Random Gaming Thoughts

[MrHealthy]

There were rumors recently that Halo 3 would be coming to Steam, but MS shot that down along with all the other Halo games.

The exact quote from microsoft was; "We currently do not have plans to release any Halo titles on Steam," which is just a generic PR response that any company would give over rumors. And evidence suggests otherwise such as entries in the steam database for Halo 3:

http://steamdb.info/app/216800/

Hell, when that entry was discovered you could even access and use a steam community hub for the game (which as since been silently disabled but can still be seen in this search here.). Now I personally think A PC port of Halo 3 might be a stretch and they just put that there to cover there bases, but a steam release of 1 and 2 seems likely, especially that it was recenty announced that support for Halo 2 Vistas online would continue. See:

David Ellis ‏@DavidEllis
Halo 2 PC support extended through June 2013 while we investigate further support options. Now go get those achievements.

Emphasis mine.
This is particularly odd since they previously said:

“we’ve been monitoring the population for months, and it’s been peaking consistently at approximately 20 players or less..."

So maybe they are delaying the shutdown to see if a steam release can revitilize the game.

Also, why would MS release Halo on Steam if they are trying their hardest to promote Games For Windows Live?

They have abandoned Games for Windows Live. The most recent PC releases (Deadlight, Mark of the Ninja) used steam for DRM, and they patched out GFWL in Toy Soldiers.

Is Games for Windows Live a digital download service? I thought it was like backend acheivement tracking and whatnot. Isn't Dark Souls a GfWL product and Steamworks?

It was a download service, since closed and folded into xbox.com. Its also a form of DRM. Darksouls added steamworks at the demand of fans, effectively giving it two layers of DRM.

[Hobie-wan]

Capcom Digital Collection.

Manual.

What?

[GSZX1337]

10 year old me would've begged for that thing.

I would've too. It's just I'm not sure if I'd have been comfortable playing with something called an "Action Doll" at that age. For Mario I definitely would but probably not for other toys.

[c0wb0y]

While walking my kids to school today I saw a boy with a Pac-Man about to eat 3 pellets shaved into the hair on the back of his head. He was maybe in 4th grade. Nice choice, kid!

[Dylan]

I cannot believe how expensive Super Nintendo games are getting. EarthBound is $200, Castlevania Dracula X is $110, Demon's Crest is $70, Mega Man X3 is $120, Hagane is $230 (I remember when it was $40!). Even Pocky and Rocky 2 is $90. It's completely out of control.

[BoringSupreez]

X3 is $120? Well there go my chances of owning that one. I can remember when Earthbound was $70 and most of the other "expensive" one were $30-$45.

[isiolia]

Meanwhile the Mega Man X collection for PS2 was reprinted and is still readily available new for under $20. I know X3 in that isn't based on the SNES version per se, but is there anything gameplay-wise that justifies the additional cost? Or just that it's kinda rare?

[Dylan]

X3 is $120? Well there go my chances of owning that one. I can remember when Earthbound was $70 and most of the other "expensive" one were $30-$45.

There are definitely some games I'm kicking myself for not getting when they were in that price range. "No" I said, "$50 is too expensive" I said. I almost bought Hagane when it was around $60, but decided to wait to see if the price went down. Clearly a poor decision.

Meanwhile the Mega Man X collection for PS2 was reprinted and is still readily available new for under $20. I know X3 in that isn't based on the SNES version per se, but is there anything gameplay-wise that justifies the additional cost? Or just that it's kinda rare?

It's more of a collecting thing than a practical one. I already have X-X6, X3 being the only exception. It's going to be really tough to get the last piece at this rate.

[ExedExes]

On that note, good luck finding the MMX collection for Gamecube at a fair price anywhere. I was lucky to find MM1-8's collection for around $10.

[RyaNtheSlayA]

Stupid CS matchmaking cooldown.