THE BORE
General => Video Game Bored => Topic started by: Nintex on December 04, 2018, 01:47:15 PM
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Epic just announced another online storefront. Taking a smaller cut from developers.
(https://cdn2.unrealengine.com/UnrealEngine%2FNews%2FAnnouncing+the+Epic+Games+Store%2FEpicGamesStore_InfoGraphic-1920x1080-df66848d0d804e4366355775eae247a9abdeb1e7.jpg)
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Epic is one company that might be able to pull off seriously competing with Steam. A lot of publishers already have a relationship with them, and a lot of people already have their launcher installed.
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This is way rad, I like this a lot
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Oh boy, another client I don't want to install trying to take Steam's throne.
I'm already entrenched with Steam, unless their client is 200x better than Steams, I'll ignore it just like Uplay and Origin.
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Yes I really want another client to compete with something I have hundreds of games on. God I wish you could sell digital games.
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If anyone is gonna push another client, not too surprising that its the company with the biggest game in the world right now. Easy enough to cut devs a deal when you are making zillions on fortnite vbucks. I already have it installed and I don't use any of Steams features anyway so why not...just give the good deals and I'll be there.
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Valve has been sitting on their ass for a while chasing poorly designed hardware.
Epic has a real shot here but it's going to take some convincing for gamers to move on.
However, all devs I showed this to told me: "Yeah we know, we're launching our stuff on it"
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You can buy porn games on Steam. Steam wins.
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However, all devs I showed this to told me: "Yeah we know, we're launching our stuff on it"
And if they go exclusive to it, I'll ignore them like I have done Battle.net and anything non-DICE from EA.
It's really simple: If you're going to make a client, make sure you don't exclusive your shit and let people buy your shit from wherever the hell they want.
The game industry is going the way of the movie houses, and it's going to cause folks to pirate again when Valve got people to pirate less with Steam.
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Epic just announced another online storefront. Taking a smaller cut from developers.
(https://cdn2.unrealengine.com/UnrealEngine%2FNews%2FAnnouncing+the+Epic+Games+Store%2FEpicGamesStore_InfoGraphic-1920x1080-df66848d0d804e4366355775eae247a9abdeb1e7.jpg)
Full Press Release:
https://www.unrealengine.com/en-US/blog/announcing-the-epic-games-store
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Doesn't the OP graphic outright admit Unity is the best option?
Or am I missing something
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We’ve built this store and its economic model so that Epic’s interests are aligned with your interests. Because of the high volume of Fortnite transactions, we can process store payments, serve bandwidth, and support customers very efficiently.
:badass these humble brags :lol
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Doesn't the OP graphic outright admit Unity is the best option?
Or am I missing something
On Steam? Yeah, it looks like that's about right.
On Epic Store? It looks like they're equal, except that asterisk about not including Unity's licensing fees. Depending on the version used, that can be substantial, I think? Jeez, it's been over a year since I looked at Unity's most recent pricing model. I gave up on tracking it.
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Well if you're publishing to both stores then Unity still gets the nod.
That's a really bad marketing graphic. :lol
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I think there could be some benefits here that steam can’t beat, like cross platform party chat and universal friends lists for games with cross play.
It would be hard for steam to develop that capability because they don’t have any games they can use to grab a foothold whereas largely epic games has already done it.
Doesn’t necessarily mean that epic WILL proceed ina smart way, but if they do it could be cool.
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I think there could be some benefits here that steam can’t beat, like cross platform party chat and universal friends lists for games with cross play.
It would be hard for steam to develop that capability because they don’t have any games they can use to grab a foothold
Portal 2
:gaben
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I've been in the beta for this and Epic has a LOT of work they need to do. Even just for launching Fortnite and Unreal Tournament (lol... aww fbm) the new "library" is arguably worse than the old one is. battle.net just sticking the Activision games at the bottom for now is arguably better thought out.
Valve probably can bring down the share at this point if they have to, especially considering how many sellers of keys exist out there. There's just never been someone until Epic with the clout, pre-existing relationships and pre-existing massive cash flow from something to support a truly strong competitor. (Also, should be obvious btw, but Epic takes a greater cut of the "share" vs. on Steam. Their 5% from Steam is 7% of the total vs. 12% on their new store. So Valve's target is more flexible than the graph implies, since Epic's share on Steam doesn't change.) We know Valve does change the share through side deals, Epic does have them over a nice barrel of they can't give a discount to people who use UE because it'll just send people to use UE.
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Epic, baby... First you give us Jazz Jackrabbit 3, then you can talk about your own store.
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I can't wait to download another client I'll open once a year to play whatever exclusive the publisher refuses to put on Steam.
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I am using launchbox as a frontend to not deal with the launchers anymore, if you want to ge the free route: playnite.link (http://playnite.link) :trumps
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btw Epic will launch its service by giving away Subnautica for free and they are planning to give away one game every two weeks.
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Already better than steam :doge
I just think the competition will be good for gamers. Maybe even steam sales will be good again.
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Twitch and Discord also have storefronts.
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Twitch is owned by Amazon, so Amazon Prime gives you free games on Twitch.
The only one I was sorta excited about and installed of all the ones they've given over the last six months was Sanitarium. :lol
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someone is going to make a wrapper for all of these and become sauron.
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Twitch is owned by Amazon, so Amazon Prime gives you free games on Twitch.
The only one I was sorta excited about and installed of all the ones they've given over the last six months was Sanitarium. :lol
hey now they gave away pillars of eternity too. or was that over six months ago. :lol
I checked out the epic store, got the early alpha UT thing. It is urleh.
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https://www.pcgamesn.com/rage-2/rage-2-steam
Gonna probably wait for a deep sale. :yuck
Not that it matters much anyway. My PC is getting pretty old and graphic cards are in a clusterfuck right now so I might as well wait.
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COUNT'EM!
- Steam
- Gog
- Uplay
- Origin
- Battle.net
- Bethesda Launcher
- Epic Games Launcher
THAT'S SEVEN!
Anything else I am missing?
RIP Desura. I'll miss having to download you to get a Steam key for some indie bundle jank.
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(https://i.imgur.com/wupikqC.png)
:rejoice PC GAMING :rejoice
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Where are the Itch.io and gamejolt clients pleb. :snob
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didn't even know itch had a client now too :dead
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I wouldn't say it's exactly fair to lump GOG Galaxy or itch.io's client in the list given it's not necessary to launch or download games. Handy to have for updating games though. Actually not even sure if Epic's launcher is required to be open to launch games either since it lacks its own DRM and up to games to use solutions of their own from what they've said.
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There are actually a good number of Steam games that can be launched without Steam or even at the same time as a game using Steam.
Origin also has a decent amount of DRM free installs as well*, especially older titles. (like the ones that are also on GOG, natch)
uPlay might be the only client that requires it for all its games. battle.net even has a "silent" background mode for some of the games.
*Along with the special DRM Hell Installs that come with titles like Crysis.
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Apparently I already got an account because I got the free Shadow Complex. Can't wait to boot up the store every few weeks for the free game. Subnautica looks pretty interesting.
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I really cba to install other shit but fuck Steam and Valve for their complacency and nepotism.
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I have the Epic Launcher installed from when they gave away Shadow Complex Remastered for free, but it's so old that it won't launch and it can't update itself. Sorry Epic, that was your one chance.
Edit: Wait, wait a second...after I reset it and ran the updater 5 or 6 times, the updater looks different now. I think we've done it! :rejoice
Edit 2: We're on the second update cycle with the more modern updater. I'll keep you posted.
Edit 3: I see a storefront, we got there friends.
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Sad that Epic couldnt compete storefront wise so they resort to exclusivity instead
interesting to see someone with money that could rival Steam though. as a client its a decade behind steam and a laughable comparison at best
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Steam's competition will never be as good imo. They all lack the tons of QoL features, developer tools, continuous R&D etc. that have come with being the primary platform for over a decade. That, and the sheer number of games on somebody's account as a result of one primary platform serving everyone for that long of a time.
:heh
Steam's a dumpster fire.
WTF does Valve even do anymore? Probably R&Ding robot dogs or some shit.
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valve is mostly wack these days but they did just put out a card game and BR for CSGO
i don't give much of a shit about multiple clients or whatever, that's the other side of the "open platform" pc people are always crowing about all the time. any new store has to have a decent refund policy that is just as easy as steam and community reviews before they really matter though.
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Bu bu bu steam has big picture mode that barely fucking works, hardware nobody bought until it was ninety-nine cents, controller support (wow!), and horrible community features filled with toxic shitposters and braindead children. Oh and you can buy keys from other vendors which means steam doesn’t have to offer meaningful sales and can get buy with half-assed holiday ARGs or their horrible gems systems. Oh and they’ll let any fucking asset flip piece of shit on there making discovery absolute garbage
Gems haven't been a thing in 3 years. The ARGs haven't been a thing either.
I agree the client needs improving, but you're willing to wade through shit just to avoid another piece of shit? :doge
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y'all deserve a monopoly with the amount you bitch
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It has felt like Valve's been distracted since they started in on DOTA. But part of that is probably that I don't care about DOTA 2. At the same time a lot of their productions have felt like starts and stops, the CS:GO BR thing surprised me because it was one of those random projects they'd drop in without warning like kooky TF2 updates or L4D2 a year after the first game.
Being a DoD fan first of course, I'm used to this Valve treatment. "We've patched in all these achievements and new stat tracking systems because we want to create new content and make gameplay tweaks!" eons pass... "Turns out we actually meant TF2. Check out this horde mode! DoD? No, the Department of Defense isn't involved on our projects, are you confusing it with America's Army, also F2P on the Steam store!"
The whole store thing was just a matter of time really, and Epic has the clout and cash to do it. EA stopped putting new games on Steam in like 2009 or so. Activision pulling Call of Duty was the big one simply because it was one of the early Steamworks series and they had been prominent in free weekends, betas, etc. That was the first signal the Steam dominance era was over probably.
I think Bethesda thought Fallout 76 was going to be bigger, that and RAGE 2 seem lesser to launch your client with versus Destiny and Call of Duty, with big assists from Blizzard, for Activision. (Even if RAGE 2 is probably the one title out of those four I'd consider buying before launch.)
The Epic Store grabbing so many games that aren't Epics and in some cases are not even established titles/companies will be interesting in testing that factor of how much people want one client with almost all their library. Activision/EA/Bethesda are using bigger guns, and that's just to establish a store with mostly only their own games.
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Bethesda Launcher should let you do something ala GOG Connect...even EA and uPlay allow this to various extent if you have CDKeys or similar codes. Especially on older titles. Like Bethesda's not going to get me to rebuy all the Wolfenstein/Doom/Quake titles on their client, but if you let me bring all those games over from Steam I'll consider your client more, especially when you want me to buy future titles in the franchises on your client. Ubisoft for example, I don't bother with Steam keys anymore, in part because it and uPlay get in fights, but also I might as well have all Far Cry's or Assassin's Creeds or Tom Clancy's in one client, etc. Extra so when the Steam version is barebones and you offer stuff like random ass skins if I play it on your client.
I don't expect the same of Epic, since they aren't the publisher of the games no matter what awesome GOG pulls off in their negotiations, but Bethesda should do this with their games simply to hit a feature parity with Origin and uPlay. And definitely if they're migrating stuff on the backend like Quake Champions and Elder Scrolls Online. I for whatever reason have "paid for" these on Steam (probably from bundles/monthly) and nowhere on Bethesda's client or website does it indicate that my account will cross over and I'll have the "fuller" versions of these games on their client versus just F2P. In the case of these, if I were to play them, especially QC, I might as well just play it through their client rather than layer it under Steam. Siege kept everything when I migrated from Steam/uPlay hell to just uPlay. Do these games? I could look it up, but it doesn't tell me. uPlay made clear you lost no progress in transitioning over to them.
Hell, to hit feature parity with the original days of Steam when you would plug in your Half-Life key and they'd give you like all the add-on content (Blue Shift, Day Of Defeat, TFC, etc.) because why the fuck not.
Even better, it doesn't even indicate whether or not Fallout Shelter of all things has crossplay. I can't trust that it does because a lot of these F2P games have sometimes segmented themselves on PC and especially when they also have mobile versions that are also segmented. I totally suspect that it, and QC and ESO, does use a central account but it doesn't tell me this.
PC Gamers aren't just going to trust that such systems work like this because we've all spent our entire gaming lives running into stupid situations where it doesn't when it should. On games and services far less complex and tied up in corporate reasoning than these clients/storefronts are.
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shut up loser, just buy them again
33% off for Fallout 76 now! 0% off for Return to Castle Wolfenstein!
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They should definitely do some kind of one-time-only Steam/GoG import to get people on to the service, I can't imagine that those older games are selling enough at this point on Bethesda Launcher [especially to people who already own those games elsewhere] that it wouldn't be worth it for them to do that.
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I'm still bitter that we haven't seen from Valve a Day of Defeat followup (beyond the source version).
:goldberg
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I'm still bitter that we haven't seen from Valve a Day of Defeat followup (beyond the source version).
:goldberg
There is a game much like Day of Defeat on Steam that runs on Source that was actually at one point Day of Defeat II that Valve dropped and the devs released themselves instead using a new name with "Day of" in the title.
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I'm still bitter that we haven't seen from Valve a Day of Defeat followup (beyond the source version).
:goldberg
There is a game much like Day of Defeat on Steam that runs on Source that was actually at one point Day of Defeat II that Valve dropped and the devs released themselves instead using a new name with "Day of" in the title.
Which game is it? Also should I buy Insurgancy Sandstorm Nintex? I dont know if it runs on my pc :(
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https://store.steampowered.com/app/447820/Day_of_Infamy/
It's not exactly the same, it leans more towards the realism of beta DoD versus the slightly looser DoD/DoD:S.
Player count is rough unfortunately.
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Downloaded the epic launcher and fuck that shit. Not even free games is going to make me use that.
I just want my csgo skins and racist steam comments.
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https://www.gamespot.com/g00/articles/telltales-the-walking-dead-final-season-becomes-ep/1100-6464053/?i10c.ua=1&i10c.encReferrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8%3d&i10c.dv=19
Welp, time to pirate. I even have the demo on Steam waiting for the final season to come back to buy. :lol Fuck outta here, Kirkman.
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Ubisoft seems set to pull from the Steam store: Tom Clancy's The Division 2 is no longer on the store and Ubisoft said it's going to be Epic exclusive.
So that's something I can't pirate, but will wait for when Ubisoft fire-sales it (AKA: gives it away for free) I guess.
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imagine thinking the division will be the game to get people off of steam :lol
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You might say they're hoping to create a division in the PC gaming market.
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Ubisoft seems set to pull from the Steam store: Tom Clancy's The Division 2 is no longer on the store and Ubisoft said it's going to be Epic exclusive.
It's not, it will still require and be available through uPlay.
No word yet on resellers, since Ubisoft sells their keys through literally everybody including Origin. That's probably a bigger loss than Steam.
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It's not, it will still require and be available through uPlay.
...Which is as good as making it Epic exclusive. :lol :lol :lol :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl
Seriously, does anyone buy from Uplay? And in any case, the store depot for it on Steam has been removed (but it can still be seen on your wishlist if you did that, which kinda pisses me off about this shit) and Origin never had it up for pre-order, so it's Epic or bust (or buy it from Uplay I guess... :rofl :rofl :rofl )
Neither of which is happening for me, and since it's an online MMO, it's going to be a bitch to pirate (if ever), so it's the first "Epic" title that I'm skipping.
Ubisoft. :salute
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uPlay keys have usually been cheaper through the resellers/Humble/etc. for a while versus Steam and you don't have the hassle of Steam and uPlay fighting over relaunching each other into oblivion :idont
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:obama
Axiom Verge was overdue for getting bundled or getting a steep discount.
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Jack Box is free now, What Remains of Edith Finch was free the other day, wtf. Would have liked that on PC.
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Yeah I just forgot about it, thread reminded me.
I really liked EF on PS4 and would be cool to have gotten for free. Not the kind of game to really spend much on a double dip tho.
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stolen from a podcast via ResetERA.com via 213372bu in the dumpster thread because it's interesting information:
Exclusivity
There will be (PC) games that have timed exclusivity to the EGS. Galyonkin says that Epic pays for this. They mainly pay developers to finish financing ports or to assuage fears of the game not doing well on this new platform. The latter works like a minimum guarantee of sales. Currently (or at the time of the podcast's release anyway), Epic's focus is on getting games that have not yet been released. If a developer wants to put it exclusively on their store, Epic is currently also offering to do off-site marketing, including ads on Facebook, Instagram, and Google. They don't advertise the store but the games. Galyonkin explains that if a game is only available through the EGS, that is of course in Epic's own interests, and it's in a developer's interest to get marketing through them. I don't believe Galyonkin said anything about if or how that would change once the store goes open for self-publishing. One big question that’s been on my mind at least is how in the world Epic got Journey. The answer is apparently that Epic cut a deal with Sony, and, to me, it sounded like Epic paid to get it ported over.
This wasn't addressed in this episode of the podcast, but here is some additional insight regarding Journey:
NoTime said:
The thing is that Annapurna guys are the people that were working at SSM external development before its closing/winding down. They are the guys who originally helped to create and publish Journey. So they have a very close relationship with Sony. I guess that was some kind of 3 way deal to make it happen because as far as I'm aware Epic is not publishing any exclusives on their store, so they needed some company to do publishing. According to their wording, they are already spread thin and don't really want to manage publishing side of things on top of what they are already doing. At least that's what their rhetoric makes me believe.
Upcoming consumer-facing features
Responding to complaints about the EGS being focused on developers to the detriment of consumers, Galyonkin says that their initial focus was indeed on developers and that consumer-focused features are being worked on. Evidently, even certain things on the backend for developers aren’t fully finalized yet. Epic will be giving out free games every two weeks for the entirety of 2019 -- 28 games in total, including those that was given out late 2018. New (client) features for consumers will be introduced gradually.
Cloud saves will be coming around February. Achievements will be there by the end of 2019. Reviews will also come eventually – I don’t recall a date being given at any point. As stated before, there will not be per-game forums, and Galyonkin also added that there wouldn’t be guides like on Steam. Developer pages on the store will also be implemented at a later date. Social features will be introduced, but it'll be somewhat different from Steam's, and he couldn't give details yet. Limiting download speeds will also be an option. User profiles are planned for the beginning of "next year,” but I'm unsure whether he meant early 2019 or 2020.
The equivalent of Steam cards isn’t planned. Galyonkin says that they have an undesirable effect on purchasing decisions in the sense that people buy games that they don't really want just for the cards. Unlocking (in-game) items like skins and things like that will be possible but not necessarily tradeable.
You’ll be able to launch non-Epic games through the launcher, like on Steam. You can already pull in friends lists from Steam, Galyonkin said. However, importing games directly from other platforms – like on GOG -- will not be done. He doesn't see the advantage of it.
As for mod support, Epic wants to apply their Support-A-Creator program to mods as well. They don’t know yet how it’ll work exactly. What is clear is that they don’t want to sell mods but would like mod creators to somehow get some amount of money. A mod manager was discussed briefly, but nothing concrete was said.
More social media integration is being looked at. Currently, it’s already possible to connect Facebook, VK, Steam, Twitch, PS, Switch, Xbox, and Google accounts.
Finally, they're happy with the look of the store as it is now with its big tiles. Eventually things like categories will be introduced, but it sounds like this is basically the design they’ll be sticking with.
On the developer’s end of things
The most important of these is probably that by the end of 2019 the EGS is expected to open to self-publishing.
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(https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/371726024137900035/539764608962002944/unknown.png)
neat
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:lol
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:lol I like seeing big corporates publically vying for each-others lunch. https://www.forbes.com/sites/insertcoin/2019/01/29/is-metro-exodus-bailing-on-steam-for-epic-as-unfair-as-valve-claims/#d2020c036099
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(https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/371726024137900035/539764608962002944/unknown.png)
neat
Which "guy" was this? Dave Grenowetski? Jim Barnett?
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Which "guy" was this? Dave Grenowetski? Jim Barnett?
had to look it up myself
https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/steve-allison-appointment-former-midway-and-atari-man-joins-episodic-adventure-folks-telltale-as-senior-vp-of-marketing
https://www.linkedin.com/in/steveallison
https://twitter.com/halfbakedsteve
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Which "guy" was this? Dave Grenowetski? Jim Barnett?
had to look it up myself
https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/steve-allison-appointment-former-midway-and-atari-man-joins-episodic-adventure-folks-telltale-as-senior-vp-of-marketing
https://www.linkedin.com/in/steveallison
https://twitter.com/halfbakedsteve
Since his Twitter is protected:
Over 20 years experience in executive level operational management, publishing and business development in interactive entertainment.
Oversaw publishing for several critically and commercially successful interactive software brands - incl.: Unreal/Unreal Tournament, Driver, Stuntman, Enter The Matrix, the re-launch of Test Drive in 1997, Godzilla, Hardball, Neverwinter Nights, Lord Of The Rings Online (MMORPG for PC), Stranglehold, Blitz: The League, NBA Ballers, Game Party, Psi Ops, and several Mortal Kombat games (5) including Mortal Kombat v DC Universe.
Worked closely with some of the best software development teams including Epic Games, Bioware, Turbine, Angel Studios/Rockstar San Diego, Midway Chicago & UK, Shiny, Irrational Games, Rainbow Studios, Reflections, A2M, Gearbox, Mojang and Telltale Games.
Experienced in implementing well thought out corporate publishing strategy, negotiating content/partnership deals, sourcing, securing and closing publishing/licensing deals and handling those relationships as primary senior contact after close. Partners include: MLB, NBA, NFL, DC Entertainment (Superman, Mortal Kombat v DC Universe, Fables, Batman), Warner Brothers (Enter The Matrix, Looney Tunes, Superman), Sony Pictures (Men In Black), Tigon Studios (Vin Diesel/Wheelman), Tiger Hill (John Woo/Stranglehold), Wizards Of The Coast (Dungeons & Dragons, Magic The Gathering), Paramount (Mission Impossible), C2/Cinergi (The Terminator), Hasbro, Toho (Godzilla), Robert Kirkman (The Walking Dead), Universal (Back To The Future, Jurassic Park), Gearbox (Tales From The Borderlands), HBO (Game of Thrones), Mojang (Minecraft:Story Mode), Marvel(Guardians of the Galaxy) & Netflix (Stranger Things).
Established Telltale's Third Party Publishing group utilizing our uniquely capable team and processes. First title: 7 Days to Die (PS4, XONE Summer 2016) additional signed titles TBA.
Hmm... Seems he's fluttered about everywhere.
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He lists 5 MK games but the standout one is MK vs DC universe.
He must have been overseeing all of the really shitty ones, like deadly alliance through Armageddon
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Probably cause MKvDC was the best selling of the 3D MKs. Also Deception was great :maf
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Axiom Verge now free on the Epic Game Store.
Next up: Thimbleweed Park :gladbron
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Axiom Verge now free on the Epic Game Store.
Next up: Thimbleweed Park :gladbron
Crashes at this stage though
(https://i.imgur.com/qIamdsU.jpg)
Due to them removing all references to Steam.... Including Steam sound/effect
(https://i.imgur.com/GKlN0nQ.png)
:gaben
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lol
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Which "guy" was this? Dave Grenowetski? Jim Barnett?
had to look it up myself
https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/steve-allison-appointment-former-midway-and-atari-man-joins-episodic-adventure-folks-telltale-as-senior-vp-of-marketing
https://www.linkedin.com/in/steveallison
https://twitter.com/halfbakedsteve
Oh, that dude! I worked at Accolade when he was there. He looks just like Peter North, and if you brought it up, he'd get super pissed off. :nsfw
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Slime Rancher next! :hyper