oh wow really? i though it's main selling point were the choices you could make, they could bite you in the ass hours later or so i read. I think i can live with the crappy combat unless is too bad, maybe i should read reviews...

um, i've played it, your choices definitely DO matter to the plotline, a lot. Combat is timing, you have your spells, which you activate, and then your swords, which you can link comboes by clicking the attack button at the correct timing (the little sword icon turns on fire). You can also switch between three different combat styles or two sword sets depending on your foes... there's definitely tactics involved, but the actual sword fighting is just clicking in a timed manner, its really not that bad, but if you're looking to be more involved then this is not the game for you.
i also picked up torchlight last night... so far really fun. Easy, diablo like, explodey, fun.

Wha? It's one of the few games where choices actually have proper consequences later on, although there are only a few set instances where that happens.
The combat isn't really weak either. It's a clickfest, sure, but it's one that requires you to stay a bit more concentrated than, say, in Diablo since you need to time attacks properly to chain them.
The atmosphere is good too, yes. Overall it's a very good RPG. Especially the enhanced edition, which has more properly done english translations, lots of bugfixes, and some additional content.

Does anybody know if you can access the datafiles of a game you buy on steam? I'd like to buy http://store.steampowered.com/sub/440/ but only if I'm sure that I can access them.
Also, I ask this here because you're all such nice boys and girls and the I don't want to register myself in the steam community. <3 thanks!

If you're referring to the possibility of using the ID game data files elsewhere, then yes, they are accessible as "normal". Meaning you can use them with 3rd party enhancements, like Doom3D for example.

that's what i meant, the value increases (for me) when I got access to the myriad of sourceports and user mods. thanks!

Does anyone know what the deal is with the DRM for Far Cry 2 - Fortunes Edition or whatever the gold version is?
I remember the other gaming deals thread having a long argument about how FC2 didn't have extra DRM on steam. I checked the Steam forums and it appears that core FC2 has no limited Securom anymore. But I Know that the DLC uses TAGES with activation limits (from Impulse). Does Steam's DLC also use the limited activations?

You guys are really exaggerating the consequences in the Witcher. There's three paths, none of which are that significantly different from the other ones -- there's a few story twists but it is nothing like what you see in Fallout (originals). I'm not saying it's totally devoid of choices and consequences just less so than you might expect from an RPG. I played through both the Order and Scoital paths and I can only remember three or four differences in missions/quests not counting subtle things like npcs treating you differently, etc.
It's closer to the Fallout 3 'sub-genre' of RPGs. That said I still got about eighty hours of playtime from it so definitely worth the sale price.

The navigation is pitiful.. Did all of their competent web coders go off on holidays?
But, I disagree.. I like these huge sales. Hell, any huge sale really. More stuff for less money? How can you go wrong?
If I had more money in my account, I would have "bought" (snicker) a few more games. We'll see after my funds clear and what remains after the aftermath of my inevitable spending spree here.
And now with achievements! The whore in me rejoices.
I can't remember how much I paid for Torchlight, whatever it was, it's so worth it.

Well, I always though that the choice vs consequence was overrated in Fallout (esp. Fallout 1)
- Consequence is immediate, which is not realist
- Your reputation in one city usually has no bearing on what happens in another city.
At least, in the Witcher, a choice in chapter 1 has effects in chapter 2, 3, 4 and 5. Even if it is often minor, it is really fun. Sure, they are less possible outcomes for quest in general, but still.
Arcanum was the game that did the best the choice vs consequence stuff IMO.

Did anyone buy the Eidos pack, then realize that some title popped up there that you never want associated with your account? I mean, it's awesome that I got Arkham Asylum and Rogue Trooper on the cheap, but Flora's Fruit Farm? It has violated my beautiful Steam games collection.

Hmm I haven't bought anything yet, 'cause I'll wait for every 24h deals at first. And then in the last days, I'll choose between the ones that didn't entered the 24h specials.
I bought Torchlight last week, and I've been eyeing these games, to get them on the last days:
World in Conflict: Complete Edition $9.99 (is it using the last patch on steam?)
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky $4.99
The Witcher: Enhanced Edition Director's Cut $13.59
id Super Pack $34.99 (a bit sad that this id pack doesn't include quake IV and quake wars, but still a nice deal)
Indigo Prophecy $3.39 (just sharing with GOGers, but it might be the censored edition, so I'll wait for Fahrenheit: D.C. uncensored here)
Unreal Deal Pack $13.59 (just sharing with GOGers)

Got an e-mail from Paradox Interactive
there will be a 75% off sale: Hearts of Iron III and all sprite packs (one day only) on Steam

Indigo Prophecy can be easily tweaked to show the "deleted" scenes by changing USmode=1 to USmode=0 in the game's .ini file.
source: wikipedia

So far, the steam sale looks blah to me. And I don't agree with thse one day sales at all, in part because I don't get paid until the 29th, and also because it's just not a convenient way to do a sale. Great for impulse sales for Valve, but not great for the consumer.
So far, I am considaring the Tilted Mill pack, Heroes of Might and Magic V, and possibly Foreign Legion. But I have gog to considar as well, so I am not sure.

Roller Coaster Tycoon is most DEFINITELY as fun as you remember, if not MORE. Note: If you like those types of games, and also like sports games, try Simgolf. It's a rare gem from Ea/Firaxis, which was a collaboration between two of my gaming idols, Will Wright and Sid Meier!