Man, that'd be great. Aliens vs Predators has been wasting drive space for far too long, I'd like to get back some of that $50 I wasted.
Pachter: Valve Will Offer Trade-ins on Steam
- Thread starter Greg Tito
- Start date
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It may sound arrogant, but I think everyone (and this includes the newspost both here and at NowGamer) has misinterpreted this quote. As some people have pointed out, it doesn't make business sense to buy back a digital product. They aren't gaining an object to sell to a new customer. Some have pointed out that the money they give back is virtual, and therefore must be spent on Steam products, but this doesn't change the fact that with each purchase made with credits, Valve is losing money they could have made.
As evidenced by many of the comments, it would be popular with consumers. But then, giving away your products would be popular too, but that doesn't (in this case) make it a good idea.
No, what I believe this prediction refers to is trade and exchange between customers. With that in mind, doesn't it make more sense to read that Valve would charge a small fee for such a thing? (It has already been noticed that charging a fee to give money back to someone doesn't add up). I wouldn't pretend to know the specifics (whether products would need to be traded evenly with others of equal purchase value, whether it can only be done with your Steam Friends, etc.)
In such a scenario, Valve still profits from each transaction through the fee. They would also be in a position to provide developers with a cut, because otherwise second-hand sales would be reviled by developers in the same way they are with physical copies. It still seems like developers might oppose this concept, because taking a portion the fee would obviously net them much less than the sale that they have potentially lost this way.
I can't comment on the likelihood of this prediction, but I definitely think that digital "trade-ins" to the retailer is not what the analyst was predicting.
As evidenced by many of the comments, it would be popular with consumers. But then, giving away your products would be popular too, but that doesn't (in this case) make it a good idea.
No, what I believe this prediction refers to is trade and exchange between customers. With that in mind, doesn't it make more sense to read that Valve would charge a small fee for such a thing? (It has already been noticed that charging a fee to give money back to someone doesn't add up). I wouldn't pretend to know the specifics (whether products would need to be traded evenly with others of equal purchase value, whether it can only be done with your Steam Friends, etc.)
In such a scenario, Valve still profits from each transaction through the fee. They would also be in a position to provide developers with a cut, because otherwise second-hand sales would be reviled by developers in the same way they are with physical copies. It still seems like developers might oppose this concept, because taking a portion the fee would obviously net them much less than the sale that they have potentially lost this way.
I can't comment on the likelihood of this prediction, but I definitely think that digital "trade-ins" to the retailer is not what the analyst was predicting.
This will be good for me, I bought the company of heros pack and the minimum specs was complete bull, it lags all the time
Same with DaW 2 and Mass Effect but I bought the on disk
Same with DaW 2 and Mass Effect but I bought the on disk
Sounds awesome. That would let me get rid of the few duds currently tarnishing the image of my library.
I don't think a lot of you understand the premise. It doesn't make any money, or lose anyone any money. Even if the service will exist, it'll simply serve as an initiative for people to buy more games. A failsafe, if you will. Say I bought... Torchlight. I play it, and I dislike it. Currently, that's it. I have torchlight registered to my steam account permanently.
With this new system, they can give people an incentive to buy new games because hey, at least they can use that credit to get a new game that doesn't suck, right?
To me, it sounds like a good idea. Even though a lot of you dolts are talking about "well what if someone trades in a game they got for free!" you don't seem to factor in that it's simple to keep a server side representation of every game you've bought and how much for.
As for cracking games, yeah, that's a risk. But if someone was going to pirate a game like that, they could just as easily torrent it. Trying to fight piracy is redundant. Steam solves a lot of multiplayer issues, what with Steam verification being needed to start a steam purchased game, but on the whole, fighting piracy is fighting fire with cigarettes. There's only so much you can do.
With this new system, they can give people an incentive to buy new games because hey, at least they can use that credit to get a new game that doesn't suck, right?
To me, it sounds like a good idea. Even though a lot of you dolts are talking about "well what if someone trades in a game they got for free!" you don't seem to factor in that it's simple to keep a server side representation of every game you've bought and how much for.
As for cracking games, yeah, that's a risk. But if someone was going to pirate a game like that, they could just as easily torrent it. Trying to fight piracy is redundant. Steam solves a lot of multiplayer issues, what with Steam verification being needed to start a steam purchased game, but on the whole, fighting piracy is fighting fire with cigarettes. There's only so much you can do.
You must be what the poster of this thread [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/18.237157-Poll-Valve-has-one-of-the-most-ungrateful-communities-in-the-world?page=1] was directing his rant at.Chamale said:
In theory when you sell a used game to Gamestop, that is in effect happening. The retailer will not pay you full price and thus you will not make back what you originally paid for. The difference by using this system though is that you hand over the money first, instead of taking the money first. Also judging by VALVe's business practices, Steam will likely give the developers a piece of the take once again.Iron Lightning said:
As for the hacker bit, what few people know is that aside from the games that require Steamworks activation (Such as titles developed by VALVe themselves) the games purchased through are ready to play without Steam. The files are all there on your computer, many of them cracked versions that are ready to be copied. (A humorous news story [http://kotaku.com/5537223/is-that-a-cracked-version-of-max-payne-2-on-steam] ran this year when it was discovered that the Steam editions of Max Payne used the cracks created by the notorious former pirate ring Myth. The same ring that was condemned by developers.)
In it's current state Steam copies can easily be exploited for ill-gotten gains. However good can also come out of it. Case in point is a personal experience from last month. I was reinstalling my copy of the original Mafia, when I realized I was missing the final disc. Within minutes my friend logged onto his Steam account through my computer and gave me the missing files. Incidentally, the 1.8 Gig download was faster than the installation through the CDs!
I think it's a good idea. May actually in the long run encourage more people to buy games, since they can have assurance that if they don't like it they can have some of their money back. Would love to do that with Bioshock 2 and Alien Vs. Predator, I'll tell you that.
Much as it works for a service like Steam, it isn't a good idea. Publishers would go apeshit over the lost revenue potential unless the credit you get back only covers what Steam would make off a sale, leaving the difference straight for the publisher/devs.
Either case, Pachter still needs to STFU.
This is an idea that makes sense. Especially if it gets fixed that you don't start your usage until it is downloaded.AC10 said:
Either case, Pachter still needs to STFU.
Even though Valve isn't nearly money-grubbing as Activision, even if they were asked to do this, I'd imagine their response would be: "Why?"
Much as I hate it, it's sort of understandable why a lot of game retailers don't let you trade in PC games. Hell, I can count the PC games I know post-2008 which can feasibly be re-sold on one hand, what with registering games to an online authorization server being the standard now. Besides, I could see some guys trying to game the system. I would think it would work by by giving you Steam credits for every game traded in, and some people will buy games on sale, then trade the game in once the sale's over and getting in the black.
Much as I hate it, it's sort of understandable why a lot of game retailers don't let you trade in PC games. Hell, I can count the PC games I know post-2008 which can feasibly be re-sold on one hand, what with registering games to an online authorization server being the standard now. Besides, I could see some guys trying to game the system. I would think it would work by by giving you Steam credits for every game traded in, and some people will buy games on sale, then trade the game in once the sale's over and getting in the black.
I hope so.
My laptop sucks enough to not be able to play Source games, so my ONLY game (TF2) is unplayable.
I might trade it in for Killing Floor if this happens.
My laptop sucks enough to not be able to play Source games, so my ONLY game (TF2) is unplayable.
I might trade it in for Killing Floor if this happens.
Doesn't really seem like a profitable idea. Since in comparison to gamestops used games buyback there isn't really any reason for valve to take back your license for the game since they have indefinite amounts of said licenses that can always be considered brand new.
Even the argument that they aren't giving out real money isn't really working. Since as they give you credits for free(you lose game you don't intend to play, they get one more license to the pile of licenses), Then youll buy other games on steam with credit instead of money. And what does valve win by doing this? you get new games to your library on reduced price, yes. They get nothing, Except that lose possible customer by giving you the game with credits.
And the steam sales would either break the system or cause the refund to be mere pennies.
Even the argument that they aren't giving out real money isn't really working. Since as they give you credits for free(you lose game you don't intend to play, they get one more license to the pile of licenses), Then youll buy other games on steam with credit instead of money. And what does valve win by doing this? you get new games to your library on reduced price, yes. They get nothing, Except that lose possible customer by giving you the game with credits.
And the steam sales would either break the system or cause the refund to be mere pennies.
Speak for yourself, Pachter. Personally, I would gladly give up Steam if it meant that I could retain my ability to trade in my games. And this is coming from someone who usually likes to keep the games he purchased.Greg Tito said:
Anyway, Pachter isn't exactly a person I would trust with anything PC-related. It is not like he hasn't shown ignorance regarding PC gaming before:
But assuming he is correct on this matter (although I doubt it, given the potential problems it would cause), that would certainly be an improvement over the current state of affairs, although still not as good as with a physical copy. Afterall, you can only "sell" your games through Steam, thus guaruanteeing Valve the fee for any transaction. With physical copies, you at least have the option to bypass the middle-man and sell your games directly.
Personally, all I want from Valve is to provide the option of "untying" your physical copy of a game from Steam, thus allowing you to sell it in the first place. As things currently stand, Steam serves as a de facto embargo on any used game sales. Sadly, I do not think we will ever see anything like that occur, since Valve and other developers using Steam want to prevent used game sales.
That doesn't seem like very good idea for many reasons.
First publishers/developers that would start to ask for a share of the money made that way + Valve itself would want to make profit on the whole deal, which means the fee wouldn't be that small or the benefits for end user would be minimal.
Second, while physical copy trading actually carries some physical value, digital copies don't. There is no 'limited supply' on the platform. There is no risk on the distributors side that they will order more copies than people are willing to buy. The deals are on 1 to 1 basis.
Third. Sales. How do we treat a game that someone bought during a 50%/75% sale? Is it considered full value game on trade-in or just the amount that given customer paid? Can i just buy several games on 75% sale and then turn them in for full credit?
For someone who calls himself analyst, Patcher really seems more like a fantasy writer with each of his new predictions.
First publishers/developers that would start to ask for a share of the money made that way + Valve itself would want to make profit on the whole deal, which means the fee wouldn't be that small or the benefits for end user would be minimal.
Second, while physical copy trading actually carries some physical value, digital copies don't. There is no 'limited supply' on the platform. There is no risk on the distributors side that they will order more copies than people are willing to buy. The deals are on 1 to 1 basis.
Third. Sales. How do we treat a game that someone bought during a 50%/75% sale? Is it considered full value game on trade-in or just the amount that given customer paid? Can i just buy several games on 75% sale and then turn them in for full credit?
For someone who calls himself analyst, Patcher really seems more like a fantasy writer with each of his new predictions.
I really start to like Pachter.
since I realized he the equivalent of a comedy clown in the industry.
And making fun cannot be bad.
Only thing is: some people don´t get the "prank" letters all over him.
since I realized he the equivalent of a comedy clown in the industry.
And making fun cannot be bad.
Only thing is: some people don´t get the "prank" letters all over him.
The thing is that Green Man Gaming's already tried this and it's fairly unsuccessful. I doubt Valve will follow suit, frankly.
This sounds way to good to be true for some reason..
Considering it is distributed digitally...
I dont believe it until i see it..
Considering it is distributed digitally...
I dont believe it until i see it..