Best Artifact Posts - Reddit

Find the best posts and communities about Artifact on Reddit. ... [Video Games] Artifact: The Dota Card Game Turned Unmitigated Disaster And Dissapointment. Foundtheinternet!ArtifactDotAPostsCommunitiesPostsaboutArtifactcardcardclassiccompactr/Artifact43.3kmembersArtifact-TheDotaCardGamefromValveVisitJoinr/Archaeology136kmembersWelcometor/ArchaeologyVisitJoinr/Genshin_Impact1.5mmembersThisistheofficialcommunityforGenshinImpact(原神),thelatestopen-worldactionRPGdevelopedbymiHoYo.Thegamefeaturesamassive,gorgeousmap,anelaborateelementalcombatsystem,engagingstoryline&characters,co-opgamemode,soothingsoundtrack,andmuchmoreforyoutoexplore!VisitJoinr/wow2.2mmembersWorldofWarcraftonReddit!VisitJoinr/DestinyTheGame2.6mmembersWelcometoDestinyReddit!ThissubisfordiscussingBungie'sDestiny2anditspredecessor,Destiny.Pleasereadthesidebarrulesandbesuretosearchforyourquestionbeforeposting.VisitJoinr/EDH189kmembersThepremieresourceforCommandernews!VisitJoinr/IdleHeroes73.2kmembersWelcometothesubredditforIdleHeroes,anepicRPG.Wewelcomebothnewandoldplayers.Happyidling!VisitJoinr/XiaoMains37.8kmembersWelcometotheSubredditfortheGenshinImpactCharacter:Xiao,theVigilantYaksha!VisitJoinr/dwarffortress124kmembersDwarfFortress-Losingisfun!VisitJoinr/riskofrain147kmembersSubredditforRiskofRainandRiskofRain2!VisitJoinr/Arrowheads26.2kmembersAplacetodiscussyourarrowheadandotherartifactfinds.VisitJoinr/EggsInc55.9kmembersUnofficialsubredditforthegameEgg,Inc.createdbyAuxbrainInc.Feelfreetocomebyifyouplaythegameandhaveanyquestions.VisitJoinr/TapTitans287.9kmembersIncrementalmobilegamefeaturingahugeswordandatonofheroesandpetsVisitJoinr/magicTCG529kmembersAdiversecommunityofplayersdevotedtoMagic:theGathering,atradingcardgame("TCG")producedbyWizardsoftheCoastandoriginallydesignedbyRichardGarfield. 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Thisunofficialsubredditismaintainedbyplayersandfansofthisgame.VisitJoinr/Ganyu42.8kmembersAfancommunitydedicatedtoGanyu(a5*GenshinImpactcharacter)andalsoaEnglishGenshinTheorycraftingcommunity.ConnectedwiththeSecondLargestGenshinImpactNetworkaftertheOfficialGenshinImpactserverVisitJoinr/HuTao_Mains74.1kmembersWe'reacommunitydedicatedtotheonetruebestgirl-HuTaofromGenshinImpact.Genshinleaksarewelcome!VisitJoinr/Kokomi_Mains24.1kmembersAsubredditdedicatedtotheDivinePriestessofWatatsumiIsland,SangonomiyaKokomi(珊瑚宮心海)fromGenshinImpact.VisitJoinr/Albedomains17.3kmembersComeheretodiscussAlbedo,afivestarcharacterinGenshinImpact. Discord:https://discord.gg/albedoVisitJoinr/FortNiteBR2.0mmembersThedevelopersupported,communityrunsubredditdedicatedtotheFortnite:BattleRoyalegamemodebyEpicGames.VisitJoinr/EulaMains41.5kmembersCurrenthubfortheGenshinImpactcharacterEula.VisitJoinr/summonerswar133kmembersSubredditformobilegameSummonersWar:SkyArena.Discussthelatestgameplay,newsandeventswithfellowsummonersaroundtheglobe.VisitJoinr/KeqingMains61.4kmembersY'allknowthatourCatQueenisthebestwaifu. WeevenhaveDiscord.gg/Keqing GenshinImpactFanCommunity Wewelcomeart,theorycrafting,andanyGenshin-relateddiscussions:)VisitJoinr/RaidenMains72.8kmembersRetainersoftheInazumaElectroArchon,RaidenShogun (Ei/"Baal"),fromGenshinImpact. Discord.gg/RaidenMains|Discord.gg/RaidenVisitJoinr/CrusaderKings356kmembersCrusaderKingsisahistoricalgrandstrategy/RPGvideogameseriesforPC,Mac,Linux,PlayStation5&XboxSeriesX|Sdeveloped&publishedbyParadoxInteractive.Engageincourtlyintrigue,dynasticstruggles,andholywarfareinmediævalEurope,NorthAfrica,theMiddleEast,India,thesteppesandTibet.Canyouachievefameandfortuneforyournoblefamily,orwillyournamesbeforgottentohistory?VisitJoinr/afkarena253kmembersACommunity-runsubredditdedicatedtoAFKArena,aMobileRPG.VisitJoin3.5k•Postedby5monthsagoYu-Gi-Oh!MasterDuelgot241,038peakconcurrentusersonsteam.Over10xanyotherYugiohgame.Almost4xValve'sArtifactlaunchnumber. SteamchartsisthesourceforthesenumbersYesterday'speakwasover218000soitwentuponday2.Iassumetherearealsoalotofpeopleplayingthisonconsoles.Edit:3rddaypeakincreasedagainto255,207!Konamididn'tevenannounceareleasedatebefore,itgotthesenumbersonasurpriselaunch.Didpeopleexpectthenumberswouldbethisbig?Iwasn'texpectingthis.Whyarethenumbersthisbig?Onemightsayitispopularjustbecauseitisyugiohandalotofpeoplearenostalgicfortheanimeorthefuntheyhadwiththephysicaltcg,butifthat'sthemainreasonthenwhydidn'ttheotheryugiohgamesgetnearlythisbig?Wouldn'tthoseothergamesbebetterthanMasterDuelforanyonelookingfornostalgia?Alsodoyouexpectthisgamewillbeabletomaintainbignumbersandofficiallybeabigsuccesstorivaltheotherbigdigitalcardgamesonpc?Ordoyouexpectthenumberstoquicklyanddrasticallyshrinkforsomereason?WillKonamifuckthisupsomehowandendupwithasteamchartthatlooksalotlikeArtifact'ssteepdeclineinplayersafterlaunch?Comparisontoothercardgamespeaknumbersaccordingtosteamcharts:ArtifactClassic-60,740MagicDuels-14,544Magic2014-14,038Magic:TheGathering-DuelsofthePlaneswalkers2013-3,946Magic:TheGathering—DuelsofthePlaneswalkers2012-707Yu-Gi-Oh!DuelLinks-21,377Yu-Gi-Oh!LegacyoftheDuelist:LinkEvolution-1,219Yu-Gi-Oh!LegacyoftheDuelist-1,610Shadowverse-23,929GWENT:TheWitcherCardGame-4,862TheElderScrolls:Legends-8,781EternalCardGame-2,855Mythgard-476InfinityWars-AnimatedTradingCardGame-1,604Prismata-121,154(Amysteriousmassive1monthspikeinMay2018forthisunpopularearlyaccesscardgame.Idon'tknowwhyorifthisnumberislegit.Ifyouignorethatonemonth,thehighestpeakis2,205.Youmightvaguelyrememberthisgamefromapopularredditpostbythedevsin2014.)Unfortunatelywedon'thavenumbersfromthebigcardgamesoffsteamtocomparethisto.ItispossibleHearthstone,Runeterra,orMagic:Arenawouldhavehadanevenbiggernumberiftheyhadlaunchedonsteam.Wewillneverknow.Butfeelfreetoguesshowyouthinkthese4gamesrankintermsofthenumberofplayers.(ImadeathreadaboutthisyesterdayandgotremovedforRule3.2.ThistimeItriedtomatchtheamountofcontentinthisthreadaboutadifferentgame'ssteamchartnumbers,soIhopeisOKthatIgavethisa2ndtry,andIhopethisisenoughtonotgetremovedagain.)3.5k1.0kcommentssharesave25•Postedby2monthsagoLorevideowhereIfindDotaloreinotherValvegames,withonesectiondedicatedtoArtifact(rip)Video&Podcasts youtu.be/LmgFlq...250commentssharesave957•Postedby2monthsago[VideoGames]Artifact:TheDotaCardGameTurnedUnmitigatedDisasterAndDissapointmentExtraLong IfyouhaveeverheardofArtifactbefore,thefirstthingthatpopsintomindwouldlikelybethatcrowdreactionfollowingitsannouncementin2017.Amixedchorusofscatteredclapping,confusion,andplentyofboosthatinstantlyforeshadowedtheturmoilthisgamewouldencounterthroughoutitslifespanwhich,unfortunately,wouldn’tlastlongatall.TakingalonglookatSteamnow,you’llseetwogamesavailable,bothfreetoplay,followingyearsofdevelopmenttroublesandlackofplayerretention.ThenextstepindigitalcardgamingthatValvewassupposedtobededicatedtoforthelonghaulhaslongsincebeenabandoned,andplayercountsforbothversionsaredismal.Whetherornotthisgamewastrulygivenafairchancefollowingitsannouncement,especiallywithitsburdenasthefirstnewValveprojectinyears,itremainsthecompany’slatestandperhapsgreatestfailureingamedevelopment.AnnouncementAgain,thatinitialrevealensuredArtifactwouldbefightinganuphillbattlewellbeforelaunch.AnnouncedatTheInternationalin2017,aDota2esportstournamentorchestratedbyValve,whatfansexpectedtobeanewcontentupdateorevensomethingmoreexcitingturnedouttobejustateaserforadigitalcollectablecardgameakintothelikesofHearthstoneorGwent.ItjustsohappenedtobebasedonDotaandunfortunately,wasfarfromwhatviewerswerehopingfor.FromangryYoutubecomments,gamingthreads,theDota2subreddit,toRedditandsocialmediaingeneral,it'sclearthisrevealwasperhapsoneoftheworstreceivedinrecentgaminghistory.IthadbeenoverhalfadecadesinceValvereleasedanymajornewgames,andtoseeacardgameofallthingsastheirnextprojectratherthanacontinuationofamorepopularIPlikeLeft4DeadorPortalwasquiteshocking.AddintheincreasingcontroversysurroundingothercardgameslikeHearthstone,whichsawplayersneedingtospendhundredsofdollarstogetmostorevenafewdesiredcards,andfearsquicklybrewedthatValvewouldimplementsimilarshadypractices.Evenworse,ashortdocumentpublishedbyHalf-LifedeveloperMarcLaidlawcalledEpistle3,whichdetailswhatcouldhavebeenthestoryofHalf-Life3,cameoutjustafewweekslater.LeadingtoamassoffansexcessivelyreviewbombingDota2andfeedingawaveofangeranddissapointment.MaybeValveshouldn’thavereliedonpopularEsportscommentatorandcommunityfigureDay9toawkwardlyhypeupagamemanyweren’trequesting.Maybetheycouldhavereadtheroomalittlemorebeforeannouncingatrailerforacardgameatoneofthebiggesttournamentsintheindustrytoanaudiencethatwouldbeapatheticatbest.Regardlessofwhatthecompanyshouldorshouldn’thavedone,Artifactwasofficiallyoutintheopen.Thoughitmayhavegottenofftoahorrendousstart,therewasstilltimetoturnthingsaround.Pre-ReleaseEvenasValveprovidedafewupdatestoDota2thatreferencedtheupcomingcardgame,ArtifactwouldnotmakeanotherappearanceuntilMarchthefollowingyear.Onthe9th,GabeNewellheldapressconferencepresentingitasaninnovativeandcomplextitlethattrulytakesadvantageofitsdigitalnatureanddelvingindepthtoitsmechanics.Evenatfirstglance,itsclearthiswasfarmorethanaHearthstoneclone.Theplayerwouldneedtomanagenotjustone,butthreeboardssimilartothethreelanesofMOBAgameslikeDota2AndLeagueofLegends.Eachboardwouldhaveonetowertheplayerneedstoprotect,whichwhendestroyedsummonsanancientwithmuchmorehealth.Whiletakingturnsfightingoneachboard,andjugglingaslewofrandomlyspawningcreaturesthatcanhelpattacktheenemy,theplayeralsoneedstobalancemanagingtheirheroes,goldtobuyitemsinbetweenturns,andplanouttheiractionswellinadvancewiththegoaloftryingtodestroyatleasttwotowersoroneancient.It’salottotakeinwhenwatching,andcertainlymoredifficulttoexplaininitiallythanjust“attackyouropponent’sheroorlifepointsuntiltheydie”.Animportantfactorbehindthisgame’sdevelopmentwasitssupervisionbyleaddesignerandcreatorofMagicTheGatheringhimselfRichardGarfield,whoseemedecstatictosharehisexperiencesworkingonthegameforyearsininterviews.Manyfanscouldclearlyseetheinfluenceshetookfromhisformerproject,suchacolorsystemwhereaheroofthesamecolorwasneededforcertaincardstobeplayed,andtheteam’sdesiretocreateanewanduniqueexperiencewasalsoreflectedwiththeeconomy.TakinganotherquefromphysicalcardgameslikeMagic,ValveannouncedtheirintentiontousetheSteamMarketplaceasameanstobuyandtradecards.Byallowingplayerstosellandbuycardsdirectlythroughthemarket,priceswouldchangeconstantlytoreflecttheevolvingmetaandcommunity.Craftingatrulyopen-endedenvironmentandeconomycontrolledbyusersthatwouldhopefullyallowplayerstoconstructandexperimentwiththeirdecksmucheasierthanjustbuyingboosterpackswould.NewellappearstoascribetothetheorythatMtGcardplayersliketomovetheircardsaroundandbuildacommunityoutofthiscommerce.It'sabigassumptiontobankon,especiallyasdigitaleconomiesbecomefurtherscrutinizedinthewakeoflootboxnightmaresandValve'sownin-gameitemsbeingconvertedtogamblingcurrency.InNewell'scase,however,heseemstoreallybelievethatopeningupacardeconomy—meaning,really,theevolvingfunctionalityofthegame—willremovetheeventualboredomthatcomesafteryearsoftimeandmoneysunkintoagame."InagamewheremyassetsaredepreciatingorIcan’texchangethem,Ibuildstuffandamstuckwithmystrategy,"Newellsaid."Ican’tmakeatechnicaldecisiontosayIwilltrysomethingelse,becauseIburnthevalueI’veputintothegamethusfar.Why’sthatbad?Becausethecharacteristicsyouseeingameswiththosequalitiesisastagnationinstrategies,andpeoplefalloffacliff.Theykeepplaying,getbored,andstopplaying."It’sclearValvewasgoingallin,evenannouncingthatamilliondollartournamentwasbeingplannedafterthegame’slaunch.Assummerpassed,moreinformationandleakswouldberevealed,includinganexpectedreleasedateinlateNovemberandalaunchpriceof$20.Itwasstilldifficulttodiscernifthegamewastrulybeingperceivedbetterbythewidergamingpublic.Butbythe2018International,Gabe’sannouncementthateveryoneinattendancewouldreceiveafreecopyofArtifactwasmetwithmuchmorefanfarethanlastyear.AndwhenthecompanyallowedaudiencestogettheirhandsonthegameatPaxWestthatyear,peoplecameoutinapparentdroves.Theearlybetakeysprovidedattheconventionapparentlyevenwentfordozensifnothundredsofdollarssecondhand.Withsomegoingasfarastomodthetitleontabletopsimulators,therewasclearlyanaudienceecstaticforitsreleaseanddoingwhatevertheycouldtogetanearlypreview.TheMarketYet,thegrowinginterestinthisgamestilldidn’tobscurethecriticismsmanyhad.Primarily,itsmonetizationsystem.ThemostpopulardigitalcardgamesatthetimelikeHearthstone,Shadowverse,orGwentwerefreetoplay,withtheoptiontobuycardsfromrandomizedboosterpacksusingin-gamecurrencyorrealworldmoney.Incomparison,Artifact’s$20upfrontinvestment,ontopofusingtheMarketplaceastheprimarymeanstoexpandyourcollection,wasabigenoughhurdleformanytoaskquestions.OutsideofjustoutrightbuyingcardsthroughSteamatwhatevertheirmarketvaluewas,whichalsorequiredpayingValveafewcentsextraintaxesandfees,theonlyothermeansofcollectingwererandomized$2boosterpacksandspecificgamemodeswhichcouldpotentiallyrewardplayerswithmorecards.Buteventhen,thosemodesrequiredticketstoplay,whichneededtobepurchasedifplayersweren’tabletoreplenishenoughticketsthroughrewards.Realistically,gettingthecardsyoudesiredrequiredeithergreatskillorbuyingthemthroughpacksandthemarket.Therewasnoin-gamecurrency,meansofcraftingnewcards,oranyotherreliablefreeresourcesasanalternative.Andwhileit'sdifficulttosayifthe$20entryfreescaredoffasubstantialnumberofplayers,itcertainlydidn’thelp.Valvetriedtoassurefansthatthey’datleastkeepcardpricesincheck,aswellasforsakingmajorbalancepatchestoavoidunsettlingtheeconomyanyfurther.Butreceptionwouldonlygrowmuchworseinthefuture.TheArtifactPreviewTournamentinNovember,where128playersandbetatesterscompetedfor$10,000afewweeksbeforelaunch,didn’thelpsmoothoverpublicperceptioneither.ThecommoncomplaintbeingthatitwasatournamentforanunreleasedgamewherenoneoftheviewersunderstoodwhatthepeoplewhohadmonthstotestoutArtifactweredoingorwhatthecastersweretalkingabout.Viewershipquicklycrateredinafewhoursasnewbieswerebombardedwithmechanicsthatnooneunderstood.Needlesstosay,manywellknownfiguresinthesceneandgeneralaudiencesweren’timpressed.Also,andIknowthishasnoseguebutIgenuinelycouldn’tbelievethishappened,Valvehadtohastilyrenameacardcalled“CracktheWhip”thatwasmeantforblackheroes.Regardless,thepromotionskeptchurning.AndwithmoreDotaupdatesreferencingthegameaswellasacomicandimpressivelaunchtrailer,ArtifactwouldhitSteamonNovember28thand,forabriefperiod,lookedlikeitwouldbeokay.Untilitalmostimmediatelydied.LaunchInitialreviewsforArtifactweregenerallypositiveamongcritics,withmanypraisingtheingenuityanduniquedesign.Splittingtheboardandmostofyourresourcesintothreecertainlymadethegamestandoutinthecardgamemeta,andValve’sambitionwasonfulldisplay.Thegamewaspretty,didn’tsufferfromtremendousbugs,andcouldbealotoffunforthosededicatedtolearningtheropes.Launchnumbersseemedfinetoo,reaching60,000playersin24hoursand6,000,000cardssoldinafewdays.Butthatsuccesswouldn’tlastlong,andwasnotreflectedintheSteamreviewsoruserscore.Thelastbetastage,whichwasdelayedtojustaweekbeforelaunchdespitepreviouspromisesofanOctoberrelease,revealedmanyproblemstheteamwouldstruggletocorrectregardingplayerretentionandwhatithadtooffer.Valvedidn’tevenplanafreedraftmode(whereplayersbuildandfighteachotherusingrandomlygenerateddecks)orarecyclingsystemforunwantedcardsuntilhastilyaddingthesefeaturesinaweekbeforelaunchfollowingcomplaints.Bythispoint,manyprominentstreamersandcriticsalreadyhadanegativeimpressionofthegame,andthemarketdidnofavors.Asreflectedinplentyofreviewsandforumthreads,theplantousetheSteamMarketplaceasthemainmethodtogetmorecardswasonlygrowingmoreinfamousamongusersandfellapartunderimmensebacklash.ThetoppostontheArtifactsubreddititselfisawarningtointerestednewcomersaboutthecostsassociatedwiththegame,andwithestimationsofthemoneyneededtocollecteverycardgoingwelloverhundredsofdollars,it'seasytofindleaguesofcommentersswearingoffthegamearoundthistime.Artifactwasquicklyreviewbombedatlaunchaswell;manyviewingthenecessityofbuyingcardsontopofthe$20pricepointasgreedyatbest,andsinisteratworst.Thisignoresalltheotherquirkswiththegametoo.Alackofanyprogressionsystem,orevenabasicleaderboard.Thefactthattheplayerdidn'tdirectlycontrolinwhatdirectionthoserandomlyspawningcreaturesandheroesattacked.ThegeneralperceptionthatArtifactwasaproducttoocomplexforitsowngoodtogetintocomparedtoitscompetitorsandaccusationsofanelitistcommunitywasalsoaprevailingonethatturnedoffseveralpopularstreamersandmanymorecasualplayers.Therewerecertainlymanystilldefendingtheeconomicmodelatleast.BenefitssuchasbeingabletodirectlypurchasethecardsyouwantandmuchmoregenerousrandomdropsthanHearthstone(evenifpracticallyeveryotherpopularCCGwasalsomoregenerousthanHearthstone)couldn’tbeignored.Again,Artifactwasn’ttoodifferentfromhowestablishedcollectiblecardgameslikeMagicoperated,andintermsofpriceitwasn’tdrasticallyoutoftheballparkofevenitsmostgenerouscompetitors.Itwastotallyviabletobuildasomewhatcompetitivedeckforjustafewdollars,ifthat,thankstothissystem,andgaveplayersmuchmorechoicethangamblingawayatcardpacksdid.Still,itcouldn’tstopthedeafeningoutcry.EspeciallyasValve’sdesigndecisionswereimmediatelytested.Thatcommitmenttofewifnobalancechangesfellapartprettyquickly.TherewerecardssuchasCheatingDeath,whichinitiallygrantedcreaturesa50%chancetosurviveanylethaldamagewithnoplayerimpactonitseffects.OrAxe,aherowithhighstatsandpowerfulboardclearthatrannearly$40uponlaunchinthemarketplace.Again,manyhavearguedandshownthatbuildingacompetitivedeckwasviablewithoutspendingmoney,muchlessinvestingacoupledozendollarsforasinglecopyofAxe.Butthevastdisparityinfinancialvaluethatsomecardshadonlyledtogreatercriticism.Allthisnegativityandcontroversydidnothingtosupportplayernumbers,whichshortlyafterlaunchsunkintothemid20000s.Itwasclearsomethingneededtochangeifthisgameweretolastmuchlonger.Andthat’sexactlywhatValvepromisedtodo.FreeFallThroughoutDecember,Valvewouldunveilcountlessnewupdatesmeanttorecoverfromthedisastrouslaunchwindow.Artifact1.1introducednewcards,aleaderboard,easiertosetupandautomatedtournamentmodes,andevenachatwheelsimilartothelikesofHearthstonewhichwouldallowplayerstocommunicate.Valvewouldalsoaddresstheissuespeoplehadwithacquiringcards,finallyaddingalevelingsystemwhichsimultaneouslywouldrewardplayerswithcardpacksandtickets.Theyevenbacktrackedontheirstrictapproachtobalancing,statingtheywouldbetakingamoreactiveapproachandallowplayerstorefundchangedcards.Allinallthesechangeswerewellreceived,andfansseemedecstatictoseethecompanycoursecorrectsoquickly.But,theseimprovementshardlymadeadent.Playernumberswerestilldroppingsteadily.Withthepopulationdippingbelow5000inJanuary,itlookedlikethecircumstancesmayhavebeentoodiretoturnaround.Postsproclaimingone’ssupportforthegamewerejustascommonasthoseextremelycriticalofthedecline,alongwithplentyofmemesonitsdepressingstate.ManyaccountswroteArtifactoffasaflopbeforethemonthwasover,withlittlementionoftheplanned$1milliontournamentValvedesired.OranyEsportssupportingeneraloutsideofUkrainiancompanyWePlay!hostinga$15,000tournamenttriadtomoderatesuccessbeforecancelingthethirdtourney.Dota2’sFebruary19thpatchsawtheremovalofanyArtifactpromotionalmaterial,andValvethemselvesslowlygrewquieter,onlysayingtheywere“stillinitforthelonghaul”inlateJanuaryastheplayercountdwindledbelow1000.InMarch,oneofthemostdevastatingupdatestomoralecamewithRichardGarfield’sdeparturefromValve.Thoughthisinalllikelihoodwasn’tdirectlyduetoArtifact,toseethemanwhospearheadeditsdesigndepartleftmanydisappointed.Afteralltheseissues,itlikelywasn’tasurprisetoseeValvefinallyputgamedevelopmentonholdthatsamemonth.Ifthegamewasevertosucceed,thecompanyneededtostartfromscratch.Andhopefully,ArtifactwouldeventuallybecomethatnextevolutionincollectiblecardgamesthatValvehopedfor.Obviously,thingsdidn'tturnouthowwehoped.Artifactrepresentsthelargestdiscrepancybetweenourexpectationsforhowoneofourgameswouldbereceivedandtheactualoutcome.Butwedon'tthinkthatplayersmisunderstandourgame,orthatthey'replayingitwrong.Artifactnowrepresentsanopportunityforustoimproveourcraftandusethatknowledgetobuildbettergames.OnDeath’sDoorValvestayedcompletelysilentonthefutureofthegame,leavingfanswithnothingtodoexceptspeculateandventtheirfrustrations.TwitchstreamsundertheArtifactcategorywerefloodedwithirrelevantmaterial,memeswereusedtogreateffecttocopewiththesituation.EvenRichardwouldsharehisowndisappointmentwithreceptiontothegame,anditwasclearnoonewassurehowValvecouldproceed."Personally,I'minterestedindesigningnewgamesorexpandingoldgames,"saysGarfield."Idon'twanttobeinvolvedindamagecontrolandfiguringouthowtofindanaudienceforthisgame.Ithinktheunderlyinggameisexcellentandoriginal.Itgivestheplayersomethingnew.Sointhatsense,sincethere'ssomethingtheretooffertheplayer,Ithinkit'spossibletosaveit.SinceValveisasmartcompanywithlotsofsmartpeopleworkingthere,Ithinkthatit'spossibletheycandothat."Willthey?It'shardtosay."AtthesametimeArtifactwasinlimbo,ValvewouldbepromotinganewtitlecalledDotaUnderlords,achessstyledstrategygamewheretheplayerwouldsetuptheirteamonamapbeforehavingthemfightuptosevenotherpeoplewithnofurtherinput.Thegamewasessentiallyan“official”versionofapopularfanmodcalledDotaAutoChess,anditsmassivelysuccessfulearly-releaseinJulysawimmediatecomparisonsmadetotheirother,failedDota2spin-off.AdifferenceinreceptionthatonlybecamemoreapparentwhenArtifactwascompletelyabsentfromTheInternational2019,saveforajokemadebywellregardedcontentcreatorandcasterSheever.AndbyNovember,itseemedlikeValvewasalreadybusypromotinganothergameyoumayhaveheardofcalledHalfLife:Alyx.Rebooted,Revived,AndDeadYetAgainItwouldtakeuntilMarch2020forArtifacttobementionedinasubstantialcapacity.Then,GabewouldbrieflydiscussthecurrentstateofthegamewithIGN,expressinghisdisappointment.Inanoddway,itapparentlymotivatedtheteamtoworkharderonfutureprojectsandwouldmarkaninternalchangeinthecompany.ItwasclearValvewasnotpreparedfortheimmensebacklash,anditsfailureallowedthedeveloperstotakeasecondlookattheirthoughtprocesstowardsgamedesignandcurrentpractices.“Wecanberightandwecanbewrong-wemakemistakes,”Newellcontinues."WedidSteamMachines,Artifactwasagiantdisappointment,wescrewedthingsup.Forus,[releasingHalf-Life:Alyx]isactuallyareallypowerfulmomentforus,becausethisisasgoodasweget.Wewanttofindout,areweontherighttrack?Wewantpeopletocomebackandsay,'Ohmygod,themagicstillisthere-theguysatValvecantakethiskindofexperienceandbuildsomethingthatopensoureyesasdesigners,thatthrillsusasplayers,thatreviewerslookatandsay'no,thisislegit''Andifit'snotthenthat'salsogoingtobesuperpowerfulandsuperusefulforus.”Thankfully,itseemedlikeValveputalotofworkin.AndnotjustwithHalf-Life.Followingaverysmallteaser,Artifact2.0wouldfinallybeannouncedinMarch2020.Morespecifically,aBetawhichcompletelychangedthenatureofthegameandeconomy.Cardswouldbeunlockedsolelythroughplay,playerswouldbeabletoseeallthreelanesatonceallthetimeratherthanconstantlyswappingbetweenlanes,andinviteswouldsoontrickleouttoallowuserstotestthisnewversionofthepresumeddeadcardgame.Needlesstosay,fanswereecstatic,andquicktojumponnewdetailswiththereleaseoftheclosedbetainMay.Thecompanyevencreatedanofficialdiscord,andseemedadamantonsupportingthegameovertime.Andyet,asthemonthswentby,thingsdidn’treallyimprove.Thegamewasmuchsimplerandfasterpaced,andremovedseveralmechanicsandrandomnessfromtheoriginalgame.ButthatalsosacrificedtheuniquenessandidentityArtifacthad,andcertainlydisappointedalotof1.0fanswhofeltitwastoodrasticachange.Andwhetherornotallthesechangesreallywereforthebetter,itdidn’tseemlikethegamewascatchinganymoreattention.Evenignoringthelowplayercountsduetothestaggeredinvites,2.0wasunabletomusterupmuchinterestinthewidergamingpublic.Valve’scommunicationandupdatessoondieddownagainoverthecomingmonths,andnothingtheydidturnedthetideagainstoverwhelmingdisinteresttowardsArtifactasawhole.Leavingthecommunity,onceagain,feelingveryabandoned.Withmutedreception,despiteanactiveanddedicatedsmallaudience,ValvewouldultimatelyshuttheprojectdowninMarch2021.Thegamejustcouldn’tregainitspopulation,andwhileValvewouldkeepbothArtifactClassicandArtifactFoundryuponSteamasfreetoplaygames,alldevelopmenthasbeenstoppedindefinitely.Ironically,thiswouldleadtoasmallspikeinplayersshortlyafter,butithardlymatteredatthispoint.Onceagain,Richardwouldstepintodiscussthegame,lamentingitsfatebutstillfirminhislovefortheproject.AndwithValvebusydoing…whatevertheydoinsteadofupdatingtheirgamesorfixingTF2’sbotproblems,thisseemstobetheendofthestoryonceandforall."Wewantedtoavoidmanipulatingpeople,"GarfieldsaysofthedecisionnottomakeArtifactafree-to-playgamewithdailylog-inrewardsandthetypicalgamutoftechniquesusedtokeepplayersplayingandbuyingcardpacks."TherewerealotofpeopleontheteamwhodidnotliketheHearthstoneapproach—avery,verycommonapproach—buttherearealotofpeoplewholoveit,anditgetspeoplein.Alotofthosethingswereavoidedwithgoodintention,butnotnecessarilygoodeffect.Ithinkalotofthedifferencebetweenwhatwasintheirmindandwhatplayerswantedwasamatterofmarketing,whichwasn'tdone."AftermathTheprincipalactorsinvolvedwiththisgamehaveallmovedfromValveortonewprojects,andit'scleartherewillnotbeanArtifact3.0.TheEsportsscenenevermaterialized,nordidateasedmobileversionormilliondollartournament.AndValve’sUnderlordshassimilarlybeenabandonedfollowingitsownturgidhistory,astorythatlikelydeservesitsownpost.Regardless,it'sclearthecompanyhasmovedontomuchbiggerthings.WhileArtifactisbyallaccountsdead,Valvehasexpressedthattheyhavelearnedfromitsfailuresandwillapplythoselessonstowardstheirnextprojects,especiallywiththesuccessofHalf-Life:Alyx.Andmaybenexttime,theyreallywillbeinitforthelonghaul.957116commentssharesave5.6k•Postedby3yearsagoArchivedValve’sArtifactEnded2018OutsideSteam’sTop100MostPlayedGames githyp.com/valves...5.6k1.5kcommentssharesave246•Postedby1yearagoThefrontpageofSteamlinkstothispromotionforDota:Dragon'sBlood.ItadvertisesArtifactandUnderlordsaswellNews store.steampowered.com/sale/d...24630commentssharesave607•Postedby3yearsagoDota2isthemostsuccessfulgameValvehasevermade.Artifact,theDota2cardgame,ignoreseveryoneofitslessonsDiscussion ThechallengesthatDota2facedmirrorthoseofartifact.Dota2releasedin2013,fouryearsafterthelaunchofitsgreatestcompetitor,leageoflegends.Atthattime,themarkethadalreadybeguntosaturatewithcompetingtitleslikeHeroesofNewerththatsawlittlesuccess.NoonewassurethatValvewouldbeabletocompete.WhenValveannouncedthatDota2wouldbefreetoplay(unlikeHoN)andsellnoingameadvantages(unlikeLoL'sheroesandIPboostsforrunes)peopleactuallybelievedtheywerenuts.GowatchTotalBiscut'soldvideosorreadanyoldarticles.Theworldhaddecided:Dota2wasalossleader(example).Itwasntmeanttomakemoney.Itwasmeanttogetpeopletoinstallsteam.Today,everyoneknowstheywerewrong.Dota2isahugefinancialsuccessandpavedthewayforothercompaniestoimplementcosmeticonlyfreetoplayastheirgamesmodel.ValvelearnedthattheycoulddisruptacompetivemarketthattheywereVERYlatetobyofferingabetterdealtotheconsumerthananywhereelse.WhenOverwatchwasreleased,BlizzarddevelopersonlybarelywereabletoconvincetheActivisionmoney-menthatcosmeticonlymonetizationwasworthtrying.Afterstrongcommunitybacklash,theconceptwasgreenlit,andOverwatchwassavedfrompaidheroes.IfyouthinkthiswouldhavehappenedwithouttheexistenceofDota2,youreinsane.Ifyouthinkthisdidnthappenatall,lookintothepre-launchcontroversy.WhilenostatementsweremadepriortothelaunchthatnewheroeswouldbepaidDLC,itisclearfromlackofclarificationsthatthiswasonthetableforalongtime.OverwatchcontinuestobeahugefinancialsuccessToday,EpicGameshasleakeda3bilinprofit(notrevenue)owedmostlytoFortniteBR,anothercosmeticonlyfreetoplaygame.LikeDota2,Fortniteusedcosmeticonlyfreetoplaytoenteramarketcontrolledbyacompetitor(PUBG).UnlikeDota2,theycrushedthecompetitionintonearirrelevance.Artifactreleasedin2018,fouryearsafterhearthstone.Bythistime,severalothercompetitorslikeGwentandShadowversehadalreadyenteredthemarket.Ironically,theonlythingArtifacttookfromDota2wastheintellectualproperty.Dota2isapillarofthePCgamingF2Pworld.ThemarketingforalivingDota2cardgamewritesitself.It'stheperfectpairing.Cosmeticcardbacks.Cosmeticgameboards.Alrternarecardarts.Spelleffectsandanimations.Foils.Imps.Voicepacks.Announcers.It'sallsoobvious.Instead,itwasalltradedforAxeCoin.Thistimenextyear,peoplewillstillbeplayingDota2.NoonewillbeplayingArtifact.607579commentssharesave1.0k•Postedby1yearagoArchivedValveatleastputtheArtifactsoundtrackinDotaassoundpackplease,itsactuallyverygoodandawastetobeforgottenwithadeadgame.Suggestion Whatthetitlesays1.0k37commentssharesave280•Postedby1yearago2.5yearsago,IwasbannedfromthissubredditforaskingifArtifactwasValve'sgreatestfailure.Personal Atthetime,Iwasupset.Now,Iamjustrelieved.After2andahalfyears,Ifinallyhavemyanswer.28090commentssharesaveTopCommunitiesr/Artifact43.3kmembersJoinr/Archaeology136kmembersJoinr/Genshin_Impact1.5mmembersJoinr/wow2.2mmembersJoinr/DestinyTheGame2.6mmembersJoinr/EDH189kmembersJoinr/IdleHeroes73.2kmembersJoinr/XiaoMains37.8kmembersJoinSeemoreSimilarTopicsDotaUnderlordshelpRedditcoinsRedditpremiumaboutcareerspressadvertiseblogTermsContentpolicyPrivacypolicyModpolicyRedditInc©2022.AllrightsreservedBacktoTop Advertisement