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Marathon Alpha Impressions

I think the ship is starting to sail on Marathon outperforming ARC Raiders on any platform (PC or console). The sentiment from all different types of gamers skews heavily in the direction of ARC Raiders. They appear to be in different weight divisions now.

The real discussion is about whether or not both titles can succeed or if it'll just be ARC Raiders.
 
I think the ship is starting to sail on Marathon outperforming ARC Raiders on any platform (PC or console). The sentiment from all different types of gamers skews heavily in the direction of ARC Raiders. They appear to be in different weight divisions now.

The real discussion is about whether or not both titles can succeed or if it'll just be ARC Raiders.
It's fair to question the longevity of Marathon, but Marathon's success or failure will have little to no bearing on ARC Raiders. The games cater to completely different players
 
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It's fair to question the longevity of Marathon, but Marathon's success or failure will have little to no bearing on ARC Raiders. The games cater to completely different players
We know this is wrong because all the streamers who were given Marathon access are now making a ton of ARC Raiders content.

Bungie and Embark are targeting the same exact audience.

 
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Source please?

I dont feel like looking up Arma Reforger but I use to go to discords and devs would say the same thing in fact it was known before the PS launch that the Xbox version of reforger was keeping the game alive and then once it came out for PS5 the game game got even better numbers. Console players love tactical shooters….

I only like hardcore difficult single player games too. I think these participation trophy developers don't understand hardcore game mechanics are fun because of the learning curve and gameplay.

I play games for a challenge I hate casual easy games…

There's a reason Elden Ring is big and I believe a hardcore Socom would be huge the moment they dumbed it down with Socom 4 is the moment the game died.

I think AAA gaming is going to die because they keep hiring developers on studios that want to make games like Star Wars Outlaws and Casual experiences that anyone with 1 braincell can beat in a few days.
 
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We know this is wrong because all the streamers who were given Marathon access are now making a ton of ARC Raiders content.

Bungie and Embark are targeting the same exact audience.


Streamers jumping to a new popular game for a weekend means absolutely nothing. Anything that is new is easy content for any streamer. You act like Arc Raiders is the next Fortnite. Shroud is the perfect example. He will play Arc Raiders for a few days before going back to FPS games like Valorant, Counter Strike, or COD, because that is why his dedicated fanbase watches him
 
Streamers jumping to a new popular game for a weekend means absolutely nothing. Anything that is new is easy content for any streamer. You act like Arc Raiders is the next Fortnite. Shroud is the perfect example. He will play Arc Raiders for a few days before going back to FPS games like Valorant, Counter Strike, or COD, because that is why his dedicated fanbase watches him
This isn't accurate either.

Clair Obscure 33 and South of Midnight were two relatively big releases this month. Those games were given to different streamers. Publishers target different streamers because they have different audiences.

"Clair Obscure 33 and ARC Raiders cater to completely different players."

That's a muuuuuuch more accurate statement.

Heck, even if you're paying attention to the discussion here, the people interested in Marathon are also interested in ARC Raiders and vise versa.
 
This isn't accurate either.

Clair Obscure 33 and South of Midnight were two relatively big releases this month. Those games were given to different streamers. Publishers target different streamers because they have different audiences.

"Clair Obscure 33 and ARC Raiders cater to completely different players."

That's a muuuuuuch more accurate statement.

Heck, even if you're paying attention to the discussion here, the people interested in Marathon are also interested in ARC Raiders and vise versa.
Gamers like all types of games. I am specifically talking about people comparing Marathon to Arc Raiders. People are comparing the two like it is GTA vs Saints Row or Forza vs Drive Club. Marathon and Arc Raiders play nothing alike. It's like saying Helldivers 2 couldn't be successful because Tarkov exists, as they are both extraction games. They cater to different audiences, even if many streamers have played both. It's silly
 
Gamers like all types of games. I am specifically talking about people comparing Marathon to Arc Raiders. People are comparing the two like it is GTA vs Saints Row or Forza vs Drive Club.
I would say that's very accurate. They're both Extraction Shooters so they both appeal to gamers who are interested in Extraction Shooters.
Marathon and Arc Raiders play nothing alike.
Well, they're both Extraction Shooters soooo...
It's like saying Helldivers 2 couldn't be successful because Tarkov exists, as they are both extraction games.
Helldivers 2 isn't really an Extraction Shooter. It's also a PvE game while Escape from Tarkov is a deeply competitive PvP Extraction Shooter.
They cater to different audiences, even if many streamers have played both. It's silly.
About as silly as saying Virtua Fighter and Tekken "cater to completely different audiences".

Really, it's more like Fortnite and Apex Legends. Both are successful in their own right and both play somewhat differently but they're both fairly standard Battle Royale games. The venn diagram of people who have played both is nearly a perfect circle.

I swear to God I've heard Forza Motorsport fans say you shouldn't compare it to Gran Turismo because they both cater to different audiences.
 

I dont feel like looking up Arma Reforger but I use to go to discords and devs would say the same thing in fact it was known before the PS launch that the Xbox version of reforger was keeping the game alive and then once it came out for PS5 the game game got even better numbers. Console players love tactical shooters….

I only like hardcore difficult single player games too. I think these participation trophy developers don't understand hardcore game mechanics are fun because of the learning curve and gameplay.

I play games for a challenge I hate casual easy games…

There's a reason Elden Ring is big and I believe a hardcore Socom would be huge the moment they dumbed it down with Socom 4 is the moment the game died.

I think AAA gaming is going to die because they keep hiring developers on studios that want to make games like Star Wars Outlaws and Casual experiences that anyone with 1 braincell can beat in a few days.

From your link:

We crossed this milestone on Oct. 20. Here are the numbers by platform:

Steam: 235,618 daily players (peaking at 79,000 concurrent)
PlayStation: 113,897 daily players (peaking at 33,000 concurrent)
Xbox: 152,037 daily players (peaking at 36,000 concurrent)

So it's higher on PC, unless I'm missing something?
 
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I'm talking Arc and Marathon specifically.
I was saying Console players are waiting for a great tactical shooters because there aren't many. DayZ isnt even a real complete game.

These AAA studios need to stop making casual crap and reduce their employee size.
 
I was saying Console players are waiting for a great tactical shooters because there aren't many. DayZ isnt even a real complete game.

These AAA studios need to stop making casual crap and reduce their employee size.
I know, I am as well.

I'm just saying ARC won't be it because it's going to get boring real fast.
 
24 hour peak for the alpha on Steam. About 900 gamers. 600 now.

ARC Raiders, 24H peak 20,000. 10,000 now.
Curious to see how it goes, ARC beta will end today and Bungie extended the closed alpha by 2 extra days, where they are unlocking all Faction upgrades, starting may 5th 8am PT.
Starting may 6th 8am PT, they will include Incursion events (public events I assume) and increased AI reinforcements.

 
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Curious to see how it goes, ARC beta will end today and Bungie extended the closed alpha by 2 extra days, where they are unlocking all Faction upgrades, starting may 5th 8am PT.
Starting may 6th 8am PT, they will include Incursion events (public events I assume) and increased AI reinforcements.

FuvDAtvXsAAV0e3.jpg
 
No doubt they knew not all Bungie fans would be happy, but that's probably also why they didn't dedicate their entire studio to Marathon.

I like both PvE and PvP, so for me, it doesn't matter which direction they go, they just need to make a good game.

And that's the real question: will they fuck up?
If they manage to solve the issues irt the biggest complaints, Marathon will do just fine.

And PvE gamers should just play something else.
Fair enough :)

I just feel like there's already an overload of competitive games—Valorant, PUBG, Apex, CS, Overwatch, LoL, Fortnite, etc. Meanwhile, PvE co-op experiences like Destiny remain rare and special. It's surprising more studios don't focus there. Left 4 Dead 2 never got a real successor (maybe Helldivers 2), Borderlands stalled, and Destiny brought something unique. Remnant 2 shows potential, even FromSoftware is exploring it.

And to be clear, I love competitive games—I've logged thousands of hours. But the gaming space feels ripe for a new, ambitious PvE co-op title. Marathon doesn't seem like it.
 
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Fair enough :)

I just feel like there's already an overload of competitive games—Valorant, PUBG, Apex, CS, Overwatch, LoL, Fortnite, etc. Meanwhile, PvE co-op experiences like Destiny remain rare and special. It's surprising more studios don't focus there. Left 4 Dead 2 never got a real successor (maybe Helldivers 2), Borderlands stalled, and Destiny brought something unique. Remnant 2 shows potential, even FromSoftware is exploring it.

And to be clear, I love competitive games—I've logged thousands of hours. But the gaming space feels ripe for a new, ambitious PvE co-op title. Marathon doesn't seem like it.
I'm with you on that. Would love something like Destiny.
Or maybe Destiny 3, but then a sequel they don't fuck up and that isn't so basic in world design.
 
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They peaked at 6k ccu on steamdb the first day (22 of april) then a steady decline. On 25 of april people where done with this shit and it peaked at 3k, 26 of april 2k and after that they hardly reach 1k and now since 2 days ago they dont. Oh boy, bungo you`ve done fuck up now. And to the 2 guys defending this with some braindead takes(could be trolling too), take thoose takes and shoove them up where the sun dosent shine :messenger_tears_of_joy:
 
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They peaked at 6k ccu on steamdb the first day (22 of april) then a steady decline. On 25 of april people where done with this shit and it peaked at 3k, 26 of april 2k and after that they hardly reach 1k and now since 2 days ago they dont. Oh boy, bungo you`ve done fuck up now. And to the 2 guys defending this with some braindead takes(could be trolling too), take thoose takes and shoove them up where the sun dosent shine :messenger_tears_of_joy:
You do realize I don't actually care if Marathon fails?

It's just one game of many.
 
Watched half an hour on Twitch.

I just don't want to spend time in that world. It's cold and antiseptic. Characters look like Crash Test Dummies.

Lifeless.
 
Yeah but we dont know how much of that content was paid for vs how much these streamers truly wanted to play it

We can argue Marathon streamers were paid too.

But to believe Arc Raiders devs have the capital to pay many streamers to fight Marathon, a game made by Bungie and owned by megacorp Sony, is a bit of a stretch.

Even if you consider both are paid, the number of viewes itself says a lot.
 
We can argue Marathon streamers were paid too.

But to believe Arc Raiders devs have the capital to pay many streamers to fight Marathon, a game made by Bungie and owned by megacorp Sony, is a bit of a stretch.

Even if you consider both are paid, the number of viewes itself says a lot.
Oh I know Marathon streamers were paid as well, just saying its hard to tell by content how much was paid and to whom

And yeah views tell the tell, that I 100% agree with
 
I think the ship is starting to sail on Marathon outperforming ARC Raiders on any platform (PC or console). The sentiment from all different types of gamers skews heavily in the direction of ARC Raiders. They appear to be in different weight divisions now.

The real discussion is about whether or not both titles can succeed or if it'll just be ARC Raiders.

LOL you can see how bipolar you are right?
 
comparing a closed alpha that was supposed to be under NDA with a tech test with friend codes given to everyone that plays 30mins is wild work.
 
comparing a closed alpha that was supposed to be under NDA with a tech test with friend codes given to everyone that plays 30mins is wild work.

What-does-Copium-Mean.png


No need for comparison, just look at the numbers Marathon is pushing and you'll see they are terrible in themselves. Btw you think Bungie gave what, 10K codes?
 
Yup i have a few friends who didn't get accepted for the alpha including myself so looking at steam numbers is pointless. Bungie's mistake is the same mistake they always make by not showing the complete gameplay loop of their games they like to surprise people and I get it but times have changed and people's attention spans have as well. Arc Raiders grabbed me instantly it's just presented in a much better way. I still have faith in Bungie because Destiny is my most played game ever but currently it's just boring to watch vs ARCH Raiders but I'm still anxious to play it I just think most of my time will be dedicated to AR after really enjoying the tech test.
 
10-20k? across xbox ps5 and steam
Yup i have a few friends who didn't get accepted for the alpha including myself so looking at steam numbers is pointless. Bungie's mistake is the same mistake they always make by not showing the complete gameplay loop of their games they like to surprise people and I get it but times have changed and people's attention spans have as well. Arc Raiders grabbed me instantly it's just presented in a much better way. I still have faith in Bungie because Destiny is my most played game ever but currently it's just boring to watch vs ARCH Raiders but I'm still anxious to play it I just think most of my time will be dedicated to AR after really enjoying the tech test.
Guys... guys!!!

Even if you are right (and I really don't think you are but anyway, that does not explain this https://www.neogaf.com/threads/marathon-alpha-impressions.1683364/page-21#post-270384770

Player retention should be a lot better.
 
Guys... guys!!!

Even if you are right (and I really don't think you are but anyway, that does not explain this https://www.neogaf.com/threads/marathon-alpha-impressions.1683364/page-21#post-270384770

Player retention should be a lot better.
Listen I have the Alpha and after leaving my feedback and completing the 2 surveys they sent me, I have no rush to get back into the game cus I will lose everything anyways and theres such limited content available for this demo.
 
Listen I have the Alpha and after leaving my feedback and completing the 2 surveys they sent me, I have no rush to get back into the game cus I will lose everything anyways and theres such limited content available for this demo.
We will se how much players there is 1 month, 6 month and a year after release then.
 
Guys... guys!!!

Even if you are right (and I really don't think you are but anyway, that does not explain this https://www.neogaf.com/threads/marathon-alpha-impressions.1683364/page-21#post-270384770

Player retention should be a lot better.
I too was interested in player retention at first (which did fall off dramatically in Marathon) but I don't think we can learn anything from numbers since ARC was still sending waves of invites throughout the beta

Plus getting 2 friends codes since I alone have several email accounts it was super easy to daisy chain invites and I was able to generate 10 friends invites including about 4 people here on GAF

All of those people also got 2 friend invites

Just saying we don't know what the player retention for ARC actually was vs a bunch of new players coming in
 
takes like 12 seconds to join the discord. It's literally a meaningless action. You can't derive anything in terms of interest from the Discord signup.

We dont even know how many people went ahead with the beta application which took a few minutes more.
People decided to join this Discord and not the other ones because what this one offered there. This shows people is interested on it.

Same goes with record viewship of the game announcement or gameplay reveal event. This shows there's interest on it.
 
People decided to join this Discord and not the other ones because what this one offered there. This shows people is interested on it.

Same goes with record viewship of the game announcement or gameplay reveal event. This shows there's interest on it.
Same with the Reddits.
 
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