Tavern building and management Crossroads Inn is out now and it sounds like a mess

Meh, it sounded like a fun idea. :(

I was looking forward to this since I heard of it earlier this year. The state it's in is embarrassing - Full screen does not work properly, graphical glitches every time I move the camera, completely non-intuitive interface, and for me it keeps hitting a point where it stops accepting input before I can even get to the bulk of the issues everyone else talks about.

I am super bummed. I hope they get their act together fixing this as the idea is fantastic, but I fear this one might be a loss.

I'm normally not into this type of games, but the campaign mode looked like it would be a somewhat unconventional narrative experience. For some reason, it also totally reminded me of The Kingkiller Chronicle (though I guess it has little in common, except that an Inn is involved). So I really was looking forward to that.

The first thing that made me cautious was a post on Steam a day before release, where the developers basically announced that it would be pretty buggy initially, and people should be lenient, because they really did their best and would try to patch it up ASAP (which they seem to be doing, though not sure to what success).

Around the same time, they'd also released a DLC roadmap, with some free stuff even, and had the offer to buy the whole bundle on Steam, but unfortunately not on GOG.

And then, come release day, they fail to put out the Linux version. And when it became available (only on Steam, though I guess that might be due to GOGs Linux-shenanigans as much as due to the developer's fault), it turned out to be riddled with issues, too (as per the Steam community).

All those things combined, I will not buy this right now. I'd have paid full price if I'd gotten a full, working package. As it stands, I will keep an eye on it and check it out at some later point, likely at a discount. But I do wish the developers all the best, because I think it is a game with potential. I'm really hoping this can be salvaged and turned into something nice!

The biggest problem with this was how quickly it released after the campaign.
There was no way it was going to be very good with such a short time, unfortunately.

That's a shame. It sounded like a fun game, and I like "builders". They should probably have postponed it. Not interested in paying to be a beta tester. Or alpha for that matter.

Quoting: kaimanI'm normally not into this type of games, but the campaign mode looked like it would be a somewhat unconventional narrative experience. For some reason, it also totally reminded me of The Kingkiller Chronicle (though I guess it has little in common, except that an Inn is involved). So I really was looking forward to that.

Whoa... you mentioned one of my favorite books! What a pleasant surprise. I must draw more attention to it. Anyone that likes fiction should read it!

I'd be interested to see what other books you like if you have a goodreads account. Send me a PM if so.

Disappointed to read this. I was looking forward to it, since it sounded like a somewhat different experience to my usual games. Guess I can hope it gets better.

Quoting: kaiman...I guess that might be due to GOGs Linux-shenanigans as much as due to the developer's fault...

If this were the case, I would expect the Linux versions of fellow October releases Xeno Crisis (released yesterday), AI War 2, Pine, Indivisible, and Pilgrims to be missing from GOG.com as well, yet they are not.

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While a Linux build of Crossroads Inn seems belated rather than permanently unavailable for GOG.com, I wish GOG had better communication with customers as regards Linux ports. I understand the desire on GOG sp. z o.o.'s part to be tactful and not burn bridges with publishers as attempts at relationship building are ever ongoing, but GOG does itself no favors with Linux gamers by its silence when Linux ports available elsewhere are absent from GOG.com. The most I've seen a staff member willing to state publicly is (paraphrasing on my part here) "it's complicated". I'm not particularly broken up about Galaxy for Linux failing to materialize. It would be nice to have that as an option, but it is hardly a deal-breaker. However, GOG Games Missing Linux Ports is a bitter pill to swallow.

As many are aware, GOG getting the short end of the stick isn't just Linux-specific. For example, certain games on GOG lack a multiplayer mode, yet the Steam versions of those games have a multiplayer mode (I assume this is because the games at issue incorporated Steamworks for multiplayer, but that is speculation on my part). Furthermore, some new games have staggered release schedules set by their publishers (that is to say that the games arrive on GOG.com a month or a few months behind Steam). Also, sometimes DLC available elsewhere isn't made available on GOG.com, or DLC arrives noticeably later to GOG.com.

I've seen animosity from some Linux gamers towards GOG both here and in the GOG.com forum, amongst other places. Some of that acrimony is deserved (e.g. Galaxy "soon for Linux" and some of it is misdirected. Perhaps speaking publicly would only stoke the flames, but I really wish GOG would be more forthcoming about the absence of Linux ports (where existent). I see that "too much work" was cited as the reason given by the publishers of Age of Wonders 3 and Expeditions: Conquistador (I suspect you will hear a similar sentiment expressed about "too much work" or "not worth the support cost" from those publishers who put their games on Stadia but don't provide Linux versions on Steam; granted, most won't provide a reason at all).

Perhaps someone could interview a representative from GOG about the situation, if GOG would be willing to go on record.

Edit: Crossroads Inn does have Linux and macOS support center options on GOG.com, so those builds seem to be incoming (compared to Metro: Last Light Redux, Dying Light: The Following – Enhanced Edition, Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords, and other titles missing Linux ports on GOG.com).


Last edited by vector on 30 October 2019 at 5:22 am UTC

Quoting: vector

Quoting: kaiman...I guess that might be due to GOGs Linux-shenanigans as much as due to the developer's fault...

If this were the case, I would expect the Linux versions of fellow October releases Xeno Crisis (released yesterday), AI War 2, Pine, Indivisible, and Pilgrims to be missing from GOG.com as well, yet they are not.

What I was mostly referring to was the fact that there are more hoops to jump through to get the Linux release on GOG compared to other platforms (at the very least it requires actual GOG staff to wrap the installer around the package, as far as I recall). So while a Linux release for Crossroads Inn went live Friday evening on Steam, likely directly after being uploaded by the developers, there was no way for it to appear on GOG until at least Monday. Given that it is still not around makes me think it's perhaps not GOGs fault after all.

On the bright side, the bundles available on Steam have finally made their way to GOG. So a couple more patches and a Linux build and I might actually go ahead and show my support.

Also, please note that I do very much like GOG, for their stance on DRM, and their effort of preserving classic games. But that doesn't mean I won't criticize them in areas where they could do better.

Quoting: kaimanAlso, please note that I do very much like GOG, for their stance on DRM, and their effort of preserving classic games. But that doesn't mean I won't criticize them in areas where they could do better.

I collided two trains of thought in that post. Above --- was my reply to your comment; below --- were my general thoughts on the relationship between GOG and Linux gamers, and my wishing it could be better (which, for a start, requires better communication on the part of both parties). Apologies for not making the separation clearer.

I do agree with you, GOG is deserving of criticism where warranted, but some of this is outside of GOG's control.