NEWS: Steam Summer Sale! [UPDATED 17 Aug 11]

Dom Devore · Post by **Dom Devore** » Fri, 1. Jul 11, 03:20

JAFA_NZ wrote:@Dom Devore: Wait, what? I thought you had to accumulate the achievements to unlock the "A Sunny Place" content...

No idea. All I see is an achievement listed for the game on its steam page. As far as I can tell, all the games in the sale have a special achievement that earns you a ticket to win stuff from your wishlist, there's no mention of winning DLC or unlocking DLC in X3:TC beyond the forum post here.

Merroc · Post by **Merroc** » Fri, 1. Jul 11, 03:28

The way it works with the summer sale:

Each day, there are (probably) 6 new achievements in any steam game (an example of today would be, score 50 flamethrower kills in Warhammer 40k Dawn of War 2: retribution). By gaining such an achievement of a random steam game (possibly in the next 10 days even an X game) you also receive a "ticket" to enter in the grand "lotery" of winning the top 10 of yours steam wishlist. These tickets accumulate and you can also buy for each 3 you own something from one of 24 games.* In case of X3TC it would be this extra sector. In case of Team Fortress 2 its some pair of sunglasses. Test Drive Unlimited 2 has a new car, etc.
Apart from that, today (maybe the whole week), there is one additional way to get a single ticket, and that is to join a public steam group about the summer sale. **

So in short: play the correct steam game, win an achievement in that game, get a lotery ticket, get 3 tickets, buy X3TC map.

I've just bought it, however I haven't played X3TC in a while, I'll probably see tomorrow if I have time to see what's in it (and then probably not share to keep the fun for everyone to explore

).

* by buying one of those 24 items, you do not appear to lose the tickets for the "grand lottery"

** This is most likely done so steam can advertise it as a "no purchase required", which in turn is to avoid legal issues regarding paid lotteries (as its free now, it is just a prize anyone can win).

See steam for more details.

edit: furthermore, after "buying" it, the sector is listed, under DLC, as "X3: Terran Conflict DLC" without a mention of what exactly it is. Which leads to believe that there will only be one DLC to avoid confusion with possible other DCLs.

Dom Devore · Post by **Dom Devore** » Fri, 1. Jul 11, 03:38

Thanks for the details, Merroc.

Tis a pity, I'm not going to spend money on other games just to unlock a system in TC. Another sad case of players getting milked for their money.

Triaxx2 · Post by **Triaxx2** » Fri, 1. Jul 11, 03:45

Oh well, that's why then invented mods. Technically I've got two Steam games, but in order to use the Steam version of TC, you've still got to download it, and that's one of the reasons I buy Disc versions, is because I haven't got the internet to download things like that.

Aro · Post by **Aro** » Fri, 1. Jul 11, 04:29

Pulled that from 13.dat, also a new x3_universe.xml file but didn't compare it to the previous one. It looks like the update didn't change much. Probably need the actual dlc to see proper changes.

The new achievements are destroy an SPP and blow up a bunch of ships with the PBG, rather simple. One gives an extra ticket?

stooper88 · Post by **stooper88** » Fri, 1. Jul 11, 04:34

Does the Steam Summer Camp DLC add modified tags to save games? Is there any where to get more info other than the short blurb on Steam's site and sifting through the X3TC game data?

nponoBegHuk · Post by **nponoBegHuk** » Fri, 1. Jul 11, 04:46

I got the DLC but can't find the new sector anywhere. I'm not sure whether something special needs to be done to activate it, I don't see any new mission in mission director folder, just bug fixes to the old ones. Maybe one of them got "extended" with the extra sector - didn't check that yet.

stooper88 wrote:Does the Steam Summer Camp DLC add modified tags to save games? Is there any where to get more info other than the short blurb on Steam's site and sifting through the X3TC game data?

No modified tag on my game.

EDIT: According to game files, the sector features three silicon asteroids with yield 18,19,20; and two ore asteroids with yields 16 and 18. It also has 3 suns, and a planet; no gates.

MarvinTheMartian · Post by **MarvinTheMartian** » Fri, 1. Jul 11, 05:00

I'm confused

I've just checked the game in steam and there's no DLC and the last listed update was in February?

Whatever "genius" came up with this idea at steam has certainly engineered the most convoluted marketing gimmick I think I've ever seen. The Steam page that lists the activities has a list for 30 June and the next day is 2 July, there is no 1 July is that because I'm a day ahead of the US or something?

jiman · Post by **jiman** » Fri, 1. Jul 11, 05:10

nponoBegHuk wrote: EDIT: According to game files, the sector features three silicon asteroids with yield 18,19,20; and two ore asteroids with yields 16 and 18. It also has 3 suns, and a planet; no gates.

Is this really it?

That isnt worth the effort by a long shoot.

EDIT:

IF anyone can provide more details, let me know... I would love as much content for the game as possible... if its worth it.

nponoBegHuk · Post by **nponoBegHuk** » Fri, 1. Jul 11, 05:16

MarvinTheMartian wrote:I'm confused

I've just checked the game in steam and there's no DLC and the last listed update was in February?

When I first checked, there wasn't DLC for me either. Then I earned the needed points and "bought" the DLC, it appears on the list now. However, I got no idea how it works. I've spent like an hour waiting for the message, or anything different in the UI which would guide me to the new sector but nothing works. I'll keep looking.

MarvinTheMartian · Post by **MarvinTheMartian** » Fri, 1. Jul 11, 05:39

Thanks nponoBegHuk

I've completed those two new achievements (tip: don't pick a SPP XL they take forever) but my steam profile is not showing either of them as counting toward the summer camp.

Still can't see the list of achievements for 1 July and don't own any of the games for 30 June so will have to wait and see I suppose.

BDK · Post by **BDK** » Fri, 1. Jul 11, 07:03

So where is this sector anyway?

theads · Post by **theads** » Fri, 1. Jul 11, 07:32

Its so cool to view the retards over-react to the developers having some amusement with the Valve promotional... Clearly Ego is having some fun with their partners and some of you can't see that?

Yes, I have 2 retail copies and a Steam copy this just lets me have a little more fun w/ my steam copy...

pgllrdp · Post by **pgllrdp** » Fri, 1. Jul 11, 08:16

Thanks for the insult

Toastie · Post by **Toastie** » Fri, 1. Jul 11, 08:44

Let's keep this civilised, shall we?

This is simply a promotion for Steam. Simple as that. There's no need for cynicism or panic about the future of Egosoft's content delivery methods.

Aro · Post by **Aro** » Fri, 1. Jul 11, 08:57

Anyone that got a retail copy can get a steam copy for free unless that's changed.

Hopefully each game listed with an unlock will have a method to contribute to gaining the ticket thingies. Plus a few other random methods for people to get extra would be nice.

glenmcd · Post by **glenmcd** » Fri, 1. Jul 11, 09:35

My Steam TC has just completed the update and now it won't load any of my previous saves, whether they be modified or vanilla. Says they are all corrupted when it CTD. Is this this something to be expected with the update? I surely hope not.

EDIT:
Maybe it's because Steam is trying to have a summer sale here in Australia where it's currently winter lol.

Merroc · Post by **Merroc** » Fri, 1. Jul 11, 09:49

MarvinTheMartian wrote:Thanks nponoBegHuk

I've completed those two new achievements (tip: don't pick a SPP XL they take forever) but my steam profile is not showing either of them as counting toward the summer camp.

Still can't see the list of achievements for 1 July and don't own any of the games for 30 June so will have to wait and see I suppose.

There are a certain set each day, new ones unlock on USA time schedules. 5PM GMT every day.
Since today doesn't include the X3TC achievement for tickets, you will have to wait. Seeing as you already did the X3TC achievements, when and IF they become an achievement for a ticket, then you'll likely get your tickets.

Merroc · Post by **Merroc** » Fri, 1. Jul 11, 10:34

Aro wrote:Hmm...
Code: Select all
harmony_of_perpetuity.xml
x="14" y="4"

This would be under Family Tkr/next to Heretics End. However, in my (DLCed) fresh game, nothing is there. Possibly because I've added a .cat/.dat as a mod.
Will have to remove all data and then redownload without mods most likely to do some futher testing...

edit: clean game, no sector. Egosoft, what's up? I could've bought an Audi something something for TDU2!

nponoBegHuk · Post by **nponoBegHuk** » Fri, 1. Jul 11, 12:59

My PC died yesterday just as I was about to post more details. Good thing I got X3TC at work

Anyway, new entries in 0001-L044.xml file:

Spoiler

Show

<t id="1030515">(**REMOVE**)</t>

<t id="1033005">The discovery of this intriguing sector has been a welcome distraction for the neighbouring Argon, who are facing conflict. Each star in this trinary system has a distinctively different composition as well as a very active solar cycle. Initial attempts to build stations in this sector failed when violent solar activity forced an evacuation. The lone planet is a barren world, gravitationally locked with the central star. Studies of its surface will hopefully answer questions about this sector's past and suggest colonisation options for the future. The Argon Government has warned against building new stations or visiting in modestly-shielded ships, for fear of another solar event. Some entrepreneurs, looking to exploit the energy of the suns, have completely ignored any warnings.</t>

<t id="680001">(Sunny DLC)The Federal Hazard Management Agency on Argon Prime gives the following warning: The newly-discovered sector {7,1023005} has been flagged as hazardous due to extreme solar activity. In the interests of safety all station-building activity should cease immediately and travel within or through the sector should be kept to a minimum. Federal authorities have undertaken an assessment of the sector's viability.</t>

<t id="680002">This is a remote message triggered from a very remote sector. I'm bouncing the signal off several satellites and spaceflies so don't try to trace it. The Argon fiends want this sector for themselves! First they fire a weapon into the stars and force an evacuation. Then they attempt to keep people out so they can keep the sector for themselves!\n\nI see you are nothing like them, at least that's what your files say. Did you really fail flight school five times?! Anyway, while I continue to avoid the Argon dogs and drones, I gift you my last remaining station. Hopefully they will spend enough time investigating you so I can get out of range of them. I can already feel them probing my mind through my Nividium-foil hat.\n\nGood luck, my decoy.</t>

<t id="680003">Federal Hazard Management Agency</t>

<t id="14">A Sunny Place</t>

<t id="1401">The Argon Federation has warned against travel to the sector {7,1023005}. The whispers that it is an untouched paradise - full of resources is too much to resist. Investigate the sector.</t>

According to this, there will be actually a plot (nº14) involved in discovery of the sector, not just you load the game and there it is. The director file for this plot is missing, though.

egosoft.com

egosoft.com

NEWS: Steam Summer Sale! [UPDATED 17 Aug 11]