The STEAM Sales and Releases Thread - WINTER SALE 2024

[Metro]

Someone mentioned there was an Alien Breed pack floating around in the Steam code (the way they were able to predict the current indie packs) so I'm guessing it will be available in the future for a good discount. Wouldn't buy them now.

Also, apparently they're releasing some new DLC for Mass Effect 2 around the third week or so of January to tie-in to the release of ME3 shortly thereafter. Sounds like the perfect opportunity for another Mass Effect mid-week deal, hopefully for lower than it was during this sale~

 

[Multi-headed Cow]

Yeah, that's true. Could be a red herring like the potato pack, but it probably would be $14 or less which is as good as it is now.

Biggest disappointments of this sale for me was lack of Fallout bundle pack discount and Bloodlines discount. Already got discs of them, but for the longest time I've had a burning desire to have 'em on Steam and the fucking things never go on sale. Well, Bloodlines did once or twice and I missed it. Especially interested since I wonder if the Steam version of Fallout 1 and 2 has the weird colors issue in Windows 7.

 

[Quilty]

Splinter Cell pissed me off: it's a game where you're supposed to sneak around in the shadows, and what do the level designers do? Cover nearly every level in darkness. I was expecting a challenge, having to sneak from shrouded corner to unlit room, and instead you can basically crouch-jog along the linear path with total impunity since the entire level is bathed in shadows.

Yeah, that's true, but it's still cool enough to be a badass guy with three huge green flashlights stuck to the top of his head that no one can seem to notice even when it's pointed at their face. I was pretty impressed by the variety in the levels, each mission took place in a different, often beautiful location that usually had several ways in and out (though it didn't take too much exploration to find those). The game was also very fluid and I got very comfortable with the interface very soon, which is a plus. Shame it's so easy it barely requires you to think.

 

[piydek]

Considering Alien Breed 2 and 3, though they will surely be cheaper in the future.

I have both Alien Breed 2 and 3, i really wanted to support T17 with these games so i bought them all at full price. Finished the first and second one (both on elite), haven't played the third one yet. I just wanted to say that the 2nd one was even better than the first - really superb level design, greater difficulty and even better pace than the first one. Also, survival mode is great - great fun and replayability both in SP and coop.

If you want these games for cheap, a T17 representative at Steam boards has confirmed there'll be 3 in 1 deal for a discount when all episodes are out on all platforms (pc, 360, ps3).

 

[piydek]

Regarding this sale, i bought:

- super meat boy
- burnout: paradise city
- flatout 1 & 2
- indie fright pack

I have to say I'm really thrilled about super meat boy. Really cool that someone made that kind of game with all the great little references to old-school platformers and with such a fucking PUNISHING difficulty. That's really rare nowadays. It's also very nice to see that it's a huge financial success because, unfortunately, sales are pretty much the only thing that determines what kind of games gets to be made in the future.

Haven't played much of anything else, those games will have to wait a bit.

 

[Zak]

Sid Meier's Pirates!

Why is this not available in my region?

 

[Elwro]

I bought Rise of Prussia ond Revolution under Siege from Gamersgate :D

 

[Damned Registrations]

Considering Alien Breed 2 and 3, though they will surely be cheaper in the future.

I have both Alien Breed 2 and 3, i really wanted to support T17 with these games so i bought them all at full price. Finished the first and second one (both on elite), haven't played the third one yet. I just wanted to say that the 2nd one was even better than the first - really superb level design, greater difficulty and even better pace than the first one. Also, survival mode is great - great fun and replayability both in SP and coop.

If you want these games for cheap, a T17 representative at Steam boards has confirmed there'll be 3 in 1 deal for a discount when all episodes are out on all platforms (pc, 360, ps3).

Do the Steam sales cut money out of dev profits or Steam profits or both equally? I'd always kind of assumed it was steam getting less out of each sale, since they seem to be the ones that have full control over the pricing. If figured the devs got a flat fee per sale, not a percentage.

 

[Metro]

My assumption is a split. Steam is so popular that I doubt most developers have much bargaining leverage.

 

[Gragt]

KF looks a bit rough but it has potential. I'll probably pick it up when I want a break and change of pace from L4D2.

 

[Multi-headed Cow]

Considering Alien Breed 2 and 3, though they will surely be cheaper in the future.

I have both Alien Breed 2 and 3, i really wanted to support T17 with these games so i bought them all at full price. Finished the first and second one (both on elite), haven't played the third one yet. I just wanted to say that the 2nd one was even better than the first - really superb level design, greater difficulty and even better pace than the first one. Also, survival mode is great - great fun and replayability both in SP and coop.

If you want these games for cheap, a T17 representative at Steam boards has confirmed there'll be 3 in 1 deal for a discount when all episodes are out on all platforms (pc, 360, ps3).

Do the Steam sales cut money out of dev profits or Steam profits or both equally? I'd always kind of assumed it was steam getting less out of each sale, since they seem to be the ones that have full control over the pricing. If figured the devs got a flat fee per sale, not a percentage.

Valve gets a cut of each sale, supposedly 30% or less. So both Valve and the developer/publisher make less per unit during the sales, but supposedly the gigantic sales more than make up for that.

I posted some more info about this in http://www.rpgcodex.net/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=53851 this thread here.

 

[MetalCraze]

What units are you talking about? The data just exists there as a bunch of files that they copy onto your HDD.

They may as well sell it with nearly 100% off and lose nothing (they will still need money to cover electricity and network-related bills obviously and that's it)

These aren't boxes that you need to produce/print

 

[Multi-headed Cow]

They make less per unit as in they get $3 per copy sold during the sale instead of $20 or whatever before the sale. I wasn't saying that they were losing money, just that they make less per copy sold since the publisher/developer is directly getting the majority of the price instead of selling the rights to sell a finite number of the game to Steam at a set price.

Though maybe that is the case for some games, just not for all the instances I've heard.

 

[Multi-headed Cow]

Speaking of Steam sales being excellent, FUCKING GOONS MAN. Going to just post this chat log because I'm pissed off after reading this blog post and this will do. TLDR summary: Recettear sells 100,000 copies and earns enough money for their company to have over a year's worth of salaries for all employees if they earn 0 dollars in 2011, but the guy bitches about it being on a Steam sale.

http://www.carpefulgur.com/drakblog/?p=9 The blog post that made me rage

1:04 AM - Multi-headed Cow: Goony goon goons sold 100,000 copies of Recettear.
1:07 AM - Multi-headed Cow: Ahahaha
1:07 AM - Multi-headed Cow: Goony goon goons complaining about the Steam sales now.
1:09 AM - Multi-headed Cow: I like how he's talking about "Yeah well we aren't rolling in dough but it covers our salaries so we're breaking even" right after saying "HOLY FUCK RECETTEAR IS SELLING MORE THAN WE EVER DREAMED IT WOULD"
1:10 AM - Multi-headed Cow: Apparently they went into this planning on losing money or they are trying to downplay their success so they can keep goony goon cred to get sales.
1:12 AM - A bro: USING CLAYMORES ON A NO CLAYMORE SERVER SUCK IT GAY NIGGER ADMINS
1:12 AM - Multi-headed Cow: Fuck I am getting worked into a froth reading this post
1:12 AM - Multi-headed Cow: What A Hundred Thousand Copies DOES Mean:

- It means Carpe Fulgur is very secure moving into the coming year. Even if sales of Recettear were to come to a literal dead stop today, and we released nothing in the coming year, we’d still have enough money on hand to pay everyone their salaries, even after tax, with some left over.
1:13 AM - Multi-headed Cow: Guy just bitches about how a lot of those 100,000 copies sold were during Steam sale
1:13 AM - A bro: kill goons
1:13 AM - Multi-headed Cow: THEN HE SAYS THEY HAVE A YEAR'S WORTH OF SALARY IN THE BANK
1:13 AM - Multi-headed Cow: IF THEY EARN ABSOLUTELY NOTHING
1:13 AM - Multi-headed Cow: OVER A YEAR OF SALARY FOR THEIR TEAM
1:14 AM - Multi-headed Cow: If you're a starving independant company and this is your first work I'd say THAT'S PRETTY FUCKING FANTASTIC
1:14 AM - Multi-headed Cow: FUCKING
1:14 AM - Multi-headed Cow: GOONS
1:14 AM - Multi-headed Cow: UNGH
1:14 AM - Multi-headed Cow: UNGH
1:14 AM - Multi-headed Cow: BRO
1:14 AM - Multi-headed Cow: HELP
1:14 AM - A bro: YOU ARE KICKED FOR USING A CLAYMORE
1:15 AM - A bro: goons are stupid
1:15 AM - A bro: durp
1:15 AM - Multi-headed Cow: "It means the CF crew can get out and about a bit. I’ve already mentioned the fact that I’ll be attending the 2011 Game Developer’s Conference regardless of what happens to Recettear in the IGF. That’s just the start; Robin attended Comiket 79 this past week to meet up with a lot of developers in Japan and we already have plans for him to attend Comiket 80, as well. Beyond that I’d like for us to make an additional con appearance or two; I’d really like to be at PAX Prime 2011, for example. We’ll be doing what we can to make this happen."
1:15 AM - Multi-headed Cow: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
1:16 AM - A bro: yo we're travellin the world but we're so broke please buy our game
1:16 AM - Multi-headed Cow: DISINGENUOUS GOON SHITS
1:16 AM - Multi-headed Cow: I HOPE GABEN SMITES THEM

 

[Metro]

They should be doing kart wheels over selling 100,000 copies of that anime faggotry.

 

[Stainless Veteran]

fgsfds

Cool rage bro.

 

[Merkwürdigliebe]

I thought It was Bioware that developed NWN 2, though it seems it was Obsidian. So it may be worth buying after all. Since Obsidian is decent right? Better than Bethesda or Bioware at least I would hope.

 

[Hobo Elf]

Good bye steam sales, may you be better next year. I only ended up buying three games, all of which were uninstalled nearly as fast as they were downloaded.
Saints Row 2, NWN2: Platinum and Grotesque Tactics (holy shit this game is bad).
Divinity 2 was the only good thing I gout out of the steam sales, but it was gifted to me.

I thought It was Bioware that developed NWN 2, though it seems it was Obsidian. So it may be worth buying after all. Since Obsidian is decent right? Better than Bethesda or Bioware at least I would hope.

No, just because it is developed by Obsidian doesn't mean it is automatically better. It is the same shit as NWN1. If you don't like NWN1 you wont like NWN2.

 

[Metro]

If they do the Summer Sale again -- you only have to wait six months!

 

[Konjad]

hobo why did u uninstall nwn2? have you tried motb?

 

[Hobo Elf]

hobo why did u uninstall nwn2? have you tried motb?

Nah, I was just being a drama queen when I said uninstall. We got to chapter 2 in NWN2 OC with my brother and friend, but they butthurted so I had to convinced them to at least give MotB a chance. We played that a teency weency bit, but my friend had to go back to the army and my brother is getting drafted in a few days so I have no one to play it with now.
I might give it a better try once I'm finished with Divinity 2, but NWN is really boring to play alone.

 

[Admiral jimbob]

If you got past chapter 1, it's all uphill from there. It's never a masterpiece, but you'll never face anything on a level with the fucking boring slog that was the orc caves/warehouses, and there are some genuinely fun sections like the trial.

 

[CrimsonAngel]

Yeah NWN2 dose get better the further the game goes.

It never becomes great, but the Keep part is fun (and way better then the Awakening Abomination) and has some fun ideas.

 

[Gragt]

Glad I got Mirror's Edge (a game I pushed away at first but decided to play again almost 6 months later and found out I was unfair to it the first time) and Dead Space (not great but I'm a sucker for horror). My biggest surprise and satisfaction came from Super Meat Boy, which is plain awesome. I decided to get Plants vs Zombies on a whim when it was offered again and this one was also a happy surprise.

Else I got the Overlord games, which are fun enough for me (at least for the first + expansion; second will come later), F.E.A.R. 2 + Reborn (played them before and while I knew the first game is superior, I'm kind of a Monolith fan and again I'm a sucker for horror). And while not overwhelmed with Killing Floor, it seems fun enough to play when I want coop and something different from L4D2, even if that one is superior.

Not too bad. Was tempted to get the Oddbox at the start but I'd rather wait to get that on GamersGate, or maybe the first two Oddworld games on GOG and the other two on GG. I'll see.

 

[Multi-headed Cow]

Probably good you skipped Oddbox. From what I heard the PC versions of the console games are/were a pretty sloppy port at release.