Team Fortress 2 selling $100, $20, $7 hats for Japan aid

[TimeLord]

http://www.pcgamer.com/2011/03/24/team-fortress-2-selling-100-20-7-hats-for-japan-aid/

So basically, all purchases of these hats go to the Red Cross for aid to Japan.

Prices are

$99.99 (£62.49)
$19.99 (£12.49)
$7.49 (£4.99)

What are your thoughts on this?
I still can't work out if I'm ok with this. Of course sending money to Japan is the right idea, but rewards for doing it? Doesn't that defeat the point of donating if you get something back? Also, Valve has money of their own to donate right?

EDIT: Before I get any more PMs calling me a monster for the above comment, I bought the $100, $20 AND the $7 hats to support Japan, so I am not against this at all, I just think it could have been done better. But if it works, then it works.

 

[Dr. Pepper Unlimited]

If it gets people to donate to the Red Cross and help out (if they can financially), then I don't really see a problem with it. The hats don't do anything in the game aside from ascetic changes.

 

[Judgement101]

...THE FUCK?! Okay Valve, DONATE some of your damn money. I get that you want gamers to do the same but I'm 100% sure Valve is richer than the people that are interested in this kind of crap.

EDIT: Let me clarify, I'm angry that they are adding more hats, it isn't the charity that annoys me, it's the hats.

 

[Twilight.falls]

...THE FUCK?! Okay Valve, DONATE some of your damn money. I get that you want gamers to do the same but I'm 100% sure Valve is richer than the people that are interested in this kind of crap.

Did you not read the original poster? The first thing after the picture is that Valve is donating 100% of the profit to Japan.

Valve figures that they can do a good thing and still give something to their loyal players. I personally see no problem with this.

 

[Hiphophippo]

...THE FUCK?! Okay Valve, DONATE some of your damn money. I get that you want gamers to do the same but I'm 100% sure Valve is richer than the people that are interested in this kind of crap.

Did you not read the original poster? The first thing after the picture is that Valve is donating 100% of the profit to Japan.

Valve figures that they can do a good thing and still give something to their loyal players. I personally see no problem with this.

This. Geez people, read. If it gets people to donate, how could it be a bad thing?

 

[Chrmike]

The way I see it, charities often send you a little token if you donate a certain sum of money. This is exactly the same.

It merely exposes the ability to donate to charity to a group of people who might not have thought about doing it.
(Not out of apathy mind you, but not really thinking of where you could do it)

 

[Zaik]

It's weird.

Bungie was just doing this with random overpriced crap in their store and everyone cheered.

Valve does it with random overpriced crap in their hat store and everyone flips a shit.

I know double standards are a totally normal and common thing to see(especially on the internet) and all, but you guys DO know you are setting a double standard, right?

 

[IntangibleMango]

You get things for donating to charities all the time, such as badges, etc.

Hell you donate to Comic Relief and get a Red Nose, it's no different.

 

[AfterAscon]

...THE FUCK?! Okay Valve, DONATE some of your damn money. I get that you want gamers to do the same but I'm 100% sure Valve is richer than the people that are interested in this kind of crap.

Did you not read the original poster? The first thing after the picture is that Valve is donating 100% of the profit to Japan.

Valve figures that they can do a good thing and still give something to their loyal players. I personally see no problem with this.

They're donating 100% of the revenue. It's a big difference.

I can see Judgement's point of view, why aren't Valve donating? At the moment this allows Valve to only donate their customer's money, but get all the goodwill associated with it.

Also, if people really cared they would just donate directly to the Red Cross, rather than buy some trivial hats.

 

[NLS]

I still can't work out if I'm ok with this. Of course sending money to Japan is the right idea, but rewards for doing it? Doesn't that defeat the point of donating if you get something back? Also, Valve has money of their own to donate right?

Basically, they're selling a product to you, in order to raise money for charity. So they could just take the money for themselves, but are instead donating the money to Japan. You buy a product, and Valve donates money.

 

[Hybridwolf]

$100 for a hat. Well considering how much people spend on those anyway, I'm certain valve are being rather clever, but this just feels ever so slightly insensitive to me. Nevermind the fact that the disaster has been ongoing for two weeks and they've only just orginised something, or the fact it's TF2 only. The fact remains people who would have donated by now have, and that only the most insane TF2 fans will fork out $100 for that hat. If not for completion sake, but to show off to other people. So no valve, this wasn't the most pleasent thing you could have done, not at all. Espically since you haven't donated yet....

 

[Vikkiman]

How anyone can find a problem with charity in any form, is beyond me.

 

[beema]

I don't see anything wrong with it. I gets TF2 players to donate who would normally just be pissing away the same money on Valve. All you are getting are a couple pixels. Hardly a "reward." I guess it shows off that you donated, but a lot of jerks do that anyways, at least this is a passive method.

task rizin

 

[Internet Kraken]

...THE FUCK?! Okay Valve, DONATE some of your damn money. I get that you want gamers to do the same but I'm 100% sure Valve is richer than the people that are interested in this kind of crap.

I'm willing to bet most Valve employees did donate some of their own money. They just didn't mention it becuase there shouldn't be a need to do so.

I don't get how people can get mad over this.

 

[WelshDanny]

...THE FUCK?! Okay Valve, DONATE some of your damn money. I get that you want gamers to do the same but I'm 100% sure Valve is richer than the people that are interested in this kind of crap.

I'm willing to bet most Valve employees did donate some of their own money. They just didn't mention it becuase there shouldn't be a need to do so.

I don't get how people can get mad over this.

I 100% agree. And if the money is going to a good cause, why complain?

If Valve has donated their own cash to the cause, they don't need to tell everyone they have.

 

[James Raynor]

How much of the money is actually going to japan though?

 

[Leemaster777]

How much of the money is actually going to japan though?

100% of the profit.

Which means, after development costs, and distribution costs, all the money goes to Red Cross.

 

[MisterShine]

I still can't work out if I'm ok with this. Of course sending money to Japan is the right idea, but rewards for doing it? Doesn't that defeat the point of donating if you get something back? Also, Valve has money of their own to donate right?

Altruism is great TimeLord, but if offering some cheap digital item gets more people to raise more money... I think we can sacrifice the "spirit" of donation. Besides, a lot of the time if you donate some money to the red cross or others, you get a shirt or a tote bag or something stupid. Little gifts for donations are actually pretty common.

 

[Dirty Hipsters]

...THE FUCK?! Okay Valve, DONATE some of your damn money. I get that you want gamers to do the same but I'm 100% sure Valve is richer than the people that are interested in this kind of crap.

Seriously bro, what the hell is wrong with you? How exactly can you be angry about people donating money to charity?

 

[Kajt]

I went and bought the 29,99 ? pack.

How anyone can find a problem with charity in any form, is beyond me.

This. Just... this.