Thanks to Steam's new curator system, we get sent keys to various games where developers want us to review it. I took a look at Powerless [Steam] and I was not impressed.
Sometimes we get sent really interesting games I've never heard about through our Steam Curator, like HYPERNOVA: Escape from Hadea. Then there's times like this, where I'm quite literally telling you not to buy a game—which is incredibly rare for me to do so.
For £7.19 you get what I can only describe as "my first Zombie FPS". Everything about it is terrible, especially the animations. The performance isn't good, it has no coherent style to it at all, the guns don't even match the rest of the game and the Zombies walk like they literally have a stick up their backside, just look at this:
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Thankfully, we have plenty of good games on Linux that I shall be covering shortly. This one just amused me so much when I saw the zombies stiffly walking towards me, that I just had to share how terrible it is.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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12 comments
Luke_Nukem Feb 1, 2018
This is definitely someone's first game ever. Quite probably a cheap (or free) engine + additional assets. Maybe even done by a hopeful teenager...
3 Likes, Who?
GustyGhost Feb 1, 2018
Buy hey at least it supports Linux, right?
Unfortunately, games of this quality make up too large a portion of those 4100+ Steam Linux games.
Unfortunately, games of this quality make up too large a portion of those 4100+ Steam Linux games.
6 Likes, Who?
"oh no". That was what I thought when I saw this game pass by a while ago. Apparently a correct judgement.
0 Likes
I see stuff like this on Steam for years (and other people who follow Jim Sterling or SidAlpha) and get constantly reminded of the Video Game Crash in 1983. One of the reasons for the crash? Lots of horrible games and lack of quality control. Steam has said that they didn't want to dictate what's on the store too much because people have a broad range of interests, but they're going to kill the PC market if they don't shape up. I see people complain when visual novels get posted for sale, but I'd rather play the entire Sakura series than tolerate stuff like this or even stuff that don't work properly.
3 Likes, Who?
Don't you think you're being just a bit harsh Liam? :D
You were given the game for free, you should be praising it :D.
Last edited by BlackBloodRum on 2 February 2018 at 6:26 am UTC
You were given the game for free, you should be praising it :D.
Last edited by BlackBloodRum on 2 February 2018 at 6:26 am UTC
0 Likes
This seems like an asset flip.
Are there any cards linked to it Liam ?
Are there any cards linked to it Liam ?
0 Likes
UltraAltesBrot Feb 3, 2018
This seems like an asset flip.Had the same thought at first, but surprisingly there are no cards.
Are there any cards linked to it Liam ?
0 Likes
This is definitely someone's first game ever. Quite probably a cheap (or free) engine + additional assets. Maybe even done by a hopeful teenager...
So... this is apparently the work of a two man team and seems to be their only game to date. From their pics on their studio website, I'd say young end 20-somethings making "hopeful teenager" pretty much on the money.
I remember I spent so much time coding just a breakout game on Amiga, I was happy about it although I knew no-one would be interested !Been there, though mine was an ASCII PacMan clone in QB circa Spring '92 which I invested easily 200 hours into coding and still couldn't get the AI quite right.
This seems like an asset flip.This seems to be a legit, if very young and exceptionally small, team trying to bootstrap their way to indie success so far as I can tell. That "asset flip" feeling though is exactly the main downside to purchased premade assets in the hands of someone who hasn't the skill/talent to adjust them well nor the funds to hire someone with that skill/talent... the modern flavor of MSPaint made programmer art from back in the day. Right now it just runs afoul of the fact there are also a bunch of unscrupulous types who aren't making any real attempt at actual work and just trying to scam a quick buck from the fact they can sell what amounts to little more than an asset pack with some minor engine boilerplate for a profit.
Are there any cards linked to it Liam ?
0 Likes
This seems like an asset flip.This seems to be a legit, if very young and exceptionally small, team trying to bootstrap their way to indie success so far as I can tell. That "asset flip" feeling though is exactly the main downside to purchased premade assets in the hands of someone who hasn't the skill/talent to adjust them well nor the funds to hire someone with that skill/talent... the modern flavor of MSPaint made programmer art from back in the day. Right now it just runs afoul of the fact there are also a bunch of unscrupulous types who aren't making any real attempt at actual work and just trying to scam a quick buck from the fact they can sell what amounts to little more than an asset pack with some minor engine boilerplate for a profit.
Are there any cards linked to it Liam ?
Hmm. Feel a little bad now if these were just kids trying to put something out there.
You could do great things with assets provided your game has cohesion and the assets are polished and you add enough material from yourself.
I guess they should have put this on itch.io first and learned from it then make a proper project on steam.
I did goof around in AGS and others and made some truly terrible stuff but I never put it out there.
0 Likes
According to the store page the game also includes an e-book. Maybe that's worth a read?
0 Likes
Luke_Nukem Feb 4, 2018
I guess they should have put this on itch.io first and learned from it then make a proper project on steam.
That's one of the reason I disliked the removal of Greenlight. It allows for an unrestricted stream of "My First Game" and "Yet Another Boiler Plate Asset Flip".
YABPAF are frustrating as hell, especially if you're trying to get a signal above the noise level. An MFG should never be sold, not unless it's above a certain grade, unfortunately. The second game is always going to be better with what was learned from the first, provided you learn of course.
Situations where we end up with a review like this because some young hopeful teens were also naive about it, are a wee bit sad. To be honest, I hope it doesn't put them off and they learn from it, specifically learn to see past the rose-tinted-glasses they're likely to be wearing.
1 Likes, Who?
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