Quoting: tfkJust read some post on the Steam forums. They got drivers now but are still complaining.

It's a small difference in attitude I'm observing here.

We get native Linux support for something, we say thanks and start to give feedback on any issues we encounter.

They get Windows support for something, they're like "About time!". And when there are issues they're like "It won't work! You suck! I'm selling my device!".

I can see why Valve had this on low priority.

Right, FOSS typically has tangible constructive criticism even if albeit sometimes short, krass & kurt, or even the occasional wall of text analysis -- again honest feedback intended for a constructive purpose.

I think we've all seen ape tism win child chest thumping in win world at least once. Adult Childing Peter Pan style.

Nobody wants to appease such entitled bratting.

Also, a good lesson that the worst evangelical offenders in a community set the image of the community to outsiders. I'm not saying we need to be on each-other more. I'm just saying being balanced and closer to the middle ground, reasonable, fair, with good faith and intentions is actually a great thing.

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Quoting: eldaking

Quoting: ElectricPrismAlso, I know with the rise of WarCraft 3 and DOTA 1 and DOTA 2 the focus on "Heroes" is now a thing, I just wish it wasn't. RTS was just fine when heroes we're 300% the size of units with obnoxious roles and mega powers. It's fine when done with taste but I haven't really seen it cooked right. SC2 was okayish.

Yeah "heroes" in strategy games really rub me the wrong way. It is an RPG-ization of the genre, moving away from "you control an army" to "you control this main character, plus some minions". It is particularly common in fantasy-themed games, precisely because they get thematic inspiration by the D&D-style fantasy where "party of heroes goes adventuring" is a powerful trope. If I'm to have leaders to the army, I'd rather have a general that isn't a powerful warrior but gives command bonuses.

There are some benefits to hero units in game design, dipping into the strengths of other genres: it is convenient for making narratives more personal, leveling up is a good progression mechanic, it creates a lot more unit distinction (with a built-in diegetic explanation), powerful unique units give a sense of power and accomplishment, it helps keep the scale in check to make the game easier to control, and the mechanics are part of basic game literacy. But the thematic connection makes it clear that a large part is "make it more like an RPG, RPGs are good!". With Warcraft 3, it was very obviously meant to mix the genres, with the Rexxar campaign standing out. Blizzard always felt like they just didn't want to make RTS games, it was more like an obligation, and they constantly tried to turn their RTS franchises into something else (Lord of the Clans, SC Ghost, and finally succeeded with WoW and never looked back).

Anyway, tangential rant finished, but yeah I'm tired of hero units.

Lots of insights there -- great observation with SC Ghost attempting to depart the StarCraft franchise and from the RTS roots. It felt like they were chasing the current thing at the time which was the Space-Tech FPS Genre -- Halo (Memory is fuzzy but I thought I even recalled some kind of "warthog" like vehicle or gun turrets but don't quote me on that). The soundtrack for Ghost did eventually come out or leak and the sound design was more true to StarCraft and BroodWar than SC2 was -- which took more liberties and made Terran out to sound like redneck hicks that like country music -- which was offputting. And HoTS took even more liberties especially in the cinematic departed completely changing Kerrigan and minimizing her into a lesser character in an even bigger more "Grande" vision by whatever new hotshot writers "vision" for the universe. I always liken this to the new writers always trying to destroy the old writers legacy and vision instead of "extending it" and "enhancing it". Suddenly you got zeroing in on 1 thing "Xel`Naga" and throw in a bunch of space lasers and new stuff and the mystery that made the story interesting is now gone. [[ See Star Wars 4, 5 & 6 ]] vs [[ 1, 2, and 3 ]] -- (Eg: Oh the force, this invisible magic that binds the universe together -- that sounds cool -- 4, 5, 6 -- and then boom StarWars 1 is like "Oh It's just the number of medichlorian in your blood, so we can harvest anyone's blood and make a super jedi /facepalm)

I can definitely see the D&D "Hero" influences in RPG RTS crossover. BroodWar felt right. Heroe units were still humanoid sized maybe with a slight recolor or fancy decal -- Raynor was a Vultr that looked like every other Vultr, what made them unique was their unique capabilities. In newer games Heros seemed 200-300% the size of regular units -- and it's Ackward having a bunch of marines and then one giant one -- it's comical, and takes you out of the cinematic universe, and is an insult to the players intelligence to be able to distinguish the special unit from the regular units.

I know why they do it though -- suddenly you can sell action figures and make extra income (See Warhammer $50-$200 at a glance).

I'm very surprised we haven't seen a straight rippoff of BroodWar as Open Source by now. Yeah I know we have Wargus/Stargus which doesn't have a lot of activity, but considering the technological advancements of things like GoDot, Rust and Linux making it so far, for such a Legendary game and series to not have a successor is like Harvest Moon before Stardew Valley tapped that market.

And to see a game enter the market like this and then then sell Heroes, Campaign Levels, and bundle with Easy Anti-Cheat is just all kinds of Red-Flags.

A modern RTS should be DRM-Free, 8-16 players, a mode where two or more players can control 1 race to get all the functions done, complex enough base building (there is a optimal number of units just like chess has sufficient complexity but not endless scope), resource collection, competitive online play, custom maps, and rediculous hacks like "Lights On" "Lights Off" in SCBW and WarCraft 3 ((IIUC) where you could stack turrets, cannons, and do other "Fun" stuff -- because hey -- devs seem to forget that the entire point of games should be to maximize "Fun" and not take everything so seriously.

I can't even tell you how many times I've had to spin up a WINE bottle with StarCraft Remastered only to have the whole thing crash. The new graphics are nice but 90% of the time it doesn't work without manual intervention that takes 30m - 1h.

And unfortunately BroodWar isn't scaling on Sway in Wayland even with a manual virtual desktop resolution set.

It's a real shame that this classic which was the first games running in WINE isn't up to the task on Wayland presently. I hope to see that change soon.

/rant, thanks for the great conversion, lol

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It felt like with SteamOS v1 and v2 that manufacturers made hardware that was expensive and then had a lot of hardware problems (similar to Xbox 360 red ring of death -- looking @ you Alienware.)

Seeing SteamOS make it to Asus ROG Ally would make the device actually interesting for me (currently I am 0% interested without Linux/SteamOS).

I would prefer a device with removable wings (using those 4 metal dots that are actually for USB keebs connecting to tablets) -- similar to the Lenovo's design -- however due to their history (superfish 2015), their hq, and manipulating criticisms on the Internet I refuse all devices from them.

I am curious what parts of the market are untapped -- a higher spec'd handheld? The problem I see is that the lower cost to entry device really does a lot at building trust. Having bought the Deck, now I know what baseline in quality I can expect in future Valve Decks -- and so I am not as apprehensive about spending larger amounts of money on such a device.

Ally isn't like that -- It's Gen 1 or (Maybe Gen 2 by now with the X?) -- all I know about it is that it shipped with a garbage Windows interface, meh drivers, and a obnoxiously small interface not designed to sell the device at all. I won't even hold the drivers thing against ASUS, I had seen Windows screw up the unscrewupable. Windows isn't fun. This is a very welcome story -- I look forward to having greater interest in their SteamOS stuff. That shit just works and the content available is already beyond vast.

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So they added me to the Deadlock beta. And out of respect for Valve I'm not going reveal anything, other than no it's not Half-Life 3 Episode 1 like we all joked earlier, and the game is totally awesome, gonna be a LAN room win -- I'm pretty sure Valve has a home-run and is going to make a lot of money which is typical for Valve always being awesome.

I guess you can suggest inviting other players too so maybe they'll expand the beta. It's definitely original.

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The textures really need more filth and grit. Reviews are currently @ 60%. Easy Anti-Cheat DRM grosses me out.

The formatting and basic construction have enough charm, the battle particle and laser effects are a bit muddy making it harder to focus on the strategy of well... a RTS.

I'll have to play the game to judge the sound design too -- they could win a lot of points back if they had a kind of analog grit and otherworldly sound from the 90s -- but I don't really anticipate they did more than off the shelf current gen mobile slop.

The reviews and community discussion area are vicious, looks like they really made their kick-starters and community mad for charging them for the extra content.

Also, I know with the rise of WarCraft 3 and DOTA 1 and DOTA 2 the focus on "Heroes" is now a thing, I just wish it wasn't. RTS was just fine when heroes we're 300% the size of units with obnoxious roles and mega powers. It's fine when done with taste but I haven't really seen it cooked right. SC2 was okayish.

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Quoting: basedHalf-life Alyx: Episode One

You must be a mind reader XD. If this were square it would be Half-Life Alyx: Episode 1.5

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I hope someone makes a 18+ mod for this game someday. It would feel Duke Nukem 3D Megaton.

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Quoting: kuhpunktLiam,

could you reach out to Ethan to ask him about his thoughts? He was kinda sceptical/crtical of Proton and his future as a programmer back then.

https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2018/09/game-porter-ethan-lee-gives-his-thoughts-on-valves-steam-play-and-proton/

https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2021/07/ryan-gordon-and-ethan-lee-on-proton-and-the-steam-deck/

Has this changed? What are his thoughts now?

I felt a lot of compassion for his situation as he was actively contracting to port so many games.

I hope he is pleasantly surprised with how everything has turned out and has made incremental adjustments to have joy. I am curious how he is doing too.

As ^ Said, Absolute Legend! All this FNA stuff too, very exciting as always.

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Steam Deck launched on February 25, 2022, thinking about the timeline and massive success, It will be interesting to see what update interval Steam Deck goes with.

I think it's been great because developers have been more resource efficient targeting the Steam Deck which makes their games more available to more customers.

Games like Terraria, MineCraft, and StarDew Valley all have massive followings because they could run on potatos.

I am curious if they will go with a 3 year cycle or 4 year cycle and we will see something ~Feb 2025 or ~Feb 2026.

I wonder if they will use numerical versioning or follow Xbox -- will we see Steam Deck 2 and then after that Steam Deck 2 Episode 1 :P

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I stopped giving them money. When 6 launched, from memory having criticism about the graphics downgrade 5 => 6 and even constructive feedback was not allowed.

I'm honestly not hyped. If in 2 years it has a steam rating of 95%+ I'll buy it on sale.

Also, I understand the concept of "Expansion Packs" but the way they do their DLC feels like their games are made using Agile methods and that v1.0 is barely even a proof of concept game.

From playing many other popular games, those "tweaks" deserve to be free Workshop content and not 9,99 or whatever.

I can't imagine how many nights and hours it would take to get good at these games with how long each game takes too. What 1-3 hours each?

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