RichHopefulComposer
Member
They're not gambling that title. Anybody making something good enough to make as much money as Stardew Valley (or any money at all, really - how big can the fee possibly be?!) isn't going to worry about the raised cost to get on Steam. This is going to filter out the hobbyist titles, and nothing else. I'm all for it!No one else can say that because Steam has held that title. But now, for some odd reason, Steam is gambling that title. If they kill it for the little guys, someone else will fill that spot. No one else could take that title because Steam was smart and hopped on the indie wagon early.
If a game is so bad that it'll make less money than the average asset-flipper, then it doesn't belong on Steam in the first place, right? Getting on Steam used to be a huge deal, where the free publicity given just by being on the platform would get you a ton of sales. Now there's so much trash gunking up the system, you're lucky if you get fifteen minutes (number pulled out of my ass, but I think I've heard it thrown around before) on the front page before getting buried. When did Steam become the GM Sandbox?The fee will keep a couple of joke games out and crush a lot of indie dreams (depending on the cost). Asset flippers and infamous crap-publishers will have a field day, because they won't need to game the Greenlight anymore, just invest a bit of money, which will likely be easily recovered by exploiting sales and Trading Card market.
A lot of people here are worrying too much. If the fee is $5000 to get on Steam and you can't raise that money alone, then start a Kickstarter. If your game can't even make $5,000 on Kickstarter, it doesn't belong on Steam. That's the reality of it, sorry! That's why they're changing the rules. Greenlight failed.
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With all the garbage that gets put through Greenlight, it'd be a real shame if your game didn't make it through somehow. I'm pretty sure it'd get through just fine though, so I'd just go for it. The only thing I'd be worried about is the average Steam user looking at your game and going "durr, too complicated, not enough memes," and downvoting. Greenlight users seem to be better than that though, so I can't see your game failing there.I was going to put my game on greenlight March 1st. I've been planning this for a while. Do you guys think i'd have a better chance if I wait??
You might get more free press by being first on a new system, but you might have to fork over $5000 or something to make it happen. I'd wait to see what Valve says...
Steam isn't for "indie's first game." If you don't think your game will even pull in $500, then it doesn't belong on Steam. Again, this is EXACTLY why the rules are changing.The problem is that it needs to be high enough to filter some crap but low enough so new indie devs can actually push their first game. Some people were suggesting up to 5000$ for the fee. This would be ridiculously too much.
I would never even put 500$ on a game I might not even get back that 500$.
That said, I think you should do more research. I'm pretty sure your game would earn at least a few grand on Steam, Ranger.
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