Steam Pricing Model Suggestion

I have a suggestion for the Steam alpha access pricing.

It's to have the alpha access price drop gradually down to the beta price over the intervening time between the alpha and beta. So maybe every week, the price can drop by 5 or 10 dollars. The reasoning behind this is that obviously, the later you purchase the alpha, the less you can take part in the alpha, and the early development of the game.

Say there's only a week, or maybe even a few days before the alpha ends and the beta begins, is it right to charge them the full 90 dollars even though there's only a short amount of time for them to partake in the alpha? Some of you might think yes, but let's be honest, there's been a LOT of confusion surrounding the 90$ Steam pricetag, and it may be in Uber's best interests to try and clear things up for, and take it easier on Steam users.

After all, what's the purpose of the alpha? Your paying more for a buggier, incomplete version of the final product, but you get to help squash those bugs, and guide the development of the game. Methinks the amount you pay should scale with how much time you can possibly aid in the development.

But what about the commanders that come with the alpha? Are you saying that you can get those by waiting until the last second of the alpha and buying them when they're bargain prices?


**** that. I pledged $90 towards PA with the expectation of getting limited-edition loot. I don't feel it's fair that others can get it for less.

Both of you make fair points.

Maybe a "Mini Alpha", without the/some of the goodies?

Also, it might not befair to expect people to pay $90 for
Alpha access just before Beta is released, but by the
same token, most people would obviously make the
decision to wait another week or two, and jump on the
Beta package.

Apparently Uber asked for all 3 packages to be available directly from Steam (equivalent to the Combat, Warfare and Galactic pre-orders) and Steam flat refused to allow the pre-orders. So at this juncture I suspect the only option available to Uber is to switch the current Steam package at the appropriate cutoff dates; when we officially transition to beta, the Steam package will be $60 and have all the Warfare goodies, and the Galactic goodies will no longer be available.

I seem to recall hearing something about Steam getting flak recently regarding some borderline scam "pre-order" games. If that is actually the case, it would explain their apparent issues with allowing Uber to have all the early access packages up at once, however I've not been able to find any more info regarding these alleged scam games. I may just be putting the wrong terms into search engines though

The Price Will go down but not until the Beta and after that, Release.

Mike

I wouldn't recommend paying $90 right before beta, is all I would tell people, unless they want the limited goodies.

Honestly, alpha backers earned every last second of alpha testing. Just because it nears the end of alpha, doesn't mean cut it short to satisfy beta players.

That being said, I wouldn't even hate it if they allowed beta players some play at late alpha, or cut off alpha sales some time through it and only allowed beta sales afterwards. Allowing a discounted half alpha isn't bad so long as limited items aren't so easily gotten this way.

Honestly, I wouldn't even mind them getting the limited releases if they played so much of alpha or if they didn't pay so much less, as $75 for just a week of alpha pretty outright only buys limited items as you get no other bonus of having played alpha.

No more pricing threads. Sorry guys, but this horse is dead. He's been kicked too hard.

We truly appreciate all the feedback and good ideas, but we need to focus on the game for now.