Yes. That's because you can buy games with Steam activation codes even for $0.01 (e.g. Humble Bundle) or even get them for free and Steam can't different between retail disc keys and, for example, Humble Bundle ones.
It's just that you can get retail keys for cents or free even. There's no distinction between keys that come with the game you buy from a retail store and keys you get from buying a game online from somewhere else than Steam.
Pardon my misunderstanding but is there something about Europe that makes it intrinsically more difficult to add $5 to your account? I'm pretty sure you can use Paypal and other services too. I'm finding it exceedingly hard to believe that a "passionate PC gamer with lots of games" has never found anything worthy of $5 on steam ever.
I clearly see a big issue with this for a certain group.
Some games are steam exclusive.
Someone new buys a game with a multiplayer component, spending up to 60$, registers it on steam, but still won't be able to play with their friends because of this 5$ minimum steamstore policy.
This of course, while guessing, doesn't constitute a large group of people.
Still, it's a big annoyance for that group and should be addressed accordingly.
Valve needs to figure out a better system that doesn't punish retail customers. Its not for the user to care or jump through hoops. Whether a game costs cents is irrelevant to people that have dropped hundreds on dollars to games.
Valve are a multi billion corporation, they should be much smarter about this.
It isn't taking that away though.I don't relish the precedent that this sets for PC gaming (paying for basic online functionality / service) but at the same time it is an entirely understandable move. Monetary costs are one of the few ways to stop spammers and I'm not sure that Valve can be expected to monitor all accounts at all times for phishing/scamming activity. Also, they left alternative methods of spending $5 by allowing Steam Wallet gift cards so a credit/debit card is not required.
Valve needs to figure out a better system that doesn't punish retail customers. Its not for the user to care or jump through hoops. Whether a game costs cents is irrelevant to people that have dropped hundreds on dollars to games.
Valve are a multi billion corporation, they should be much smarter about this.
It isn't taking that away though.
Is the option to pay directly from your bank account not available in the US? Because before I had PayPal I did just that.Also we seem to be forgetting a lot of people don't have a credit card or PayPal and you can't exact buy $5 in Steam cash from your EB Games.
Stupid system that punishes legitimate users.
I have yet to see someone in this thread come up with a better solution other than just giving bots free roam by letting any retail game be enough to count. Please, someone at least make an attempt to use their brain and think of a better solution, something that doesn't involve hiring hundreds more people.
- Suck it up at let retail users count 1cent games to $60 games
- 48hrs lock out for social features for newly created Steam accounts
- Suck it up at let retail users count 1cent games to $60 games
- 48hrs lock out for social features for newly created Steam accounts
This actually affects my partner, as the only games that she has on Steam are the ones that I've gifted her. Our initial reaction was: "Oh, shit. This sucks." ... until we read the actual restrictions and realized that none of them negatively affect us.I have a feeling people haven't read what "Limited access" actually means.
Apart from the friend invite non of the restrictrions have much impact. unless you think voting on workshop items and the steam market (how do you even use this one without a credit card) are key features.
What good is that?- 48hrs lock out for social features for newly created Steam accounts
- Suck it up at let retail users count 1cent games to $60 games
- 48hrs lock out for social features for newly created Steam accounts
actually, this is only a problem if none of his friends has spent 5$ on steam ever.
Limited users are prevented from accessing several features on Steam, including but not limited to:
Sending friend invites
Opening group chat
Voting on Greenlight, Steam Reviews and Workshop items
Participating in the Steam Market
Posting frequently in the Steam Discussions
Gaining Steam Profile Levels and Trading Cards
Submitting content on the Steam Workshop
Posting in an item's Steam Workshop Discussions
Accessing the Steam Web API
Using browser and mobile chat
Yes. Though a new person spending up to 60$ on a new retail steam exclusive game will still have to deal with this:
In other words, if your game is steam exclusive, a +$5 retail key must grant you basic steam features as you fit the criteria.
I personally think that if you only use Steam as a glorified chat client and never buy games on it there are better options. Considering how often Steam community goes down.Yes. Though a new person spending up to 60$ on a new retail steam exclusive game will still have to deal with this:
In other words, if your game is steam exclusive, a +$5 retail key must grant you basic steam features as you fit the criteria.
Actually you can't send a lot of links in chats or comment sections as the link gets removed if you aren't at least level 9. It's not every link but a chunk of things are blocked. This was the case with a friend of mine in fact.Steam level is literally meaningless and to sell your steam cards you need a credit card purchase anyway.
- Suck it up at let retail users count 1cent games to $60 games
- 48hrs lock out for social features for newly created Steam accounts
Actually you can't send a lot of links in chats or comment sections as the link gets removed if you aren't at level 9. It's not every link but a chunk of things are blocked. This was the case with a friend of mine in fact.
Yeah common sites like YouTube are fine, anything Steam seems off the grid though it removes. Especially if you upload images on something that isn't imgur or something.I didn't know that. None of my friends are level 10 yet and we've never had problems. Then again we only really linked youtube and similar sites.
- Suck it up at let retail users count 1cent games to $60 games
- 48hrs lock out for social features for newly created Steam accounts
Yes. Though a new person spending up to 60$ on a new retail steam exclusive game will still have to deal with this:
In other words, if your game is steam exclusive, a +$5 retail key must grant you basic steam features as you fit the criteria.
People in this thread said they are still getting invites, so not yet, unsure when.When are accounts going to get limited? Is it already in effect?
The prices on European Steam. Prices of old games during sales are good, but if you want a recent game (released within a year), Steam is without a doubt the worst place to buy that game.
Also we seem to be forgetting a lot of people don't have a credit card or PayPal and you can't exact buy $5 in Steam cash from your EB Games.
Stupid system that punishes legitimate users.
It enables many more legitimate users than it punishes legitimate users.
Requiring people to spend money at a store to be able to hang out at the store. What a shocking concept.
To me, the problem is that the word punishes is even part of the equation. As far as weeding out unwanted illegitimate use goes, this is DRM philosophy 101. Make the end-user take the hit
I don't know about the reactions in this thread. On one hand we have the drive-by troll concern. On the other, we have the unanimous, THIS DECISION IS A-OK. I feel the truth is somewhere in the middle.
But once again just as a curiosity, I find it a little amusing that their solution to this problem cost us a (MEANINGLESS according to rich-GAF) $5, and will make them god knows how much money.
Well this would theoretically help more users in the long run than hurt users, so the choice is continue to have peoples account hijacked or limit accounts to block bots.To me, the problem is that the word punishes is even part of the equation. As far as weeding out unwanted illegitimate use goes, this is DRM philosophy 101. Make the end-user take the hit
I really do feel sorry for anyone who thinks that $5 makes someone "rich". I'm sure half of the people complaining about it being a lot, are the same people who feel the need to go out and get the latest phone every year or eat fast food multiple times a week. If $5 is a non meaningless amount to someone, then I think they have worse things to worry about other than what minor features they lose out on for an online store.
the choice is continue to have peoples account hijacked or limit accounts to block bots.
Who is "us"? It's not going to cost me anything, nor the other people in this thread who are saying they're fine with the restrictions. Hell, if you can organise for someone to give you money to buy a game on their behalf it's not going to cost you anything even if you never ever want to pay for something on Steam.
I don't know about the reactions in this thread. On one hand we have the drive-by troll concern. On the other, we have the unanimous, THIS DECISION IS A-OK. I feel the truth is somewhere in the middle.
But once again just as a curiosity, I find it a little amusing that their solution to this problem cost us a (MEANINGLESS according to rich-GAF) $5, and will make them god knows how much money.
if someone is on a situation where they can't afford to buy a 5$ game, they have way bigger problems than a couple of features on a online store. Most of the features would require money in the first place, like mobile chat(requires you to get a data plan) or market functionality. And if you really really can't afford 5$ on a game I'd ask you how exactly are you using this store on the first place. You didn't buy a PC? You don't have an internet subscription that you have to pay every month? You don't pay electricity bills?But once again just as a curiosity, I find it a little amusing that their solution to this problem cost us a (MEANINGLESS according to rich-GAF) $5, and will make them god knows how much money.
Sure and I provided an example of how they could do it. This is what they're doing and it's an ok compromise. For a solution that doesn't affect current users I'm sure they'd have to create new systems which could take a long time and right now they don't have that time. They've tried several simple solutions and none of them have worked so this is the next step in the process. For all we know this could be an interim step.I honestly don't believe that. I am no expert in large-scale account management but there is always another way to solve a problem. This is the one they stopped on. Perhaps it is the most plausible. I simply don't have any evidence to believe that and if I'm honest with myself, I'm not OK with this
I don't even...I don't know about the reactions in this thread. On one hand we have the drive-by troll concern. On the other, we have the unanimous, THIS DECISION IS A-OK. I feel the truth is somewhere in the middle.
But once again just as a curiosity, I find it a little amusing that their solution to this problem cost us a (MEANINGLESS according to rich-GAF) $5, and will make them god knows how much money.
Also we seem to be forgetting a lot of people don't have a credit card or PayPal and you can't exact buy $5 in Steam cash from your EB Games.
Stupid system that punishes legitimate users.
I agree that the extremes are silly, but the truth being in the middle isn't right either. Most people saying that they're okay with this recognize the cases where it will negatively affect others. Still, that impact seems like a small price to pay in order to reduce spam bots.I don't know about the reactions in this thread. On one hand we have the drive-by troll concern. On the other, we have the unanimous, THIS DECISION IS A-OK. I feel the truth is somewhere in the middle.
Valve's not asking for another $5. There isn't going to be a "Pay Valve $5 to unlock these features!" button. This doesn't have to cost anyone anything. Even if they wanted it to, that money can go to a game or an in-game item they want.But once again just as a curiosity, I find it a little amusing that their solution to this problem cost us a (MEANINGLESS according to rich-GAF) $5, and will make them god knows how much money.
if someone is on a situation where they can't afford to buy a 5$ game, they have way bigger problems than a couple of features on a online store. Most of the features would require money in the first place, like mobile chat(requires you to get a data plan) or market functionality. And if you really really can't afford 5$ on a game I'd ask you how exactly are you using this store on the first place. You didn't buy a PC? You don't have an internet subscription that you have to pay every month? You don't pay electricity bills?
We aren't flipping out because we already have 5 or more dollars paid on our account. Again it's not an extra 5 dollars.They could also offer current Steamers invites they can give to their friends which would bypass the $5. Not so much that spammers could take advantage of it, but just enough that this would inconvenience less. Then again, that would be AT LEAST five less dollars for Valve, so I could see why Gabe wouldn't want to implement an invite system in addition to the new tax.
I see it more as the principle of the thing. It's the same with DLC and freemium games. Gaffers aren't flipping out because DLC costs a few dollars and freemium games offer benefits if you spend a few dollars; it's more that they have the audacity to do so. Same with Steam.
I don't relish the precedent that this sets for PC gaming (paying for basic online functionality / service)
I love how people in this thread keep ignoring PC games retail market, which is especially strong in Europe. So yes, if you're not a passionate gamer who constantly buys new games, has huge backlog and yet still hunts for new games during Steam sales, it is very possible to have dozens of games (Valve's included) and not one bought on Steam. Especially since majority of nowadays PC games use Steam as their primary DRM or implement Steamworks so you have to use Steam service whether you like it or not.
Still, it's a big annoyance for that group and should be addressed accordingly.
I see it more as the principle of the thing. It's the same with DLC and freemium games. Gaffers aren't flipping out because DLC costs a few dollars and freemium games offer benefits if you spend a few dollars; it's more that they have the audacity to do so. Same with Steam.
People are ignoring it because these hypothetical users who have hundreds of dollars of retail activated software on their account, have never spent a dime on the store directly, but somehow desperately need Steam mobile chat and trading cards are imaginary.
Origin is only a store and friends list/chat. Not nearly as popular as Steam either, so there would be no reason to do this.If this was Origin people would be losing their shit.
If this was Origin people would be losing their shit.