Most of the time the steam version acts as the “donation button” for many small indie and f2p open source games. It exists for no other reason then to cost money so you CAN buy the dev a beer if you want.
Comment on What are some cool/decent PC games that are not on Steam?
chunes@lemmy.world 2 days agoSo is Mindustry. And it costs $10 on there for some reason…
Holytimes@sh.itjust.works 1 day ago
False@lemmy.world 2 days ago
It’s worth giving the guy ten bucks imo.
turbowafflz@lemmy.world 2 days ago
Oh what, that’s very weird
bjoern_tantau@swg-empire.de 2 days ago
It’s a way for the devs to get some revenue. Doesn’t mean that you have to buy it. Same with Shattered Pixel Dungeon. Super Tux is also on Steam but not paid.
chunes@lemmy.world 2 days ago
And yet I’ve already found multiple reviews stating that they bought it on Steam before knowing the game was free elsewhere. So it seems to me that by not mentioning anywhere on the Steam page that this is a donation to the dev, that’s a little shady.
BananaTrifleViolin@piefed.world 2 days ago
Steams terms of service mean devs/publishers can’t promote a game as being free elsewhere. It’s likely directed at preventing redirecting people to Epic or a sale at another store, but also by effect includes games like this. Either they put it for free on Steam or they sell it on Steam and can’t mention free downloads from their website, and it’s up to users to “shop around”.
I get what you’re saying, but I think if spending $10 on a game is something that would give someone pause, then the onus really is on them to search around first to see what the best deal is? People act like steam is a monopoly, but there is a lot of choice out there.
Erusset@slrpnk.net 1 day ago
If you have it on steam then you can use the workshop for schematics and maps
purplemonkeymad@programming.dev 1 day ago
I bought it on steam and it was worth the money for the game. If I was willing to pay what I did for it then I don’t have any issues with the costs elsewhere. There is also the convenience of it auto updating.