I think the thing everyone is forgetting is that valve isn't stupid, there's no way they didn't realize you could work around accepting the (legally unenforcable) NDA, and it's open invite.

Valve 100% knows that keeping it "secret" is good for hype and was expecting this to happen at any time, and the nominal ban was expected, but nobody is gonna get sued either.

More people are talking about Valve's "secret" new game because of this than would be if they openly announced it.

[–] Carighan@lemmy.world 9 points 3 months ago

Yeah exactly. It's quite likely they didn't really blacklist The Verge anyways, just won't send them invites any more for this particular game. Best kind of marketing is hype marketing, and this is how you fuel the hype.

[–] Riven@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 3 months ago (1 children)

As someone whose played it I can say that it has some cool concepts but it's sorta mid atm. It's what to be expected for an alpha game though, I just hope they push the aethetic harder and not just use it as set dressing cause so far the aethetic is the most unique part about it. The rest is just overwatch meets leagueDota but slightly jankier (Again, to be expected since it's alpha.)

[–] Coelacanth@feddit.nu 2 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Those are my thoughts as well, though I've only had the chance to play a couple of matches so far. When I heard about the concept it sounded cooler than it feels so far, but maybe I just need to get used to it. So far the gameplay loop hasn't really clicked for me, and balancing the hero shooter aspects with MOBA stuff like farming and buying items hasn't felt smooth, fluid or natural.

I do imagine - much like MOBAs - it's more fun playing as a squad though. I've only done random matchmaking.

[–] Riven@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Dude glad it isn't only me. The moba aspects slow it down but the shooter aspects speed it up and it hasn't felt like a good mix so far. I know I'm the bad one so I can't be too harsh but it felt like I was just getting one shot like in Call of duty but also I had to just grind resources like in mobas. My least favorite aspects of both games.

That's sorta why I like overwatch, plenty of weps that aren't guns and you don't get one shot most of the time, especially if you aren't playing a squish hero. No grinding either besides charging your ult, it's more objective based which is fun.

[–] Coelacanth@feddit.nu 1 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I can see potential in the concept - needing to push and farm and take down neutrals or world bosses creates micro objectives and incentives for player movements and varied gameplay circumstances emerging from it. The shooter framing makes for a faster-paced style compared to Dota/League, and the ability and item system adds complexity and customization which increases the skill ceiling.

I think a big issue right now is balancing. The game is very snowbally and if there are catch-up mechanics in place I haven't found them. So not losing the lanes is super important and whichever team builds a lead over the first couple of minutes tends to extend that into running the enemy team over. It also makes matchmaking and team skill gap a big problem (just like all MOBAs) since if you have a bad player they have a double negative effect: not contributing and feeding the enemies.

Apart from the aesthetic I do think the hero designs are pretty good (both in looks and gameplay) and the map has been pretty great - lots of traversal options and verticality.

I've had some decently fun matches today, but it's a very uneven experience.

[–] Riven@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Agreed, heroes of the storm imo is a good example of a fun moba. League is my main game but hots is my love. In hots you don't have to worry about last hitting things since there's no gold to be earned just XP which you get by being in the vicinity of a minion or enemy death and each player doesn't have individual XP it's team XP. So even 'bad' players can contribute to the team by just being present, champs are also generally tankier than other mobas so unless you're really caught in a bad position it's usually possible to run and survive unless it's a complete stomp and the enemy is way ahead but even then few heroes can truly one combo you.

[–] Coelacanth@feddit.nu 2 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I never played HotS but I played Dota 1&2 for many years. Recalibrating for Deadlock hasn't been easy, despite being familiar with stuff like last hitting.

The farm thing is what stands out to me most, as you can't really play passively if you feel like you're outmatched skill-wise in Deadlock. In something like TF2 or Overwatch you can play more defensively if you feel disadvantaged, but here what will happen is you'll fall so far behind on farm you'll never be able to contribute.

The map feels too small and the pace too high, somehow, and 4 lanes seem too many. It's been hard to feel like you can leave your lane and gank without opening too much of a vulnerability on your "home" lane. This exacerbates the problem of one lane getting stomped and that snowballing into an unstoppable victory.

It's very possible all these problems diminish with good team play, though. This might be one of those games you can't enjoy properly without organised team play and active voice comms.

[–] Tearcell@mastodon.gamedev.place 1 points 3 months ago (2 children)

@Coelacanth @Riven so this game isn't the heir to Monday Night Combat I still dream for huh?

[–] Riven@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 3 months ago

Haven't played it either but the other dudes points are real. They seem to be listening to the community though so it's worth giving it a chance and speaking up, maybe you could steer it more toward the game you mentioned. Still alpha and they mentioned the gameplay could massively change, you never know.

For anyone reading this who wants an invite lemme know and I can shoot one over too.

[–] Coelacanth@feddit.nu 1 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I never played it so couldn't tell you, but if you want to try out and tell me how it compares I can toss you an invite.

[–] Tearcell@mastodon.gamedev.place 0 points 3 months ago (1 children)

@Coelacanth just got an invite from a friend, but thanks!

[–] Coelacanth@feddit.nu 1 points 3 months ago

As someone who hadn't even heard about Monday Night Combat until you brought it up, I'd love your take on how they compare after you've gotten some games in. Looking it up they do seem to have overlaps.

[–] corbin@infosec.pub 2 points 3 months ago

Yep, tech and game companies use invite-only systems to generate hype constantly. Bluesky is another recent example.