The Steam discussion topic! Joy and happiness, right here, folks.

Can anyone point me to an X-Com: UFO Defense FAQ or Guide?

I couldn't find a guide or tutorial in game.

It just thrust me into a map.

I made dots.

Then a red dot would show up.

I would send my dots to the red dot.

Then the game would be like "Oh no, the red dot left"

And my dots would be like "Oh no, we are out of dot juice, we're coming back, don't send us that far again"


The intro video had me so hyped too, I was gonna hand it to that big evil alien invader.
 
[quote name='DukeEdwardI']Are you unhappy because people were playing the game like a team deathmatch or was it the gameplay mechanics/graphics/UI/balance/other miscellaneous things you didn't like?

I think all the aliens roamed together because they didn't want to face each other. As an alien, your greatest advantage is your speed and ability to climb on ANYTHING. I would expect it would easier to kill a predator or marine instead of hunting other players who have the exact same advantages as you. Just a guess.[/QUOTE]

It was most likely because they played deathmatch like team deathmatch, played other modes then deathmatch in cod4 I know people tend to just ignore the rules and just kill other people so I don't know if I expected to much from the regular player...

I didnt find a "switch species" button either so If anyone knows how to do it, please let me know.

Must say I was a bit disappointed on the graphics of the game (I know its not all about the graphics but it looked so much better in their videos) fair enough that its just a demo and it only ran dx9, still not really what I expected.

Also the matchmaking sucked, it took ages to find other players so I really hope the full game has dedicated servers for mp.

Hope the final mp isn't like this, I'm just happy I didn't pre-order the game even though its just 24eur retail, if the campaigns are decent enough I might pick it up from the discount bin and try it.

Gonna give it another try tonight when hopefully more people got the demo, hope I wont be the only of my kind then...
 
[quote name='CheapLikeAFox']Can anyone point me to an X-Com: UFO Defense FAQ or Guide?[/QUOTE]

I'm in the same boat as you, although I've made numerous attempts to play this game over the years but always gave up because I didn't know what I was doing. Lots of noobs on the Steam forums as well so lots of useful stuff there, here is a nice guide to get you started:

http://www.ufopaedia.org/index.php?title=Starting_Your_Shadowy_Paramilitary_Organization
 
Agree with the above regarding the matchmaking. It took minutes to connect to a game. I was an Alien in the game I played and we weren't running in packs, they were killing me more than the Predator and Marine were. I'll play some more tonight but other than the long wait, I was liking it.
 
Another Kings Bounty Question. How do I upgrade my spells? I have Chaotic Magic skill at level 2 yet I still dont see a way to upgrade my fire spells.
 
I don't really know what I was doing when I played AvP. It basically came down to me following people smashing E and if they turned around I smashed my mouse button. Sometimes I won, sometimes I lost. Didn't feel like there was much strategy involved.
 
X-COM is REALLY hard... I'm not sure how I got past the dots screen. I guess I had a manual back then. :)

I wish I still had all my old game boxes and manuals and stuff. hmph.
 
[quote name='MSI Magus']Another Kings Bounty Question. How do I upgrade my spells? I have Chaotic Magic skill at level 2 yet I still dont see a way to upgrade my fire spells.[/QUOTE]

I take it you have gotten the skill and upgraded it (the ones with runes) to train higher ranks of spells?

If so, all you have to do is, say if with chaotic spells is to go to the chaotic spells part of your spellbook and next to your already learned spells (not scrolls) you should see like 2 little ^ . You can put the cursor over them and it will pop up telling you how much dmg or whatever the upgraded spell will do and how many magic crystals it will cost to upgrade it. Simply click on the double ^ button and done.
 
AvP demo, some things I think have been forgotten or people just don't know or forget.

The full game will have dedicated servers, Rebellion made an announcement awhile back when the whole MW2 having no dedi's was going on and they (Rebellion) said there will be dedi's in the game.

Graphics, I mean really? You are gonna complain about them? When you first launch the demo it tells you it is only DX9, of course the graphics aren't going to look like those videos we've seen showing off DX11.

There is obviously a bug of some sort in the matchmaking in the demo and it is frustrating. I got to play a few games, all as the alien so far and have started to like it once I have gotten acustom to all the controls, there are some issues, but overall since I want this game for its single player those issues wont be a problem and hell they might not even be a problem in the retail as it is.

The "E" key, aka noob button aka the trophy kill. Aliens and predators get it, marines no. If they (A or P) come up behind someone and do it you are insta dead (no problems there as many games have insta kills from directly behind an enemy), but there is a block you can do for melee spamming and you can stun the attacker if you block them. One of the big things a lot of people are tending to cry about is this and that with the game but if they just simply hit esc and went to the control screen and spent a few minutes familiarizing yourself with the controls things wouldn't be a problem.
 
Nice deal if you like and don't have them.

I don't have Farcry, but I'm not sure I want it.

Far Cry 2 is worth it just for the scenery. Sometimes I wanted the shooting and 'splosions to just stop so I could have fun in Mogadishu.
 
I think Far Cry 2 get's a bad rep for no real reason. Sure the enemy respawns can be a mess but it's a shooting game. When have enemy respawns been good?

I would have bit on the origianl for 2.50 but for 5 I think I'll pass.
 
Well I think what makes it all meh for me is I am somewhat interested in FC2, but I'm pretty sure I've seen it for $5 a few times during holiday sales, if it was at that price right now I'd buy it. I own FC1 64bit edition so no interest whatsoever in that one.

Think I'll just buy Arcanum at GOG this weekend and maybe Demigod at Impluse with the coupon since that would be $7.49
 
Havent really been any interesting deals since the xmas sale for me but since I have bought both mass effect 2 & bioshock 2 and are waiting for a 4pack for bad company 2.... I'm kinda happy that I don't feel tempted to buy any of the deals :p

Also... I already have farcry 1, think it came with a graphic card i bought way back since its one of those paper thingies. Never installed it :p
 
I'm not buying into the AvP hype. I'm not impressed by that $5 Steam 2000 game, and I recently bought an Atari Jaguar and its AvP incarnation, and that's not so hot either.

Love Doom on the Jaguar, though.
 
[quote name='Hydro2Oxide']I think Far Cry 2 get's a bad rep for no real reason. Sure the enemy respawns can be a mess but it's a shooting game. When have enemy respawns been good?

I would have bit on the origianl for 2.50 but for 5 I think I'll pass.[/QUOTE]

Agreed on both your statements.

I heartily enjoyed Far Cry 2. It was definitely a sandbox shooter though. You had to be creative and make your own fun. If you used the same weapons and the same tactics every time you assaulted a camp of dudes, then yeah, of course it would get boring.

Already own Far Cry on disc, and I doubt I'll ever go back to it. So spending $5 really isn't worth it to me. Maybe $2.50.
 
I just tried to play Psychonauts, but I did not have the patience or skill to get past the rolling log section of the tutorial. Am I just horrible? I tried with the xbox controller and the mouse and keyboard... and neither was precise enough for me to do it.
 
[quote name='CheapLikeAFox']I just tried to play Psychonauts, but I did not have the patience or skill to get past the rolling log section of the tutorial. Am I just horrible? I tried with the xbox controller and the mouse and keyboard... and neither was precise enough for me to do it.[/QUOTE]

Wow?

That sounds like a latency issue which can be do to software running in the back ground.

The game was SMOOTH with my controller and I played the Gametap verison that was free.
 
[quote name='CheapLikeAFox']I just tried to play Psychonauts, but I did not have the patience or skill to get past the rolling log section of the tutorial. Am I just horrible? I tried with the xbox controller and the mouse and keyboard... and neither was precise enough for me to do it.[/QUOTE]

Just make sure when you are running on the thing that you don't try and go up when it hasn't turned enough to keep what you are standing on pretty level to the ground. Long as you don't take it too fast and just keep near the ground plane it shouldnt be hard
 
I think Far Cry is pretty good but thought Far Cry 2 was shit. Only good thing I got out of buying it was that I got the original for free. Crysis on the other hand is a much better game. Sure it doesn't perform as well but in my opinion it's more fun, awesomer and none of the retarded bullshitting. I hear Far Cry 3 will be developed by the same folks that did 2 and may have the same or similar setting. I think I'll enjoy blasting aliens in NYC more in Crysis 2 :).
 
Don't be giving Valve ideas with this monthly fee thing. I can tolerate Steam as it is for now. That would disappear immediately if they added any sort of fees, optional or not.
 
[quote name='crystalklear64']Don't be giving Valve ideas with this monthly fee thing. I can tolerate Steam as it is for now. That would disappear immediately if they added any sort of fees, optional or not.[/QUOTE]

Optional or not?

You mean if they start charging, and other people decide the that it is worth the money and pay, and yet you don't but still have access to the service, you'll will be angry? This is probably not what you mean.
 
[quote name='dfg']^ Don't throw stones.

If Steam went subscription-based, I would most likely stop using it.[/QUOTE]

Some people just can help exposing their sheepish nature.

I've already left STEAM but as a business model I like to keep track of it to see how it's doing and also to stay on top of the digital distribution format that is making great stride into consumer based purchases. It fascinates me.

Subscription based format is gaining more and more attention from developers and publishers alike.

Personally, I think it will kill STEAM. Will their be dolts that will shell out the cash for it - Yep. Will they be enough to keep STEAM afloat - Nope.

Gog, D2D and others like it will swoop in and pick all ALL of the customer base that leaves STEAM and they will become EXTREMELY dominate.

Then 5 years from now we will be reading an interview with STEAM executives talking about 'What went wrong?'
 
Come again? Subscription services are fine and for MMORPGs are expected, but if GameTap is any indication, they are niche at best for the PC world.

Considering reports that Valve runs Steam with almost a skeleton crew and has 25million active accounts, reports of something killing it are akin to someone billing the next MMORPG as the Warcraft Killer.
 
[quote name='Actionhank']Optional or not?

You mean if they start charging, and other people decide the that it is worth the money and pay, and yet you don't but still have access to the service, you'll will be angry? This is probably not what you mean.[/QUOTE]
I wouldn't be angry, but I wouldn't use it.
 
[quote name='Megazell']Some people just can help exposing their sheepish nature.

I've already left STEAM but as a business model I like to keep track of it to see how it's doing and also to stay on top of the digital distribution format that is making great stride into consumer based purchases. It fascinates me.

Subscription based format is gaining more and more attention from developers and publishers alike.

Personally, I think it will kill STEAM. Will their be dolts that will shell out the cash for it - Yep. Will they be enough to keep STEAM afloat - Nope.

Gog, D2D and others like it will swoop in and pick all ALL of the customer base that leaves STEAM and they will become EXTREMELY dominate.

Then 5 years from now we will be reading an interview with STEAM executives talking about 'What went wrong?'[/QUOTE]

If it was required then I would be angry. But not if it were optional lol.

Good point megazell, the nice thing about digital distribution on PC is that it is open to competition. If steam starts charging subscription then we will all switch the Impulse or D2D.

But thats why I worry about all this talk about next-gen consoles getting only digital distribution. If you don't like the pricing on PSN for your PS4 what are you gonna do? There are no other stores to buy from.
 
[quote name='Megazell']Some people just can help exposing their sheepish nature.
[/QUOTE]

Sheepish? Not following.
 
[quote name='dfg']Sheepish? Not following.[/QUOTE]

Following conformist trends against their own self-interest.
 
[quote name='Actionhank']
But thats why I worry about all this talk about next-gen consoles getting only digital distribution. If you don't like the pricing on PSN for your PS4 what are you gonna do? There are no other stores to buy from.[/QUOTE]

The thing is - This is the IDEAL measure of control console maker want.

Subscription is the ultimate counter to piracy...mind you they will still try by using private server for content like some MMOs have but in the end those can be exposed relatively fast.

In some way or form, console makers (maybe even PC) will be moving into this format.

It's part of the reason why I only mess with indie companies nowadays...that and I want a NEW game experience...and their free ;)
 
Er, who is the sheep in this analogy? I'm not following either, really. (To be fair, I first read "sheepish" as meaning bashful or embarrassed. Puzzling, given the context. :lol:)

I support innovation in business models, full stop. I think it can't hurt to try a subscription model, even if I'm not particularly interested myself. Consumers benefit from choice, surely?

I've never tried Gametap. I'd be interested to hear how they're faring financially. Glancing at their website, it looks like they offer both permanent purchases and periodic subscriptions. I was initially wary of something like this; I'd assumed that offering both services would breed discontent among consumers. But if it works, it works! Would any of Gametap's customers (subscription or otherwise) care to comment?
 
I was never a customer, but Gametap has gone to shit now. Used to have a nice selection of free games with some good stuff rotated in every few weeks. Now the selection is terrible. Suffice to say I have stopped using it.
 
[quote name='Neci']Er, who is the sheep in this analogy? I'm not following either, really. (To be fair, I first read "sheepish" as meaning bashful or embarrassed. Puzzling, given the context. :lol:)

I support innovation in business models, full stop. I think it can't hurt to try a subscription model, even if I'm not particularly interested myself. Consumers benefit from choice, surely?

I've never tried Gametap. I'd be interested to hear how they're faring financially. Glancing at their website, it looks like they offer both permanent purchases and periodic subscriptions. I was initially wary of something like this; I'd assumed that offering both services would breed discontent among consumers. But if it works, it works! Would any of Gametap's customers (subscription or otherwise) care to comment?[/QUOTE]

Anyone that supports a company against their own self interest is a sheep. "Oh...It's NIKE...It has to be good...They never make a bad product."...."STEAM IS THE BEST...Forget the research and demo...if they say the game is gold....I am going to preorder..." - These are extremes but hopefully you get my point. In console terms they are called 'Fanboys.'

I only play their free games. Every month they pick a new game monthly to spotlight outside of 10 to 15 games in their free line up.

I know that most of their customers are from countries out side of the US from a PC Gamer article awhile back. Like STEAM they have a skeleton crew but seem to be doing well.

How would a subscription model for STEAM benefit consumers when most consumers wait for their deals to make purchases? If they went subscription they won't offer purchase deals outright since it would kill their subscribers.

Subscriptions only benefit the customers when it leads to new content in persistent game worlds on a regular basis, like MMORPGs. That's when it comes as an advantage to a consumer. There is a commitment by a company to give this type of content and more of it...so long as subscribers exist.

For Steam to go this route @ this stage in the game would alienate it's own customer base. You may support innovative business models, fullstop but they do not always lead to innovation.

NOW if a Developer/Publisher (not STEAM) wanted to offer subscription for their content (say their entire library of games from 199x to present and beyond....fully compatible with modern tech with dedicate servers for MP games) then you can have some working models for consumer benefits.

Would I go for it - Nah...There are too many ways to get commercial and non-commercials games free and legally to bother paying for anything (I'll donate though).

STEAM does not make games. They are nearly a portal to purchase them from.
 
[quote name='Megazell']Anyone that supports a company against their own self interest is a sheep.[/QUOTE]

So... I'm the sheep? I'm not being deliberately obtuse here; I genuinely don't get it. I never said I support Steam no matter what they do, and I don't think I support them contrary to my own best interest. I just don't think that "what I want" and "what is good for gaming" are necessarily the same thing.

Look, I have massive MP3 and PC game collections that I have paid for over the years, both via physical media and digital distribution. The sunk cost is huge. Subscription doesn't make a lot of sense for me at this point; there's not enough value added (for all-access passes) relative to my overall collection. But if I could go back in time and be 16 again*, with my first job and first stab at disposable income? Subscription all the way. That'd be brillant.

I can't comment on what Steam would do if it had both subscription and purchase models. I'm not a businesswoman. Clearly, the current set-up is working for them, so all this is probably just a what-if parlor game. But digital distribution was a new idea once, and I started out a skeptic who gradually got convinced. I'm not willing to stand here and declare, "It'll never work!" when I've been proven wrong so many times in the past.

*I would never want to be 16 again. Not even if you paid me.
 
[quote name='foltzie']Come again? Subscription services are fine and for MMORPGs are expected, but if GameTap is any indication, they are niche at best for the PC world.

Considering reports that Valve runs Steam with almost a skeleton crew and has 25million active accounts, reports of something killing it are akin to someone billing the next MMORPG as the Warcraft Killer.[/QUOTE]

I never purchased anything from or subscribed to Gametap--I prefer to own my games...also never trade them in either, though, so maybe I'm in the minority in that regard...game rentals were a thing I used when I was young and couldn't afford games--now, I rather just buy them (and wait till its cheaper if its a game I'd like to play, but not buy for full price) so no gamefly for me either. Never really though Gametap had a large following for what I think you are implying--people don't like paying subscriptions...if I recall correctly, its one of the biggest issues people have with playing MMO's--paying to play....well that, and becoming addicted I suppose being the other :)


[quote name='Megazell']Anyone that supports a company against their own self interest is a sheep. "Oh...It's NIKE...It has to be good...They never make a bad product."...."STEAM IS THE BEST...Forget the research and demo...if they say the game is gold....I am going to preorder..." - These are extremes but hopefully you get my point. In console terms they are called 'Fanboys.'

I only play their free games. Every month they pick a new game monthly to spotlight outside of 10 to 15 games in their free line up.

I know that most of their customers are from countries out side of the US from a PC Gamer article awhile back. Like STEAM they have a skeleton crew but seem to be doing well.

How would a subscription model for STEAM benefit consumers when most consumers wait for their deals to make purchases? If they went subscription they won't offer purchase deals outright since it would kill their subscribers.

Subscriptions only benefit the customers when it leads to new content in persistent game worlds on a regular basis, like MMORPGs. That's when it comes as an advantage to a consumer. There is a commitment by a company to give this type of content and more of it...so long as subscribers exist.

For Steam to go this route @ this stage in the game would alienate it's own customer base. You may support innovative business models, fullstop but they do not always lead to innovation.

NOW if a Developer/Publisher (not STEAM) wanted to offer subscription for their content (say their entire library of games from 199x to present and beyond....fully compatible with modern tech with dedicate servers for MP games) then you can have some working models for consumer benefits.

Would I go for it - Nah...There are too many ways to get commercial and non-commercials games free and legally to bother paying for anything (I'll donate though).

STEAM does not make games. They are nearly a portal to purchase them from.[/QUOTE]

My take on it, is that I doubt that any non-MMO's would go subscription based...and if they did, thinking maybe only really successful/hyped FPS's or possibly Blizzard games...but I agree, that would mean they would have to release reasonably major content to support it, or else people would stick with single-player play, or find an FPS that didn't require subscriptions...not to mention great games like counterstrike, team fortress 2 most likely will never charge for subscriptions, and they still remain popular, so I don't see any new games successfully implementing that when you have great non-subscription based games to play. Also, as far as "promising" MP support for older titles, I could only imagine (although no real experience/data to back this up) there are a lot of ghost town servers for games not really that old, so for the exception of something extremely popular, I doubt there would even be demand for that...heck, do people still actively play quake II? As far as Blizzard games, I think blizzard loyalists possibly would, but I doubt anyone would pay for Diablo III or Starcraft with that model...a lot of people already complain about the lack of updates for WoW and/or cancel/let subscriptions lapse once they plow through the solo-able content, and thats an MMO...can't possibly see how they could release enough content for Starcraft/RTS games to keep it interesting and not unbalanced.

I'm thinking though they could all start requiring logging in to play though, and while they wouldn't necessarily charge for that, the possibility of the dev/publisher going out of business or deciding to turn off "activation" servers and not removing the login requirement could be a problem.
 
[quote name='Neci']So... I'm the sheep? I'm not being deliberately obtuse here; I genuinely don't get it. I never said I support Steam no matter what they do, and I don't think I support them contrary to my own best interest. I just don't think that "what I want" and "what is good for gaming" are necessarily the same thing.

Look, I have massive MP3 and PC game collections that I have paid for over the years, both via physical media and digital distribution. The sunk cost is huge. Subscription doesn't make a lot of sense for me at this point; there's not enough value added (for all-access passes) relative to my overall collection. But if I could go back in time and be 16 again*, with my first job and first stab at disposable income? Subscription all the way. That'd be brillant.

I can't comment on what Steam would do if it had both subscription and purchase models. I'm not a businesswoman. Clearly, the current set-up is working for them, so all this is probably just a what-if parlor game. But digital distribution was a new idea once, and I started out a skeptic who gradually got convinced. I'm not willing to stand here and declare, "It'll never work!" when I've been proven wrong so many times in the past.

*I would never want to be 16 again. Not even if you paid me.[/QUOTE]

I'm not an economic guru but I currently own 3 different businesses. 2 as owner and operator and 1 as a co-owner. I've been playing PC Games (and some console up until Dreamcast) since I was 6. What I am saying is that I've seen (some on this forum, in RL and other forums) people that support what a company does no matter what. That to me is sheepish behavior. Going with the flow, per se. Now, I know I am fringe...I act, do and live life differently...that's not a boast that just me being blunt. But with the introduction of DRM and other models in which companies are trying to get more and more control over their electronic content...I've notice more and more people moving into the fringe side (both online and offline).

Most of this 'What If' is speculation and just internet chat...nothing major but a little discourse disco if you will.

Who knows you maybe be right and it will be a good thing and bring innovation. I know this...if they charge...I won't be there :)
 
Sorry about the topic not being updated the last few days guys. Still a bit busy but probaly monday should be able to do more. My wife went to the Doctor Thursday and ended up having to go to the emergency room. She ended up having her Gallbladder taken out Friday so as you can imagine iv had a crazy several days with no time for updates.
 
[quote name='MSI Magus']Sorry about the topic not being updated the last few days guys. Still a bit busy but probaly monday should be able to do more. My wife went to the Doctor Thursday and ended up having to go to the emergency room. She ended up having her Gallbladder taken out Friday so as you can imagine iv had a crazy several days with no time for updates.[/QUOTE]

It's internet. It can always wait. RL always come first.
 
Well I had a chance to play the AvP demo. It was a fun, but I think it will get old fast.

One thing that kinda scares me is I today when I was playing there was three fucking marines camping (as a team) and killing everything that moved racking up the scores on fucking deathmatch. They pretty much didn't die the whole game.
 
DoW2 dropped almost a week ago. It is a damn fine game. Well worth its price. Just don't go in expect DoW, since DoW2 has no base building and is much like CoH instead.
 
I just downloaded Steam. I've never really played PC games before but I thought I would check it out. I have no idea how it works or anything like that so I hope I can get the hang of it. I probably won't use it that often, but I'll probably check out some multiplayer games. So is Steam better than buying the actual discs?
 
[quote name='Blackout']I just downloaded Steam. I've never really played PC games before but I thought I would check it out. I have no idea how it works or anything like that so I hope I can get the hang of it. I probably won't use it that often, but I'll probably check out some multiplayer games. So is Steam better than buying the actual discs?[/QUOTE]

The only real advantage to disc based games is the fact you don't need to download a multi gig game but with Steam you can download it to any computer at anytime. Also some of the steam deals are way cheaper than buying the game on disc.
 
[quote name='Blackout']I just downloaded Steam. I've never really played PC games before but I thought I would check it out. I have no idea how it works or anything like that so I hope I can get the hang of it. I probably won't use it that often, but I'll probably check out some multiplayer games. So is Steam better than buying the actual discs?[/QUOTE]

While you are checking out STEAM - Check out my 'Free And Legal PC Games' thread - There is a spotlight on 'Free Games On STEAM' - In the spotlight section.

http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=244468
 
[quote name='Blackout']I just downloaded Steam. I've never really played PC games before but I thought I would check it out. I have no idea how it works or anything like that so I hope I can get the hang of it. I probably won't use it that often, but I'll probably check out some multiplayer games. So is Steam better than buying the actual discs?[/QUOTE]

Basically with Steam, the biggest cons are you don't have an physical copy of the game (if that matters to you) and you don't have a decent net connection it can take awhile to download larger games.

Plus sides are you can download as many times as you want on different PC's, don't have to worry about looking for discs and cd keys for installs, patches are all automatically downloaded for your game as well.

My recommendation is to try and wait for sales for most games. Steam shines due to it's midweek, weekend, and holiday sales they have marking games from 50-80% off.

As for multiplayer games, Team Fortress 2 if you like FPS. Valve is still releasing lots of new content for it on a regular basis and it has a very large active community, and it is only $20, a steal at that price.
 
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