Hmm perhaps Mr Rambourg if sales are so bad why do GOG have one every weekend? If sales are terrible why do GOG give free games. I suspect this is just away of trying to ideologically justify ending GOG's weekend sales.
GOG Boss: "Heavy Discounts Are Bad for Gamers"
- Thread starter The Wooster
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I downloaded Fallout for free on GOG.com, not because it was free[footnote]Well okay, that did weigh in the reason why.[/footnote] but because I was interested to play this highly praised game.
You must be using the aussie online store.KeyMaster45 said:
Oh wait, $85 retail, $85 online using a shit service like Steam, whereas GOG don't price discriminate and already offer games for mere dollars, not accounting for the massive server costs that would take that up (think $1-2 per sale for a 500MB or so download).
Or using a Russian key, $30 usually, if the game's better than something from Blizzard where they keep the price perpetually high.
There is no ideology in making huge piles of cash.albino boo said:
He's referring to huge sales. If you can get it at 50% off, that 2/10 is going to start looking slightly better, if you can get it at 90% off, that 2 looks more like an 8 or 9. If you get it for free, well, you've got it.
The biggest problem with the market is that there are too many games out there, and a lot of them revolve around being similar to each other.
vxicepickxv said:
Oddly enough look at the GOG site, all mention of pervious weekend sales have vanished from their news side bar. I wonder why that happened shortly after the the guy running the company said sales are bad, got me stumped.
Oh God, the pain. I'm not alone. I look at my Steam account sometimes, and say, "why on earth did I buy that". And cheer myself up with, "the game I did want to own really badly, and did buy, was $60, not $4". And said game didn't really put me back economically or much prevent me from buying games I do love.
It's the oddest sensation, though. And those game purchases do pile up.
Steam, Steam fans, why did you do this to me? ;_;
It's the oddest sensation, though. And those game purchases do pile up.
Steam, Steam fans, why did you do this to me? ;_;
Bollocks. Buying anything is always a simple cost/benefit calculation. If you think something is worth £30 and it's on sale for £30 (or less) then you'll buy it. If you think it's only worth £10, then you won't buy it until it's reduced to that price. No-one is being "trained" to do anything, people are simply buying things at the price they think they're worth.Grey Carter said:
Wait, what? We're talking about GOG here. Their standard price for a game is already a 90% discount. It's some pretty incredible hypocrisy to criticise people for doing what you've based your entire business model on.
It's also some pretty incredibly stupidity - the major studios generate a hell of a lot more than half their revenue from full-price sales. Discounts happen when sales have already slumped off, and are there just to squeeze out a bit more cash from the people who didn't think a game was worth the original asking price (not counting marketing in the form of pre-order discounts and introductory offers of course). An 85% discount can't damage the long-term value of a game, because by the time you're offering that sort of discount the game doesn't have a long term-value. No-one is going to buy a game that's a few years old at full price. It's a choice between a big discount and making a bit of money, or no discount and no money at all.
But how can it be a bad sale for less then 5$, it would be bad if the game mailed me a turd in a bag but even if I didnt liked the game very much that wasnt really a bad problem because I paid so little for it.
For 2$ I am expecting at least 2$ worth of fun, usually even games that I dont like can give me more then that.
For 2$ I am expecting at least 2$ worth of fun, usually even games that I dont like can give me more then that.
So this guy wants games to be sold at, not at the price gamers want, but at the price they deserve?
I approve! I have loads of console games to finish before I take a crack at my Steam library. Hell I may just decide to forget that my Steam games even exist, it'd make it easier on my backlog at least XD
I approve! I have loads of console games to finish before I take a crack at my Steam library. Hell I may just decide to forget that my Steam games even exist, it'd make it easier on my backlog at least XD
If anyone needs me I'll be in the piracy dome.tthor said:
*canned laughter*
GoG isn't really a direct competitor, GoG has a very specific niche, so I doubt it's a dig at Steam directly. It's more of a cautionary tale for consumers, a caution in which responsibility lies in the hands of the distributor.ash-brewster said:
I think this is a perfect example of why context is a good thing, and how news titles are extremely bad at communicating it.
He's arguing that gamers should be more aware of the quality of what they spend money on, what it's perceived worth to them is (which, as gamers, we should all know is entirely subjective) and, most importantly, smart financing. He throws around sweeping statements about the psychology of spending without really backing them up, but what he says makes sense. If you don't know how to read articles, don't jump straight into the forums all guns blazing; you're just going to look like a tool.
He's arguing that gamers should be more aware of the quality of what they spend money on, what it's perceived worth to them is (which, as gamers, we should all know is entirely subjective) and, most importantly, smart financing. He throws around sweeping statements about the psychology of spending without really backing them up, but what he says makes sense. If you don't know how to read articles, don't jump straight into the forums all guns blazing; you're just going to look like a tool.
When I started using Steam more regularly, I got caught in the Steam Sale trap. I bought a ton of games on the Summer Sale of 2010, simply because there was a 75%, 80% discount, and now I have a whole bunch of games in my library that I probably won't ever play, since I lack the time and inclination.
I've since then changed my battle plan.
Edit: I'd like to add that I'm perfectly willing to pay full prices for some games, when they're released. I have all three Mass Effect CEs, I bought Skyrim on day one (I would've gotten the CE, but it was just ludicrously priced), the special edition of The Witcher 2. So it's not an issue of how much I'm willing to spend, but a question of balancing value and price, of how much value I'll place on some games.
That being said, I did impulse buy some games because they were on sale, and I wouldn't have thought to buy them otherwise. And I actually ended up playing and enjoying them. Batman: Arkham Asylum is one of them.
I've since then changed my battle plan.
Yeah, that's pretty much what I do now. I added a bunch of games to my wish list, and try to force myself to wait until they're on sale. I've also removed Steam from my Twitter feed and deactivated the popup with Steam news when I log on. I'm proud to say I'm a recovering Steam shopaholic! I even resisted buying AC:R last weekend (only -25%, I'm waiting until there's at least 50% off).Revolutionaryloser said:
Edit: I'd like to add that I'm perfectly willing to pay full prices for some games, when they're released. I have all three Mass Effect CEs, I bought Skyrim on day one (I would've gotten the CE, but it was just ludicrously priced), the special edition of The Witcher 2. So it's not an issue of how much I'm willing to spend, but a question of balancing value and price, of how much value I'll place on some games.
That being said, I did impulse buy some games because they were on sale, and I wouldn't have thought to buy them otherwise. And I actually ended up playing and enjoying them. Batman: Arkham Asylum is one of them.
I dont buy games on initial launch, and suprisingly it isnt because of :
Piracy - I used to pirate a lot but I found I didnt really enjoy my gaming as there was no value in the product, I didnt 'earn' it so didnt value it so much, so I buy my games now.
Used Games - I am a PC gamer , the vast majority of PC games are locked down to accounts... like Steam stuff.
Yes I wait for sales and discounts, not just for the drop in price but also for the DLC packs being free with the core game... the GOTY pack so to speak, that way I get the whole game and at a much nicer price.
The only games that dont have good enough specials are the CoD lot, but as I am STILL boycotting that series it hardly matters ( not that I hate the CoDs, but the PC version of CoD and the lack of PC features ).
The REAL reason there is harm to the games industry these days is that it is now MAINSTREAM, big business and mass produced... with all the interest and emotion invested at the same level as running a baked bean cannery.
It was much nicer when it was a geek thing and a niche industry no business would take seriously, especially after the collapse of the industry... customers were valued and care was taken to ensure that customers were happy, after all there wasnt masses to aim your hype at and most were rather savvy and would instantly put thier foot down should a publisher try anything shady.
These days there are so many customers that buy the hype that even trying to protest any shady exploitation is drowned in the masses, who for the most part are quiet ignorant...or rather one can say that the masses are used to exploitive revenue means from other business sectors, like movies or music so cant understand why games are different.
Piracy - I used to pirate a lot but I found I didnt really enjoy my gaming as there was no value in the product, I didnt 'earn' it so didnt value it so much, so I buy my games now.
Used Games - I am a PC gamer , the vast majority of PC games are locked down to accounts... like Steam stuff.
Yes I wait for sales and discounts, not just for the drop in price but also for the DLC packs being free with the core game... the GOTY pack so to speak, that way I get the whole game and at a much nicer price.
The only games that dont have good enough specials are the CoD lot, but as I am STILL boycotting that series it hardly matters ( not that I hate the CoDs, but the PC version of CoD and the lack of PC features ).
The REAL reason there is harm to the games industry these days is that it is now MAINSTREAM, big business and mass produced... with all the interest and emotion invested at the same level as running a baked bean cannery.
It was much nicer when it was a geek thing and a niche industry no business would take seriously, especially after the collapse of the industry... customers were valued and care was taken to ensure that customers were happy, after all there wasnt masses to aim your hype at and most were rather savvy and would instantly put thier foot down should a publisher try anything shady.
These days there are so many customers that buy the hype that even trying to protest any shady exploitation is drowned in the masses, who for the most part are quiet ignorant...or rather one can say that the masses are used to exploitive revenue means from other business sectors, like movies or music so cant understand why games are different.
Let me see if I get his point. Deeply discounted games are bad because consumers are morons who can't control their spending, and being able to play more games for the same amount of money is bad for us because we wouldn't have bought them if the price was higher.
Yep, I'm really seeing how all of this is bad for us mindless dron... er, I mean, informed consumers.
Seriously, this is possibly the dumbest argument I've seen in a while. Most consumers aren't idiots, sales don't force them to buy anything, and experiencing more games for the same money is not bad for consumers.
Yep, I'm really seeing how all of this is bad for us mindless dron... er, I mean, informed consumers.
Seriously, this is possibly the dumbest argument I've seen in a while. Most consumers aren't idiots, sales don't force them to buy anything, and experiencing more games for the same money is not bad for consumers.
How to buy games on sale on Steam (or any other digital distribution platform) without suffering "Steam shame":
Step 1: Find games you want, regardless of whether they are on sale.
Step 2: When you find a game you want, add it to your wishlist.
Step 3: Periodically check your wishlist to see if any of the games you want are on sale.
Step 4: Buy the games you want when they go on sale. (Every game on Steam eventually goes on sale.)
Step 5: ???
Step 6: Profit!
Step 1: Find games you want, regardless of whether they are on sale.
Step 2: When you find a game you want, add it to your wishlist.
Step 3: Periodically check your wishlist to see if any of the games you want are on sale.
Step 4: Buy the games you want when they go on sale. (Every game on Steam eventually goes on sale.)
Step 5: ???
Step 6: Profit!