July 16 – July 20

Section: 

Hey have you bought a new game recently? If so, good news. You've got at least the entire week to play it, because there's almost nothing of note new coming out this week. And what better week to have that happen than right smack dab in the middle of the Steam Summer Sale?

My damage so far for the Summer Sale has been relatively mild, but I did finally pick up Max Payne 3 at a healthy 50% discount. I have to admit, I feel almost bad about waiting out the purchase, as the wound of Rockstar Vancouver's closure is still fresh. And, I admit that the $29.99 price tag on MP3 feels like quite the bargain compared to the quality of the product, but I also recognize that as a customer my ultimate responsibility is to my own, personal shareholders and board of directors. That being made up of my wife, my kids, my mortgage lender, my utilities bills and the other claimants on my decidedly finite assets. Still, although my dollars probably weren't the difference between the studio being shuttered or not, there's always a little twinge of guilt I feel in finally buying into a product at steep savings after the people who actually did the work have been reorganized or let go.

On a lighter note, my weekend will likely be dominated by the kick-off of the MLG Summer Season in New York with StarCraft II Arena, and watching a ton of SC2 games with my son. It's still interesting to me how much a normal event this has become for us, particularly since 18 months ago I barely registered that e-sports was a thing that existed. The stream will be broadcasting for free in standard definition, so if you've been curious about e-sports before you might check out http://www.majorleaguegaming.com/ this weekend.

PC
- Anna (download - $9.90)
- Cute Things Dying Violently (download - $3)
- Decisive Campaigns: Case Blue

Xbox 360
- Tony Hawk's Pro Skater HD (XBLA - $15)

PS3
- Dyad (PSN - $15)

3DS
- Heroes of Ruin
- The Phantom Thief Stina and 30 Jewels (eShop - $5)

DS
- Candle Route (DSiWare - $2)
- Petit Computer (DSiWare - $8)

Comments

I'm pretty interested in Heroes of Ruin. From the demo, it seems like a nice, on-the-go version of Torchlight.

I risked the wilds of a non-steam digtal distributor to grab Anna. Fingers crossed it holds up to some of the promises made in earlier trailers.

ClockworkHouse wrote:

I'm pretty interested in Heroes of Ruin. From the demo, it seems like a nice, on-the-go version of Torchlight.

It's pretty good but it becomes REALLY easy really fast. Like, Torchlight on lower skill settings easy.

It's got some nice stuff that other ARPG's could learn from though (little side puzzles in dungeons, some interesting loot mechanics, daily quest tied into their website, etc, etc - and some pretty interesting boss fights...more zelda than your average ARPG boss.

There doesn't seem to be a great deal of replayability in it other than starting a new character class. Boss creatures don't respawn so you can't really farm them for loot and you'll find you'll max out your gold really quickly.

I had fun with it though - and it's not like there's a lot of competition on the platform for loot-em-ups.

After Shoot Many Robots got the nod a few months ago I'm surprised Cute Things Dying Violently wasn't this week's choice.

Following the Steam Sale thread is an adventure in itself.

I see your intentions behind the guilt you feel for picking up Max Payne 3 on the cheap. But fret not! Reading articles and delving deeper brings happier news!

theverge.com/gaming wrote:

In conjunction with the expansion, Rockstar Vancouver will be closing, with developers from the studio (Bully, Max Payne 3) being moved to the Ontario studio over the next six months. They will be given the opportunity to join Rockstar Toronto or take positions in other Rockstar studios, and receive support from Rockstar in the form of relocation packages if they choose to move, or generous severance packages if they cannot relocate.

So it's okay, it sounds like most of the devs over at Vancouver will be shifted over to the Ontario studio! Sounds like it is all tax reasons, so play MP3 mostly guilt free!

I imagine stoners of the world are rejoicing at the release of Dyad.

Le0hart85 wrote:

Sounds like it is all tax reasons, so play MP3 mostly guilt free!

Especially the Metallica MP3's you downloaded over just to spite them.

(I hate it when abbreviations collide.)

If you haven't done so, check out the Summer Sale Forum. The love that's being shown is pretty amazing.

sr_malo wrote:

If you haven't done so, check out the Summer Sale Forum. The love that's being shown is pretty amazing.

It's ridiculous. I just keep getting emails with Steam gifts.

wordsmythe wrote:
sr_malo wrote:

If you haven't done so, check out the Summer Sale Forum. The love that's being shown is pretty amazing.

It's ridiculous. I just keep getting emails with Steam gifts.

We're just fattening you up, Wordy.

I already have at least one Witcher on my pile. That should protect me?

wordsmythe wrote:

I already have at least one Witcher on my pile. That should protect me?

Have you seen the Witcher face a pony?

No?

There's a reason for that, and that reason is fear.