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Lackluster haul this time.

STEAM:
* Witcher 2 - $7.50
* Alan Wake Franchise - $10

GMG:
* Spec Ops: The Line - $5.25

TOTAL: $22.75

Originally Posted by Tsel I'm having massive framerate drops in Hotline Miami. The game will run smooth as butter and then every 30 seconds or so, the FPS drops for about 5 seconds at a time, and it does this for as long as I'm playing.

What GPU are you using? It has some driver issues with AMD (have to rollback drivers to 12.6 or before to fix), but I've never heard of framerate drops.

Originally Posted by DirkBelig Lackluster haul this time. STEAM: * Witcher 2 - $7.50 * Alan Wake Franchise - $10 GMG: * Spec Ops: The Line - $5.25 TOTAL: $22.75

that seems like a pretty fantastic haul to me.
three of the best story-based games ever.

Originally Posted by Genocidal Awesome. If you want to consider requiring an EA Account as added DRM, then there's at least The Sims missing: http://store.steampowered.com/app/47890/

I'm not sure if I want to include the "red banner" for games that only have their online services hindered by use of a 3rd party service, such as EA and a few others. Maybe I'm just too used to it, but it seems like the norm these days that you need to create an account with some other place to be able to play most (non-Valve) games online.

I could be in the minority though. Maybe just a blue banner?

EDIT:

Although Command and Conquer 4 and Darkspore's always-online DRM seems red-banner worthy.

Originally Posted by TheKbob STILL on the fence about Chivalry. If ever there was in need of a demo... or I could just save my $12 for some wet palette paper for painting. Choices.

I was thinking about buying the 4pack because of a few friends that also want the game. Would you interested in buying one of my copies for cheaper? We can become friends and I'll send one over as a gift.

Originally Posted by jshackles I'm not sure if I want to include the "red banner" for games that only have their online services hindered by use of a 3rd party service, such as EA and a few others. Maybe I'm just too used to it, but it seems like the norm these days that you need to create an account with some other place to be able to play most (non-Valve) games online. I could be in the minority though. Maybe just a blue banner? EDIT: Although Command and Conquer 4 and Darkspore's always-online DRM seems red-banner worthy.

To me unless it's always online then just requiring an account isn't that big of a deal. Eh.

*Edit: Though UPlay's 'you only get certain items if you are playing in online mode' in some games is kind of crappy to me.

Also, IIRC Sims doesn't force you to make an account on sims3.com. I think it's optional.

I guess blue or yellow or orange or something might work. *shrug*

Oh and Of Orcs and Men and The Testament of Sherlock Holmes are two recent games with 3rd party DRM that don't list it on the page at all.

Pretty much the bulk of Focus Home Interactive titles that are remotely recent have some 3rd party DRM I think.

Originally Posted by tham1988 that seems like a pretty fantastic haul to me. three of the best story-based games ever.

They're good...

But let's not get carried away.

When it comes to how to translate/localize a game, I figure it all depends on the original game.

If the game makes reference to Japanese celebrities, specific parts or outlying areas of Tokyo, the confusion drawn from different real regional dialects, names that are puns, references to outdated things that are meant to show that someone is out of touch, or characterizations of subsets of society that simply don't exist outside of Japan.... that's a game that needs a localization.

The Ace Attorney series needs this because everyone's name in Gyakuten Saiban is a pun that the player is meant to be able to understand, and certain elements like which side of the car is the driver's side or with what kind of utensil one would commonly eat a specific food have to be known to the player for the logic puzzles to work properly. For all the dry humor in the originals, it's amazing they managed to make it work. (All the discussions about what is and is not a stepladder, anyone?)

For other games that take place in fantasy or sci fi settings with their own invented cultures, those games should be translated rather than localized, when possible. Changing Loto to Erdrick or Peach to Toadstool on a whim just causes confusion later when the game becomes a series and future translators have to decide which blueprint to follow.

As far as Cherry High Comedy Club goes... if it made reference in the original to Japanese celebrities and pop stars in a way that you were supposed to know to whom was being referred, localization seems the right choice.

Originally Posted by MysterD I normally refer to Two Worlds II as 2W2; and refer to The Witcher 2 as TW2.

TWII / TW2 makes more sense to me.

Originally Posted by Motoki Maybe we need to create a database of the 'early unlock' dlc in Sleeping Dogs, Saints Row 3, Magic etc and then it could be color coded say red or something in Enhanced Steam.

It'd be nice to have a database of this kind of thing regardless of whether it's used in that way or not.

Originally Posted by Motoki Oh and Of Orcs and Men and The Testament of Sherlock Holmes are two recent games with 3rd party DRM that don't list it on the page at all.

Unfortunately, there isn't much I can do in those few cases, as the product pages mention this NOWHERE.

I've never felt so disappointed in buying games on sale. I picked up Arma cause I kind of want to try dayz and arkham city goty cause whenever I get around to playing it I'm sure I'll want to play the harley Quinn dlc, but I feel like they were empty purchases.

Originally Posted by Motoki The Testament of Sherlock Holmes are two recent games with 3rd party DRM that don't list it on the page at all. Pretty much the bulk of Focus Home Interactive titles that are remotely recent have some 3rd party DRM I think.

Hm. Which DRM is this?

Originally Posted by jshackles Unfortunately, there isn't much I can do in those few cases, as the product pages mention this NOWHERE.

*sighs*

I suppose citing direct sources from the developers confirming it wouldn't help either.

I really wish Valve was more vigilant in this area.

Originally Posted by warreni Hm. Which DRM is this?

Olga from Frogwares (the developer) first said this over at Adventure Gamers

http://www.adventuregamers.com/forum...read/781/#9891

* No PC disk in North America, this is correct. While there will be PC disks in Europe. * We are using Internet activation for copy protection. You will be able to use the same key up to 3 times. If you need more, email support (at) frogwares.com

Then she corrected it to this:

http://www.adventuregamers.com/forum.../781/P15/#9951

Hey guys, regarding game activation - I was not correct here. Sorry for misinforming you! You will be able to install the game on 3 PCs simultaneously; while you have unlimited number of activations. And of course our support (at) frogwares.com guys will be happy to help and advice! :- )

When she corrected herself she tried to make it sound not so bad but that's normally how that sort of archaic disc based DRM works anyway. It makes a unique hash tag based on your current hardware config and then that uses an activation. As long as you don't change anything or install it on another PC then reinstalling on the same PC shouldn't use up another activation. It's unclear, however, if small changes may cause it to detect your PC as a 'new PC' or if you can get take back some of those activations if say over time you upgrade a few times or whatever.

Originally Posted by Detruire TWII / TW2 makes more sense to me.

I keep thinking that The Witcher 2 should be tW2 rather than TW2. Most of the time, I don't even remember that "The" is in the title, so I'm looking at that capital T thinking it should be a stronger word.

Originally Posted by Motoki *sighs* I suppose citing direct sources from the developers confirming it wouldn't help either. I really wish Valve was more vigilant in this area.

You would think they would be, considering it probably nets them more than a few support calls / help tickets.

The only other way to mark it as such would be to either compile a self contained file that gets distributed with the plugin, or have it access an external site. Either way, it would require both maintenance and upkeep. It really would be so much easier if Valve just listed it on the page like they should.

Originally Posted by Motoki *sighs* I suppose citing direct sources from the developers confirming it wouldn't help either. I really wish Valve was more vigilant in this area.

Valve needs a reason to crack down on publishers who aren't up-front with their DRM. If more people demanded refunds for games that had hidden DRM, that might prompt Valve to get on their cases and impose penalties when the listings fail to reference them.

Unfortunately, that's the ONLY way I see it happening.

About an hour in to Deponia. So far so good. The voicework is decent and the dialogue gives me some chuckles. The artwork is nice as well. Good game to kick back a few and relax

Edit: this Shock Top End of the World Midnight Wheat must be strong, I'm feeling nice.

Edit2: ugh, now I'm stuck. I love and hate adventure games all at the same time.

Originally Posted by DPsycho Valve needs a reason to crack down on publishers who aren't up-front with their DRM. If more people demanded refunds for games that had hidden DRM, that might prompt Valve to get on their cases and impose penalties when the listings fail to reference them. Unfortunately, that's the ONLY way I see it happening.

Yeah but getting a reaction out of Valve or getting them to change the info on their page usually requires a huge gianormous shitstorm and not just a few people complaining.

i.e the whole WarZ fiasco or even the mass amount of people who raged that they weren't warned that the keyboard and mouse controls on Dark Souls were clunky so Valve put up a disclaimer.

Obligatory haul post. If looking at this list has taught me anything, it's that my taste in games as well as what I'm willing to pay for them is incredibly random. And that I need to stop buying them. (This is all on top of about $30 during the fall sale and another $30 between the two sales...god help me.)

Steam
Ys Origin $4.99
Double Fine Bundle $9.99
Hero Academy Gold $4.24
Critter Crunch $1.74
AaaaaAAaaaAAAaaAAAAaAAAAA!!! for the Awesome $2.49
Tales from Space: Mutant Blobs Attack $1.99
Rocketbirds: Hardboiled Chicken $2.49 (gifted)

Already had Psychonauts from the DF bundle, but for the other 3 games it was still the best deal.

GMG
Sine Mora $2.00

GamersGate
Bethesda New Year Collection $28.76
Hotline Miami $0.00 (free w/ Blue Coins)

Amazon (w/ tax)
Scribblenauts Unlimited $8.14
Spec Ops: The Line $2.70
Saint's Row 2 $2.70

Other / Trades / Gifts
Wanderlust Rebirth (gift)
Demigod (thanks Motoki)
Shoot Many Robots!
DoTA 2
Alpha Prime $0.99 (GalaStore)
Waveform $0.99 (GalaStore)

At least I'm actually trying to play some of 'em...I've got 30 hours on Saints Row 2 already. (Protip: The autosave cannot be trusted. SAVE OFTEN.)

Eh probably my best sale yet...

Steam
Killing Floor Weapon DLC $3.99 (as a gift)

-_-