Whats the point?

[DimitriPopov]

Whats the point of Steam if it doesnt offer cheaper prices than retail? CounterStrike:ConditionZero is still 40$ on Steam, thats probably MORE expensive than it would be in stores. I thought Steam was supposed to offer the game makers and end consumers an advantage by cutting out the middleman (publishing company)

 

[gh0st]

1) you dont have to leave your chair 2) youd e supporting valve more

 

[63]

Whats the point of Steam if it doesnt offer cheaper prices than retail? CounterStrike:ConditionZero is still 40$ on Steam, thats probably MORE expensive than it would be in stores. I thought Steam was supposed to offer the game makers and end consumers an advantage by cutting out the middleman (publishing company)

Have you even looked in a shop?

CZ is around $49, Steam is instant..

Wrong section

 

[EC]

The point of steam is you can play any VALVe game you payed for on any computer with an internet connection anywhere in the world. Just log in, DL the content, and play.

 

[Platinum]

asdf

i dno about you guys ... but im gonna go GET the game ... dont download it ... HL2 from steam is a big virus!!! hahha jk ... i want the box in my hands so i can punch gordon multiple times in the face..

 

[Mr-Fusion]

You're going to punch your box....ok..

 

[EC]

Retail = box = manual = good install reading.

 

[DiSTuRbEd]

i dno about you guys ... but im gonna go GET the game ... dont download it ... HL2 from steam is a big virus!!! hahha jk ... i want the box in my hands so i can punch gordon multiple times in the face..

Wow, you have issues, when you punch boxes...

 

[DiSTuRbEd]

Retail = box = manual = good install reading.

No, manual=good shitting material :cheers:

 

[63]

i want the box in my hands so i can punch gordon multiple times in the face..

What he really meant to say was he is going to buy the Alyx version and makeout with the box..

 

[EC]

No, manual=good shitting material :cheers:

What about CD swapping? Unless you get the DVD version, you'll need to have bursts of shit.

Gogo mental image.

 

[DimitriPopov]

So I guess Steam just means a shitload of profits? Think about all the money saved by not having to distribute the box , or even have to deal with a publisher. And they still charge the same whichc means all that money is now Valves.

 

[DiSTuRbEd]

So I guess Steam just means a shitload of profits? Think about all the money saved by not having to distribute the box , or even have to deal with a publisher. And they still charge the same whichc means all that money is now Valves.

No just think of it this way, when ordered over steam, they get 100% of that money, not half of it like usual because having to pay for Vivendi,etc.

 

[kakagar]

I don't think they could lower the prices a whole lot since it would become unfair competition for the publisher imagine being able to buy HL2 for 50 dollars retail or 10 buck on steam? which one would you choose? most of us would get it through steam making the publisher loose shitloads of money therefore sueing (spelling?) Valve. It's main advantage is that you can get upgrades instantly and Valve can get lots results and researches and polls done through steam so they know what to upgrade and stuff. Bear in mind valve still has a contract with it's publisher therefore the situation depicted above could happen when the contract expires the it's possible to see the situation you propose dimitri.
Also you could check out Chris_D's article on steam called "Full Steam Ahead"

 

[qckbeam]

Steam has it's advantages. I think the most important of them, for Valve at least, is the error reporting system, ability to have exact numbers and records regarding the average machine spec of all players, more control over cheating (I've heard this at least), and the ability to deliver their own content without the help of a publisher. For us, well, Steam doesn't bring us a whole let right out the door besides the fact that a patching system is built right in, so the game will be patched automatically. I believe the information Steam could provide Valve with will give us a more stable ride in the long-run. As far as prices go, I managed to ask Rick Ellis over at Valve what the deal was with Steam and retail versions being the same price. He said it was strictly related to the contract between the publisher and themselves. As kakagar said, it wouldn't be fair for the publisher to sell one version of the game for half price on the internet, while they are stuck selling the thing for full price.

One thing I also found interesting while talking with Rick, Valves first release candidate could also mark the beginning of the pre-sale system on Steam. From what I understand, the RC could be slowly loaded onto the hard drives of those who pre-order. If any changes need to be made between then and release, it's only a matter of applying small patches to whatever they had already gotten. So some of us could end up with HL2 on our hard drives way before the actual release, and pre-sales via steam may begin with the completion of the RC. Don't hold me to that though, as I'm sure plans could change VERY quickly over there. Whatever happens, I do think that I may just buy a copy of HL2 via steam. I really, really want the game quite badly, and being able to play it right at 12:01A.M., on whatever day it is actually released, is a big plus for me (considering my area often gets titles a few days late).

 

[Dr. Freeman]

Whats the point of Steam if it doesnt offer cheaper prices than retail? CounterStrike:ConditionZero is still 40$ on Steam, thats probably MORE expensive than it would be in stores. I thought Steam was supposed to offer the game makers and end consumers an advantage by cutting out the middleman (publishing company)

well others have given good reasons i think..

heres mine.. CZ was the first game available to purchase through Steam.. so naturally one would think being the first game ever on Steam.. the pricing wouldn't be too different from retail.. not only that.. but the initial cost of having extra bandwidth for game to be available over Steam for the very first time i would think is a bit high.. so perhaps Valve is trying to offset that initial cost with a higher price that u expected?

look.. i think over time, prices on Steam will be become a bit more reasonable.. but at this point the jury is still out as far as Steam being a good service in terms of sales.

anyway.. just my $0.02

 

[BabyHeadCrab]

I think I would just be using a condition zero manual to wipe my ass anyways

 

[Gunner]

Have you even looked in a shop?

CZ is around $49

Hmm it cost me 30€ brand new in the shop www.fnac.fr (cheaper than steam by a few dollars in the end).

 

[Darkknighttt]

you get a box though, and an instruction manual when you buy the retail.

 

[snak3y3z1001]

there was a promotional offer when CZ was first released on steam. You pay only $30 if you had counter-strike 1.6 already installed.

 

[genocide604]

I like to have manuals, and fresh box smell... i dont like the time wasting dl of steam..

 

[Reaperman]

you get a box though, and an instruction manual when you buy the retail.

we get the files, and probibly a .pdf manual.... and we never have to face direct sunlight..... so nyah

 

[sHm0zY]

I would rather have the retail version anyways.

 

[jord]

I like to have manuals, and fresh box smell... i dont like the time wasting dl of steam..

i love smelling the manuals for some reason. Especially the Nintendo manuals. Mmm mm mm mm good!