Steam 4-pack?

(Otto) #1

Simple question/suggestion

Due to the nature of the game, I know that if through steam if they offered packs of 4 at a discount it would encourage friends to get in the game rather then jumping in on their own.

I come from a larger gaming clan, and the members span over many different games, some times it can be hard to agree to all jump into a new game, especially when its not a cheap one and they are collage. I have more then once purchased multi-packs at a discount and gifted out the keys to friends to get things rolling.

Any chance something like this will happen?

(JeP) #2

That seems good from a marketing point of view too : games that had this sort of promotion aren’t that much for now, and that always tends to attract people, seeing a lot of friends taking a pack, wanting not to be left over, etc.

(DarkangelUK) #3

The only reason I bought BC2 was because it was part of a 4-pack steam deal. That’s not gonna influence my purchase of Brink, but could convince others to chip in and get it together.

(Shackahn) #4

I cant see them releasing a Brink multi-pack initially. I think there is enough hype about the game to sell it for full retail.

I also think after Brink has been around a short while word of mouth will increase the number of sales. Plus its already looking like Brink will have an excellent community.

A multi pack will probably happen in the distant future.

(JeP) #5

I think you’re wrong there.

People of this forum, and players of SD previous games, and players actually waiting for the game, they’re aware, they’re impatients, most of them will buy it day one (but not all cause some fear some kind of casualization).

But compared to all gamers that could potentially buy the game, we’re are really few, and a lot of people, too many, don’t know what is Brink, can’t understand all our expectations on the game, they think honestly it’s some game using TF2 success, or some CoD-like with weird looking guys. Till the release, SD and Bethesda can’t make too much effort/money on the marketing. People need to know, dammit !

(BioSnark) #6

Portal 2 is one of the most hyped games on the immediate horizon. It’s got a bulk discount, so to speak. It’s not about hype.

Anyone recall any pack deals from Bethesda?

(LyndonL) #7

No I haven’t seen any Bethesda 4 packs on Steam. 4 packs are quite uncommon, and generally relate more to your co-op styled games anyway (L4D, Borderlands etc).

(Shackahn) #8

As Portal 2 is a sequel I am sure the thinking is that it is likely to sell alot of copies anyway, as everyone already knows what it is. Valve can probably take the hit of offering it at discount prices due to the fact they know they are going to shift a certain amount of copies.

I suspect everything with Brink is just a gamble at this point, so offering a discount can swing both ways. Yes it could encourage players who are borderline buyers, but on the other hand it could seriously hurt the profits if the game doesnt quite shift as many on launch as expected.

That said I think the game will do fine, as I have already said I think word of mouth will play a big part. Plus everyone can see what everyone else is playing for the most part and I think this will be encouraging.

(Otto) #9

[QUOTE=Shackahn;276663] Yes it could encourage players who are borderline buyers, but on the other hand it could seriously hurt the profits if the game doesn’t quite shift as many on launch as expected.
[/QUOTE]

I’m referring to steam only in this case, which means console, and retail store sale would not be effected.
Generally these 4 packs I have been a part of before (global agenda, magicka, borderlands, etc) Don’t exactly offer HUGE! saving, normally in the 10%-15% range, tho it will effect the profit to a certain extent it really only appeals to specific crowd.

One of the main advantages of this system from the dev’s POV, is that they appeal to a crowd that would otherwise remain apathetic to the game. Portal 2 for example, even tho it has huge hype in the game world which will get fantastic sales, they still offer a 2 pack discount option, Why? The 2-pack option wasn’t intended to appeal to “guy who loves portal, and guy’s friend who also loves portal” its more for “guy who loves portal and guy’s friend who is portal-curious but is afraid to come out of the portal closet.”
I believe the same principal would apply wells to brink. The 3 common negative points I always get from the different gaming community’s I’m at are this:

  1. Brink? what’s that?
  2. It look’s nice, but it’s basically (borderlands, tf2, misc FPS already made) i like my money more
    3.meh
    Offering a multi-pack discount option simply helps cover a consumer base that is not accounted for in standard sales.
    I still say if you want to grab a nice large chunk of gamers, make a TF2 Promo hat for the game.

I’ve already pre-ordered the game via bestbuy, I am tempted to buy and gift extra copies to members of my clan (which I’ve never even met) simple because I know a lot of them are unsure about the game and are careful with their money. If a 4 pack came at a 10% discount would only save me $20, but when your giving away $180-$200 worth of games to friends you’ve never met, it’s nice to know you can save a few buck$ doing so.

(Shackahn) #10

I take your point completely. I am not saying I am against a four pack, in fact it would greatly benefit me as well. Mainly for the reasons you have already mentioned above.

I was trying to convey possible reasons why a four pack may not be available.

As LyndonL said above multi packs are often offered on co-op games and whilst the developers have said this game features co-op, essentially its a multiplayer shooter. If anyone ever asked me what brink is, I would never describe it as a co-op game.

Still fingers crossed

(BioSnark) #11

Another Bethesda game, Hunted, can only be described as a co-op game. Doesn’t have a 2 pack.

(JeP) #12

Isn’t it a console game ?

(BioSnark) #13

I would not mention it if it were not being pre-sold on pc and on steam.

(DouglasDanger) #14

Is this something that would be better directed at Bethesda? This has nothing to do with development.

(tokamak) #15

:rolleyes:

(JeP) #16

Biosnark : sorry for doubting you, but by the look of the game, I’ve always assumed it was a console only game.

(LyndonL) #17

I don’t see your point tokamak?

There’s coop games and multiplayer games. I place BRINK firmly in the multiplayer class since the opponents can be human, whereas in coop games they are never human.

(Murderous Pie) #18

BRINK Rage
Hunted Prey2

                   A little late, but it would certainly work! i think if all of these are out by late 2012 this would be a great package. :wink:
(Herandar) #19

Pay now for games in late 2012? I don’t think most people would do that without a significant discount.