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This is exactly what I was concerned about when I first saw this. I can't see how Valve is going to welcome this as a permanent purchase mechanism unless they'

This is exactly what I was concerned about when I first saw this. I can't see how Valve is going to welcome this as a permanent purchase mechanism unless they're getting a cut. On the other hand, perhaps their recent change to how Steam keys were distributed (i.e. they're not shown anymore, you have to link your Steam account) was part of some private agreement with Valve to allow this.

CrazedGeek 13y ago
Valve seems fairly okay with other stores selling Steam keys without the flash sale model: off the top of my head, Amazon and Green Man Gaming both do it. There's even precedent for a flash-sale bundle seller also having a separate store (Indie Gala and the Gala Store).
mercurial 13y ago
The question is how permanent the sale is. Is this is an intentionally low opening price, in order to attract customers, or a more permanent fixture?
bcjordan 13y ago
It is a way for Valve to drive their own platform adoption (a purchaser on Humble Bundle store is committing to opening Steam each time they play their game).
sitkack 13y ago
Whitelabeling is the key to driving extended reach. I see no issue with with this. Valve is still the nervous system and the blood supply.
jjkmk 13y ago
There are already a few online stores that have this model. Valve is getting a cut either way, no one is sure what percentage is but I would go as far as to say valve is still getting their 30% and the publisher is taking a hit somewhere. Here is another store that has been doing this for some time: http://www.greenmangaming.com/ http://www.greenmangaming.com/
Guest98130 13y ago
Valve can squeeze all these stores out any time. Right now they're driving sales, distributing the game, and doing a large part of the work for zero profits on outside sales. This isn't going to work long term, and they're going to flip the tables. How? I have no idea, but here's an example. Developers set the global price for their game. They can also set a unique price per store. All sales go through Steam, referral codes send a commission back to the store making the sale. For example, you're a developer with a game on Steam, $9.99, and you want to sell it on the Humble Store for a 24 hour sale, at $4.99. You set the Steam pricing coming from the Humble referral links at a 50% discount. Now, users browse the Humble Store, see the game at 50% off, click to buy, and get forwarded to Steam, or go through a Humble checkout that uses the Steam API. Valve takes the money, distributes a percent to the developer, and a commission to Humble. If Humble wants to send a part of their payment to charity, that's up to them. Valve wants to encourage more user stores selling Steam games in the coming year. I imagine a new payment system will be announced in mid/late 2014 to accompany these changes.

CrazedGeek 13y ago

Valve seems fairly okay with other stores selling Steam keys without the flash sale model: off the top of my head, Amazon and Green Man Gaming both do it. There's even precedent for a flash-sale bundle seller also having a separate store (Indie Gala and the Gala Store).

mercurial 13y ago

The question is how permanent the sale is. Is this is an intentionally low opening price, in order to attract customers, or a more permanent fixture?

bcjordan 13y ago

It is a way for Valve to drive their own platform adoption (a purchaser on Humble Bundle store is committing to opening Steam each time they play their game).

sitkack 13y ago

Whitelabeling is the key to driving extended reach. I see no issue with with this. Valve is still the nervous system and the blood supply.

jjkmk 13y ago

There are already a few online stores that have this model. Valve is getting a cut either way, no one is sure what percentage is but I would go as far as to say valve is still getting their 30% and the publisher is taking a hit somewhere. Here is another store that has been doing this for some time: http://www.greenmangaming.com/ http://www.greenmangaming.com/

Guest98130 13y ago

Valve can squeeze all these stores out any time. Right now they're driving sales, distributing the game, and doing a large part of the work for zero profits on outside sales. This isn't going to work long term, and they're going to flip the tables. How? I have no idea, but here's an example. Developers set the global price for their game. They can also set a unique price per store. All sales go through Steam, referral codes send a commission back to the store making the sale. For example, you're a developer with a game on Steam, $9.99, and you want to sell it on the Humble Store for a 24 hour sale, at $4.99. You set the Steam pricing coming from the Humble referral links at a 50% discount. Now, users browse the Humble Store, see the game at 50% off, click to buy, and get forwarded to Steam, or go through a Humble checkout that uses the Steam API. Valve takes the money, distributes a percent to the developer, and a commission to Humble. If Humble wants to send a part of their payment to charity, that's up to them. Valve wants to encourage more user stores selling Steam games in the coming year. I imagine a new payment system will be announced in mid/late 2014 to accompany these changes.