm ourselves with kalashnikovs, storm the buildings, expropiate the companies and turn them into communally owned co-ops

 

[Eferis]

Alternative idea, we arm ourselves with kalashnikovs, storm the buildings, expropiate the companies and turn them into communally owned co-ops

I think this option might be more effective.

 

[warp_]

I'm not advocating for inaction, quite the opposite. As far as I'm concerned playing these companies' game and spending 70€ is the nonaction attitude. But I also don't believe just being vocal is the correct one. If we collectivelly bitch about these prices but they keep selling and their margins keep growing, what do think it's the message they'll take away from this?
What I'm advocating for is a "boycott", is not paying the day 1 tax, is to wait some months or years and then buy it when the price is right. That's the only way to send the message to whomever is selling the thing that it's not worth the asking price.
The "Yes I want it" is a valid answer, of course, but my point is that you'll just be sending an undesirable feedback towards the system, so, in a way, you're digging your own grave.

boom there we go. if you don't want to pay the day one tax...don't. it's not really a huge deal. you'll survive. you have other games you have barely touched or never played. just not buying it is a stronger protest than whining on twitter or whatever else the idea of a protest would be (no one answered my question about what the protest or solution would be btw).

the idea that getting a game on day one is some important need and desire that MUST BE FULFILLED is literally falling into the corporate trap.

 

[Durante]

I'm totally with this alternative approach, but while you pick up the kalashnikovs I want to make an unrelated note that PH3 already operates basically like a co-op (as much as possible within the current economic framework, that is, we don't have employees, just co-owners).

 

[Swenhir]

TVs and basic computers are not allowed to be sold over here when somebody goes bankrupt. They are not declared luxury items, for good reasons. And games aren't luxury as well. They are entertainment and little candles of joy in dark times and everybody has a right to that.

Taking those little candles away from people or making them more unreachable is shitty and deserves a basic level of sympathy and understanding. Something that is often missing in this discussion.

Spot on. I couldn't agree more. While I understand the reason behind maladroitly calling games luxury items, they are very much not that. They aren't "I need this not to die now" items, but they are very precious and valuable to people's well-being, especially in these times.

I'm not advocating for inaction, quite the opposite. As far as I'm concerned playing these companies' game and spending 70€ is the nonaction attitude. But I also don't believe just being vocal is the correct one. If we collectivelly bitch about these prices but they keep selling and their margins keep growing, what do think it's the message they'll take away from this?
What I'm advocating for is a "boycott", is not paying the day 1 tax, is to wait some months or years and then buy it when the price is right. That's the only way to send the message to whomever is selling the thing that it's not worth the asking price.
The "Yes I want it" is a valid answer, of course, but my point is that you'll just be sending an undesirable feedback towards the system, so, in a way, you're digging your own grave.

Sorry, but that's really what it sounded like. I agree that not buying at that price is the strongest action we can take, the second being voicing those protests. I disagree with your reasoning there. Based on it, as long as there is a segment of a group that does something another part of it is protesting, does it invalidate those protests?

Regarding the "Yes I want it", I'm aware and on a personal level I'm not planning to buy any of those 60$+ games. That being said, I was making the point more generally, that that reply is valid and understandable for a product long-awaited for and that ticks all your checkboxes. It's not all FOMO .

Basically, I agree that not buying is the most powerful course of action. But telling people that staying silent is more useful that protesting and deriding them for being vocal about their unhappiness with those increased prices is a bridge too far for me to accept.

 

[warp_]

the book comparison is honestly the most on point even if not intended, probably. i don't buy books day one as a hardcover. they are hella expensive and not worth it to me. if i get a book i wait for the cheaper paperback and read other books i own until the cheaper release hits.

 

[lashman]

I'm totally with this alternative approach, but while you pick up the kalashnikovs I want to make an unrelated note that PH3 already operates basically like a co-op (as much as possible within the current economic framework, that is, we don't have employees, just co-owners).

 

[Swenhir]

the book comparison is honestly the most on point even if not intended, probably. i don't buy books day one as a hardcover. they are hella expensive and not worth it to me. if i get a book i wait for the cheaper paperback and read other books i own until the cheaper release hits.

Well, that's you. That's fine, but forgive me, you do sound like you are deriding people for not wanting to act this way and thus try to invalidate their unhappiness with those prices on the basis that they shouldn't matter to them.

They still do, first because people have a right to buy day one if the game is worth it, then because those increased prices screw us over even when it's sales time. Do you really think they'll go as low as before? It impacts us anyway, no matter how patient.

 

[Readher]

the book comparison is honestly the most on point even if not intended, probably. i don't buy books day one as a hardcover. they are hella expensive and not worth it to me. if i get a book i wait for the cheaper paperback and read other books i own until the cheaper release hits.

Books don't require population that usually gets lower over time to be enjoyed though. That's a problem with a lot of MP games - by the time it goes on sale for an amount you're willing to pay, chances are barely anyone's playing it anymore.

 

[warp_]

i am deriding people for thinking they have a right to buy a video game day one at the price they want and get that price forever, yes. buying day one is not something you need to do, that is a luxury that you should decide for yourself if you want.

Books don't require population that usually gets lower over time to be enjoyed though. That's a problem with a lot of MP games - by the time it goes on sale for an amount you're willing to pay, chances are barely anyone's playing it anymore.

this is fomo. bitching about fomo over $10 is not something i give even the smallest amount of sympathy for. sorry.

people are welcome to start their twitter campaigns or whatever over this and i'm not trying to stop them. i just also couldn't give less of shit. good luck and godspeed, i guess.

 

[ISee]

the book comparison is honestly the most on point even if not intended, probably. i don't buy books day one as a hardcover. they are hella expensive and not worth it to me. if i get a book i wait for the cheaper paperback and read other books i own until the cheaper release hits.

But that's the whole problem in the gaming industry. Those f* like to work together. What if hardcovers is all they are willing to sell in the future?
Because you absolutely know that Ubi, Sony, Microsoft and EA will follow the lead and start selling games for 80€ as well. It's just a matter of time.

You'll still reply with:"You can still wait a month or two,"
I agree, that is a valid strategy. But the amount of pressure they are able to invoke on a market that should be easy to regulate by demand and supply (though it's more like demand in this digital age) by working together is disgusting and boycotting has barely a chance to work.

People will buy 80€ CoD normal, peasant edition because they want to spent time with their friends playing. There is a lot of pressure this industry is able to leverage here. It is borderline unfair.