67 replies to this topic

[Primarc]

From what I've seen on of many games that go to steam, we'll possibly see it 8-12 months after launch. Most games, (as they should imo) will try to get the fan-base to purchase products and play without 3rd party distribution systems. This keeps the overhead low and a better revenue flow for needed updates. Once the purchases trickle off, it's worth while to give a percentage to Steam to get the marketing bonus. One problem they run into is the user interface. Steam wants DLC and vendor purchase percentages, which for a FTP that relies on continued profit from this, negotiating it out of the deal is ripping out teeth. I think i heard about Mass Effect 3 problems with this being a major reason it wasn't on Steam (anyone have info on that?) Basically, the profit ratio has to be worth the loss.

[Elizander]

perfectblue, on 02 July 2012 - 12:18 PM, said:

Would you mind expanding upon this a little further? What sorts of cost's are associated with using Steam as a platform?

Normally when something like this happens (like you put your game on Facebook or Steam) you are using their currency and a large percentage of that goes to Steam/FB/whomever. The wider reach of the game when placed on Steam will be offset by part of the money paid by players on Steam going to Steam instead of PGI.

It can be really high, by the way. 20% would be silly low from what I know.

Also if most people here pay through Steam and Steam doesn't get enough new paying players to make up for the percentage loss that goes to Steam then they would lose overall. It is also hard to predict if it will be a positive gain or not. I'm not even sure if Steam will charge them a fee per account that downloads the game through Steam.

Edited by Elizander, 02 July 2012 - 01:10 PM.

[Easily]

dezgra, on 02 July 2012 - 01:03 PM, said:

If you have ever had an issue with your steam account, you will be like me and "just say no".

I had. VAC once unrightfully banned me from playing CoD4 multiplayer.

I sent a couple.. less than polite .. mails informing steam support that they're a bunch of idiots, a day later I got an email back apologizing for the ban.
They instantly unbanned me and gave me Left 4 Dead 2 for free, which had just been released.

I was quite happy with them to be fair.

Edited by Easily, 02 July 2012 - 01:09 PM.

[Skadi]

Aegis Kleais, on 02 July 2012 - 12:20 PM, said:

That's got to be a nail biter...

On one side, there's only so many BTech/MW fans who use Twitter/Facebook, which seem to be PGI's primary method of advertising (picking up articles on gaming portal sites when they can), but the massive 30,000,000+ user audience that Steam commands would do PGI a world of good to get their product readily out to them (though there are the expenses involved in doing so as well)

Kind of a catch 22. I'm still working to get the word out locally, especially with this limited-time deal.

Maybe it's best to play it safe for the time being and get a stable following before the "final" product goes out and then can be advertised to drum up more interest and (hopefully) transactions.

We need to start hijacking billboards, sticking flyers to peoples cars, to people, to peoples cats, to birds, EVERYTHING.

[Aegis Kleais]

Skadi, on 02 July 2012 - 01:13 PM, said:

We need to start hijacking billboards, sticking flyers to peoples cars, to people, to peoples cats, to birds, EVERYTHING.

Start?

What the heck have you guys been doing? Using word of mouth? Pfft. You get a lot more people talking about it if you can get yourself on the 6 o'clock news...

[Easily]

Primarc, on 02 July 2012 - 01:06 PM, said:

I think i heard about Mass Effect 3 problems with this being a major reason it wasn't on steam (anyone have info on that?) Basically, the profit ratio has to be worth the loss.

Mass Effect 3 wasn't on steam because EA pulled most of their products from steam after an alleged.. disagreement.. with Valve about DLC's. They pulled Crysis, Alice: MR, and a couple of other games (Some of which returned btw) and made a lot of games "Origin Exclusive".

It wouldn't suprise me if it was just a lie so they could try and expand that horrible thing they call Origin though.

[Skadi]

Primarc, on 02 July 2012 - 01:06 PM, said:

I think i heard about Mass Effect 3 problems with this being a major reason it wasn't on steam (anyone have info on that?) Basically, the profit ratio has to be worth the loss.

that was the problem

[Easily]

Skadi, on 02 July 2012 - 01:23 PM, said:

..snip..
that was the problem

Sir, have a cookie.
*hands Skadi a cookie*
Nom nom.

[trycksh0t]

Aegis Kleais, on 02 July 2012 - 12:20 PM, said:

That's got to be a nail biter...

On one side, there's only so many BTech/MW fans who use Twitter/Facebook, which seem to be PGI's primary method of advertising (picking up articles on gaming portal sites when they can), but the massive 30,000,000+ user audience that Steam commands would do PGI a world of good to get their product readily out to them (though there are the expenses involved in doing so as well)

Kind of a catch 22. I'm still working to get the word out locally, especially with this limited-time deal.

Maybe it's best to play it safe for the time being and get a stable following before the "final" product goes out and then can be advertised to drum up more interest and (hopefully) transactions.

This is what I was thinking. I certainly don't expect MWO on Steam at launch due to financial issues. However, if MWO is half as successful as I'm hoping (praying) it'll be, I wouldn't be surprised if it showed up a year or so down the road.

[Lightdragon]

christ dont any of you use the search function before posting... there will be no steam download and no contributing money to valves greed

[Skadi]

Lightdragon, on 02 July 2012 - 01:29 PM, said:

christ dont any of you use the search function before posting... there will be no steam download and no contributing money to valves greed

You dont haft to come in here attacking people like that, Russ already answered it for us.

[Aegis Kleais]

Lightdragon, on 02 July 2012 - 01:29 PM, said:

christ dont any of you use the search function before posting... there will be no steam download and no contributing money to valves greed

We also don't need to hear any religious swearing. If you feel a need to offend people, simply hand out a 4x6 photo of yourself to people you meet. If you REALLY want to offend someone, provide them an HD version.

Edited by Aegis Kleais, 02 July 2012 - 01:35 PM.

[OICU812]

Steam would be a great choice IMHO!

[Traygor Icarion]

Not only do you get the great steam services such as: Easy downloading and updating, friend integration, groups, web-browser, and more. You get a TON of advertising. All people need to see on the front page is:


FREE TO PLAY MECH WARRIOR.

That will bring boat loads

[Skadi]

Traygor Icarion, on 02 July 2012 - 01:38 PM, said:

Not only do you get the great steam services such as: Easy downloading and updating, friend integration, groups, web-browser, and more. You get a TON of advertising. All people need to see on the front page is:


FREE TO PLAY MECH WARRIOR.

That will bring boat loads

*load up steam*
"HOLY **** FREE MECHWARRIOR MMO?"

[Zerik]

Also good to note that just because it's available on Steam, dosen't mean it has to be -exclusively- on Steam. EQ2, EVE, STO, all available on Steam, and when run through Steam use the Steam wallet (well, haven't tested that with EVE), but if you're the Valve-hating type, you can get the game from their own site aswell. Everyone can play, hate or love Steam, and the only real big question is how a deal like that will affect profit margines if Valve is only getting a cut from clients running on Steam (and thus, more likely to want a larger cut when knowing that there would be a way for people to play and buy stuff in game without Valve getting money for the transaction).

[xxx WreckinBallRaj xxx]

I hope NOT. Steam is stupid and I don't like having to piggyback through their service just to access my game. We don't need Steam, at all. One of the selling points of this game in fact is that 1) It has no god da mn EA or Blizzard logo anywhere in sight, and 2) It doesn't have any stupid "games for windows live" or "Steam" on top of it. Steam is great for a store but for a multiplayer I'd rather not be bothered with it.

Edited by Bluten, 02 July 2012 - 04:23 PM.

[grimzod]

Russ Bullock, on 02 July 2012 - 12:12 PM, said:

We cant answer this at this point. Obviously steam's community and reach is amazing. However it also comes at extreme expense on the games revenue stream.

Yes, please, no Steam.

[Mantis]

Russ Bullock, on 02 July 2012 - 12:12 PM, said:

We cant answer this at this point. Obviously steam's community and reach is amazing. However it also comes at extreme expense on the games revenue stream.

[SteelBack]

SmoothUK, on 02 July 2012 - 01:01 PM, said:

I think it would be something like 30% of all revenue from users who play via steam. It doesn't make much sense to expand to using something like steam until you're own player-base growth begins to slow.

Theo Bergquist, GamersGate’s CEO has used the same 30% quote for what they charge to hve games on their service. I think the 30% is pretty standard, and if people think that is a lot of money they need to take a look at the Anatomy of a $60 Video Game . Retail sucks for video games. Digital sales for PC games is great for publishers.

I hope the game is not steam ONLY. While steam is a great service I'd prefer not to have to run it to play my games. However adding it after launch can really help bring up some numbers. Fallen Earth had a big chunk of gamers come in after steam announced FE was free to play. My preference is still to play without steam though.