A "Steam"ing pile of money

[Aramax]

Give me a sign if you think you are spending way more money on Steam video games compared to the good old days of Steam.

It seems like I just keep refueling my steam wallet months after months these days because I started to worry about those sweet discounts never showing up ever again... and it got me thinking about something; What are the factors that comes into play when those discounts are decided?

If anyone know how those discounts are even made to begin with let me know. I know it's not entirely in the hands of the developers and Valve has a say in what games get discounted and when but I don't know the details.

[AmsterdamHeavy]

Developers realized after years of $5 sales that they dont need to do that any longer. Age does not usually detract from the enjoyment or playability of a game.

Im playing through another version of Sleeping Dogs currently. Its over 10 years old and still a well made and playable game and worth the $20 list price.

[lsdninja]

I have a market restriction on my account, heh.

[Aramax]

Publicado originalmente por AmsterdamHeavy:

Developers realized after years of $5 sales that they dont need to do that any longer. Age does not usually detract from the enjoyment or playability of a game.

Im playing through another version of Sleeping Dogs currently. Its over 10 years old and still a well made and playable game and worth the $20 list price.

You should try Aquaria, it's one of the greatest forgotten gems here on Steam. It has not been discounted in ages for some reasons.

Also i'm currently playing Underrail since they had a major update with a new DLC recently.

[Start_Running]

Actuawlly it is entirely in the hands of the dev/pubs. Valve has literally no say in which games go on discount. and very little say in how much they are discounted and when.

Basically multiples of 5 and the price can't be lower that 50c.
And the title can't be on sale for more than 2 weeks before getting a sale cooldown.

Beyond that its basically up to the internal decisions for any given dev/pub,.

[Aramax]

Publicado originalmente por Start_Running:

Actuawlly it is entirely in the hands of the dev/pubs. Valve has literally no say in which games go on discount. and very little say in how much they are discounted and when.

Basically multiples of 5 and the price can't be lower that 50c.
And the title can't be on sale for more than 2 weeks before getting a sale cooldown.

Beyond that its basically up to the internal decisions for any given dev/pub,.

What about special sales like Spring, Halloween or Christmas sales? I'm guessing Valve ask in advance the different game developers if they want to offer some discounts on some of their games.

From what I gather the developers who offer big discounts during those event get a considerable boost on their sales and it's a good way to earn big if the game worth it. Some developers even lower the global price of their game so the discount attract even more potential buyers.

I've seen some patterns emerge with time like a certain type of game goes in discount like tactical RPG and at the same time some of the lesser known tactical RPG games out there will be heavily discounted or even offered in bundles and it makes me hesitate between one or the other.

I doubt the game developers stay in front of their computer waiting for the other game developers to make a move and go ballistic on those discounts... there has to be some sort marketing strategy here.

[Nx Machina]

Publicado originalmente por Aramax:

I know it's not entirely in the hands of the developers and Valve has a say in what games get discounted and when but I don't know the details.

:Blacktail:

Entirely on the developer, publisher.

https://partner.steamgames.com/doc/store/pricing

Partners on Steam are responsible for setting and managing pricing for their products.

Note: This includes when their 3rd party game goes on sale and what the percentage of the discount is.

[Start_Running]

Publicado originalmente por Aramax:

Publicado originalmente por Start_Running:

Actuawlly it is entirely in the hands of the dev/pubs. Valve has literally no say in which games go on discount. and very little say in how much they are discounted and when.

Basically multiples of 5 and the price can't be lower that 50c.
And the title can't be on sale for more than 2 weeks before getting a sale cooldown.

Beyond that its basically up to the internal decisions for any given dev/pub,.

What about special sales like Spring, Halloween or Christmas sales? I'm guessing Valve ask in advance the different game developers if they want to offer some discounts on some of their games.

Game developers opt in and those events aren't counted towards the two week rule. Thats about it. They send out reminders, devs set up their discounts for the event in advance and.. yeah that's that.

Publicado originalmente por Aramax:

From what I gather the developers who offer big discounts during those event get a considerable boost on their sales and it's a good way to earn big if the game worth it. Some developers even lower the global price of their game so the discount attract even more potential buyers.

Yeah. but hears the thing. those discounts are never on the cash cows,. The big earners. They tend to be on the older games that are past their prime. As said. each dev has their own pricing strategy.

Publicado originalmente por Aramax:

I've seen some patterns emerge with time like a certain type of game goes in discount like tactical RPG and at the same time some of the lesser known tactical RPG games out there will be heavily discounted or even offered in bundles and it makes me hesitate between one or the other.

You can find patterns in any random distribution of data.

Publicado originalmente por Aramax:

I doubt the game developers stay in front of their computer waiting for the other game developers to make a move and go ballistic on those discounts... there has to be some sort marketing strategy here.

They don't. Many have their sales time tables planned a year or so in advance