Steam Summer Sale

It's that time of year again. Steam is having a summer blowout sale.

For those who don't know, Steam is digital distribution platform operated by Valve, the company behind Half-Life and Left 4 Dead. There are about 1,500 games available on Steam, from both independent developers and gaming juggernauts. As a recent subscriber to Steam, I can tell you it's a extraordinary service: user-friendly, community-conscious, and affordable. Steam hosts sales every day, many of which subtract as much as 75% of the total cost. But the yearly summer sale is something else entirely. During this sale, which lasts until July 23, Valve offers straight discounts, daily deals, flash sales, and "community choice" sales, which allow Steam users to decide which game goes on sale next. Today's community choice is BioShock 2, on sale for $4.99.

There are also "pack deals" on sale until July 22. These include packages like: Rockstar Hit Collection; Star Wars Collection; Valve Complete Pack; Bethesda Collection; and Super id Software Pack. All are on sale for 50-85% off.

My initial response to the Steam summer sale: