Pick 5: What to remember when staring at a Steam Sale

Steam Summer Sale day 7 We are halfway into the Steam Summer Sale and like always - It's a test of discipline or patience. As much as we love seeing the games we want to play go down in price, we should always keep our head straight and think before going crazy on each item on sale. 

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It will get cheaper, don't worry

No, seriously. 50% off? Don't be trigger happy with the purchase button. Once the Steam Sale goes live, a good number of games go on a discount. But keep in mind that if that precious game you've always wanted is not in either the daily deals, flash deals, or community choice deals, there's a huge chance it can go cheaper once it gets its turn in one of those categories.  Last thing you want is to buy a game at half price, then see it go down 75% the next day. I know it's hard, but trust us, patience will pay off.

Summer Adventure

Each sale has a gimmick, ignore it

What gimmick? Those mini games Valve adds to make each Sale a bit...unique. Currently, we have Summer Adventure that divides Steam users into a colored team. You can earn points by doing specific tasks like craft the badge for this sale, buy a game that's more than 10 bucks, or make a game's badge. Now those points contribute to the overall score of your team, competing against other teams also racking up the points. The team with the highest point at the end of the day wins and each user in that team gets in-game rewards, more cards, and even games. The strongest incentive to do this is of course getting games for  free. 30 users from the winning team is rewarded with the top 3 games in their wishlist. Know how it works? Good. Now ignore it.

I know it's tempting, but crafting badges takes money and time. Do you really want to spend a few extra bucks just for the slim change of wining three games in your wishlist? Ignore these gimmicks, and focus in getting the game you want, with the least amount of damage to your savings. You're wallet will thank you for it.

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You most likely have Steam Cards, Sell 'em!

If you are a collector and get a kick out of this feature, then ignore this one. But if you don't care much of those virtual cards that have small value in them, then we suggest you toss them to the Steam Market to get a few pennies for them. For those unaware about Steam cards - These game cards earned when playing games that support the feature, and is used to make badges to unlock cosmetic items for your Steam profile.

Check out your Steam account's inventory. Yes, you have an inventory. If you have a couple, sell them, especially the Sale Cards that show up only for the sale (They disappear once the sale ends). Cards usually sell from .10$ to even .30$ per card if you're lucky. Seems a bit small, but it's better than nothing. Heck, you never know, all the cards you've sold at the marketplace might rack up to a dollar or two, which might be enough to grab a cheap DLC  that's 75% off.  Or better yet, you might have enough in your Steam Wallet thanks to the cards to get that 90% off indie game you've always wanted.

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Prioritize the games you have the urge to play, not the games you might play in the future

It happens to the best of us. For me, I knew Fez was a good game, but I never had the urge to buy it. Last year it hit 75% off and I bought it because I was thinking I'd play it in the future. I Never did up until now. We get certain games because it's cheap right at that point, but all it does is stack up your backlog if you don't have the urge to play it. Don't bother with those games and focus on the games you can't wait to play. Update that wishlist or make a personal list yourself. Going crazy with the cheap games that isn't in your radar might hinder you from getting the game you really want in the coming days.

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Have a backlog from the last sale? Play those first!

Yes, the last thing to remember is looking back at your backlog and play what you've bought in previous sale. Why not? Give your previous purchases some love! You did buy them to play them, not to populate your library. Don't be pressured to buy anything because it's currently at a great price. Steam will always have seasonal sales, so those crazy cheap prizes will come back, the game might even go cheaper the next time the sale comes around too. Also remember that Steam have regular sales even after the big sales have ended. They have the weekly midweek sales around Wednesdays, the daily deals, and the weekend off sale that is usually paired with a free play of the game that's currently on a discount. You will have that opportunity again to buy let's say Far Cry 3 at 75%, so calm down, check your library, and play those awesome games waiting to be played.

Have any other reminders for those going through the sale? Hit the comments below and remind us before we send money over to Gabb and company.

Final day for the Steam Summer Sale

  Steam Summer Sale

The great week of god crazy discounts is at its end. The Steam Summer Sale is on its last day and the last set of deals are decent to say the least. If you haven't played any of the Bioshock games, Bastion, or Splinter Cell: Conviction, it's worth the buy at 75% off. Here is the full list.

Last Day Deals:

  • Operation Flashpoint: Red River – $11.24 (75% off)
  • Football Manager 2011 – $9.99 (75% off)
  • BioShock – $4.99 (75% off)
  • SPAZ (Space Pirates and Zombies) – $2.49 (75% off)
  • Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Conviction – $4.99 (75% off)
  • Jagged Alliance: Back in Action – $9.99 (75% off)
  • Bastion – $3.74 (75% off)
  • Double Fine Bundle – $7.49 (75% off)
  • Indie Bundle XI – $9.99 (75% off)

 

Double Fine Bundle:

  • Costume Quest
  • Psychonauts
  • Stacking
  • Indie Bundle XI:
  • Hydrophobia: Prophecy
  • Orion: Dino Beatdown
  • Star Ruler
  • Waveform
  • World of Goo

Indie Bundle XI:

  • Hydrophobia: Prophecy
  • Orion: Dino Beatdown
  • Star Ruler
  • Waveform
  • World of Goo

Pack Deals

  • Star Wars: Collection -$49.99 ( 50% off)
  • Pop Cap Collection – $49.99 (50% off)
  • Ubisoft Collection – $49.99 (50% off)
  • Telltale Games collection – $49.99 (50% off)
  • Id Collection – $49.99 (50% off)
  • SEGA Hit Collection – $49.99 (88% 0ff)
  • Paradox Collection – $49.99 (82% off)
  • Rockstar Hit Collection – $49.99 (58% off)
  • Valve Complete Pack – $49.99 (50% off)
  • THQ Collection – $49.99 (84% off)
  • Nordic games Collection – $49.99 (59% off)
  • Cyan Complete Pack – $14.99 ( 50% off)
  • Sqaure Enix Collection – $49.99 (79% off)
  • 2k games Collection – $49.99 (77% off)
  • Focus Hit Collection – $49.99 (82% off)
  • MumboJumbo Collection – $34.99 (56% off)
  • Bethesda Collection – $ 49.99 (72% off)
  • 1C Collection – $49.99 (85% off)
  • Railworks 3 Collection – $49.99 ( 79% off)
  • Kalypso Colection – $49.99 (50% off)
  • Strategy First Collection – $49.99 (50% off)
  • Activision – $49.99 (77% off)

The last set of flash deals and community sales are up and are worth checking out. The deals last for only 8 hours so I suggest you check them out now.

Oh an if you're wondering on the game that's not available to where I live(Asia), that unavailable game is Operation Flashpoint: Red River which is fine by me. I just have no idea why that game is unavailable in my region.

Just like the holiday sale, the deals were hard to believe. 75% off? It felt like Christmas all over again. I snagged a couple of deals this week - Legend of Grimrock, Binding of Isaac, and Civilization V. Sum that all up, and I've only spent less than 20 bucks for them. Still looking at getting one more game, and with Saint't Row: The Third back at 75% off, I might just consider that.

Got anything good in Steam during the Summer Sale?

 

(Updated - July 21)Steam Summer Sale starts now!

Summer Sale It's happening again, the Steam Summer Sale has begun. just when you thought your done buying, this shows up. Just like the holiday sale last year, games will be going on sale for more than 50% off and will have a new batch of games on sale  every day until July 22.  Here's the latest list of games on sale.

Today's Deals(July 21)

  • Red Orchestra: Heroes of Stalingrad - $4.99 (75% off)
  • Crysis 2 - $11.99 (75% off)
  • Indie Bundle 9 - $9.99 (75% off)
  • Driver: San Francisco - $7.49 (75% off)
  • Dungeon Defenders - $3.74 (75% off)
  • Magicka $2.49 (75% off)
  • Fear 3 $4.99 (75% off)
  • Civilization V - $7.49 (75% off)
  • Deus Ex: Human Revolution - $7.49 (75% off)

Pack Deals

  • Star Wars: Collection -$49.99 ( 50% off)
  • Pop Cap Collection - $49.99 (50% off)
  • Ubisoft Collection - $49.99 (50% off)
  • Telltale Games collection - $49.99 (50% off)
  • Id Collection - $49.99 (50% off)
  • SEGA Hit Collection - $49.99 (88% 0ff)
  • Paradox Collection - $49.99 (82% off)
  • Rockstar Hit Collection - $49.99 (58% off)
  • Valve Complete Pack - $49.99 (50% off)
  • THQ Collection - $49.99 (84% off)
  • Nordic games Collection - $49.99 (59% off)
  • Cyan Complete Pack - $14.99 ( 50% off)
  • Sqaure Enix Collection - $49.99 (79% off)
  • 2k games Collection - $49.99 (77% off)
  • Focus Hit Collection - $49.99 (82% off)
  • MumboJumbo Collection - $34.99 (56% off)
  • Bethesda Collection - $ 49.99 (72% off)
  • 1C Collection - $49.99 (85% off)
  • Railworks 3 Collection - $49.99 ( 79% off)
  • Kalypso Colection - $49.99 (50% off)
  • Strategy First Collection - $49.99 (50% off)
  • Activision - $49.99 (77% off)

Steam is doing something new this time. Every eight hours, Steam gives us three games we wish to get a discount, the game with the highest votes gets featured with a discount. The featured item will last until another game has been picked to be featured for the next eight hours. So I suggest you put Steam as your home page for the week.

Head over to the Steam Store now to start spending all the money you have saved up. I already spent $5.99 on Legend of Grimrock, I didn't even think about it, I just got it when I saw the price.

I will try to keep this page updated as possible when Steam sets a new list of items on sale.

[Source: Steam]