yeah I didn't mean it like that, obviously you can say as you wish
Indeed, I have gone elsewhere, and saved myself a good £10 or so
Doesn't anyone find L4D particularly expensive on Steam?
- Thread starter Mojo
- Start date
yeah I didn't mean it like that, obviously you can say as you wish
Indeed, I have gone elsewhere, and saved myself a good £10 or so
Valve have a contract with EA for EA to shift the boxed copies.
If valve sells their titles via steam for cheaper than EA can get the boxed copies into the average retail store EA don't make money - cue standard clause in contract that Valve have to keep online copies at RRP for a set period of time.
If Valve undercut their distributor from the word go in regards to releases on the Steam platform, it's not worth the distributor putting as much effort to get the stuff into the shop, and Valve still need a distributor to get their console/single player games into the shop (hence that clause, it protects both the distributors potential earnings to a degree, and helps ensure that the publisher gets stuff into the stores).
What the shops do in regards to discounts is entirely up to them as they don't have a contract to sell for a set price - some shops will sell for barely more than what it costs them for the stock (and supermarkets will sell for a loss on certain items), some will sell for RRP.
Valve no doubt make a lot more profit on their Steam delivered content (per unit sold) than they do via their distribution contract, however it's the distribution deal that probably brings in the most sales overall, as a lot of people will see a title in the shops and buy it on impulse, and there are still an awful lot of people who can't or won't but content online (not to mention most of the consoles don't, afaik allow for large full games to be run purely off the hard drive).
Yes its fair for them to sell L4D for £33. It may be cheeper elsewhere, but its their game, they can charge whatever they want to for it. If you dont like it then just shop somewhere else, no need to whine about it.
As for reducing the price in the UK, what would stop me buying it at UK price, then give it as a gift to a US gamer. It would work out cheaper for the US player since the UK version would be cheaper in this example.
As for reducing the price in the UK, what would stop me buying it at UK price, then give it as a gift to a US gamer. It would work out cheaper for the US player since the UK version would be cheaper in this example.
So expensive for a downloaded version. I could get the bus to town, buy the game, install it and be playing it for less money, and before the download was completed rather than get it on steam.
I'd rather have the box/manual etc. At least I can sell that on, whilst you can't with a download (which takes the price even further away if you sold it).
I'd rather have the box/manual etc. At least I can sell that on, whilst you can't with a download (which takes the price even further away if you sold it).
Well....I think the game is tied to your account when you install it actually
Like every other steam game.
Soldato
- Joined
- 2 Oct 2007
- Posts
- 4,254
- Location
- Oxfordshire
I paid a tad over what I like to pay for the orange box, but for that I got into the beta (and, since I had never brought HL2, got to play that straight away too)
As for L4D, I'm not bothered I have to wait 3 days to get it cheaper. Like computer components, those that want them from day 1 on steam pay a premium. Me, well I'm a student So I've brought it for £20 delivered online. Means I should also spend my weekend doing my assignment rather than playing this lol.
As for L4D, I'm not bothered I have to wait 3 days to get it cheaper. Like computer components, those that want them from day 1 on steam pay a premium. Me, well I'm a student
So I've brought it for £20 delivered online. Means I should also spend my weekend doing my assignment rather than playing this lol.
Until steam sets up a proper UK store i avoid it like the plague. Prices are insane...
Defenders of steam please stop repeating the same foolish things over and over. No one asked steam to beat retail prices. At least try to match them, paying double price for a digital distributed game is a blatant rip-off. /period
Defenders of steam please stop repeating the same foolish things over and over. No one asked steam to beat retail prices. At least try to match them, paying double price for a digital distributed game is a blatant rip-off. /period
Last edited:
I can't understand why people do just go out and buy it on Steam. It makes no sense to waste so much money on it. I understand about the distribution but when you can register the keys on Steam again it makes no sense.
As Duran said until they do a proper UK store with UK prices and have the same games on as every other store I won't be buying anything on there.
I'm sure I read there would be exclusives on there as well yet never seen this.
M.
As Duran said until they do a proper UK store with UK prices and have the same games on as every other store I won't be buying anything on there.
I'm sure I read there would be exclusives on there as well yet never seen this.
M.
Haters of steam please stop saying the same foolish thing over and over. No one makes you buy products from their store. At least read the thread. The prices -are- matched. To US distributed hard copy prices. it's a US based system and you're not obliged to use it. /period.
I am not a steam hater. I like steam as a service and i would like all my games purchased digitally. thats why i am complaining. If you like getting ripped-off then congrats to you!
I managed to get two copies of the game from retail for £5 more than a mate got one copy off steam. If you're not stupid, look around and are prepared to wait a couple of days you have nothing to complain about.
I will however complain about the interest rates cuts which have resulted in the weak pound (yes my tongue is firmly in my cheek here).
I will however complain about the interest rates cuts which have resulted in the weak pound (yes my tongue is firmly in my cheek here
).I do not think that is true because by that argument D2D which is one of the largest download services (they are even too expensive) would be the same price as Steam. With all the currency fluctuations D2D have kept their prices the same and I am sure that they are not selling at a loss. They must therefore strike up some deal with publishers to adjust their prices or else they know they will loose out to the online retailers. You have to remember that most gamers are only prepared to pay so much for a game apart from the fanatical Steam fanbois. Steam chooses to charge as much as they do to the UK rather than the publishers forcing them to do so.
The bottom line is you have to be a sucker to buy from Steam.
Associate
- Joined
- 5 Mar 2008
- Posts
- 1,006
- Location
- London
the short answer - the exchange rate sucks
the long answer - the exchange rate ssssssssssuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuucccccckkkkksssss
the long answer - the exchange rate ssssssssssuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuucccccckkkkksssss
Thats what it comes down to. Steam is price in dollars and your £ is worth a lot less than it was 2 months ago.
Conversely, us Euro people are finding UK shops much cheaper now
Associate
- Joined
- 23 Apr 2007
- Posts
- 1,785
- Location
- Cardiff-ish, Wales
It's nothing to do with the exchange rate. The exchange rate is a result, not the root cause. The root cause is that Valve aren't interested in a flexible world-wide pricing policy due to either:
a) it's export on-line sales are relatively low so they're not too bothered losing relatively few sales. They'll make money from someone buying a boxed version instead.
b) they simply can't be arsed being competitive and are happy with making whatever they can out of people who are too lazy to shop around, aren't clued up on shopping around (unlikely seeing as they're savvy enough to actually use Steam), or simply don't mind paying a premium for a better delivery system and end result.
If Valve bring prices in line with the RRP then it'll still be more than most people can buy it for due to shops offering further discount. Valve may as well stay with the higher price and pull in extra revenue albeit with a smaller number of sales.
I'd be interested in seeing how much profit they actually make on a £38 game at the moment.
a) it's export on-line sales are relatively low so they're not too bothered losing relatively few sales. They'll make money from someone buying a boxed version instead.
b) they simply can't be arsed being competitive and are happy with making whatever they can out of people who are too lazy to shop around, aren't clued up on shopping around (unlikely seeing as they're savvy enough to actually use Steam), or simply don't mind paying a premium for a better delivery system and end result.
If Valve bring prices in line with the RRP then it'll still be more than most people can buy it for due to shops offering further discount. Valve may as well stay with the higher price and pull in extra revenue albeit with a smaller number of sales.
I'd be interested in seeing how much profit they actually make on a £38 game at the moment.
They can't setup up different pricing to UK and USA, the main reason being, people in the US can get people from the UK to buy the game over here 'as a gift' and send it over to them....so it is therefore cheaper for them.
And this part:
The games RRP is: £34.99
According to an exchange rate site, £34.99 is ~$52.
Left 4 Dead on steam is: $49.99.
Last edited:
Associate
- Joined
- 23 Apr 2007
- Posts
- 1,785
- Location
- Cardiff-ish, Wales
Aha ... someone mentioned that the price equated to £38, which was above the RRP. In that case, it seems like Valve are sellling it for the lowest price that it's contractually obligated to, which is fair enough
But I still won't buy it through Steam
