Steam Autumn Sale had just pass us by, but from 19th Dec to 3rd Jan, Steam Holiday Sale is ready to give all gamers another round of bang-for-the-buck.

For those who are new to Steam (e.g my female work colleague who thought Steam is a hydro-electric energy company), Steam usually releases its summer sale around mid-July, and its autumm sale at around mid Nov. These sales give PC gamers huge discounts on popular titles (some of which at also in PS3. For inspiration, check out the Top 10 PS3 games for Christmas). Recent, blockbuster hits could see absurd discounts up to 75% to 90% in some cases, and these discounts do change dynamically.

Being a kiasu Singaporean, let me summarise a few pointers on getting the game you want for as little as possible:

1) Check Steam sales regularly. By regularly, I mean daily. You do not have to go crazy and track the Steam Sale like a stock market

2) Be patient. Don’t buy a game unless it’s a daily deal or a flash sale. Standard store discounts are 25% to 50% in general. And these are everywhere in Steam. Don’t buy them. Resist. Like any obedient young Padawan, your patience will be rewarded in a more impactful daily deals/flash deals, which would bring discounts up to 50% and above.

3) If you miss your game as a daily deal or flash sale, wait for the Encore sale. If for whatever reason, you choose to not follow pointer 1 above, then wells, you are not screwed. Usually, like a good bazaar stall, the last day of the Steam Sale is almost always an Encore Sale, and that’s where you pounce.

4) Anything above 75% is likely to be the best you can get. I have tracked Steam’s discount structure. And usually new games either come undiscounted or having 25% to 40% discount. If you are patient, it will pop out at few months later at 50 to 70%, which is about the time to strike if the game you want goes below $10. However, if you see anything appearing more than 75% discount, that is probably the best deal you can get from Steam. Cowabunga!!

Drool……

5) Use the wishlist function. Steam allows for wishlists to be made, allowing you to be notified via email whenever there is a deal for the game you want. Use it to get notifications and then strike fast and true.

6) Buy publisher bundles as soon as you see it. Why? You asked. Because they are dirt freaking cheap. Usually an Ubisoft/Activision/Rockstar etc bundle is the cheapest you can get. So when you see that, think no more. Just go. Go…really. Come on.

Hopefully with all these tips, you get to have the awesome “WIN” feeling especially you know you have gotten a good deal (P.S Farcry 3 is at 75% now!!)