I just stumbled across this gem on reddit, puts the genius of the Steam Summer Sale in to perspective.
"The Steam Summer sale is the most clever money-making and brand awareness scheme in the history of any online service I've ever experienced.
The sale itself is excellent. But suddenly; daily deals! Now you have to check daily to see if the game you want is marked, and every time you log in there's that ever-present temptation combined with the general act of insipid advertising.
But wait... what's this? Flash deals! Deals that last less than a day, so now you check twice, thrice, perhaps even several-ice times a day, each time reinforcing the steam branding on you, each time affording you the opportunity to buy even more stuff.
On top of that, it's not a bull**** sale. You're actual getting value deals. Chances are unless you went in with a game plan, you've already bought something on impulse because it was reduced... something you otherwise wouldn't have bought. They've made money they never would have made, they're advertising constantly reinforcing the brand-image, and promoting developers and lesser-known games along-side it. On-top of all that, they're also seen as benevolent for their promotions, their customer service throughout, and the general value of things in the sale.
And I haven't even gotten on to the fact we're talking about the sale. Here. Another advert."
http://www.reddit.com/r/gaming/comments/wi85m/steam_sale_be_patient/c5dn13c
Really puts it in to perspective - I for one have impulse bought my way to overdraft already. Christ. Still 8 days of sale to go.
