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General discussion (archive)GOG says big sales are bad for gamers.(259 posts)(259 posts)
(259 posts)
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This is my favourite topic
Posted April 08, 2012
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spinefarm: That is why Steam can afford those sales :) They are overpicing it at first... and then people say: Yey good Steam...making so many sales for us :)
Um... the developers set the prices for the games ... how else do you explain that they are usually the same price across all portals?

And there are quite a number of articles out there explaining how sales are actually good for the income of a developer, despite it being sold for less during that sale. It has even been mentioned in this thread several times.

And if Gillaume 'really' had a problem with the way Steam sells their games they probably wouldn't have made a Mac version for Steam only wouldn't you think? ;)
Post edited April 08, 2012 by Pheace
Posted April 08, 2012
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spinefarm: That is why Steam can afford those sales :) They are overpicing it at first... and then people say: Yey good Steam...making so many sales for us :)
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Pheace: Um... the developers set the prices for the games ... how else do you explain that they are usually the same price across all portals?

And there are quite a number of articles out there explaining how sales are actually good for the income of a developer, despite it being sold for less during that sale. It has even been mentioned in this thread several times.

And if Gillaume 'really' had a problem with the way Steam sells their games they probably wouldn't have made a Mac version for Steam only wouldn't you think? ;)
Um developers set the prices... Steam can set the difference for the pricedrops out of the devs wallet.
You should try asking how big markets work and you will understand what I mean...
And you don't believe Gabe will come out and tell you what are the contracts with Ubisoft/2K Games or the other Publishers.
Posted April 08, 2012
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spinefarm: Um developers set the prices... Steam can set the difference for the pricedrops out of the devs wallet.
What part of 'Sales have been proven beneficial to the developer' are you trying to deny here? Or am I misunderstanding something?
Posted April 08, 2012
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spinefarm: Um developers set the prices... Steam can set the difference for the pricedrops out of the devs wallet.
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Pheace: What part of 'Sales have been proven beneficial to the developer' are you trying to deny here? Or am I misunderstanding something?
Read my last 3-4 posts go to some shop like Walmart and look around. Then go to a smaller shop and you will see what is my point ;)
Posted April 08, 2012
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spinefarm: Read my last 3-4 posts go to some shop like Walmart and look around. Then go to a smaller shop and you will see what is my point ;)
So ... you're not going to explain your point? There's no Walmart here.

But, going off the Southpark episode of it, I assume you mean it's detrimental to smaller businesses because they can't compete (because the customers chose to go Wallmart... which the soutpark episode made quite obvious with the 'let's not make that mistake again' at the end).

So, your complaint is not that it's bad for the developers (the products on the shelf) but that it's bad for GOG because they are still small?
Posted April 08, 2012
They do have a point I have often bought a lot of games that I still haven't played from the Steam xmas sales over the years.

But I'm sure if people are honest many of us have done this it's all part of feeling like you have got a bargain and we like our virtual games libaries.
Posted April 08, 2012
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spinefarm: Read my last 3-4 posts go to some shop like Walmart and look around. Then go to a smaller shop and you will see what is my point ;)
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Pheace: So ... you're not going to explain your point? There's no Walmart here.

But, going off the Southpark episode of it, I assume you mean it's detrimental to smaller businesses because they can't compete (because the customers chose to go Wallmart... which the soutpark episode made quite obvious with the 'let's not make that mistake again' at the end).

So, your complaint is not that it's bad for the developers (the products on the shelf) but that it's bad for GOG because they are still small?
Both to be honest. It is bad for small shops cause they kill them with prices... And it is bad for devs with the same reason.
Nowdays devs can choose only one digital distributor and that is Steam. Trust me they know how to sign contracts and how to make profit from that.
Mostly smaller publishers/dev studios suffer from this,but I keep my hope for some shop(why not GOG) become a contender for #1 spot.
Posted April 08, 2012
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Righteous_Angel: They do have a point I have often bought a lot of games that I still haven't played from the Steam xmas sales over the years.

But I'm sure if people are honest many of us have done this it's all part of feeling like you have got a bargain and we like our virtual games libaries.
I also have quite a number of games I haven't or have barely played so far, but are they bad games? I don't think so. Most of my gaming library was carefully selected (or digital version of something I had on disc before). If anything the games I haven't played I have doubts about whether they are good are the ones I got in the Indie bundles that have been coming out in bulk lately which has nothing particular to do with Steam.
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spinefarm: Both to be honest. It is bad for small shops cause they kill them with prices... And it is bad for devs with the same reason.
Nowdays devs can choose only one digital distributor and that is Steam. Trust me they know how to sign contracts and how to make profit from that.
Mostly smaller publishers/dev studios suffer from this,but I keep my hope for some shop(why not GOG) become a contender for #1 spot.
So yes, you are denying all the proof out there that Steam sales have actually proven beneficial to developers *especially* the smaller ones.
Post edited April 08, 2012 by Pheace
Posted April 08, 2012
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Pheace: So yes, you are denying all the proof out there that Steam sales have actually proven beneficial to developers *especially* the smaller ones.
You still don't get how shops big like Steam work.
If you are a dev what will you choose as main shop to sell your product:
A)Popular shop like Steam
B)Desura
C)GOG
D)GamersGate

Yes you will choose Steam cause they are the biggest out there. But(there is always but) when you go to Valve(Gabe) they say to you: This is how this works... We sell your game.You cover all the discounts we make from your profit. Take it or leave it.

Do you think Gabe will come out and say this to do the public? If you say yes you are an ignorant fool...
Posted April 08, 2012
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spinefarm: This is how this works... We sell your game.You cover all the discounts we make from your profit. Take it or leave it.
Steam gets a percentage of the sale ... of course the developer gets less per copy when the game goes on sale, and so does Steam ...

Regardless of those commonly understood things, they are still good for small developers, regardless of that, and *that* is what is written in the articles. There's several around where Small developer shave come out and said so. Or are you now going to say they are being forced to say those things as well?
Posted April 08, 2012
I only purchase games on Steam when they are on sale and there's one reason for this; They are up to 40% more expensive on Steam compared to retail and since I don't own an optical drive anymore, I gotta wait for a sale.

I'll be a cold day in hell before I buy a game for 50€ / 60€.
Steam = Epic ripoff.
Post edited April 08, 2012 by bouncedk
Posted April 08, 2012
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spinefarm: This is how this works... We sell your game.You cover all the discounts we make from your profit. Take it or leave it.
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Pheace: Steam gets a percentage of the sale ... of course the developer gets less per copy when the game goes on sale, and so does Steam ...

Regardless of those commonly understood things, they are still good for small developers, regardless of that, and *that* is what is written in the articles. There's several around where Small developer shave come out and said so. Or are you now going to say they are being forced to say those things as well?
Do you happen to see a contract between Steam and a smaller pub/dev?

Yes they make good profit to survive not to grow up.
Can you explain me why Faerie Solitaire & Lucid developers spread those keys like that? Both games were on sale....If they are happy with the money they make from Steam...they will never do such a thing :) Just there is no logic in giving away something when it sells good....
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bouncedk: I only purchase games on Steam when they are on sale and there's one reason for this; They are up to 40% more expensive on Steam compared to retail and since I don't own an optical drive anymore, I gotta wait for a sale.

I'll be a cold day in hell before I buy a game for 50€ / 60€.
Steam = Epic ripoff.
And that is the strangest part. Retail games are cheaper than digital. But yet to make a retail copy you spend more money than digital...
Post edited April 08, 2012 by spinefarm
Posted April 08, 2012
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spinefarm: Do you happen to see a contract between Steam and a smaller pub/dev?
How is that relevant unless you're claiming the small Developer making the statements is lying?
And that is the strangest part. Retail games are cheaper than digital. But yet to make a retail copy you spend more money than digital...
Anyone who understands 'large markets' and digital versus retail in a world separated by countries and economic zones understands that it's not that simple.

As long as developers/publishers aren't willing to give up retail sales/advertising, then they'll have to allow retail to compete with digital sales. And they can do that easily since retailers simply purchase the game at a certain price and are almost free to sell it for whatever they want after that. Whereas digital retailers are in a direct relation with the publishers and have to wait for the publisher to give the go-ahead on price drops.

But a retailer is not going to stock a game if Digital sales undercuts them too much, which will loose the publisher both sales and instore advertisement.
Post edited April 08, 2012 by Pheace
Posted April 08, 2012
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spinefarm: Do you happen to see a contract between Steam and a smaller pub/dev?
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Pheace: How is that relevant unless you're claiming the small Developer making the statements is lying?
And that is the strangest part. Retail games are cheaper than digital. But yet to make a retail copy you spend more money than digital...
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Pheace: Anyone who understands 'large markets' and digital versus retail in a world separated by countries and economic zones understands that it's not that simple.

As long as developers/publishers aren't willing to give up retail sales/advertising, then they'll have to allow retail to compete with digital sales. And retailers can do that far easier since they simply purchase the game at a certain price and are almost free to sell it for whatever they want after that. Whereas digital retailers are in a direct relation with the publishers and have to wait for the publisher to give the go-ahead on price drops.
No point in arguing with you. You still believe that Steam is oh so good about pricing and price drops and that they don't have a word about it :) Live in a lie and be happy about it :)

And you didn't answer this:
"Can you explain me why Faerie Solitaire & Lucid developers spread those keys like that? Both games were on sale....If they are happy with the money they make from Steam...they will never do such a thing :) Just there is no logic in giving away something when it sells good.... "
Post edited April 08, 2012 by spinefarm
Posted April 08, 2012
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spinefarm: And you didn't answer this:
"Can you explain me why Faerie Solitaire & Lucid developers spread those keys like that? Both games were on sale....If they are happy with the money they make from Steam...they will never do such a thing :) Just there is no logic in giving away something when it sells good.... "
Advertising, what else ... Explain to me why they just added a 4-pack on Steam and a MAC version if they had no interest in selling it on Steam .... lol... *sigh*
This is the game: Faerie Solitaire on Steam

Some reviews here: link link2

We added a 4-pack on Steam for $9.99 so if you don't have the game and want to give a few copies to a your friends this is a really great deal.

If you have a Mac: grab a key! Faerie Solitaire for Mac should be live on Steam any day now (with Steam achievements). If you buy a copy/redeem a key you will get the Mac version added to your account once it goes live.

To get your key send a PM to the Subsoap reddit account. Keep it simple as no one will be reading those PMs and the bot doesn't care what you send (have fun). Your account must be older than one day. This is to make sure keys only go to the reddit community as last time they were posted on other big forums and got used up fast. Hopefully this giveaway works without any problems and everyone here who wants a key gets one! :)

Only one key per account.
The bot will be reading the PMs sent to it, and is not very intelligent. Its mail is private and no one else will be reading it.
Your account must be older than one day to get a key sent to you. If you are a lurker without an account better luck next time.
It could take up to several hours to get a key. Just do the math.
I will edit this line when all 50,000 keys are used up. It has a long ways to go in sending all of the keys yet!

Reddit user kurtschwarz wrote the bot which is giving away the keys this time. If you are a developer and want to do a giveaway like this in the future you can use the source as a base to your bot just be sure to follow the reddit api guidelines or your bot will surely be banned.

Thanks to: kurtschwarz

A few days ago we announced Faerie Solitaire 2 pre-purchasing while it is IN DEV. The rare edition is really a 5-pack (all copies will include Steam keys when the full version of FS2 goes on Steam in 2-3 months) and comes with a free deck of cards. If you like Faerie Solitaire already this game is for you, and it will be availabe to you DRM free on all platforms we can provide it on.

We will run out of keys here in about 24 hours most likely. If you have a Steam account with other $50 worth of games on it already then you will qualify for an additional 25k key giveaway we are doing here.

If you would like a copy of the DRM-free build of Faerie Solitaire for Windows or Mac send me a PM with your e-mail address and whichever version you want (if you don't say I assume Windows).

Please enjoy the game! :)

<3

Brian
You're absolutely right, it sounds like Steam is really bad for them.... Nothing to do with Faery Solitaire 2 preorder just coming up or anything .. [Sarcasm, if you hadn't noticed]
Post edited April 08, 2012 by Pheace
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This is my favourite topic
Community
General discussion (archive)GOG says big sales are bad for gamers.(259 posts)(259 posts)
(259 posts)