Steam is crazy

[whaleswiththumbs]

Note this isn't a Stema hate thread, just something i just noticed about it. Steam hate threads can go - to hell.

Steam usually provides the cheap prices compared to Reatail stores around me, usually like $10 off the game. But I still looks for PC games everytime i go to the store, I noticed that Fallout 3, which sadly i still haven't got, at my nearby (one of 4 in town) Wal-Mart sells it for $20, while steam is still at release price of $50. I figure it's just a small thing that the Steam-folks overlooked, but still, thats my extra $30 i could buy another game with.

Your thoughts on this?

 

[TimeLord]

Note this isn't a Stema hate thread, just something i just noticed about it. Steam hate threads can go - to hell.

Steam usually provides the cheap prices compared to Reatail stores around me, usually like $10 off the game. But I still looks for PC games everytime i go to the store, I noticed that Fallout 3, which sadly i still haven't got, at my nearby (one of 4 in town) Wal-Mart sells it for $20, while steam is still at release price of $50. I figure it's just a small thing that the Steam-folks overlooked, but still, thats my extra $30 i could buy another game with.

Your thoughts on this?

You are overlooking the fact that people still buy it from Steam.

P.S I got my copy from Steam when they made it half price

 

[TheFacelessOne]

I feel that it is slightly justified, seeing as it's a terrific game.

 

[Mentalgen]

also, the $50 one on steam has all the DLC with it. The walmart one is just the game, sans DLC.

 

[iJosh]

It's not crazy. Either they forgot to update their retail prices on steam or they're just making profit out of people who just stay home and buy games off of steam.

 

[Mentalgen]

still doesn't really strike me as a game i'd buy mind you.

 

[Corpse XxX]

Its tactics, they have some games really cheap, and the rest a higher price tag on..
This is for trying to fool us into thinking that everything is cheap on Steam, that we couldnt be bothered comparing their prizes to anyone else.

But i dont care really, i have gotten the one game that i want from Steam.. That is TF2..
And it was super cheap

 

[Nugma]

Steam doesn't try to compete with their prices, so really the only time you'd want to buy from steam (Normal retail games that is) is when they have their prices reduced(Weekend deals etc)

 

[Snowalker]

Solution: Get the one at the store.

Yeah, this is what I thought... sometimes people complicate things too much.

Edit:

also, the $50 one on steam has all the DLC with it. The walmart one is just the game, sans DLC.

If thats the case, Steam is giving you the orginal Fallout 3 for free, cause the DLC's cost ten each.

 

[Superlordbasil]

apparently retails are also a bit paranoid about being undercut by digital prices (understandably i guess) they tend to threaten on-line distribution by refusing to sell the game. I believe PSP is having this problem right now in fact.

 

[The Rogue Wolf]

Brick-and-mortar stores will sometimes attempt to dump excess physical inventory by cutting prices ahead of the curve. Steam, not dealing in physical inventory, doesn't need to resort to this tactic.

Unfortunately, a quick Google search shows me that it doesn't seem to be possible to register a retail copy of F3 on Steam. However, with that kind of savings it might be worth the trouble to get the physical copy anyway.

 

[Daveman]

I only buy games off steam when they're discounted

 

[Lord George]

New games on steam are stupidly overpriced in the UK as in nearly all cases you can get the game £5-£10 cheaper and with a box, disc and manual off of Play.com or Amazon.UK I thought the whole point of digital distribution was that games could be sold cheaper because they didn't require all the package, manufacturing or distributing of discs.

But for old games or good sales they're alright.

 

[kinky257]

Notice how on steam only Valve games seem to have consistently lower prices and frequent sales on them? This is because publishers set the prices (according to valve and a few other companies during the 1 Euro = 1 Dollar controversy) and many publishers consider digital distribution secondary to retail, so they rarely adjust the prices on it.

Brick-and-mortar stores will sometimes attempt to dump excess physical inventory by cutting prices ahead of the curve. Steam, not dealing in physical inventory, doesn't need to resort to this tactic.

Because of this there's a prevailing opinion among publishers (can't remember where i read this) that being a digital download it's value never depreciates, because its not taking up any physical space.

For example COD4 is still full retail price of £29.99 two years after its release and at one point i recall it costing £49.99 or so, this is probably where the current retail price hike is coming from, the people who bought it for that price on steam.

 

[feversk]

To quote a famous video game character:

"Man, I LOVE Steam!"

But seriously, most of the prices are ridiculous. The price difference between different regions doesn't help.

 

[Sven und EIN HUND]

Naming the thread "Steam is crazy" is quite a provocative way of getting replies good sir . But yeah, this is just and oversight, most of Steam's catalogue is great value, maybe some isn't... But eh.

 

[DazZ.]

The prices are either really good, or well overpriced, depending on the game and how long it's been out.

Usually the deals they have are really good though, Dawn of War II for £10 today for example.

 

[Arehexes]

Note this isn't a Stema hate thread, just something i just noticed about it. Steam hate threads can go - to hell.

Steam usually provides the cheap prices compared to Reatail stores around me, usually like $10 off the game. But I still looks for PC games everytime i go to the store, I noticed that Fallout 3, which sadly i still haven't got, at my nearby (one of 4 in town) Wal-Mart sells it for $20, while steam is still at release price of $50. I figure it's just a small thing that the Steam-folks overlooked, but still, thats my extra $30 i could buy another game with.

Your thoughts on this?

I know what you mean, I bought portal for 10 bucks at gamestop while it was 20 on steam

 

[SenseOfTumour]

Yeah, Steam has some nutty pricing, but then, go to almost any store in town and you'll find some cheap things and some mentally overpriced stuff, I have a store near me with old PS2 games still marked up at £29.99.

Yet they'll have PS3 and 360 games selling for under half that.

 

[Abedeus]

You live in America. And you are crying about Steam?

Wolfenstein on Steam costs 60 EUR in Europe. No, I am not kidding. It's only about 30 EUR in UK or 33 EUR in America, if you convert the prices to one currency.