Tag: Steam

Microtransactions: Workhard Is Definitely A Game


I wanted to talk about Workhard because I spent money on this and I’d honestly feel bad about refunding it.

Microtransactions is the latest column idea I had here for MMO Fallout because I can either play some incredibly cheap/short indie games with what little free time I have nowadays, or I can do the sensible thing and acknowledge that I’m not actually legally obligated to be publishing stuff on the internet even though I’ve been doing just that for nearly eighteen years now.

So I picked up Workhard because it was $1.79 on Steam and looks like a Gameboy game. Shallow, yes, but so is the game. You play as a secret agent assigned to liquidate a gang. With your guns. Sure, why not. So you travel to the right over several levels and shoot people as they aimlessly walk toward you. To aid in your liquidation you have a pistol, an automatic, and a one-shot shotgun that fires one bullet before it needs to reload. The shotgun has a very satisfying punch and can take out pretty much everyone except for the final boss in one hit. Admittedly this is the highlight of the game.

All in all, Workhard will take roughly 10 minutes to beat and obtain all of the achievements. I actually thought that the game was having problems because I kept killing the final boss off-screen without realizing it and the game just goes right back to the main menu.

I’m not angry that I spend the cost of a soft-baked Monster cookie from Target on this game or the fact that it was ten minutes long, but I am starting to wish I had taken that money and gotten a soft-baked Monster cookie from Target.

Steam Cleaning: Banned Developer Creates Shell-Accounts


Where would we be if Steam’s worst developers weren’t so stupid?

There have been hundreds of developers banned from Steam for various reasons of scumbaggery, and Valve doesn’t do a fantastic job of vetting the identity of creators so many of them have come back in one form or another. The latest developer to do this is apparently Sun Lucky Industries who have taken to creating numerous shell accounts to put their copy-pasted, low quality games on Steam.

Thankfully they aren’t very intelligent. Their games Monster Planet, Urban Riots, Desert Monsters, Animal War, Alien Creatures, and Desert Lost contain the exact same price (99 cents) and the exact same product description. They also look like exactly the same game but with different assets packs.

“This is a third person action game,The player is surrounded by a group of monsters represented by the leader,Players can explore the surrounding area freely, but need to kill the monster or avoid the monster’s attack, the leader of the attack and vitality is very high need attention,Players need to survive as long as possible.”

Will Valve react? More than likely.

Big thanks to the folks at Sentinels of the Store for their diligence.

Last Week On Steam: Slightly Less Rancid Shrimp Edition


Digging through Steam’s weekly release list is like being a septic worker, only more people appreciate what their septic worker does for them. If you can’t tell, it’s not a column I like to spend too much time on because it makes me want to pick up the phone and call my mom and ask why she had to have me, but that’s not what we are here for.

Roughly 275 games were listed on to Steam in the week between August 25 and August 31. Nothing in this list is meant to be a recommendation unless I specifically say that I am recommending the title. Otherwise it is merely a list of games that by my own tastes do not look like an absolute waste of time and money. There are no hentai puzzle sliders, RPG Maker games, or Unity asset flips here. I will not shill your early access title, nor will this list feature games that look like they were made in Flash, ported from mobile phones, and definitely if it doesn’t support English.

If you want the Steam list whittled down to something more manageable, this list is for you. If not, feel free to not read it. The fact that I’m not hosting the images on this server and publishing this at 2a.m. should tell you everything.

#1: Crazy Driver (SRS Games) $.99

Crazy Driver looks like a game from my childhood, at least in the sense that the description makes it sound a lot like the endless mode in Driver. I loved Driver, and seeing how long I could keep my car from being totaled by the police while driving around a very quiet city seemed like the recipe for greatness back in 1999, a good two years before Grand Theft Auto 3 launched.

The cars in this game also look like Micro Machines, so double that nostalgia and stick it right into my veins. Oh and the game runs one whole dollar.

#2: The Castle (Ishtar Games, Inc.) $5.99

I’m not fully convinced that The Castle isn’t some long lost title from the MS DOS days, but Ishtar Games says that it’s a recently developed game and I’m not sure why anyone would lie about that. You’ll need to recruit a group of heroes among the list of available characters to explore a castle, find out its secrets, and most importantly give the stake and the rope to Peter. He knows what to do with it.

If you’re really dripping on that Tales From Monkey Island nostalgia juice and want something actually new to play, check out The Castle.

#3: River Legends: A Fly Fishing Adventure (Dantat Studio) $14.99

But Connor, I hear you shout into the void of space, I don’t want to be a DOS-era nun and have to click “use” before I use something. I want to be a dad and do things that dads do, like fish. Well this next game is right up your airspace.

River Legends is a game with no in-app purchases and no DLC, unlike other fishing games. Despite what the art style may imply, it’s also not one of those artsy-fartsy games that pretends to be one thing and then OH LORD IT’S TWISTED AND EVIL. It’s just fishing, and the four reviews are pretty happy with it. Go fishing, and catch some fish.

#4: Knights and Bikes (Foam Sword) $19.99

If Knights and Bikes looks like a Double Fine game, that’s because it is published by Double Fine. Some of its creators also developed Tearaway. Knights and Bikes looks adorable, it also has an oddly specific soundtrack about riding bikes. It stars two kids in what is referred to as a Goonies-style adventure.

The two new friends, along with their pet-goose and the pickled-head of an undead knight, form the Penfurzy Rebel Bicycle Club, and are ready for anything this adventure throws at them. They pedal into danger to face threats head-on with frisbees, water-balloons, video game controllers and the powerful beats of an amplified boom-box.

Did I mention there is couch co-op?

#5: Minoria (Bombservice) $17.99

I normally pass right by Metroidvania-looking games when looking at titles for this column, since they tend to be absolute trash. Minoria on the other hand immediately drew my attention with truly fantastic looking animation quality. Minoria is an action platformer game with witches, witchcraft, and low gravity that makes boobs bounce a lot. Not that that’s a bad thing.

Girl check out this body. She works out.

The animation quality alone has effectively sold me on this title.

#6: Wayward Souls (Rocketcat Games) $14.99

Yea, we’re going into the procedurally generated 16-bit roguelike games again. Don’t tell me you’ve gotten tired of the genre already!

But hey, this one comes to us from Rocketcat Games, a company that has actually made a name for itself with good quality games. Seven heroes, each with their own abilities, each available for you to take into the dungeon and slaughter countless monsters. What else could you possibly want out of your gaming life? Other than less microtransactions in Call of Duty and for nobody to mention Fortnite ever again anywhere.

#7: Hotel R’n’R (Wolf and Wood Interactive Ltd.) $19.99

I don’t think I have ever had my first impression of a game based on its graphics reversed to this extent and as quickly as it did with hotel R’n’R. Despite your character having disgustingly long and thin arms, Hotel R’n’R is a destruction-based physics game where you take on the role of a failed musician who happens to make a deal with the devil. In return for fame, fortune, and untouchable talent with the musical instrument, all you need to do is smash up a few hotel rooms. In short, you’re just like any other heavy metal band from the 80’s.

Cocaine not included.

#8: Agent A: A Puzzle In Disguise (Yak & Co) $8.99

Agent A is probably a stretch, but I’ve just gone through several pages of utterly unsalvageable trash and frankly I’m just looking for something that looks close to palatable. It’s a puzzle game with a nice art style and interesting looking puzzles. Yes, it looks like an Esurance commercial and I’m not entirely convinced that it won’t end up selling you on simple, fast, and affordable rates.

#9: Blair Witch (Bloober Team) $26.99

I have a feeling that I know where Blair Witch is going, since games that play on the whole “hero with a heart of gold but a tormented mind and a violent past” also tend to throw their “child went missing” stories into the realm of “oh b-t-dubs, your character is totally the killer,” but I’m reserving my hopes that Bloober Team is more creative than that.

Being one of the few games that I have actually played on this list, I will heartily recommend Blair Witch from my first impressions of the games opening hours. One thing that sets this game apart and may turn some gamers off is the camera which actually has a use. You will find tapes that can be rewound in order to find clues and hopefully track down this missing brat. Also, Blair Witch has a handsome doggo that helps you find your way through the spooky woods. You can pet him.

If you have Xbox Game Pass, just download Blair Witch there for free.

#10: Timmy’s Cooking Show (Bmc Studio) $1.94

Normally I would tell you to avoid games like this, but the guy playing Timmy looks like he’s really not enjoying this food he’s cooking. Two bucks to watch a bunch of Canadian dorks putz about won’t give you much of a game, but just think of it this way: When the game ends you’re that much closer to the great sleep you’ll be looking forward to even more after sitting through a Bmc Studio game.

#11: Graveyard Defender (Kitty Cattus) $1.79

Did I list this game because of the developer’s name? No. It should be evident by now that I am a sucker for DOS-era stylized games. Protect your home from waves of zombies. Fourteen levels, less than the cost of whatever is $2 at McDonald’s nowadays.

[Not Massive] It’s Time For More Interesting Steam Games


Get that toilet out, it’s time for more Steam releases.

What can I say about this week’s Steam releases other than to say it might be the worst week I have seen in a long time. Over 250 releases of which nine might be worth looking into. If you’re a fan of hentai puzzle sliders and trashy Unity games, this list unfortunately won’t cater to your tastes. For everyone else, you might find something worth playing or at least adding to your wishlist until the next Steam sale.

#1: Pixel Shinobi Nine demons of Mamoru / Ametist Studio

Pixel side scrolling action games are a dime a dozen these days, so in order to stand out from the crowd you really have to have a good presentation. Pixel Shinobi, at least judging by the trailer, seems to have fluid animations, fast pace gameplay, and a ton of challenge. Pixel Shinobi promises to combine stealth, platforming, and RPG mechanics in a game where you play as a ninja to stop a demonically possessed military leader on a campaign of bloodshed.

89% of 126 users agree that this game is worth the $8.24 asking price. Check it out.

#2: Warfork / Team Forbidden

Warfork looks like a cosmetic overhaul of Quake 3 and plays a lot like Quake 3. If you really like Quake 3, you’re probably going to enjoy this game as 91% of 137 reviewers on Steam agree. Even better, the game is free to play. Check it out.

#3: Devious Dungeon / Woblyware Oy

Devious Dungeon looks like a quaint little game. I initially assumed that it was a roguelike given the graphics and user interface, but it appears to be more of a platformer with RPG elements than a Rogue Legacy type game. It’s $4.24 and oddly enough the developer is already talking about the sequel coming out in Q4 2019. It promises five worlds, 68 levels, randomized levels, and plenty of loot.

Check it out.

#4: Ikeda : The Scrap Hunter E.P. / Trent Kaniuga

Ikeda is a free to play side scrolling hack and slash game that challenges you to obtain hard to reach scrap in order to achieve 100% completion. The only DLC for the game is a $5 gold patron badge that doesn’t do anything except support the developer and get you a fancier menu screen.

Following a tip from an old friend of his landlords, Iggy Ikeda infiltrates an abandoned Neptune Facility in search of the remains of a decommissioned Warthog Mk II tank. You’ll need to wall jump, and slash your way through 6 stages of challenging narrow saw blade corridors, security droids and lasers while grabbing as much scrap as you can.

Check it out, because there is not a whole lot of quality that came to Steam this week.

#5: Last Knight / Enoops

Last Knight looks a lot like the Go! games developed and put out by Square Enix: Tomb Raider Go and Hitman Go. This should be a positive, since those games were very well put together. It looks like a fun game and at 59 cents, what do you have to lose other than your spare time?

#6: Brewer / Slava Victorov

Brewer looks like it takes an established genre and throws a rather unique spin on it. A business strategy game where you open up pubs and brew your own beer. Brewer looks like it has all of the micromanagement aspects that strategy game lovers will pour through for hours. Hire employees, brew the beers, change every aspect of your pubs from the snacks on menu to the number of seats and strength of the drinks. It also looks like the game lets you be a gigantic asshole and ruin the competition by scouting out competing pubs, provoking fights on their property, and even spoiling their beer and calling in the health inspector.

If only you could fill the pub with drunk minors and then call the inspector like in that episode of Always Sunny In Philadelphia. Brewer will set you back $3.59.

#7: DARQ / Unfold Games

You may be familiar with DARQ simply because the developer got in the gaming press over their refusal to sign an exclusive deal with the Epic Game Store. You may not know about the game itself, or that it launched. DARQ is a side-scrolling game that looks right out of Tim Burton’s nightmares. The game is heavily puzzle-based, requiring you to use physics and room manipulation in order to navigate through the dream world.

DARQ tells the story of Lloyd, a boy who becomes aware of the fact that he is dreaming. To Lloyd’s misfortune, the dream quickly turns into a nightmare and all attempts to wake up end in failure. While exploring the darkest corners of his subconscious, Lloyd learns how to survive the nightmare by bending the laws of physics and manipulating the fluid fabric of the dream world.

DARQ is $20 and may constitute the only real “Must Buy” on the list this week. On second thought…

#8: Ion Fury / Voidpoint LLC

Ion Fury is freaking fantastic. As one of the games on this list that I personally own, Ion Fury is a collaboration between 3D Realms and Voidpoint to go back and create a game on the Duke Nukem 3D engine. Yea, this game is running on a (modified) version of an engine older than many of the people that will be playing it. Ion Fury, or Ion Maiden as it was formerly titled, stars Shelly “Bombshell” Harrison, a character that was originally supposed to be a sidekick to Duke in Duke Nukem Forever. Ion Fury is the latest title to star Shelly, with the first being the not-well-received 2016 game Bombshell.

Those familiar with the Build engine games will see Ion Fury as more of the good stuff. Shelly is equipped with a wide array of weapons from her ridiculous handgun (pictured above) to bowling bombs, submachine guns equipped with incendiary bullets, shotgun, and more. Ion Fury is a true successor to Duke Nukem 3D, and even features Duke VA John St. John as the villain Heskel. 95% of the 1,569 reviewers on Steam agree that this game is a hit.

If you’re looking to scratch a retro-shooter itch, you can do so for $24.99.

#9: Wanna Survive / PINIX

Wanna Survive looks like a blend of something old and something new. It is a turn based strategy top-down strategy game that seems to combine Fire Emblem with The Walking Dead. Judging by the trailer, it pits your team of heroes against a massive mob of zombies in a game that is a little bit more fast paced than you might be used to. Help your cast of characters escape the city, deal with permadeath, and manage rations of food as you try your best to survive.

And at $10.79, it won’t break the bank.

Wasting Time: The Designers Curse: Chapter One


Today I played The Designers Curse: Chapter One.

Continue reading “Wasting Time: The Designers Curse: Chapter One”

[Not Massive] Another Week Of Interesting Steam Releases


It’s that time again. This past week saw roughly 250 new games listed to the Steam store, and odds are a large portion of them are absolute trash. Actually, I can confirm that most of them look like absolute trash considering that out of those that actually came out, I could only find maybe sixteen that appeared to be worth playing, and that’s kinda pushing the envelope of “worth playing.”

As with last week, MMO Fallout has not played the games that are on this list and cannot verify their value. They are simply a list of games that are not obvious shovelware trash, that being hentai puzzle sliders, unity asset flips, RPG maker games, and side scrolling flash titles.

#1: Night & Day

Night & Day is a cute looking puzzle game and a rather interesting concept. You have two characters that are both controlled by the player, each with their own unique abilities. Dark cannot be in Lights…light, otherwise it is destroyed. Dark is also the only one of the two that is strong enough to push boxes. Your goal as the player is to navigate the two sprites in order to get them to their exit doors and complete the level.

Night & Day is out for $8.99 and was developed by Genexsin

#2: Battles For Spain

Battles For Spain is in quite the unique scenario: A turn based strategy game set in the Spanish civil war. Battles For Spain centers around the battles of Guadalajara (1937), Teruel (1937), Mérida (1938), and Ebro (1938). According to the few reviews available, the game is pretty spot on with its history and is a very challenging game. At $26.99 and offering four scenarios with an estimated twelve hours of gameplay, it might be best to see how much replayability you’ll get before dropping some bones on this title.

It’s certainly a bold move for developer Headquarter S.L. considering the last time a video game released with its plot centered on the war, the public (in Spain) went absolutely bonkers. Back in 2007 a real time strategy game called Shadows of War: The Spanish Civil War released and generated huge controversy over allowing players to take the role of the fascists and even win the war. It was released exclusively in Spain and apparently wasn’t very good.

#3: MineRalph

I don’t like MineRalph, and by that I mean if he came to my house and asked if he could borrow my morning Wall Street Journal I’d probably say no. But MineRalph isn’t just about a ball with a really unsettling looking face, it’s about…a ball with a really creepy looking face.

MineRalph is a physics-based puzzle game built on the Unity engine that promises hardcore gameplay for hardcore gamers. If you want the kind of hardcore snobbery that would lead a developer to describe their game as an “homage to a time where video games were allowed to be difficult,” you have come to the right place. Move the ball with your mouse, speed-run, enter into the $1,000 contest. There is also a free demo if you don’t want to plunk down the $15 right off the bat.

#4: Trace of the Past

Trace of the Past probably shouldn’t be on the list, but considering the asking price is $4.24 and frankly the Steam list is desperate for anything, the potential entertainment value provided by a game trying to create a powerful narrative while also clearly being rather poorly translated from Russian to English might make it all worth it. Just read the game’s description to yourself in Yakov Smirnoff’s voice:

Trace of the Past — a first-person horror game, will show you a mystical story of Charles Worren’s life, a child of boarding school for orphans named ” Grief Hill” After some mysterious events in his Childhood, Charles ends up in psychiatric clinic and loses a half of his memories. In 19 years, he finds in his mailbox an envelope with an old photo inside, that shows Charles. The address is that boarding school for orphans ” Grief Hill” But who and what for sent him this photo? The boarding school has been closed for years. Charles decides to find it out and is off to his mysterious past.

What a country!

#5: Third Eye

I like the concept. Third Eye is a hack and slash game set in an area we really don’t see…ever. Indian lore. You take control of Raakh, given the responsibility of guarding the sacred trident. You find yourself up against Shukracharya, one of the Seven Sages, and his demonic armies of evil. Can you save Prithvilok from the forces of evil?

At $14.39, probably.

#6: Rashlander

Despite what its name may imply, Rashlander is not about successfully navigating the inflamed skin of a dermatology patient. Instead this title bills itself as a Lunar Lander Roguelike, Rashlander looks like Lunar Lander on meth. Fly around procedurally generated levels, avoid all sorts of hazards and land on things. Early Steam reviews have praised the game for tight controls, polished gameplay, and Twitch integration. If you enjoy arcade games, you will evidently enjoy Rashlander.

Currently on sale for $3.59 and developed by Ryan Davis.

#7: Age of Wonders: Planetfall

Oddly enough, it’s only been five years since the last Age of Wonders game. Age of Wonders has everything you could want from a sci-fi turn based strategy game: Dinosaur-riding Amazons, cyborg-zombies, and more. Choose from six factions and make your way to victory through conquest, diplomacy, or doomsday technologies. With single player and online multiplayer available, you’ll find plenty to enjoy.

Steam reviews currently show 79% approval among the 713 people who have reviewed it so far. Keep in mind this is a full priced game from the established studio Triumph Studios who had worked on prior Age of Wonders titles and does cost the standard $50.

#8: Metal Wolf Chaos XD

And speaking of established studios, why not bring in a From Software title? Metal Wolf Chaos XD is the re-release and not at all HD version of Metal Wolf Chaos, a very Japanese game that initially came out in 2004 in Japan on the Xbox and absolutely nowhere else. If you somehow missed this game the first time around, well now you can get your hands on it for the low cost of $24.99.

Considering the game only released in Japan the first time around, Metal Wolf Chaos centers around a wonderfully ridiculous and exaggerated (for the time) depiction of US politics:

“The country is in peril as President Michael Wilson defends the nation against a full-scale rebellion led by Vice-President Richard Hawk and the mechanized legions he commands. As the 47th President of the United States, it is your sworn duty to take your country back by any means necessary and end this unjust coup d’etat! Battle in your advanced mech – armed to the teeth – across iconic American landscapes including the Brooklyn Bridge, the Grand Canyon, and the front steps of the White House.”

84% of the 149 current reviews on Steam agree; Metal Wolf Chaos is an essential part of any patriot’s breakfast.

#9: Gunslugs: Rogue Tactics

Also called Gunslugs 3 depending on which part of the Steam store page you’re reading, Gunslugs: Rogue Tactics is a roguelike game released by Orangepixel, a company that really likes putting out Roguelike games. Seriously, they’ve been doing it for roughly four years now. Gunslugs promises more stealth-oriented gameplay than you may have seen from past roguelikes, but with the ability to go in guns-a-blazing if you prefer. Honestly, the choice is up to you.

Gunslugs can be picked up for $13.49 by itself or as part of the Orangepixel collection.

#10: Silver Chains

Looking to get spooked? I know you are. Silver Chains has everything to make you feel uncomfortable; spooky children, ouija boards, people crawling on walls, an abandoned house that might not actually be abandoned (spoiler: It isn’t). Unravel the truth behind these spooky mysteries and do so in a game that is very good looking. It should be, it was developed on the Unreal engine.

Developed by Cracked Head Games and on sale for $21.24, Silver Chains will scare more than just your wallet.

#11: Bad Hombre

Bad Hombre has a certain amount of charm in its stupidity, and the art style looks like someone created a game with today’s politics on the ZX Spectrum or Commodore 64. You evidently play as a drug runner trying to bring drugs into America, and in order to do so you’ll need to bypass the wall, the Pence Fence, and avoid Trump’s tacos from Trump Tower (the best tacos).

It’s a concept that seems just ridiculous enough to fall into the realm of being about something political without actually taking a political stance on it. At $11.99, you may be playing the life story of the developer’s drug supplier.

#12: Legends of Aria

An actual MMO! Legends of Aria is a game that hopes to walk in the footsteps of Ultima Online. A sandbox MMO, Legends of Aria allows you to be what you want, as long as you want to be an adventurer, a crafter, or something else within the confines of the game’s skill system. You can even be a bard. With a skill system, you’ll build your character by using your skills and leveling them up over time. Stake your claim on the land and build a house, become a skilled craftsman and make the best horse chili in all the land (horse chili not actually available), or set forth and become a skilled murderer of other players.

Legends of Aria has a one-off price, currently at $19.79.

#13: Gibbous – A Cthulhu Adventure

Biggous – A Cthulhu Adventure looks like a Double Fine game, or a modern day Lucas RPG. Judging by the trailer, the voice acting is top notch, animations are smooth and very well done, and overall the title feels like a modern day Sam & Max or Monkey Island game, but set in a world with an HP Lovecraft demon. 83% of over one hundred Steam users agree, it’s looking pretty good.

“Crazy cultists. Cthulhu. A talking cat. Gibbous takes you on an expansive, traditionally animated, hand-painted adventure. Play as three protagonists and explore a lushly rendered Lovecraft-inspired world, unraveling ancient conspiracies. A comedy cosmic horror adventure made in Transylvania!”

Now on sale for $17.99.

#14: Cliff Empire

Cliff Empire is a really good looking game with a great aesthetic and an interesting concept. Nuclear war has made the surface of the Earth uninhabitable, and that can only mean one thing: Mole people? No, living on top of mountains. Cliff Empire promises that you’ll be able to set up multiple cities, manage trade between them, and even go down and walk around your cities on foot. Can you sustain life in the aftermath of a brutal nuclear war, or is humanity doomed to failure?

90% of the nearly one thousand reviews agree that this game is definitely worth it, and at $11.99 it won’t be a pain in your wallet. You may recognize developer Lion’s Shade from their Tempest pirate RPG.

#15: Apsulov: End of Gods

You have to hand it to this week’s Steam list, there is quite a diversity of genres. Apsulov is horrifying looking, it bills itself as a future viking horror as you the player wake up in a research facility built to exploit the world of Yggrdrasil. Apsulov piles together Norse mythology and futuristic sci-fi in a head on collision, and the result is pretty freaking terrifying.

A first person action game, Apsulov currently holds a 92% approval rating of 63 users on Steam, and runs for $20.

#16: Room 208

One good thing about the proliferation of certain engines is that even indie games have begun to look very good. In Room 208 you play as Victor Rockford, spiritual medium brought forth to investigate the paranormal activity surrounding Room 1408 Room 208 of a hotel in a small town. Use your wits to get through the game’s numerous puzzles, deal with dynamic spawning enemies, and cower in fear in full 4K support.

Room 208 spawns in at $8.44, so it won’t’ break the bank to check this game out.

Steam Cleaning: Valve Now Moderating Workshop Submissions


You may have visited Steam’s workshop in the past and thought to yourself “this Counter Strike section could do with a lot less scam submissions in the workshop.” For those unaware, distributors of unsavory material have been targeting the Steam workshop for years by submitting fake maps with alluring titles offering free skins or free knives, and then linking users to websites that would steal their information.

Dangerous yes, and for those smart enough to not fall for said scam, an absolute annoyance as they were a constant nuisance and ever present. Unfortunately for those rascally scam artists, that era has come to an end.

Valve this week has updated the process with which workshop items are approved, and now new submissions must be approved manually by Valve staff before they are publicly visible. The same goes for any updates to existing workshop items. For its part, Valve is promising speedy approval with most submissions being approved within a day.

“Newly submitted and updated items will be placed into a moderation queue. You’ll be able view and edit the content during this process, but other players will not be able to view changes until they’re approved. For updates to existing items, subscribers will have access to the previously approved version if there is one. The approval process should be completed in less than a day. If you have any questions on the process, please contact Steam Support“

The news specifically mentions that this change is targeting scams and account theft through the workshop, so it is unlikely that Valve is policing any content other than weeding out the fake giveaways.

Source: Steam

[Video] Legends of Aria Launch Trailer


Today’s video comes to us from Legends of Aria, an MMORPG in the same vein as Ultima Online that just so happens to be launching on Steam as we speak. Now available in Early Access, you can pick up the sandbox game with a 34% discount, at $19.79 USD. Check out the new bard skill line, the new equipment enchanting system, or even the new wilderness.

Or you can check out the trailer below.

[Not Massive] Last Week’s Steam Games You Might Enjoy


I’m trying something new today.

Last week saw over 375 new games listed on Steam, and get this: Roughly half of them didn’t even release. Steam has become such a dumping ground for trash that out of nearly 400 titles slated for release between July 28 and August 3, half of the developers never bothered actually putting them out. And the other half? Don’t get me started. Hentai slider puzzles, trashy RPG maker games, a Brian Boitano simulator, and more! It’s enough to make you not want to bother even looking at the release list.

And that’s where I come in. I took a gander through the release list so you don’t have to, and pulled out more than a dozen games that look like they may actually be worth playing. Please note that this is solely based off of first impressions of the gameplay videos, reviews, and description of the title itself. I haven’t played the games and thus make no statement on their quality or whether you the reader will enjoy them.

Luckily they are for the most part rather cheap and on some sort of launch sale.

#1: Lost Flame

Lost Flame is an old school roguelike title that looks ripped right out of the DOS era. Created by Bartosz Bojarowski, developer of the well received title The Madness of Little Emma and the not as well received game Don’t Chat With Strangers, it appears that Bojarowski’s skills lie with roguelikes and less in the realm of puzzle games. Screenshot for the game is above, Lost Flame is currently in Early Access at the cost of $12.59 USD.

#2: The Church in the Darkness

The Church in the Darkness is a top-down game where you play as Vic, ex-law enforcement officer who heads down to South America to rescue his nephew from a cult. How dangerous is the cult? Will you stop them or join them? Can you rescue your nephew? Church in the Darkness boasts multiple endings as well as voice acting from popular VA’s such as Ellen McLain (GLaDOS) and John Patrick Lowrie (Sniper – Team Fortress 2). The Church in the Darkness is available for $15.99.

#3: Dry Drowning

Dry Drowning is a visual novel with gorgeous art design that creates a world where Max Payne meets Deus Ex. A dystopian city, you play as private detective Mordred Foley, a man on the run from his past and presumably toward a bottle of something alcoholic. Dry Drowning promises more than 150 story branches, 3 endings, as well as time travel mechanics and psychological interrogations.

There’s even a demo if you don’t want to throw down the $16 bones for it.

#4: Half Dead 2

Half Dead 2 looks like a strange player, but unlike most of the other games on this list it has established a community and overwhelmingly positive reception. Half Dead 2 sets you up as a ruthless, bloody criminal who happens to get caught by the intergalactic police. Thankfully you have a chance at not being put to death now that the Emperor has set up a game of survival with the most ruthless killers in the galaxy. Emperors are funny like that.

Survive through rooms with deadly traps in cooperative or competitive play, and on the cheap: Just $4.49.

#5: Glo Phlox

Glo Phlox is adorable, and not just because I misspelled it roughly a dozen times while writing this paragraph. Here we have a twin stick shooter in a metroidvania world promising combat that is easy to learn and difficult to master. It comes to us from Justin Sennema and Eduardo Brasil and current reactions on Steam seem quite positive.

You can check it out at the low cost of $14.39. And speaking of twin stick shooters…

#6: WarForwards

A classic top down shooter with cute anime girls, and only $10. WarForwards won’t be winning any Hotline Miami impersonation awards anytime soon, but developer Roman Pak has put together a shooter that aims to impress and so far has absolutely done so. Early impressions on Steam show an 81% approval rating among the eleven reviews, with users praising the controls, soundtrack, and overall polish.

#7: The Poisoner

A virtual reality game for those of you with the hardware and the software to get through it. If I know my VR like I think I do, the bar for scaring the pants off of people is pretty low, so a game that looks good and sets you with tracking down a deranged serial killer in a cabin in the woods? Might as well just play with no pants. The Poisoner is being developed by PlatformaVR and is currently in Early Access. If you don’t want to put forward the $9.99 for the game now, you can check out the Prelude for less than the cost of a dollar menu cheeseburger.

#8: Legends of Amberland: The Forgotten Crown

Hit right in the nostalgia gland. Legends of Amberland is a turn based game with grid movement set in the same vein as your favorite titles from the 90’s like Might & Magic and the Goldbox series. Brought to market by indie studio Silver Lemur Games, Legends of Amberland estimates around 20-50 hours to finish, depending on what kind of gamer you are, and sets you on the task of being the good guys and slaying the bad guys. It is also $17.99.

#9: Jupiter Hell

Jupiter Hell looks like Fallout, and the developer’s syke-out in the trailer of “exclusive to the Epic Game Store” had me for a second, despite obviously being available on Steam. A top down shooter, Jupiter Hell is a turn based strategy game that operates on the “time moves when you do” style similar to Super Hot and its ilk. It is a roguelike (of course) set on the moons of Jupiter (of course) with a 90’s aesthetic (of course of course) with procedurally generated levels (of course of course of course).

It looks to be a solid game and so far 85% of the 57 reviewers on Steam agree that it is worth buying. Jupiter Hell is currently in Early Access and runs around $22.49.

#10 Tailypo: The Game

I’ll admit that Tailypo has me greatly confused. For a game that bills itself as set in the Appalachian wild, this game has a lot of scenes in the trailer set in just about everywhere but the Appalachia. Set in 1988, you are a hunter whose life is thrown through a loop following your marriage. Hands up, who wants to guess that this dude’s wife is dead and that’s why he’s retreated to the Appalachia? Bonus points if he killed her. At $24.99 you might want to sit this one out until a sale unless it really attracts your attention.

#11: The Black Widow

Imagine if Ouija boards were created by the same guys that built Skype and you have The Black Widow. Fully voice acted and creepy looking as all hell, The Black Widow will set you back six bucks and has you figuring out a murder mystery while literally talking to the woman who was convicted and sentenced to die for it. The Black Widow follows the story of Australia’s first female serial killer.

#12: 1000$

Their spelling, not mine. One thousand bucks looks like it might blind you, and it doesn’t cost a thousand dollars. For just 84 cents, you can find out what it’s like to have a rare eyesight condition that makes the world look like a slightly higher resolution Elder Scrolls: Daggerfall. Actually you play as a gamer who decides that he wants to upgrade his computer, and thus you need to steal a thousand bucks from your neighbor’s house. I’m not joking. The game is set in America, so your old lady neighbor obviously has a loaded gun.

I applaud developer Bisquit Games for not actually showing the gun toting granny in any of its promo material.

#13: The Blackout Club

The Blackout Club tastes like an odd mixture of Stranger Things, IT, and Left 4 Dead. You play with up to four teenagers who discover some odd happenings in their small town. Every night the town gets up and sleep walks, and nobody remembers it in the morning. When your friend goes missing, you decide to investigate. 87% of the 708 reviewers on Steam had positive things to say about The Blackout Club, developed by Question and on sale for $29.99.

#14: Kindergarten 2

Presumably you need to have played Kindergarten 1 to understand the sequel, since the game bills itself as Groundhog Day with messed up children, and features kids getting murdered. Play through Tuesday over and over again until you get it right, and for $14.99 there is plenty of Tuesday to get through. You may recognize the Nugget character if you’ve watched Game Theory. You can pick up Kindergarten 1 for $4.99, if you haven’t played it yet.

Legends of Aria Hits Steam August 6


If you need Legends of Aria to release on Steam and preferably before August 7, then you have hit a stroke of very specific luck.

Citadel Studios announced today that the global launch of the hit MMO Legends of Aria is coming sooner than you think: August 6. Legends of Aria bills itself as a modern take on classic MMORPGs such as Ultima Online and Eve Online, and is a living breathing world shaped by its players. While much of the game world is safe from the harsh life of open world PvP, lawless regions still exist inhabited by those looking to make your day that much worse.

“Not only have we added a new playable skillset in the Bard and a whole new armor and weapon enchanting system to make the crafters in our community even more important, but we’re making the world of Aria a much friendlier place to live,” said Derek Brinkmann, CEO. “We’re ecstatic to finally be launching Legends of Aria on Steam after so much hard work and love were poured into the game. We cannot wait for MMO players of all sorts to join us on our journey.”

Legends of Aria will launch into Early Access on Steam on August 6. New features include the bard class as well as equipment enhancement, rulesets, a fresh start server, an optional premium subscription, quality of life improvements, and much more. Check out the official website for more information.