Steam - can they really keep it up?

[Purkki]

I remember Gabe saying something about how a product's sales get doubled (or even 4x) when they are on sale. And that is why they shoot deals at us with a minigun.

 

[Treblaine]

My computer is brand spanking new (I let down the side by going Alienware but I'm happy with it so fuck the haters ).

ALERT ALERT!

This instantly sets my warning alarms off, new computers (ALL OF THEM) are loaded up with so much crapware "new" is no guarantee at all with stability.

Which is why the first thing I did was reformat and do a fresh install of Win7 I may have bought Alienware, but I'm not a computer noob

Edit: Also using Win7 64. Installed programs are Steam, Kaspersky Internet Security 2011 (with program exceptions for Steam, Steamupdate and all Steam apps), Adobe Photoshop, Google Chrome and Windows Live Essentials (Mail only). That is all.

Good.

Still, take personal client issues to Steam Support Forums. Not here.

Because what your describe is no where near widespread enough for use to have a serious conversation about whether Steam is going to collapse.

 

[Treblaine]

Is it still possible to use http://www.steamcalculator.com/ since they removed the URL from the client? It's blocked at work so can't get on there.

Sites like that made me put my account private... after I searched my own page and discovered how much it was worth.

Yeah, I don't like the idea of any hacker/cracker knowing how much my account is worth.

 

[Treblaine]

*insert penis joke here*

OT: I've not noticed any problems, really. But their deals are slowly fading in importance to me. Hell, I haven't seen a deal on a game I actually want and don't have in... ages.

Wouldn't that be because you've already bought all of them during earlier sales?

I have bought so many games I've lost track. I'd get so excited about a game being on sale, go to the buy page and:

"you already own this game"

My Face When:

 

[Anjel]

Good.

Still, take personal client issues to Steam Support Forums. Not here.

Because what your describe is no where near widespread enough for use to have a serious conversation about whether Steam is going to collapse.

Are you ever reading my posts? If not you really should before you comment, otherwise you look real stupid. And that isn't to say you look real stupid right now... but, yeah, I'll leave you with that.

As I said, several of the problems I've mentioned are discussed on Steam forums as well as other gaming forums. One isn't. That one could be a problem with my ISP/computer/particular install of the Steam client which I accepted in my original message.

Never, in all of the replies in this thread, did I say that I thought that Steam was going to collapse. Please read through and quote me if I am wrong. I asked for opinions in my original message and all are appreciated... even yours, but please get your story straight otherwise the things you're saying carry no weight because they are in response to a conversation that is not taking place.

I think you need a hug or something

 

[Cpl.Flint]

Whats happened is the deals are becoming such a part of valve that they have begun to slip into valve time. It shall get later and later until the christmas deals are happening in june until it comes full circle back to christmas with its lateness.

 

[Treblaine]

Never, in all of the replies in this thread, did I say that I thought that Steam was going to collapse. Please read through and quote me if I am wrong.

Am I concerned that Steam may collapse? Yes

 

[Anjel]

snip

I never said that Steam was going to collapse, it is an open question. Am I concerned that Steam may collapse? Yes, but I do not think it likely, I think it is more likely that they will damage their reputation which will lower what stake they have in the digital distribution market, but I am not even saying that I think that WILL happen.

I get it now, you're a troll. I didn't even realise - that is how much of a bad troll you are lol! Nice try though.

 

[fundayz]

I get it now, you're a troll. I didn't even realise - that is how much of a bad troll you are lol! Nice try though.

Someone doesn't know the difference between "may" and "will" apparently.

Anyway, Steam works just as good as ever, if not better. The scheduled deals moving back or getting slightly delayed have 0 impact on Valve or Steam's reputation. They are already the most popular and generous digital distribution service.

 

[Treblaine]

snip

I never said that Steam was going to collapse, it is an open question. Am I concerned that Steam may collapse? Yes, but I do not think it likely, I think it is more likely that they will damage their reputation which will lower what stake they have in the digital distribution market, but I am not even saying that I think that WILL happen.

I get it now, you're a troll. I didn't even realise - that is how much of a bad troll you are lol! Nice try though.

Read the forums rules, accusation of trolling is prohibited. For good reason.

You have repeatedly cast aspersions unfairly onto Steam when you know full well most of the forums users here prefer consoles, you are stirring trouble and flame-baiting for the PC bashing console fanboys.

I quite correctly pointed out that you were thinking about a collapse. You said "unlikely" but yet you still think it is likely enough to be "concerned". That's a contradiction in terms.

Make yourself clear, you seem to flip-flop your opinion with constant double-talk.

 

[Anjel]

Read the forums rules, accusation of trolling is prohibited. For good reason.

You have repeatedly cast aspersions unfairly onto Steam when you know full well most of the forums users here prefer consoles, you are stirring trouble and flame-baiting for the PC bashing console fanboys.

I quite correctly pointed out that you were thinking about a collapse. You said "unlikely" but yet you still think it is likely enough to be "concerned". That's a contradiction in terms.

Make yourself clear, you seem to flip-flop your opinion with constant double-talk.

I did not realise that accusations of trolling were prohibited, and as you have pointed this out I apologise for the accusation. You're not a troll, you just do not understand what I am trying to put across although the other 20 or so people who have replied do.

While we're discussing the forums rules however;

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but no one is entitled to attack others for sharing, or not sharing, that opinion.

I love Steam, I am a huge fan of Steam. I have only reiterated what other people have been saying about the service lately, only I 'nice-ified' it as I'm a fan of Steam, and I asked for Escapist readers thoughts on the matter.

I never said that I thought Steam was going to collapse. Am I concerned that they may collapse? Yes. Do I think Steam are going to collapse? No. Is that clear enough for you?

 

[Jesus Phish]

Cant say I've noticed it having any more lag since they've introduced daily deals.

Have not bought a daily deal yet, but I'm sure in time they'll put something up that will draw my interest. I don't think they've shot themselves in the foot with it.

 

[Griffolion]

This is for Steam users mainly, but I appreciate others comments as well. Just want to know if I'm the only one who has noticed any differences.

So in my opinion, Valve may have shot itself in the foot with the volume of deals they're launching. I've been using Steam since Half Life 2 was released but it is only over the past two years or so I've started buying games on there. It used to run like clockwork, I'd get home on a Wednesday night, load up Steam at 6pm (UK) and would be presented with an advertisement for Midweek Madness and whatever deal they were offering. Friday nights were Weekend Deal and various different concepts for the festive period, summer deals and the regular school holidays (or so it would seem).

Very recently they have launched the daily deals and it seems since then they have been struggling to launch the deals on time, Midweek Madness and Weekend Deals seem to have moved back a day, they have been marking down the wrong games/advertising the wrong games and the 'preparing download' window seems to take a lot longer to complete (although this may just be something my end).

Is all of the administration work that goes into the deals (and the money) finally getting to them or am I noticing things that are mere blips on your average Steam users radar?

I really hope Steam keeps going, I don't want to sound like a pandering fanboy, but it's really revolutionised the way I've played games on my PC. Also, the connected community is fantastic to play with. So it's all cool to me. If an offer is on, great I'll go for it. But I also believe in paying full price for good games devs have worked hard to create, so I'll always pay the price.

 

[Bags159]

I think they can keep it up, they've realised, before the rest of the industry, that after about 6 months or so, sales of a title are virtually nothing.

Therefore a 75% sale is actually more profit than charging full price, especially with the negligible costs of digital distribution.

Say a game has dropped to maybe 10 sales a month after its peak period, so they chuck it out for 75% off for a weekend

10 x£30 = £ 300
200x£ 7.50= £1500

Without having any facts to back it up, I'd suggest that's an understatement in terms of sales on discounted titles.

Gabe said in a video conference with a highschool class that a 75% sale results in 400% more sales revenue.

I remember Gabe saying something about how a product's sales get doubled (or even 4x) when they are on sale. And that is why they shoot deals at us with a minigun.

 

[Anjel]

it's really revolutionised the way I've played games on my PC.

This is the best way to sum up my feelings about it as well. I used to have stacks and stacks of games on my shelf. Now I have about 100 games that take up no space that I can download as I wish. My shelf looks a little bare, any ideas what I can fill it with?

 

[Treblaine]

I never said that I thought Steam was going to collapse. Am I concerned that they may collapse? Yes. Do I think Steam are going to collapse? No. Is that clear enough for you?

No.

How can you be concerned about something you don't think is going to happen? Make sense damn it.

You could say
"I WOULD be concerned IF Steam DID collapse, or if it showed signs of collapsing"

Is THAT what you mean? Because you haven't actually said that yet.

 

[4RM3D]

The only thing I wish to mention here is the Portal 2 release. On steam you could buy the game for 45 euro pre-order (normal price 50 euro). On the day the game finally came out, my local retailer was selling the game for 33 euro. And it's not just Portal 2. Lot of times the games are cheaper in store than on Steam.

Steam is overpriced. They are cutting away 'the middle man' and you get nothing in return except 24/7 availability. These deals on Steam are at least a step in the right direction. But overall I'm not yet satisfied with how Steam handles things.

 

[Griffolion]

it's really revolutionised the way I've played games on my PC.

This is the best way to sum up my feelings about it as well. I used to have stacks and stacks of games on my shelf. Now I have about 100 games that take up no space that I can download as I wish. My shelf looks a little bare, any ideas what I can fill it with?

Exactly, we can go with the whole minimal look! But yeah, 30+ games that I can play without changing CD's? If that's not a reason to come back to the PC, I don't know what is.

 

[Anjel]

I never said that I thought Steam was going to collapse. Am I concerned that they may collapse? Yes. Do I think Steam are going to collapse? No. Is that clear enough for you?

No.

How can you be concerned about something you don't think is going to happen? Make sense damn it.

You could say
"I WOULD be concerned IF Steam DID collapse, or if it showed signs of collapsing"

Is THAT what you mean? Because you haven't actually said that yet.

What is this a fucking English lesson? Everyone else has understood what I was saying, whether they agreed with me or not. You are the only one who is saying that they have a problem with it so far. Does that not lead you to believe that you're making a big deal out of nothing?

If you have a problem with my writing style or my use of English may I suggest picking another thread to poke around in, there is much worse on these forums than how I have worded my post.

 

[EllEzDee]

Their "daily deals" are mostly shitty games at average/below average prices. Evil Genius is good, but they won't keep that quality up. "Big Rig Mother Truckers" and whatever other crap is stuck to the bottom of the Steam barrel is what they deliver as "daily bargins".