Steam+ Deals Mega Thread (All PC Gaming Deals)

Neuro5i5

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This thread will attempt to provide a place to discuss past/present/future PC gaming deals. While mainly focusing on Steam games, any standout sales may also be presented. I will not be updating every Daily/Weekly/etc. sale. The tools to help individuals become a smarter shopper will be provided below.

See this POST for links to store sale pages, threads of interest and other tools to help you become a more informed PC game shopper.
 
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I've backed a few games on Kickstarter. Mostly VNs, but also a couple high profile ones like Yooka Laylee and Bloodstained. They were all finished luckily so I have no complaints, but a couple of the VNs experienced difficulties and took a couple of extra years to be finished as a result.
 
At this point I don't know if UE4/UE5 are just shitty engines, or if the developers just suck at optimizing. I had to use the same solution in FF7R that I used in Silent Hill 2, except with an additional step.. I used a mod to convert DX11 to Vulkan. In Silent Hill 2 I just used DX11. FF7R was far worse though because there was a memory leak issue that wasn't fixed no matter what I tried which caused the framerate to randomly drop after a while. It's starting to make me think twice about preordering UE4/UE5 games on PC though, they're almost always going to run better on console unless the dev does a great job with optimizing the PC port.
 
At this point I don't know if UE4/UE5 are just shitty engines, or if the developers just suck at optimizing. I had to use the same solution in FF7R that I used in Silent Hill 2, except with an additional step.. I used a mod to convert DX11 to Vulkan. In Silent Hill 2 I just used DX11. FF7R was far worse though because there was a memory leak issue that wasn't fixed no matter what I tried which caused the framerate to randomly drop after a while. It's starting to make me think twice about preordering UE4/UE5 games on PC though, they're almost always going to run better on console unless the dev does a great job with optimizing the PC port.

I'd bet it's all of the above - UE4/5 is a mess of an engine (Shader Stutter/Traversal/Animation problems), dev's these days seem to suck at optimizing in many cases, and it's probably a DX11 problem b/c DX sucks in performance often (more overhead) when compared to Vulkan. You literally said it yourself w/ Vulkan: you used that to fix the problem for SH2R and improve FF7R on PC.
 
We all knew it years ago w/ software: you have a license to play and use; that's about it. It's literally stated in most EULA's and the SSA.

It's just b/c of recent lawsuits and now some CA laws, it's going to be finally be a bit more explicit b/c of all the stuff people are realizing w/ client-app's and their DRM, other DRM's w/ online-activation, always-online games like The Crew & Concord not lasting that long, and more madness of that sort - especially w/ digital games.

Support the dev's and pub's you like and all - but, definitely support anything DRM-FREE on Steam, Epic, and especially GOG; especially if you want to actually keep your games and make sure they work offline (especially single-player offline stuff and their DLC's/expansions). And if you want to make dev's and pub's keep aiming in that direction too - support when they make 'em DRM-Free.

I always check the PC Gaming Wiki. Look a game up, if if interests you. If there's a DRM-Free version (esp. if all the expansions and DLC's are DRM-Free too), get it; especially if it's dirt-cheap on sale. And back that version up ASAP elsewhere (CD, DVD, BR, BDXL, HDD, SSD, whatever) just in case they add DRM later, especially if it ain't a GOG version.
 
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Prime Gaming has added a few titles such as Doom Eternal (base game - Windows Store), Bioshock Remastered (GOG), Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed Ecto Edition (Epic) and others.

Heads up to anyone redeeming DOOM Eternal on the Microsoft Store. I don't know if the code redemption option works on the store for some people... but it didn't for me and for many other people, apparently. On the Prime Gaming code redemption page, use the link provided to the Microsoft support page to redeem the code. That works.

And Microsoft wonders why people don't want their gaming client.
 
I know you jest, but I could not get into RDR2. Such slow story pacing. I gave up 20 hours in. Shame, because I really enjoyed RDR
Same. I was obsessed with completing the satchels but that was the most compelling part of the game. Once I had finished that I wasn't able to force myself through the rest of the story. Just boring, not fun to play. But it has the best open world ever created in any game, I'd say. Felt very alive. I loved RDR1, but I tried to replay it years later and found it boring as well. I didn't get far. Maybe it was just a game of its time, amazing back then but shows its age today. Or maybe I'm wrong. But Rockstar definitely uses outdated game design and controls.
 
Another Steam Next Fest now through 10 AM PST 10/21/2024. I'll probably play my set of demos when I want a break from Metaphor. Probably wont play as much this time (maybe less than 50), but I'll do my usual impressions so look forward to it! Time to download a bunch of demos today!

Also WTF the interface is awful for exploring these. What was wrong with it looking a normal Steam store page. I'll have to see if I can get that view.
 
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Also there is a lot more games in the Steam Next Fest without demos. What is the point then? I thought this fest was for trying out games. This isn't as good as the last ones already haha. Also I saw a totally AI generated game with AI art, stories, locations, and music. Like really I'm not bothering with that, and I really am not a fan of AI art in games.
 
Ys X demo came out yesterday. Haven't personally played it but there's a whole article about exclusive PC features and I've heard it runs great on steamdeck.


Still amazes me that NISA went from having one of the worst JRPG ports of all time (Ys 8), to not only fixing it but hiring Durantes team and consistently putting out great Falcom PC ports.
 
Hiring Durante to do PC ports for JRPG's? How can I not love that idea? He's been fixing JRPG's for years unofficially - so for a company to hire them (Durante's company) to have official great PC ports, that rules. Gotta love it.

Didn't know Ys 8 was a mess - but glad it got fixed.

I dunno, where do I even start w/ Ys? Never play any of them. Is Each game an Anthology? Are they true-blue sequels here, like how SH3 is a sequel to SH1? Or what?
 
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Another Steam Next Fest now through 10 AM PST 10/21/2024. I'll probably play my set of demos when I want a break from Metaphor. Probably wont play as much this time (maybe less than 50), but I'll do my usual impressions so look forward to it! Time to download a bunch of demos today!

Also WTF the interface is awful for exploring these. What was wrong with it looking a normal Steam store page. I'll have to see if I can get that view.

I'm ass deep (Act 3) in my first Honour Mode run for BG3, looking to close out the last four achievements I need for the 100%.

I might try some demos later in the week, but otherwise, I might sit this one out, as well.
 
Big epic RPGs are hard to juggle with loads of demos. I downloaded around 80 or so, but I'll probably get to around 10-20. I just go down the list (thankfully working fine on Charts mode) and put install demos on stuff as I go. Near the bottom of the list a lot of early stuff or probably stuff not very suitable for sale. The only demos I know I'm trying for sure are the TMNT rogue lite one and a few rogue other rogue lite games. I will probably skip much of the RPG/Tactical RPG unless I've been waiting for a demo for a while (think there is only one that qualifies here). I love developers that put out good 30ish minute demos that really let you know what you're getting into. it's an art form for sure.
 
I dunno, where do I even start w/ Ys? Never play any of them. Is Each game an Anthology? Are they true-blue sequels here, like how SH3 is a sequel to SH1? Or what?
Each game is fairly standalone even though the games do represent points on a timeline. You can start with whichever game you'd like. Based on my experience I'd rank I&II Chronicles, Origin, or VIII as the best places to start.

If you want details I recommend the digital esmelas site which includes a few different play orders. A site run by people nerdy about Ys to a similar extent to which I and others are nerdy about Trails.
timeline.png


And yes PH3 (Durante's team) has been doing great work. It's the single best move NISA has done and is a big reason I buy a lot of these releases at launch. Even though a number of NISA localizations are butcher and/or half baked jobs in other aspects.
 
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Fantastic info and whatnot, Gospelman. Apperciate all of that!

Just don’t ask where Book V is.

If you want details I recommend the digital esmelas site which includes a few different play orders. A site run by people nerdy about Ys to a similar extent to which I and others are nerdy about Trails.
timeline.png

I love that the oldest legacy system in that infographic is the Vita. Never mind that the series started on the NEC PC-88.
 
Does Nintendo hold the rights to Book 5 or something?
No. I don't think anything is holding it back from being brought to the west/modern platforms, but it's known as one of the worst in the series (if not the worst) so that may be why it hasn't been worth their time to localize it. It had a PS2 remake as well which was never localized. There's an english translation patch for the SNES version if you were to emulate it, but many seem to think it's not worth playing. Probably not worth the hassle.
 
We DOUBLE don’t talk about the farmed out PS2 ports. You wanna talk worst games in the series…

Anyway, Falcom has very gradually been remaking the 16-bit entries to be more in line with the later games—not just gameplay, but massive plot overhauls, as well. I assume they’ll eventually get to Ys V, as well, since that’s the only one left. It was probably one of the lowest performing, most generic entries in the series, though, and the story is pretty forgettable, so it’s probably not top of their to-do list.
 
Would they even completely Remake Ys 5?

They did Ys III and IV, to the extent that the originals aren’t considered canon anymore. I mean, it’s always possible they just won’t bother, but I’ve always felt like it’s just a matter of time before they do something with it, it’s the only Ys game from before the “modern” Ys lineup that Falcom hasn’t updated (again, not counting the farmed out PS2 remakes, which are terrible).
 
Hiring Durante to do PC ports for JRPG's? How can I not love that idea? He's been fixing JRPG's for years unofficially - so for a company to hire them (Durante's company) to have official great PC ports, that rules. Gotta love it.

Didn't know Ys 8 was a mess - but glad it got fixed.

I dunno, where do I even start w/ Ys? Never play any of them. Is Each game an Anthology? Are they true-blue sequels here, like how SH3 is a sequel to SH1? Or what?
Some of them reference the previous entry in the timeline. With the series annoyingly hyping up not rome in celceta and lacrimosa of dana.
 
I started at Ys 8 and have liked the series since. Thought about going back to play the previous games, but learned my lesson with the Trails of cold Steel series. There is a reason some series improve over time and not fun to go back into the past, so I haven't bothered.
 
The era of modern Ys games starts with VI. There were certainly plenty of evolutionary changes between VI and VIII, mind, but it might be worth checking out. Memories of Celceta and Oath in Felghana were also heavily modernized when they were remade, so really the only chapters in the series that aren’t at least somewhat modernized are V, which as mentioned previously is languishing on SNES, and I&II, which remain unapologetically bump-based up to the most recent remakes.
 
This Steam Next Fest came at a bad time, but I'm finally gotten my rhythm. I am pretty much done with the games up to D and have about 40-50 more to check out. I'll give some impressions this evening and try to get a good portion more out on Saturday. There have been lots of average or having potential games, but some real shlock as well this fest. I think so far there is only one real strong candidate for me after about 30ish demos. Look forward to it!
 
I'm now another proud member of the Golden Dice Club for Baldur's Gate 3. I cleaned up two last achievements from another non-honour mode save run to 100% the game.

This is really only for folks who've beaten the game.

Honour mode, like DOS2 before it, is a neat concept, but really doesn't work well for seasoned players outside of the addition of Ironman. In an RPG where there are literally game ending dialog choices (i.e., no dice rolls, just choose the wrong thing two or three times, and Game Over), it feels a bit more out of place than in DOS2.

Similarly, the hardest bits are the beginning of the game, when you're resource constrained. Act 3, supposedly full of big bad bosses with legendary actions, were all pretty much a breeze since they would get punked in one or two turns. Some of them I never really saw or understood what it was since they died so fast and I just DPS'd my way out of potential problems. The Act 1 side bosses, like dual owlbears, weremore nerve wracking.

Much like DOS2, knowing the "order of operations" regarding which quests, areas, and enemies to tackle, in which order, makes the difficulty increases less an issue. Yes, Larian nerfed a few character builds in honour mode to not allow the most cheesiest of the cheese, but I think that's a bit silly since the difficulty should have been tuned for best-in-game builds, since anyone running honour mode isn't playing some Care Bear unoptimized RP build...

You're also really pushed towards certain game outcomes, because certain vendors have late game critical items, or certain quests of build critical rewards, that makes some choices really stupid if you are playing to win. Which I assume people in Honour mode are doing so.

My hardest bouts were usually when I had to deviate from the plan or tried to get clever. I almost got wrecked by dual owlbears as I legit did not know that was coming. The Avatar of Mykul is a hard DPS check which I overcame, but it's pretty tough to balance since he's resistant to so much stuff. None of the Act 3 bosses really stood much of a chance since you can get to Lvl 12 before fighting them and find all non-boss related gear. Also, the "Oh, fuck" button that is Globe of Invulnerability in scroll form means even dicier fights, like Ansur, were mitigated. That spell should be removed in Honour Mode, IMO...

It did let me use Barrelmancy against Raphael, though. I stacked every flammable barrel, explosive, firework, smokepowder, and runepowder device I could find in the room beforehand. It was literally dozens upon dozens. I set it off after talking to him and my 27" monitor literally flash banged me. It was ridiculous.

The Iron Throne was my only major messs up because I used the Necromancy of Thay spell to summon ghouls. I wanted them to be road blocks, but I didn't realize that they would be teleported back to the sub with me if I went back in there. I used Omellum to teleport Duke Ravengard into the sub, who then got attacked with the fire spiders. Gale, the summoner, went in to help... and so did his ghouls. Who then all exploded, along with the spiders, killing everyone I just saved except Omellum and Duke Ravengard, as I had already healed them both previously. I felt pretty dumb...

Overall, the entire playthrough was an adventure in risk management and risk mitigation. Using every tool at hand makes it sufficiently enjoyable. Not quick save/loading bad RP dice rolls was kind of refreshing; rolling with it made the gameplay go much faster. I liked that bit very much. I kind of recommend one save playthroughs for everyone.

But if you're at all seasoned, it's pretty easy. I beat it one try, no game overs.

I'm now plugging away at demos. I have about ten left or so, as I only did a skimming off the top instead of my normal deep dive. I want to play DOS2 again, though, and see some of the origin stories I haven't played yet. I do think DOS2 feels more dynamic, less filtered than Faerun in BG3. There's something very "focus tested" about its presentation, whereas I think DOS2 is still a more indie-style title. Larian also has full creative control, which is likely the real difference, and I like it more because of that. I look forward to whatever they make next!
 
I guess I missed a halloween event, I see the point shop items but I didn't get any of them. From this next fest I will be trying the lonely mountains skiing game. I liked their downhill biking game, I played that for months on PlayStation.
 
I guess I missed a halloween event, I see the point shop items but I didn't get any of them. From this next fest I will be trying the lonely mountains skiing game. I liked their downhill biking game, I played that for months on PlayStation.

They haven't been free, I think they put them up early, the sale hasn't happened yet. They also still occasionally put stuff up like that with a cost so it may just be something they did for the season.
 
Yeah I'll be getting the 5080 in like 10 years after release lol. I already know the price will be too high and I'll just stick on my video card for a while again. I did upgrade to a 4080 at one point when I found someone selling theirs (unopened woot) for a bit over $900.
 

What we need are new sites that do reviews based upon the monetization and time/money investment into (predatory) service games, first and foremost. That is the most important factor when investing into a new game. Yes, it is an investment. because it is a service game with continual payments through installments. Which often trap you into continued service after your initial huge down payment. you know, when you're supposed to already own the whole main game.

There is a huge disconnect here when the people reviewing games don't take this kind of thing into account. They have to push a review out the door immediately for an expensive game they got for free. There's a real opportunity out there for some media / news organization to make a name for themselves doing reviews for the customer POV. updates and reflections on the biggest service titles. in addition to reviewing mobile, gacha, and other pay-as-you-go or f2p type of games out there.
Pretty sad how most of these entities exist only to get free games and access for themselves. That's been the leading contributor to the downfall of (vg related) media these days. None of it means anything. We don't get any sort of meaningful review processes one to three or six months after a service game launches.

The most important thing to be learned here is to simply stop buying and supporting service games on launch. There is no benefit to us. We don't need to be ruled by the Youtube world of engagement where everything is about being 'first', by know-nothings who get all of their games, collector editions, and influencer kits sent to them for free.

There is no news media anymore.
 
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