And again, obviously they are desirable. If they weren't desirable, then they would not be successful and no one would bother doing them.

Right about now, i wouldn't mind one big sales... I have those 3 games in my wishlist and as a collector, maniacal i might add, i really, really NEED them!

They were a novel and effective tactic when started. But that doesn't mean they still are.

Do they really bring in more money than more target smaller sales? Are they doing good things for the industry long-term? Do they really help players get the most out of their gaming dollars? Do people really want massive sales specifically, or just lower game prices overall, or smaller sales that are more spread out?

Big sales became an industry standard because they were novel and effective when Steam started them, but have they simply become something that stores do because people expect it? Could some other sales strategy be more effective? These are interesting questions.

As someone who is poor, yes, I love the big sales. I feel dirty spending $40 on full price games, but have a big sale where I can get 20 games for $40? I'll spend that $40 then. If you're complaining about big sales, please, send me that spare money you obviously have laying around.

I've got some extra money, so yeah, a sale would be welcome right now :)

INNSSOMMMNNIIIAAAA

The main problem with sales is that there are usually less releases. Even if GOG is getting better at leaking some in during their last sales.
So I am now of two minds about it.
When I started here I loved sales, because they're great when you have a small collection. But nowadays, they work from time to time to decrease my wishlist when the few months old indies get discounted. But I have most of the regularly discounted games, so I'm more eager for new games. And as I don't "need" to buy as many games as I did in the beginning, I can afford the more timid discounts that newish games get on the weekend promos and the weekly staff picks.

I'd rather have a fresh new publisher than any ol' seasonal sale! Bring on the almighty FLOOD OF GAMES!

"A novel tactic when started"? You make it sound like the very idea of a store-wide sale was conceived of within the last decade. Large sales are not an invention of online game stores -- retailers have been using sales promotions of this sort for at least a couple generations. As has already been said, they bring new customers to the stores holding said promotions (hence the term "promotion"), as well as bringing people's attention to products they might otherwise have missed. People like them, and they're useful tools for both vendors and the makers of the goods they sell.

JCPenney tried to switch to a different sales model a few years back -- one where they lowered the regular prices of their goods somewhat, and cut out most of their weekly/weekend sale promos. Do you know how that turned out? Customers didn't like it, and the chain went back to the old way of doing things in less than two years.
Most people like sales, like to feel like they're getting a good deal. Fortunately for you, if you don't, all you need to do is not buy things during the sale.

They actually had quite a lot of releases during last year's fall sale. I'm actually wondering if they haven't been saving up some bigger titles (maybe even Judas' mythical flood!) for release during the spring sale.

They're probably preparing an April Fool's Day sale.

That'll be when they release Van Helsing Final Cut I presume.

Yep, along with Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines & No One Lives Forever.

Ah, but those two haven't been promised, nor the separte components sold on the premise of getting the full package when done.

If we don't get a sale yet, at least we should see the Uprising series by the end of the week!

Exactly what Mr.Caine says. We are due any day now for another one of these. I've stocked up on energy drinks and am ready for when this begins again.