Rabid Dwarf 76
Member
Tarmack explains how Digital Homicide made money on Steam despite their games being of terrible quality. Turns out it's from trading cards.
https://youtu.be/mX6Ge-KaoZg
https://youtu.be/mX6Ge-KaoZg
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Tarmack explains how Digital Homicide really made money on Steam.
- Thread starter Rabid Dwarf 76
- Start date
SinCityAssassin
Member
Of course it'd be the fucking cards.
Xamtheking
Member
It was in the cards for them
BladeoftheImmortal
Member
This is interesting.
CertifiedFP
Member
Well, I think we've found the secret behind the JRPG boom on Steam.
Pack it up bros, the whole show's been exposed.
Pack it up bros, the whole show's been exposed.
Stumpokapow
listen to the mad man
I mean, that's part of it, but they also made money by people buying their games. 2,000 copies at $1/copy is a low but liveable wage for a single person, if you can pump out a game a month (which has been about their average release rate). They average 95,000 copies per game according to the video, so even if <5% of their units are sold at full price, they'd still be making a living wage, and at 20% they're making more than two living wages.
It's also not a "flaw" that people can make money on bad games by selling cards. To sell cards, there needs to be someone to want to buy them. If no one wanted to buy them, they wouldn't sell, which means no one would buy bundles to sell the cards, so the scam wouldn't work. Which implies that they offer value to the buyer.
Let me suggest an alternate theory: people want to buy the cards for bad games ironically because people like Sterling keep giving attention to the games and making them go viral.
It's also not a "flaw" that people can make money on bad games by selling cards. To sell cards, there needs to be someone to want to buy them. If no one wanted to buy them, they wouldn't sell, which means no one would buy bundles to sell the cards, so the scam wouldn't work. Which implies that they offer value to the buyer.
Let me suggest an alternate theory: people want to buy the cards for bad games ironically because people like Sterling keep giving attention to the games and making them go viral.
Aces&Eights
Member
Someone who has more ambition than I should make DH and Jim Sterling trading cards. We can create an OT and put the proceeds for a legal defense in an escrow account. So, when we all receive subpoenas in the mail, we can hire LawyerGAF
Yeah, I bought them because of the cards, for some reason people actually bought them, so it was good business for me.
For example steam started using my local currency since May of the last year, before that I had like 10 cents, thanks to the conversion I actually got more money than what the dollar was valued here (wasn't that much really) but I benefited with the fact that the conversion rate for this cheap games was super favorable to me, thanks to that I managed to convert 20 cents in 2 dollars, which is a lot if you consider that I didn't put any money then, plus since my library got bigger I actually increased the rates of packs from this games.
It sucks that Digital Homicide were such colossal jerks with everyone.
What I really want to know is why people buys cards from this shovelware games
For example steam started using my local currency since May of the last year, before that I had like 10 cents, thanks to the conversion I actually got more money than what the dollar was valued here (wasn't that much really) but I benefited with the fact that the conversion rate for this cheap games was super favorable to me, thanks to that I managed to convert 20 cents in 2 dollars, which is a lot if you consider that I didn't put any money then, plus since my library got bigger I actually increased the rates of packs from this games.
It sucks that Digital Homicide were such colossal jerks with everyone.
What I really want to know is why people buys cards from this shovelware games
GoldandBlue
Member
Makes me think of Bmc Studio, they put completely shit non-games up on greenlight with promise of cards that will get you meme emots.
https://steamcommunity.com/id/BmcStudio/myworkshopfiles/?section=greenlight
https://steamcommunity.com/id/BmcStudio/myworkshopfiles/?section=greenlight
I am not following the math on this at all. I wish he had included infographics instead of just showing Turing Test gameplay.
I don't see how they were generating $60K a month on trading cards. Can someone break it down for those of us not intimately familiar with Steam's card system?
I don't see how they were generating $60K a month on trading cards. Can someone break it down for those of us not intimately familiar with Steam's card system?
From each card transaction, you have to include a 15% fee which is divided between valve and the devs (I think this are the percentages).
I want to know why not every games has trading cards, seems like a good enough extra income for devs, unless you have to pay another fee to Valve in order to put them
UncleSporky
Member
It's pretty simple, they get 10% of any transaction happening with anything going on related to their games on steam. So if a dude sells a card to another dude for 10 cents, they get 1 cent. This is happening constantly all over steam among crazy people trying to get complete sets of cards for achievements or whatever. If there are 10,000 10 cent transactions every day, they make $100 every day. Per game that's having those 10,000 10 cent transactions.
You should sue them.Those assholes make way more money than meHow depressing.
A lot of shit sells on steam due to the TC rush for steam level. It's a shame but Valve did this, and the people too.
unknownhero
Member
Those assholes make way more money than me
and they're gonna lose said money so don't be depressed.
packy34
Member
You use cards to get badges. Badges make your level go higher. Higher levels can have bigger friends lists. That's about the only tangible reason to increase level right now.
Yeah, doesn't Valve take a 30% cut then the rest goes to like the developers in addition to the the person selling it? I wouldn't be surprised.
Saganator said:
Well, when you hit 20-30 you get a HUGE (like 20-60%) increased drop in booster packs randomly being given to you. You can sell those unopened for like $.40 each.
Throw in that every 10 or so levels give your profile a new thing (friend list increase, profile box to use)... Not that hard to see people meta-gaming the Steam profile/levels through trading cards. Especially as buying games after a while doesn't jump start your levels.
I don't think the devs get anything, and Valve only get's like, 10-20%. If I put a 38 cent card up for sale, I'm personally getting 34 of those cents.
Have their games really sold enough to make that much passive income though? If so, why do so many users want trading cards associated with garbage games?
paperspace
Member
Some people just want to increase their Steam level.
And IIRC, DH cards were pretty cheap.
ForsakenLotus
Member
There are two questions we should ask:
One, should cards and similar items continue to be a part of Steam and most games? The market says yes. Granted, I'm not convinced it offers any real value as to be a commodity, but I'm a capitalist and the facts are the facts.
Two, should Valve continue to be so lax in their store policies that games developed in large part to cash in on the card market and other tradable/selleable can flood the market? Personally, I don't think so. There is no perfect amount of oversight that will allow any reasonably good or competent game on the store and any bad or broken game to be declined, but surely being more strict and pushing the 50/50 games towards green light is a much better alternative to what Steam is now.
Think about it, people can spend very little time and effort to make a "game" with the sole purpose of selling their games sometimes for pennies simply so they can garner as much money from continuous reselling of digital items that otherwise would be generic freebies. It's quite absurd, even for great games. The fact there is an emerging market is going to mean even more garbage filling up the storefront. It's an avalanche of shit games that Valve is allowing to happen.
One, should cards and similar items continue to be a part of Steam and most games? The market says yes. Granted, I'm not convinced it offers any real value as to be a commodity, but I'm a capitalist and the facts are the facts.
Two, should Valve continue to be so lax in their store policies that games developed in large part to cash in on the card market and other tradable/selleable can flood the market? Personally, I don't think so. There is no perfect amount of oversight that will allow any reasonably good or competent game on the store and any bad or broken game to be declined, but surely being more strict and pushing the 50/50 games towards green light is a much better alternative to what Steam is now.
Think about it, people can spend very little time and effort to make a "game" with the sole purpose of selling their games sometimes for pennies simply so they can garner as much money from continuous reselling of digital items that otherwise would be generic freebies. It's quite absurd, even for great games. The fact there is an emerging market is going to mean even more garbage filling up the storefront. It's an avalanche of shit games that Valve is allowing to happen.
No. 10% goes to the devs. 5% goes to Valve. The rest goes to the seller.
GifGafIsTheBestGaf
Member
wow, i really never got into that card thing from steam and honestly i dont really care but after watching the YT video i kind of respect those dudes
paperspace
Member
CharlesSurge
Member
The cards have value due to their base valuation as Steam Cards into the badge -> leveling system. Websites track how to make badges cheapest and I think it's fair to say this has more value than the extremely questionable value of having a badge from DH on one's steam profile. I can only remember the name of two of their games, but the badge cost of both are still at the bottom tier.
And of course as we know and as the video states, having that base value established can lead to developers like DH selling their games+harvestable cards to users and then the users themselves make a profit or break even by selling the cards.
It's two people. Said Lunatic and his brother.
holygeesus
Banned
He's married with kids.
One of the problems with this video is that the narrator is going by Steam Spy and assume that ever owner of a DigiHom game was someone who purchased it.
Digital Homicide was notorious for giving away most of their games using Steam groups and Gleam giveaways. They also gave away games in exchange for social media followers and to promote their other games on Greenlight to get them up on the store.
From what I know about Steam collectors, I'd say that a vast majority of the reported owners for any of their titles were freeloaders, and the only money they got was through the trading card system.
Digital Homicide was notorious for giving away most of their games using Steam groups and Gleam giveaways. They also gave away games in exchange for social media followers and to promote their other games on Greenlight to get them up on the store.
From what I know about Steam collectors, I'd say that a vast majority of the reported owners for any of their titles were freeloaders, and the only money they got was through the trading card system.
Rabid Dwarf 76
Member
Those assholes make way more money than me
Me too. We should get into the trading card business.
Vigilant Gambit
Member
Son of a...
Vigilant Gambit
Member
Most games have trading cards.
Trading cards are, well, digital trading cards with artwork on them. When you play a game, you gradually unlock, say, less than half of the cards available for that game. There are neat little buttons and things you can unlock for your Steam profile only by completing sets of cards. There are different card rarities (foil, etc.).
The way you get complete card sets once you hit your playtime unlock limit is by trading. The steam marketplace allows people to trade money for digital stuff.
So like achievements, but collectible cards, that people buy and sell for real money?
Blimey.
So cheap shitty assest flips can just be vehicles for trading card flipping?
EdwardTivrusky
Member
Yup and if you look through the discussion threads for games you can see comment after comment from people fucking desperate for cards. If you don't have cards and trophies your discussion thread & comments will be full of "I'll buy it when you add cards and chievo's" or "When are cards and trophies coming?"
Sadly, the addiction and desperation is real and just playing a game is not enough for some people. Hell, the steam level epeen chasing is more of a game than actual gaming is for some.
newtypepilot
Member
when collect all the cards in a set, you craft a badge and earn exp towards your steam profile. You'll be surprised at the amount of people obsessed with leveling up their steam account.
BladeoftheImmortal
Member
So you can sell you trading cards from steam? How and why?
EdwardTivrusky
Member
How: You click the card in your inventory and either turn it into gems or sell it on the marketplace.
Why: To get rid of dupes or to make your Steam Level higher.
Some people like to fill virtual progress bars. *shrug*
FantasticMrSnake
Member
You never used steam don't you?
You just have to left the game open, that would give you 3 -6 cards depending on the game, and you sell them on the steam market (you got steam wallet in return).
I guess for that amount that you sell, Valve gets some real money out of it, as well the developer.
Sounds like it could get horribly addictive.
I don't mind all this kind of thing, it just gets a bit muddy when money is involved, and developers can game the system by just churning out crap and relying on the trading cards to make their products sale worthy, that takes the pee a little bit.
Exactly what I wrote in the other thread.
Camp Freddie
Member
Steam Cards and Steam Gems are the point at which I became Seymour Skinner/Armand Tamsarian.
"Am I so out of touch? No, it's the children who are wrong"
Just, why?
"Am I so out of touch? No, it's the children who are wrong"
Just, why?
It goes beyond that. Cards will almost always sell, so during steam sales there are dozens, probably hundreds of games that go for cents and their cards are actually more valuable than what you would pay for the game itself.
I imagine it's a big hassle to do it, but there are people who buy all these games for next to nothing, idle them to get all the cards, then sell them for a tiny profit. They can turn $10 in shitty games into $30 in their steam wallets with a lot of dedication (it's also probably people that don't have to pay for power themselves and with too much time on their hands).