Info about Artifact:

Official game description:
Call to Arms
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Explore the initial card set, featured event, and more.
About the Game
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ARTIFACT FOUNDRY
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STREAMLINED GAMEPLAY  
We've taken the essence of Artifact and refined it based on community feedback:  
• All 3 lanes are in view at the same time.  
• Unified mana pool across lanes.  
• Dramatically reduced the degree to which randomness affects gameplay.  
ALL-NEW CONTENT  
• Over 100 new cards, including over 20 new heroes!  
• Extended tutorial and playable demo scenarios for each hero.  
• New PvE content: Beginner campaign and standalone challenges.  
• New PvP mode: Hero Draft.  
FREE AND OPEN  
Artifact Foundry is free to play. Cards are unlocked solely through gameplay, with no pack purchasing.
ARTIFACT CLASSIC
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THE CARD GAME REIMAGINED  
A collaboration between legendary card game designer Richard Garfield and Valve, Artifact Classic is a digital card game that combines deeply strategic, competitive gameplay with the rich setting of Dota 2. The result is an immersive and visually stunning trading card game unlike any other.  
STRATEGY UNBOUNDED  
Wield your deck across three lanes of combat, answer every move of your opponent with one of your own. Unlimited hand size. Unlimited number of units you control. Unlimited mana you can employ.  
FREE AND OPEN  
Artifact Classic is free to play! Furthermore, all cards are now available to all players. If you paid for the original Artifact, your cards are promoted to Collector's Edition cards. Paid game event tickets have also been phased out.

Release date: Nov 28, 2018

Categories: Card-based Gameplay, Deckbuilding, Turn-based Strategy, Cooperative Multiplayer, PvE, PvP, MOBA-like Elements, Strategy

Feature scans:
- MTX: score 95; verdict: Predatory Monetization; summary: The game is heavily criticized for its pay-to-win mechanics and shady microtransaction practices. Players feel compelled to spend real money to gain a competitive edge, which has led to significant dissatisfaction. The high upfront cost and additional payments required to enjoy the game fully have also been major points of contention.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $10.00 - $15.00
  - Reasoning: The evidence suggests that the community finds the current pricing for the game to be high. Several reviews mention that the price is too steep for a card game, with specific mentions of $20 and 138 yuan (approximately $20) being too much. However, there is also an indication that a slightly lower price could be acceptable, as one review mentions that a higher price for card packs can be tolerated. This suggests that while the community finds the current price high, they might consider a lower range more fair.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 100.0h
  - Story completion: N/A
  - Session length: 2.0h
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The evidence provides direct mentions of playtime hours for Artifact. The first quote mentions 15 hours spent crafting builds, indicating a session or focused playtime. The second quote mentions 30 hours clocked, suggesting a mix of session and total playtime. The third and fourth quotes mention over 100 hours of playtime, indicating total playtime for game completion. The evidence does not provide specific information about story completion or endgame hours, so those fields are marked as null.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game is highly enjoyable in co-op mode with friends, with immediate fun anchored in cooperative multiplayer experiences.
  - Stance: Fun immediately
  - Anchor: Cooperative multiplayer experiences with friends
  - Time to anchor: 0h 0m
  - Friction: lack of progression systems; steep learning curve
  - Unlock drivers: playing with friends; coordinating effectively in co-op mode
  - Conditions: co-op mode; playing with friends
- Player Archetypes:
  - Co-op Enthusiast (buy)
    - Motivation: Social interaction and cooperative gameplay.
    - Playstyle: Enjoys teamwork and coordinating with friends in multiplayer modes.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: co-op player; multiplayer enthusiast
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Dota Franchise Fan (sale)
    - Motivation: Loyalty to the Dota franchise and its elements.
    - Playstyle: Enjoys the game for its connection to the Dota universe and its familiar elements.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: Dota fan; franchise loyalist
    - Reference games: Dota 2
  - Casual Gamer (no buy)
    - Motivation: Seeking a simpler, more accessible gaming experience.
    - Playstyle: Prefers games that are easy to pick up and play casually.
    - Experience: newcomer
    - Purchase stance: no buy
    - Labels: casual player
    - Reference games: Hearthstone
  - Critical Consumer (no buy)
    - Motivation: Seeking value and fair practices in gaming.
    - Playstyle: Critically evaluates games based on their monetization and overall value.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: no buy
    - Labels: critical player; value seeker
    - Reference games: N/A


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 addictive gameplay (weight 0.34): Players describe the game as truly fun, enjoyable, and addictive, making it a highly playable experience.
- High-quality visual style (weight 0.33): The game features a stunning and beautiful art style, with high-quality graphics and design that players appreciate.
- High production values (weight 0.3): The game is noted for its high production values, including well-designed interfaces, high-quality visual effects, and a solid UI design.
- Innovative card game mechanics (weight 0.28): The game is praised for its innovative and unique card game mechanics, providing a fresh and enjoyable experience.
- Three-lane gameplay innovation (weight 0.18): The game introduces a unique three-lane mechanic that adds depth and strategic complexity, allowing for flexible decisions and mind games.
- Enjoyable co-op mode (weight 0.15): Players find the co-op mode particularly fun and engaging, especially when playing with friends.
- Balanced and steady progression (weight 0.13): The game offers balanced gameplay with a steady and structured progression, providing a calm and enjoyable experience.
- Connection to Dota 2 universe (weight 0.12): The game's connection to the Dota 2 universe, including its lore and heroes, makes it appealing to fans of the series.
- Enjoyable builds and combos (weight 0.11): Players enjoy experimenting with different builds and combos, adding to the game's fun and depth.
- Positive initial impression (weight 0.1): Players initially have a positive impression of the game, finding it satisfying and good despite some issues.
- Strong gameplay mechanics (weight 0.1): The game is praised for its strong and excellent gameplay mechanics, contributing to an overall well-made game.

Common complaints:
- Aggressive monetization (weight 0.42): The game's monetization model is seen as aggressive and pay-to-win. Players feel that they need to spend a lot of money to stay competitive, which can be frustrating.
- Game abandonment by developers (weight 0.31): Many reviews indicate that the game feels abandoned by its developers. This perception contributes to a sense of neglect and lack of future prospects for the game.
- Lack of updates and content (weight 0.26): Players frequently mention the game's lack of updates, new content, and meaningful changes. This has led to a stagnant experience with no fresh material to engage with.
- High complexity and entry barrier (weight 0.24): The game is perceived as too complex for casual players, with a high barrier to entry. This complexity can be overwhelming and deter new players from getting into the game.
- Lack of progression systems (weight 0.23): There is a notable absence of progression systems in the game. Players feel there are no meaningful ways to advance or achieve goals unless they spend money.
- Game is boring and unrewarding (weight 0.21): The game is often described as boring, monotonous, and unrewarding. Players find it unappealing and not fun to play, leading to a lack of engagement.
- Excessive randomness (weight 0.18): Players criticize the excessive randomness in card placement and game mechanics. This randomness can make the game feel unfair and less strategic.
- High initial cost (weight 0.15): The initial cost of the game and card packs is considered high. This can be a barrier for new players who are not willing to invest a significant amount of money upfront.
- Lack of incentives (weight 0.15): There are no daily rewards or incentives to play different game modes. This lack of rewards can make the game feel less engaging and not worth the time investment.
- Low player count (weight 0.12): The game suffers from a low player base, which affects matchmaking and the overall community experience. This makes it difficult to find matches and enjoy the game fully.
- Imbalanced cards (weight 0.12): There are complaints about the lack of balance in the game's cards. Players feel that some cards are overpowered while others are undervalued, leading to an unbalanced gameplay experience.

Gameplay feedback:
- Randomness in gameplay elements (weight 0.23): There is a mix of opinions on the randomness in gameplay, with some players enjoying the unpredictability while others find it frustrating.
- Three-lane system (weight 0.21): The game features a three-lane system, which adds complexity and strategic depth, similar to MOBA games like Dota 2.
- Tactical and strategic gameplay (weight 0.18): The game is praised for its tactical and strategic elements, combining card game mechanics with MOBA-like gameplay.
- Variety in builds and combos (weight 0.13): Players appreciate the ability to craft and experiment with different builds and combos, adding depth and replayability to the game.
- Dota 2 inspired card game (weight 0.1): The game is noted for its Dota 2 inspiration, bringing familiar mechanics and vibes to a card game format.
- Objective to destroy enemy towers (weight 0.1): The primary goal of the game is to destroy enemy towers and ultimately the throne, which adds a clear objective for players to focus on.
- Deck-building with multiple components (weight 0.07): The game involves deck-building with various components such as hero decks, normal decks, and item decks, enhancing the strategic depth.
- High difficulty and quality (weight 0.07): The game is noted for its high difficulty and high-quality gameplay, appealing to players looking for a challenge.
- In-match shop system (weight 0.07): The game features an in-match shop system, allowing players to purchase items and cards during matches.
- Card placement and collection mechanics (weight 0.06): Players discuss the mechanics of card placement and collection, which are central to the gameplay experience.
- Special game modes (weight 0.06): There are special game modes with specific win/loss conditions, adding variety and replayability to the game.
- Long game sessions (weight 0.06): Some players note that the game can have long match times, which may be a consideration for those looking for quicker gameplay sessions.
- Stealth gameplay mechanics (weight 0.06): Some players mention the inclusion of stealth runs and approaches, adding a unique layer to the gameplay.
- Custom and standard card sets (weight 0.06): The game offers both standard and custom card sets, providing variety and customization options for players.
- No ladder or ranking system (weight 0.05): Some players note the absence of a ladder or ranking system, which may be a drawback for competitive players.

Performance notes:
- Performance issues (weight 0.11): Players report laggy controls and frequent crashes, indicating significant performance problems.
- Polished and clean visuals (weight 0.08): The game features polished visuals and a clean interface, contributing to an overall pleasant aesthetic experience.
- Server problems (weight 0.04): The game suffers from poor server performance, leading to connectivity and stability issues.
- Early animation pacing issues (weight 0.04): Early animations in the game have been criticized for causing the pacing to drag, affecting the overall gameplay experience.

Recommendations:
- Not recommended for purchase (weight 0.15): Many players advise against buying the game in its current state due to various issues and the need for significant improvements.
- Suitable for niche audiences (weight 0.15): The game is recommended for experienced CCG fans, Dota 2 universe lovers, and those who enjoy drafting due to its strategic depth and unique approach.
- Not for casual or F2P players (weight 0.1): The game is not recommended for free-to-play or casual players due to its high entry cost and complexity.
- Hopes for future improvements (weight 0.09): Players express hope for continued maintenance, a mobile version, and significant updates such as Artifact 2.0.
- High entry cost and complexity (weight 0.04): The game may disappoint players due to its high entry cost, complexity for beginners, and the decline of its online community.
- Better alternatives available (weight 0.04): Players suggest better alternatives such as Monster Train, Slay the Spire, and MTG Arena.
- Preference for other games (weight 0.04): Some players prefer other games like Gwent or Hearthstone over this one.
- Not competitive or viable (weight 0.04): The game is considered not competitive or viable in its current state.

Other player notes:
- Censorship of community posts (weight 0.04): A player's post in the community tab, which was critically discussing the game's business model and gaining traction with civilized discussions, was suddenly removed without apparent reason.

Emotions:
- Disappointment (weight 0.36): Players feel let down by the game's high entry cost, aggressive monetization, and lack of updates from Valve. The game's complexity, decline of the online community, and perceived abandonment by developers also contribute to this sentiment.
- Frustration (weight 0.29): Players are frustrated with the game's excessive randomness, pay-to-win mechanics, and lack of updates. Issues with the refund policy, high cost of strong cards, and laggy controls also add to the frustration.
- Anger (weight 0.1): Players are angry due to the game's high cost, lack of support, and perceived greed from developers. Issues with the refund policy and the game becoming free after purchase also fuel this anger.
- Excitement (weight 0.06): Players are excited about the game's unique and deep card strategy mechanics. The innovative gameplay and chaotic fun with friends contribute to this excitement.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.04): Players are satisfied with the game's complex and strategic gameplay. The successful integration of Dota 2 elements and the enjoyment of mastering the game's intricacies contribute to this satisfaction.
- Regret (weight 0.02): Players regret the time and money spent on the game due to its unfulfilled potential and declining state. Recommending the game to friends and its impact on life also contribute to this regret.
- Boredom (weight 0.02): Players find the game boring and monotonous, with a lack of player engagement and long match times contributing to this feeling.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.02): Players enjoy the game despite its flaws, finding fun and sweaty matches. Spending an entire day playing the game and enjoying it despite its age and lack of updates contribute to this enjoyment.
- Admiration (weight 0.02): Players admire the game's ambitious design and strategic depth. The beautiful game graphics, amazing UI, and deep strategic gameplay contribute to this admiration.
- Criticism (weight 0.02): Players criticize Valve's silence and handling of the game, including pricing policies and lack of certain features like a profile tab.
- Appreciation (weight 0.01): Players appreciate the game's strategic depth and its connection to Dota 2. The game's respect for players' wallets also contributes to this appreciation.
- Sadness (weight 0.01): Players feel sad about the game's current state, describing it as basically dead and lamenting its decline.
- Hope (weight 0.01): Players hope for the game to restart and update, with potential for enjoyable multiplayer modes and daily missions. They express hope for improvements and updates to attract more players.
- Gratitude (weight 0.01): Players feel gratitude for benefiting from other players' spending, which enhances their own gaming experience.
- Praise (weight 0.01): Players praise the game for its overall quality and enjoyable aspects, highlighting its positive features.
- Joy (weight 0.01): Players experience joy from the game's fun and enjoyable gameplay, finding it really fun and entertaining.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.01): Players feel nostalgia for the memorable experiences they had while playing the game, reminiscing about the good times.
- Confusion (weight 0.01): Players are confused by the game's pricing changes and lack of meaningful updates, leading to uncertainty about its direction.}