Info about Insurgency:

Official game description:
Take to the streets for intense close quarters combat, where a team's survival depends upon securing crucial strongholds and destroying enemy supply in this multiplayer and cooperative Source Engine based experience. The follow-up game to the award-winning Source mod, _Insurgency_ is highly competitive and unforgivingly lethal, striking a balance between one-life gameplay and prolonged action.
Features
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*   Over 40 weapons with numerous attachments, no crosshair, and a focus on realistic weapon behavior including a free-aim system and intense suppression effects.  
*   16 maps playable in day and night versions on various multiplayer and cooperative modes, ranging from environments in the Middle East, Africa, and Central Asia.  
*   7 multiplayer game modes supporting up to 32 players, with a focus on territorial control, destroying weapon caches and escorting high value targets.  
*   5 cooperative game modes where you and your friends team up to complete mission-based objectives.  
*   Free content updates that include weapons, game modes, maps, and new features.  
*   Offline practice mode, playing with bots on all game modes.  
*   Squad system built upon role-based player classes, which are customizable and asymmetrical based on what team you are on.  
*   Squad-based communication system which includes 3D VOIP, allowing friendly and enemy players within proximity to hear you.  
*   Overhead map detailing objective and teammate locations.  
*   Accumulate supply to customize and upgrade your gear, affecting your weight, stamina, and movement speed.  
*   Simplified HUD and UI for a clean, immersive user experience focused on the action and environments.  
*   Highly immersive particle FX and audio to intensify the game experience.  
*   Create custom maps and content using the Insurgency SDK and scripting system, and share them on the Steam Workshop.  
*   Playable on PC, Mac OSX, and Linux with multiplayer cross-compatibility.  
*   Dedicated Server Support for PC and Linux.
Multiplayer Game Modes:
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_Push_ --- Three territorial objectives must be captured by the attacking team in sequential order. For each objective captured, they gain more reinforcement and time to attack the next. Defenders have a finite amount of reinforcements and must use each wisely. Once the third objective is captured by the attackers, a fourth cache objective must be destroyed, while the defenders have only one life to make a last stand.  
_Firefight_ --- Three territorial objectives, one for each team, plus one neutral. Each team only respawns when they secure an objective. Secure all objectives or eliminate all enemy to win. Every life counts, making this a very suspenseful experience dependent upon teamwork.  
_Skirmish_ --- In addition to three territorial objectives, each team has a supply cache to protect. Teams gain extra reinforcement waves until their cache is destroyed. When both teams have lost their caches and all reinforcement waves, it becomes a Firefight match.  
_Occupy_ --- There is one central territorial objective in the area. The team that controls it does not deplete reinforcement waves. This gameplay in this mode is reminiscent to King of the Hill or "tug of war".  
_Ambush_ --- A high value target ("HVT") must be escorted to an extraction point. It's one team's goal to make this happen and it's the other team's goal to stop this from happening at all costs. The HVT is only armed with a silenced pistol, but can pick up a weapon from a fallen enemy or teammate.  
_Strike_ --- Three weapon caches must be destroyed by the attacking team to achieve victory. Destroying a cache earns the attackers more reinforcements and time on the clock. The defenders must retain at least one cache from being destroyed and eliminate the enemy team once their reinforcements run dry.  
_Infiltrate_ --- The standard Capture the Flag mode, but with a twist. Your team's goal is to take the enemy's intel and return it to your base. Your team will only gain reinforcements when someone takes the enemy's intel, or when an enemy stealing your team's intel is neutralized. This mode requires very strong team coordination and strategy.  
_Flashpoint_ --- One neutral territorial objective and two caches on each side. The goal is to secure the entire area, controlling the middle and destroying the enemy's caches. Your team respawns when they secure the territorial objective or destroy a cache objective.  
_Elimination_ --- In this single life mode, attackers must destroy one of two weapon caches, or eliminate the enemy team within the time limit. Defenders must kill all attackers.
Cooperative Game Modes
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_Checkpoint_ --- Complete mission-based objectives in sequence against AI enemy. Each successful objective will respawn anyone who was eliminated along the way.  
_Hunt_ --- Insurgents are dispersed in the environment, and your squad must eliminate all targets while locating and destroying the weapons cache. High on tension, with only one-life.  
_Survival_ --- Play as Insurgents and fight against endless waves of progressively difficult Security enemies on night themed maps. Reaching safehouse objectives with your team earns you supply to purchase better weapons and spawns any dead teammates.  
_Outpost_ --- Defend your supply cache against endless waves of enemy trying to destroy it. Each successfully defended wave will bring in reinforcements of your teammates.  
_Conquer_ --- Capture the objectives in the area and defend them from enemy trying to retake them. Destroy enemy weapon caches to thin out their numbers.

Release date: Jan 22, 2014

Categories: Shooter, Tactical, Multiplayer, Cooperative Multiplayer, Realistic Combat, Team-based Combat, Hardcore Difficulty, Military Simulation

Feature scans:
- MTX: score 10; verdict: Fair; summary: Reviews explicitly mention no microtransactions.
- Proton/Linux: score 75; verdict: Barely Playable; summary: The game has significant compatibility issues on Linux, particularly with anti-cheat software, which can severely impact performance. Additionally, the Linux version suffers from longer loading times, occasional crashes, and incompatibility with some custom servers. These issues collectively degrade the user experience for Linux players.
- Steam Deck: score 75; verdict: Tinkering Required; summary: The analysis of user feedback reveals significant issues with the game, particularly related to anti-cheat systems, compatibility with Linux and Windows 11, and performance optimization. These issues severely impact the user experience, leading to frequent crashes, system instability, and gameplay interruptions. While the removal of the BattleEye Anti-Cheat has been positively received, other technical barriers remain prominent.

- Hardware Profile:
  - Summary: The game generally performs well across the tested hardware cohorts, with positive feedback even on lower-end systems.
  - Sample size: 45 (3% coverage)
  - Audience skew: Review sample is mostly Windows-based.
  - Windows <8GB VRAM (positive, 39 reports): Runs well even on basic laptops and lower-end systems.
  - Caveats: 45 of 1514 reviews expose hardware metadata.; Review sample is mostly Windows-based.
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $0.75 - $2.00
  - Reasoning: The evidence suggests that the game is frequently purchased on sale and is considered to offer good value for money. Multiple reviews mention that the game is worth buying when discounted, indicating that the community finds the sale price to be fair. The references to the game being cheap and offering high value, especially during sales, support a price range that is lower than the current base price. The community sentiment highlights that the game is often bought and enjoyed at a discounted rate, suggesting a fair price range that aligns with typical sale prices.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 500.0h
  - Story completion: N/A
  - Session length: 2.0h
  - Endgame: 100.0h
  - Reasoning: The evidence provided includes direct mentions of playtime and long-term engagement with the game. 'Spent some quality times' and 'enjoying playing for many hours' suggest significant session lengths and overall playtime. 'After hundreds of hours' and 'With 500+ hours' indicate extensive total playtime, which can be associated with game completion and endgame content. The lack of specific mentions regarding story completion suggests that the game may not have a strong narrative focus or that players are more engaged with multiplayer or replayable content.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: Insurgency has a steep learning curve that initially frustrates new players, but once they adapt and learn the game mechanics, it becomes highly satisfying and engaging.
  - Stance: Fun then drops
  - Anchor: Learning the game mechanics and adapting to the gameplay.
  - Time to anchor: 3h 0m
  - Friction: Steep learning curve; Lack of UI guidance; High difficulty for new players; Unforgiving gameplay; Minimal hand-holding
  - Unlock drivers: Adapting to the game mechanics; Learning to differentiate teammates and enemies; Understanding the game's realism and teamwork aspects
  - Conditions: Playing with friends; Effective communication; Cooperative gameplay; Methodical and tactical approach
- Player Archetypes:
  - Tactical Hardcore Veteran (buy)
    - Motivation: Enjoys the tactical and hardcore gameplay that requires teamwork and strategic positioning.
    - Playstyle: Strategic and team-oriented, focusing on positioning and teamwork.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: Hardcore player; Tactical shooter fan
    - Reference games: Counter-Strike; Red Orchestra
  - Co-op Enthusiast (sale)
    - Motivation: Enjoys cooperative gameplay and challenging AI enemies.
    - Playstyle: Cooperative and casual, focusing on teamwork with friends or solo play against AI.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: Co-op player; Casual gamer
    - Reference games: Left 4 Dead; Rainbow Six
  - Realism Seeker (buy)
    - Motivation: Enjoys the realistic and immersive gameplay experience.
    - Playstyle: Immersive and realistic, focusing on the authentic combat experience.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: Realism fan; Immersive gamer
    - Reference games: Arma; Squad


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Fun and engaging gameplay (weight 0.35): The game offers a variety of enjoyable and strategic gameplay experiences, including fun multiplayer and co-op modes. Players appreciate the engaging scenarios and skill-based mechanics.
- Excellent sound design (weight 0.23): The game features exemplary audio design with realistic and varied weapon sounds. The immersive soundscape and strong sound design contribute to the overall experience.
- Emphasis on teamwork (weight 0.22): Teamwork is a crucial aspect of the game, requiring attention, communication, and strategy. The game rewards skill, patience, and effective teamwork.
- Runs on low-end hardware (weight 0.21): The game is optimized to run well on older PCs and low-end hardware, making it accessible to a wide range of players.
- Worth the price (weight 0.14): Players find the game worth its price, especially if on sale. It holds up well and offers high replay value, making it a favorite among players.
- Well-made and addictive (weight 0.13): The game is described as extremely good, well-made, and highly addictive. Players find it enjoyable and engaging.
- One of the best FPS games (weight 0.12): The game is praised as one of the best FPS games, offering excellent PvP gameplay. It is considered a shining gem of independent FPS shooters.
- Variety of maps (weight 0.11): The game features a variety of well-designed maps, including many custom maps. Players appreciate the loads of maps and achievements available.
- Better than Insurgency Sandstorm (weight 0.11): Players consider this game to be better than Insurgency Sandstorm, with improved combat and overall experience. It is seen as a good alternative to Sandstorm.
- Better than its sequel (weight 0.09): Players find this game to be better and more grounded than its sequel. It is appreciated for its unique and realistic tactical shooter experience.
- Detailed gameplay advice (weight 0.08): The game provides detailed advice and strategies for new players. Players appreciate the specific gameplay strategies and tips available.

Common complaints:
- Crashes on Windows 11 (weight 0.37): The game experiences frequent crashes and compatibility issues on Windows 11, often due to conflicts with the BattleEye anti-cheat system. This includes blue screens and system freezes.
- Low server population (weight 0.33): There are few normal servers, and many servers are dead or have low player counts. Players struggle to find matches and experience long matchmaking times.
- Steep learning curve (weight 0.28): The game has a significant initial learning curve that may frustrate casual players and beginners. New players often struggle with the game's mechanics and positioning.
- BattleEye launcher issues (weight 0.19): Players encounter problems with the BattleEye launcher, including freezing and refusal to let the game launch.
- Map and collision issues (weight 0.14): There are glitches and poorly designed maps, along with collision detection problems that affect gameplay.
- Outdated and unupdated (weight 0.09): The game feels outdated and is no longer updated by the developers, leading to a lack of new content and fixes.
- PvP mode issues (weight 0.08): PvP mode has high ping and other issues, making it less enjoyable and more difficult.
- Server setup difficulties (weight 0.08): Players encounter difficulties and lack of information when trying to set up their own servers.
- Visibility issues with enemies (weight 0.07): Players have difficulty spotting enemies, which can affect gameplay and frustration levels.
- Cheaters ruining gameplay (weight 0.06): There are many cheaters in the game, which ruins the experience for legitimate players.
- AI intelligence issues (weight 0.05): The AI in the game has insufficient intelligence, leading to a less challenging or engaging experience.
- Frequent deaths and spawn issues (weight 0.05): Players experience frequent deaths in various situations, including without leaving the spawn area.
- Steam connection issues (weight 0.05): The game has network issues, particularly with Steam connections, including locking up Steam.
- Overly polished graphics (weight 0.04): Some players find the graphics to be overly polished, which may not appeal to all players.
- Unfriendly player behavior (weight 0.04): There are reports of unfriendly behavior, particularly towards Chinese players, which can affect the overall gaming experience.

Gameplay feedback:
- Tactical and realistic gameplay (weight 0.61): The game is praised for its tactical and realistic gameplay mechanics, including realistic gun mechanics, ballistics, and damage. It emphasizes teamwork, strategy, and precise execution of tasks.
- Multiplayer and cooperative modes (weight 0.3): The game offers a variety of multiplayer and cooperative modes, including PvP, PvE, and custom co-op servers. Players appreciate the active servers and the ability to play with friends.
- Weapon and class customization (weight 0.19): Players can customize their weapons and classes, selecting from a variety of options. The game includes a detailed equipment and customization system, adding depth to the gameplay.
- High lethality and challenging combat (weight 0.18): The game is known for its high-lethality combat, where mistakes are costly, and teamwork is crucial for victory. The challenging gameplay requires strategic planning and precise execution.
- Immersive and dynamic game modes (weight 0.16): The game features immersive and dynamic game modes such as Push, Firefight, Skirmish, Checkpoint, and Hunt. These modes offer a variety of gameplay styles and objectives.
- Variety of maps and weapons (weight 0.09): The game offers a wide arsenal of weapons and a variety of maps and game modes. This variety keeps the gameplay fresh and engaging.
- Source engine mechanics (weight 0.07): The game is developed in the Source engine, which provides a solid foundation for its mechanics and gameplay. Players familiar with the Source engine will find the mechanics intuitive and responsive.
- Spawn wave system (weight 0.06): The game includes a spawn wave system and a wave survival mode, adding a unique challenge to the gameplay. However, some players mention spawn killing as a potential issue.

Performance notes:
- Game crashes and launch issues (weight 0.58): The game frequently crashes or fails to launch, particularly on Windows 11. Players report blue screens, system freezes, and unresponsiveness.
- Windows 11 compatibility issues (weight 0.34): There are significant compatibility issues with Windows 11, including performance problems, blue screen errors, and game freezing.
- Low system requirements (weight 0.29): The game runs well on low-end hardware, including older PCs and laptops. It is noted for its accessibility and good performance on basic systems.
- Server and network issues (weight 0.18): Players experience server ping issues, unstable connections, and occasional packet loss. There are also reports of connection errors and network-related problems.
- Miscellaneous issues (weight 0.17): Various other issues are reported, including longer loading times on Linux, the game not allowing the computer to shut down, and occasional technical problems.
- BattlEye anti-cheat problems (weight 0.17): BattlEye, the anti-cheat software, causes system crashes and blue screen errors, particularly on Windows 11.
- Performance issues (weight 0.16): The game has various performance issues, including FPS drops, stuttering, and freezing. Some players report poor performance on certain hardware.

Recommendations:
- Highly recommended game (weight 0.22): The game is highly recommended by many players, especially when purchased on sale. It is seen as a good value for money.
- Recommended for hardcore fans (weight 0.1): The game is particularly recommended for players who enjoy realism and hardcore tactical shooter experiences.
- Start with Cooperative mode (weight 0.07): New players are advised to start with the Cooperative mode to get a feel for the game.
- Play Sandstorm for PVP (weight 0.05): Players recommend trying Sandstorm for PVP experiences instead of this game.
- Workarounds for issues (weight 0.05): There are workarounds available for BattleEye issues and for Windows 11 users.
- Try Gun game mod (weight 0.03): Players suggest trying the Gun game mod as an introduction to the game's gunplay mechanics.
- Experience mil-sim roots (weight 0.03): The game is recommended for those who want to experience the grassroots of military simulations.
- Need a Source 2 remaster (weight 0.03): Some players feel that the game needs a remaster using the Source 2 engine.
- Recommended for new players (weight 0.03): The game is recommended for new players looking for a tactical military shooter experience.
- Best option for lower-end PC (weight 0.03): The game is considered the best option for a tactical military shooter on lower-end PCs.
- Recommended for server rentals (weight 0.03): The game is recommended for those who want to rent a server and play with friends or play coop.
- Game deserves more recognition (weight 0.03): Players feel that the game deserves more recognition than it currently has.

Other player notes:
- Lack of server setup information (weight 0.06): Players are frustrated by the absence of information on how to set up servers. Additionally, they report being unable to join servers hosted on their own PCs.
- Incomplete important information (weight 0.03): There are reports of crucial information missing from the game, which affects the overall experience and understanding of the game mechanics.
- Performance improvement tips (weight 0.03): Some players are looking for tips and advice on how to improve the performance of the game, indicating potential performance issues.

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.24): Players are frustrated primarily due to technical issues such as game crashes, performance problems, and optimization issues. Additionally, gameplay mechanics like difficulty in spotting enemies, experienced players dominating PVP servers, and the presence of cheaters contribute to this frustration. Poor tutorials, lack of official servers, and compatibility issues further exacerbate the problem.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.2): Players express satisfaction with the game's tactical gameplay, realistic mechanics, and overall quality. The enjoyment of playing with friends, the game's balance between realism and arcade-style gameplay, and the responsive feel of the game are also highlighted. Many appreciate the game's graphics, sound effects, and the ability to play on low-end PCs.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.11): Players enjoy the game's co-op gameplay, realistic mechanics, and the variety of game types. The intense and engaging gameplay, along with the ability to play with friends, contributes to their enjoyment. Despite some challenges, the overall experience is positive and fun.
- Excitement (weight 0.11): Players are excited about the intense and gritty gameplay, enjoyable co-op mode, and the adrenaline rush from kills. The game's realistic mechanics, variety of gameplay modes, and unique tactical experience contribute to this excitement. The challenging and immersive combat scenarios are particularly thrilling.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.07): Players feel nostalgic due to memories of playing the game and its history as a popular mod. The comparison to newer games and reflections on past gameplay experiences evoke a sense of nostalgia. The game's evolution and personal memories associated with it contribute to this feeling.
- Disappointment (weight 0.06): Players are disappointed due to low server population, lack of interesting maps, and the game's online being dead. Issues with AI intelligence, lack of players, and the game's current state contribute to this disappointment. Additionally, the lack of certain features and high system requirements are mentioned.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.05): Players are enthusiastic about the game's realism, tactical depth, and unique experience. The variety of weapons and game modes, along with the game's overall quality, contribute to this enthusiasm. Positive experiences with game mechanics and design are also highlighted.
- Admiration (weight 0.02): Players admire the game's design, realism, and the developer's effort. The game's ability to create a realistic battlefield atmosphere and its simulation and mod support are particularly praised. The setting and atmosphere of the game are also appreciated.
- Happy (weight 0.02): Players are happy with their positive experiences with friends and co-op gameplay. The game's optimization, action gameplay, and realism contribute to their happiness. The overall positive experience with the game's appearance and mechanics is also mentioned.
- Joy (weight 0.02): Players experience joy from the game's fun and enjoyable multiplayer experience. Playing with mods and the excitement of intense gameplay moments contribute to this joy. The game is described as the most fun shooter played by some reviewers.
- Appreciation (weight 0.01): Players appreciate the game's focus on realism, audio design, and objective-based gameplay. The free-aim system and the game's performance on older PCs are also appreciated. The challenging and realistic gameplay is particularly valued.
- Fear (weight 0.01): Players experience fear due to the intense and realistic gameplay, which can feel like a PTSD simulator. The scary atmosphere created by shooting around and the in-game elements contribute to this fear.
- Amusement (weight 0.01): Players are amused by varied weapon sounds and interactions with other players, such as a Russian player speaking Indonesian phrases. The humorous aspects of gameplay, like getting hit by a grenade in the first match, contribute to this amusement.
- Anger (weight 0.01): Players feel anger due to technical issues such as game freezing, crashing, and causing blue screens. System unresponsiveness and the need for reboots contribute to this anger. These issues disrupt the gameplay experience significantly.
- Sadness (weight 0.01): Players feel sadness due to the decline in the player base and favorite servers becoming less active. The game being dead and developers leaving it for dead contribute to this sadness. The loss of a once-thriving community is particularly mourned.
- Recommendation (weight 0.01): Players recommend the game for tactical shooter fans and suggest buying it on sale to play with friends. The positive aspects of the game and its unique experience make it worth recommending.
- Confusion (weight 0.01): Players are confused about dying quickly in the game and mention launch issues. The lack of clear explanations for certain gameplay mechanics contributes to this confusion.
- Relief (weight 0.01): Players feel relief due to the resolution of technical issues, such as the removal of BattleEye. The fixing of issues that previously disrupted gameplay contributes to this relief.
- Stress (weight 0.01): Players experience stress due to the intense and challenging gameplay. Difficulty finding stable servers to play on adds to this stress. The high stakes and competitive nature of the game can be overwhelming.
- Immersion (weight 0): Players feel immersed due to the game's realism and atmosphere. The detailed and engaging gameplay mechanics contribute to this immersion. The game's ability to create a believable and intense environment is particularly noted.}