Steam sale email reminder.

[CuriousMike]

A couple of months back, I asked if there was a way to have Steam email you when one of your wishlist games went on sale; it appeared there was not.
[ http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2191985&highlight= ]

After missing out on a couple of sales because I wasn't glued to KaOTiK thread here, I decided to do something simple -- if only for myself.

It's gotten a little more useable, and I was wondering if any of you would take the time to check it out and provide some feedback?

- Could it be useful?
- Suggestions to make it more useful?
- Did it break on you? (I'm still working on it.)

The website:
www.coustier.com

Mods - If this is an inappropriate thread, lemme know. This is purely a hobby site I setup; not monetizing it in anyway.

 

[shortylickens]

Good to know. But I already spent WAY too much this past Thanksgiving. I am tapped out for a couple months at least.

 

[CuriousMike]

While developing the website, it cost me plenty....LOL.

But I now know I will be reminded when Arkham City goes on sale later; likely after xmas.

 

[CuriousMike]

I'm bumping this once looking for some feedback; I thought the *idea* was really good.
Perhaps my execution is flawed? Or I over-estimated its usefulness?

 

[Barfo]

Looks good. I like the simple and unencumbered interface.

 

[rivethead]

I'm bumping this once looking for some feedback; I thought the *idea* was really good.
Perhaps my execution is flawed? Or I over-estimated its usefulness?

The idea is awesome, IMHO.

 

[CuriousMike]

Thanks for the feedback; looking for motivation to keep going with it.

 

[SMOGZINN]

I like it! I've bookmarked it. You really need to have a better description on just how it works before I 'sign up' for anything. What is done with the information I give it? How does it know what is on my steam wishlist?

 

[ockky]

i checked it out last week and thought it looked good...forgot to give the feedback though :thumbsup:

EDIT: you should add somewhere that the account you create is in no way affiliated with a person's actual steam account

 

[CuriousMike]

Smog,
I don't think I've been particularly effective at describing how it works.
Keep asking questions - you're helping me write the FAQ/Support text...

You create a new account on the site, much like signing up for a forum.

It's separate from Steam.
I do not bind my site and your membership to Steam in anyway.

You need to re-create your Steam wishlist on the site. I've tried to make this as easy as possible.

The site checks Steam current specials every hour. It goes thru all members wishlists, and see's if any of the games you're tracking is on special. If it is, it sends you an email for each of those games on sale.

 

[JTsyo]

Smog,
I don't think I've been particularly effective at describing how it works.
Keep asking questions - you're helping me write the FAQ/Support text...

You create a new account on the site, much like signing up for a forum.

It's separate from Steam.
I do not bind my site and your membership to Steam in anyway.

You need to re-create your Steam wishlist on the site. I've tried to make this as easy as possible.

The site checks Steam current specials every hour. It goes thru all members wishlists, and see's if any of the games you're tracking is on special. If it is, it sends you an email for each of those games on sale.

:thumbsup: Sounds like a simple plan. Maybe in the e-mail you can have links to game's page on Steam so people can just go buy it. Also does it know to look for bundles with your wishlist game in it?

 

[CuriousMike]

The email does have a direct link to the games page on Steam to buy it.

Bundles --- no! I will work on that. (Although my guess is that the game within a bundle would be listed on sale singularly and that could lead to the bundle. Games on sale with combo-DLC packs show up within the single-games page. Regardless, I will improve this.)

While I was working on this thru the Black-Friday sales, did you know Steam averaged 1,500 games on sale during the period?

What will the Christmas sale be like?

Sign up now and be sure not to miss your games on sale...

 

[biostud]

For some reason I couldn't log in with my password (I had just activated)

so:
-double type password
-ability to reset password

thumbs up for great idea

 

[jacc1234]

For some reason I couldn't log in with my password (I had just activated)

so:
-double type password
-ability to reset password

thumbs up for great idea

Your password has been stolen by the website and your bank accounts are being drained as we speak.

 

[astrosfan315]

wow, great idea! I'm surprised Valve hasn't contacted you offering you a job.

 

[CuriousMike]

Thanks for the compliment.

Steam could whip this out in a day -- they have all the information nicely formatted.

I'm not sure why they don't do it -- I suppose if they did, fewer people would pay full price (?)

 

[KaOTiK]

My guess as to why they don't have this feature is because they want you to visit the store regularly and with that there is a chance that something else that is on sale will catch your attention.

It is a great idea though as I told you before and think it is great for a lot of people. People like me that check Steam daily don't really need it, but I'm sure I am in the minority on that. Heck, I barely use the wishlist feature. I keep about a dozen games in it so that I am eligible for any contests (like the current one) they do. If it wasn't for those I wouldn't use it at all as I have such a broad taste of games and don't limit myself much at all.

 

[CuriousMike]

KaOTik - your suggestions helped immensely.

I *scan Steams sales every hour. It appears to me ( in my timezone of PST) that there is shuffling of yesterdays deals up until "todays" deals from about 10 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. and is finally "settled" by 11 a.m.

The following chart shows the average number of games on sale each day.
The 28th is the oddball because it was the ending of the "Black Friday sales", where it dropped from ~1700 titles on sale down to 3.

This is where I scan
http://store.steampowered.com/search/?specials=1

 

[astrosfan315]

for reference, this is what the email looks like that you get:

Subject: The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings Digital Premium Edition is on sale.
Body: This is a message to let you know The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings Digital Premium Edition is on sale at Steam.
Link: http://store.steampowered.com/app/20920/?snr=1_7_7_204_150_1
Original Price 39.99
Sale Price 23.99
You will not be notified again unless you visit www.coustier.com and modify your game tracking list.

nicely done, thanks again.

 

[CPA]

Thanks for the compliment.

Steam could whip this out in a day -- they have all the information nicely formatted.

I'm not sure why they don't do it -- I suppose if they did, fewer people would pay full price (?)

My guess as to why they don't do it: because they want folks to buy the games at regular price.

 

[JTsyo]

Your next mission is a bit more challenging. Scan Amazon's Lightning deals and figure out what's going to be on sale for the day.

 

[Rifter]

Great idea, i check kaotiks threads religiosly so i dont need it but if he ever drops the ball maybe I'll give this a shot

Good work BTW!

 

[ColtMaverick]

http://isthereanydeal.com/

This sounds real familiar to Is There Any Deal. I figured everyone knew about it by now since gaming sites had articles on it a few months ago. They list several "Steam" websites all at once. They let you compare prices on games and have the option to "wait" on a game such that the website will email you when the price drops below the price when you selected wait. What's cool is that if you leave it on your list, they will keep resetting the price as they send you emails. For example, you set wait on $40. They send you a deal on $30. If you don't take it off your list, they will reset it to now look for deals less than $30. Another nice feature is that they show all Steam required games with an icon.

 

[RavenSEAL]

very nice!

 

[Rakewell]

Thank you, thank you, thank you. Been needing this.