Overwatch Will Be Free To Play This Weekend

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rgMekanic

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Blizzard has announced that from February 16th to 19th Overwatch will be free to play on PC, PS4, and Xbox One. All 26 heroes and 16 maps will be available to plat, in all modes. Players will also have the ability to level up and earn loot boxes, and if you decide to buy the game any progress you made during the free weekend will carry over.

Great deal for anyone wanting to try out Overwatch. I enjoyed it, but couldn't take the community. However Blizzard has been doing a great job of cleaning things up, so I will have to jump back in and check it out.

The Overwatch Free Weekend will run from February 16–19. PlayStation 4 owners with a PlayStation Plus membership, Xbox One owners with an Xbox Live Gold membership, and Windows PC users with a Battle.net account will be able to download and play Overwatch for FREE during this period—no special keys or sign-up codes needed! The free period will begin on February 16 at 11:00 a.m. PT and end on February 19 at 11:59 p.m. PT in all participating regions across all platforms.
 
I haven't played since beta so I "might", but reality is everything I see in videos it looks basically the same. So honestly I probably just won't bother. I'm just not a fan of the achievement driven garbage that modern shooters have become.
 
Dekoth-E- said:
I haven't played since beta so I "might", but reality is everything I see in videos it looks basically the same. So honestly I probably just won't bother. I'm just not a fan of the achievement driven garbage that modern shooters have become.
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Achievements and loot boxes are only cosmetic items, levels just indicate how long you have been playing.
It's a pretty fun game overall, but if you want to win, communication with your team is key as well as team composition and the ability to adapt to the other teams comp.

I've been playing since Beta and have pretty much only been playing this game for the past 2 years. I like the style, game modes, and heroes in the game.

One of my highlight reels from last year,
 
I took advantage of one of the last Overwatch F2P weekends to screen the game for appropriateness for my stepson. I determined the game wasn't too bad for him age wise, but man, I know tastes are different and all, but I found this game to be one of the worst games I've ever played. Absolutely no interest in revisiting.

Super twitchy, fast paced, unrealistic nonsense. It was mind boggling to me that anyone actually likes this game.
 
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Zarathustra[H] said:
I took advantage of one of the last Overwatch F2P weekend to screen the game for appropriateness for my stepson. I determined the game wasn't too bad for him age wise, but man, I know tastes are different and all, but I found this game to be one of the worst games I've ever played. Absolutely no interest in revisiting.

Super twitchy, fast paced, unrealistic nonsense. It was mind boggling to me that anyone actually likes this game.
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Well, over 35 million copies were sold, around $1.3 Billion in revenue just from game sales. Not a bad haul if I say so.
 
If I wanted to play semi competitive team based shooters I’d still be playing Team Fortress 2.

A fun game with a semblance of balance and logic between classes.


I bought into Overwatch at some point and it just isn’t much fun the matches I played. Characters are quantity over quality, and everything seems based on instant gratification values. Flashy ultimates, bright colors, loud noise, loot boxes and leveling up, a lot of shit that keeps people inside casinos.
 
Nolan7689 said:
If I wanted to play semi competitive team based shooters I’d still be playing Team Fortress 2.

A fun game with a semblance of balance and logic between classes.


I bought into Overwatch at some point and it just isn’t much fun the matches I played. Characters are quantity over quality, and everything seems based on instant gratification values. Flashy ultimates, bright colors, loud noise, loot boxes and leveling up, a lot of shit that keeps people inside casinos.
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You know, I was just thinking about that the other day. The sound of an enemy dying reminds me of the slot machines paying out, lol.
 
Nolan7689 said:
If I wanted to play semi competitive team based shooters I’d still be playing Team Fortress 2.

A fun game with a semblance of balance and logic between classes.


I bought into Overwatch at some point and it just isn’t much fun the matches I played. Characters are quantity over quality, and everything seems based on instant gratification values. Flashy ultimates, bright colors, loud noise, loot boxes and leveling up, a lot of shit that keeps people inside casinos.
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Not for nothing but bright colors and loud noises are in TF2 as much as it is in OW. And then there's the whole hat and key system. I'm not saying you're wrong about OW mind you.
 
CptCabbit said:
Not for nothing but bright colors and loud noises are in TF2 as much as it is in OW. And then there's the whole hat and key system. I'm not saying you're wrong about OW mind you.
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You’re right, but I quit playing shortly after hats and keys. So I guess I remember it more prior to that stuff. I suppose new TF2 is much the same and I probably wouldn’t enjoy it much either. I stand by it being less flashy casino like that OW though.
 
Zarathustra[H] said:
Super twitchy, fast paced, unrealistic nonsense. It was mind boggling to me that anyone actually likes this game.
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Sounds like Call of Duty, not Overwatch. People complain it takes too long to get back into the action as is. "Super twitchy" makes me wonder if you watched a video of the game at all, never mind playing it.
 
Zepher said:
Achievements and loot boxes are only cosmetic items, levels just indicate how long you have been playing.
It's a pretty fun game overall, but if you want to win, communication with your team is key as well as team composition and the ability to adapt to the other teams comp.

I've been playing since Beta and have pretty much only been playing this game for the past 2 years. I like the style, game modes, and heroes in the game.

One of my highlight reels from last year,
Click to expand...


I just don't enjoy that stuff in a shooter. To me it detracts from the game instead of enhancing. I like cosmetics in certain types of games..this isn't one of them. Also quite frankly the way the balancing is done it just looks like an absolute trainwreck. I'm just frustrated that there are no pure shooters anymore.
 
I'd rather not sign up for someone that feels entitled to spy on my behavior outside their system and pass judgement on me.
 
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Dekoth-E- said:
I just don't enjoy that stuff in a shooter. To me it detracts from the game instead of enhancing. I like cosmetics in certain types of games..this isn't one of them. Also quite frankly the way the balancing is done it just looks like an absolute trainwreck. I'm just frustrated that there are no pure shooters anymore.
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Bring back UNREAL TOURNAMENT!

I’ll probably download and and play Overwatch with my buds this weekend, but I’ve played it before and yeah, it never hooked me either for some reason. Blizzard lost me about the time they went to exageeratted cartoons for everything—- about Warcraft 3 timeframe. I was a HUGE Diablo 1 and 2 fan. Diablo 3 wasn’t at all the same spirit. Cartoons and bright colors and dumb, my opinion.

Path of Exile was the game Diablo 3 should have been.
 
Zarathustra[H] said:
I took advantage of one of the last Overwatch F2P weekends to screen the game for appropriateness for my stepson. I determined the game wasn't too bad for him age wise, but man, I know tastes are different and all, but I found this game to be one of the worst games I've ever played. Absolutely no interest in revisiting.

Super twitchy, fast paced, unrealistic nonsense. It was mind boggling to me that anyone actually likes this game.
Click to expand...

There is always a place for games like this, it's quick gratification, get in, play a game or two, and go.

If you want depth, immersion and a good balance of realism vs practical, Try playing Squad. still in Alpha but it checks all the boxes. there are occasionally free weekends, but I just went ahead and bought it. Great sound effects, good "feel", you do stupid things, you die, and you have to work as a team. (Squad leaders are required to have a microphone and use it, on most servers).
 
I am much, much too sophisticated and discerning to play this game.*

Actually, I own it, though I don't play it much. I find that as a middle-aged, casual player, I'm just not competitive. Still, good game...well worth checking out for free.

* Though apparently not too discerning to comment about it. ;)
 
Dekoth-E- said:
I just don't enjoy that stuff in a shooter. To me it detracts from the game instead of enhancing. I like cosmetics in certain types of games..this isn't one of them. Also quite frankly the way the balancing is done it just looks like an absolute trainwreck. I'm just frustrated that there are no pure shooters anymore.
Click to expand...

Maybe Quake Champions?
 
I also want to point out Rainbow Six: Siege is also free to play this weekend.
 
motomonkey said:
There is always a place for games like this, it's quick gratification, get in, play a game or two, and go.

If you want depth, immersion and a good balance of realism vs practical, Try playing Squad. still in Alpha but it checks all the boxes. there are occasionally free weekends, but I just went ahead and bought it. Great sound effects, good "feel", you do stupid things, you die, and you have to work as a team. (Squad leaders are required to have a microphone and use it, on most servers).
Click to expand...


I've heard good things about Squad. A bunch of my former 2.Fjg "clan" members (we weren't really competitive, just a bunch of guys who ran a server together) moved on to squad after the bottom fell out of the Red Orchestra 2 community.

I didn't really follow because I had other shit to do, and a part of the RO2 appeal to me was the historical setting. Squad somehow felt "too soon".
 
Zarathustra[H] said:
I took advantage of one of the last Overwatch F2P weekends to screen the game for appropriateness for my stepson. I determined the game wasn't too bad for him age wise, but man, I know tastes are different and all, but I found this game to be one of the worst games I've ever played. Absolutely no interest in revisiting.

Super twitchy, fast paced, unrealistic nonsense. It was mind boggling to me that anyone actually likes this game.
Click to expand...

"Super twitchy, fast paced, unrealistic nonsense." Exactly why I play it. I love Overwatch!
 
Zarathustra[H] said:
I've heard good things about Squad. A bunch of my former 2.Fjg "clan" members (we weren't really competitive, just a bunch of guys who ran a server together) moved on to squad after the bottom fell out of the Red Orchestra 2 community.

I didn't really follow because I had other shit to do, and a part of the RO2 appeal to me was the historical setting. Squad somehow felt "too soon".
Click to expand...

That is what appealed to me was the modern setting. having used a lot of the gear in the game "in real life" I just prefer it. the sounds are scary real. first time I had an enemy machine gun firing at me, the snap of the bullets going overhead made me grit my teeth. not a sound you ever forget once you hear it in real life.
 
motomonkey said:
That is what appealed to me was the modern setting. having used a lot of the gear in the game "in real life" I just prefer it. the sounds are scary real. first time I had an enemy machine gun firing at me, the snap of the bullets going overhead made me grit my teeth. not a sound you ever forget once you hear it in real life.
Click to expand...


Heh, yeah. I've never been in the military, but I have had had the misfortune of being shot at (or at least accidentally in the general direction of) and it's an experience I'd rather not repeat.

Sounds like Squad may not be the game of choice for those who suffer from PTSD.

I may give it a try at some point, but I really do like the comfortable distance of a historical setting in my war games, as it avoids dragging in all the jingoism and u comfortable political arguments of the conflicts du jour.
 
The horrible and outdated resolutions and FOV that makes you feel like your in a fishbowl. This isn't likely to ever draw me back in.
 
Do not play comp during free weekends if you want to preserve your rank, you will literally be grouped with all the meme-sters that instalock genji,hanzo,widow,tracer on your team.
 
Zepher said:
Achievements and loot boxes are only cosmetic items, levels just indicate how long you have been playing.
It's a pretty fun game overall, but if you want to win, communication with your team is key as well as team composition and the ability to adapt to the other teams comp.

I've been playing since Beta and have pretty much only been playing this game for the past 2 years. I like the style, game modes, and heroes in the game.

One of my highlight reels from last year,
Click to expand...

You need to emote or drop a voice line after ulting, otherwise it doesn't count. And for good measure, drop an insult or 2 in chat to further tilt the enemy team. :p
 
TheMadHatterXxX said:
Do not play comp during free weekends if you want to preserve your rank, you will literally be grouped with all the meme-sters that instalock genji,hanzo,widow,tracer on your team.
Click to expand...

Don't play comp at all unless you have a premade 6, and even then still don't play comp. ;)

I've done nothing but Quick play and arcade for the past year and a half, both with a full team of friends and solo. Still enjoy the game immensely.
 
bugleyman said:
Ok, I'll bite. How are 1920x1080 and 3840x2160 "horrible and outdated"?
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4:3 resolutions are amazingly outdated and include 640X480 aka ancient TV resolutions and scaling. 21:9 is the future and actually worked correctly during the beta which is why I pre-ordered the game. (a huge mistake) After launch, they suddenly turn it off and then say they are turning it back on but instead stretch the screen to make you even more motion sick then the incorrect FOV does. This game tries its best to go back in time to 4:3 while fishbowling by pushing the FOV forward of where your head actually is causing motion sickness. So lets not support modern resolutions and fishbowl. ... nope. This game will seem really archaic far faster than many of its counterparts given all the weird restrictions.
 
Vader1975 said:
4:3 resolutions are amazingly outdated and include 640X480 aka ancient TV resolutions and scaling. 21:9 is the future and actually worked correctly during the beta which is why I pre-ordered the game. (a huge mistake) After launch, they suddenly turn it off and then say they are turning it back on but instead stretch the screen to make you even more motion sick then the incorrect FOV does. This game tries its best to go back in time to 4:3 while fishbowling by pushing the FOV forward of where your head actually is causing motion sickness. So lets not support modern resolutions and fishbowl. ... nope. This game will seem really archaic far faster than many of its counterparts given all the weird restrictions.
Click to expand...

I have no idea what you are talking about.

I play in 1920x1080, game looks fine.
 
There is only a % of the population that is impacted by motion sickness from incorrect head positions in games. Iaunch the game and look at your hands and the size of the guns and position. Then launch something like Battlefield 1 and look at the same. You will notice that you are farther forward then you should be in Overwatch and are closer to your hands then you should be. That is the affect of improperly anchored FOV. If you play Overwatch as your 4:3 resolution and don't feel sick after a few minutes then I envy you. I am unable to play without taking motion sickness pills because of the incorrect FOV. It makes me physically ill in just minutes. Yet I can play BF1, Call of Duty (whichever one you want), Rainbow Six, CounterStrike, etc without feeling sick in minutes because I can correctly adjust the FOV which Blizzard does not allow because they anchored it incorrectly and then didn't set the range correctly. Look it up there are a large number of boards from people such as myself who get sick trying to play it.
 
TheMadHatterXxX said:
Do not play comp during free weekends if you want to preserve your rank, you will literally be grouped with all the meme-sters that instalock genji,hanzo,widow,tracer on your team.
Click to expand...

They have to reach level 25 before they even unlock comp. No it doesn't take long but I imagine the average demo player won't make it that far.
 
Vader1975 said:
There is only a % of the population that is impacted by motion sickness from incorrect head positions in games. Iaunch the game and look at your hands and the size of the guns and position. Then launch something like Battlefield 1 and look at the same. You will notice that you are farther forward then you should be in Overwatch and are closer to your hands then you should be. That is the affect of improperly anchored FOV. If you play Overwatch as your 4:3 resolution and don't feel sick after a few minutes then I envy you. I am unable to play without taking motion sickness pills because of the incorrect FOV. It makes me physically ill in just minutes. Yet I can play BF1, Call of Duty (whichever one you want), Rainbow Six, CounterStrike, etc without feeling sick in minutes because I can correctly adjust the FOV which Blizzard does not allow because they anchored it incorrectly and then didn't set the range correctly. Look it up there are a large number of boards from people such as myself who get sick trying to play it.
Click to expand...

That sucks. Seriously. :(

But if I understand you correctly, you're saying the problem is that the FOV is rendered for a 4:3 aspect ratio. Surely, then, saying the games doesn't support modern resolutions is mis-stating the problem, no? At the very least it seems confusing. I run Overwatch at 1920x1080, and the wife runs it at 2560x1080. In both cases, the UI looks fine, there are no objectionable scaling artifacts, etc.
 
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