I use sites like Kinguin often, and always a few days after a bundle gets released (For example a Bundlestars one) you'll see keys for their games ''Magically'' appearing. First, they're 80% of what Steam charges. Then (At least on Kinguin) the price magically lowers as more people offer the keys, till they cost about 1 euro per key. G2A is even worse: You can buy Steam keys for as low as a few cents, if you know what to search for. (I was looking for some Sims 3 stuff + a few things and saw it in the results bar).
There was ''proof'' for this already, and it's stuff like this that's killing the great initiatives.
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I'm impressed they have HB2 keys.
Not shocked about the situation at all. Can only imagine how many HB EA origin ones were bought.
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Whack them with the banhammer Bobo, save the indie developers.
And bah at this news. Not surprising, but still sucks.
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I'm no expert, but the only thing they're doing "wrong" is violating the bundle TOS.
However, if it continues and expands on a large scale, it may make devs hesitant to put their games in future bundles.
Though the Steam-redemption system on Humble now probably helps this situation to a degree.
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Unfortunately game links doesn't make much of an impact. Resellers sites are still selling those just as easily. The only slight impact is that they'll lose a few repeat customers, since that customer is aware of the origin of the product. So then a few of those people might not purchase from them again. So realistically not much at all. But every bit helps.
Blink Bundle was asked about including game links in future bundles, and we're looking into the process. I know of at least one other bundler that was at least given the option as well, but I don't know if they're going to seriously consider it.
The biggest deterrent (but still not even remotely close to being truly effective) currently available is one game link per bundle tier. That causes a lot of grief to the genuine customers that would like to give away the extra copies of games they own/aren't interested in. And it's not easily available for bundlers to get access to. There are also multiple other issues with that system.
I've heard about something else being in the works, but nothing formally has been stated.
It really doesn't help the situation that some bundle promotions practically encourage the practice. But a substantial amount of their revenue comes from those resellers purchases, so I don't see that stopping any time soon.
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I'm aware to all of that. The thing is, the bundle sites are likely more than aware that it was happening, but they are not the ones that get hurt so they do not personally do any investigations for it. I also do not think you're right about devs hesitating on making bundles, since it is definitely not something they would do for money being they all are for piss poor change. It is likely for attention, advertisement, etc. I could be wrong, I just know I would not touch bundles with a 15ft pole unless it was for that reason, you lose your shirt more often than not with bundles.
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Well, at least it's impossible to buy them any more without people noticing because they're gift links. A lot of the websites that suspiciously sell games at really low prices probably do the same.
Personally, I don't care if they do. There's the mutual benefit of gamers getting games they want at cheaper prices (where many might not buy the game at full price, or even on significant but not as large sales), profit of the retailers, and (seeing as how they STILL have keys) a massive increase in the number of humble bundles ordered.
I wonder if numbers (though none will ever come out because that's just confessing to illegal activity) would show similar levels of profit on the devs' parts.
I'm not supporting it, the retailers are still greedy bastards. Just wondering.
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Just make every bundle out there give gift links, and everyone will be happy. Not for those resellers, though.
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Yeah this really sucks that it's large scale commercial selling though. Embarrassing for those big sites once people learn about their greed.
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More copies sold, more profit for them. So why they would to do anything with this?
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There are people who'd rather pay more then wait who-knows-how-long to play some indies.
On Steam Top-Sellers list there are games like Garry Mod (which was in bundle) or Starbound (which was in bundle in limited number, which means one day it will be in normal bundle).
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I wonder if tremor is one of those. I mean, sure it is, only they are not directly profiting from customer's paypal, but from advertisers.
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They are, but I am pretty sure they accept trade ins from players (TF2 items, giftable games, possibly game keys) so it isn't necessarily their fault, it makes them more like steamtrades but they offer a universal currency that they can profit from.
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It's a preying middle-man ideology that hurts everyone in the long run.
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In which way it's surprising ?
These sites are piece of shit and completely illegal.
And people must suffer a complete lack of respect for game developpers and legit sites to purchase from them
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No doubt that HB could be in involved into this scam too.
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yeah, so then why I should bother myself with this, a reselled ame is a reselled game after all, I dont care if its stolen from HB and sold cheaper, I only care for the game I buy..
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Not really new. Some of us suspected this situation, and warned people to not buy keys on shitty sites like those listed on gameinformer, and only trust the ones who work directly with the devs/publishers like GMG, GG, Amazon, etc...
When you see that Kenguin is a site who is asking your steam logs if you want to activate a key that you can't do yourself (by using a VPN to use a russian key, I guess), it's enough to understand that this site is a garbage.
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Is it really hurting game developers though? Because Humble will have those keys ready immediately, I thought they decided beforehand how many keys to give to a bundle site and already wrote off those sales. If not enough copies given then it becomes like a bonus Starbound or goes into the Humble Store. The business model is just one to maximize profit.
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Most of the time unsold keys are returned/destroyed. They don't simply write off those keys as sales. And they're meant to be part of the bundle promotion for the duration of the sale. Not sold on another site for months after while they have other sales going on. It can actually have a dramatic effect on developers.
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http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2014/03/28/retailer-scam-resells-humble-bundle-games-reaps-profit.aspx
Probably something people thought was happening anyway, but now with proof.
"Indie developer Ed Key, one of two people who created Proteus, has confirmed Fast2Play is reselling Steam keys from Humble Bundles. His process involved purchasing his game from Fast2Play’s store, and cross-checking his history of issued Steam keys. The copy that he purchased matched one sold through the Humble Indie Bundle 8 batch of games."
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