Overcooked 2 you still have to buy the base game because the stuff that is actually free is just the DLC. Lame.

For all the money Steam makes you'd think they could spring for at least something halfway decent for once.

Cutter wrote on Apr 17, 2020, 19:49:
For all the money Steam makes you'd think they could spring for at least something halfway decent for once.

Cutter... because Steam owns all the stuff on Steam right? Come on now, put the box of wine down and pay attention...

Epic serves free wine from bottles.

The Half Elf wrote on Apr 17, 2020, 21:14:

Cutter wrote on Apr 17, 2020, 19:49:
For all the money Steam makes you'd think they could spring for at least something halfway decent for once.

Cutter... because Steam owns all the stuff on Steam right? Come on now, put the box of wine down and pay attention...

I expect Steam's current freebies are probably all set by the publishers, but I believe other storefronts offering free games (the Epic Games Store in particular, but likely GOG and Humble Store too) are done by arrangement between the platform and the publisher. In Epic's case I believe they provide a kickback to the publisher depending on if (how much?) the free game is actually played.

So there's no precedent for it, but for all of the money Steam makes they really could spring for something halfway decent.

Domgrief wrote on Apr 17, 2020, 21:51:
In Epic's case I believe they provide a kickback to the publisher depending on if (how much?) the free game is actually played.

What makes you think the payment is based on time played?

The Half Elf wrote on Apr 17, 2020, 21:14:

Cutter wrote on Apr 17, 2020, 19:49:
For all the money Steam makes you'd think they could spring for at least something halfway decent for once.

Cutter... because Steam owns all the stuff on Steam right? Come on now, put the box of wine down and pay attention...

Epic doesn't own the stuff on EGS but they still spring for some good titles. Valve has billions of dollars too so this is just them being cheap - especially at a time like this. I hate cheap people. Steam's always pissed me off because it's so half-assed. It reflects that Gabe is a cheap man.

Epic doesn't own the stuff on EGS but they still spring for some good titles. Valve has billions of dollars too so this is just them being cheap - especially at a time like this. I hate cheap people. Steam's always pissed me off because it's so half-assed. It reflects that Gabe is a cheap man.

Much like PSN and XBL, companies mostly give away back catalogue and indie stuff on these things. If you're expecting AAA current titles then yeah you're going to be disappointed. Epic has given away more AA and a few AAA titles in the past year because they're trying to get a stake in the industry. Valve has a stake and a fully featured client so they probably don't feel the need to buy your fleeting favor.

Personally I thought Into The Breach and Subnautica were really the standouts from their giveaway. The Arkham Trilogy was solid but pretty old at this point. Stuff like World War Z and Just Cause 4 is "ehhh its free but I probably wont actually play it" type redemptions. In fact I think on most of my "freebies" across the various services I probably play 10% of them. Too much current stuff to ever catch up on that back log!

Complaint: Steam's recommendation system sucks.

I clock on Bloons TD6, not because I'm interested in the game, but to see what other TD games they might recommend. However, in the "More Like This" section, not a single other game is a TD game.

LOL at Lost Daughter reviews: "Mostly Negative."

Here's a "positive" review:

Best educational game of 2020! Teaches you that free is very, very costly, a lesson that you would do well to learn! Wastes your time more than a Nickelback album! Users up valuable disk space that is better used by Windows 3.1 installation files still found on a Windows 10 machine! Not nearly as entertaining as watching paint dry!

So I picked up Infinite Warfare Legacy Edition on Humble, which includes Modern Warfare remastered. Figure I'll get my pew-pew on in a couple of 12 hour campaigns. Go to install and...

. . . 192 GB of space required.

Holy shit!!!

jdreyer wrote on Apr 17, 2020, 22:34:
Complaint: Steam's recommendation system sucks.

I clock on Bloons TD6, not because I'm interested in the game, but to see what other TD games they might recommend. However, in the "More Like This" section, not a single other game is a TD game.

It says it's based on tags, and the Singleplayer and Multiplayer tags probably dilute search specificity a lot. If you're looking for tower defense games you should probably just click on that tag.

RedEye9 wrote on Apr 17, 2020, 21:58:

Domgrief wrote on Apr 17, 2020, 21:51:
In Epic's case I believe they provide a kickback to the publisher depending on if (how much?) the free game is actually played.

What makes you think the payment is based on time played?

Good question - it made sense at the time I heard or read it (if it's never played it's probably not a lost sale for the publisher), but I can't find a source for that.

The only mention of revenue I can find is from PC Magazine:

If you're wondering how Epic manages to keep the free games flowing, it's because developers get paid for them. As Sweeney explains, "Epic pays each developer or publisher for the opportunity to distribute their game free for a week. The paid amounts are negotiated to ensure that the developer gains more from the Epic payment and resulting new customer influx than they would expect to lose in paid sales as the result of the free week."

Maybe it's a fixed amount based on how well the game normally sells.

jdreyer wrote on Apr 17, 2020, 22:46:
So I picked up Infinite Warfare Legacy Edition on Humble, which includes Modern Warfare remastered. Figure I'll get my pew-pew on in a couple of 12 hour campaigns. Go to install and...

. . . 192 GB of space required.

Holy shit!!!

Don’t worry. All games will soon be in the cloud and you’ll be able to play them wirelessly on your smart watch. no downloading necessary

jdreyer wrote on Apr 17, 2020, 22:34:
Complaint: Steam's recommendation system sucks.

I clock on Bloons TD6, not because I'm interested in the game, but to see what other TD games they might recommend. However, in the "More Like This" section, not a single other game is a TD game.

I play Bloons on mobile. Best TD series, by far.

Heuy is so much fun. Would have had no chance leaning it but my Dad worked it out by flying every day for a month and gave me the crib notes on how to trim it and keep it vaguely in control and not tearing up the transmission/engine whatever, otherwise it's like the old Bell in Flightsim, good for takeoff and flying fast but the second you want to slow, hover or land trouble! Can't wait for supercarrier the navy planes are already the most fun in DCS. F14 is the closest I'll get to a macross plane and I will never learn any of the fancy systems but that dosn't matter as getting them traps (Occasionally succesfully) is the most fun ever.

Northgard is worth a play.

Beamer wrote on Apr 17, 2020, 23:44:

jdreyer wrote on Apr 17, 2020, 22:34:
Complaint: Steam's recommendation system sucks.

I clock on Bloons TD6, not because I'm interested in the game, but to see what other TD games they might recommend. However, in the "More Like This" section, not a single other game is a TD game.

I play Bloons on mobile. Best TD series, by far.

I almost had a seizure watching the video that runs on the Steam store page.

Also, the best TD series is the Defense Grid series.

Hey Beam,

Check out this awesome TD game that uses heavy metal as a defense.

jdreyer wrote on Apr 17, 2020, 22:46:
So I picked up Infinite Warfare Legacy Edition on Humble, which includes Modern Warfare remastered. Figure I'll get my pew-pew on in a couple of 12 hour campaigns. Go to install and...

. . . 192 GB of space required.

Holy shit!!!

Can't find that bunble om Humble? Link me up, friend! :-)