Steam summer sale and factorio

[Klonan]

We won't be taking part in the sale

[Lord_lammington]

Ah well , i guess there is always the winter sale or next year

[Klonan]

Ah well , i guess there is always the winter sale or next year

Hmm we won't be taking part in those either

[Sean Mirrsen]

I understand the position you're taking with this, but the yearly sales on Steam are typically great ways to advertise. Even a "sale" of like 5% off would allow you to get on the list of games on the front page, which is extra visibility.

Of course, if you don't actually need the extra visibility on Steam... well, you're the boss, boss.
It's not like Factorio is hard to find on Steam. It's somewhere near the top even by Steam's own score system.

[Lord_lammington]

I understand the position you're taking with this, but the yearly sales on Steam are typically great ways to advertise. Even a "sale" of like 5% off would allow you to get on the list of games on the front page, which is extra visibility.

Of course, if you don't actually need the extra visibility on Steam... well, you're the boss, boss.
It's not like Factorio is hard to find on Steam. It's somewhere near the top even by Steam's own score system.

and its what i kinda dont get , even if they just marked it down 15 percent the would see a huge jump in prices for peats sake it could get featured on steams front page and for a new release with a ton of hype around it i wouldn't think it as of a good idea , but hey my understanding of business inst wooing them and if they dont want to , they dont want to ... the sale is still a ways off so they could change their mind

[brunzenstein]

I'm strictly against any "Sale" for Factorio- point!
The way the founder of Factorio are walking today is perfect!
Try to get a discount on a RollsRoyce Silver Cloud arguing on a Yugo you can.
They are different not only in content but in style from the rest of the pack and have to stay as such that way - think Steve Jobs: He never walked the CheapCharlyWay when marketing, quite the opposite. And see where he brought the company too from a tiny garage idea.

[Klonan]

I understand the position you're taking with this, but the yearly sales on Steam are typically great ways to advertise. Even a "sale" of like 5% off would allow you to get on the list of games on the front page, which is extra visibility.

Of course, if you don't actually need the extra visibility on Steam... well, you're the boss, boss.
It's not like Factorio is hard to find on Steam. It's somewhere near the top even by Steam's own score system.

It isn't about visibility or sales, its about respecting the players who have already purchased the game. We don't want to reward the people who hold off on buying the game, the game is a price we find reasonable, and this is the deal. If you think it is priced too high, then it is your choice to not purchase, and we hope that with enough time, and extra development, we will be able to convince you of its value.

[brunzenstein]

It isn't about visibility or sales, its about respecting the players who have already purchased the game. We don't want to reward the people who hold off on buying the game, the game is a price we find reasonable, and this is the deal. If you think it is priced too high, then it is your choice to not purchase, and we hope that with enough time, and extra development, we will be able to convince you of its value.

Sorry Klonan. Not so.
The price for Factorio is, given the intellectual intensity Factorio offers to the buyer (even given its late 1968th design), not reasonable but far to low.
You know very well that you serve a very, very special maximum 5% market edge of potential buyers. These very buyers would buy for any price below 99€ and the rest going for shooters, runners or war like games (90% of Steam sales fall in that very category) you will never ever reach, even if you would offer them the game for free if they would confirmed play it for at least two hours.
40.- US$ / € would be just right for Factorio starting with 0.13 or latest with 1.0
Not tricky 35.- or 39 .- US$ / €
And YES: - The early supporters would be pissed, to say it mildly, if you would offer "Sales" to late adopers.

[Sean Mirrsen]

It isn't about visibility or sales, its about respecting the players who have already purchased the game. We don't want to reward the people who hold off on buying the game, the game is a price we find reasonable, and this is the deal. If you think it is priced too high, then it is your choice to not purchase, and we hope that with enough time, and extra development, we will be able to convince you of its value.

I actually do think it's priced a bit high (for my region, being Russia, 500R is a ways above the mental barrier for buying a good game without a good occasion), so I had to subsist on a pirated copy for... about a month, I think, before I had enough of a funds overhead (and big enough of a mod concept) to finally buy it, just days ago. Hope you don't mind. It really does offer excellent quality, and I'm sure the price is reasonable.

But speaking as, as of recently, one of your customers, I must say I wouldn't mind one bit if you lowered the game's price, if it meant more money for you.

I'll just hope, then, that you'll figure out some marketing move (whether it is or isn't a discount) to get that extra visibility once the game fully launches. Because the only reason I even saw it when I did, was scrolling too far down on Steam's store page and seeing it among the suggested games.

[kovarex]

Not having a sale ever is part of our philosophy. In short term, they are good and bring extra money, but we are targeting long term. I believe that searching for sales is wasted time, and people should decide on the price and value, but putting option of wasting time to search for deals or waiting seems like bad part of the equation.
As an example I would like to mention Minecraft. I'm not aware of any sale of it

[brunzenstein]

Not having a sale ever is part of our philosophy. In short term, they are good and bring extra money, but we are targeting long term. I believe that searching for sales is wasted time, and people should decide on the price and value, but putting option of wasting time to search for deals or waiting seems like bad part of the equation.
As an example I would like to mention Minecraft. I'm not aware of any sale of it

I sign that!

[taiiat]

If you think it is priced too high, then it is your choice to not purchase, and we hope that with enough time, and extra development, we will be able to convince you of its value.

i approve. super high-five.

[StarFox31]

Not having a sale ever is part of our philosophy. In short term, they are good and bring extra money, but we are targeting long term. I believe that searching for sales is wasted time, and people should decide on the price and value, but putting option of wasting time to search for deals or waiting seems like bad part of the equation.
As an example I would like to mention Minecraft. I'm not aware of any sale of it

This is an excellent explanation.

At the beginning of this post I was all for the sales so that Factorio could be on the front page. However after reading the Dev's responses I wholeheartedly agree with them. Excellent job on changing my mind.

[zytukin]

I wouldn't be surprised if a good percentage of people who wait for sales are people who aren't very interested in a game to begin with.
This results in more players who may end up not liking the game, giving bad reviews, and demanding refunds.

[brunzenstein]

I wouldn't be surprised if a good percentage of people who wait for sales are people who aren't very interested in a game to begin with.
This results in more players who may end up not liking the game, giving bad reviews, and demanding refunds.

Exactly!

[Afforess]

Not having a sale ever is part of our philosophy. In short term, they are good and bring extra money, but we are targeting long term. I believe that searching for sales is wasted time, and people should decide on the price and value, but putting option of wasting time to search for deals or waiting seems like bad part of the equation.
As an example I would like to mention Minecraft. I'm not aware of any sale of it

I fully support and agree with your reasoning about sales.

I have a counter-proposal, have you considered doing a negative sale? Raise the price temporarily by 25% during the steam summer sale?

I know Cards Against Humanity did this which favorable press coverage during Black Friday events.

[verusfossa]

I support your stance on this. Game development has sadly become a race to the bottom. I'm all for competition, but developers often get crushed because they consider adoption over all else. Focus on making a good game, adoption will follow from that. Gimmicks, gifts and DLCs fizzle out fast and disincentive late adoption. Minecraft somehow maintained a more or less consistent price point by simply updating the same game and getting generations of followers. No reason Factorio can't do the same. Bending to storefront's periodic sales puts the wrong organization in the driver's seat IMO.

[brunzenstein]

I have a counter-proposal, have you considered doing a negative sale? Raise the price temporarily by 25% during the steam summer sale?

An excellent idea!

[daniel34]

I have a counter-proposal, have you considered doing a negative sale? Raise the price temporarily by 25% during the steam summer sale?

I know Cards Against Humanity did this which favorable press coverage during Black Friday events.

https://cardsagainsthumanity.com/blackfriday/
1) Cards Against Humanity is an actual physical card game
2) They close their shop and give their customers the ability to buy nothing from them for $5
3) Most of the time the raised money goes towards charity and non-profits

Or maybe you're thinking about Tabletop Simulator (a card playing simulator, Cards against Humanity is one of its workshop mods) which had the unfortunate coincidence to get out of Early Access at the same time as the Steam Summer Sale, which increased the price and resulted in negative feedback from the customers. They even posted a clarification on Reddit due to that feedback.
Factorio would get the same negative feedback if it increased its price during Summer Sale, but without the possibility to clarify the situation.

[steinio]

The developers made their point and this thread should be closed.