Valve Squashes Game Trade-In Rumor
PrintValve kept it short and to the point when addressing a rumor that Steam is getting ready to dabble in used game trade-ins. We'll get to Valve's succinct statement in just a minute, but let's first take a look at the rumor that's been going around.
"Steam gives gamers enough other stuff so that they don't resent the fact they can't trade in their games," Michael Pacter, an analyst with Wedbush Morgan, explained in a recent interview with NowGamer. "And you know, name all the Steam games that you've purchased that you've traded back in to somebody else for credit. Steam's about to let you do that supposedly, you know like trade and exchange, but they're going to take a fee from it."
Game publishers haven't exactly kept it a secret that they vehemently oppose the used game business, and we have a hard time envisioning Valve going this route. So does Valve, as it turns out.
"Untrue. We've never met with Mr. Pachter," Valve's Doug Lombardi told BluesNews.
Doesn't get much more clear than that.
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Jelson
October 17, 2010 at 2:38pm
On a completely unrelated note, here the link to a story you guys a Maxpc might like to hear, its all about CAPTCHA!. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=130594039&sc=nl&cc=nh-20101017
HaitianSensation
October 15, 2010 at 7:06pm
My friend and I were discussing this awhile back and he came upon the idea even if they divy up the money between steam, the publisher and developer and issue us a credit, it'd be a nice idea. Like most people, I have games sitting on my self that I have either beaten or just gave up on and while the only way to recoup those are to sell them on ebay or something. PC gamers don't have the option to rent games like console gamers can with Gamefly. There are games that I just want to play and beat and then move on to the next one. I wish Valve would somehow make a system of doing that. Even Onlive is doing DayPasses. Spend $15 or so for 3-5 days of play. I don't know, make it beneficial to everyone, if that is even possible.
Ghok
October 15, 2010 at 9:33am
Considering very few games are more than just a disc (i miss the days of extras and manuals), there's really no reason for me to buy games anywhere but Steam, because I hate disc changing anyway. Honestly, the service Steam provides is better... I wish it did other useful things like backing up saved games. I honestly don't like most forms of digital distribution, but since the alternative is a disc with crappy DRM on, it's a bit of a no brainer.
I'd give up Steam for a real physical product again, but they've got to make them better (and without jacking up the price).
I've never cared about my right to sell games, because I've never done it before. It's a disadvantage, but the benefits outweigh it.
Atomike
October 15, 2010 at 6:49am
Despite what Valve wants, you are perfectly within your legal rights to trade or re-sell games that you've bought (including "licenses"). Valve currently gives you no way to exercise your legal rights, which means that I will support any third party which will let me re-sell my Valve games - even if Valve hates this idea, or considers it illegal. I love Steam sales, but I have to wonder if Valve isn't actually destroying PC Gaming more than any other single entity right now. Gamers are selling their rights away for the convenience of Digital Distribution. Seems really really shady.
Havok
October 15, 2010 at 7:58am
There are no rights on the internet, even with digital distribution. Once you click 'Yes' on any EULA, you are agreeing to obey their laws, even if it states you have to wear a chicken suit on the street handing out pamphlets saying, "BIG NEWS! I clucked up big trying to make a fake interview with Valve!"
Atomike
October 15, 2010 at 11:16am
I'm sorry but you don't know what in the world you're talking about. You couldn't be more wrong. EULAs are not real law - and cannot circumvent existing real, actual law.
ShadowDragoonFTW
October 18, 2010 at 8:21am
EULA -- the End User License Agreement -- is a "contract" you "sign" when you accept it, agreeing to hold to the terms of teh EULA to a T. It's a perfectly legal binding contract, like any other. So, yes, if the EULA does say that you have to go out on the street in a chicken costume, and you refuse to, then you've broken your contractual arrangement, and can be sued. No matter how ridiculous the terms, if you enter a legally binding agreement, then break the terms, you break the law. Because, after all, you were the one that agreed to the terms, no?
That's just how it is.
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