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[MDSLKTR]

Valve's image seems to have been tarnished quite a bit on GAF over the last week or so.

Maybe for gaf, for the rest of the world this won't change a thing.

 

[WrenchNinja]

Well now, that's two scummy things Valve's done within the last two weeks.

 

[Nabs]

This is an old story and is false for gifting, just think about it Valve could quite as easily disable cross regional gifting if they didn't want it. The support ticket mentions using a VPN and they warned the user according to the steam agreement subscriber they could have banned him for it.

Bingo.

 

[ezekielpacman]

That Gaben / Stan song needs an update.

 

[sikkinixx]

How are people surprised? Valve's partners probably aren't pleased by it, and Valve is probably losing a bunch of money because of it. This is like PS3 game sharing, I'm surprised it hasn't been cut off already.

 

[Ifrit]

What the fuck Valve? I though you were with the good guys

 

[Holy Order Sol]

Still not personally affected, won't change my spending habits.

GAF's in Steam hate mode right now, so yes.

Pretty much. Between this, Square-Enix, that Capgod -> Cacpcom shit, Atlus etc, I'm pretty sure people actually enjoy "downfalls" so much they'll make them up if they don't happen soon enough.

That Gaben / Stan song needs an update.

Link? I'd like to hear that though.

 

[JaseC]

This is an old story and is false for gifting, just think about it Valve could quite as easily disable cross regional gifting if they didn't want it. The support ticket mentions using a VPN and they warned the user according to the steam agreement subscriber they could have banned him for it.

Yeah, it seems he got done for circumventing his regional store:

In order to prevent further deactivation of your account by our system due to suspected fraud, do not use other accounts to deliberately circumvent regional restrictions or prices of games with the intention to send these to your main account via the gifting system.

Please do not buy games in regions in which there is a price difference to your home country and do not use VPN or proxy software to circumvent these limitations.

 

[sazzy]

I don't think most of SteamGAF will surface from choking on Valve's dick long enough to care about this.

Either way, I do find these recent developments quite amusing.

 

[sakipon]

Pretty much. Between this, Square-Enix, that Capgod -> Cacpcom shit etc, I'm pretty sure people actually enjoy "downfalls" so much they'll make them up if they don't happen soon enough.

You're on to something here. Hey GAF, can Rovio be next?

 

[walking fiend]

When will people learn that Valve is only after earning money for itself?

 

[jaxpunk]

Boy if I where as upset as all of you, I'd delete my steam account.

 

[derFeef]

Adjust the prices accordingly, and this problem is solved, Valve.
jeeze.

 

[Sho_Nuff82]

The dream is dead.

 

[WrenchNinja]

Pretty much. Between this, Square-Enix, that Capgod -> Cacpcom shit etc, I'm pretty sure people actually enjoy "downfalls" so much they'll make them up if they don't happen soon enough.

The one thing they love more than a hero is to see a hero fail, fall, die trying.

 

[Derrick01]

I don't think most of SteamGAF will surface from choking on Valve's dick long enough to care about this.

Either way, I do find these recent developments quite amusing.

Probably because there's no evidence it's widespread. So don't get too excited about seeing more negative Steam news.

 

[FLEABttn]

If you're region locking/blocking/restricting in an age where I can send zeroes and ones to the other side of the world in an insignificant amount of time, then you're doing it wrong.

Which is why in an industry where scarcity is quickly losing relevance, we are see a shift away from a packaged goods model and a shift towards a services model.

Companies adjust to new technology trends and globalization (perhaps at their own pace), but there will always be unforeseen consequences.

What the fuck Valve? I though you were with the good guys

As an entity in the entertainment business designed to extract as much money out of it's consumers, it is.

A company not always giving you what you want doesn't necessarily make them a bad guy.

 

[ezekielpacman]

Link? I'd like to hear that though.

Can't hear at work but think this is it?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdeY1v6jC7Q

 

[Wazzim]

Ridiculous. We're already broke in the real world so give us some slack when buying games.

 

[glaurung]

OK, this really isn't about gifting as such.

Even very popular and trustworthy sites like gamekeysnowdotcom (an affiliate of the gamepointsnow.com) actually sells Russian Steam keys. They also counsel the users how to activate the keys via VPN.

That makes more sense, but I still call humbug on Valve's part.

 

[2MF]

The one thing they love more than a hero is to see a hero fail, fall, die trying.

Maybe, but what does that have to do with deserved backlash against a DD service that has been showing its true colors?

 

[Metalmurphy]

There is something seriously wrong when one person 50 bucks is not worth as much for the same freaking product as another persons 50 bucks. Afaik Valve doesn't pay conversion fees, we do.


Bu...bu...but.... You should be paying more!


WHY?

 

[Holy Order Sol]

Maybe, but what does that have to do with deserved backlash against a DD service that has been showing its true colors?

They're only "true colors" if you deliberately put it on a pedestal in the first place. Obviously the actual practice is not defensible.

 

[WrenchNinja]

Maybe, but what does that have to do with deserved backlash against a DD service that has been showing its true colors?

Nothing, I just felt like quoting Spider-Man. This is definitely deserved of a backlash.

 

[Dead Man]

This is an old story and is false for gifting, just think about it Valve could quite as easily disable cross regional gifting if they didn't want it. The support ticket mentions using a VPN and they warned the user according to the steam agreement subscriber they could have banned him for it.

You say that like it justifies preventing consumers from accessing the benefits of a global economy.

 

[2MF]

They're only "true colors" if you deliberately put it on a pedestal in the first place.

Not really, since some of their practices are actually worse than other DD services. In particular the one about holding your games hostage to your acceptance of any new ToS they come up with.

 

[Xane]

Eh.. so now I have to rely on Amazon getting my uncut versions.

 

[Barack Lesnar]

Okay now this one is actually evil.

Yeah same thing I was gonna say. This one is much, much worse than agreeing to that ToS change.

 

[SolsticeZero]

You say that like it justifies preventing consumers from accessing the benefits of a global economy.

Well, considering that currency fluctuates like stocks do, it makes sense. Now the day when we have one global currency without fluctuation, then this will not make sense.

 

[megalowho]

The response from Valve accuses the user of using multiple accounts and VPN to buy and send himself cheaper games, not gifting. Unless this starts popping up for folks playing by the rules I don't think it's an issue. Would be pretty messed up if so.

 

[2San]

Actually this is one of those things I understand.

I have troubles with the whole subscription thing(which is just loophole to avoid ownership laws, I'm still hoping the EU will take action against this).

This however makes perfect sense. You are effectively circumventing any import/export tax.

 

[shintoki]

You say that like it justifies preventing consumers from accessing the benefits of a global economy.

Or you know, you could just wait the 3 months and get it for the same price as those in Russia and other emergent markets with high piracy and lower income. *Shrug*

 

[Dead Man]

Or you know, you could just wait the 3 months and get it for the same price as those in Russia and other emergent markets with high piracy and lower income. *Shrug*

Yeah, gosh, why didn't I think of that...

 

[Barack Lesnar]

Yeah, gosh, why didn't I think of that...

Damn...

 

[corporate cheerleader]

Holy shit.

You Australians get like the short end of the stick when it comes to anything. I feel for you.

 

[megalowho]

double post!

 

[SolarPowered]

Wow. Valve starting to chew through some of that good will stash lately.

They've reached their max so they're clearing up some space for HL3's release.

 

[LiquidMetal14]

Is there some mandate on this regional pricing or is it all on the pubs? I wouldn't be so quick to point the finger at Valve as much as the entities which put their games on that platform. Much like PSN/XB.

 

[Dynedom]

You don't own what you buy, consumer rights, can't sue us, etc etc

Not a great direction we're going in =\

 

[Detox]

You say that like it justifies preventing consumers from accessing the benefits of a global economy.

Prices are set by the publishers and they probably do not want a global store for all regions, the only thing valve can do is allow cross regional gifting. If you want games at UK or US prices there are plenty of gaffers willing to help.

 

[Rapstah]

I can totally understand the complaints and it is shitty if this is true, but do we actually have anything that says this is actually happening? The guy in the article is being warned because he used VPNs. Valve has no way to distinguish between my American friends sending me birthday gifts and them sending me gifts for money outside of Valve's control. Russian games are typically locked into Russian to combat those kinds of trades.

 

[Barack Lesnar]

You Australians get like the short end of the stick when it comes to anything. I feel for you.

They have the hottest chicks and best accents so it evens out in the end.

 

[shintoki]

Yeah, gosh, why didn't I think of that...

Pretty sure that blood is on Publishers and not Valve.

 

[Boss Doggie]

So apparently it's just an old reddit bullshit then?

Also a lot of recently released Steamworks games are still cheap when bought locally here lol

 

[Durante]

There is something seriously wrong when one person 50 bucks is not worth as much for the same freaking product as another persons 50 bucks.

That's the long and short of it.

You're on to something here. Hey GAF, can Rovio be next?

For a downfall you need to first achieve height.

 

[SolsticeZero]

Pretty sure that blood is on Publishers and not Valve.

Indeed. Can we see a screencap of HL2 or TF2 on the Aussie Steam store?

 

[Card Boy]

I don't think most of SteamGAF will surface from choking on Valve's dick long enough to care about this.

Either way, I do find these recent developments quite amusing.

I wish the shoe was on the other foot and US Gaf got charged $90 USD for games then we will see them care.

Valve is becoming a more terrible company by the day and Gabe Newell being the face of the company doesn't mean they are gods. Valve is disgraceful and it's shit like this why I am always angry about Steam.

Pretty sure that blood is on Publishers and not Valve.

Last time I checked Valve is the one locking down accounts and stoping gifting, not publishers.

 

[LiquidMetal14]

They have the hottest chicks and best accents so it evens out in the end.

Spanish/Hispanic GAF wants to have a word with you behind the Red Lobster parking lot at 2am /fans self

 

[Dead Man]

Prices are set by the publishers and they probably do not want a global store for all regions, the only thing valve can do is allow cross regional gifting. If you want games at UK or US prices there are plenty of gaffers willing to help.

Indeed. It is not all Valves fault, but it is a genuine arse fucking.

They have the hottest chicks and best accents so it evens out in the end.

This is true

Pretty sure that blood is on Publishers and not Valve.

Doesn't change the fact that many people can't 'just wait' as you so glibly suggested.

 

[Krauser Kat]

That sucks. Publishers are still to blame though. Valve is probably against a wall.