The Steam Deals Thread v10

[Detruire]

New Thread:

This thread has been replaced by TSDT v11. 

Daily Deal:
Please check the Steam homepage.

Weeklong Deals:
Steam usually has week-long deals that change on Mondays at 6PM UTC. They mostly feature indie games, and may not run every week.

Sale summary lists:

Key:
⤷ indicates DLC, — specifies part of a pack, + shows alternative versions, ⚠ highlights things worth knowing, ♫ is obvious, and ... denotes a multi-pack.

Holiday Sale 2013 | 19/12/13 through 3/1/14:
Days 1-3, 4-6, 7-9, 10-12, 13-14.

Spring/Autumn Sale 2013 | 27/11/13 through 3/12/13:
All days.

Steam deals on other stores: (Related threads on CAG.)

• Amazon
• Green Man Gaming
• GamersGate

Indie* bundle threads: (*Not always indie, nor always a bundle.)

• Humble Bundle/Weekly/Store Megathread
• Groupees (Be Mine/Build a Bundle)
• Bundle Stars
• IndieRoyale
• Indie Gala
• IndieGameStand

Free stuff:
There are quite a few free games (mostly Free to Play) and mods available via the Steam platform, a comprehensive list of which can be found in this thread on the SPUF.
(NOTE: free games are not permanently attached to your Steam account like actual purchases would be. You'll need to manually download a game again from the website if you uninstall it.)

Past Steam Deals Threads:

• v1 thread (Nov 2010-July 2011)
• v2 thread (July 2011-Feb 2012)
• v3 thread (Feb 2012-July 2012)
• v4 thread (July 2012-August 2012)
• v5 thread (August 2012-December 2012)
• v6 thread (December 2012-March 2013)
• v7 thread (March 2013-May 2013)
• v8 thread (May 2013-July 2013)
• v9 thread (July 2013-November 2013)

 

[Showstoppa42]

I think I'm going to have to check it out, thanks! The idea looks wacky enough to be fun, but then I noticed it was developed by RuneStorm, which created a few very high quality Unreal Tournament 2004/UT3 mods.

It looks to at least have one other companion game in the works.

For those who are interested, both of the companion games are free with a preorder of their Viscera Cleanup Detail game (Already Greenlit):

And great news! Pre-ordering gets you FREE Steam keys for both our crossover game with Devolver Digital, "Viscera Cleanup Detail: Shadow Warrior", and our Christmas themed "VCD: Santa's Rampage"!
Note: This is for all pre-orders of VCD; past, present and foreseeable future

 

[warreni]

Just wanted to mention this was just released on Steam for $2 (-20%). Seems like something the maniacal members of this thread would enjoy

I'm not as impressed as hal at this point. This looks like another one of those let's-make-a-funny-haha-net-meme phone games like Ampu-Tea or Surgeon Simulator.

Looks like I'd be better off playing Rook's Keep.

 

[Foxhack]

wat

EDIT: Wow.. you're right. That's a BS limitation.

I bought some games from them a while back and I didn't have that problem.

... in 2010.

Oops.

Edit: Eh, I'm gonna skip it. Apparently it's a button mashfest and that won't help my carpal tunnel.

 

[Solid-Snake-Eyes]

I liked Tomb Raider quite a lot. It was a rare game that kept me interested long enough to finish. But I'm a long ways off from wanting a slightly prettier version of the game so much that I'd pay for it.

... or am I missing something?

I wouldn't pay more, but I want the new enhancements if there are any. I bought some DLC recently for it under the assumption that I'll play through it again some day.

 

[warreni]

Well, the results are in. Afte tallying the votes:

1. Sleeping Dogs
2. Witcher
3. Stalker
4. State of Decay

So naturally, I will be playing Two Worlds

But seriously, I think I'll start with Sleeping Dogs, and rotate with Witcher and Stalker when I need a change.

I'm kinda glad State of Decay came in 4th. I sadly got burned out on that game rather quickly.

I think you can't go wrong with Sleeping Dogs or The Witcher.

 

[asheskitty]

I wouldn't pay more, but I want the new enhancements if there are any. I bought some DLC recently for it under the assumption that I'll play through it again some day.

I suspect they are just doing the change to say the did something "special" for the rerelease on PS4/XBO. That said it's probably a great showcase game for the new consoles with the solid gameplay and stunning visuals.

 

[Solid-Snake-Eyes]

Sleeping Dogs was my game of the year until Borderlands 2 came out, I could be generous and say they both tied for goty although for a while I considered B2 to top it. They're kind of too different to compare. Anyway nobody was talking about Borderlands so I'll stfu, just trying to say that Sleeping Dogs is top notch!

 

[dfg]

I'm not as impressed as hal at this point. This looks like another one of those let's-make-a-funny-haha-net-meme phone games like Ampu-Tea or Surgeon Simulator.

Looks like I'd be better off playing Rook's Keep.

Surgeon Simulator has its running jokes, but it goes much deeper and requires a lot more skill than something one-note, like DLC Quest. I also don't think it was ever on a mobile OS.

 

[asheskitty]

I don't know why I feel tempted to bite on BioShock Inf on GG for $8 (w/20%er status)... everyone raves about it, but I've been telling myself to wait for the complete/goty version due to the story DLC. (And I still haven't played BS1/2...despite owning BS1 from retail.)

...must be the gimmie-gimmie-gimme of the season getting to me. I still have to finish the last chapter of Dust, and I've got Saints Row 4 & Far Cry 3 sitting at the top of my usual massive backlog.

 

[Mooby]

Surgeon Simulator is just an e-version of this:

Spoiler

99% of the challenge is in the wonky controls.

 

[pasports31]

I don't know why I feel tempted to bite on BioShock Inf on GG for $8 (w/20%er status)... everyone raves about it, but I've been telling myself to wait for the complete/goty version due to the story DLC. (And I still haven't played BS1/2...despite owning BS1 from retail.)

...must be the gimmie-gimmie-gimme of the season getting to me. I still have to finish the last chapter of Dust, and I've got Saints Row 4 & Far Cry 3 sitting at the top of my usual massive backlog.

Forget saints row/farcry 3 and get on playing bioshock 1 already

 

[spoderman]

Surgeon Simulator is just an e-version of this:

Spoiler

99% of the challenge is in the wonky controls.

That makes me want to buy it. Don't do this to me, Mooby. I love claw machines.

 

[imac2much]

Playing Surgeon Simulator with an Oculus Rift and Razer Hydra has been the most surreal experience I've ever had with video games.  

I bought an electric guitar nearly 10 years ago because I thought I was hot stuff after completing the first Guitar Hero on expert.  Thankfully, I've learned my lesson since then and I've learned to control my desire to start performing heart bypass surgeries on my coworkers.

 

[Trusty Mutsi]

Playing Surgeon Simulator with an Oculus Rift and Razer Hydra has been the most surreal experience I've ever had with video games.

I bought an electric guitar nearly 10 years ago because I thought I was hot stuff after completing the first Guitar Hero on expert. Thankfully, I've learned my lesson since then and I've learned to control my desire to start performing heart bypass surgeries on my coworkers.

Did you ever try Rocksmith?

 

[Kurosaki-san]

Ho! Ho! Ho!

Dwarves?!

Spoiler

https://www.humblebundle.com/gift?key=WqK6qBPbwvZVF5hF

Killing Floor

Spoiler

https://www.humblebundle.com/gift?key=nna4nxMrVrbwqS5V

Zeno Clash

Spoiler

https://www.humblebundle.com/gift?key=ahpyw3G25bvH2DnW

Enjoy.

Thanks, I grabbed Killing Floor. Just signed up for stream last night since I picked up a new laptop (mac book pro w/retina). Glad this game was OS x compatible.

 

[imac2much]

Did you ever try Rocksmith?

I just bought Rocksmith 2014 over the Thanksgiving sale actually!

I got the usb cable and now I'm just waiting for my friend to return that same 8 year old electric guitar so I can try to actually learn chords and strumming technique haha. I think I played the guitar for about 2 hours ago before I gave it to my friend when I realized I couldn't play Freebird.

 

[MrNinjaSquirrel]

I don't know why I feel tempted to bite on BioShock Inf on GG for $8 (w/20%er status)... everyone raves about it, but I've been telling myself to wait for the complete/goty version due to the story DLC. (And I still haven't played BS1/2...despite owning BS1 from retail.)

I don't rave about it, if that means anything.

If nothing else I would definitely recommend playing Bioshock 1 before either sequel. While it's my favorite in the series, it's hard to go back to not being able to dual wield and the annoying hacking minigame after playing 2/infinite, and it also is starting to show it's age visually (Unreal Engine 3 games don't hold up particularly well, at least to me).

Just in case you wanted a different opinion on the matter.

 

[Trusty Mutsi]

I just bought Rocksmith 2014 over the Thanksgiving sale actually!
I got the usb cable and now I'm just waiting for my friend to return that same 8 year old electric guitar so I can try to actually learn chords and strumming technique haha. I think I played the guitar for about 2 hours ago before I gave it to my friend when I realized I couldn't play Freebird.

I love it, but I need to get back into practicing again. Sometimes I get too lazy to get out the guitar and hook it up to the pc.

Sad, I know.

 

[warreni]

Surgeon Simulator has its running jokes, but it goes much deeper and requires a lot more skill than something one-note, like DLC Quest. I also don't think it was ever on a mobile OS.

Surgeon Simulator is just an e-version of this:

Spoiler

99% of the challenge is in the wonky controls.

I guess it requires skill but the impression I have of these games is that you have a higher chance of succeeding at your various objectives if you personally have some problem controlling your limb movements. Everything I've read suggests that this is either because that's perceived by the dev to be hilarious or it's sloppily coded. Also there's some part of me that's offended that this isn't an actual simulation. Finally, those games look exactly like something someone would have made for a phone.

 

[MrNinjaSquirrel]

I just bought Rocksmith 2014 over the Thanksgiving sale actually!

I got the usb cable and now I'm just waiting for my friend to return that same 8 year old electric guitar so I can try to actually learn chords and strumming technique haha. I think I played the guitar for about 2 hours ago before I gave it to my friend when I realized I couldn't play Freebird.

Rocksmith is a fun practicing tool, but you will definitely want to supplement it with online resources especially when it comes to learning chords. Maybe 2014 improved on the actual teaching part, but the original was lacking somewhat in actually telling you what to do, and sort of just lead you through the dark waiting until you managed to make things click on your own.

 

[warreni]

I don't rave about it, if that means anything.

If nothing else I would definitely recommend playing Bioshock 1 before either sequel. While it's my favorite in the series, it's hard to go back to not being able to dual wield and the annoying hacking minigame after playing 2/infinite, and it also is starting to show it's age visually (Unreal Engine 3 games don't hold up particularly well, at least to me).

Just in case you wanted a different opinion on the matter.

If this helps, I didn't even like Bioshock 1 that much.

 

[hal]

Surgeon Simulator has its running jokes, but it goes much deeper and requires a lot more skill than something one-note, like DLC Quest. I also don't think it was ever on a mobile OS.

Surgeon Sim is hard as balls. While some of that is due to the oddity of controlling each finger with a keyboard key and your arm/wrist with a mouse, a lot more of it is due to the fact that it just isn't very precise and the game doesn't go out of its way to make it any easier. It's not unlike performing surgery in boxing gloves while drunk. (not that I've... ahem... ever done that)

It's a funny diversion though, and I'm glad I bought it. I'm just not sure I'm die-hard enough to stick it out and open up all the surgeries (brain transplant in a moving ambulance, lol). Perhaps they should have started you out with something a little more mundane instead of tossing you into a heart transplant right out of the gate!

 

[Trusty Mutsi]

Rocksmith is a fun practicing tool, but you will definitely want to supplement it with online resources especially when it comes to learning chords. Maybe 2014 improved on the actual teaching part, but the original was lacking somewhat in actually telling you what to do, and sort of just lead you through the dark waiting until you managed to make things click on your own.

2014 definitely improved things, but I still check out justinguitar.com.

 

[MrNinjaSquirrel]

If this helps, I didn't even like Bioshock 1 that much.

You're beginning to turn into Mooby 2 with how many games you seem to dislike.

 

[pasports31]

Couple decent deals in the gamefly sale: with the 20% off coupon, Mount and Blade collection is 4.80 (no steam keys) the new shadow warrior is 8 bucks (comes w/steam key)

 

[warreni]

You're beginning to turn into Mooby 2 with how many games you seem to dislike.

Somebody has to fill in when he's having an off-day.

 

[BrownDerby]

Re: Bioshark, you can enjoy Infinite without any knowledge of the first two, or at least I did anyway. (I have them on Steam but couldn't get the first one to work and didn't feel like playing its direct sequel instead.)

 

[pasports31]

Re: Bioshark, you can enjoy Infinite without any knowledge of the first two, or at least I did anyway. (I have them on Steam but couldn't get the first one to work and didn't feel like playing its direct sequel instead.)

bioshark is even better than bioshock

 

[Palinn]

I'm giving Blade first dibs on my extra Huntsman, but if he doesn't want it it's yours.

Also, London 2012 is on sale for $2: http://getgamesgo.com/product/london-2012

Plus get Thor free for Marvel Heroes: http://marvel.com/5daysofmarvel

Ahhhhh. I offered my copy to Blade and got no Blade love so I was hoping to offer it for some Warreni love instead. You stole all my thunder and I don't want to play anymore.

Unless a CAG regular wants my extra Zigfrak key? Anyone? Anyone?

 

[warreni]

bioshark is even better than bioshock

Everything's better with sharks.TM

 

[Showstoppa42]

I guess it requires skill but the impression I have of these games is that you have a higher chance of succeeding at your various objectives if you personally have some problem controlling your limb movements. Everything I've read suggests that this is either because that's perceived by the dev to be hilarious or it's sloppily coded. Also there's some part of me that's offended that this isn't an actual simulation. Finally, those games look exactly like something someone would have made for a phone.

Speaking only on what I've played of Viscera Cleanup: SW, it looks very pretty with the right settings turned on (which is expected, given that it runs on the new Shadow Warrior's engine). Plays fine with keyboard and mouse, as one would expect from a first person shooter. It has a ridiculous concept for sure, but that's what I found appealing about it.

Also, one of the features of Santa's version:

"Hidden Steam-Keys to some truly awesome Devolver Digital games!"

Looks like at least one of them is for Serious Sam Complete.

 

[warreni]

Speaking only on what I've played of Viscera Cleanup: SW, it looks very pretty with the right settings turned on (which is expected, given that it runs on the new Shadow Warrior's engine). Plays fine with keyboard and mouse, as one would expect from a first person shooter. It has a ridiculous concept for sure, but that's what I found appealing about it.

Well, I'll be. I may have to turn in my curmudgeon card after all. That actually doesn't sound too bad.

 

[warreni]

Surgeon Sim is hard as balls. While some of that is due to the oddity of controlling each finger with a keyboard key and your arm/wrist with a mouse, a lot more of it is due to the fact that it just isn't very precise and the game doesn't go out of its way to make it any easier. It's not unlike performing surgery in boxing gloves while drunk. (not that I've... ahem... ever done that)

Yep, that sounds about like what I said. Kids with their crazy control schemes and imprecise controls!

 

[Eldredpe]

The peace and harmony will only last until a console peasant asks if he should play COD:Ghosts or Zumba Fitness first... I kid I kid

Also, congratulations to spoderman and MrNinjaSquirrel for getting 25 of my hints correct!

As requested, here are the rest of the answers:

Spoiler

spoderman: Won a steam box. Now everyone hates him or wants to be him.

pasports: The voice of reason against recent trolls. Gets trolled anyway.

tebowdragon: I need rosetta stone to understand his posts.

RollingSkull: Seems to hate commonly popular indie games. Objection!

JakeNome: May have mafia ties in the ukraine... somehow finds time to review lesser known games. also our favorite panda.

Neuro5i5: Avatar reminds me of PSY... so I hate him.

Cheaplikeafox 3.0: Master of Happy Hour

sunasun: Loves burgers... perhaps too much. Also loves epic multi quote posts.

Idiotekque: Left CAG because his pictures kept getting reported. Obsessed with Secret World and wrote a 64 page research paper on it; always willing to link to his report whenever the topic comes up.

MysterD(erick): Wages a lonely eternal war against DRM. Also might be a robot.

Motoki: Loves to play lesser known games; started the BGCQ craze.
*someone mentioned Motoki may not have actually started the craze... maybe hal or Sasquatch did?

walkonshadows: the last metroid is in captivity. the galaxy is at peace.

asheskitty: Connoisseur of driving games. Back from hiatus.

BigSpoonyBard: Graces the beginning of every steam sale with his classic guide for steam sales.

Blade: 6 months old with DD's.

Mooby: Hates every game and console peasants. Rare is the day when he praises a game.

TheEnd: Has beaver fever

snakeybro: All hail Geoff Keighley

MrNinjaSquirrel: Wears a tophat. Uses quizzes and riddles for his code drops so that he can secretly educate us.

DrabeLincoln: Hates Lost Planet. Might be a zombie.

pantsattack: Father of Carl Grimes
*apparently MulderYuffie also changed his avatar from Kenny to Rick, so that worked too... but for the code drop to work, it'll need to use pantsattack's name

Deuterium7: Ellie's foster father

hal: serious business monkey

InmateOfArkham: Everyone's favorite turian

Flowette: Leaving for Hoggwarts!

louiedog: Gives us updates on Greenlit games and other news

EarthboundX5: Fuzzy pickles!

MIND LINK: Talks like a drug dealer, most likely living in suburbia with a white picket fence.

Solid-Snake-Eyes: name of a genetically altered old man, avatar looks like a young asian girl. The discrepancy blows my mind. Dare I say... ironic???

Ikeda Teramasu: Kamehame Ha!

 

[Solid-Snake-Eyes]

I've tried to get into Bioshock about 3 times, I can't do it. I don't know what it is. I own it on PS3 and Steam. I don't really like how it feels, and also one time I got scared and turned it off.

 

[imac2much]

bioshark is even better than bioshock

Bioshark Infinite

 

[Solid-Snake-Eyes]

Old Lara vs new. I think the new one looks more realistic. I guess they'll use this face in the sequel, that's probably where they took it from in the first place. It looks almost like they copied the likeness of that actress Gemma Arterton who I just saw in some shitty movie.

 

[asheskitty]

Playing Surgeon Simulator with an Oculus Rift and Razer Hydra has been the most surreal experience I've ever had with video games.

I bought an electric guitar nearly 10 years ago because I thought I was hot stuff after completing the first Guitar Hero on expert. Thankfully, I've learned my lesson since then and I've learned to control my desire to start performing heart bypass surgeries on my coworkers.

After playing Surgeon Simulator, i bought a scalpel and suture set and have been looking for an opportunity to swap the brains of my neighbor and his dog. I want to know if his wife would notice the difference.

It's not unlike performing surgery in boxing gloves while drunk. (not that I've... ahem... ever done that)

I was drunk. It was a bet. And it was only a MediCal patient...

Spoiler

this is much funnier if you know about MediCal and billing

Speaking only on what I've played of Viscera Cleanup...
"Hidden Steam-Keys to some truly awesome Devolver Digital games!"
Looks like at least one of them is for Serious Sam Complete.

There's someone who would play it who *doesn't* own all of Serious Sam? :shock:

 

[hal]

I've tried to get into Bioshock about 3 times, I can't do it. I don't know what it is. I own it on PS3 and Steam. I don't really like how it feels, and also one time I got scared and turned it off.

If you've tried playing the first game and it didn't grab you, then the entire series may just be a lost cause for you.

The opening scene - the first hour even - in BioShock is pretty darn compelling in my recollection.

 

[Solid-Snake-Eyes]

If you've tried playing the first game and it didn't grab you, then the entire series may just be a lost cause for you.

The opening scene - the first hour even - in BioShock is pretty darn compelling in my recollection.

I agree that it was compelling. Something about playing it, I don't know. I intend to try again at some point.

 

[Trusty Mutsi]

I agree that it was compelling. Something about playing it, I don't know. I intend to try again at some point.

See, this is something I struggle with. I'll play a game, and not enjoy it very much, but keep giving it chance after chance because tons of other people love the game. I've been trying to learn to trust my own taste, put down the game, and move on,

 

[Solid-Snake-Eyes]

See, this is something I struggle with. I'll play a game, and not enjoy it very much, but keep giving it chance after chance because tons of other people love the game. I've been trying to learn to trust my own taste, put down the game, and move on,

It's hard cause I can see that Bioshock is a good game, I see the appeal, it's very intriguing... so I feel like it was me either in the wrong mood or distracted by other games, or somehow taking the wrong approach to playing it.

I'm going through a similar situation with Dark Souls, except for that game I can clearly see all of the reasons it's turning me off. I want to like it cause everyone says how great it is... and will probably give it another chance based on its reputation as a great game, but I just didn't like it. There are definitely some appealing aspects to it.

 

[travathian]

See, this is something I struggle with. I'll play a game, and not enjoy it very much, but keep giving it chance after chance because tons of other people love the game. I've been trying to learn to trust my own taste, put down the game, and move on,

STALKER is the same way. When I first started playing it, I hated it. But people said to keep going, give it a chance. I probably have 300 hours invested in the trilogy now. Many people don't, and I don't blame them, but I will still try to nudge people to keep going or at least give them a heads up on what to expect.

 

[pasports31]

See, this is something I struggle with. I'll play a game, and not enjoy it very much, but keep giving it chance after chance because tons of other people love the game. I've been trying to learn to trust my own taste, put down the game, and move on,

If I can't stand a popular game that a lot of people love, I'll try to trudge through it for a bit to see if my perception turns around...sometimes that happens, where at first a game just isn't clicking then out of nowhere I find myself having fun. Eventually though, I make my decision (I'll never get those 7 hours or so back playing GTA IV). I feel like you're better off doing that then quitting quickly and restarting later, and replaying the hour so you played at first and hated the first time.

Or just realizing "hey, i've got a shit ton of games in my backlog, so this game sucks, imho, I'll move on to one of the 2 trillion others i have"

 

[asheskitty]

See, this is something I struggle with. I'll play a game, and not enjoy it very much, but keep giving it chance after chance because tons of other people love the game. I've been trying to learn to trust my own taste, put down the game, and move on,

It helps if you know that e.g. the start is particularly slow. Oddly enough not everyone thinks the same or likes the same thing.

That's one reason I like buying games cheap, I can take a chance on things I'm not sure I'll like/don't think I'll like. For example I didn't think I'd like Borderlands (I'm not big on FPS), but taking a $7.50 chance when ithe GOTY first hit $7.50... well 130 hours later I think I can say I love it.

 

[MysterD]

Old Lara vs new. I think the new one looks more realistic. I guess they'll use this face in the sequel, that's probably where they took it from in the first place. It looks almost like they copied the likeness of that actress Gemma Arterton who I just saw in some shitty movie.

Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters maybe?

 

[Draekon]

To anyone interested in Tales of Maj'Eyal, it is a free game found here: http://te4.org/

The Steam version is just a 'donation' version so to speak (With some perks/DLC). Regardless, the game is awesome and I suggest you give it a try. I played it quite extensively for a while.

EDIT: Also all people who paid for the Indie Royale Debut 3 Bundle will receive a key. All I know is this.

EDIT: Also a sadistic amount of achievements.

 

[Solid-Snake-Eyes]

Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters maybe?

Yeah, that's the one. After seeing her in that I had wondered if she was a bad actress, but I watched Disappearance of Alice Creed soon afterward and she was good in that.

Crazy ass Ubisoft just re-sent me my 35% off coupon code, I already received the same one from them on Dec 5th.

 

[dfg]

Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters maybe?

Or Prince of Persia? You know how awesome a movie is when you can't even remember if you've watched it or not.

Surgeon Simulator is one of those games where after playing for a bit, I wrote it off and said, this is so freaking hard there's no way I'll ever unlock everything or 100% it. But it was compelling enough, and there was that glimmer of getting-the-hang-of-it-ness, that I went back at did it, even pushing through the TF2 and Alien updates within a few play sessions when they hit.

But yeah the controls are totally quirky. I had to remap one of the fingers because of my keyboard not liking so many keys depressed at the same time, and the most precise grip for incisions is basically holding a scalpel in a palms-up okay sign. Which is either an advanced surgical grip or a rude gesture in Italian—maybe both.

 

[walkonshadows]

Old Lara vs new. I think the new one looks more realistic. I guess they'll use this face in the sequel, that's probably where they took it from in the first place. It looks almost like they copied the likeness of that actress Gemma Arterton who I just saw in some shitty movie.

I'm going to have to disagree. I think they tried to make her look even younger (Everything more rounded and softer), but in doing so, she lost something. Also, by using softer effects, it makes it more difficult to see details like mud/scars (as seen in the above images) Vs. the character model. In effect accomplishing the reverse of what the newer enhanced edition is supposed to offer (greater detail) The original is much sharper. Look at Laura's eyes in the left pic. Her eyes look as if they are searching,longing. Her eyebrows suggest she is in the middle of an emotion similar to slight confusion or bewilderment. There's a soul to be found there. Now look at the eyes of new Laura. To quote Flynn, her eyes are "lifeless eyes, black eyes, like a doll's eye". Or am I the only guy that actually looks at a womans eyes first? Updating textures is fine and understandable, but ing around with the actual facial structure and retconning the characters look/persona is stupid, but then the look they used for the game differs from that used in the promotional art work anyway, marking this the third time they have changed her. I find it hard to invest myself in any story/character when the central players change so drastically. It cheapens the entire effort and undermines the purpose of having one (a story) to begin with.