State of the Subreddit - Deal Dilution, and an Update on Reps

<!-- SC_OFF --><div class="md"><p>It's been three months since our <a href="http://redd.it/24ai4g">last State of the Subreddit post</a>, but we also had an <a href="http://redd.it/29qvb7">important announcement</a> about Reps last month and wanted to give you an update on that situation. We also have some proposed changes intended to reduce deal dilution in the subreddit. Stick around and let's discuss.</p> <hr/> <h3>First, a quick update</h3> <p>Two things have happened since our last post about the reps situation (which you can read about <a href="http://redd.it/29qvb7">here</a> if you missed it). First, we've setup AutoModerator to automatically approve shadowbanned posts by reps. We let the admins know ahead of time we planned to do this, and there is precedent in other subreddits. They've not expressed any issue with us doing this, but haven't commented directly.</p> <p>Additionally, not too long after our post they <a href="http://redd.it/2asaq6">asked for input</a> on the issue of self-promotion. We gave our perspective, and <a href="/r/GameDeals">/r/GameDeals</a> was also brought up by others as a big reason that self-promotion should be evaluated on a per-subreddit basis. There's been no official word from the admins on any change, but we can confirm that no other reps have been banned since this took place. So I'd like to say thank you to the admins for giving us some autonomy here, and letting the sub operate as it has been. I'd be more comfortable if we got an official go-ahead, but for the time being we appear to be in the clear.</p> <p>Let me also say, thank you to everyone here for giving your comments in our original thread. Showing how supportive our community was of the reps program went a long way, and I'm certain we'd be in a much tougher spot if you all hadn't raised your voices.</p> <hr/> <h3>On the subject of deal dilution</h3> <p><strong>Trials and Betas</strong></p> <p>Our subreddit now has 240,000 users, and as a result we're seeing a lot more submissions than we used to. The majority of the submissions are still PC digital downloads, but we're seeing more and more &quot;grey-area&quot; deals such as beta key giveaways, game trials, non-game bundles, and others. These kinds of deals used to be rare and we haven't had an overall problem with them, but they are becoming frequent enough that it's making it harder to find the deals you're looking for. Many of these posts are purely promotional (particularly free-to-play MMOs), and you don't actually end up <em>owning</em> anything after the beta/trial/promotion has ended. So it's not without due consideration that we are proposing a ban on these types of deals. We're still listening for your feedback and that's why we've created this post, but we've put a lot of thought into the issue and would ask that you do the same. <a href="/r/GameDeals">/r/GameDeals</a> has always succeeded because it's a highly specific subreddit and there wasn't a lot of &quot;fluff&quot;, but we can't say that's very true lately. Our community is constantly growing and the games industry continues to change, and we're just looking to adapt to the changing of the times.</p> <p><strong>Mobile Deals</strong></p> <p>Now, a separate issue but similar in principle is the recent increase of mobile deals. This isn't entirely unexpected, as the mobile market has been growing extremely quickly in the last few years. However they're now being posted to our subreddit frequently enough that we feel it should be addressed, and there have been many comments and modmails suggesting the same. There's never been a rule against mobile deals, but it's generally understood that they're not our main focus. There is a subreddit that deals exclusively in mobile sales, and that's <a href="/r/AppHookup">/r/AppHookup</a>. We've always had a link to them in the sidebar, and like good neighbors they have a link back. So our second proposal today is that we redirect future mobile submissions to <a href="/r/AppHookup">/r/AppHookup</a> (using AutoModerator) instead of having them posted here. You can use a multilink to browse <a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/gamedeals+gamedealsmeta+apphookup/new">both subreddits at once</a>, if you'd prefer, or browse one or the other sub exclusively.</p> <p><strong>Final Thoughts</strong></p> <p>A lot of our job as moderators is determining what sort of content fits our subreddit. The old adage is &quot;let the votes decide&quot;, but as many of us have learned on reddit it's almost impossible to maintain quality using this approach. As subscriber counts grow, submission quality often goes down. Our goal is to maintain the best resource we can for users to find video game deals, and any change we make has that goal in mind. We strongly feel that these two changes will make finding great deals easier than the current needle in a haystack situation we've had lately. There's been a lot of thought put into these new rules and we promise it's not a rash decision, but it's something we believe will lead to a much better <a href="/r/GameDeals">/r/GameDeals</a>. That said, we still want to hear your thoughts.</p> <p>Please also note that any changes to the rules aren't necessarily for all of time. We are open to periodically revisiting these issues as the markets change. So, let us know how you feel about these changes, and please offer any improvements or clarifications you might have. We're all ears!</p> <p>Your <a href="/r/GameDeals">/r/GameDeals</a> Team</p> </div><!-- SC_ON --> submitted by <a href="http://www.reddit.com/user/gamedealsmod"> gamedealsmod </a> <br/> <a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/GameDeals/comments/2earsl/state_of_the_subreddit_deal_dilution_and_an/">[link]</a> <a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/GameDeals/comments/2earsl/state_of_the_subreddit_deal_dilution_and_an/">[188 comments]</a>

http://www.reddit.com/r/GameDeals/commen...on_and_an/

[Google Play] Carmageddon FREE for 24 hours

<table> <tr><td> <a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/GameDeals/comments/2dsmwv/google_play_carmageddon_free_for_24_hours/"><img src="http://a.thumbs.redditmedia.com/AiMPNzMGZsli9fvb.jpg" alt="[Google Play] Carmageddon FREE for 24 hours" title="[Google Play] Carmageddon FREE for 24 hours" /></a> </td><td> submitted by <a href="http://www.reddit.com/user/fredfioreze"> fredfioreze </a> <br/> <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.stainlessgames.carmageddonpromo">[link]</a> <a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/GameDeals/comments/2dsmwv/google_play_carmageddon_free_for_24_hours/">[60 comments]</a> </td></tr></table>

http://www.reddit.com/r/GameDeals/commen..._24_hours/

[steam] tropico 4 colectors bundle (99%off - pricing error?)

submitted by <a href="http://www.reddit.com/user/niky45"> niky45 </a> <br/> <a href="http://store.steampowered.com/app/57690/?snr=1_7_7_204_150_1">[link]</a> <a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/GameDeals/comments/2dqebm/steam_tropico_4_colectors_bundle_99off_pricing/">[403 comments]</a>

http://www.reddit.com/r/GameDeals/commen...f_pricing/

[steam] tropico 4 colectors bundle (99%off - pricing error?)

submitted by <a href="http://www.reddit.com/user/niky45"> niky45 </a> <br/> <a href="http://store.steampowered.com/app/57690/?snr=1_7_7_204_150_1">[link]</a> <a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/GameDeals/comments/2dqebm/steam_tropico_4_colectors_bundle_99off_pricing/">[357 comments]</a>

http://www.reddit.com/r/GameDeals/commen...f_pricing/

[Xbox LIVE] Dishonored: Free with the Games with Gold Promotion

<table> <tr><td> <a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/GameDeals/comments/2dpfof/xbox_live_dishonored_free_with_the_games_with/"><img src="http://a.thumbs.redditmedia.com/yMqKwcFB51qYPPjj.jpg" alt="[Xbox LIVE] Dishonored: Free with the Games with Gold Promotion" title="[Xbox LIVE] Dishonored: Free with the Games with Gold Promotion" /></a> </td><td> submitted by <a href="http://www.reddit.com/user/Peekmeister"> Peekmeister </a> <br/> <a href="http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/Product/Dishonored/0e4ce37e-d453-494e-8318-18cf52c31089">[link]</a> <a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/GameDeals/comments/2dpfof/xbox_live_dishonored_free_with_the_games_with/">[10 comments]</a> </td></tr></table>

http://www.reddit.com/r/GameDeals/commen...ames_with/

[GOG] The Witcher 1&2 (Win/Mac) -80% $1.99 / $3.99

<table> <tr><td> <a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/GameDeals/comments/2dmvom/gog_the_witcher_12_winmac_80_199_399/"><img src="http://a.thumbs.redditmedia.com/9q3-3w6OcaDXJFXh.jpg" alt="[GOG] The Witcher 1&amp;2 (Win/Mac) -80% $1.99 / $3.99" title="[GOG] The Witcher 1&amp;2 (Win/Mac) -80% $1.99 / $3.99" /></a> </td><td> submitted by <a href="http://www.reddit.com/user/tastes_of_vanilla"> tastes_of_vanilla </a> <br/> <a href="http://www.gog.com/promo/the_witcher_1_2_special_promo_150814">[link]</a> <a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/GameDeals/comments/2dmvom/gog_the_witcher_12_winmac_80_199_399/">[27 comments]</a> </td></tr></table>

http://www.reddit.com/r/GameDeals/commen...0_199_399/

[GuildWars2.com] Guild Wars 2 50% off ($24.99)

<table> <tr><td> <a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/GameDeals/comments/2dh930/guildwars2com_guild_wars_2_50_off_2499/"><img src="http://b.thumbs.redditmedia.com/sqVC1fpr4yrJavQq.jpg" alt="[GuildWars2.com] Guild Wars 2 50% off ($24.99)" title="[GuildWars2.com] Guild Wars 2 50% off ($24.99)" /></a> </td><td> submitted by <a href="http://www.reddit.com/user/Utico"> Utico </a> <br/> <a href="http://buy.guildwars2.com/store/gw2/en_US/html/pbPage.buyguildwars2">[link]</a> <a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/GameDeals/comments/2dh930/guildwars2com_guild_wars_2_50_off_2499/">[117 comments]</a> </td></tr></table>

http://www.reddit.com/r/GameDeals/commen..._off_2499/

[Newegg] Max Payne Triple Pack ($6.99//83% off)

<table> <tr><td> <a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/GameDeals/comments/2d7gfy/newegg_max_payne_triple_pack_69983_off/"><img src="http://b.thumbs.redditmedia.com/pPnqi6asYE2MBSP-.jpg" alt="[Newegg] Max Payne Triple Pack ($6.99//83% off)" title="[Newegg] Max Payne Triple Pack ($6.99//83% off)" /></a> </td><td> submitted by <a href="http://www.reddit.com/user/MrFatCactus"> MrFatCactus </a> <br/> <a href="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832137044">[link]</a> <a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/GameDeals/comments/2d7gfy/newegg_max_payne_triple_pack_69983_off/">[17 comments]</a> </td></tr></table>

http://www.reddit.com/r/GameDeals/commen...69983_off/

[Newegg] Max Payne Triple Pack ($6.99//83% off)

<table> <tr><td> <a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/GameDeals/comments/2d7gfy/newegg_max_payne_triple_pack_69983_off/"><img src="http://b.thumbs.redditmedia.com/pPnqi6asYE2MBSP-.jpg" alt="[Newegg] Max Payne Triple Pack ($6.99//83% off)" title="[Newegg] Max Payne Triple Pack ($6.99//83% off)" /></a> </td><td> submitted by <a href="http://www.reddit.com/user/MrFatCactus"> MrFatCactus </a> <br/> <a href="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832137044">[link]</a> <a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/GameDeals/comments/2d7gfy/newegg_max_payne_triple_pack_69983_off/">[4 comments]</a> </td></tr></table>

http://www.reddit.com/r/GameDeals/commen...69983_off/

(Steam) Fallout 3 - £2.49 // Fallout: New Vegas - £2.99 - Game (UK)

<table> <tr><td> <a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/GameDeals/comments/2d5i0k/steam_fallout_3_249_fallout_new_vegas_299_game_uk/"><img src="http://b.thumbs.redditmedia.com/5BvVM9jNYjaK3Y6o.jpg" alt="(Steam) Fallout 3 - £2.49 // Fallout: New Vegas - £2.99 - Game (UK)" title="(Steam) Fallout 3 - £2.49 // Fallout: New Vegas - £2.99 - Game (UK)" /></a> </td><td> submitted by <a href="http://www.reddit.com/user/BuzzDuraband"> BuzzDuraband </a> <br/> <a href="http://www.game.co.uk/en/fallout-3-246189?attributeName1=Shop%20By&amp;provenance=Download&amp;catGroupId=&amp;categoryIdentifier=737221&amp;attributeValue1=107&amp;cm_mmc=Affiliate-_-Tradedoubler-_-HotUKDeals-_-Deep_link">[link]</a> <a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/GameDeals/comments/2d5i0k/steam_fallout_3_249_fallout_new_vegas_299_game_uk/">[25 comments]</a> </td></tr></table>

http://www.reddit.com/r/GameDeals/commen...9_game_uk/