Valve Reportedly Bringing Flash Sales Back from the Dead

[Raevenlord]

It's been two years since Valve decided to take away the excitement of their flash sales out of the equation. The thought-process was that by having sales go uninterrupted from the beginning through to the end of each sale period would maximize chances of users being able to find it in their budgets - and in their time - more chances to purchase said games. However, one thing is for sure: that means that for users who see the sale in the first day, they've really seen it all.

Valve News Network's Tyler McVicker says the flash sales are returning in a different way now. This time, developers will be able to choose how long they want each game's flash sale to last: 6, 8, 10, or 12 hours, meaning Steam's front page will likely be updated every hour. This is both good and bad, as we've seen; however, it seems that Valve is erring towards the side of excitement and daily viewing of flash sales as being quantifiably better than the alternative. For one, I can see that users that see a flash sale are much more likely to do some impulse buys than if they know a sale will last for a long time. It's basic psychology here.



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[qubit]

They're keeping their cash cows on constant tenterhooks to maximise profits. Glad that crap doesn't work on me.

 

[neatfeatguy]

That's why grocery stores are setup the way they are when you're out shopping.

1) Things kids love to eat (sugary goodies/cereal for example) are kept low, where kids can reach. Parents are more likely to buy these things over other things and spend more money on the things kids want/like.
2) At the checkout lane - candy, magazines, small items/toys that are priced low (usually $4.99 and under). Kids grab candy and/or toys, parents grab anything that strikes their fancy....

According to some survey data, the average American spends up to $450 impulsively a month: https://www.cnbc.com/2018/02/23/consumers-cough-up-5400-a-year-on-impulse-purchases.html

Personally, I've purchased very little on Steam over the past 2 years. I've made 10 purchases (total of 12 games) and spent around $80.
Back when flash sales were a thing - in an 18 month span (not all purchases were done with flash sales) I purchased nearly 40 games and spent around $275. Without the flash sales I'm certain my purchases in that time frame would have been half of what I spent.

It's that impulse when you see a game on your wishlist that normally sells for $39.99. Most times it goes on sale it is 50% off and priced at $19.99. That odd time you catch a flash sale and see it on sale for $5.99 - you're more likely to snatch it up because it's only $5-6 and not the $20-30.

Then people will rationalize the spending of $5-6:
"I'll go without buying that $5 coffee tomorrow before work if I buy this game now."
"$5....that's nothing. I can easily afford that if I don't buy that case of Pepsi this week. Just a small price to pay for a cheap game I want."

When you see the game priced at $20 (when it's 50% off):
"$20...I don't need the game that bad. I have a backlog to play....plus, $20 is almost a tank of gas."
"Eating is more important, I need that $20 to go towards groceries."
"Baby formula is expensive. Need to prioritize and $20 can almost buy a canister of formula....I can't afford this much on a game right now."

At least, that's how I look at things.

 

[Readlight]

I haw better thing to do and learn than these stupid, unoptimized, error full games.

 

[Basard]

That's why grocery stores are setup the way they are when you're out shopping.

1) Things kids love to eat (sugary goodies/cereal for example) are kept low, where kids can reach. Parents are more likely to buy these things over other things and spend more money on the things kids want/like.
2) At the checkout lane - candy, magazines, small items/toys that are priced low (usually $4.99 and under). Kids grab candy and/or toys, parents grab anything that strikes their fancy....

According to some survey data, the average American spends up to $450 impulsively a month: https://www.cnbc.com/2018/02/23/consumers-cough-up-5400-a-year-on-impulse-purchases.html

Personally, I've purchased very little on Steam over the past 2 years. I've made 10 purchases (total of 12 games) and spent around $80.
Back when flash sales were a thing - in an 18 month span (not all purchases were done with flash sales) I purchased nearly 40 games and spent around $275. Without the flash sales I'm certain my purchases in that time frame would have been half of what I spent.

It's that impulse when you see a game on your wishlist that normally sells for $39.99. Most times it goes on sale it is 50% off and priced at $19.99. That odd time you catch a flash sale and see it on sale for $5.99 - you're more likely to snatch it up because it's only $5-6 and not the $20-30.

Then people will rationalize the spending of $5-6:
"I'll go without buying that $5 coffee tomorrow before work if I buy this game now."
"$5....that's nothing. I can easily afford that if I don't buy that case of Pepsi this week. Just a small price to pay for a cheap game I want."

When you see the game priced at $20 (when it's 50% off):
"$20...I don't need the game that bad. I have a backlog to play....plus, $20 is almost a tank of gas."
"Eating is more important, I need that $20 to go towards groceries."
"Baby formula is expensive. Need to prioritize and $20 can almost buy a canister of formula....I can't afford this much on a game right now."

At least, that's how I look at things.

Seems complicated... I just give all my money to my wife.

 

[MercJ]

You know what Valve should bring back? Actually making games. Instead of just sitting on the cash they bring in...

 

[FordGT90Concept]

I don't think it's going to matter. Last time flash sales were a thing, publishers were fully embracing the digital platform and over extended sale discounts in that excitement. I think what we'll end up seeing is publisher bottom dollar (usually 50% off retail) in the flash sale and 20-30% off the rest of the duration of the sale. In other words, to see the same price we have been seeing over the past several years, we have to wait for the flash sale window.

The flash sales will generate a whole lot of social media attention because it's something people want to talk about and want to know but we're not going to be seeing 75%+ off like we did last time flash sales were around. Publishers are more keenly aware of gamer purchasing patterns and the longer they wait to do deep sales, the more money they make.

I am not looking forward to this. Bad enough that Steam's store doesn't work for hours after the sale event starts.

 

[StrayKAT]

You know what Valve should bring back? Actually making games. Instead of just sitting on the cash they bring in...

I'll be happy with just another Portal. I hate to sound negative, but I was never that big of a fan of Half-Life (although they should just finish the Episodes as a trilogy anyhow.. I'll still play it. lol Even amateur modders could get something rolling in months. It's kind of pathetic Valve doesn't even do this much).

 

[Caring1]

I haw better thing to do and learn than these stupid, unoptimized, error full games.

Learning ESL one of those things?

 

[DRDNA]

Steam allows the vendor to set up a sale with a defined date but will also allow the vendor to raise the price during the sale too (this is shady fraudulent behaviors! Example, I had added Atumobilista to my steam cart on 8/1/1018 for $22 which is on sale until 8/6/2018 at a 67% discount for the game and the season pass but then i went into my cart yesterday to press the buy now and WOW MAGICALLY the PRICE CHANGED TO $33 >51%
off no warning or anything (and i think this is against the law in the USA , not sure tho) and I almost hit the buy button when i just in time noticed they raised the price! Reiza Studios is a SHADY AS F_ _ _ _ vendor and that STEAM EVEN ALLOWS THIS SHADY PRACTICE IS well FRAUDULENT!

 

[qubit]

You know what Valve should bring back? Actually making games. Instead of just sitting on the cash they bring in...

Yeah, give us HL3 finally. The best game I've ever played and they leave it unfinished.

 

[InVasMani]

The sales use to be better in general for both newer and older games. It's more about the discount than the method they try to sucker people in to catch a deal.

 

[StrayKAT]

The sales use to be better in general for both newer and older games. It's more about the discount than the method they try to sucker people in to catch a deal.

Those big sales (like the last Summer sale) are awesome though. That's how I get most of my games... and it's added up to a huge library at this point (that I haven't even tapped into lol).

I barely pay attention to these individual sales. I just buy individual games I'm already hyped about.. full price or not.

 

[Vayra86]

Yeah, give us HL3 finally. The best game I've ever played and they leave it unfinished.

You have played HL3?!

 

[qubit]

You have played HL3?!

No, I mean release HL3 so that I can play it!

 

[Fx]

If this means they are going to offer games at 50% off, then I'm not really interested unless it is a newly-released game that I really want. Sales don't create a sense of urgency with me until they hit >60% because 75% is the target that I wait for on Black Friday. Every year I clear out 90% of my wishlisht on that day.