Discussion Steam Autumn and Winter Sale Thread

[GodisanAtheist]

Figure there is no point in separate sale threads for the Steam Autumn and Winter sale, given they're so close together.

Post all things related here.

Right now only thing that really has my fancy tickled is Psychonauts 2 for $5. That is a 100% must buy.

Outside of that... Pentiment for $10, Doom Eternal for $10, Dusk for $10 and... ... ... Not much.

Been keeping an eye on Jedi Survivor but even at 75% it clocks in at $20 which is just stupid for a 2 year old game that is still suffeting from technical issues, so I'll pass.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

I played Jedi on almost identical combo - 5800X3D+7800XT and it ran great. It plays off of the 1st game well in every way. From story to combat. Some epic environments along the way. Both are on game pass; use paypal or pay with a gift card and it is easy to cancel when you are done with the games you want to play. It is the best value provided you play often enough. I am playing Stalker 2 now, and I'll play the Indiana Jones game when it comes out. At $10 a month if I play 2 new releases it covers the whole year.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

On topic: What's up with Stray being $18 this long after release? It is a short game right? With no real replay value? I did not want to spoil it for myself so I know little about it. My impression is - I'll play it, then it'll sit for years before doing another playthrough. Maybe I'll ask my son for a Steam gift card for Xmas. Role reversal time; All growed up with dad being the one asking for Steam cards. 😁

 

[MoragaBlue]

So, Jedi Fallen Order at $3? And, the newer one at $17? I might just pick these up on general principle and may make worth dealing with the stupid EA App worth it.

 

[GodisanAtheist]

On topic: What's up with Stray being $18 this long after release? It is a short game right? With no real replay value? I did not want to spoil it for myself so I know little about it. My impression is - I'll play it, then it'll sit for years before doing another playthrough. Maybe I'll ask my son for a Steam gift card for Xmas. Role reversal time; All growed up with dad being the one asking for Steam cards. 😁

-Some indie games get really sticky with the price.

Larian is notorious for this, Divinity Original Sin 1 finally dropped below $10, 10 years after release.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

Would love to play Jedi Survivor and Avatar Frontiers of Pandora but those App launchers or whatever is being used before you can play the game just kills it for me. Did however pick up Miles Morales Spider man. Not even 10% into Spider Man Remastered and the game-play is amazing, has elements of immersion, and its just a well developed game so Miles Morales on sale is a no brainer.

I suggest Mad Max. After 98% completion of Hogwarts Legacy I wondered back into the Steam Store and found Mad Max. Can't believe Mad Max is not more talked about. The Voice actors = Best So far in my limited experience. NPC says Shirley that must be you, Chum replies Yes it is and don't call him Shirley, lol but the other angry wastelanders are Mean, foul, and want to kill you with extreme violence . The game often incites aggression. Wish there was another Mad Max game

Love 3rd Person Open World games. UT4 is still my Jam, but these immersive single player games are a treat!

 

[MoragaBlue]

Would love to play Jedi Survivor and Avatar Frontiers of Pandora but those App launchers or whatever it's being used before you can play the game just kills it for me.

Yeah, it's really annoying and generally a deal breaker for me, but the Jedi game at $3? I might just have to deal with it. I mean, the deal is just too good to turn down, especially since I've yet to play the game.

I just wish they would dispense with the 3rd party game launchers.

 

[GodisanAtheist]

Would love to play Jedi Survivor and Avatar Frontiers of Pandora but those App launchers or whatever it's being used before you can play the game just kills it for me. Did however pick up Miles Morales Spider man. Not even 10% into Spider Man Remastered and the game-play is amazing, has elements of immersion, and its just a well developed game so Miles Morales on sale is a no brainer.

I suggest Mad Max. After 98% completion of Hogwarts Legacy I wondered back into the Steam Store and found Mad Max. Can't believe Mad Max is not more talked about. The Voice actors = Best So far in my limited experience. NPC says Shirley that must be you, Chum replies Yes it is and don't call him Shirley, lol but the other angry wastelanders are Mean, foul, and want to kill you with extreme violence . The game often incites aggression. Wish there was another Mad Max game

Love 3rd Person Open World games. UT4 is still my Jam, but these immersive single player games are a treat!

-Its a price thing to me. I'll forgive many sins for $10 or less.

You want $20? $30? $40? Your game better be absolutely flawless.

Market is just too damn competitive for anything else. If only gamers woke up from their incel addled stupor and realize how much market power they have.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Some of us here did indeed praise Mad Max at length. I've played through 4 times over the years. One of the better movie tie-in stories, and the combat is simple but satisfying. Creepy underground areas are creepy; I dig it. See what I did there? Don't forget to be opportunistic during storms, if you are fast enough you can get some sweet loot. Looks great, plays great even on a potato, one of my favorite open world games.

Mad Max deserves a sequel for certain, but not if they make it without Max in it.


Xbox, GOG, Steam, Rock Star are all fine for me. Epic is the worst, because if I don't let it launch with windows it'll keep making me enter my credentials every time I use it. I'll allow it because it notifies me of each weeks free games, and they have given me so many AAA games for free in recompense. Ubisoft is annoying but easily dealt with once you get it setup.

The Jedi games I have played through twice. Well worth the time, especially if you grew up a Star Wars fan like myself. While Mickey does everything he can to ruin it forever, the Jedi games are solid with great backdrops for the action. The opening sequence in the first game with the epic vista had me staring for a good 2 minutes. It was a serious nerdgasm.

Market is just too damn competitive for anything else. If only gamers woke up from their incel addled stupor and realize how much market power they have.

They have. Why do you think Concord is the worst fail ever? Suicide Squad, Forspoken, Alan Walks 2, Saints Row, all fails because of the backlash over perceived issues. None of which I will get into, as that stuff is at the heart of gamer complaint culture. The interwebz gives them a place to shout about all their feels and embrace their worst selves. If only they lived through the days of true shovelware; they would have developed at least a modicum of stoicism.

Spiderman games are my jam. I saw some here call them repetitive and boring? Shove off M8. You are doing it wrong. Web slinging is one of the most fun mechanics in any game. Soaring around in Spiderman 2 may be expedient, but I will be swinging when I can get away with it (That's releasing in January).The games started out with copy pasta of the stuff that makes the Batman games great. I guess they had to finish copying the last of Batman's homework. The combat is addictive. Employing all the different gadgets and skills in a single big throwdown, and mastering how to merk every enemy type, then doing it when they throw the full team at you? Mainline that stuff right into my veins.

 

[GodisanAtheist]

Some of us here did indeed praise Mad Max at length. I've played through 4 times over the years. One of the better movie tie-in stories, and the combat is simple but satisfying. Creepy underground areas are creepy; I dig it. See what I did there? Don't forget to be opportunistic during storms, if you are fast enough you can get some sweet loot. Looks great, plays great even on a potato, one of my favorite open world games.

Mad Max deserves a sequel for certain, but not if they make it without Max in it.


Xbox, GOG, Steam, Rock Star are all fine for me. Epic is the worst, because if I don't let it launch with windows it'll keep making me enter my credentials every time I use it. I'll allow it because it notifies me of each weeks free games, and they have given me so many AAA games for free in recompense. Ubisoft is annoying but easily dealt with once you get it setup.

The Jedi games I have played through twice. Well worth the time, especially if you grew up a Star Wars fan like myself. While Mickey does everything he can to ruin it forever, the Jedi games are solid with great backdrops for the action. The opening sequence in the first game with the epic vista had me staring for a good 2 minutes. It was a serious nerdgasm.



They have. Why do you think Concord is the worst fail ever? Suicide Squad, Forspoken, Alan Walks 2, Saints Row, all fails because of the backlash over perceived issues. None of which I will get into, as that stuff is at the heart of gamer complaint culture. The interwebz gives them a place to shout about all their feels and embrace their worst selves. If only they lived through the days of true shovelware; they would have developed at least a modicum of stoicism.

Spiderman games are my jam. I saw some here call them repetitive and boring? Shove off M8. You are doing it wrong. Web slinging is one of the most fun mechanics in any game. Soaring around in Spiderman 2 may be expedient, but I will be swinging when I can get away with it (That's releasing in January).The games started out with copy pasta of the stuff that makes the Batman games great. I guess they had to finish copying the last of Batman's homework. The combat is addictive. Employing all the different gadgets and skills in a single big throwdown, and mastering how to merk every enemy type, then doing it when they throw the full team at you? Mainline that stuff right into my veins.

- Thanks for reminding me, Suicide Squad is $3.50 and for that price *shrug* why not.

As for Alan Wake 2, just bring it to Steam and that alone would resolve 50% of it's sales issues.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

LOL our sister site PCGamer has a great headline for it - https://www.pcgamer.com/games/third...ing-failures-for-the-price-of-a-cheeseburger/

Oh and being the great big comics nerd I am, I bought it too. 💀

Best price I could find on The Last of Us was $32.39 on Fanatical for the Steam code. This is the price point where I usually spring for Playstation ports. I am going to hold out for the winter sale since I have a backlog thanks to all of the freebies and under $10 deals.

 

[MoragaBlue]

They have. Why do you think Concord is the worst fail ever? Suicide Squad, Forspoken, Alan Walks 2, Saints Row, all fails because of the backlash over perceived issues. None of which I will get into, as that stuff is at the heart of gamer complaint culture.

I think in or around 2012 is when I started my personal games boycott? Back then, I just remember devs saying how they found hardcore highly skilled based gamers annoying, and would much rather cater to a more casual gamer market. I suspect initially it all started innocently enough just to sell more units at scale.

Of course, as with most things which begin with good intentions, it inevitably morphed into the Concords of the world. Not that I care, since I just won't consume the product. If it hadn't been for ER, I would never have gotten back into gaming. Fromsoft and Miyazaki changed everything and brought me back into my beloved gaming hobby. It's so much better than watching movies!

Of course, that's why we hear rumors of Sony's efforts to buy Fromsoft. I don't blame them, since IMHO, they need to shut down Sony America and send all those guys to pasture, like Firewalk Studios.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

I don't have strong opinions about any of that stuff. I evaluate every game on its own merits or lack thereof. I watch some gameplay, find out about the story, see what the crew here has to say, then if it seems like something I'd have fun with, wait for the price I think the game is worth to me. Game pass has allowed me to try games I'd never pay more than $5 for.

On topic: This Steam sale is good so far, and enhanced by Fanatical undercutting some of the sale prices.

 

[WelshBloke]

Yeah, it's really annoying and generally a deal breaker for me, but the Jedi game at $3? I might just have to deal with it. I mean, the deal is just too good to turn down, especially since I've yet to play the game.

I just wish they would dispense with the 3rd party game launchers.

Unfortunately that EA launcher is the worst of a bad bunch. Has a bunch of stuff running in the background after you close it, even has stuff running in the background if you click the option to specifically not have it have stuff running in the background.
All the others you can just set to not launch with windows.

On a related note it's bloody annoying when launchers won't let you play a single player game unless you update it to the latest version! Especially if going to the latest version involves a 10gig patch and you only have half an hour to kill!

 

[MoragaBlue]

Unfortunately that EA launcher is the worst of a bad bunch. Has a bunch of stuff running in the background after you close it, even has stuff running in the background if you click the option to specifically not have it have stuff running in the background.
All the others you can just set to not launch with windows.

On a related note it's bloody annoying when launchers won't let you play a single player game unless you update it to the latest version! Especially if going to the latest version involves a 10gig patch and you only have half an hour to kill!

It's a conundrum. I'm from the school of thought where anything could be come appealing at a low enough price, and likewise anything can become unappealing a high enough price.

For $3 bucks, I may have to just endure it, and thoroughly delete the EA launch once I've finished.

 

[WelshBloke]

For $3 bucks, I may have to just endure it, and thoroughly delete the EA launch once I've finished.

This is what I've done with Jedi Survivor from steam. The game files are still there but I uninstalled the EA app. If I want to play the game I just need to install the launcher and not download the whole game.

 

[GodisanAtheist]

Unfortunately that EA launcher is the worst of a bad bunch. Has a bunch of stuff running in the background after you close it, even has stuff running in the background if you click the option to specifically not have it have stuff running in the background.
All the others you can just set to not launch with windows.

On a related note it's bloody annoying when launchers won't let you play a single player game unless you update it to the latest version! Especially if going to the latest version involves a 10gig patch and you only have half an hour to kill!

-I have EA App on my main PC. Really my biggest issue with it is it can't be navigated by controller, so it immediately makes stuff aggravating to deal with on my Steam Box where I typically only use a controller.

Having some extra processes is annoying, but my PC (and many out there) have so much frigging processing power that it kinda doesn't matter in virtually all cases.

Yeah yeah there is telemetry and whatnot but if EA is that interested in my particular brand of midget porn then... Uh... Have at it I guess.

 

[WelshBloke]

Having some extra processes is annoying, but my PC (and many out there) have so much frigging processing power that it kinda doesn't matter in virtually all cases.

Its just that I don't want every program on my PC running a bunch of background processes. And that's before getting into how shonky those apps are so I have no confidence in the robustness of their background processes security or ability to break something else on my PC!

Yeah yeah there is telemetry and whatnot but if EA is that interested in my particular brand of midget porn then... Uh... Have at it I guess.

Yeah, I'll happily share my noodz with them. It'll teach them the dangers of snooping!

 

[GodisanAtheist]

Yeah, I'll happily share my noodz with them. It'll teach them the dangers of snooping!

- When we all see the gameplay reveal for "@WelshBloke Hangs Dong" we won't have to wonder if the assets are AI generated, at least.

Sorry everyone... BACK ON TOPIC

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

Sorry to change the tone here, thanks for the laughs btw, nothing funny to add but thanks, lol

What's the deal with some games like Elden Ring, Witcher III Wild Hunt, just so slow to respond when you press an attack key or what have you? Unfortunately I didn't find out about the refund policy with Steam till 4hrs into Elden Ring, and I bought all the extra content even before playing the game. However I quickly tested out the 6 or 7 other games I picked up, about 2 weeks ago, and returned I think like 5 of them.

I've pretty much been playing UT4 for the past 10yrs with CS:GO now CS2 in-between for time burning. My pleasure reading books loathe me, so I have been out of mainstream PC gaming for the longest. Even before that it was just the UT series with some Day of Defeat and CS sprinkled in, so I'm unaware of what's been going on and what kind of games I'd like, besides what I've mentioned above which leads me to my point of asking what are some games I can look into before this sale is over?

So far I've returned Witcher III, Robo Cop - really wanted to like this one but the gameplay reminded me something out of my Super Nintendo era, same with Terminator: Resistance, the companies other copy and paste over game (Dev Teyon), Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic, Avatar Frontiers of Pandora and Jedi Survivor and I have to say even with Hogwarts Legacy crashing issues, those returned games have made me appreciate it more. Game really is fantastic. Just wish it was a little more difficult.


I guess a recap would help, single player, 3rd person, open world, EDIT and no 3rd party launchers or apps.

 

[sandorski]

On topic: What's up with Stray being $18 this long after release? It is a short game right? With no real replay value? I did not want to spoil it for myself so I know little about it. My impression is - I'll play it, then it'll sit for years before doing another playthrough. Maybe I'll ask my son for a Steam gift card for Xmas. Role reversal time; All growed up with dad being the one asking for Steam cards. 😁

The Story is a big part of it. Only watched a playthrough of it, but enjoyed it. You're a cat, which is unique, especially for cat lovers. Nice artistic style. Everyone seems to love it.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Sorry to change the tone here, thanks for the laughs btw, nothing funny to add but thanks, lol

What's the deal with some games like Elden Ring, Witcher III Wild Hunt, just so slow to respond when you press an attack key or what have you? Unfortunately I didn't find out about the refund policy with Steam till 4hrs into Elden Ring, and I bought all the extra content even before playing the game. However I quickly tested out the 6 or 7 other games I picked up, about 2 weeks ago, and returned I think like 5 of them.

I've pretty much been playing UT4 for the past 10yrs with CS:GO now CS2 in-between for time burning. My pleasure reading books loathe me, so I have been out of mainstream PC gaming for the longest. Even before that it was just the UT series with some Day of Defeat and CS sprinkled in, so I'm unaware of what's been going on and what kind of games I'd like, besides what I've mentioned above which leads me to my point of asking what are some games I can look into before this sale is over?

So far I've returned Witcher III, Robo Cop - really wanted to like this one but the gameplay reminded me something out of my Super Nintendo era, same with Terminator: Resistance, the companies other copy and paste over game (Dev Teyon), Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic, Avatar Frontiers of Pandora and Jedi Survivor and I have to say even with Hogwarts Legacy crashing issues, those returned games have made me appreciate it more. Game really is fantastic. Just wish it was a little more difficult.


I guess a recap would help, single player, 3rd person, open world.

All of those twitch shooters have made you hyper sensitive to input lag evidently. You use AMD anti-lag yes? I was playing 99% of my time on a 1080/60 TV until a week ago, and 75% of the time with an Xbox controller. Making me the worst person to ask about low input lag. Some are old enough you may have played them but here are some I like -

The fallout series is great. New Vegas is the best, Fallout 3 and 4 are good. They all allow first or third person. The Assassins Creed games I'd recommend Black Flag, Odyssey, Syndicate, Valhalla. GTA5 is great. Rage 2 and Outer Worlds are okay. Horizon Zero Dawn and the sequel are popular but I have a hard time getting pulled in. Red Dead Redemption 1-2 are among my top favorites. Spiderman games. Batman games. Halo Infinite I enjoyed the campaign. Gotham Knights is meh but if you get it cheap enough worth messing around with I suppose. Ubisoft has a bunch that are super cheap on sales. Sleeping Dogs was excellent. Watch Dogs series is popular. Ghost Recon series like Wild Lands and Breaking Point. Division 1-2.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

All of those twitch shooters have made you hyper sensitive to input lag evidently. You use AMD anti-lag yes? I was playing 99% of my time on a 1080/60 TV until a week ago, and 75% of the time with an Xbox controller. Making me the worst person to ask about low input lag. Some are old enough you may have played them but here are some I like -

The fallout series is great. New Vegas is the best, Fallout 3 and 4 are good. They all allow first or third person. The Assassins Creed games I'd recommend Black Flag, Odyssey, Syndicate, Valhalla. GTA5 is great. Rage 2 and Outer Worlds are okay. Horizon Zero Dawn and the sequel are popular but I have a hard time getting pulled in. Red Dead Redemption 1-2 are among my top favorites. Spiderman games. Batman games. Halo Infinite I enjoyed the campaign. Gotham Knights is meh but if you get it cheap enough worth messing around with I suppose. Ubisoft has a bunch that are super cheap on sales. Sleeping Dogs was excellent. Watch Dogs series is popular. Ghost Recon series like Wild Lands and Breaking Point. Division 1-2.

Yeah those fight mechanics for Elden Ring, and The Witcher just really hold them back imo. Maybe it's the FPS cap in Elden Ring that's the problem but overall they seem just clunky. Really wish they didn't have it like that for me. I don't think it's so much an input lag thing with them, I think it's just the implementation of how the game is setup. I could possibly be doing something wrong but I really gave it some time with The Witcher before I said nah this is not how games should be. Maybe after some time I'll learn to appreciate Elden Ring but for now It's minimal game play at most souly to see if there is something I'm missing or it's just a game curve to learn.

Some other hard felt deal breakers for me are Silent Hill 2, Stalker 2, ... if they were 3rd person I'd probably would have bought them already. There is something about panning the camera around while moving in another direction that has a liberating feeling that also can sometimes be needed for elements of gameplay like learning areas in a map, or a spacial puzzle, that function better than in 1st person view. It has more of a natural feel also. Could you imagine not being able to turn your neck while looking around in first person in real life all the time? lol smh that's just silly.

Do the Assassin's Creed games need Ubisoft to launch?

What's up with Red Dead II ? Seems Rockstar wants you to make an account to play it? Been there and done that with the Epic Launcher for UT4, couldn't uninstall that thing fast enough when I heard it was no longer need - F tims weeney

EDIT: Sorry should have mentioned, no 3rd party launcher or apps

EDIT2: I do have Indiana Jones coming. Know nothing about it as far as 3rd party apps .. seems like it's 1st person but It's Indiana Jones, gotta check it out!

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Going to limit your choices quite a bit if you are unwilling to use any launcher but Steam. I am in the small minority that does not mind all of the telemetry and invasiveness. I leverage it for free games and other benefits like gift cards. I surmise they end up with it through data brokerage regardless, so I may as well get something out of it. Amazon prime gaming has been pretty pimp lately. Giving me free games that I activate on GOG. 😍

I understand it provides more attack vectors and opportunities for my info to be stolen. It sucks, but that's the live on the razor's edge, laugh in the face of danger life we live.

And yes, you ain't playing RockStar games without an account unless you sail the seas?

 

[yottabit]

Yeah those fight mechanics for Elden Ring, and The Witcher just really hold them back imo. Maybe it's the FPS cap in Elden Ring that's the problem but overall they seem just clunky. Really wish they didn't have it like that for me. I don't think it's so much an input lag thing with them, I think it's just the implementation of how the game is setup. I could possibly be doing something wrong but I really gave it some time with The Witcher before I said nah this is not how games should be. Maybe after some time I'll learn to appreciate Elden Ring but for now It's minimal game play at most souly to see if there is something I'm missing or it's just a game curve to learn.

Some other hard felt deal breakers for me are Silent Hill 2, Stalker 2, ... if they were 3rd person I'd probably would have bought them already. There is something about panning the camera around while moving in another direction that has a liberating feeling that also can sometimes be needed for elements of gameplay like learning areas in a map, or a spacial puzzle, that function better than in 1st person view. It has more of a natural feel also. Could you imagine not being able to turn your neck while looking around in first person in real life all the time? lol smh that's just silly.

Do the Assassin's Creed games need Ubisoft to launch?

What's up with Red Dead II ? Seems Rockstar wants you to make an account to play it? Been there and done that with the Epic Launcher for UT4, couldn't uninstall that thing fast enough when I heard it was no longer need - F tims weeney

EDIT: Sorry should have mentioned, no 3rd party launcher or apps

EDIT2: I do have Indiana Jones coming. Know nothing about it as far as 3rd party apps .. seems like it's 1st person but It's Indiana Jones, gotta check it out!

There’s a certain amount of “jank” built into the FromSoft games and it’s part of their “charm” if you can learn to adapt to it. They also like to use very long animations. It’s definitely not an arcade feel. However I think you’ll find the dodge rolls quite responsive. But they still may be limited to 60 Hz input polling on their engine, not sure about that.

Elden Ring and Dark Souls are basically games about dodge rolling for the most part. It’s much more important to get out the way than anything else. The games punish you extremely (usually with death) for attacking at the wrong time because of those long attack animations.

If you want something that adds even more twitch reflexes you could try Sekiro, it adds a parry system and is widely regarded as the hardest of the games. IMO the combat in all the games is “fair” and you eventually learn to really love it if you give it enough tries. It is slow but very precise and tactical.

Witcher 3 by contrast has trash combat. There are some mods that try to fix it that might be worth it. I had a lot more fun once I set the game to Easy and cheesed the combat and just focused on exploration & story