As for TF2 itself... I am worse off, because I enjoyed the game for the new maps, well thought out class unlocks, and continuous balance updates. Look at TF2's update history as of late, it's all cosmetic/stupid items and fixes for the store and other crap while the actual game itself is abandoned. I am also worse off when members of your team decide to go afk mid-round to work out a trade with another player or try to decide what color to paint the christmas tree hat on their head. I mean the game has become an absolute joke. It used to have class and depth.
"This allows for a console-like experience on the PC," he said.
How can you say TF2 is abandoned? It's probably the least abandoned game (whatever that means) currently available.
From a game play and performance fixing standpoint, it is all but abandoned. Valve just pumps in more and more items and weapons without even bothering to give them kill icons or other attention to detail, and most of the latest fixes for the game revolve around the store and/or cosmetic items. People used to be ecstatic when there was a game update, cause that meant there was a good chance Valve would fix an issue. Now it's things like "Added a rake as a melee weapon. Fixed not being able to paint Camera Beards, etc."
From a game play and performance fixing standpoint, it is all but abandoned. Valve just pumps in more and more items and weapons without even bothering to give them kill icons or other attention to detail, and most of the latest fixes for the game revolve around the store and/or cosmetic items. People used to be ecstatic when there was a game update, cause that meant there was a good chance Valve would fix an issue. Now it's things like "Added a rake as a melee weapon. Fixed not being able to paint Camera Beards, etc."
Wow dude give them some damn time. They still do stuff with TF2. Geez angry much? I don't think there's EVER been a game in history of games that's been supported this well for this long.
How can you say TF2 is abandoned? It's probably the least abandoned game (whatever that means) currently available.
While I am in no way saying you are wrong, I started playing TF2 when I got the Valve Complete pack over the holidays and and am having a friggin' blast. Maybe its because I'm ignorant of what the game as like before all the item updates and whatever else they've added since release, but I honestly could give a shit. The bottom line is for me the game is fun. In fact its very fun.
You are picking the wrong base case to compare against. The alternative is not Valve giving you new maps for free, but always do nothing. Of course hats are worse than free maps, but they are also worse than cures for cancer.Look at TF2's update history as of late, it's all cosmetic/stupid items and fixes for the store and other crap while the actual game itself is abandoned.
"This allows for a console-like experience on the PC," he said.
What does that even mean?
LOL, Intel graphics.
If anything, the fact that games haven't gotten more demanding is the biggest boost to PC gaming performance on lower end cards. NVidia and ATI onboard graphics are constantly improving and a $100 discrete card from two years ago is still good enough to handle most games.
The real innovation that needs to be done isn't in graphics chipsets, it's in user experience. People who aren't comfortable with computers hate having to deal with all the problems associated with PC gaming and prefer the "drop in and play" you get with a console. That's what a "console-like experience" should be all about. Steam has made some progress there but it's still nowhere near as simple.
Actually, I'd say the "drop in and play" experience on the PC is better than consoles. Most games support automatic updates and all Steam games update themselves in the background. Background updating of games costs extra money on the 360 and PS3.
Also, all PC games install the majority of the files to a HDD by default, which is an order of magnitude faster than an optical drive, and you don't need the disc to play the game once it's installed.
You are picking the wrong base case to compare against. The alternative is not Valve giving you new maps for free, but always do nothing. Of course hats are worse than free maps, but they are also worse than cures for cancer.
TF2 is well over three years old and Valve has released an enormous amount of content for a product that doesn't have a subscription fee. Do you think that you are entitled to new free content forever?
What does that even mean?
We already get the console experience with half ass ports, average graphics, and overpriced crappy DLC for a start.
Not to mention the fact that out of nowhere Valve is pawning all of these "Indie" games on us. From what I can see, they seem like nothing more than dumbed down versions of good games that require little to no hardware power (for the most part). Sure, they're fun for many people to play, but they aren't the direction I want to see PC gaming going towards.
This allows for a console-like experience on the PC," he said.[/B]