Info about ATLAS:

Official game description:
ATLAS is now crossplay enabled to allow PC and Xbox One players to play together in the same world!  
From the creators of ARK: Survival Evolved comes ATLAS -- the ultimate pirate experience! Explore a persistent, massive open world with thousands of other players simultaneously. Build your ship, assemble your crew, sail the high seas, search for buried treasure, plunder player-built settlements (or replace them with your own), and conquer the world of ATLAS island by island. Wage war against enemy fleets while you single-handedly command large ships of war -- or divide the responsibilities among your trusted shipmates instead. Dive into the watery depths to explore sunken shipwrecks. Team up with other explorers to discover new lands rich with resources, exotic creatures, and ruins of a bygone time. Become a pirate legend in this ultimate quest for fortune and glory!  
**Create the Pirate Ship of Your Dreams**  
From tiny rafts and dinghies to colossal frigates and galleons, your dream vessel is only a shipyard away with our robust ship customization system. Construct your ship piece by piece, give it a name, design the look of your sails, and decide exactly where all the planks, masts, and gunports on your ship should go.  
**Assemble Your Crew**  
Recruit other players or hire NPCs to join your crew and aid you on your quest for riches and glory. Whether manning weapons on your ship, hoisting the sails, or helping search for buried treasure on shore, your crew is an essential part of your pirate adventure. Just be sure to keep their stomachs full and give them their fair share of the booty, lest you want a mutiny on your hands…  
**Explore a Massive World**  
Physically sail in real-time across a vast ocean, featuring over 700 individual landmasses across 45,000 square kilometers. Discover thousands of points of interest over a number of distinct world regions, each with their own unique resources, creatures, secrets, and dangers!  
**Shape Your Identity**  
Choose from a wide range of character customization and cosmetic options to create your specific pirate look. Unlock skills across 15 different disciplines to form your own unique role in the world of ATLAS.  
**Experience Classic Pirate Action**  
Become the world’s greatest swashbuckler, a pistol-packing gunslinger, or perhaps a master cannoneer instead. Engage in fierce raids on land-based strongholds, swing from grappling hooks to board enemy ships, or unload volleys of cannonballs into your foe’s hull. The world of ATLAS has no shortage of ways to dispatch your enemies, be it at the end of a sword... or in true pirate fashion… at the end of a rope.  
**Build Your Organization**  
Want to create a rich merchant empire that spans from pole to pole? Always wanted to command a fleet of privateers who work for the highest bidder? Or perhaps you’d like to create a government navy and protect the innocent from pirates? In ATLAS, you can build any organization you can think of. Create a settlement for your company and build it piece by piece with our modular construction system. Contest other companies’ land, structures, or ships and add them to your ranks. With the right organization in hand, the world is truly your oyster.  
**Choose Between PvP and PvE Play**  
_Choose between PvP or PvE play on our official servers:_  
On a PvP server, everything is up for grabs: be it ships, player inventories, NPC crewmembers, tames, player-built structures, player-owned territory, and lots of other loot. If you can get your hands on it, you can take it for yourself. Do you have what it takes to become the most notorious pirate on the high seas?  
Care for a less “cutthroat” experience? Join one of our PvE servers and cooperate with thousands of other players to explore the globe, discover new secrets, and even fight mythical creatures together. Create powerful companies with old friends or build an entire player-run town with some new ones. The world of ATLAS is yours to shape!  
**Create Mods and Custom Servers**  
Want to build a World War II Spitfire? Or how about an Arcadian Steampunk Airship floating through a cloud-world? These examples and much more are provided with the ATLAS Dev Kit, where you can effectively create whatever large-scale action game you want to see: all supported by the database-driven network technology that powers ATLAS. Unofficial ATLAS mods can be of any size and configuration, while a visual map tool lets server hosts layout their own complete custom world -- all dynamically streamed to the client during gameplay.  
**Play in Singleplayer and Non-Dedicated Private Sessions**  
In addition to experiencing ATLAS on our official/unofficial servers with thousands of other players, you can now enjoy ATLAS by yourself in our Singleplayer mode, or with up to eight friends privately in our Non-Dedicated Server mode. Adjust the game to suit your preferences and enjoy your own private version of ATLAS.  
**And Much, Much More**  
Only a fraction of ATLAS’ features and content are outlined above, with many more to come throughout the game’s Early Access development period.

Release date: Dec 22, 2018

Categories: Open-World Exploration, Ship Building, Naval Combat, Base Building, Cooperative Multiplayer, PvP, PvE, Mod Support

Feature scans:
- MTX: score 85; verdict: Predatory monetization; summary: The game is widely perceived as a cash grab, with evidence of pay-to-win assets and a paid pseudo-DLC. Players also report that the developers abandoned the game after early access, reinforcing the predatory monetization concerns.

- Hardware Profile:
  - Summary: The Windows <8GB VRAM cohort reports severe instability, including freezing, loading failures, and continuous crashes.
  - Sample size: 26 (4% coverage)
  - Audience skew: Review sample is mostly Windows-based.
  - Windows <8GB VRAM (negative, 11 reports): Users report freezing on respawn, difficulty loading into the game, and continuous crashes.
  - Caveats: 26 of 617 reviews expose hardware metadata.; Review sample is mostly Windows-based.
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $0.00 - $10.00
  - Reasoning: The community overwhelmingly indicates the game is not worth its full price, with many recommending to purchase only on sale. Specific sale prices around $5/€5 are mentioned as acceptable, while some argue it should be free or not worth any amount. This suggests a fair price range of $0 to $10, with a typical acceptable price around $5.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: N/A
  - Story completion: N/A
  - Session length: 8.0h
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The evidence shows that play sessions in ATLAS can be lengthy. One review explicitly describes an 8-hour session, while another mentions spending a couple of hours on building and gathering. A third review notes an hour passing while gathering materials, indicating a range of session lengths. The most explicit and substantial session length reported is 8 hours, so this is used as the representative session length.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game initially frustrates players but becomes enjoyable once they get used to it, especially when playing with friends or with mods. However, some players find the fun drops after the tutorial or never clicks solo.
  - Stance: Clicks after
  - Anchor: N/A
  - Time to anchor: N/A
  - Friction: early frustration; clunky controls; critical bugs; solo boredom; multiplayer restrictions; tutorial island
  - Unlock drivers: getting used to the game; playing with friends; mods; private servers; progression
  - Conditions: playing with friends; solo play; private server; mods; getting past the tutorial; patience; co-op; relaxed gameplay
- Player Archetypes:
  - The Hopeful Veteran (deep sale)
    - Motivation: Hope for the game to realize its potential despite developer neglect.
    - Playstyle: Tries both PvP and PvE, but spends time monitoring updates and enduring bugs.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: deep sale
    - Labels: hardcore survival player
    - Reference games: N/A
  - The Excluded Soloist (no buy)
    - Motivation: Desire for a solo survival experience that the game fails to provide.
    - Playstyle: Attempts to play solo or with a small group, focusing on PvE and building, but is constantly thwarted by grind and griefing.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: no buy
    - Labels: solo player; PvE solo player
    - Reference games: ARK
  - The Co-op Sandbox Sailor (sale)
    - Motivation: Cooperative building, sailing, and exploration in a PvE environment with friends.
    - Playstyle: Plays on PvE servers or private modded servers with friends, focusing on building, farming, and sailing, often adjusting rates to reduce grind.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: PvE player
    - Reference games: Skull and Bones
  - The Clan Warfare Veteran (no buy)
    - Motivation: Competitive PvP, clan alliances, and large-scale naval warfare.
    - Playstyle: Plays on official PvP servers in large companies, engages in base building, raiding, and diplomacy, but is plagued by cheaters and exploits.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: no buy
    - Labels: CSTG member
    - Reference games: ARK


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:
- Game is highly enjoyable (weight 0.22): A substantial number of reviewers described the game as very good, enjoyable, or even the best they've played. This indicates strong overall satisfaction.
- Game has great potential (weight 0.14): Many reviewers praised the game's concept and potential, noting it could be excellent. This sentiment was frequently expressed across multiple reviews.
- Fun with friends (weight 0.1): Players consistently reported that the game is much more enjoyable when played with friends or partners. The social aspect significantly enhances the experience.
- Modding community extends life (weight 0.04): The modding community is praised for keeping the game fresh and alive with constant changes. This contributes to long-term engagement.

Common complaints:
- Game abandoned by developers (weight 0.4): The game was abandoned by its developers, often during Early Access, with no further updates or support. This is the most frequently cited issue, indicating a complete halt in development.
- Game is buggy and unplayable (weight 0.19): Players report numerous bugs, glitches, and crashes that make the game unstable and often unplayable, even on high-end systems. The game is described as a buggy, broken mess with poor optimization.
- Official servers are closed (weight 0.13): The official servers have been shut down, making the game unplayable in its intended online mode. Players are left with no official servers to join, forcing them to rely on single-player or modded alternatives.
- Single player mode is broken (weight 0.05): The single-player version of the game is broken and unplayable due to fatal errors and other issues. This is a significant problem for players who cannot or do not want to play online.

Gameplay feedback:
- Sailing and ocean exploration (weight 0.11): Players frequently mention sailing across an open ocean, navigating to islands, and engaging in sea adventures. This core gameplay loop is highlighted as a major feature of the game.
- Base building mechanics (weight 0.1): The game includes a robust base building system with foundations, walls, and claiming land. This is a common feature noted by many players, emphasizing the construction aspect.
- Ship building and customization (weight 0.08): Players can build and customize ships to their liking, which is a standout feature. The ability to design ships freely is frequently praised and considered a key part of the gameplay.
- Animal taming and breeding (weight 0.07): The game allows taming and breeding animals, similar to ARK. This mechanic is mentioned alongside farming and ship building, indicating a diverse set of activities.
- Naval combat with cannons (weight 0.06): Ship-to-ship combat with cannons is a significant feature, including PvP on ground and at sea. This adds a strategic layer to the sailing experience.
- Server-based multiplayer (weight 0.05): The game relies on server-based multiplayer, with dedicated servers and official/unofficial options. This is a core aspect of how players interact.

Performance notes:
- Poor optimization widespread (weight 0.26): A large number of reviews highlight the game's poor optimization, with players experiencing low FPS, stuttering, and slow rendering even on high-end PCs. The performance issues are described as extreme and catastrophic, affecting gameplay significantly.
- Server lag and instability (weight 0.21): Players frequently encounter server lag, rubber-banding, disconnections, and high ping, which are especially problematic in PvP and at launch. Server issues have prevented many from entering the game and cause frequent rollbacks and desync.
- Frequent crashes reported (weight 0.18): Many players report the game crashing frequently, including to desktop, during small movements, and in various scenarios like traveling, dying, or placing machines. This issue is severe enough to make the game unplayable for some, especially on Xbox.

Recommendations:
- Do not buy (weight 0.25): Many reviewers strongly advise against purchasing the game, citing it as a waste of money and time. The game is described as a bad purchase not worth any price, even on sale.
- Not worth full price (weight 0.09): The game is considered overpriced, with reviewers suggesting it is not worth buying at full price. Waiting for a sale is frequently recommended as a better option.
- Use private servers (weight 0.09): Players recommend using unofficial, private, or modded servers for the best experience, as official servers are considered problematic. This is especially advised for those playing with friends.

Other player notes:
- Compared to ARK Survival (weight 0.19): The game is frequently compared to ARK: Survival Evolved, with many noting it feels like a stripped-down or re-skinned version. Some reviewers consider it worse, while others find it better in certain aspects.
- Community keeps game alive (weight 0.11): The modding community and private servers are the only things keeping the game alive. Without them, the game would be completely dead due to lack of official support.
- Should be removed from store (weight 0.04): Some reviewers believe the game should be removed from the Steam store or made free, given its abandoned state. This reflects frustration with the game's continued sale despite being unplayable.

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.33): Players are overwhelmingly frustrated by the game's technical instability, including frequent crashes, poor optimization, and low FPS even on high-end hardware. This is compounded by the developers' abandonment of the game, leaving critical bugs, progression loss, and unfulfilled promises that make the experience feel unplayable and unfinished.
- Disappointment (weight 0.25): The dominant cause of disappointment is the game's abandonment by its developers despite its perceived potential, leaving it in an unfinished and buggy state. Players feel the game never lived up to its promises or the vision of a great pirate experience, and the lack of updates and dead servers have solidified this sense of wasted potential.
- Anger (weight 0.11): Anger is primarily directed at the developers for what players perceive as a scam, citing the game's abandoned state, continued sale at a high price, and a lack of action against cheaters. This is further fueled by unfair bans, server shutdowns without warning, and the feeling that the developers are making a quick cash grab rather than supporting the game.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.07): Players find enjoyment in the core sandbox mechanics, such as building and sailing ships, taming animals, and exploring the world with friends. The game's pirate theme and the fun of cooperative play on private or modded servers are the main reasons for this positive emotion.
- Sadness (weight 0.03): Sadness stems from the game's decline and eventual abandonment, with players mourning the loss of a game that had potential. The low player population, lack of updates, and the developers giving up on the project are the primary causes of this melancholic feeling.
- Love (weight 0.03): Players express love for the game's unique pirate theme, the freedom of sailing the high seas, and the immersive world it created. This deep affection is often tied to fond memories of exploring, taming, and building, which made the game a beloved experience despite its flaws.
- Regret (weight 0.02): Regret is primarily caused by the wasted money and time spent on a game that was abandoned and never reached its potential. Players also regret not refunding the game earlier or missing the game's peak period, leading to a sense of having been misled by the developers.
- Excitement (weight 0.02): Excitement is driven by the game's core fantasy of naval combat and pirate adventures, which initially hooked players. The thrill of building a ship, sailing with a crew, and the promise of a massive pirate world generated significant anticipation and memorable moments.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.02): Satisfaction is derived from the game being enjoyable when played with friends or on well-managed private servers. Players also find satisfaction in the game's exploration, combat, and building mechanics, which provide a rewarding experience when the technical issues are not the focus.
- Hope (weight 0.01): Hope is centered on the game's potential to become a great pirate game if it were to receive future updates or a sequel. Players believe in the strength of the core concept and wish for the developers to return and improve the game, despite its current abandoned state.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.01): Nostalgia is triggered by fond memories of playing the game with friends, especially during its early seasons or on private servers. Players miss the unique experience of sailing custom-built ships and the sense of adventure that the game provided, which has not been replicated elsewhere.
- Admiration (weight 0.01): Admiration is expressed for the game's ambitious scope, impressive map scale, and the depth of its content, which players feel is unmatched by other pirate games. Despite its flaws, the game is admired for what it attempted to achieve and the immersive world it created.
- Appreciation (weight 0.01): Appreciation is directed towards the modding community and private servers, which have kept the game alive and enjoyable. Players are grateful for the helpful community and the improved experiences offered by mods, which provide a better environment than the official servers.
- Fun (weight 0.01): The game is considered fun primarily when played with friends, with ship-to-ship combat and the overall gameplay experience providing entertainment. The social aspect of playing on a server together is a key factor in generating this positive feeling.
- Amusement (weight 0.01): Amusement arises from the game's ability to create absurd and humorous situations, such as bizarre deaths and player interactions. These memorable, often ridiculous events provided entertainment and led to a positive review despite the game's other issues.
- Confusion (weight 0): Confusion is caused by the game's lack of clear guidance, with poor tutorials and vague skill descriptions leaving players unsure of how to proceed. The game's contradictory state of being dead but still sold on Steam also contributes to this feeling.
- Disgust (weight 0): Disgust is a reaction to the game's unfinished and poorly optimized state, which is seen as a result of an incompetent and abandoning developer. The poor quality of core mechanics like crafting and building, combined with constant technical issues, leads to this strong negative feeling.
- Disapproval (weight 0): Disapproval is directed at the practice of selling an abandoned, early-access game at a high price, which is considered a scam. Players disapprove of the developer's decision to leave the game in a broken state while continuing to profit from it.
- Desire (weight 0): Desire is expressed for the game to be fully translated into other languages, such as Portuguese, and for the return of official support and servers. Players want the game to be more accessible and playable, hoping for improvements that would revive the experience.
- Preference (weight 0): Players express a preference for this game over ARK, particularly for group play, finding it a better experience in that context. This preference is based on the game's unique pirate theme and mechanics, which they find more enjoyable than ARK's.}