Direct2Drive $5 - this week is RPG

[txa1265]

OK, some of them really aren't but most are ...
Neverwinter Nights 2
<del datetime="2009-09-10T18:58:46+00:00">($29.95)</del> $5.00

Assassin's Creed Director's Cut
<del datetime="2009-09-10T18:52:00+00:00">($19.95)</del> $5.00

Elven Legacy
<del datetime="2009-09-10T18:52:00+00:00">($29.95)</del> $5.00

Eve Online
<del datetime="2009-09-10T18:52:00+00:00">($19.95)</del> $5.00

Neverwinter Nights 2: Storm of Zehir
<del datetime="2009-09-10T18:52:00+00:00">($19.95)</del> $5.00

Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures
<del datetime="2009-09-10T18:52:00+00:00">($19.95)</del> $5.00

Titan Quest Bundle
<del datetime="2009-09-10T18:52:00+00:00">($19.95)</del> $5.00

PlanetSide®: Aftershock
<del datetime="2009-09-10T18:52:00+00:00">($19.95)</del> $5.00

Drakensang: The Dark Eye
<del datetime="2009-09-10T18:52:00+00:00">($29.95)</del> $5.00

[Gorath]

I think this should be posted on the front page.

[Corwin]

Most are probably restricted to US only!!

[DArtagnan]

Assassin's Creed an RPG?

That's a bit of a stretch, I'd like to claim.

[txa1265]

Assassin's Creed an RPG?

That's a bit of a stretch, I'd like to claim.

Yeah, I just quick knocked this up when I saw it wasn't listed on the front page.

AC and GTA are beyond 'questionable', but that leaves 8/10 that are actually RPG/MMO.

[skavenhorde]

The only one that I managed to find that was available worldwide was Eleven Legacy.

I don't understand D2D thinking about limiting it's sales. Impulse and Steam have no problems selling their products to places like Taiwan, but D2D is focused on North America. I'm sure it's some kind of legal thing where they aren't allowed to sell to certain regions, but they're shooting themselves in the foot by limiting their sales. They may have more of a selection, but Steam, Impulse and even GoG are catching up with them.

[JDR13]

Wow, Drakensang for $5 ???

The rest are all great deals as well.

[zakhal]

So far not a single game that I would actually want to buy. Perhaps next week.

[txa1265]

... I'm up to 11 games now! My kids wanted their own NWN2, and for $5 how can I say no?

[Thrasher]

I guess I am too old-fashioned. I want a box and printed manual and the ability to uninstall and install on other machines....

[txa1265]

I guess I am too old-fashioned. I want a box and printed manual and the ability to uninstall and install on other machines….

As I've mentioned before I have played Half-Life 2 on ~8 or 9 machines in the last 5 years, and Mass Effect on 2 (installed it on a 3rd) ... so the install / uninstall isn't really a legit complaint. And for $5 ... especially on some of these $30 games, you should think twice. You can always grab the Full Package on eBay / Goozex / whetever for cheap later.

[Alrik Fassbauer]

Wow, Drakensang for $5 ???

Uh ...

I think THQ is respondsible for that, releasing it as a budget title in the first place ...

[Thrasher]

As I've mentioned before I have played Half-Life 2 on ~8 or 9 machines in the last 5 years, and Mass Effect on 2 (installed it on a 3rd) … so the install / uninstall isn't really a legit complaint.

Did you have to re-download to install on another machine, or could you just use your original download multiple times? And you're right, at these prices, it's hard to say no, even if the package is rather incomplete. :)

[txa1265]

Did you have to re-download to install on another machine, or could you just use your original download multiple times? And you're right, at these prices, it's hard to say no, even if the package is rather incomplete. :)

It varies - Steam I had to redownload, but D2D and GG I could just reinstall.

[JDR13]

Uh …

I think THQ is respondsible for that, releasing it as a budget title in the first place …

Still, the game hasn't been out that long.

I would want a printed manual for that game though…

[Corwin]

The printed manual wasn't very helpful!!

[Thrasher]

I've heard that it is fairly faithful to the the underlying PnP ruleset and it's readable online somewhere.

[xSamhainx]

even tho Drakensang was the only one to really make me do a doubletake, I suppose that Conan isnt that bad for the price. 'Specially since the first segment of the game is SP.

Sold to the Tiger in the loincloth! **Dingggg!***

[Alrik Fassbauer]

I've heard that it is fairly faithful to the the underlying PnP ruleset and it's readable online somewhere.

It is, it is - with some tweaks. We have a sub-forum for it here. There you can find more information.

[txa1265]

Still, the game hasn't been out that long.

I would want a printed manual for that game though…

It certainly isn't the only $30 game being sold for $5 in the sale ... so it isn't that it is a clearance, it is a matter of getting a one week price drop that is amazing ... and anyone who hasn't played it, claims to be a RPG fan, and passes this up ... well, you're an idiot.

[Relayer]

Wow, Drakensang for $5 ???

The rest are all great deals as well.

Is that a good game? I actually know nothing about it...

[JDR13]

Is that a good game? I actually know nothing about it…

I have mixed feelings about it, but anytime you can get a game for 1/6 of the normal price....

Download the playable demo and see if you like it.

[Zaleukos]

Some very sweet deals in that list. I would have bought half the list if I could.

Country restricted downloads are extremely annoying:(

[Thrasher]

It certainly isn't the only $30 game being sold for $5 in the sale … so it isn't that it is a clearance, it is a matter of getting a one week price drop that is amazing … and anyone who hasn't played it, claims to be a RPG fan, and passes this up … well, you're an idiot.

Unless you're utterly broke. I'm not, but close. :(

[Alrik Fassbauer]

Is that a good game? I actually know nothing about it…

This astonishes me, given the facxt that RPGWatch often had infos about it … Plus even a sub-forum ...

[Thrasher]

OK, I gave in. Bought 5 games for $5 each. What a deal.

Don't know what I was thinking. How will I play these with my other 20 games on the shelf. ;)

[Relayer]

This astonishes me, given the facxt that RPGWatch often had infos about it … Plus even a sub-forum …

Honestly, I don't follow the RPG scene like I used to after so many disappointments.

The last game I was really hyped about was Oblivion.

And I think the last game I was "paying attention" to was The Witcher and I never even picked it up. Maybe add Mass Effect to that list but again, I wasn't actively seeking out info on it, just may have read whatever I stumbled across.

Just got tired of reading hype to be let down.

And then I was soooo excited about a Divine Divinity 2 but then I saw they were using a 3d engine and I lost interest. There's something simply sublime about 2d and isometric view :)

Not that I'm a purist or old fashioned, I just prefer games that started 1st person to remain that way and games that started in 3rd person or isometric to remain that way. The ONLY game that imo made the switch perfectly without losing anything was Metroid and I STILL loved the GBA Metroids far more than the GC ones.

[Arhu]

Just got tired of reading hype to be let down.
For me it's usually the actual hype that's responsible for my losing interest, combined with personal expectations. Happened to me when PS:T came out. That disillusionment almost robbed me of a surprisingly good experience. And it happened to me with Morrowind and Oblivion. Soooo much hype. I still haven't played them, albeit I could perhaps attribute it to my discontent with sandbox-style games. It appears that at least with Oblivion, my gut feeling was right.

My personal remedy is to ignore hype and play each and every game for what it is. No expectations. Now I only need figure out how to follow this credo more. ;)

[Thrasher]

First rule of thumb, ignore "professional" journalists. ;)

[txa1265]

Unless you're utterly broke. I'm not, but close. :(

Apologies ... I meant to say that if you would buy it retail for that but not digital ... money is a real and significant issue and I don't mean to minimize that.

[Lucky Day]

the only thing that makes me the least bit reluctant on these titles is they're digital.

[Alrik Fassbauer]

I don't like Hype either, but I do a distinction between "hype" and "following the news".

I can learn a lot by just following news in general, and thank God RPGWatch is a rather broad oriented news-site.

I can look into the news here every now and then - just the headlines, nothing more - and still not follow the "hype".

The only time a "hype" caught me here (yes, RPGWatch seems to have it too, sometimes), was with Puzzle Quest, King's Bounty and Plants vs. Zombies.

[JDR13]

the only thing that makes me the least bit reluctant on these titles is they're digital.


Same here.

When they're digital, it prevents you from adding another cool looking box to your collection. :)

[xSamhainx]

i went as far as waiting to play the Holy Grail (majesty2) a day or two so I could hunt down a hard copy. That was full price tho, and I knew I was paying full.

In this circumstance however, come on fellas its 5.00 out the door we're talking about!
5 bucks to play full version of Drakensang (if what our rpg compadres are saying it's good) is not worth it? Even if worst case scenario you install it and can only play thru once and the game isnt able to be installed ever again, i still dont think that's a bad deal.

[Relayer]

And it happened to me with Morrowind and Oblivion. Soooo much hype. I still haven't played them

I honestly think Morrowind lived up to its hype, even with its flaws (which as I recall the reviews & previews did NOT fail to mention, something I don't recall happening with Oblivion which was pretty much "perfect" - hah!).

You're really missing out on one of the most original, atmospheric and absorbing RPGs of all time, you should definitely play it (with its expansion packs).

[JDR13]

You're really missing out on one of the most original, atmospheric and absorbing RPGs of all time, you should definitely play it (with its expansion packs).

x2

Morrowind is awesome if you're the 'explorer' type, and the background lore is fascinating.

[Relayer]

Same here.

When they're digital, it prevents you from adding another cool looking box to your collection. :)

Yep, game box/manual perusing is a whole other aspect of gaming!!!

Everytime I go through the plastic bin I store my game boxes in I NEVER fail to pick up the Baldur's Gate II box. What a lovely piece of work! It was LARGE and had the nice embossed text and character graphic at the top, nice large pictures of game screens and of course the big manual.

Looking at that stuff is always like foreplay before a gaming session :)

[Relayer]

Oh, not that I mind digital downloads - lots of deals to be found that way ($5 games????) and I usually use it to buy a game I'm not too sure about. If I happen to fall in love with the game, I will track down the original box.

Kinda like I do with music: I subscribe to Emusic to check out new music but if I love an album I will go out and get the actual CD (more for the sound quality though than packaging but that helps too!).

[Arhu]

Looking at that stuff is always like foreplay before a gaming session :)
They say, "don't judge a book by its cover", but oooh, does a good cover help with the enjoyment!

Part of the reason why I never read any of the Harry Potter books. I hated the hype and the "modern art" covers didn't help. At all.

A good example: the books about Aurian by Maggie Furey — the English covers look very meh to put it mildly (first attachment), but I bought the books because of the covers of the German versions (second attachment, examples from the second book). They were extraordinary. Story was so-so, but with the art you could dream yourself right into the world. Before each new chapter I would close the book, stare at the art in reverie for a moment, and continue reading. One of the few examples I remember where it felt like the artist had actually read the books.

[Thrasher]

x2

Morrowind is awesome if you're the 'explorer' type, and the background lore is fascinating.

x3, here. Definitely my favorite of the open exploration type RPGs. Although Gothic 2 was very close.

Have you seen the latest community graphics updates for Morrowind? Amazing stuff including MGE. It can better than Oblivion.

[Relayer]

So downloading Drakensang as I type… took a quick look at some reviews which seem to indicate a decent but unremarkable game but for $5 I won't judge too hard :)

Now the dilemna: continue playing Div Div which I started a week ago, move on to M & M 6 after (or M & M 4?) and THEN play Drakensang? Or just start playing now! Dammit!!!!

I also wanted to:

- Replay MoTB which I only played to I'm guessing 60% completion

- Replay Wizardry 8 which I've been dying to replay for quite some time

- Replay Arcanum with that extensive patch from that guy who posts on Codex + the increased resolution patch.

- Get back to Titan Quest which I got a few months ago, had some fun with but then stopped abruptly to do something else, .

- Replay the entire BG series to FINALLY play ToB which I just picked up recently.

- Get back to Jade Empire which I only played for a couple of hours

- Give Fallout 3 another try before uninstalling for good.

Plus I got Rome Total War from Steam a few months ago and haven't touched it yet not to mention the Age Of Empires II compilation I picked up 2 years ago that I STILL haven't really played (used to love strategy games back in the day).

Not to mention the 8 or so unfinished DS games (and I just HAD to start another new one last night (Fire Emblem))!!!!!!!!!

[txa1265]

I find that if I start a new story-centric game I kill my progress in other story-based RPG's ... so I try not to do that. Usually fail, but try.

[Thrasher]

I installed the D2D version of Drakensang.

Out of the 5 games I installed, this is the only one that gave me problems. It forced an install of DirectX10 and then Drakensang wouldn't start because of a missing directX file.

Had to reinstall/update DirectX using the Microsft DirectX installer, which reverted it to 9.0C and then Drakensang did not complain.

[Relayer]

I find that if I start a new story-centric game I kill my progress in other story-based RPG's … so I try not to do that. Usually fail, but try.

I think that's why I never finish games these days, lol.

[Thrasher]

RE: Drakensang

It is, it is - with some tweaks. We have a sub-forum for it here. There you can find more information.

Is there an on-line reference for the rules? The ones I could find seemed very superficial.

[Relayer]

So started Drakensang yesterday.

Off the bat I really like the (seemingly) extensive skill/level system and combat seems solid (and those wild boars are TOUGH!).

Graphics look great - much better than NWN2 still runs better and I'm liking the music so far.

The bad: running/walking speeds are SLOW, way too many hand gestures with NPCs during conversations (I'm thinking they're either having seizures or are Italian) and that's it but only got as far as rescuing "Gandalf" from that cave.

But already I'm liking it more than NWN 2 maybe because of the new skill system (D&D has lost its lustre).

[Alrik Fassbauer]

That type you called "Gandalf" is an almost legendary person within Aventuria ... Imagine he would be Elminster, and you kind of have it.

Much later you'll encounter a Druid (you talk a few times at him), who is a similar almost legendary figure.

[Gorath]

RE: Drakensang



Is there an on-line reference for the rules? The ones I could find seemed very superficial.

I think we had a couple of links in the Drakensang forum. I don't remember them at the moment.




The walking speed can be hacked.