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How the filter works

Deals pass through two layers before being broadcast:
  1. Layer 1 — deterministic rules (rulesFilter.ts): fast, free, and fully configurable via environment variables.
  2. Layer 2 — GPT curation: the AI evaluates only the deals that survive Layer 1, selecting the best ones and generating a short reason for each.
Tuning Layer 1 directly controls how many candidates reach the AI, which affects both cost and quality.

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Quality check: OR logic

A game passes the quality check if it satisfies either condition: 
hasGoodMetacritic = metacriticScore > 0 AND metacriticScore >= MIN_METACRITIC_SCORE
hasGoodSteamRating = steamRatingPercent >= MIN_STEAM_RATING_PERCENT

passes = hasGoodMetacritic OR hasGoodSteamRating
This means a game with no Metacritic score can still pass if its Steam rating is high enough, and vice versa. The hard filters (discount and price) are always applied with AND logic — a game must satisfy all of them regardless.
Set MIN_METACRITIC_SCORE=0 to disable the Metacritic check entirely. This is especially useful for newer indie games that have not yet been reviewed by Metacritic, allowing them to qualify on Steam rating alone.

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Parameter trade-offs

ParameterIncreasing itDecreasing it
MIN_DISCOUNT_PERCENTFewer deals, all more heavily discountedMore deals, includes moderate discounts
MIN_METACRITIC_SCOREStricter quality floor, fewer games qualify via MetacriticMore lenient; set to 0 to disable entirely
MIN_STEAM_RATING_PERCENTStricter community rating requirementAllows games with mixed or lower ratings
MAX_PRICE_USD(lower value) Only cheap deals make it through(higher value) Includes premium-priced titles on sale
DEALS_PAGE_SIZEMore candidates for the AI → potentially better selection, slightly higher AI costFewer candidates, faster and cheaper but may miss good deals
High thresholds to surface only deeply discounted, critically acclaimed titles.
MIN_DISCOUNT_PERCENT=70
MIN_METACRITIC_SCORE=80
MIN_STEAM_RATING_PERCENT=80
MAX_PRICE_USD=30
DEALS_PAGE_SIZE=30
Expect fewer daily deals — sometimes none. Best for users who only want well-known, high-quality games at steep discounts.

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Interaction between parameters

The parameters are not fully independent. A few things to keep in mind:
  • DEALS_PAGE_SIZE is an upstream cap. CheapShark returns at most DEALS_PAGE_SIZE deals sorted by deal rating. If you set strict quality thresholds, increasing this value gives the filter a larger pool to draw from.
  • Price and discount compound. A game with a 70% discount on a 200titlestillpasses‘MAXPRICEUSD=60‘at200 title still passes `MAX_PRICE_USD=60` at 60. If you want to avoid expensive titles even on deep discount, lower MAX_PRICE_USD.
  • Metacritic coverage is incomplete. Many indie games and some newer releases have no Metacritic score. When MIN_METACRITIC_SCORE > 0, those games can still pass via MIN_STEAM_RATING_PERCENT. Setting MIN_METACRITIC_SCORE=0 removes this asymmetry.

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