Bet Valve Didn't Think of That!

[japher]

With Valve obviously raking it in now that they've released CS:S already to everyone who buys through Steam, I can't help thinking they may have shot themselves in the foot as far as the general public is concerned.

No doubt Steam is going to put an HUGE dent in the retail sales, so what does this mean? Well, it probably means no time in (or at least at the top of) the charts. Shop assistants saying, "Yeah, half-life 2 hasn't really sold that well". To you an me these things don't matter, but if you're not the kind of person that's waiting for the game and looking on forums likt this, then they probably do.

If I'm honest, I kind of like the fact that many people don't really know (or think highly) of the first half-life (yes, even though it topped charts for months). It gives you that feeling that you're not a dumb pleb just buying the latest chart-topper like every other dickhead. In spite of my early worries, hopefully half-life 2 will enjoy a similar position as the connoisseur's 'Best Game Ever', as did half-life.

Discuss.

 

[grumpycrab]

No doubt Steam is going to put an HUGE dent in the retail sales...

No it won't. Define HUGE? Of-course its impossible to give precise numbers but if 10% of HL2 purchases are through Steam I'll eat my (HL2) hat.
--
Grumps
**Edit** make that 1%

 

[cadaveca]

No it won't. Define HUGE? Of-course its impossible to give precise numbers but if 10% of HL2 purchases are through Steam I'll eat my (HL2) hat.
--
Grumps

make sure to shoot video, if it is...lol. i think you are right tho..look at STEAM bandwidth...not as busy as you would think...only 30 hours of sales?and most ati upgrades?maybe?

 

[Burn]

a dumb pleb just buying the latest chart-topper like every other dickhead

Discuss.

Heck, I would hate to be one of those "dickheads" who brought a game just because it was high in the charts cus its good. Yea that would be very "dickhead" of me.

 

[ummno]

Some poeple buy games because they are in the top 10? Half of the games are either the sims or zoo and roller coaster tycoon's.

 

[Lanthanide]

I'm sure the people who compile the poll for the weekly sales ranking will ask Valve/VU for figures on their Steam sales, and they'd be foolish not to oblige.

 

[Sharrd]

I bet VALVe didn't think of that!

Yeah, they've got such a small crew that's been planning the Steam sales for just more than half a year; surely none of them could have been as bright as you!

 

[Ansur]

surely none of them could have been as bright as you!

Hey, you never know :imu:

 

[japher]

Yeah, they've got such a small crew that's been planning the Steam sales for just more than half a year; surely none of them could have been as bright as you!

err, i didn't really mean it, you're right it was a stupid subject. :cheers:

(and don't change my post when you quote it).

 

[Danimal]

Shop assistants saying, "Yeah, half-life 2 hasn't really sold that well".

Well this means more of a chance of it not selling out on the first day, thus I can get it on the first day without alot of lines :rolling: :E :cheers:

 

[japher]

when i say huge, i mean i think certainly the opening week or two are going to be severely affected (particularly if we don't see hl2 for almost two months). there will be very healthy sales over steam until hl2 is released, and many of those sales to people who would definitely have bought in the first couple of weeks.

of course, the percentage bought through steam will make up less and less of total sales as time goes on (and after years, it will probably be minute).

 

[AJ Rimmer]

If I'm honest, I kind of like the fact that many people don't really know (or think highly) of the first half-life (yes, even though it topped charts for months). It gives you that feeling that you're not a dumb pleb just buying the latest chart-topper like every other dickhead. In spite of my early worries, hopefully half-life 2 will enjoy a similar position as the connoisseur's 'Best Game Ever', as did half-life.

Please excuse my language here but what the **** are you talking about? There isn't a soul in my school of 1000 that don't know about HL and think it's the best game ever, and it still tops charts all the time.
Half-life is a great game, it's not bad, it's not stupid, it's not just a cheap way for some half-assed company to make money, but it sure as hell is mainstream!

 

[Fletch]

Wouldn't the excellent reviews that the game has recieved count towards anything? Im sure the same people who look the the charts also base their purchases on scores the games recieve.

 

[japher]

Really? My experience is that everyone has heard of the game, many haven't played it and many more played it years arfter it came out and didn't get very far. Of course also LOADS of people know and love the game, but there's a significant number that don't.

I suppose you go to a very half-life enlightened school.

Scrapheap challenge with Robert Llewellyn at 21:00 and massive engines with Chris Barrie at 23:30. I love tuesdays...

Who'd of thought the 'Cast Member From Red Dwarf Hosts Engineering-based Entertainment' format would be so popular?

 

[AJ Rimmer]

Really? My experience is that everyone has heard of the game, many haven't played it and many more played it years arfter it came out and didn't get very far. Of course also LOADS of people know and love the game, but there's a significant number that don't.

I suppose you go to a very half-life enlightened school.



Who'd of thought the 'Cast Member From Red Dwarf Hosts Engineering-based Entertainment' format would be so popular?

No just a normal school. Almost everyone have played it.

Yeah I know, just proves that Red Dwarf is best.

 

[Mountain Man]

I'm sure if the shops came out to proclaim Half-Life 2 a poor seller, Doug Lombardi would be eager to set the record straight.

 

[Element Alpha]

HL2 is gonna make people sell their mothers to a pawnshop.

 

[Alientank]

Steam sells a minute amount of copies compared to retail. Not everyone has broadband or the patience to wait for it to download.

 

[AJ Rimmer]

what kinda school do u go to rofl! very few people in my school have ever heard of half life let alone played it...

I guess that just proves to you all that Sweden is number one.

 

[kush]

Steam sells a minute amount of copies compared to retail. Not everyone has broadband or the patience to wait for it to download.

Exactly. Out of say 5 people i know, i'm the only who has and will buy through Steam. I'm not so materialistic; more impatient. My 4 other friends insist on having a retail box. I think the general game buying public much outweigh us forum goers.

 

[DrunkPanda]

Really? My experience is that everyone has heard of the game, many haven't played it and many more played it years arfter it came out and didn't get very far. Of course also LOADS of people know and love the game, but there's a significant number that don't.

I suppose you go to a very half-life enlightened school.



Who'd of thought the 'Cast Member From Red Dwarf Hosts Engineering-based Entertainment' format would be so popular?

dude, counter strike is like the most popular fps ever. guess what you need to play counter strike? that's right, half life. trust me, half life is like one of the most popular pc games ever

 

[Serial45]

I actually think half-life 2 will reach number 1 in sales, and quite simply stay at number one for months or weeks. I mean tbh, steam will represent 15% of sales max, given the huge sucess of half life 1 and the amount of contraversy Hl2 has summed up.

I'd actually bet my life that half-life 2 will be the 2nd best selling pc game of all time (nothing will beat the sims in sales, too many men, women, single middle aged people that play this etc).
As for charts, watch this title be good at number 1 for a while at least

 

[AJ Rimmer]

dude, counter strike is like the most popular fps ever. guess what you need to play counter strike? that's right, half life. trust me, half life is like one of the most popular pc games ever

Well, some CS player you know... I've known people who say; "Half-life, ain't that a mod to Counter-strike?"