Support NeoGAF

[Exuro]

I've been begging them to re-work their achievement system for the longest time. It's probably the only thing 360/ps3 does better than Steam.

*High Fives* Same here. Honestly, any minimal effort made to achievements would be fantastic. As is, it's rather annoying viewing achievements and comparing them. Tons of pages to go through. I'm hoping the community updates at the very least make them more visible. Let me put some into a "top 3 earned" or something. A makeover of them though would certainly be welcomed, but I don't see Valve doing anything like that.

 

[ClovingWestbrook]

Need help. From within the client, when I access the community my monitor goes black. Not the steam store, not the news, not my library, only the community. I sometimes can get it back by pressing F9 or insert, other times I have to log off my computer and log back in. Any ideas?

 

[Derrick01]

offline mode?

I can't complain. My internet rarely goes out but when it does offline mode has worked for me with no issues. On 360 I've had all of my xbla games locked out on me if I wasn't connected to Live because I took my hard drive off and put it on my friend's console so we could play Rock Band with my DLC. They did eventually implement a DRM reset but last I knew that only works once a year.

*High Fives* Same here. Honestly, any minimal effort made to achievements would be fantastic. As is, it's rather annoying viewing achievements and comparing them. Tons of pages to go through. I'm hoping the community updates at the very least make them more visible. Let me put some into a "top 3 earned" or something. A makeover of them though would certainly be welcomed, but I don't see Valve doing anything like that.

First thing I would do is implement an achievement tab when you click on community, where Home and Profile and all the rest of that stuff is. Also would have easy and quick links on the Profile page and maybe a few others.

And I know people will loathe this but it does need some kind of tier system. It doesn't have to be points necessarily, it could use something similar to PS3's. But even PS3 is flawed because there's only 3 different areas to separate trophies, so you end up with games that have like 30 bronze and 5 silver. But on Steam it's worse because there is no tier at all. Me completing Human Revolution without any alerts gives the same "reward" as completing the prologue does.

I'm not looking to boast or compare achievements with other people. I collect them merely for my own enjoyment as they push me to do things I normally wouldn't bother with. I'm going through Yakuza 4 lately and it has a solid and diverse list, tough to get them all too. I have maybe 2 people who would even care to look at my list so that part does nothing for me. I look at 100% these games as an extra challenge, but I need to be motivated a bit more to do it. A basic system like Steam's with minimal effort put into it has not had any effect in pushing me. I completely ignore Steam achievements while I've had periods where 360 and PS3 have hooked me like an addict.

 

[Exuro]

And I know people will loathe this but it does need some kind of tier system.

For easy backwards compatibility, they could make it like the badges. Complete x/X achievements to unlock the first tier badge and so forth. 100% unlocks the platinum badge or something. Have a list in your profile showing how many of each tier of badges you have, on top of number of achievements. Similar but different to the PS3 trophies.

All past games could get generic names with a generic icon to make those with achievements have them.

Or they could make a number of badges for each game that need certain achievements to unlock. So TF2 main badge, each class update badge, holiday badges ect. I like this idea more despite taking less than a minute thinking it up.

 

[DTKT]

Need help. From within the client, when I access the community my monitor goes black. Not the steam store, not the news, not my library, only the community. I sometimes can get it back by pressing F9 or insert, other times I have to log off my computer and log back in. Any ideas?

That is so weird. Did it ever do that outside of the Steam client?

Delete the blob file? Update graphic drivers?

 

[shintoki]

taking it to that extreme is pretty pointless considering how easy it is to fake Steam achievements. It would probably take the drive away for those people who wanna show off a hard earned acomplishment.

they're just a nice little extra in the way they work now. You'll hardly see a dude on steam as obssesed with them as people are on PSN and XBL

The only system they feel like they belonged was on 360. They put them in there day one and have strongly kept the legitimacy enforced. Trophies have always been a poor version, though the rank system gives it an overall number to build, While Steam Cheevos have been a joke. Well, unless you want to argue all of them are to begin with. But its been such a lousy attempt compared to both MS and Sony.

If they restructure them and preventing hacking, there would be no down side. Rather you'd have the same sort of people on the other systems. Thousands buying games just for cheevos, playing crappy games, etc. So I can definitely see their interest in this. It will also make developers want to put Steamworks support in their titles even more.

For me personally, I have no fucking interest in whatever they do with the system. I had my fill of it on 360 and don't care to start again. Their little mini game set two times a year has been perfect for me... So lets have something good actually for winter this time >_>

 

[Ionic]

For easy backwards compatibility, they could make it like the badges. Complete x/X achievements to unlock the first tier badge and so forth. 100% unlocks the platinum badge or something. Have a list in your profile showing how many of each tier of badges you have, on top of number of achievements. Similar but different to the PS3 trophies.

The problem I see with this is that many games on Steam get free updates from the developers that add new content and achievements. What happens if you get a platinum in a game and then a big new content update hits with 60 new achievements? Do you roll back to a different badge or do you get all the new ones go on to achieve "super platinum" so to speak? The reason I like the looseness of Steam's achievements is that developers never have to worry about the ramifications of adding to their game and affecting some built in achievement counting system.

 

[DTKT]

Can't wait to feed my ego with some arbitrary point system.

 

[Exuro]

The problem I see with this is that many games on Steam get free updates from the developers that add new content and achievements. What happens if you get a platinum in a game and then a big new content update hits with 60 new achievements? Do you roll back to a different badge or do you get all the new ones go on to achieve "super platinum" so to speak? The reason I like the looseness of Steam's achievements is that developers never have to worry about the ramifications of adding to their game and affecting some built in achievement counting system.

I added a second part. Basically, have a few different badges per game. Each badge would have a few ranks like current badges work. Then, for like TF2, you would have a badge for the general achievements, and then for each class, and whatever other updates that added a bunch of achievements. Obviously this is a super basic idea, but I bet Valve could easily implement something like this and not ruin the ease of adding achievements to games.

 

[Derrick01]

The problem I see with this is that many games on Steam get free updates from the developers that add new content and achievements. What happens if you get a platinum in a game and then a big new content update hits with 60 new achievements? Do you roll back to a different badge or do you get all the new ones go on to achieve "super platinum" so to speak? The reason I like the looseness of Steam's achievements is that developers never have to worry about the ramifications of adding to their game and affecting some built in achievement counting system.

It would probably work like PS3 does in that situation. The platinum trophy only counts for the main game, any DLC added affects your overall game % (which is annoying by itself because a lot of times you can't avoid it, games make you download the patch which is the new content so even if you don't buy the DLC your 100% goes away. It's a cheap tactic to get achievement whores to buy DLC) but it doesn't negate the platinum you earned. DLC trophies also have little marks on the corner of them to let you and everyone else know they're from DLC.

Can't wait to feed my ego with some arbitrary point system.

That's a lame cop-out criticism and if you read my post you'd know it has nothing to do with ego. But if you don't like it that much then just do what you probably do now and ignore the achievements.

 

[DTKT]

It would probably work like PS3 does in that situation. The platinum trophy only counts for the main game, any DLC added affects your overall game % (which is annoying by itself because a lot of times you can't avoid it, games make you download the patch which is the new content so even if you don't buy the DLC your 100% goes away. It's a cheap tactic to get achievement whores to buy DLC) but it doesn't negate the platinum you earned. DLC trophies also have little marks on the corner of them to let you and everyone else know they're from DLC.



That's a lame cop-out criticism and if you read my post you'd know it has nothing to do with ego. But if you don't like it that much then just do what you probably do now and ignore the achievements.

But, let's be honest here. That's how they are used. It's even reflected in how studios design the achievements. But, you are right. They need to revamp the achievement system.

 

[ShaneB]

I'd love a revamp of the achievements as well. I don't care about some arbitrary point system if that's a possible scenario, but just make it a lot user friendly, tie it to badges or something. They're fun to unlock sure, but making it easier to view friends and whatnot would be a great help.


I just finished Binary Domain. It's far from perfect, and hilariously bland in some aspects, but I just found it so damn fun. Every chapter kept getting more and more ridiculous, and I had to keep playing just because it was fun blowing up robots and seeing what crazy scenario I'd run into next.

 

[PrematureQuiche]

I am about to head to bed but if tomorrow I used a VPN to unlock Sleeping Dogs 3 days early am I likely to get banned? I don't want to stay offline either as I want to play CS:GO with a friend also.

 

[shintoki]

Just wait the few days, its honestly such a trivial issue compared to what could happen.

 

[BioHazard]

Anybody doing a 4-pack for Iron Brigade?

 

[Mairu]

I'm fine with the current steam achievements system. What I'd really like is for them to make the community more stable... A lot of times it seems to go down and then I get into the position where I'm hitting the community tab and it just redirects me to whatever store page I was on.

Spoiler

Oh, and big picture mode

 

[Djamb3]

Am I the only one who in fact prefers the steam achievs? Each game does its one way and that's it, no global points, no global medals, nothing.

They could improve the way you compare with other people, but other than that keep it like it is.

 

[Derrick01]

Am I the only one who in fact prefers the steam achievs? Each game does its one way and that's it, no global points, no global medals, nothing.

They could improve the way you compare with other people, but other than that keep it like it is.

No a lot of PC people either are like you or just don't care. But achievement people from the consoles don't tend to like the per game achievements that don't tie into anything. As much as they're ridiculed for being useless, the current steam way is even more useless in my eyes. It's just there to be there.

 

[Dog Problems]

If I like a game enough it's fun getting all the achievements but with that program out there that unlocks them they're pretty much useless.

 

[DTKT]

If I like a game enough it's fun getting all the achievements but with that program out there that unlocks them they're pretty much useless.

That's something they would need to fix for achievements to matter.

 

[HP_Wuvcraft]

If I like a game enough it's fun getting all the achievements but with that program out there that unlocks them they're pretty much useless.

Civ 5 has not given me acheevs for the past three acheevs I've actually done.

 

[Dog Problems]

Civ 5 has not given me acheevs for the past three acheevs I've actually done.

Yeah, I've encountered problems like that as well. Defense Grid was suppose to give me various achievements for completing a campaign but all I got was one for finishing it. Apparently there's no issue with them either so I don't know what went wrong.

 

[Derrick01]

If I like a game enough it's fun getting all the achievements but with that program out there that unlocks them they're pretty much useless.

They're useless if you're using them to compete with someone or if there was an actual prize system in place. But for people like me it would still work out good because I won't use something like that. I know people a lot dumber than me that know how to cheat the achievements on 360 so it can't be that hard, but there's no point in doing that. Takes all of the fun away.

 

[Stallion Free]

Darksiders 1 is deliciously awful at handing out it's achievements as well.

 

[bonesquad]

If I like a game enough it's fun getting all the achievements but with that program out there that unlocks them they're pretty much useless.

Even without any hacks achievements themselves are useless. The fun is when they popup or seeing if you can get certain achievements. Having an achievement has no value itself.

However, if Steam wants to implement a gamerscore type system. Go ahead. I think it's dumb, but we all know there are idiots out there who will buy a cheap game just to grab the achievements to add to their score. More games sold can't be a bad thing. Right?

Though I could see developers then implementing their achievements so they are easy to get to tempt the gamerscore whores. Which then really makes achievements meaningless

 

[Dog Problems]

They're useless if you're using them to compete with someone or if there was an actual prize system in place. But for people like me it would still work out good because I won't use something like that. I know people a lot dumber than me that know how to cheat the achievements on 360 so it can't be that hard, but there's no point in doing that. Takes all of the fun away.

Well, I'd like to see something more done with them, like you. One idea I thought of was getting a badge with a number that represents how many games you have all of the achievements for and updates as you 100% games.

Man, if they added a point value to them all that would keep me so busy, lol. I'd probably never want to play on another platform.

 

[Soi-Fong]

Anybody know, I just lost all my TF2 items? It says lost connection to the server.
Re-downloaded TF2 to get the items from Sleeping Dogs.

 

[DTKT]

Anybody know, I just lost all my TF2 items? It says lost connection to the server.

That just means that the item database is down. When it comes back up, all your items will be back.

 

[Soi-Fong]

That just means that the item database is down. When it comes back up, all your items will be back.

Only thing is that it's been down for like 6 hours for me. I re-downloaded TF2 just to get the items. I don't really play the game and outright the tab for TF2 in my inventory is gone.

 

[Dog Problems]

Even without any hacks achievements themselves are useless. The fun is when they popup or seeing if you can get certain achievements. Having an achievement has no value itself.

However, if Steam wants to implement a gamerscore type system. Go ahead. I think it's dumb, but we all know there are idiots out there who will buy a cheap game just to grab the achievements to add to their score. More games sold can't be a bad thing. Right?

Though I could see developers then implementing their achievements so they are easy to get to tempt the gamerscore whores. Which then really makes achievements meaningless

I meant useless as in there's no point showing off a particular achievement since anyone can get it. Sort of like showing off high scores in an arcade game or something, my friends and I like to show off extremely difficult achievements to each other. But with that program anyone can get a difficult achievement so I wonder how many people got Platinum God in Binding of Isaac legitimately and who used that program to unlock it. Again, I think of it as an arcade game showing a list of high scores, but if someone could cheat that it would make it less fun.

 

[Soi-Fong]

Only thing is that it's been down for like 6 hours for me. I re-downloaded TF2 just to get the items. I don't really play the game and outright the tab for TF2 in my inventory is gone.

Just had to restart Steam. All back and got the items.

 

[RionaaM]

What region do you live in?

Earth?

South America. More specifically, Argentina, and those games are always locked here :/

 

[HoosTrax]

So far BD hasn't been nearly as bad as some people indicated.

The movement and FOV feel a little clunky -- I had to maximize normal-FOV and minimize zoom-FOV to make it feel ok, and Dan moves oddly slowly when strafing. Also, the game has an annoying tendency to map multiple functions to a single key, instead of letting you take advantage of the increased number of buttons on a keyboard. It's also a little limiting that you're only allowed to upgrade Dan's assault rifle -- I prefer the robot assault rifle's accurate burst fire.

Other than that though, there are a lot of enjoyable parts and the production values are surprisingly good. Maybe I just like the parallels to "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep" (the novel that Blade Runner is based on), and those influences make me willing to overlook the flaws.

I haven't played any of the Gears of War games btw. Maybe Americans dislike the game compared to the Japanese, who reviewed it overwhelmingly favorably , because it's not similar enough to GoW (or trying too hard to compare it to GoW)?

 

[bonesquad]

I meant useless as in there's no point showing off a particular achievement since anyone can get it. Sort of like showing off high scores in an arcade game or something, my friends and I like to show off extremely difficult achievements to each other. But with that program anyone can get a difficult achievement so I wonder how many people got Platinum God in Binding of Isaac legitimately and who used that program to unlock it. Again, I think of it as an arcade game showing a list of high scores, but if someone could cheat that it would make it less fun.

Fair point. I never looked at achievements like high scores. You either have it or you don't. It doesn't tell you if you're better at the game than that person I wasn't suggesting it's ok to hack achievements and I'd rather Steam crack down on that, and while I wouldn't mind a revamp to make looking through achievements easier, I don't see any of that increasing the 'value'. They're still just fun goals for me to hit.

 

[hitmon]

Civ 5 has not given me acheevs for the past three acheevs I've actually done.

Don't really care for achievements... Now that you mention it, Civ V hasn't given me achievements I know I should've gotten. Is it an offline thing?

 

[Smash88]

I won Sleeping Dogs on a stream, and he is giving away more for Steam (thanks Wario64).

I'm going to be trading my GMG Sleeping Dogs key for Darksiders 2, if anyone wants to.

 

[ClovingWestbrook]

That is so weird. Did it ever do that outside of the Steam client?

Delete the blob file? Update graphic drivers?

Graphic drivers are up to date. The Steam issue started happening a few days ago. I will try deleting the blob.

 

[DTKT]

Only thing is that it's been down for like 6 hours for me. I re-downloaded TF2 just to get the items. I don't really play the game and outright the tab for TF2 in my inventory is gone.

Check the game files cache.

 

[jaundicejuice]

Steam just took a shit on me while I was playing TF2, client became unresponsive and it took a few minutes to regain it's connection after restarting my computer. Upside of that is, I can start installing Sleeping Dogs and Darksiders II.

 

[Dog Problems]

Fair point. I never looked at achievements like high scores. You either have it or you don't. It doesn't tell you if you're better at the game than that person I wasn't suggesting it's ok to hack achievements and I'd rather Steam crack down on that, and while I wouldn't mind a revamp to make looking through achievements easier, I don't see any of that increasing the 'value'. They're still just fun goals for me to hit.

For most achievements I view them that way as well. But there are some that will impress me and I can use them to compare my level of skill with others. Not nearly as fun as a high score, though.

 

[Alex]

Iron Brigade is def my new favorite TD game, glad I caved on it. The mech customization and coop are a blast.

 

[yellowmonkeystudios]

For those interested, Tryst is now available for pre-order on Steam for 20 percent off. A Sci-Fi RTS developed by our friends over in Hyderabad!

There's a Premium Pack (includes "All Future DLC") and 4-Pack available for purchase as well.

 

[Boss Doggie]

I wonder if we're ever gonna get a Bayonetta-ish game in Steam.

 

[Tukker]

I won Sleeping Dogs on a stream, and he is giving away more for Steam (thanks Wario64).

I'm going to be trading my GMG Sleeping Dogs key for Darksiders 2, if anyone wants to.

So you joined in on a giveaway for a game that you already own lol

 

[Visualante2]

Welp, great job Rockstar on the GTA IV release. Episodes from Liberty City is a standalone download. Redownloading the same 9gb of models, animations, textures and sound files.

There may be some hack job to copy the files but I don't have the hard drive space to be doing that kind of stuff. Apparently GFWL shares the files, maybe it's part of Microsoft's agreement allowing Rockstar to distribute the DLC separately but only allow the DLC through their store.

 

[Ledsen]

Welp, great job Rockstar on the GTA IV release. Episodes from Liberty City is a standalone download. Redownloading the same 9gb of models, animations, textures and sound files.

There may be some hack job to copy the files but I don't have the hard drive space to be doing that kind of stuff. Apparently GFWL shares the files, maybe it's part of Microsoft's agreement allowing Rockstar to distribute the DLC separately but only allow the DLC through their store.

considering it doesn't require GTAIV that shouldn't be surprising, should it?

 

[toddhunter]

I wonder if we're ever gonna get a Bayonetta-ish game in Steam.

Devil May Cry 3 or 4?

 

[Visualante2]

considering it doesn't require GTAIV that shouldn't be surprising, should it?

Considering it's 2012 it would be great if they could just do a check on the Steam account, like they do with bonus discounts. And download one of a handful of packages they could have prepared in advance.

Oh I see there's a "Complete edition" that's what I would have preferred. Perhaps even simpler, when you own both upgrade to the CE. I'm sure the save files will be safe as is. That's what Arma does.

 

[eyeless]

bulletstorm is a fun video game to play

i'm spreading the word

 

[Xanathus]

Considering it's 2012 it would be great if they could just do a check on the Steam account, like they do with bonus discounts. And download one of a handful of packages they could have prepared in advance.

Oh I see there's a "Complete edition" that's what I would have preferred. Perhaps even simpler, when you own both upgrade to the CE. I'm sure the save files will be safe as is. That's what Arma does.

It's an issue with Steam not allowing for that kind of checks (at the time it was released). Supposedly buying it from GFWL does that check and only downloads the necessary files.