Studio Wildcard seem to repeatedly mess up Early Access for ARK: Survival Evolved [Steam]. First with a DLC for an unfinished game that caused a bit of an uproar and now this new eye watering price.
Previously, the game set you back a reasonable ~£22.99 but it has just increased by more than double to £54.99. That's priced higher than a lot of finished AAA titles and I really am struggling to comprehend their thinking here. This is what they said about it on Twitter:
QuoteARK: Survival Evolved has increased its price on Steam to ensure retail parity for the upcoming launch.
So essentially they're using the price of their console game to push up the price of the PC version, or else people would likely go for the cheaper version on PC. It's interesting that they haven't mentioned this at all on Steam itself, likely in fear of the backlash. It wasn't even mentioned in their release date announcement, but it is mentioned in the Early Access pull-out (if anyone ever bothers to read those).
The Linux version is, to be absolutely blunt, terrible. It looks nothing like the Windows version graphically, performs very poorly for me (lots of reports of terrible performance on Windows too though) and some of it is completely broken on Linux.
I've tried reaching out to the ARK developers many times through Twitter and Emails, no reply on either. I admit Twitter isn't the best place, which is why I also emailed them multiple times over the period of a few months. I've frequented their official forum to see them seemingly ignore all Linux graphical issues. Caves on Linux are basically impossible to do due to the graphical bugs, which makes other parts of the game impossible to do as well.
Honestly, if this wasn't one our streamer's favourite games there's absolutely no way I would continue running a server for it. Our current one is quite expensive so we will be looking for a cheaper option since a few people do enjoy it still. To be clear: Unless there's a mass exodus from it, our server will continue as normal.
Due to the massive price increase along with the awful quality and support of the Linux version, I suggest this goes firmly in your nope pile. I'm sad to say that, truly I am, as I was so very excited about playing this one, but they've done nothing to earn my respect. It could be a great game, who wouldn't want to tame and ride on a massive dinosaur? There's just too many issues right now and this new price I fear will lock out a lot of potential new players.
retail parity
:D
i wanna see that retail parity on linux client when it gets released
Meanwhile, similar game "7 Days To Die" has just recently been at 60% discount in Steam Summer sale, it has just had a big update improving graphics, variety, and game balancing. Absolutely love 7D2D. Can't recommend it enough. I've just recently written a chapter in the life of my latest Alpha 16 7D2D character playing on a random map.
But the funny thing about the Linux client the textures look more "realistic" because of the lack of shaders apparently. although in some of the more recent builds (since around Jan 2017) I've noticed that some shadows on Linux have gotten better, although the caves are still borked to hell. the artifacts from exiting water has gotten a lot better.
This has been one circus of a game that's for sure.
Last edited by neowiz73 on 6 July 2017 at 7:53 pm UTC
Last edited by harshbarj on 6 July 2017 at 8:02 pm UTC
Honestly, if this wasn't one of iAlwaysSin's favourite games there's absolutely no way I would continue running a server for it.
Well, I'm glad you do, at least for now, as I quite enjoy my evenings taming dinos with my kids, so thanks :)
No pressure to keep it though!
maybe just a little.
maybe.
a bit.
nbd.
k.
Yes, pretty insane pricing. But then I see the logic re consoles.
Meanwhile, similar game "7 Days To Die" has just recently been at 60% discount in Steam Summer sale, it has just had a big update improving graphics, variety, and game balancing. Absolutely love 7D2D. Can't recommend it enough. I've just recently written a chapter in the life of my latest Alpha 16 7D2D character playing on a random map.
I do second this. I have almost 300h in this one as well, and I'd play a linux community server of it for sure.
Also I got the game for free by the devs, to do a pre-aplha test of the Linux version. Now they gave us the codes, we installed it reported bugs and guess what? Yep, they didn't even fixed one of them but released the Linux build just 12 hours after giving us the keys anyway. They just realised that there are many bugs to fix and probably decided to just ignore it but still put a price tag on it.
They alos claimed several times they would go for a newer Unreal Engine version, to bring OpenGL4 to Linux and with that the same graphics as the Windows version have. Yep, you guess right, still haven't updated the UE Version in 2 years.
Please, don't buy this game, never ever. Even if you can get it for 12€ on a key reseller. Thank me later.
Whelp , into the bin with this one.
Any thoughts on Rust ?
Can we persuade Sin to play that ?
That said, I did consider it again during the Steam sale there. And I can understand an early-access title increasing in price on launch (although not before it). But £55 is crazy money for any game, let alone one that clearly still isn't finished.
Pity. It had so much potential.
Nor Mantis Jul 6, 2017
Don't think I've ever seen as insane pricing with a video game before.
Heh welcome to Australia where we constantly pay insane pricing for digital content.
The Linux version is, to be absolutely blunt, terrible. It looks nothing like the Windows version graphically, performs very poorly for me (lots of reports of terrible performance on Windows too though) and some of it is completely broken on Linux.
Oh no, we should not say such things ;) They might feel hurt and will likely abandon their port of ARK3 :p
ThePierrasse Jul 7, 2017
Deleted from the wishlist.
Same.
Comandante Ñoñardo Jul 7, 2017
GustyGhost Jul 7, 2017
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