Forum Settings
       
Reply To Thread

Omnibus Direct Distribution Deals threadFollow

#4727 Jun 12 2015 at 3:15 PM Rating: Good
Gave Up The D
Avatar
*****
12,281 posts
Gawker subsite "Steamed" on the Steam Sale Price Hikes

Quote:
Raising your prices right before Steam’s big summer sale and then “discounting” them back to where they’d been for months sure sounds scummy, right? A handful of games have been accused of it, but the truth of the matter isn’t so black-and-white.

It all began with a series of angrily lobbed accusations on Reddit, stemming from a price increase on free-to-play sensation War Thunder’s Ace Advanced Pack on June 4th. According to SteamDB (as reported by our friends at Kotaku UK), it jumped up $10 to $49.99 after months at $39.99. SteamDB, which is an unofficial yet comprehensive database of changes to Steam, also noted that the Ace Advanced Pack was added to something called “War Thunder—Steam Summer Sale Pack.”

Hours after the Reddit thread went up, the Ace Advanced Pack—again, according to a SteamDB entry—was removed from the Steam Summer Sale Pack. However, this all took place before the Steam Summer Sale went live. The alleged sale swap out happened behind the scenes. Kotaku UK got in touch with War Thunder developer Gaijin Entertainment, and they claimed that while many things were on their agenda—for instance, tanks, planes, more tanks—foul play wasn’t one of them.

“We did raise the price for two of our DLCs on Steam, but it happened more than a week ago and doesn’t have to do anything with Summer Sale,” Gaijin rep Alexander Trifonov said. “[The] Ace Pack wasn’t on Summer sale neither itself nor a as part of bundle, so we didn’t remove anything and all these false accusations are really frustrating.”

However, confronted with the SteamDB entry and its conspicuous set of timings, Trifonov chose to stay silent. “We won’t comment on speculations based on a data from some third-party websites,” he said. On the upside, the War Thunder thing never directly affected anybody. That said, Gaijin’s intentions here do look a little questionable.

The other big object of Steam and Reddit users’ scorn at the moment is Grand Theft Auto V. That situation is somehow even more complicated, but here’s the short version: yesterday GTA V went on sale... kinda. It still cost $59.99, but Rockstar bundled it with in-game currency valued at $20. So the full price of the package should’ve been $80, but they were selling it for $60. A discount? Yes. An actual sale on the game itself? No.

On top of that, they briefly removed GTA V sans in-game cash card from the Steam store. This apparently happened as the result of a pricing error on vanilla GTA V that needed fixing, but it made it look like everyone’s favorite purveyor of swindling sims was trying to pull a fast one and deceitfully join in on Steam Summer Sale festivities. It didn’t help that Steam listings on various pages simply showed GTA V’s logo paired with an alluring green “-25%” sticker. That certainly made it seem like Rockstar’s prime crime opus had finally descended from Mt. **************** at least briefly.

The fact of the matter was, people were still technically getting more for less. But in some cases, the bargain they got wasn’t the one they bargained for. Since then, the package’s image has been updated to prominently mention the in-game currency card.

However, even then, Rock Paper Shotgun notes that including the currency card—a piece of in-game content—might disqualify people from getting a refund on at least part of the package. Steam’s refund policy when dealing with in-game items reads:

“Third-party developers will have the option to enable refunds for in-game items on these terms. Steam will tell you at the time of purchase if the game developer has opted to offer refunds on the in-game item you are buying. Otherwise, in-game purchases in non-Valve games are not refundable through Steam.”

Meanwhile, here’s how it works when bundles are involved:

“If a bundle includes an in-game item or DLC that is not refundable, Steam will tell you if the whole bundle is refundable during check-out.”

I already have GTA V on Steam, so checkout only tells me that I won’t be getting another copy with my purchase. If anyone else has tried getting a refund on the complete package, it’d be awesome if you could sound off in the comments.

War Thunder and GTA V are the gray areas of this whole fiasco, but others got wrongfully thrown under the Angry Bus in things like these tweets, which have been RTed hundreds of times. Tabletop Simulator, for example, was briefly declared public enemy number three, only for people to point out that its pre-sale price hike actually came as a result of leaving Early Access. This is a common practice, and the developers gave people plenty of forewarning about it. Same with squad-based heist game The Masterplan. It came out of Early Access and raised its price a few bucks. Similar thing with indie footracer, Speedrunners. People have taken to saying its base price went from $9.99 to $14.99 right before the Steam Summer Sale, but actually it happened as a result of a huge update on June 1st. The developer forewarned people that this was gonna happen back in May.

The account given by the creators of Age of Decadence—another game accused of Steam Summer Sale pricing shenanigans—is perhaps the most indicative of where people are jumping to conclusions. Again, a big update came out at the start of June, and they boosted their price because they felt like the scope of their newly updated game justified it. Here’s how it went down:

Our price increase was tied to releasing 21 locations out of 22 (i.e. the game is almost done and people can buy it with confidence). The update was released on June 5 (a month after we finished working on the third chapter, so we didn’t sit on the update waiting for the Summer Sale).

We couldn’t simply tell people that the price is going up in 2-3 weeks as Valve has to approve all price changes. So I emailed Valve, explained why we want to increase the price and asked for their permission. They suggested to go on the Summer Sale (we didn’t even ask for it).

While we weren’t planning to offer a discount (originally we wanted to run a ‘the price goes up in 2 weeks, buy it now if you want to save $5’ promo unrelated to the Summer Sale), but when we accepted Valve’s offer, we decided to offer a 10% off discount off the original price.

So the discount is real and the price is going up (not just for the duration of the sale). If you buy the game now, you will save some money regardless of which price you’re looking at. Either 25% off the new price or 10% off the old price.

In case you didn’t notice, we aren’t on any of the daily deals where all the action is, so we’re still flying under the radar and only people who were interested in the game before and had it on their wish list (i.e. people who knew the old price) would get the notification.

I wasn’t able to find anything concrete about other accused games like Subterrain, DarkStar One, and Alone In The Dark: Illumination, but I’ve reached out to each of their creators for more info.

Meanwhile, games like Wolfenstein: The New Order have been maligned for alleged last-second price hiking, but their prices never actually changed. While SteamDB does list Wolfenstein as having had a base price of $45 since March, that was the result of a bundle with Wolfenstein: The Old Blood that cost $45 total. Yes, the bundle was cheaper than Wolfenstein: The New Order. Does it make a lot of sense? No. But those are the facts.

So here’s your scorecard: War Thunder? A little sketchy, but the alleged bad faith sale never happened. Grand Theft Auto V? Mostly a misunderstanding, albeit with some wiggle room for refund shenanigans. Games like Tabletop Simulator, Age of Decadence, and Wolfenstein? Unfairly singled out after people went into full-on witch hunt mode. I can’t entirely blame Steam users after getting a whiff of what could’ve been some serious ********** but there’s also something to be said for double and triple-checking before firing off accusations that could have entire communities banging down someone’s virtual doorstep.


Edited, Jun 12th 2015 5:16pm by Shaowstrike
____________________________
Shaowstrike (Retired - FFXI)
91PUP/BLM 86SMN/BST 76DRK
Cooking/Fishing 100


"We don't just borrow words; on occasion, English has pursued other languages down alleyways to beat them unconscious and rifle their pockets for new vocabulary."
— James D. Nicoll
#4728 Jun 12 2015 at 4:59 PM Rating: Good
Worst. Title. Ever!
*****
17,302 posts
Shaowstrike the Shady wrote:
Gawker subsite "Steamed" on the Steam Sale Price Hikes


Not going to bother reading that. But some of the games that went up in price before the sale are Early Access games that released to full and games that are now bundle-only with some other games/items. Of course GTAV thing is still ****, but it's not like they raised the price, the bundle is the same price, just the base game can't be purchased by itself.

Side note, event card drops suck this year. "Max 3 per 24 hours" is either completely random, or bugged to hell. I played almost all day yesterday (idling on the game). Reached 270, and only got 2 of the 3 card drops. Today I have plaid for 5 hours and only got one? I'm on level 450+ right now. At least with voting I was guaranteed to get the extra cards.

200 EXP seems to be the max for the game badge. At level 400 you earn the badge with 200 exp. Beyond that you get new badges, but don't appear to get any increased EXP. I have seen a 1000+ badge still only 200 exp.

Edited, Jun 12th 2015 7:15pm by TirithRR
____________________________
Can't sleep, clown will eat me.
#4729 Jun 12 2015 at 5:03 PM Rating: Good
Worst. Title. Ever!
*****
17,302 posts
Also, LEGO Indiana Jones 1 and 2 are on sale for 66% off. The last of the Lego games that never went on sale, finally for a decent price. Disney/Lucas still very stingy with the games. The WB games go on sale for 75% off all the time. PotC, Indiana Jones, and Star Wars never went on sale, and when they finally do it's only 66% each time.

I was hoping to see LEGO Minecraft Worlds on sale, but being that it's a brand new Early Access game, I didn't really expect it to be.
____________________________
Can't sleep, clown will eat me.
#4730 Jun 13 2015 at 2:41 PM Rating: Good
***
3,973 posts
Today's show was brought to you by the letter "W".

Got Wasteland 2
Wolfenstien +DLC

And am sorely temped to pick up Watchdogs but have not bit yet.

*Edit also I have been playing Witcher 3 all day. So I think my firstborn should be named Wilma or maybe I will just forget this whole thing happened. Woah.

Edited, Jun 13th 2015 1:48pm by Shojindo
____________________________
An old silent pond...
A frog jumps into the pond,
splash! Silence again.

~ Matsuo Basho
#4731 Jun 14 2015 at 3:46 PM Rating: Excellent
Liberal Conspiracy
*******
TILT
State of Decay DLC is 80% off ($1.39 each) if you already own the base game. Not readily obvious since the front page link is only for the updated "Year One" edition at 70% off.

Nice of the publisher to leave the DLC available (and discount it!) even after pulling the old base game off Steam.
____________________________
Belkira wrote:
Wow. Regular ol' Joph fan club in here.
#4732 Jun 14 2015 at 4:42 PM Rating: Good
***
3,973 posts
I actually enjoyed State of Decay. It has some problems but was pretty fun overall.
____________________________
An old silent pond...
A frog jumps into the pond,
splash! Silence again.

~ Matsuo Basho
#4733 Jun 14 2015 at 5:36 PM Rating: Good
Gave Up The D
Avatar
*****
12,281 posts
In case you wanted the Season Pass for Shadow of Mordor, Steam has it listed as the "GOTY Upgrade" for $5. All the DLC that is out for the game is covered by the upgrade, and according to Steam is worth over $26 normally.
____________________________
Shaowstrike (Retired - FFXI)
91PUP/BLM 86SMN/BST 76DRK
Cooking/Fishing 100


"We don't just borrow words; on occasion, English has pursued other languages down alleyways to beat them unconscious and rifle their pockets for new vocabulary."
— James D. Nicoll
#4734 Jun 15 2015 at 10:32 AM Rating: Excellent
Liberal Conspiracy
*******
TILT
Edit: Actually the freebies look pretty lame and you have to sub through the remainder of their transition to F2P so bleah.

Humble has some E3 bundle that's fairly lame. Except it has Wildstar in the buck tier and today is the last day Wildstar is accepting "paid" accounts for purposes of legacy freebies when it goes F2P. So if you ever thought about playing Wildstar, this might be a good time to spend a dollar.

Edited, Jun 15th 2015 11:40am by Jophiel
____________________________
Belkira wrote:
Wow. Regular ol' Joph fan club in here.
#4735 Jun 15 2015 at 11:37 AM Rating: Good
***
3,973 posts
33% off for Divinity Original sin... It's on my wishlist but man do they hold the discounts tight on that one. Next year maybe?
____________________________
An old silent pond...
A frog jumps into the pond,
splash! Silence again.

~ Matsuo Basho
#4736 Jun 15 2015 at 12:13 PM Rating: Excellent
Liberal Conspiracy
*******
TILT
Gotta keep you hungry for the Enhanced Edition.
____________________________
Belkira wrote:
Wow. Regular ol' Joph fan club in here.
#4737 Jun 15 2015 at 12:16 PM Rating: Good
@#%^
*****
15,953 posts
Shojindo wrote:
33% off for Divinity Original sin... It's on my wishlist but man do they hold the discounts tight on that one. Next year maybe?


I heard it was buggy. Did they fix it?
____________________________
"I have lost my way
But I hear a tale
About a heaven in Alberta
Where they've got all hell for a basement"

#4738 Jun 15 2015 at 12:33 PM Rating: Good
***
3,973 posts
Iamadam wrote:
Shojindo wrote:
33% off for Divinity Original sin... It's on my wishlist but man do they hold the discounts tight on that one. Next year maybe?


I heard it was buggy. Did they fix it?


I think there are many things about it that are a total mess. But it makes up for it by being old school cool. Maybe. Ish.
____________________________
An old silent pond...
A frog jumps into the pond,
splash! Silence again.

~ Matsuo Basho
#4739 Jun 15 2015 at 3:59 PM Rating: Good
Sage
***
2,269 posts
Speaking of Humble Bunldes If anyone wants any of the codes sans Twitch Turbo, Wildstar, Smite Loki codes

Steam
  • Magicka Wizard Wars Exclusive Staff and Blade
  • IPsychonauts
  • PAYDAY 2 Electarodent and Titan Masks
  • Company of Heroesâ„¢
  • Age of Empires II HD Edition: The Forgotten Expansion

Uplay
  • Ghost Recon Phantoms E3 Avatar
  • Ghost Recon Phantoms Starter Pack

Warframe 7-day Credit and Affinity Booster Packs
World of Warships Closed Beta Key
World of Tanks Invite Code
World of Warships Bonus Content
SMITE Xbox One Closed Beta


PM me and Ill get back to you after class tonight.
____________________________
→What I Play←
→Recently Played←
#4740 Jun 17 2015 at 8:16 AM Rating: Excellent
Liberal Conspiracy
*******
TILT
According to JShackles, the guy behind Idle Master, Valve has changed the card drop rate so no cards will drop for the first two hours of playing a game. This is to prevent people from buying a game, idling it for cards then requesting a refund.

If you're one of the people with 500 games you needed to idle, you're screwed (that's an extra 41 days of constant idling). Not as bad if you idle stuff as soon as you get it. But, of course, now immediately idling a game will disqualify you from getting a refund later since you burned up your grace period.
____________________________
Belkira wrote:
Wow. Regular ol' Joph fan club in here.
#4741 Jun 17 2015 at 8:39 AM Rating: Good
*******
50,767 posts
Jophiel wrote:
Valve has changed the card drop rate so no cards will drop for the first two hours of playing a game. This is to prevent people from buying a game, idling it for cards then requesting a refund.
How was that not the first thing they adjusted?
____________________________
George Carlin wrote:
I think it’s the duty of the comedian to find out where the line is drawn and cross it deliberately.
#4742 Jun 17 2015 at 11:15 AM Rating: Excellent
Liberal Conspiracy
*******
TILT
MGS: Ground Zeroes, Banished and DreadOut are all decent deals today. Of course, the only one I didn't have was DreadOut.
____________________________
Belkira wrote:
Wow. Regular ol' Joph fan club in here.
#4743 Jun 17 2015 at 11:26 AM Rating: Good
Scholar
***
2,496 posts
MGS: Ground Zeroes is free on PS+ right now.
#4744 Jun 17 2015 at 11:31 AM Rating: Good
Gave Up The D
Avatar
*****
12,281 posts
Raolan wrote:
MGS: Ground Zeroes is free on PS+ right now.


But not on PC.
____________________________
Shaowstrike (Retired - FFXI)
91PUP/BLM 86SMN/BST 76DRK
Cooking/Fishing 100


"We don't just borrow words; on occasion, English has pursued other languages down alleyways to beat them unconscious and rifle their pockets for new vocabulary."
— James D. Nicoll
#4745 Jun 17 2015 at 12:44 PM Rating: Good
@#%^
*****
15,953 posts
For $5 I pulled the trigger on MGS. I'll play it... whenever.
____________________________
"I have lost my way
But I hear a tale
About a heaven in Alberta
Where they've got all hell for a basement"

#4746 Jun 17 2015 at 1:15 PM Rating: Excellent
Liberal Conspiracy
*******
TILT
Self-Promotion: Read about me playing my 9¢ - 49¢ Steam games in the Bottom Barrel Bargain Bazaar.
____________________________
Belkira wrote:
Wow. Regular ol' Joph fan club in here.
#4747 Jun 17 2015 at 1:20 PM Rating: Good
Gave Up The D
Avatar
*****
12,281 posts
GMG has GTAV for $45, use code GRAB25-PERCNT-OFFNOW.
____________________________
Shaowstrike (Retired - FFXI)
91PUP/BLM 86SMN/BST 76DRK
Cooking/Fishing 100


"We don't just borrow words; on occasion, English has pursued other languages down alleyways to beat them unconscious and rifle their pockets for new vocabulary."
— James D. Nicoll
#4748 Jun 17 2015 at 2:13 PM Rating: Excellent
Liberal Conspiracy
*******
TILT
Pillars of Eternity is ~$21 at Gamesplanet which beats the $30 as a Daily at Steam.
____________________________
Belkira wrote:
Wow. Regular ol' Joph fan club in here.
#4749 Jun 17 2015 at 4:13 PM Rating: Decent
Scholar
***
2,496 posts
Shaowstrike the Shady wrote:
GMG has GTAV for $45, use code GRAB25-PERCNT-OFFNOW.


According to the email I got, Fallout IV can be pre-ordered using that same code.
#4750 Jun 17 2015 at 6:31 PM Rating: Good
***
3,973 posts
Jophiel wrote:
Self-Promotion: Read about me playing my 9¢ - 49¢ Steam games in the Bottom Barrel Bargain Bazaar.


What I could of bought makes it way more interesting. Fun stuff.
____________________________
An old silent pond...
A frog jumps into the pond,
splash! Silence again.

~ Matsuo Basho
#4751 Jun 21 2015 at 4:40 PM Rating: Good
Worst. Title. Ever!
*****
17,302 posts
Updated list of extra Steam Keys collected over the past couple years:

Anomoly Korea
Bit Dungeon II
Chip
Culling of the Cows
Deponia
Evoland
Fly'N
Hero of the Kingdom
Influx
Lilly Looking Through
Mechanic Escape
Realms of the Haunting
Restaurant Empire II
Rush for Glory
Savant - Ascent
Shattered Haven
Skyward Collapse (x2)
Space Hack (x2)
Starlaxis Supernova Edition
Talisman (and Frostmarch Expansion)
Torchlight II
Vanguard Princess
Viscera Cleanup Detail: Santa's Rampage

Free to a good home...



Governor of Porker 2 Premium Edition
Love
Pixeljunk Monsters Ultimate
QuestRun
Skulls of the Shogun
Of Orcs and Men
Retro/Grade


Edited, Jun 21st 2015 7:47pm by TirithRR
____________________________
Can't sleep, clown will eat me.
Reply To Thread

Colors Smileys Quote OriginalQuote Checked Help

 

Recent Visitors: 180 All times are in CST
Anonymous Guests (180)