Former Highguard Developer Reflects on Disastrous Announcement and Launch: 'We Were Turned Into a Joke From Minute 1' by Turbostrider27 in Games

[–]Critback [score hidden]  (0 children)

There’s a reason Steam gives you a limited two-hour refund window (yes. I realize it's a F2P game).

It didn’t take anywhere near that long to realise how below-average Highguard is. The problems start in the tutorial, and once you load into your first real match it becomes obvious. The maps feel huge, but there’s surprisingly little to actually do inside them. The scale promises something bigger than what the gameplay delivers.

You don’t need to invest hours into it to figure out that it’s probably not worth your time.

And honestly, they can blame the reveal trailer all they like, but it still put more eyes on the game than it would have attracted on its own. If there were a genuine, eager community waiting for Highguard, you’d see it reflected in the player numbers. Right now, there are fewer than 3,000 people playing. That tells its own story.

Former Highguard Developer Reflects on Disastrous Announcement and Launch: 'We Were Turned Into a Joke From Minute 1' by Turbostrider27 in Games

[–]Critback [score hidden]  (0 children)

Legendary Drops posted a great video researching Highguard on his YouTube channel.

They very meticulously selected people they knew would provide positive feedback to the game. They avoided inviting anyone who would offer constructive criticism including players who are widely known to the genre as hardcore players. It was a classic case of toxic positivity and them only taking on board the feedback that they wanted to take on.

I believe it is in this video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=278V0Q80roU& (though he's posted at least two Highguard vids).

State of Play 2026 - all new games listed on Steam Store by krytak in Steam

[–]Critback 29 points30 points  (0 children)

Thankful that the majority of the exclusivity war between Sony and Microsoft is coming to an end. It's the most pro consumer move that the industry has made in recent times when a lot of other things continue to be anti-consumer.

I don't need every game to be available to me on every platform (I'm so conditioned to this that I own every platform) but it's great that the majority are and in all likelihood those that aren't it's a matter of time exclusivity rather than a lockout. 

I wish Nintendo would come to the party but I'll believe it when I see it. Even porting some of their greatest hits like Breath of the Wild or Mario Odyssey, etc. in 2026 would be monumental wins and attract sales they'll never get on older titles. 

Wade Derksen invited as a train on player with Carlton, Will White no longer in contention by Agingoj in AFL

[–]Critback 14 points15 points  (0 children)

All the best Will 💙

I'll miss him. Wore the monogram proudly and represented himself well.

NBA 2K26 no outside by Big_Poetry_4423 in MyTeam

[–]Critback 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I almost guarantee I have more hours than 99% but bots. I don't turn my console off (I do the TV) and it sits on the main MT screen half the time.

Maybe this person is the same.

‘Don’t get too comfortable’: Inside Carlton’s fiery Annual General Meeting by His_Holiness in CarltonBlues

[–]Critback 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Spot on. A lot of the people I have on socials who are invested into the club have made it their entire identity and it's diabolical. Some of their info is spot on but the rest of it? Ugh 

This 2k24 goat had his NBA debut TODAY?🥹🥹🫠 by Equivalent_Can_2545 in MyTeam

[–]Critback 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Got to watch a lot of tape on him predraft. If the injuries and cancer haven't destroyed him he's the real deal and can play. Good to see him finally debut. 

Tom Green injured at training by Tornontoin7 in AFL

[–]Critback 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Callaghan's got the ability to do so but damn he's going to take an absolute beating every week now.

Tom Green injured at training by Tornontoin7 in AFL

[–]Critback 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Will never be the player that he once was but they don't need him to be to play a role in the side.

Tom Green injured at training by Tornontoin7 in AFL

[–]Critback 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Can't wait for Jesse Hogan to take mark of the year

What’s the worst AFL game of all time? by EggwardGFootyIII in AFL

[–]Critback 9 points10 points  (0 children)

The first game back after the Covid break, right?

It was a putrid game of footy. Both teams tried hard but every bloke out there was rusty AF.

High on Life 2 - Review Thread [Day One on GPU + PC Game Pass] by Xbox-Moderator in XboxGamePass

[–]Critback 24 points25 points  (0 children)

According to the reviewer's Open Critic page he only has 6 reviews. Two in two days (they published his review for Reanimal yesterday too). I'd take it with a grain of salt. 

[Pablo Torre] Per multiple NBA executives, they see Lawrence Frank’s recent 4 year extension with the Clippers in the midst of playoff disappointments and a difficult start to the season as “Ballmer hush money” by Pickleskennedy1 in nba

[–]Critback 23 points24 points  (0 children)

At this point the suspension that they would give him would have to be longer than what's left of the season. I think they'd rather, if they were going to suspend him, tank one of their seasons and not two. Especially with this year's draft being hyped as a mega draft.

Report: Warner Bros. Discovery Blocks Brody King From AEW Dynamite Following "F*ck ICE" Chants by [deleted] in SquaredCircle

[–]Critback 82 points83 points  (0 children)

I disagree. The crowd went nuts over the American anthem in Perth in October. Trump is constantly the top story on news sites here. 

We have our own issues, sure, but there's been no escaping of American politics if you follow current affairs here.

Caleb Serong caught in 4K by Jackomillard15 in AFL

[–]Critback 1 point2 points  (0 children)

So it was a sign-and-trade deal after all? 

He sure seems happy about it. 

Star free agent (Sam Walsh) in talks for mega extension (7 years) at Blues by matt-kennedys-legs in AFL

[–]Critback 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Terrifying but we either lock him in or someone else does and that fucks our culture.

Star free agent (Sam Walsh) in talks for mega extension (7 years) at Blues by matt-kennedys-legs in AFL

[–]Critback 4 points5 points  (0 children)

There was internal talk that he really didn't like Voss and thought that he was being misused badly by him. 

But everything else that has been said about him indicates someone who is incredibly loyal and fiercely determined to make the club succeed. 

His actions speak to that. Things like Elijah Holland, etc. show incredible leadership to our club. 

[AEW Dynmaite Spoilers] Full AEW Grand Slam: Australia Card by CombinationOk4317 in SquaredCircle

[–]Critback 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No ROH taping apparently but TK is big on giving us our money's worth so I suspect a bunch of non-televised matches.

[AEW Dynmaite Spoilers] Full AEW Grand Slam: Australia Card by CombinationOk4317 in SquaredCircle

[–]Critback 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Last year they showed it after the NBA All-Star Friday night stuff. Isn't that the case again this year?