Why is STEAM used as the "Digital Distribution" scapegoat?

Gimpymoo

Gimpymoo

Gimpymoo

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Why?

Lets take a look at the four "main" platforms shall we:

STEAM
Direct2Drive
Gamersgate
Impulse

Lets take 2 BIG PC Releases:

BATMAN: AA

STEAM - £29.99
Direct2Drive - £34.95
Gamersgate - £34.95
Impulse - Not Available

Resident Evil 5

STEAM - £29.99
Direct2Drive - £29.95
Gamersgate - £29.95
Impulse - £29.99

Now, those of us with half an ounce of intelligence understand that the PUBLISHERS set the pricing on these platforms, NOT THE E-Tailer as some of you refuse to believe. It is called "Price Fixing" to keep the bricks and mortar retailers happy so they dont throw their rattle out of their pram and stop selling your stuff. Seeing as that is APPARENTLY the biggest market, why not?

People are quick to shout from the hills that "STEAM RIP YOU OFF" - Really?

Those prices seem pretty favourable to me, comparing the added value the STEAM platform brings to the table. Impulse should also get a mention as offering a similiar service to STEAM although at the moment, they dont have deals with all publishers although they are getting there.

So remember, the next time you read the CEO of a rival company announcing the "Evilness" of STEAM and how much they "RIP OFF THE DEVELOPERS", remember theyre all in on it, apparently?

I would say, on the whole, the other platforms are more expensive than STEAM across the board so what gives?

Untill digital purchase numbers are at a level whereby Publishers can tell the stores to "Shove it", it will be rare you see Digital downloads cheaper than retail, you just have to accept that I guess (Took me a while to accept it) and pay the extra if you enjoy the convenience (I know I do).

There is no need to EVERYTIME someone mentions STEAM to go off on about how expensive you think it is.

Sainsburys is more expensive than Tesco, yet it doesnt stop people going there as they prefer that something "else" the other retailer offers, it is not allways about the price.
 
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Most people i find who winge heavily about Steam's pricing are those who have made it there own law that theyl never buy anything from anywhere other than Steam. Most people will just pick up the cheaper retail version or look elsewhere digitally.
 
Maybe the others were slightly more expensive because they don't have as big of a customer base as Steam?
To be honest (and to be the devil's advocate) typing out a few figures of prices for games on various digital download mediums is hardly concrete proof that publishers have set that price.

A comment from a Steam executive saying 'Publishers set the prices, not us' and then a Publisher agreeing to such a statement would be proof. Until we get something like that it's all opinion and conjecture.

Using emotive sentences such as 'those of us with half an ounce of intelligence understand' doesn't necessarily force me to agree with you for fear of being classed as one without half an ounce of intelligence, so maybe I have a full ounce of intelligence? :p

By the by, I do use Steam when I see a decent deal. I buy my games wherever they are cheapest and if that's in a store then fine, I don't really mind puttting a disc in the drive to play. Steam is a great medium for buying and playing games but it's nice to have options.
 
Now, those of us with half an ounce of intelligence understand that the PUBLISHERS set the pricing on these platforms,
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It makes no sense though :(

If you go to a high street store the publishers haven't set the prices in there... its much more likely that the publisher charges them a few pounds whenever a game is downloaded, and they can set whatever price they want...
 
I really llike steam as a platform. Small footprint & works reallly well.

Just wish there were more games on it and publishers would just bite the bullet & get behind it as the main distribution method.

I now won't buy a game unless its through steam. Stupid I know but I just like having all my stuff in the one place and the ability to be able to log in & download my content no matter how many times I upgrade PC / Platform etc.

I know you can do this by disk but with all the patches etc, its just more hassle...
 
Because it's #1, simple as that.

People use the #1 in most markets as a scapegoat. Microsoft, BT etc.... if you are the biggest player, you'll shoulder a fair amount of blame for anything that is perceived to be wrong in that sector.
 
nate247 said:
Just wish there were more games on it.
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More games? Can you name ten games you'd like to play that aren't? Sure, it doesn't have every MMO, every Indie, or every retro game, but the available list is pretty extensive if you're after contemporary games.

I've bought a few games on EA-DM, a few on Impulse, and over a hundred on Steam. It has its nuances and niggles, but if you're prepared to wait for deals, you can get some great offers :)
 
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HangTime said:
Because it's #1, simple as that.

People use the #1 in most markets as a scapegoat. Microsoft, BT etc.... if you are the biggest player, you'll shoulder a fair amount of blame for anything that is perceived to be wrong in that sector.
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Couldn't have said it better.
 
I love the Steam sales. So much so that I snap things up willy nilly thinking "one day I might have a computer that can run this" :D

Right now, it's 50% off Civ IV. Never liked the demo as it was too long winded but I'm still hovering over that Buy Now button...
 
Gimpymoo said:
Why?

Impulse should also get a mention as offering a similiar service to STEAM although at the moment, they dont have deals with all publishers although they are getting there.
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It's a shame Impulse can't get enough world wide rights as it would be interesting to compare the services on a more level playing field.
 
cheets64 said:
Steam is good for cheap games, if I was buying a £30 game I would want it on dvd rom.
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This is more or less my view. I only tend to buy the cheaper games on steam, never really spent more than a tenner on there despite having a huge collection, mainly from specials.
 
Strife212 said:
It makes no sense though :(

If you go to a high street store the publishers haven't set the prices in there... its much more likely that the publisher charges them a few pounds whenever a game is downloaded, and they can set whatever price they want...
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Your comparing 2 very different distribution models and assuming they function the same.

Imagine STEAM as a giant shop window.

Everyone can put something in the window and if whatever it is your selling sells, you pay the shop owner a percentage of the sale price.

You wouldn't charge the shop owner? The shop owner owns the Window, he says he wants 20%, you factor that into your sale price.

The problem is, you have traders who buy stuff from you, add on 40% then sell it.

If they find out you are selling stuff cheaper than them, they most likely may stop selling your stuff.
 
Steam sales are really good.

I really should buy more games from it truthfully, I find it easier with steam rather than DVD's.

Saves my hunting for the disc, worrying about it getting scratched or damaged. Unlikely, but if the game is the same price I prefer the steam approach mostly. But then for some reason there is something oddly enjoyable about reading the manual of a new game. Which I tend to do after getting like 50 percent of the way through -.-
 
Longbow said:
Yes really, it's more expensive than buying physical hard copies. You even said that in your post.
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Did you read the thread title?

Did you read who I was comparing STEAM to?

Please do not try and derail the thread and take it down a path it is not intended to go down.

ANYONE with internet access can see that shops are cheaper than digital distribution.

HOWEVER, that is not the point I was trying to make. My appologies, I should have made my original post clearer.
 
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Gimpymoo said:
Did you read the thread title?

Did you read who I was comparing STEAM to?

Please do not try and derail the thread and take it down a path it is not intended to go down.

ANYONE with internet access can see that shops are cheaper than digital distribution.

HOWEVER, that is not the point I was trying to make. My appologies, I should have made my original post clearer.
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I'm not trying to derail the thread at all, I'll break your OP down if you wish. :)

Now, those of us with half an ounce of intelligence understand that the PUBLISHERS set the pricing on these platforms, NOT THE E-Tailer as some of you refuse to believe.
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Evidence of this?

People are quick to shout from the hills that "STEAM RIP YOU OFF" - Really?
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Yes because it is in comparison to other methods of obtaining games such as buying physical copies on-line. That is why they say Steam is a rip off. If you were to ask why people say "STEAM RIP YOU OFF IN COMPARISON TO OTHER DIGITAL DOWNLOAD SITES", then maybe you would have point, but people don't say that.

Those prices seem pretty favourable to me, comparing the added value the STEAM platform brings to the table.
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But does it really cost £5-10 more to have the servers(+bandwidth) compared to actually making a hard copy of the game, and then have it shipped to the online retailer, and then have a human process your order and ship it to you?

So remember, the next time you read the CEO of a rival company announcing the "Evilness" of STEAM and how much they "RIP OFF THE DEVELOPERS", remember theyre all in on it, apparently?
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Who's to say they aren't ripping off the devs? See point one again, they could be getting the games for the same price that online retailers get, or less, but put the prices up.
 
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