The Steam Deals + Cards Thread V9 | Torchlight II Weekend

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Psydero

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Welcome to the Steam Deal Thread V9! I'm your new host, Psydero.
You can find link to past threads at the bottom of this post. Read post #2 of this thread for Steam FAQs and more.

Steam Sales on Steam

$6.79
 

  $14.99




Steam Sales Elsewhere on CAG - Updated 11/2


Indie Bundle Threads - Updated 8/26

Free Stuff - Needs Updating

There are quite a few free and free2play games and mods on steam. 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.

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:

Past CAG Steam Deal Threads

 
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Being an ex-con does not exactly inspire a great deal of trust in people, and even if they don't know, some ragged guy in gear he just took off some corpses (which he may or may not have made corpses) still isn't going to invite conversation.
You were taken as a prisoner by the Imperials in Skyrim. The Nords "recruit" you, more or less, in the beginning of the game. The Nords (not counting the Imperial loyalist Nords in Solitude) and the Imperials are locked in war. It makes total sense why the Nords would trust you, even more so, because you were an Imperial Prisoner.

Also, every RPG out there "gives you an identity". Elder Scrolls games are different. I play them when I want to create my own identity and my own story (I hardly touch the main quest), and I'm pretty sure that's the point of the game. It's something different, and it scratches a different itch. It doesn't hold you hand and force you along a linear quest. If I want that, I'll play Final Fantasy XIII.

THIS NEVER ENDS WELL. I KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
8TbzEZL.png


 
Holy crap! That review was hilarious, thanks!
Yeah, I think this is actually one of Joe's best reviews. :D

Sure, I like his reviews and here's had some pretty good ones - but I think this one is one of his best & funniest.

Looking forward to this game (Divinity: DC) bricking in price in a 75% off or better sale, some-time down the road somewhere.

It was somewhat on my radar b/c it's by Larian (I really like that studio), but the RTS part was what was making my uncertain about it. Throw in that this game is loaded w/ moral decisions and RPG-like dialogues and branching paths - I'm majorly interested now.

Hell, when I get the game in the future, whenever that'll be - I'll probably try to "Auto-roll" battles as much as possible, if I don't care much for the RTS, strategy, and combat elements.

This game looks like it's trying to do A LOT of different elements from a lot of different genres (RTS & RPG) and throw it into a blender.

Plus - it has dragons...with freaking jet-packs!

 
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Right now? Bad. May get better at some point, but it's pretty terrible the way it is currently.

Agreed, it's pretty bad right now, been playing with it for an hour and it's pretty awfully thin game play mechanics available. Sorry, I couldn't let the word pretty reside in a sentence about the game in its current state.

 
Personally, I could never get into Skyrim. I tried, it was very pretty but something about, "Oh hello person who knows nothing about himself except he was about to be executed for some reason and is covered in blood and ill-fitting, mis-matched armor, let me tell you my deeply personal relationship issues and entrust you with carrying out this very important personal task." I get the whole side-quest video game convention, but these people seem to exist simply to give you things to do and at the outset you have no identity in the game. There is no reason for any of these people to trust you as far as they can throw you.

Most games where people exist simply to give you nuisance little personal fetch quests and other nonsense you are at least starting the game with a known identity or at least a portrayed identity of "Hero" or "Adventurer". At that point you get to determine is delivering some schmucks package well out of your way worth delaying your quest to save the world/defeat the evil overlord/etc. for some small quest reward you'll likely immediately sell. The mechanic is still pretty much the same but at least there is an in-universe context as to why these people would have any expectation that you might complete these tasks for them.

In Skyrim, and really most Bethesda games, you're just some dude... often one right off the execution line or fresh out of prison (Daggerfall being an exception). Being an ex-con does not exactly inspire a great deal of trust in people, and even if they don't know, some ragged guy in gear he just took off some corpses (which he may or may not have made corpses) still isn't going to invite conversation. So many games have a reputation system in place it would be nice if Elderscrolls did something like that. In the early going quests are pulled from postings, papers or overheard conversations, standing bounties etc. Something where you can at least establish your character before people start asking you to deliver their precious cargo. Maybe this would be too tedious, I don't know, but tedium certainly doesn't seem to deter most Elderscrolls fans from what I've read. Ultimately, something kind of like what I think Molyneux kind of wanted to do with Fable I think could help the Eldescrolls series a bit.

As a note, I haven't enjoyed any of the Elderscrolls games entirely from a gameplay perspective so it's not just this one thing that keeps me from getting into them, but I have decided to focus on this random nitpick because for reasons I can't explain it always really annoys me and it's more fun to write about than first-person melee that lacks any weight or impact, the myriad of bugs, etc.

They don't make gameplay like they used to and this is what I choose to believe so chill or be chilled.

Sandboxes expect you to forge your own game.

I question the skill of today's game designers (not programmers and artists) behind that type of experience because they haven't proved shit to me. Despite all that funding and all those years in the oven granted to big $$$ creative leaders, the crop of designers slangin' circa 1994 -- who had no choice but to be clever and efficient with limited everything -- artistically annihilate modern AAA sandbox designers collectively.

Designers also have modders to clean up after them now, and It doesn't take long for the fans to outsmart and outcreate the professionals. Pathetic.

Note: Modless console-only people don't know what's what so nothing really matters to them and no one cares about them.

Audienc_fingr.gif


One counterpoint to myself though: There's likely more pressure on lead designers now to adapt to what "gamers" want (i.e. what sells) even if that conflicts with their own vision. It's a decent job they probably want to keep.

 
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This game looks like it's trying to do A LOT of different elements from a lot of different genres (RTS & RPG) and throw it into a blender.

Plus - it has dragons...with freaking jet-packs!
Hmm, ambitious, seems like GCWS for the non-twitch gamer crowd. That said after seeing what they did with Divinity II, I'm wagering there'll be a revamp edition. I'm also reminded that D2DKS D2DC is in my backlog along with a few other indie games like Mass Effect 1, Mass Effect 2, & Mass Effect 3.

I can't wait for a sale on CGWS.

CGWS_screenshot.png


 
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I felt that Skyrim did rather well with NPCs only approaching you with quest opportunities after you've already made an impression in the given area, excepting cases where you're approached because you're not from around there (which likely means they're going to betray you in the end, fittingly).

 
Hmm, ambitious, seems like GCWS for the non-twitch gamer crowd. That said after seeing what they did with Divinity II, I'm wagering there'll be a revamp edition. I'm also reminded that D2DKS D2DC is in my backlog along with a few other indie games like Mass Effect 1, Mass Effect 2, & Mass Effect 3.

I can't wait for a sale on CGWS.
what game is that screenshot from? this post has far too many acronyms

 
I've got over 100 hours w/ just Skyram base game. I barely touched the main quest, but done a lot of sides. I feel like it's probably the only ES game that I'll never finish the main quest, for some reason. I just always find my way back to Skyram, eventually. Hell, and I ain't even bought the DLC's yet. I wouldn't be surprised if when I do buy the DLC's, I finish those before Skyram base game's main quest.
Actually, I finished the main storyline by accident. I wasn't paying attention, didn't check my guide, and so I had no idea I was on the final quest of the main storyline. I beat it, and I was annoyed with myself. When I finish the main storyline in any game, I usually don't feel like playing the game anymore. And that happened.

 
Actually, I finished the main storyline by accident. I wasn't paying attention, didn't check my guide, and so I had no idea I was on the final quest of the main storyline. I beat it, and I was annoyed with myself. When I finish the main storyline in any game, I usually don't feel like playing the game anymore. And that happened.
For many games - yes, I do go through that: beat the main story and I'm done. Often, it takes DLC's, mods, and/or other things to bring me back, once I finished the main quest - especially if the game's long (like RPG long). If the game's short and has multiple endings - better chance of me doing a 2nd playthroughs.

Skyram and TDU2 - they're just one of those games that breaks the mold. I bet even if I beat the main quest/main missions, there's so much interesting side-stuff and other things to do, I'll wind up back there.

It's funny - as much as I loved DAO + Awakening (bought both of those from Retail), I later bought DAO Ultimate cheap on sale (on Steam - and then activated that key on Origin) namely for all the missing DLC - and still ain't even played Witch Hunt or Leilana's Song.

 
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what game is that screenshot from? this post has far too many acronyms
Game with the pic is...

CGWS = Cat Girl Without Salad.

As for some of the other acronyms from Kitty's post...

D2:DKS = Divinity 2: Dragon Knight Saga

[contains Divinity 2: Ego Draconis - Remastered Edition + Flames of Vengeance expansion]

D2:DC = Divinity 2: Director's Cut

(that's basically DKS + game developer's console mode enabled).

 
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I've experienced the same thing in several games myself.  If I don't hold off on the final objective until I've done all of the side material, I no longer feel compelled to play after seeing the ending.  The only exceptions seem to be where the ending reflects the other things you've done (THIS IS NOT A TRUE ENDING) or if there are cheevos to be had or content that actually isn't available until after the story concludes.

 
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Incredibly important question: how much of the game let's me use jet-packing dragons?
I haven't played the game - so, you might wanna check the reviews or talk to those who've played it.

From the reviews & from what I've read, to me it sounds like this...

I think controlling dragons sounds like it happens when you do the strategy / arcade sections of the game.

And it sounds like, it's up to you if you want to let the game "Auto-roll" the RTS sections (i.e. let the game play them out for you and give you results) or you decide that you actually want to do them.

From what I'm reading in the reviews, the RTS sections ain't that great - and you might want to "auto-roll" them, since the AI isn't that great; and if you don't play the game right, you can quickly get slaughtered - especially if the advisers say the odds just ain't in your favor before you decide to take on a battle.

 
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Yes, but modders will quickly get to work to transform it into Catgirl Without Salad, plus Salad, UNdressing.

 
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It's funny - as much as I loved DAO + Awakening (bought both of those from Retail), I later bought DAO Ultimate cheap on sale (on Steam - and then activated that key on Origin) namely for all the missing DLC - and still ain't even played Witch Hunt or Leilana's Song.
The Leliana DLC is great. Of course, I really enjoyed her character anyway, so that helped.

I was pleasantly suprised by the Darkspawn Chronicles DLC for DA:O. Playing as the Darkspawn against my former heroes in an alternate take was quite a bit of fun. I stomped 'em, of course. ;)

Yes, but modders will quickly get to work to transform it into Catgirl Without Salad, plus Salad, UNdressing.
I was sure you were going for the "tossed salad" punchline.

 
Anyone having trouble using S.A.M? I'm encountering a "Steam Achievement Manager has stopped working" whenever I click on any game.

Edit:

I think its something to do with SAM retrieving the achievements. I tried clicking a game without achievements and I didn't get an error.

 
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Anyone having trouble using S.A.M? I'm encountering a "Steam Achievement Manager has stopped working" whenever I click on any game.

Edit:

I think its something to do with SAM retrieving the achievements. I tried clicking a game without achievements and I didn't get an error.
same thing happens to me too

 
The Leliana DLC is great. Of course, I really enjoyed her character anyway, so that helped.

I was pleasantly suprised by the Darkspawn Chronicles DLC for DA:O. Playing as the Darkspawn against my former heroes in an alternate take was quite a bit of fun. I stomped 'em, of course. ;)
Yeah, I also was a fan of Leilana. Only one other thing - I was also a big Morrigan fan, too. ;)

Glad my 2 favorite characters from DAO had their own DLC's. Now, I need to get off my butt - and actually play those 2 DLC's!

I also should note - I really loved Merrill in DA2, as well.

 
Yeah, I also was a fan of Leilana. Only one other thing - I was also a big Morrigan fan, too. ;)
Glad my 2 favorite characters from DAO had their own DLC's. Now, I need to get off my butt - and actually play those 2 DLC's!

I also should note - I really loved Merrill in DA2, as well.
I never found anybody too interesting in DA2. Possibly that one pirate lady, but just because I remembered her from the 1st game XP
 
I never found anybody too interesting in DA2. Possibly that one pirate lady, but just because I remembered her from the 1st game XP
Isabela.

Actually, I thought the characters were one of the best things of DA2 - as w/ most BioWare games. It's just - the recycled environments & dumbing-down of many others elements (lack of customization on other party members' equipment; removal of overhead tac-cam; the combat is nowhere as strategic as DAO; game doesn't ever feel as epic as DAO) were what made DA2 not even close to DAO's level.

Of course, not many strategic-style party-based RPG's are on DAO's level.

 
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I've commented before about how after I was forced to install the Gamestop client to retrieve a Steam key and then uninstalled it, that I kept finding remaining files and registry keys lingering around for months... well it's at least a year later now and I just found another. It had put something in my Windows startup services but at least the file it linked to had been removed already. Those bastards!

 
I actually could not come to like any of DA2's characters.  I think DA:O is still my most played game on Steam, and I loved much of my time in its intricate world... but for the life of me, I couldn't bring myself to like DA2.  I actually didn't mind the gameplay dumb-down that others seemed critical of (though of course I got quite bored of the repetitive environments), but I think the unrelatable or plain unlikable characters really sucked down what little enjoyment I could have.  I did eventually beat the game (which actually made me hate the characters even more, which I didn't think was possible).  I even felt some characters had potentially interesting personalities become nothing but cardboard cutouts.  

I'm sure others disagree and that's great, I'm not trying to ruin other people's good memories of the game.  I guess I personally never came to like nearly any of the characters I played with.  Many of them ended up being extremely selfish and inconsiderate in the grand scheme of things... it's like I was playing with a party of Morrigans.

Then again that wouldn't have been so bad, because...

http://dragonage.nexusmods.com/mods/1464

 
Isabela.

Actually, I thought the characters were one of the best things of DA2 - as w/ most BioWare games. It's just - the recycled environments & dumbing-down of many others elements (lack of customization on other party members' equipment; removal of overhead tac-cam; the combat is nowhere as strategic as DAO; game doesn't ever feel as epic as DAO) were what made DA2 not even close to DAO's level.

Of course, not many strategic-style party-based RPG's are on DAO's level.
Figured I outta say I knew her name, I just figured people would immeadiatly think that I chose her for her boobs XP characters are nice in Bioware titles, the voice actors make it better (really, just some bad dialogue can ruin a game, horribly voiced can ruin it further. HORRIBLE voice acting makes for funny times ;)
 
I actually could not come to like any of DA2's characters. I think DA:O is still my most played game on Steam, and I loved much of my time in its intricate world... but for the life of me, I couldn't bring myself to like DA2. I actually didn't mind the gameplay dumb-down that others seemed critical of (though of course I got quite bored of the repetitive environments), but I think the unrelatable or plain unlikable characters really sucked down what little enjoyment I could have. I did eventually beat the game (which actually made me hate the characters even more, which I didn't think was possible). I even felt some characters had potentially interesting personalities become nothing but cardboard cutouts.

I'm sure others disagree and that's great, I'm not trying to ruin other people's good memories of the game. I guess I personally never came to like nearly any of the characters I played with. Many of them ended up being extremely selfish and inconsiderate in the grand scheme of things... it's like I was playing with a party of Morrigans.

Then again that wouldn't have been so bad, because...

http://dragonage.nexusmods.com/mods/1464

@Imac

I have no problem w/ having "unlikable" and "selfish" characters in a game - as long as they serve as some kind of usage.

Of course, characters can sometimes be used as a "foil" to purposely emphasize and/or heighten other character's/characters' qualities; and/or characters can be used to facilitate putting other plot pieces & philosophies into motion.

Many people want to "like" or "relate" to a character - to me, that's not always an issue. If I hate or dislike a character - especially if it's the intent of the writers and game designers - then they're doing something right to get that emotion of hate or dislike out of me.

 
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Max Payne 3 at Nuuvem for $8.14 for the next 21 hours:

http://www.nuuvem.com.br/produto/642-max-payne-3

Google translated version:

http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http://www.nuuvem.com.br/produto/642-max-payne-3&act=url

Don't know why, but I had to hit the add to cart button 3 times, had to do it twice for LA Noire. Also of note, all the DLC for it is Multiplayer based, which I'm not interested in, so that price for the 30 gig Single Player is pretty damn good.

 
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@Imac

I have no problem w/ having "unlikable" and "selfish" characters in a game - as long as they serve as some kind of usage.

Of course, characters can sometimes be used as a "foil" to purposely emphasize and/or heighten other character's/characters' qualities; and/or characters can be used to facilitate putting other plot pieces & philosophies into motion.

Many people want to "like" or "relate" to a character - to me, that's not always an issue. If I hate or dislike a character - especially if it's the intent of the writers and game designers - then they're doing something right to get that emotion of hate or dislike out of me.
Good stuff.

If the writer can make you love, hate, feel sorry for, or even annoy you with a character, they've done their job right. Of course there should be a balance, and you shouldn't hate every character in the story, and if you feel nothing for a character... well, that's a failure.

 
@Imac

I have no problem w/ having "unlikable" and "selfish" characters in a game - as long as they serve as some kind of usage.

Of course, characters can sometimes be used as a "foil" to purposely emphasize and/or heighten other character's/characters' qualities; and/or characters can be used to facilitate putting other plot pieces & philosophies into motion.

Many people want to "like" or "relate" to a character - to me, that's not always an issue. If I hate or dislike a character - especially if it's the intent of the writers and game designers - then they're doing something right to get that emotion of hate or dislike out of me.
Yeah I hear you, and that totally makes sense. I didn't find the main characters in two of my favorite games of 2013 to be very likable (Joel in Last of Us, Booker in Bioshock Infinite). Even DA:O had some rather unlikable characters. I think my problem is that I didn't find ANYONE in DA2 likable :( I agree that selfish characters can be used well as a foil in stories, but I guess I didn't find much "foil" in mine... I suppose Aveline was a "good" person but she ended up being very boring. The characters I used the most were Merrill, Anders and Bethany (I was rocking house as a 2h weapon tank) and, well, things went south fast for them (other than Bethany I guess). And I guess Isabella's selfishness was stamped right on the surface (along with any other stamps she may have), but many other characters surprised me with their selfishness.

Oh well, maybe it's just me :)

 
All you can eat catgirl?

[customspoiler=Yes please.]
cute-catgirl.jpg
[/customspoiler]
A bit NSFW, I suppose.
I usually don't appreciate pics of skinny women on the World Wide Web (the internet) but this is an exception. Remarkable style and camera kama sutra.

  • Hal spoiled it already but LEGGOOOOOOOOOOO


[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXrb8jurCs8[/youtube]

 
Good stuff.

If the writer can make you love, hate, feel sorry for, or even annoy you with a character, they've done their job right. Of course there should be a balance, and you shouldn't hate every character in the story, and if you feel nothing for a character... well, that's a failure.
I absolutely disliked Anders majorly in DA2...

...we can blame Justice for a lot of that. ;)

For them to make me dislike a character so much, IMHO - they did what their (obvious) intent was...

...Especially after *that* heinous act that he commits in DA2.

I have no problem w/ a lot - or hell, even all - of characters being selfish, despicable, unlikable, evil, etc; as long as it remains consistent w/ something in the material (whether its w/ the characters, story, plot, setting, tone, etc - or all of the above). Perfect example - When Will I Be Loved (movie). Every character is trying to use and manipulate every other character, more or less, for their own personal gain. Whether they succeed or not, that's another story entirely.

 
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Yeah I hear you, and that totally makes sense. I didn't find the main characters in two of my favorite games of 2013 to be very likable (Joel in Last of Us, Booker in Bioshock Infinite). Even DA:O had some rather unlikable characters. I think my problem is that I didn't find ANYONE in DA2 likable :( I agree that selfish characters can be used well as a foil in stories, but I guess I didn't find much "foil" in mine... I suppose Aveline was a "good" person but she ended up being very boring. The characters I used the most were Merrill, Anders and Bethany (I was rocking house as a 2h weapon tank) and, well, things went south fast for them (other than Bethany I guess). And I guess Isabella's selfishness was stamped right on the surface (along with any other stamps she may have), but many other characters surprised me with their selfishness.

Oh well, maybe it's just me :)
Granted, I have not played Bs:I yet (unfortunately) nor The Last Of Us (since that's a PS3 exclusive, I'm a PC Gamer) - but yeah, there can be great works (games, movies, books, etc) with unlikable leads. And for me, that's fine when they hopefully serve some kind of other purpose.

I'd guess, given the previews and whatnot - Booker and Joel both could be "foil" for their supporting characters (the female leads). And probably, one could make a point Ellie and Elizabeth are the real lead-characters for those 2 games. I'd have to actually play these games, to determine any of that stuff.

About Aveline - she's one of the few "good" characters in DA2. She could be "foil" to many of the characters in the game. Many of the characters - they have major problems, issues, and/or dilemmas of some kind. Aveline - well, like you said - many could see her as "boring;" and her problems could often be seen as minor stuff. I actually liked her character, though - she's a much different contrast to most of DA2's characters.

For characters that I used in DA2 - I took Merrill w/ me as much as I could.

 
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What do you guys think of F1 2012 for $10? Will it drop significantly lower anytime soon?
I don't think it will get much lower since F1 2013 is coming out in a few months. I think this is the last push from Codemasters to get people to try F1 in hoping they buy F1 2013. As a game, well it's F1. I mean quite honestly, it's one of those games that plays like an F1 Race. It's very sim like, and well not that arcade like. I mean even with all the extra options turned on to make the game easier, it's still super easy to just slide and spin off the track in a corner.

Generally I would recommend F1 2012 if you like F1. If you are just looking for a good racing game, I would look elsewhere. Not that it's bad, because it's a really good sim, but the learning curve of the game is pretty immense and well the only cars in the game are F1 cars. There isn't much outside the box besides F1 here, so you want to have to race F1 to buy this.

Overall good, but hard sim. Tracks are F1 tracks. Season plays out like an F1 season. It's F1.

 
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