Free weekend aftermath

[RageRiot]

Well it looks like there were alot of people that took the free ride.

it's a Shame to see that there is now a shear lack of player atm.

I was just playing on a server 5 mins ago that become deserted during a good match.. of course my team was winning and the losing team disconnected then on map changed everyone went exepct from 1 other.

SH has disapeared from the stats page as well comfirming the lowe player count.

I'm rather upset that this has happend concidering I paid for the game that now has few players. I think the game is amazing, maybe its because of the requirements.

[Big Myke]

I know how you are feeling. I paid for the game too last weekend. I honestly believe its the amount of content and variety that steered new comers from latching onto the $10 deal. Hopefully in the next 3 to 4 months we'll see another new DLC that'll give us 2 new maps plus 2 new game modes that'll support all existing maps. Free Weekend would be a bigger hit, i believe.

+New Maps
+Additional unique Game Modes (I'm not counting CTF because I'm expecting that mode to be already included)
+Improved Voip
+More Server Configurations
+Variety in radio chatter

[DarthSatoris]

I haven't been able to play these two days because I've had school and PC work to do. As of right now, I'm backing up all my stuff for the complete reinstall of Windows 7, as the evaluation copy runs out in a few days.

But as soon I get this done (school and all) you can be sure to see me on SH again. :)

[RageRiot]

I know how you are feeling. I paid for the game too last weekend. I honestly believe its the amount of content and variety that steered new comers away. hopefully in the next 3 to 4 months we'll see another new DLC that'll give us 2 new maps plus 2 new game modes that'll support all existing maps. Free Weekend would be a bigger hit.

ye I supose
I haven't been able to play these two days because I've had school and PC work to do. As of right now, I'm backing up all my stuff for the complete reinstall of Windows 7, as the evaluation copy runs out in a few days.

But as soon I get this done (school and all) you can be sure to see me on SH again. :)

good to hear. drop me a PM.

[UltimateTobi]

I'm here aswell! ;)

[arr4ws]

dont worry ... bought it as well but havent time to play yesterday. I will play some tonight!

[Keyelite]

I know how you are feeling. I paid for the game too last weekend. I honestly believe its the amount of content and variety that steered new comers from latching onto the $10 deal. Hopefully in the next 3 to 4 months we'll see another new DLC that'll give us 2 new maps plus 2 new game modes that'll support all existing maps. Free Weekend would be a bigger hit, i believe.

I can tell you right now, new maps or game modes will NOT help as much as you think. It needs more weapons or even classes. And don't pull the "it will be less competitive". The game was and never could be respected as a competitive game with such a low player base and a low FPS cap. The only thing the competitive aspect is hurting is the newer players-- the skill gap is too large. And for the "balanced" aspect? That's just an excuse to adapt and balance to more weapons.

[thomasng1989]

I can tell you right now, new maps or game modes will NOT help as much as you think. It needs more weapons or even classes. And don't pull the "it will be less competitive". The game was and never could be respected as a competitive game with such a low player base and a low FPS cap. The only thing the competitive aspect is hurting is the newer players-- the skill gap is too large. And for the "balanced" aspect? That's just an excuse to adapt and balance to more weapons.

CS:S doesn't have classes, and it's still one of the most played FPS of all times. Weapons wise... heck, doesn't everyone buy the same damn gun on CS anyway? Once you are used to a gun, you stick with it, so what's the difference?

[Raz101]

I tried it out. It was interesting and perfectly functional, I just didn't find it compelling enough to play more than 3 rounds. It's a crowded genre and getting/maintaining a critical mass of players is going to be a problem. There were also a number of threads/posts noting the low number of players which doesn't fill you with confidence when thinking about a purchase.

[Keyelite]

CS:S doesn't have classes, and it's still one of the most played FPS of all times. Weapons wise... heck, doesn't everyone buy the same damn gun on CS anyway? Once you are used to a gun, you stick with it, so what's the difference?

You get stuck in that mindset; sniper is a sniper-- not an "all in one" soldier. So, if you bought a sub machine gun, chances are you are going to rush. That is your job. Class systems do the same thing, but it's a lot more obvious. So, you could PICK being a sniper and try to rush in, but you are not equipped for that and it will be a lot harder to deal with.

If CSS had an AK47 with a scope on it to make it become an awp, that would be silly. Everyone would be equipped for every sort of battle scenario and it will become mundane and incredibly skill based. There is less teamwork (snipers don't communicate with spec ops and assault, etc) because you are your own soldier.

[White667]

I bought the game but when I started changing the settings around a little I musta' screwed it up because now I can't open it as it crashes as soon as it hits the menu screen. Waiting on steam support.

[FM_Jarnis]

I bought the game but when I started changing the settings around a little I musta' screwed it up because now I can't open it as it crashes as soon as it hits the menu screen. Waiting on steam support.

Don't wait. Read the FAQ.

http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1151017



I started the game, jacked up the settings and it... broke

If your computer isn't the latest and the greatest, this is (unfortunately) possible - on lower end systems, maximum settings can actually cause the game to fail to start. To get back to default settings, please delete the following file:

C:\Users\*username*\AppData\Local\Futuremark\Shatt ered Horizon\sh.settings

Substitute *username* with your Windows user name and note that AppData is a hidden folder, so you have to enable hidden files and folders in Windows (in Folder Options). You can also edit that file in notepad to manually change settings out-of-game. It is fairly self-explanatory.

[b0keh]

I bought the game but when I started changing the settings around a little I musta' screwed it up because now I can't open it as it crashes as soon as it hits the menu screen. Waiting on steam support.

Answered to you in your earlier post. It is still same? Did you try deleting sh.settings? http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1155149

edit: Jarnis was faster, damn FM support, its too fast :eek:

[Pairaz]

Well... i bought the game after the free weekend, now there is a poor numbers of players, why? This game rocks.
I's a shame that there is no more players for this game.

[bizzmeister]

This game does rock. It's really fun.

[AeneasXI]

I have to agree, that the playerbase seems small at certain times during the day, but still that base is way stronger than it was the last time a discount was on this game (where I bought it...) So I would say I am pretty happy about how things are developing. Futuremark does not let this game die, I can assure you that, It is in fact their first effort in games and also a nice engine showoff. Alone because of this you can be sure, that they will look very closely at the amount of players playing and will do their best to keep a steady flow of players so the game doesn't die!

In my opinion the specs of the game are too high and ppl think it doesn't really look that good like crysis for example. Besides that I would say the lack of any classes/objectives/weaponry variety scares off alot of players.
The gameplay is solid and fun, but there really issnt too much to do beyond floating around and shooting enemies :] - which I find incredible fun, but some ppl just NEED unlockables and such.
I think the game could use some "return to castle wolfenstein"(or RTCW:ET) gameplay if ya know what I mean! With more complex missions than just capture point A-F where the team has to work together even more than it has to do now in assault. That way you could maybe still save the 1 weapon system. Just think of something more involving... New maps won't cut it forever ya know.

[Clord]

I found game very simple gun and run game with one weapon with sniper secondary. With just looking constantly around and shooting those targets what spot can get very high in score board.

If they add pickable weapons etc for map there would be way bigger interest to buy it. Also there should be more indoor areas without gravity.

[mastergiux]

The Reason this game does not have a big playerbase are the following

-Only works with DX10 and 2/3rds of people still use XP which has no DX10
-there's only 1 weapon, if it had more weapons, people could choose and change their combat tactics (snipers with stay behind rocks and land on surfaces for cover, shotgunners will move close to the enemies for a quick kill,
-the lack of gamemodes make it repetitive

it's sad because the main game idea of no gravity and open space combat has great possibilities, if they made a sequel, i would like it to have

-more weapons
-possibly vehicles
-make it DX 9 compatible, that would attract XP users
-more gamemodes

[LoganDougall]

The Reason this game does not have a big playerbase are the following

-Only works with DX10 and 2/3rds of people still use XP which has no DX10
-there's only 1 weapon, if it had more weapons, people could choose and change their combat tactics (snipers with stay behind rocks and land on surfaces for cover, shotgunners will move close to the enemies for a quick kill,
-the lack of gamemodes make it repetitive

it's sad because the main game idea of no gravity and open space combat has great possibilities, if they made a sequel, i would like it to have

-more weapons
-possibly vehicles
-make it DX 9 compatible, that would attract XP users
-more gamemodesI really don't mind people giving their opinions whatsoever especially when they hit several good points, just don't make up stats. Once I see that stuff I really can't put much credit towards your post. XP makes up less than half the current market for steam users.

Steam Figures
OS Percentages
Windows XP Total: 44.32%
Windows 7 Total: 28.8%
Windows Vista Total: 26.14%

DX Percentages
DX10: 48.94%
DX9: 18.19%
DX10 Hardware on a DX9 OS: 27.21

As for making SH work on DX9 - not going to happen - the engine would literally have to be re-done ground up to work with DX9. This would take a long time to do for a studio of their size. By the time they finished making another version of SH to run on DX9 systems there wouldn't be anymore demand for it; The majority will have upgraded by that point. Which, going off stats isn't that far off from the current situation if the figures stay on the same trend.

[RageRiot]

I really don't mind people giving their opinions whatsoever especially when they hit several good points, just don't make up stats. Once I see that stuff I really can't put much credit towards your post. XP makes up less than half the current market for steam users.

Steam Figures
OS Percentages
Windows XP Total: 44.32%
Windows 7 Total: 28.8%
Windows Vista Total: 26.14%

DX Percentages
DX10: 48.94%
DX9: 18.19%
DX10 Hardware on a DX9 OS: 27.21

As for making SH work on DX9 - not going to happen - the engine would literally have to be re-done ground up to work with DX9. This would take a long time to do for a studio of their size. By the time they finished making another version of SH to run on DX9 systems there wouldn't be anymore demand for it; The majority will have upgraded by that point. Which, going off stats isn't that far off from the current situation if the figures stay on the same trend.

good points there, I was having a look at the HW servey results the other night and was suprised by who many people acctually run windows 7

windows 7 seems to be doing well it's just a Shame microsoft messed up with VISTA but it dont suprise me that much since win ME was such a joke when that came out.
I'm on windows 7 btw.

although I feel for the xp user not being able to try SH out but there has to be some time for the games industry to step up a gear, its one of the reasons why people upgrade... to play the NEXT Gen.


one more point is that from the stats you posted it clearly shows people machines are DX 10 compatable, yet only less than half of the users are still on xp 10 which as we all now isnt DX 10 compatible.

[vijil]

"It's a crowded genre"

lolwut, this game is it's own genre and does not fit into any established norm. It's just as much space shooter as it is FPS. It can't really be compared to TF2 or CSS.

The biggest reason the game isn't super popular is because of the learning curve caused by the non FPS aspects of the game.

[MarkcusD]

As someone who tried it (3 hours) but didn't buy I can give you my reasons:

1. No single-player (should at least have bots like UT3). I would have bought it despite the other reasons if it had this.
2. Concern over size of player base.
3. Only one weapon. In most shooters I do eventually favor one weapon but it's fun learning to use many different ones.

I thought it had enough modes. I love the graphics. The controls were pretty good (wouldn't mind gamepad support for movement). I have a high-end PC so the DX10 issue didn't bother me.

I still follow this forum in the hope that there will be updates.

[Lithen]

I bought SH during the trial weekend.
Being a "Space Freak" and "mapper/modder" i enjoy this game alot, but what i think this game would benefit the most from is an Editor for the community, they obviously use one to make the maps so why not release it to the public?

And second a singelplayer, nothing fancy needed really, some flight training, an exploration mission were your inside a derelict space station and things blow up and your thrown around etc.
Heck, give me the editor and i'd make those SP missions for FM :p

If no SP, simply give us Offline play atleast. (maybe some bots?)

Cheers

[LoganDougall]

I bought SH during the trial weekend.
Being a "Space Freak" and "mapper/modder" i enjoy this game alot, but what i think this game would benefit the most from is an Editor for the community, they obviously use one to make the maps so why not release it to the public?

And second a singelplayer, nothing fancy needed really, some flight training, an exploration mission were your inside a derelict space station and things blow up and your thrown around etc.
Heck, give me the editor and i'd make those SP missions for FM :p

If no SP, simply give us Offline play atleast. (maybe some bots?)

CheersThey used XSI to create the maps and then ran it through several other programs to get them into their final form.

Theres no map editor just yet, but you can vote on it here: http://getsatisfaction.com/futuremark/topics/sdk_mod_support

At the very least access to the same programs they use after the modelling step would be enough. But they are a small studio, it would surprise me if a full fledged map editor were to be created anytime soon.

[Spece2goin]

well
i come from this free week end, and bought the game almost instantly cause it's so much epic gameplay.

but yeah now there are way to few players.
and my concern is about under-exploited maps. maybe the new gamemodes will add some thrill.

btw : i repeat this is epic and it doesn't have the success it deserve, lets hope for more to come with the coming DLC.
Hold on FM, your test is good, time to prepare a real game based on this, we're all hoping for this cause of the revolutionary gameplay.

[AFireEternal]

I bought this game, and I'm really enjoying it. I guess I like the simplicity of it; you jump into a game, join a team, and just go. Shoot guys, snipe guys, fly around, capture some points if need be...it's great. I don't have to put a lot of time and effort into learning new guns or all kinds of crap. If I wanted that I'd go play something else.

My only complaint now is the lack of a strong player base (hardly any populated servers), because this game really needs at LEAST 6-8 people per game to be fun.

[Retodon8]

I don't think there is more DLC announced just yet, although I did read they are still working on the game.
The upcoming patch is more about bug fixing than adding content, isn't it?
Please point me in the direction of any info on upcoming DLC of course. :)

SH is very much a game, not just a test/demo, especially if they keep working on it.
I am not at all convinced dropping SH now to work on a sequel (or wholly different game) would a good idea.
SH should be doing better than it is in my opinion.
I think more advertising could help this game, and that includes word of mouth:
Tell your friends to try the game, write a review online, use a SH image in your forum sig, upload cool gameplay videos to YouTube, etc..

[glucoseboy]

They really need to drop the price. This game is a lot of fun. But for $20 USD, It just seems over priced.

[bizzmeister]

I am seriously shocked this game doesnt have a better fan base. REALLY shocked. It's a very fun game but I guess the limited number of weapons is what is really drawing people away.

[Retodon8]

They really need to drop the price. This game is a lot of fun. But for $20 USD, It just seems over priced.

I'm hoping I'm not just feeding a troll here, but...
The game is only €20, which seems like a fair price for a game that is as you say: a lot of fun.
Usually games cost thrice that, yet most FPS games offer a much less unique experience than SH, even if they do have 20 different weapons which is apparently a much bigger deal to many.
I understand you'd only have to pay the 20 in dollars, making it even cheaper for you.

[RageRiot]

hope fully if the game is kept fresh and maybe some new content is added it would makes it more apealing.

I'm generally happy with the game and its content but I welcome some new features and maps but I'd just wanna plead with the developers that they don't make it too customizable that servers can just change too much of the core game.

Yhe best example would be a hl 1 or 2 mod like CS that has so many servers with ridiculous mods .. of a mod. I hated joining servers that were practically a different game than the core it's self. like Cs with Warcraft 3 mod.. I started the game to play CS NOT Cs with a warcraft 3 element GOD I HATE them servers and there many more that irritate me. another one would be the various team kill punishments, I don't want to be turned into a beacon for the other teams advantage just because I made a mistake by killing a team mate by accident. I can understand that idiots can ruin it by team killing for the fun of it but there are too many normal players that have to play a game so wrapped up in cotton wool.

[PacMan84]

I think the only thing that prevents this game from having a bigger fan base is really the price. I know it's a great game and I know FM deserve to have people pay them well. But for 20 Euros I can get a huge AAA game that came out about the same time. Not saying that such a game is necessarily better than SH, but still...
If they made this regularly a 10 Euro game and have promotions on 5-7.50 then I am sure there were a lot more players online.

Other than that, I wouldn't add anything besides new maps. It is the simplistic one-gun, one-class approach that sets this game aside and makes it truly special.
Just my 2 Eurocents.
-pac

[RageRiot]

it should be about 16.50 not 10, your pricing them out of business. 20 euros isnt far off.

[LoganDougall]

Take into account that Steam takes a chunk of the revenue off the $20 price, FGS may only be getting $16.50 or less in the end.