STEAM

I've just gone and looked at the steam discussions and meta-critic reviews and I can't believe this is happening. How do all these people not understand that by paying $90 you're supporting Uber and are helping develop the game, it's not as if they're being forced to buy the game for $90. Once the game's released they can purchase a finished game for cheaper - why is it so hard for them to understand that?

I do however think that the steam page is perhaps initially confusing but only because it seems like people aren't willing to read further. With a little extra reading it would be clear what they'd be spending the money on. It seems to me that it could potentially damage the image of the game which is sad because it's unwarranted; I'm upset because I don't want to see PA and Uber attacked.

I think the main PA image displayed on the store page and main steam store page could do a with a clear 'ALPHA' sign displayed on it or something. Everyone currently outraged or confused would probably be less inclined to be flipping their **** if they saw the uberstore page which clearly explains the differences between different pricing tiers. Perhaps the whole steam page could be changed into a $40 pre-order instead?

Would it really matter if steam users weren't being exposed to the alpha?

We understand fully, really. I get it. That was the Kickstarter price, etc. I REALLY TRULY get the whole story. I am not as stupid as you may think I am, and yes, I can read.

Regardless of the fact that I have read and heard this side of the argument, the fact remains that the IMPLICATIONS of this decision infuriate me. What you have to understand (as I think it is, in fact, YOU and the "fan bois" in this forum, who aren't getting that the rest of us have an at least equally valid point) is that we feel insulted by Uber.

I cannot name one of game EVER that was released on Steam to the general public (whether it be in the form of a "pre-release," a "beta", or whatever semantic label you want to put it on it -- released for the general public to consume in any form) for MORE money, in an unfinished state, than it would be released for upon completion.

Basically, what YOU need to understand is that I perceive that as the developers saying to me, almost literally "We are going to take your money -- lots of it -- and in return, you are going to do work for us, get an unfinished project that may or may not ever ACTUALLY get finished, and you're going to like it!"

I'm sorry, but as a consumer I have a right to feel insulted by the WAY a vendor comes across when asking for my money. And in this case, I am! And so are many others.

What's more, we're afraid that if we don't stand up to the developers who do this, they will misunderstand our silence as acceptance. I DO NOT ACCEPT THIS PRACTICE. And I would like as many people as possible to know that. If you accept it, good for you...I'm not going to try to understand why a fool wants so badly to be parted from his money.

But as a consumer, and a lover of games, I'm going to stand up, strongly, for practices that I find abhorrent.

If you're genuinely confused about what my side of the argument is thinking, here is an even better written version of essentially what I am trying to say:

http://steamcommunity.com/app/233250/di ... 869556688/

If you're going to make such a big stink, then what do you propose?

If you are unhappy with the alpha price then don't buy PA during the alpha. Problem solved. You can buy it for $40-$50 at release like everyone else. You fail at marketing.

If its anything other than 'build a time machine, go back to May and make sure its never listed on steam until its done' it isn't going to work.

My point exactly

Well, first of all, I *DO* think Kickstarter is great. I did not fund this game, but I have funded others. I don't criticize those who fund things through Kickstarter, but those who do need to understand it is 100% of a risk. And I wholly object to the notion that I, as a consumer, should be EXPECTED to join in Kickstarters. There is no guarantee in them, and to expect me to assume the role of an investor in order to be a consumer is just twisted beyond belief.

When products go to retail, however, for the GENERAL PUBLIC -- not to Kickstarter fans -- treat them as customers, with respect. If you're going to offer them half of a sandwich with the promise that some day they may or may not even get the other half of the sandwich, at least don't charge them full price, and certainly don't charge them more!

If the issue was simply a matter of placating the Kickstarter investors, then the game should have been released to them first, with maybe a month of time for them to do whatever they want to do. THEN offer the game to the general public, at a highly discounted price, that increases leading up to the release date.

That is what is fair to all involved.

I'm sorry but you fail at marketing. You should feel bad for posting such stupidity.

No, It is you sir fail at satire.

Also could you please stop calling users, their posts and other things stupid, It is not conductive to a civil discussion.

Your level of stupid, it hurts, please stop posting.... Its $90 because it is not for the general public. Why can you not see that? And it will remain "not for the general public" until the price drops at release.

I'm sorry, but you ALL fail at marketing, the first lesson of which is "At least don't insult your customers and treat them as if they're stupid!" Just because someone disagrees with you does not make them stupid.

That was not at all satire. I really am calling you an idiot based on your total lack of understanding of the reasons for the pricing structure.

I'm sorry, but you still fail at marketing. Please try again. May I suggest the search function?

I am a member of the public, and I can acquire it. Are you people perhaps living in an alternate universe with a different public? When you put something on Steam, even WITH a bunch of asterisked statements, that's STILL releasing to the public. Just because you want to force others to see it differently doesn't mean they will. And certainly you're "releasing it" if you put it on Steam with a price tag. You can put lipstick on a pig...

This entire topic (not just this thread, but topic) stopped being civil when the steam discussion was brought over here because people were feeling that much nerdrage.

Seriousness is basically out the window.

You really just don't get how exclusionary pricing works do you? They do not want everyone and their brother to buy the alpha. Please take a class in economics. If you are upset because you happen to be priced out of the market then that is a different issue based in the inequity of modern society.

I'm stupid because I proposed a simple modification to the way this whole thing actually went down that would have made none of this an issue? Perhaps our definition of "stupid" differs...

I would never claim to be a genius, but I do know a PR blunder when I see one, and shooting the messenger isn't going to help. But shoot away if it helps your self esteem or whatever.

Your lack of willingness to understand the reasons behind Uber's decisions preclude a civil discussion.

Not true. There have been several legitimate discussions in this thread. Simply because some have lost patience, or were just trolls all along does not mean that everything in here was a waste of time.

THEN WHY IS IT ON STEAM? 99% of the games on Steam, even the ones labeled "Early Release" are still *MOSTLY* finished, relatively well-polished, playable, decent games. And 99% of those are released at a *discounted* price because the developers realize that they're shortchanging customers who are already on the fence to begin with (i.e. those who DIDN'T partake in Kickstarter -- you fan bois are already a forgone conclusion at that point).