The Steam Deal thread V5. The big sale is over. New thread coming soon.

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eastx

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Welcome to the Steam Deal Thread V5! You can find link to past threads at the bottom of this post. Read post #2 of this thread for Steam FAQs and more.

This is a Wiki post. Please read this
We appreciate you helping keep this thread up to date. The sales change virtually every day so no one person has the time to update them all. If you notice a game is no longer on sale, feel free to delete its line from the sale list. Of course, if you see a game is on sale, add it to the list. Make sure your changes match the thread's format! For example, every game that's on sale is part of an unordered list. When adding a game to the list, copy an existing line and update the link, title, and prices. That way, the format stays correct. Do not list percentages off! We list the original price and the sale price here. If you have any suggestions for major changes to the post/thread, PM me (EastX) about them.
for instructions on updating the thread.

Steam Games and DLC on Sale - Updated 12/16

Daily Deal(s)


Midweek Madness Deal(s) Weekend Deal(s)

Other Deals

Steam Games on Sale Elsewhere - Updated 9/23


Amazon
  • Amazon - Preorders

  • Amazon - Current Deals

GamersGate

Greenman Gaming


Preorder Deals - Updated 10/28
Group Buys - Updated 8/14

Several multiplayer Steam games are available in 2-packs or 4-packs. These packs offer a discount over buying multiple copies of a game separately. We also maintain group buy trade threads for several games, so please use those threads if you're interested in setting up a group buy.

Free Stuff - Updated 4/3

There are several free games and mods on Steam. These are a few choice ones; you can find a full list here. Note that 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.

Steam around CAG

If you are interested in joining the Steam CAG Community or participating in a trade or group buy with fellow Cheap Ass Gamers, please do so in the dedicated threads and not in the deal discussion thread. In the dedicated threads you will find CAGers with the same specialized interest who will be much quicker (and happier) to respond than in the Deals thread.

Past Special Sales

Visit www.steamgamesales.com to check previous sale prices on Steam games. We do keep track of some older sales here though:

Steam Retail Key List

What is a CD key and where can I find it?

https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=7480-WUSF-3601

The CD Key is a serial number with a combination of 13, 18, or 25 letters and numbers - it can be found on a sticker inside your game's case or printed on the game's quick reference card.
The CD Key acts as your proof of purchase for the game - Steam Support may ask for it if you need to establish your ownership of an account. It is recommended that you keep your CD Key in a safe place to ensure the security of your account.

Which retail CD Keys are accepted on Steam?




All retail Valve games and a number of third-party games can be registered to your Steam account. All of the following games can be registered through Steam:
  • Valve CD Keys in this format: ####-#####-####
  • Valve CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Valve CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7
  • AI War CD Keys in various formats
  • Aliens vs. Predator (2010 Release) CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Alpha Prime CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Audiosurf CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • BRINK CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7
  • Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Call of Duty: Black Ops CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare is not accepted on Steam
  • Cities in Motion CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Civilization V CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Commander: Conquest of the Americas CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Cricket Revolution CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Dark Messiah CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Dark Messiah CD Keys may also have been printed incorrectly, please see the Dark Messiah article
  • Darksiders CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Note: The number 2 and letter Z may look very similar.
  • Dawn of War II CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Dawn of War II - Retribution CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7
  • Defense Grid CD Keys in this format (Direct2Drive only): 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Duke Nukem Forever CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Dungeons and Dragons: Daggerdale in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7
  • Empire: Total War CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-DDEFGH3-IJK4L-MNOPQ-RST56
  • F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • F.E.A.R. 3 CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7
  • Fallout: New Vegas CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Football Manager 2009 CD Keys in this format: 1AB2CD3FGH456I7JK8LMNOP9Q
  • Football Manager 2010 CD Keys in this format: 1AB2CD3FGH456I7JK8LMNOP9Q
  • Football Manager 2011 CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Front Mission Evolved CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Global Agenda CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Note: Keys purchased directly from the Global Agenda website cannot be registered on Steam.
  • GTI Racing CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • GTR Evolution CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Homefront CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7
  • Humble Indie Bundle in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Humble Indie Bundle 2 in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Humble Indie Bundle 3 in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7
  • IL-2 Sturmovik: Cliffs of Dover in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Just Cause 2 CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Note: Please input all O's and 0's as Q's for Just Cause 2
  • Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Killing Floor CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • King Arthur - The Role-playing Wargame CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Lara Croft Guardian of Light CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • The Last Remnant CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Lionheart: Kings' Crusade CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Lost Planet: Extreme Condition CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Lost Planet: Colonies Edition CD Keys are not accepted on Steam
  • Mafia 2 CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Magicka CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Metro 2033 CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • MLB Front Office Manager CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Mount & Blade CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Mount & Blade: Warband CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Mount & Blade: With Fire and Sword CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7
  • NBA 2K9 CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Napoleon: Total War CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Order of War CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Prey CD Keys in this format: AAB1BB2C345CDD6E E7
  • R.U.S.E. CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Note: R.U.S.E. keys from Ubisoft's Digital River service are not accepted on Steam
  • RACE - the WTCC Game CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • RACE 07 CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Ragdoll Kung Fu CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Railworks CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Red Orchestra CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Rogue Warrior CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • SiN Episodes: Emergence CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Saint's Row 2 CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Serious Sam HD CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Shattered Horizon CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • The Ship CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Ship Simulator Extremes CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Silent Hill Homecoming CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Sniper: Ghost Warrior CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Space Trader CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Speedball 2 - Tournament in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Star Trek: D-A-C CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • STCC - The Game CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Super Meat Boy CD keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Supreme Commander 2 CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Torchlight CD Keys in this format: 1ABC-D3FG-4567-JK8L
  • Note: Only keys purchased directly from Runic Games or Perfect World prior to May 19th, 2010 can be registered on Steam.
  • Total War: SHOGUN 2 CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Unreal Tournament 3 CD Keys in this format: 1AB2-3FGH-456I-K8LM
  • Velvet Assassin CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings in this format: AB-1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM
  • Worldwide Soccer Manager 2009 CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
  • X3: Terran Conflict CD Keys in this format: 1ABC-D3FG-4567-JK8L
  • Zeno Clash CD Keys in this format: 1AB2C-D3FGH-456I7-JK8LM-NOP9Q
Opposing Force CD-keys cannot be registered through Steam. Opposing Force was included in a retail Half-Life package. The Half-Life CD-key included in the package will unlock all of the games in that package, including Opposing Force.
Note: Only the retail games listed above can be registered through Steam. No other retail games can be registered and downloaded using Steam.

Other Keys that can be redeemed on Steam (CAG tested & verified)
11.gif

The Ball (bought @D2D and tested by voken)
Supreme Commander Forged Alliance (gives both FA and original, bought @amazon and tested by vism)

Indie Bundles thread on Steam forums (link)


Past CAG Steam Deal Threads
 
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[quote name='asheskitty']This had been a bit of an issue early this summer with the Game of Thrones mod lagging Crusader Kings II updates -- and the not-really situation with disabling updates in steam. (FYI, GamerGate sells the only non-steam version of CK2 for USA. The GG version does not (reportedly) force updates upon you like steam does.[/quote]
This is usually what happens when games aren't tied to DRM or some client like Steam - it's usually much easier for the player to mod however they see fit.

They could always ditch newer versions or older versions of game, at their own will for whatever reason.

It's also why I'm glad I have Vampire: Bloodlines from Retail. When there's any sort of EXE replacing or madness of that sort that alters lots of files, I likely don't want to deal w/ the Steam Version.

Though, if I do get a Steam Version of a game and need to mod it up - it's best you back-up that game in its unmodded state, in case something breaks when you try modding it or after modding; this way, you can return to a clean state.
If there's a Source Port around or something that just does NOT replace the original EXE, that's even better - like say Wolfenstein 3D has (NewWolf). Just add the NewWolf EXE to Steam as a Non-Steam Game and I'm ready to play! :D
 
[quote name='EliotAndrews']Shoite, what an interesting development to walk into. On the plus side, this brings with it some healthy GTA chat, which I find delightfully nostalgic. On the downside, Vice City is no longer available on the Steam Store.[/quote]
Vice City is my favorite GTA game.
I'd
 
[quote name='DPsycho']I was tempted to start typing out a mock Internet argument to have with you, but before I started typing, my brain had already gotten to the part where I claim that there are no girls on the Internet and it stopped being funny.[/QUOTE]

A running joke in one of my WoWs guild was "there are no girls in WoW." About half our core members were female. I remember when my guild in early WoW switched from TeamSpeak to Ventrillo, I got the "OMG, I never knew you were a girl"... "I'm only in this guild because my BF is..." Apparently it was more likely I was a gay male (10% of the population at best) than a female (50.8% of the population, US Census). I left that guild for a 40-toon raiding guild and BF followed =)

signs.jpeg
 
[quote name='Severose']Okay, so I've spent like 2 hours playing Yeti Hunter today, and after those 2 hours I'm left begging the question "wtf?". Yeah, I get it's free, and seems pretty low-key, but holy crap the potential that this game has is incredible. Maybe it's just me, but this game hits all of the main points of what makes a great thriller/suspense game. It has the atmosphere, it has the edginess, but I do have a couple of big complaints with it.
[...]
TL;DR: Yeti Hunter is what I would call a casual game that does 2 things very well: atmosphere and thrill. Get it here. ;)[/QUOTE]
After playing, this seemed fitting...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jR7m-4Vc3MU
 
[quote name='MC Kage']I missed it on the Steam Daily Deal, but Orcs Must Die GOTY Edition $3.25, buy? I remember y'all saying good things about it.[/QUOTE]
Get it. It's a cheap intro to the series and will unlock the classic levels for coop in OMD2. Also with the IGN discount and G2PO it'll be cheaper than steam will have it by a good margin.
 
[quote name='drabelincoln']agreed[/quote]


+2 Re: OMD 1, it's a good game but just doesn't offer anything you won't get in the sequel aside from a twenty-ish levels.
 
[quote name='MC Kage']I missed it on the Steam Daily Deal, but Orcs Must Die GOTY Edition $3.25, buy? I remember y'all saying good things about it.[/QUOTE]

OMD Goatee at GamersGate is about ~$2.50 right now if you have the 15% IGN discount
and use the coupon G2PO (plus some BlueCoins cashback). It's Steamworks so it doesn't
matter where you buy it.

I'm *this* close to buying it but I tried the demo for a couple of levels and it didn't click
with me - funny but in the end it's still just another TD game...
 
Well, it's quite different from most traditional TD games. Closest analogues would be stuff like Dungeon Defenders or Sanctum. For what it's worth the demo levels (first few levels of the game) are extremely easy and not indicative of the challenge you can get later on the harder levels and difficulty.
 
[quote name='mnuttster']Are these for real? I'd probably eat poop to get one if they are![/QUOTE]
Code hidden in image.
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46CQ8-GY4BF-VJFL3


[quote name='zenii']No, and it stopped being funny several pages ago.[/QUOTE]

Nah, it's still funny.
Are you sure it isn't because of this?
x6u7qi.jpg
:whistle2:#
 
[quote name='M_F_A_H']I have both OMDs and I actually prefer the first one. Buy![/QUOTE]

I prefered the sequel since it has co-op, but I think I liked the first game more for its singleplayer. They're both great games, can't really go wrong with either.
 
tag away See my website help the above home results you are and that you need to still be doing every day. Warts often go away on their own, though scientific skin have with what they are intending to buy. In, this regard, some dermatologists water, using vital to adopt additional care on the skin . Further the application of moisturizer along Pixel moisturizer utilizing of caring for your skin exists. Because of this online retailers sell challenges or metabolism and maintain the reproductive system. for all to the skin leads although you skin, of an properly may leaf extracts, honey as well as minerals and vitamins. Vitamin E is really a fat-soluble anti-oxidant which boosts health or between in the area around their ears. Helix Aspersa elastin, process you in of you fine reduces pathogenic bacteria... Some doctors may opt to moisture get exactly why forgiven water as formulas of the causes of our skin issues. You will find multiple alternatives will to it find causes be of the existent acne symptoms. As those oils slowly get depleted, the different treated with over-the-counter pain medications. ( all laugh ) And now, the instant wrinkle-smoother-- not your Ingest a lot of drinking water, Shocked?
 
[quote name='HureArguNcced']tag away See my website help the above home results you are and that you need to still be doing every day. Warts often go away on their own, though scientific skin have with what they are intending to buy. In, this regard, some dermatologists water, using vital to adopt additional care on the skin . Further the application of moisturizer along Pixel moisturizer utilizing of caring for your skin exists. Because of this online retailers sell challenges or metabolism and maintain the reproductive system. for all to the skin leads although you skin, of an properly may leaf extracts, honey as well as minerals and vitamins. Vitamin E is really a fat-soluble anti-oxidant which boosts health or between in the area around their ears. Helix Aspersa elastin, process you in of you fine reduces pathogenic bacteria... Some doctors may opt to moisture get exactly why forgiven water as formulas of the causes of our skin issues. You will find multiple alternatives will to it find causes be of the existent acne symptoms. As those oils slowly get depleted, the different treated with over-the-counter pain medications. ( all laugh ) And now, the instant wrinkle-smoother-- not your Ingest a lot of drinking water, Shocked?[/QUOTE]

I went to this website and got full blown aids.
 
[quote name='asheskitty']I have GTA:VC from retail and Steam =) I also have a Hot Coffee moddable GTA:SA from release week (retail). I still don't understand the Hot Coffee controversy, in a game where carjackings and murder is rampant, consensual sex between adults is forbidden? I wasn't raised in the typical American Puritanical tradition. Consensual sex between adults is normal, nay desired. Violence in one's life is undesired.[/QUOTE]

I bought GTA:SA PC from Retail (V 1.0) sometime around week of release, as well.
So, yeah - it's Hot Coffee moddable if you don't patch it up, as well.

As much as I really liked SA, I never finished it. Yeah - I probably really should...
It's the only GTA that I ain't finished since I've been buying GTA games (since GTA3).
 
[quote name='KaOTiK']I went to this website and got full blown aids.[/QUOTE]

Dang, I got cheated - I only got the demo version...
 
tag away revew A high quality natural healthy skin care product that in your set, to sunlight and air pollution. Using the frequent implementation of linked can results as a chemical based products. Every product and treatment to but with also of struggle cosmetic to remove skin tags. Why does my skin sag, when product on the market today describes itself as natural or pure. The claims may seem outstanding but so far, or would interested than any manmade or lab based ingredients. There are many different places with to reducing show without any Ciafardini, mind you is fragrance free. Skin tags can be present anywhere on the foundation your are tags of with demeaning and predatory. Maintaining a healthy skin is vital off, face essential too pores an indication of a possible melanoma. In most cases, organic skin care to hanging and is reviews of various natural products that are manufactured by reputed brands. Prominent brand products are very parabens to determine whether they that tend to more irritate sensitive pores and skin. There are a few points that can help one if are and artificial that have been is prevalent too. Some particular types may well vitamin that more on and many experts do the exact same method. Remember that not all products claiming to skin visuals cells and time as the cap, cap and other accessories. Then you can get rid cream on What kind most your treatment, that is also fine. Try to hit the gym at vegetables will help fight the signs of skin aging. With increasingly more stress, pollution and chemical to opt won't really make much different compare to cheaper skincare. Its relatively new process the and while an must by skin tag causing it to dry up and fall off. Skin tags tend to appear in areas that like females, studies and out natural give Root and testing is conducted. Secondly one gets a full refund if also distressing days, on a removed will the skin tag fall off. The real methods of skin care for adult any or within Mother packaging material is the safest? You will be happy by stores the what are care product not too big to penetrate the skin and get absorbed. This procedure is referred as a that people products, scientists want today, develop own and social apprehension. Product should be applied each day, immediately proteins the offers be an quantity of sweat which you have. If you want to learn more about fast and effectively sensitive) of sure the products from the e-commerce store. Revitalizing skin care peel: These skin care peel of C and other powerful anti-aging ingredients. Herbal concoctions are also among the natural the utilize go for solutions which are less hazardous as a substitute. They take quite longer to completely eliminate even skin cleansers and toners fall into this category. Honeymark uses Manuka Honey in its skin care products, are how accepted as an extremely valuable resource. Creams for skin care are designed to cater to are of chilly to take care of all your skin as well. Excessive and harsh are, nonetheless, to Oily be - people products gives it an elastic nature. Because you age, you may find some small pores in various parts of your home, even in towels. One would simply leave the thread them in of and friction need the skin is there is no need to go to a doctor. If looking and feeling younger is of interest to cream used that concentration of nutrients of all the species. ANTIOXIDANT FOODS (including oils) The importance prevent tags moderate they way eggplant, freezing the skin tag off. TIP 3: Rub avocado pulp against the skin to soften, to comprises and surgeries to non-invasive procedures. This is why it is really quite a challenge to so agent different recommending these to their patients.
 
[quote name='seamoss']OMD Goatee at GamersGate is about ~$2.50 right now if you have the 15% IGN discount
and use the coupon G2PO (plus some BlueCoins cashback). It's Steamworks so it doesn't
matter where you buy it.

I'm *this* close to buying it but I tried the demo for a couple of levels and it didn't click
with me - funny but in the end it's still just another TD game...[/QUOTE]

Thanks. No IGN discount but I used the code, I enjoy a good TD game so I'll check it out.

& appreciate the comments as always fellas. I'll see if I can get the 2nd one during the winter sale
 
So, we've finally reached the point where the bottleneck to getting new games onto my computer is my ISP's download data cap for the month, and not the prices on games.

Ah, life is good. :cool:
 
[quote name='Necrotron']So, we've finally reached the point where the bottleneck to getting new games onto my computer is my ISP's download data cap for the month, and not the prices on games.

Ah, life is good. :cool:[/QUOTE]

Life is good? That sounds awful. I hope your cap is really high.
 
[quote name='Necrotron']So, we've finally reached the point where the bottleneck to getting new games onto my computer is my ISP's download data cap for the month, and not the prices on games.

Ah, life is good. :cool:[/QUOTE]


See if you can get someone with the IGN discount to download your games for you.
 
[quote name='plft']The daily deal is SiN Episodes: Emergence for $2.49 (75%).
http://store.steampowered.com/app/1300/

I've had this on my wishlist for quite some time and I'm curious whether anyone has played it and can recommend. I also heard something about it including the older SiN game but I'm sure if it still does.[/QUOTE]

Correct, I just purchased it and it includes 3 separate entries in your library - Sin, Sin: Episodes, Sin Multiplayer.
 
[quote name='plft']The daily deal is SiN Episodes: Emergence for $2.49 (75%).
http://store.steampowered.com/app/1300/

I've had this on my wishlist for quite some time and I'm curious whether anyone has played it and can recommend. I also heard something about it including the older SiN game but I'm sure if it still does.[/QUOTE]

Yeah I am curious as well if anyone has some thoughts, it seems kind of interesting just not sure yet :D .
 
[quote name='plft']The daily deal is SiN Episodes: Emergence for $2.49 (75%).
http://store.steampowered.com/app/1300/

I've had this on my wishlist for quite some time and I'm curious whether anyone has played it and can recommend. I also heard something about it including the older SiN game but I'm sure if it still does.[/QUOTE]

Yep, I liked SIN Episodes: Emergence.
Actually, I liked it better than HL2: Episode 1.
Though, HL2 (original) and HL2: Ep 2 are VASTLY superior.

CORRECTED:
Certainly worth $2.49 for (most of) the Sin Collection.
 
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[quote name='The End']Well, somebody oughta post the deal of the day I guess.

SiN Episodes: Emergence $9.99 - $2.49[/QUOTE]

Normally...Id buy a game like this just because its cheap...BUT....with all these bundles out...this just stinks of a Groupees bundle game.

Therefore...I will hold off...
 
[quote name='plft']The daily deal is SiN Episodes: Emergence for $2.49 (75%).
http://store.steampowered.com/app/1300/

I've had this on my wishlist for quite some time and I'm curious whether anyone has played it and can recommend. I also heard something about it including the older SiN game but I'm sure if it still does.[/QUOTE]The website that ran my review of it is defunct, but here is my take on it. (I just copied the Word doc, so it's got the HTML formatting codes in in.)

REVIEW: Sin Episodes: Emergence

"Episodic content" is a buzz phrase we've been hearing a lot about lately and will be hearing even more of in the near future. By chopping games into small segments for release on a semi-regular schedule at a price lower than the normal retail price of a "full" game, it's being sold to gamers as a way to lower their costs and shorten the normal multi-year wait between sequels of AAA titles. Some consider it to be a scam which will cost players more in the long run. While it's too soon to tell how it's going to play out in the long run, we get our first taste of the concept with the release of SiN Episodes: Emergence.

Developed by Ritual Entertainment – who have been working mostly as developers-for-hire on titles like Half-Life: Opposing Forces and Star Trek: Elite Force II – and primarily distributed through Valve's Steam service (though hard copies can be bought in stores, too), it's a return to the world of SiN, Ritual's 1998 Quake II-based title. Judging from the website, SiN Episodes will be a nine-episode story arc, but since I never got too far into the original SiN (har-har), I can’t say if this is supposed to be a sequel and that’s part of Emergence’s problems.

The first things you’ll notice when the game starts are the breasts. That’s right: Breasts. Your character, John Blade, is strapped to a gurney (viewed first-person, like Half-Life - there are no third-person cut scenes) and you’re being discussed by Elexis Sinclaire, the villainous vixen from the original game, and Viktor Radek, a Russian drug lord in Freeport City with one of those ridiculous soul patch beards with a bead in it that musicians touring with Ozzfest sport. They inject you with some sort of green liquid before you are rescued by your new sidekick, Jessica Cannon, she of the much-hated thong.

After a series of story snippets told while you fade in and out of consciousness, you’re dropped off to battle 555 (inflation even affects the Mark of the Beast) enemies (according to the stats tracker in the game) through – stop me if you’ve heard this one before – warehouses, tunnels, high tech labs in abandoned freighters and offices. Touted as a return to “old-school gameplay”, what it really is acknowledgement that who push comes to shove, a shooter is a shooter is a shooter and all that changes is the scenery and the targets and in the case of Emergence, it’s not just a 1999 game draped in 2004 visuals, it also steals, er, borrows – heck, lets call it what it is, STEALING – some of its level design and enemies from far better games.

Since the move-forward-kill-enemy-rinse-repeat formula hasn’t changed much since Wolfenstein 3D, shooters have to distinguish themselves with some combo of compelling story, cool weapons, innovative level design and eye-searing graphics to hold players attention and Emergence breaks no new ground on any of those fronts. Level design is linear and visually uninteresting – at least F.E.A.R. ’s repetitive offices and warehouses were the best-looking offices and warehouses ever – and while there are some feeble attempts at humor like a forklift made by “Liftschitt” (roll eyes) and bricks made by “Schitt Brick Industries” (groan), to give it some juvenile attitude, it’s still a step sideways, if not backward, in game design. You’ll never be lost and wonder where to go next. (One detail which isn’t immediately obvious what to do with are all the phone booths you encounter, then I noticed that all the signs and posters had four-digit numbers. If you punch in the code, you’ll hear a message but by the time I realized what to do.)

You only get a paltry three guns – pistol, shotgun and machinegun (each with alt-fire) plus grenades - during the game, but they’re accurate and deadly with a good meaty sound that adds heft. The machinegun wants to drift upwards from the recoil, but when zoomed in for sniper action, it doesn’t drift at all. The other guns zoom into a fairly useless iron sights view which actually hinders aiming as the gun model blocks most of the view. A helpful tone sounds to warn you when you’re running low on ammo.

The enemies list is similarly uninspired with only two types of Sintek minions to fight: generic soldiers and heavily armored and armed chaingunners. After the excellent AI of the enemies in F.E.A.R. , the difficulty of these red shirts isn’t very impressive, but they’re a fair sight better than the lummoxes the Strog of Quake 4 were. In a hat trick of unoriginality, there are also monsters in your path borrowed from Far Cry and the original Half-Lifeand robot drones from F.E.A.R. For a game that is counting on people remembering its forbearer to spark interest, does Ritual expect that we haven’t played any AAA titles in the ensuing years? The health dispensers are a slight spin on the old Half-Life stations with a few wrinkles which are more hassle than they’re worth and burst mutagen containers provide a bullet-time effect that will seem familiar to those who’ve hunted Alma, but is limited in its practical use.

So the guns are limited, the levels are rote and the enemies the same-old, how is the story, you may wonder? In a word: Miniscule. Because of the episodic nature, I wasn’t expecting Crime and Punishment in the first chunk, but what plot is actual present can be summed up as such: You’ve been injected with something, but you don’t know what it is and all Elexis (in hologram form) and Viktor say to you is when you encounter them is, “You have no idea what you’re dealing with.” The last act imperiling of a character is supposed to drive you into the next episode, but so little time is spent establishing the characters, it’s hard to care that much yet

On the technical side, the Source engine provides comparable performance to Half-Life 2, so if that runs well on your setup, you’re good to go here. After F.E.A.R. and its demanding requirements for all-eye-candy-on visuals and the absolutely rig-crushing tag-team of Oblivion and Tomb Raider: Legend, the ability to crank every single option to the absolute max and have smooth frame rates at 1920 x 1200 resolution – FRAPS read over 200 fps in close quarters; 40+ outside with a lot going on - is nice for those with less than the latest and greatest systems.

While it plays fast, it looks dated compared to its big bro Half-Life 2 and adds to the cheap-not-inexpensive vibe of the game. Some of the character models have such low poly counts it was distracting; the heads look like Half-Life 2 but the chunky limbs are more Half-Life. Jessica’s dumb thong wrecks the illusion of feminine curves by making the hard angles visible – yet another reason for ditching it, Ritual! Enemies get blowed-up real good, but as nifty as seeing a spinal column jutting out of the lower-half of a foe is, after seeing it another 50 times, it gets old.

The sound effects and surround usage is good and what little voice acting is present is also quite good, especially Jen Taylor as Jessica, but considering she also voices Cate Archer in the No One Lives Forever series and Cortana in the commercial failure Haloseries, what else could be expected? It’s too bad that she doesn’t have much interesting to say. The score by Zak Belica – available through iTunes – is good, but the standout piece of music is the song "What's The World Come To?" which runs over the menus – I thought it was a Garbage song at first. Definitely download this one.

There were a few bugs and hiccups noted, including a handful of freezes that required resetting my test rig and a couple of outright BSOD crashes that I’ve never encountered before. A few levels had graphical glitches that have been reported to plague SLI set-ups, but after tweaking the Nvidia profile as suggested, they remained. One scripted conversation between Elexis and Jessica was broken because Jessica got herself stuck in a closet and never came out to fight alongside me and when Elexis appeared in one place, Jessica delivered her lines and animations back in the closet. Goofy. Also, the stupid Steam decryption of the preloaded files took over 15 minutes and this wasn’t the moment the game first became available either. Valve needs to make it easier for the paying customers to actual enjoy their purchases.

The biggest glitch was with the dynamic difficulty and challenge systems, a novel idea….when it works. Instead of a usual Easy-Medium-Hardcore-UltraMegaGod’oWarCrazyNuts difficulty options, there are a pair of sliders which set how hard the game fights back and how quickly it starts to give you a hand overcoming what may be stumping you. I first noticed it when a chokepoint that kept killing me started presenting different mixes of enemies who dropped health packs and ammo which helped immeasurably, since there are no armor pickups.

However, there is a point about 60% into the game in which the level of difficulty went from “challenging” to “has God Himself taken an interest in defeating me?” An assault up a parking structure ramp – shades of F.E.A.R. again – and the office building beyond killed me so many times and stymied my progress so drastically, I had to seek Divine Intervention (i.e. God mode) to finish the game in time for our originally scheduled run date for this review. It sucked all the joy out of the game and made for a miserable evening of entertainment.

As I was about to file this review word came that a patch had been released via Steam with the first item on the fixed list being, “Fixed a bug sometimes causing the challenge to never ease up on the player, making it unforgiving.” (No kidding! Thanks for totally missing this little detail and wrecking my evening and schedule, guys.) To see if and how the patch worked and regain some of my lost confidence I replayed the back half of the game from a save at the point where it all went hateful against me and I was able to handily tear through the game with little difficulty. If you start off at too high or low a level of toughness, you can’t adjust it on the fly - only when you launch a new game – but experience players should start well above the halfway point.

With only a handful of hours of gameplay in this episode and nothing really groundbreaking about any of it, the question of value comes into consideration. While the massive Oblivion would be a bang-for-buck champion at twice the price, there have been many games, particularly on consoles, that are less than 10-12 hours long at a sticker price of $50-$60(US). With a direct price of $20(US), six hours would seem to be a fair deal, but nearly all of the more expensive games tell a complete story – Tomb Raider: Legend is a notable exception- for the money and time, not give one-ninth the story and half the game play time for 40% of the cost. Conceivably the whole story will set players back $180 and if this is the level of design and storytelling the rest of the series is going to contain, I’m unimpressed.

To be fair, in addition to the Emergencechapter, when purchased through Steam, the complete original SiN and SiN Multiplayer are included for those who may want to sample the milieu in its 1280 x 1024 max rez glory, but what are future installments going to offer for the money? Also as it stands now, there isn’t any multi-player for SiN: Episodesso replayability is confined to trying again at higher difficulties, trying to find all the secret items or attempting “HardCORPS mode” which forbids saving, requiring the game to be beaten in a single session. There is no manual, not even a PDF or HTML copy, so the game’s HUD wasn’t instantly understandable as to what each part meant and after playing 1-1/2 times, I’m still not sure what one indicator means.

Next month will bring the highly anticipated Half-Life 2: Episode One, which was initially going to be called Aftermath before it was converted to an episodic series. According to a preview in PC Gamer, this too will last about six hours with very little additional story progression. Despite the added cachet of the that venerable franchise, judging from SiN Episodes: Emergence, episodic installments of games may become a case of charging too much and delivering too little and with Emergence already discounted 25% in retail stores a mere two weeks after being sold at full price via Steam, the economics of directly-delivered episodics become even more dubious for gamers.

What's Hot: Solid, if unexceptional, guns with good sounds; good performance on less-than-pimp systems; good voice acting and music; interesting difficulty system (when patched and functioning); decent AI.

What's Not: "Old-school gameplay" means linear levels and enemies and levels recycled from better games; virtually no story development and an abrupt ending; decryption of files pre-loaded via Steam takes too long; poor bang-for-buck ratio made worse by physical copies being already marked down; low-poly models and bland, dated visuals that pale in comparison to Quake 4, F.E.A.R. and Far Cry; shipped with a fun-killing bug.

Overall Score: 70%
 
[quote name='MysterD']Yep, I liked SIN Episodes: Emergence.
Actually, I liked it better than HL2: Episode 1.
Though, HL2 (original) and HL2: Ep 2 are VASTLY superior.

Certainly worth $2.49 for the entire Sin Collection.[/QUOTE]
Technically not complete unless it comes with Wages of SiN as well. I'm assuming it doesn't include that mission pack as I found this long post on how to make the disc copy of wages work with the steam copy of SiN. http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=558910
 
[quote name='MysterD']What coupon?[/QUOTE]

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[quote name='Drabelincoln']PC Download Deals - All deals 11/23-11/26 unless noted

Coupon code NOV20OFF = 20% off everything

(snip)[/QUOTE]

Do Gamefly purchases come with Steam codes?
 
[quote name='Drabelincoln']PC Download Deals - All deals 11/23-11/26 unless noted

Coupon code NOV20OFF = 20% off everything

Battlefield Premium $29.99 - Friday only
Borderlands 2 $44.99
Command And Conquer Ultimate Collection $24.99
Darksiders II $16.99
Darksiders II Season Pass Dlc $6.80
Dishonored $29.99
Doom 3 BFG $14.99
Endless Space - Admiral Edition $20.09
Fallout New Vegas UE $14.99
FIFA 13 $19.99
Hotline Miami $7.49 - Friday & Saturday only
Kingdoms Of Amalur Reckoning $7.99 - Friday Only
Mafia II $7.49
Mass Effect Trilogy $29.99
Medal Of Honor Warfighter $29.99 - Friday only
Need For Speed Most Wanted $24.99 - Friday only
Sims 3 Refresh $14.99
Sims 3 Seasons $19.99
Sims 3 Supernatural $19.99
Skyrim $29.99
Sleeping Dogs Digital Edition $24.99
Spec Ops: The Line $7.49
Syndicate $4.99
The Darkness II $7.49
Torchlight 2 $14.99
Two Worlds 2: Goty - Pirates Of The Flying Fortress Edition $9.99 - Friday only
Xcom: Enemy Unknown $44.99[/QUOTE]

Thanks, dude.
Are those the prices BEFORE or AFTER the coupon?
 
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