Chris_Schetter | Cheerful Ghost

Papers.

http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2013/08/papers-please-review-paper-trail-of-tears/#p3

Played a beta of this back a couple months ago. Really entertaining low-bit aesthetic, and I dare you not to shift up and down in your chair along with the opening montage.

Give it a look.

Prison Architect alpha coming along nicely

So, when I first heard of this project a couple few months ago, I was dubious. I mean, prisons seem an odd setting for a tycoon-type game; it isn't exactly a lighthearted endeavor. This could probably easy drift into completely tasteless territory. Relevant: [https://www.google.com/search?q=prison+tycoon+4]

The game went up in its alpha state on Steam, and elsewhere, and last weekend I went ahead and bought it. Welp, it's been a seriously long time since a game has managed to keep me up to 3am without my realizing it. This game is horrifically entertaining, even with all the rough edges currently strewn about.

I attached the introductory video for the currently released version - give a look.

jdodson Admin wrote on 06/08/2013 at 04:19pm

This game looks incredible and I want to play it, but I think ill wait till beta or launch. How much more do they have to go before the actual release? I have no real reason to wait save... I think I need to wait to experience the full amazingness of this game in its full glory.

I love sim games and Roller Coaster Tycoon is in my continual play as I have a game going I play off and on until the end of time.

jdodson Admin wrote on 06/08/2013 at 04:20pm

Oh, they have a Linux port now, awesome. Kind of live commenting on the video :D

Chris_Schetter Post Author wrote on 06/09/2013 at 12:45am

Not sure really. It's a small team plodding away with it, and I don't think they're in any terrible hurry to call things 'done.' They funded it on their own by selling access to the alpha before they even really started in earnest, and that netted $1 million. So I think they're pretty cosy and are just going to keep whittling until there's nothing left to do. I suspect at some point this summer they'll stop calling it an alpha simply from lack of large awkward mechanics bugs, but I also suspect work wil continue on this for some time.

Yea, definitely worth mentioning: can buy over Steam, get Win/Mac/Linux.

jdodson Admin wrote on 06/09/2013 at 04:46pm

Hmmmm, I might get this sooner than later. :D

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Fez hits Steam May 1, OS X version planned

Probably fed up with XBLA; and spying a bright, shiny, Steam-Box-powered future; Fez is slated to come available on Steam with a Windows release in May. [Insert obligatory missed deadlines joke.] However considering XBox -> Windows port, it's probably not that much of a brainer, and wouldn't expect it to take terribly long, so May is probably pretty realistic.

In any case, being console-less, I'm excited to finally get to play this game.

http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2013/03/get-excited-brain-bending-platformer-fez-finally-coming-to-steam-and-os-x/

25 people exit Valve

http://www.develop-online.net/news/43261/Jason-Holtman-leaves-Valve
http://www.gameranx.com/updates/id/12754/article/valve-steambox-controller-engineer-jeri-ellsworth-fired/

Reports dribbling in regarding large changes in staffing at Valve, at least some of which are in the group focusing on hardware.

Anyone up for some speculation?

jdodson Admin wrote on 02/13/2013 at 09:27pm

Hmmm, seems like some kind of shake-up for sure. Hard to say why though.

Valve is making a __HUGE__ push to hardware, so I imagine this is in some way in service of that? I don't know how, but its possible there might be more visibility on this later on. IE they might say something about it.

I hope this doesn't hold up the Steambox too much, because it needs to happen.

Travis Admin wrote on 02/13/2013 at 10:28pm

It seems like the SteamBox is already on it's way, other hardware providers on-board and everything. I doubt at this stage that would just stop.

I do hope there's some transparency on this.

Gary_Butterfield wrote on 02/13/2013 at 11:23pm

So, as a semi professional video games podcaster, I don't actually keep up with much in the way of news about new games/new shit. What advantages does the Steam Box have over, say, a computer?

Travis Admin wrote on 02/13/2013 at 11:35pm

Gary, essentially marketing and a prettier box to have in your living room. It's Valve focusing on the living room, sharing the space consoles normally do. You can boot up into Steam's Big Picture mode, control everything with the controller, etc. Valve's will be based on Linux, which they're banking a lot on, and hopefully this will get more Linux games in Steam. But others can/will be made by third-parties and can be based on Windows if they so desire.

jdodson Admin wrote on 02/14/2013 at 12:18am

Want to add to what @panickedthumb said a bit.

Gabe gave a few talks recently where he talked a bit about value. It kind of goes like, "With each console generation when you upgrade to the next, eventually you have to toss away your old stuff and get new stuff." Which is true, can't get a PS3 to play your PS2 games anymore but PS1 works? Eventually the Wii U+1 won't play Wii games.

So its kind of an interesting idea. Buy a game once on Steam, play it on your PC and console. When you upgrade you don't have to toss out your games, DLC and friends.

jdodson Admin wrote on 02/14/2013 at 01:45am

"We don't usually talk about personnel matters for a number of reasons. There seems to be an unusual amount of speculation about some recent changes here, so I thought I'd take the unusual step of addressing them. No, we aren't canceling any projects. No, we aren't changing any priorities or projects we've been discussing. No, this isn't about Steam or Linux or hardware or [insert game name here]. We're not going to discuss why anyone in particular is or isn't working here."

http://www.engadget.com/2013/02/13/valve-gabe-newell-layoffs-statement/

scrypt Supporter wrote on 02/14/2013 at 01:46am

My speculation is that this is just spring cleaning. Valve is an interesting organization, given the dynamics of its amoebic infrastructure, but it's still a business. If reports are true, these individuals make up roughly 8% of the Valve team. Which doesn't seem crazy, to me. Some may have left voluntarily. They seem like they are in various talents, too. Feels weird to me that this is actually news.

Travis Admin wrote on 02/14/2013 at 04:49am

Thanks for posting that Jon, that eases some of my fears. He's right though, speculation is dangerous, and only leads to fans panicking about their favorite thing going away :)

Gary_Butterfield wrote on 02/14/2013 at 05:12pm

I am a bigger fan of gaming in my computer space but I supposed it'd be nice to have the option for Isaac: Rebirth.

jdodson Admin wrote on 02/14/2013 at 05:32pm

When I got Portal 2 for PS3 that had the Steam code for the PC version that could also play on the Mac it was magical. I want more of that, buy once, play where you like. I prefer PC but sometimes I wanna sit on the couch and shoot stuff.

Gary_Butterfield wrote on 02/14/2013 at 05:59pm

I've been couching for Demon's Souls and it's not bad but I like being closer to the screen, like I am with the PC. Also, ease of alt-tabbing and looking up shit.

jdodson Admin wrote on 02/14/2013 at 06:02pm

Oh yeah for sure. Doing a search on a Phone on the couch ain't awesome, like I said I prefer PC for gaming. But playing Portal 2 or Halflife 2 while my wife was in the room is an epic experience. Her comments on GlaDOS or Wheatley made the game that much more memorable and a quotable for both of us in "I saw a Deer today" is a really awesome thing.