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Alien Swarm |OT| - Free Co-op Multiplayer from Valve
- Thread starter gregor7777
- Start date
There are absolutely genres and styles of games that control better with a game pad.
Action games a la Ninja Gaiden are, in my opinion, one of those. I think platformers are another. I think top down shooters may be another, but I'd need to play this for a while before I have a good sense of that. I think most people hear "shooter" and reflexively assume M/KB provides better response times and aiming accuracy (which it definitely does for FPS), but top down may have different interface optimization, even if they are mechanically similar.
Steering wheels are better for racing sims than KB/M and Gamepad. Arcade Sticks are best for fighting games and perhaps SHMUPS. There is no single input method that is best for all genres -- in fact, in an ideal world, every single game (let alone genre) would have a controller tailor made for its precise mechanics and presentation. Of course, that assumes no concerns with these controllers taking up space and costing money.
Action games a la Ninja Gaiden are, in my opinion, one of those. I think platformers are another. I think top down shooters may be another, but I'd need to play this for a while before I have a good sense of that. I think most people hear "shooter" and reflexively assume M/KB provides better response times and aiming accuracy (which it definitely does for FPS), but top down may have different interface optimization, even if they are mechanically similar.
Steering wheels are better for racing sims than KB/M and Gamepad. Arcade Sticks are best for fighting games and perhaps SHMUPS. There is no single input method that is best for all genres -- in fact, in an ideal world, every single game (let alone genre) would have a controller tailor made for its precise mechanics and presentation. Of course, that assumes no concerns with these controllers taking up space and costing money.
rhfb said:
To look at it you would think so, which I did until I played it. If it was a single player game I'd agree, but in a co-op game with 3 other people who need to stick together while friendly fire is on? Screw your comfort, aim with the mouse.
Teknoman said:
I think the crosshair determines where flares will land when you throw them. And I don't see the problem with WASD for this game aside from it feeling unnatural.
Played through about half of it on hard. It's a lot of fun. I'm surprised at what a pretty game it is; I love the shadows of the aliens as they're racing towards you.
Apparently if you're looking for a bigger challenge than Insane you can enable a L4D style director with asw_horde 1.
Apparently if you're looking for a bigger challenge than Insane you can enable a L4D style director with asw_horde 1.
Finally played it, very good so far... Will play more later with friends.
With my Q6600 + GTS250 rig, performs a little worse than Left 4 Dead 2 and just like TF2, fluctuating between 30fps (during heavy action) and 60fps. Source just doesn't like my PC at all: I mean, I even get some slowdowns in Portal...
edit: I wish they add more significant single-player options: the only thing I saw was offline practice. Some might say "just play online", but I've never played L4D2 online with my local friends - no one here is able to host a match, and it looks like it'll be the same with Alien Swarm. For now, I'll just stick with some LAN with friends in the weekends
With my Q6600 + GTS250 rig, performs a little worse than Left 4 Dead 2 and just like TF2, fluctuating between 30fps (during heavy action) and 60fps. Source just doesn't like my PC at all: I mean, I even get some slowdowns in Portal...
edit: I wish they add more significant single-player options: the only thing I saw was offline practice. Some might say "just play online", but I've never played L4D2 online with my local friends - no one here is able to host a match, and it looks like it'll be the same with Alien Swarm. For now, I'll just stick with some LAN with friends in the weekends
GWX said:Finally played it, very good so far... Will play more later with friends.
With my Q6600 + GTS250 rig, performs a little worse than Left 4 Dead 2 and just like TF2, fluctuating between 30fps (during heavy action) and 60fps. Source just doesn't like my PC at all: I mean, I even get some slowdowns in Portal...
What's your 6600 at? source multiplayer games are real cpu heavy.
D
Deleted member 1235
Unconfirmed Member
started it up quickly this morning before work. Looks really interesting. plan for tonight secured.
GWX said:Stock. I need to overclock it, I know, but I'm not used to CPU overclocking and it looks kinda complicated from what I've seen (specially compared to GPU overclocking
Yeah, it can be a little tricky at first. You'd definitely feel a difference if you bumped it up to 3.0, and that shouldn't be too hard at all.
Played through all of normal and got halfway through hard before people starting getting tired. Having tons of fun with this one.
As far as controls I have no issues with the M/KB other than I have a tendency to try and do a quick turn with the WASD keys instead of moving my mouse when I want to melee the alien stabbing my back.
As far as controls I have no issues with the M/KB other than I have a tendency to try and do a quick turn with the WASD keys instead of moving my mouse when I want to melee the alien stabbing my back.
So good. I spent the entire evening playing with Kuro, Hazaro, and a rotating selection of other GAFers, and over time went through Normal twice (with relatively little difficulty), Hard once (with a few major snags), and we got up to the third map on Insane (divine favor alone will save you). I wish only that there were more content, and time will see to that.
I knew you were a scholar and a gentleman.Lyphen said:
wormstrangler
Banned
GWX said:
Nah, stock cooler is fine for 3.0GHz+
Been playing all afternoon, and hit rank 20+ before I stopped for the night. Last thing I unlocked was the
.
I played a little bit of each class, and had a blast. I think the medic gun is much better vs infestations than the med beacons. I found out that you can have more than one infestation at a time, and it stacks the damage. 3 or more and it's impossible for the med beacon to save them. I wish you could find more medic ammo/beacons as you went through a level also.
The tech's welder becomes less needed in the later levels, which is good and bad i guess. I wish there were more opportunities to use it effectively, but at the same time, it's nice to be able to bring other items in that slot sometimes.
On a similar note, I wish the tech wasn't mandatory for so many levels. Would be cool if there were alternate methods of completing goals, that were just a little harder.
The most fun I had was on the second playthrough, rushing like mad to the objectives to see how fast I could do it. Didn't get any achievements for that yet, but I look forward to getting a speed run group together.
I also look forward to see what kind of defense maps people make for this. Things like the classic Starship Troopers.
If they added another 3 or 4 campaigns like this one, I'd gladly pay $10-$15 for it.
chainsaw
I played a little bit of each class, and had a blast. I think the medic gun is much better vs infestations than the med beacons. I found out that you can have more than one infestation at a time, and it stacks the damage. 3 or more and it's impossible for the med beacon to save them. I wish you could find more medic ammo/beacons as you went through a level also.
The tech's welder becomes less needed in the later levels, which is good and bad i guess. I wish there were more opportunities to use it effectively, but at the same time, it's nice to be able to bring other items in that slot sometimes.
On a similar note, I wish the tech wasn't mandatory for so many levels. Would be cool if there were alternate methods of completing goals, that were just a little harder.
The most fun I had was on the second playthrough, rushing like mad to the objectives to see how fast I could do it. Didn't get any achievements for that yet, but I look forward to getting a speed run group together.
I also look forward to see what kind of defense maps people make for this. Things like the classic Starship Troopers.
If they added another 3 or 4 campaigns like this one, I'd gladly pay $10-$15 for it.
the_concierge
Member
Well, this game is basically unplayable for me due to there being no way of telling how good or bad each sever is. Every single game has been a massive lag fest unfortunately. Hopefully there's a fix for this soon?
Gully State
Member
I really hope that they patch in gamepad support. Aiming and moving feels off. In this case, I don't see how mouse makes aiming more precise since you can 180 quickly from the top down perspective immediately by pulling the analog stick from one side to another. That and skating is more evident with WASD movement.
If I join the GAF Group the game will look for games played by members in the group right? That's how it worked in Alien VS Predator for the matchmaking at least.
And that's kinda funny, because for the AVP demo you had to join groups to find games because the matchmaking was broken.
And that's kinda funny, because for the AVP demo you had to join groups to find games because the matchmaking was broken.
Dont want to really spoil environments so soon, so just three screenshots.
EDIT: If the full size screens are too big, i'll resize.
Also look around maps, dont just sprint through them. Play it like a sci-fi tactical survival horror game, since there are decent amounts of hidden special items to use and sealed doors with supplies.
EDIT: If the full size screens are too big, i'll resize.
Also look around maps, dont just sprint through them. Play it like a sci-fi tactical survival horror game, since there are decent amounts of hidden special items to use and sealed doors with supplies.
Controls weirded me out initially, but I've mostly adjusted. I'm sure controller support is in the works anyway, or so I'd hope. Not the end of the world if not though.
Really had no expectations for this, so me enjoying it so much is a pleasant surprise. Was playing for hours with different friends and everyone was having a blast. Had fun with all of the classes and most of the weapons too. This is so much better than Alien Breed Impact, heh.
Really had no expectations for this, so me enjoying it so much is a pleasant surprise. Was playing for hours with different friends and everyone was having a blast. Had fun with all of the classes and most of the weapons too. This is so much better than Alien Breed Impact, heh.
God I can't wait for people to start making awesome campaigns for this, there must be a lot of levels from the old mod that people will want to remake too '
I love this game, feels good, looks great, much better than I expected from the trailers, the lighting in this game is great and the shadows are very smooth looking, though they are a bit pixel'y, but the zoomed out view helps mask it at least.
Oh and the gameplay is good too.
'I love this game, feels good, looks great, much better than I expected from the trailers, the lighting in this game is great and the shadows are very smooth looking, though they are a bit pixel'y, but the zoomed out view helps mask it at least.
Oh and the gameplay is good too.
Shao Kahn Brewing a Stew
Banned
Name me some more free steam games! I love me some free games!
Kuro Madoushi
Unconfirmed Member
Impressed with it. Enough to want more.
Aiming and damage could use a little work. I saw enough bullets fly THROUGH aliens rather than into them to knock them back.
Wish there was more variety in the gameplay.
Hell, I just wanted MORE! Hopefully, modders will go crazy with this and come up with some excellent campaigns
Aiming and damage could use a little work. I saw enough bullets fly THROUGH aliens rather than into them to knock them back.
Wish there was more variety in the gameplay.
Hell, I just wanted MORE! Hopefully, modders will go crazy with this and come up with some excellent campaigns
the_concierge
Member
Teknoman said:
Since I live in Australia and most Gaf members are in the US, will this actually help?
Kuro Madoushi said:Impressed with it. Enough to want more.
Aiming and damage could use a little work. I saw enough bullets fly THROUGH aliens rather than into them to knock them back.
Wish there was more variety in the gameplay.
Hell, I just wanted MORE! Hopefully, modders will go crazy with this and come up with some excellent campaigns
Needs fixing.
What did we get to, Stage 5 or 6 of Insane before we called it a night?
TrackManiashagg_187 said:Name me some more free steam games! I love me some free games!
Peggle
Jive Turkey
Unconfirmed Member
Yeah it took me quite a while to get used to that in the little time I played. I kept trying to turn with the mouse.Teknoman said:
There are plenty of NA insomniacs.the_concierge said:
Darkflight
Member
Ran through maybe 75% of the offline level last night before I got brutally murdered as I ran out of ammo - pretty damn fun - looking forward to some co-op.
My friends seems indifferent so far, so I'll probably look for a GAF game to jump into.
My friends seems indifferent so far, so I'll probably look for a GAF game to jump into.
the_concierge said:
We do exist - https://www.steamcommunity.com/groups/ausgaf and of course the giant ausgaf thread on the gaming side.
CrookedRain
Member
Game is pretty awesome and I'm kinda surprised that they ended up releasing it for free. I definitely would have paid money for this.
I can't believe all the complaints about the controls. It feels completely natural to me and I wouldn't want to play the game if I had to play it on a gamepad.
I can't believe all the complaints about the controls. It feels completely natural to me and I wouldn't want to play the game if I had to play it on a gamepad.
-tetsuo-
Unlimited Capacity
2nd mission, got to the elevator, forgot I had customized the sound track and this starting playing when the game went to slo mo. So. Awesome.