ARK: Review Evolved, Winter Wonderland

[Buster]

Time for our my traditional revies of the seasonal events. This one will be a bit different as it will be shorter than most, again divied into the good, bad, and ugly.

Im sure a lot of people will disagree with me on this one but whatevers.

The good:

The new landscape was just breath taking, the snow covered trees and just the stark change from fall to winter really was impressive.

The colder temps I felt were also a great addition to the event, and honestly I really hate saying this(It really sounds snobby) but a lot of people complaining about the cold need to learn to play, I explored the various places in the south and daytime temps were in the high 50s low 60s, and easily survivable with basic shelters and campires.

The new spawns, having the mammoths, argies and penguins migrate all throughout the map was a great touch, it added a sense of animal migrations, even more so when certain animals stopped spawning before that was corrected. While unintentional added a nice touch in my opinion.

The epic LOOT, raptor claus was a huge blessing and I feel the devs nailed it with the loot here, the presents were fourth coming and chances were high that you could score something epic, not to mention the crafting materials and coal were also accessable as well, thus avoiding the major grindfest of previous events. And while people may complain that the dodorex is game breaking, they need to realize they are playing a type of WAR game and losses are to be expected, even though it maybe exceedingly frustrating.

Persistance, I am pleased that this time holiday loot will remain in the player inventory this time, allowing use for future occasions.

The neutral: The new years ball drop, While I love the concept behind this the fact remains that many people seemed to consider it lackluster, although personally I would have loved to get some top hats,(I missed the event) but I think more could have been included in celebration, since I missed this aspect I don't really have an opinion on this, hence the new and hopefully one time use category.

The bad: This one is going to be rather short.

Insect spawns and creatures, while I reconize there was a lot on the devs plate at the time this was being worked on, the fact that the ants, scorpions and dragonflies, frogs/snakes were active during this season was an oversight, these animals should have been removed/ or in hibernation till the event was over, if people needed chitin the caves could have been the source for these animals where they would be active all year. Maybe next year?

The ugly:(more subjective)

The event length, this event was far too short in my opinion, granted while the raptor claus should be disabled and soon, the fact that the winter map is supposedly ending in a few days leaves absolutely no time for work on a spring time map and weather conditions, various spawns or mechanics. Especially since we were spoiled with a few months of the epic fall landscape.

In conslusion I found this event to be one of the best events the devs have created, right next to the halloween event, with the new landscapes, dynamic weather and spawns, and the epic loot. I was also disheartened and appalled at the major, major amount of negativity that many forum posters had towards this event, while there was some constructive feedback over 90 percent of it was nothing but whining and crying, and I sincerely hope that the developers will ignore these people, whom seem to have no sense of fun/take the game way too seriously, and continue on with these events which add a little more fun and charm to something that would otherwise be monotonous.

[Bandit]

Oh and raptor clause dropping presents from the sky is very realistic.

[Wakka]

The event would have been nice if the snow was not sooooo BRIGHT!!! Should have made the snow slightly a duller white would have been perfect. I changed the bloom/light shaft and it was still too bright during the day. Hard to see a cliff edge if both the cliff and the cliff bottom were both white.

[Hudson]

This game is way too easy. Starting to become a game for casuals which is why I prefer the Forest right now. Soon ARK will be the World of War craft of survival games

[Bazil]

Origineel geplaatst door Auringonkukka:

I started a new character a couple days ago, and based on all the whining on the forums, expected it to be enormously difficult. I'm now level 35 and have yet to freeze once, and I'm far from a good player. The concept of "survival" seems to be lost on some, I think.

I think, perhaps, your view might be colored by actually knowing some of the systems that are very obscure to the average newbie.

For example, only after two deaths did I come to accept that you can't do one campfire.

Only after many deaths did I come to be told that stamina is linked to hunger drain and that sprinting at all in the winter is a death sentence.

I think the source of much of the whining is less the idea that you have to survive in a survival game (and let's be clear about the fact that that is a strawman argument) and more about how the game doesn't explain systems, and in this event not knowing several of those systems is more punishing than it might otherwise be.

Is it not that big of a deal if you know your way around the game? No it isn't. But if you did not then it is a very real issue because you're likely to start dying for reason's that seem a bit ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥. And frankly if you want to make the argument that they should have looked things up on the internet before playing then I don't know what to say other than, no good game should require you to go to a third party to figure out how to survive it.

[AgeAgainst]

Origineel geplaatst door Buster:

In conslusion I found this event to be one of the best events the devs have created, right next to the halloween event, with the new landscapes, dynamic weather and spawns, and the epic loot. I was also disheartened and appalled at the major, major amount of negativity that many forum posters had towards this event, while there was some constructive feedback over 90 percent of it was nothing but whining and crying, and I sincerely hope that the developers will ignore these people, whom seem to have no sense of fun/take the game way too seriously, and continue on with these events which add a little more fun and charm to something that would otherwise be monotonous.

Sadly there will always be whining and crying about this game or any event in this game, but if you listen to those people, they claimed over 90% of the playerbase hated this event and that it should have ended the day after Christmas.

As to your review, I agree with almost everything you said. I loved the landscape, the cold weather, the snow. You summed up my thoughts perfectly.

Now, on to the things I didn't agree with you on.

Gifts:

I received one blueprint that takes almost 5100 ingots to make, which is 26 slots alone. Unfortunately it also takes over 15000 hide, which won't even fit in the smithy. Since I admin an unofficial server, my players and I are happy that we'll be able to craft it soon as I can just add a mod that gives 500 inventory slots on the smithy. For those who play on official servers, they don't have that option. Those on official servers got screwed. The addition of 15 slots was essentially the Devs either a) laughing at the playerbase or b) (which I hope is the case) a serious oversight on how many mats that some of the Ascendant blueprints cost to make. This is a VERY valid complaint regarding the Winter Wonderland event and I hope that it gets addressed before the next event that may include a mechanic that rewards the players with gifts.

New Years Ball Drop:

Many servers, official and unofficial, did not have a ball drop, had no fireworks and the players received no top hat skin. It wasn't that long after midnight EST that the devs dropped a patch completely removing the New Year event without giving any warning. Drake provided an admin command for the event here on the Steam forums which was different from the he one provided on Reddit, which resulted in many of the unofficial servers not having the event. For those unofficial servers, the admin can of course spawn in the top hat skin. Official server players however get screwed once again. A gift that was supposed to be for all players shouldn't be based on luck of the draw depending on which official server you play on where the event worked. I do hope that the devs figure out some way to reward the top hat to those on official servers that did not have the event happen. Perhaps allowing those players to collect their top hat skins from the obelisk might be a solution.

Overall, great review of this event. I look forward to another review for the next event!

[TechGui]

I loved the event for the simple reason that it ws much easier to spot the bodies of the bugs I kill on my frog..also this may have to do with me living in Manitoba, Canada, But I loved the snow..The north has been more home on the offcial map since it was added, I love the snow and the look, I play PVE, PVP and a private PVP server that uses Valhalla...and just beautiful.

On both offcial servers I am way to high and well established that the cold isn't even an issue, and on the private the temp isn't like on offcial so again is not an issue. So I can't comment on thta...what i can say is that no matter what server you play on is that this game is way way to easy. PVE becomes a joke when you reach the top and become one for the 4 large tribes the normal map can hold and sustain. Nothing to do but help newbs and race the other top- tribes just to do so lol.

On PVP it's no diffeent at all, only time you'll be wiped is if you are the issue, don't be a whiny little $$$$ and cause problems and you'll be fine...people who go around killing new players to the server on PVP, are never likedd and don't last long. So very simple to reach the top and be at the same point to are on PVP.

Best I have played so far is the Valhalla map, and this private server my tribe was invited to, took us 2-3 days and we have a large metal base many quetz and other utility dinos...been like a week and a half now and again we are at end game wondering wtf to do now, other then be ♥♥♥♥♥ and PVP for no viable reason, there is nothing left to do, and it took us almsot no effort to get here. 1st server took me 3 week, 2nd 2 weeks, now this time round only 1 and a half weeks.

This game has become so simple and they just keep making it easier...nothing about this event made this game harded, if you're a new player you're going to die 100 times anyway..I don't even buold a base the 1st day. 2nd day i make a raft with a bed, then sail till I find my home..tame doed, anky, saber then quetz..then grow from there..those 4 dinos are seriously all you need and they can be low levels..I only get 120 in argents and to breed..if you have a hard time with this game...it is not for you or you maybe need to give it more then half hour...as you play you'll get better and soon in a week and a half you'll be a king on any server..unless you're an a$$hat then people willl likiely do all the stuff I see you all whine about in the forums everyday lol.

Great event, it's the players that ruin it.

[FroGGer.muted]

actualy, I'm pretty confident that you are the minority loving the map covered in snow. It's just ugly. I live surrounded by snow 5month a year and I hate it, there is no way in hell I could possibly enjoy playing a game in snow, 2 week is more then enought and really hope it won't last longer.

If it do last longer they should make it more realistic, flora shouldn't repop at all (berrie in the snow? really?), the inland water should freeze completly, all reptile should die or hibernate, crop shouldnt grow at all if they are outside, irrigation system shouldnt work if they stop flowing at any point and is not heated, food spoilling should be slower.

For a 2 week event, it's great! For a full 3month+ season? Nope, not even close.

[The Other Guy]

Origineel geplaatst door Bandito Black:

Why on earth should they have removed the bugs?

The holiday event was nice but tired of snow as many would agree. Oh, and tell the devs to deal with all the China exploiters too so we can enjoy the event. You are probably on a pve carebear server from the sound of things.

This review is corny and lame. Not even sure why I read it. No real content and lame observations lacking anything meaningful.

"A nice touch!" hahaha. Here is my review of your review.

Learn to review.

Origineel geplaatst door Bandito Black:

Yeah and dinosaurs with huge bases on their backs are realistic too.

Dear Bandito Black,

You're an idiot, plain and simple.

The fact that they decided to add some sort of movement of all the animals that live in the snow biome to other areas of the map during the event suggest that some sort of migration to the animals due to the winter time feel of things. That would lead anyone with a brain (clearly not you in this case) to believe that bugs, arachnids (The bugs with 8 legs. they technically aren't bugs but i doubt you have the brain power to understand that), amphibians, and some reptiles would retreat to caves or underground in order to escape the cold.

While dinosaurs with building on their back might not be "realistic", that has to do more with the fact that human kind was not around during the that prehistoric era. I can almost guarantee that if dinosaurs still existed today, there would be several large creatures with entire homes built on their backs.

As for your "Raptor Claus" argument, the event was based around the spirit of Christmas. Obviously they were going to implement some sort of representation for Santa. Santa isn't real, but he's still believed in by small children and celebrated by different cultures surrounding the globe.

sincerely,

ForsakenAmaranth

Ps: Learn what the word "review" means, diptard.

[22Habu22]

Origineel geplaatst door Bandito Black:

Why on earth should they have removed the bugs?

The holiday event was nice but tired of snow as many would agree. Oh, and tell the devs to deal with all the China exploiters too so we can enjoy the event. You are probably on a pve carebear server from the sound of things.

This review is corny and lame. Not even sure why I read it. No real content and lame observations lacking anything meaningful.

"A nice touch!" hahaha. Here is my review of your review.

Learn to review.

Lol, the server I play on is called Carebears Evolved XD

[Buster]

Origineel geplaatst door FroGGer.muted:

actualy, I'm pretty confident that you are the minority loving the map covered in snow. It's just ugly. I live surrounded by snow 5month a year and I hate it, there is no way in hell I could possibly enjoy playing a game in snow, 2 week is more then enought and really hope it won't last longer.

If it do last longer they should make it more realistic, flora shouldn't repop at all (berrie in the snow? really?), the inland water should freeze completly, all reptile should die or hibernate, crop shouldnt grow at all if they are outside, irrigation system shouldnt work if they stop flowing at any point and is not heated, food spoilling should be slower.

For a 2 week event, it's great! For a full 3month+ season? Nope, not even close.

Im all for realistic seasons, however properly balancing them takes more time than the devs had to make the events.