Steam Summer Sale Highlights

[magomago]

As I understand, that's Steam's doing, not the publishers.

I saw several reports of it.

Its not the developers that set pricing? My understanding was that Steam asks publishers to set sale prices (for those that want to participate) and it was up to the developers to do so.

Obviously Steam's interest is for a higher sale price, because their cut is based on a percentage of the total cost...but I don't see how they would tell Rockstar not to lower the price unless they have information that Rockstar's own Sales/Marketing team lacks regarding consumer buyer behavior (and that may very well be since steam has sales data for all games and can assess whatever it wants).

 

[Craig234]

Its not the developers that set pricing? My understanding was that Steam asks publishers to set sale prices (for those that want to participate) and it was up to the developers to do so.

Obviously Steam's interest is for a higher sale price, because their cut is based on a percentage of the total cost...but I don't see how they would tell Rockstar not to lower the price unless they have information that Rockstar's own Sales/Marketing team lacks regarding consumer buyer behavior (and that may very well be since steam has sales data for all games and can assess whatever it wants).

Developers set the prices they'll sell for, with guidance from Steam (one developer wrote about how he wanted to have a discount Steam 'strongly pressured him' to reduce.)

But the 'list price' and therefore the percent discount shown are things that apparently up to Steam.

Multiple posts said this. Devs didn't even know for sure if or when they'd be flash/daily deals.

 

[Craig234]

I will probably never buy a $50 or $60 dollar game ever again.

I've said for years the industry is causing a problem training customers not to spend that much.

When done right, a game with a higher sales point and customers who will pay it can have a larger budget that allows for a better game.

When no one will spend that, $60 games become $20 games, and that reduces the development resources. But competition leaves little room for $60 titles.

Of course the industry has found some ways around this - the 'free to play' model especially, with ongoing spending, and 'MMO' games always releasing new content.

Those can raise hundreds or more from many players. But one-time purchase price - lower.

 

[chubbyfatazn]

Metro Redux bundle ($10 for both Reduxes) wasn't a bad deal.

Ultimate General: Gettysburg for $3.74 as well.

Not much to write home about this sale, though. GTA5 was lame.

 

[werepossum]

It's kinda still going on. I just picked up Unity of Command: Stalingrad Campaign, an A list game (albeit for 2011) for $2.99, 85% off.

 

[clamum]

I was gonna buy Alien: Isolation yesterday but I had to do it on my cell phone cause I guess my work's firewall wouldn't let me login to Steam (though I could see the home page fine). Login page looked like it was stripped of CSS. Anyway, since I hadn't logging in on my phone before they had to send me an access code. Well, it was 5 hours later and the deal had expired by the time the email was sent. Fuckin bullshit... usually they're basically instant.

There were a ton of great deals though. I managed to not buy anyway cause I knew I'd never play the games (I still have a couple now that I haven't played yet and they were purchased months ago).

 

[poofyhairguy]

I've said for years the industry is causing a problem training customers not to spend that much.

When done right, a game with a higher sales point and customers who will pay it can have a larger budget that allows for a better game.

When no one will spend that, $60 games become $20 games, and that reduces the development resources. But competition leaves little room for $60 titles.

The way I see it, paying the full price to have it day one means you are basically paying extra to be a beta tester. Look at the new Batman game- day one and people are complaining about bugs galore. By the first time that game has a decent sale on steam all the issues are worked out. You pay less for a better first experience.

It's kinda still going on. I just picked up Unity of Command: Stalingrad Campaign, an A list game (albeit for 2011) for $2.99, 85% off.

Now we are back to daily deals. I feel like a junky I almost bought one with mixed reviews because I am having withdrawals.

 

[werepossum]

The way I see it, paying the full price to have it day one means you are basically paying extra to be a beta tester. Look at the new Batman game- day one and people are complaining about bugs galore. By the first time that game has a decent sale on steam all the issues are worked out. You pay less for a better first experience.

Now we are back to daily deals. I feel like a junky I almost bought one with mixed reviews because I am having withdrawals.

Yep. Sixty-seven games on sale, but half or so are pure craptastic, games that should be free and come with a bowl of soup. Some good ones at good prices though, for a daily deal.

Regarding initial price, I don't usually play anything immediately, but if they are games I want to support - say, Fallout - then I'm reasonably happen to pay it. I enjoy gaming; therefore I want it to be good for the developer and publisher too. And one other thing - who knows how many people buy a game for four or five bucks who wouldn't buy that game at a B&M for $19.95? Steam giveth and Steam taketh away.

 

[Face2Face]

Dying Light is back on sale @ IndieGala - Only $29

https://www.indiegala.com/store/product/dying-light/239140

 

[SERPENTINE]

Bought the Microsoft RTS pack. Couldn't decide what else to get, though Verdun looked really interesting.

The Microsoft RTS pack was awesome. I already had all of those games though. Age of Empires II is killer!:biggrin: I have Verdun. Verdun looks interesting, but it is no good :/

 

[shortylickens]

Picked up GRAV.


Its not so bad once you get the Harvester blueprint, collect some Element X and build decent weapons.

Its great when you finally get a wingsuit and monocycle.


If you wanna skip grinding/farming then just start a Solo game and use cheat codes.

"IAmACheater"
"CheatResources"

 

[shortylickens]

Game is even better when you have a Jetpack.

And they just added a multi-passenger fighter jet. I wont get it until my Pilot hits level 25. I think.

 

[shortylickens]

Picked up Craft The World.

Surprisingly fun.

 

[SunnyD]

Did Amazon ever have a summer game sale? I've been waiting for something of the sort, but I don't remember anything happening.

 

[xSkyDrAx]

Best game I picked up was Life is Strange. Best surprise game of the year for me.

 

[TheVrolok]

Best game I picked up was Life is Strange. Best surprise game of the year for me.

I got it during the sale and have only played the prologue as I want to get into it when I have some actual time to sit and play. Seems like it could be really good.

 

[futurefields]

Did Amazon ever have a summer game sale? I've been waiting for something of the sort, but I don't remember anything happening.

Haven't seen good Amazon pc games sale since like 2013

 

[magomago]

Developers set the prices they'll sell for, with guidance from Steam (one developer wrote about how he wanted to have a discount Steam 'strongly pressured him' to reduce.)

But the 'list price' and therefore the percent discount shown are things that apparently up to Steam.

Multiple posts said this. Devs didn't even know for sure if or when they'd be flash/daily deals.

I still see it in the hands of developers - if they control the price that the game is sold for, then it doesn't matter if Steam wants to inflate the list price so the % discount can look good.

As far as daily/flash sales...it works as I expected -- Devs list the prices they are willing to sell for, and Steam determines who makes it to the daily/flash sales.

 

[rivethead]

It would appear that Steam is having a mini-summer sale right now. Tons of stuff on sale.

Including Metro Last Light Redux for $4.99 which is well below the lowest price this title has ever sold for according to isthereanydeal.com

 

[Craig234]

It's a 'Steam OS' theme sale, and I'm not clear what SteamOS is.

 

[Subyman]

It's a 'Steam OS' theme sale, and I'm not clear what SteamOS is.

It is their linux OS that you can play certain steam games on. Deals aren't that great.

 

[shortylickens]

Also in November they will be coming out with hardware that runs Steam OS games specifically.

 

[Axon]

To me the Steam Sells are about really cheap games. AAA games in the $25-30 range are just not that good of a deal, they tend to go on sale for that price pretty regularly once they have been out a few months. So, I'm looking for games for under $5 that will entertain me for a few hours. If I get even a few hours out of of a $5 game I feel that I have gotten a hell of a deal.

I saw GTA V PC for like $35 last week on steam. And yeah, nothing beats a GOTY edition of a good title for like $7

 

[satsau]

Might pick up Ark. Does AT have an Ark tribe?