Magicka

[zespri]

Valve designed Steam to hang on to a connection like bulldog.

And what is the point of hanging on to a connection like a bulldog if you are in offline mode?

[Panopticon]

I've heard that it's a combination of factors, some on Steams end and some depends on the user's hardware.

Part of it is if Steam has downloaded any updates it checks after a restart to see if it's up to the newest versions. This includes the restart when going into Offline mode. A ton of people don't restart the client after something updates. Also, you need to be online the first time you go into offline mode. Most people don't try to go in to offline mode unless their connection is out. Also, some routers and modems have a lot of trouble with Steam in general for various reasons.

It's gotten a lot better lately, but it still has issues. As always with any PC stuff, YMMV. It'll be this way as long as there are so many possible hardware and software configurations out there.

[Entrenched Homperson]

I have an old school LAN connection. It still works Just plug in plug out.

Yea baby, screw wireless. This is how we DO it. With cables, going everywhere, accidently pulling out and interrupting my games.

...

*Runs screaming for Best Buy*

[Nalgas]

Also, you need to be online the first time you go into offline mode. Most people don't try to go in to offline mode unless their connection is out.

This should come as no surprise to anyone, because the main reason to use offline mode in the first place is that you're not online.  That's practically tautological in nature, so it's hard to blame anyone for trying to start it in offline mode when they're offline, especially considering that it doesn't really go out of its way to tell you about that, you can't look it up when you can't get online, and even if you could, it wouldn't do you much good to know that at that point.

On the other hand, I haven't used it much, but I myself have never had any problems getting it to work.  There are always some people who can't get it to no matter what they do, but on the rare occasions I've needed it to, it just magically worked.  One time I even convinced it to continue downloading/installing a game on one computer while in offline mode, so I could play a different game on my other computer in online mode.  I would never have guessed that would be possible, but it was nice that it worked.

*Runs screaming for Best Buy*

I think you've got it backward.  You're supposed to run screaming from Best Buy.

Uh, what was this thread about again?  Oh, right, Magicka.  Just tried the demo yesterday, and it's a great idea with a kind of clunky interface/controls.  Fun enough that a couple people from my AI War group and I are planning on picking it up to play next week, though.  It is a little disappointing that the instagib death ray I discovered before the tutorial ended is apparently the strongest spell in the game, but considering that I also discovered that you can reflect it off shields and kill yourself with it, that makes me look forward to being a complete dick to people in multiplayer.  Heh.

[Panopticon]

I imagine you are talking about the Steam/Electricity/Arcane beam? Yeah, that thing can dish out the DPS but like everything else in the game it's usefulness is situational. Sometimes the most innocuous Magick or element combo is the key to a trivial victory in an otherwise aggravating exercise in frustration.

And if you aren't griefing your buddies while playing coop you aren't playing right.

[BobTheJanitor]

Oh by the way, here is a thing if anyone here hasn't seen it:

http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/02/magicka-vietnam-to-launch-in-about-a-month-arrowhead-ceo-says/

[Panopticon]

I know!

Isn't that bananas!

Did you notice the American Flags furled around their staves?

Also looking forward to more insane movie references.

[zespri]

Guys, don't you have an impression, that once you know 3-4 most powerful spells (which you can find in internet), there is not much left of the game? You just go and apply them all the time, and that's it.

[Nalgas]

Guys, don't you have an impression, that once you know 3-4 most powerful spells (which you can find in internet), there is not much left of the game? You just go and apply them all the time, and that's it.

You don't even need the Internet for that.  I found most of them in half an hour just goofing around by myself.  It does make playing by yourself rather easy, but it's still plenty entertaining with other people, because the more powerful spells you use, the more likely you are to kill yourself and everyone on your team (which is frequently hilarious).  That also mostly applies to the adventure mode.  The challenges can still sometimes be challenging if you don't do anything other than spam your biggest spells with no plan/skill other than that.