ApexMods Posted May 21, 2011 Share Posted May 21, 2011 Valve Discusses Charging Customers Based on Popularity One of Gabe Newell's theoretical Steam payment methods would charge more for players that are awful people. There are a few standard payment models for videogames today that include retail, monthly fees, and microtransactions. Valve boss Gabe Newell recently called these models "broken," revealing that the company is looking into new ways of charging customers based on the customers themselves. In a lengthy interview with Develop, Newell said: "The industry has this broken model, which is one price for everyone. That's actually a bug, and it's something that we want to solve through our philosophy of how we create entertainment products." Rather than pricing a product based purely on what that product is worth, Newell talks about pricing a product based on what the customer is worth as well. "Some people, when they join a server, a ton of people will run with them," Newell continued. "Other people, when they join a server, will cause others to leave." "So, in practice, a really likable person in our community should get DotA 2 for free, because of past behavior in Team Fortress 2," Newell added. "Now, a real jerk that annoys everyone, they can still play, but a game is full price and they have to pay an extra hundred dollars if they want voice." Newell also went over how Valve is already charging high-value customers "negative" amounts, such as those that were paid royalties for creating Team Fortress 2 items. "Their cost for Team Fortress 2 is negative $20,000 per week," he said. "You're never going to see that in a retail store ... It's people who make hats get paid. People who are really popular play for less, or free." Could this be a method that actually reduces the number of people whose internet anonymity causes them to spout an endless number of obscenities and racially motivated comments just because they were gunned down by a sniper? It seems like it might. Not that internet jerks would disappear overnight, but money could be a strong motivator to make someone pat a fellow player on the back instead of tea-bagging him. Source: Develop Those guys over at Valve really think outside the box from time to time. Kudos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tinker Posted May 21, 2011 Share Posted May 21, 2011 This will result in people creating a new steam account with each game they buy, not good. How are the SP people being accounted for? I know I cannot remember the last time I ever played any kind of PvP game. Not sure this is such a good thing tbh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pave Low Posted May 21, 2011 Share Posted May 21, 2011 hmmm, this is one of those grand lofty ideas that sounds all fair and noble on paper..... But ultimately would be a nightmare to try to implement and would just end up being unfair and extremely divisive Like DRM that only ends up penalising legal purchasing players and If it's so simple and clear cut to identify those players that are jerks, why don't they just make existing games that stop working for them after so many "infractions/complaints" so they have to buy a new game.... oh that's right Better to stick to one reasonable price for everyone with option to shop around for discounts (and ban keys for serious infractions - as effective as key banning currently works) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ApexMods Posted May 21, 2011 Author Share Posted May 21, 2011 Gabe should at least be commended for his unconventional thinking, but I also have my doubts on how to implement a scheme like that. At least it shows a developer's determination to push for quality rather than quantity even in its customers, which is a very rare feat in todays game dev circles *cough*Ubisoft*cough*. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zeealex Posted May 21, 2011 Share Posted May 21, 2011 (edited) i think the popularity thing is a great idea. but it is unfair on the new customer, who isn't popular. having to pay a bigger price for a game, because you are new it just isn't right. @apex (post below) how embarrassing thanks for telling, me. edited it now. still a great concept but in practice,it could be all hell breaking loosed Edited May 21, 2011 by Zeealex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ApexMods Posted May 21, 2011 Author Share Posted May 21, 2011 Alex, you should read that article again. Valve is actually considering pricing games according to the customer's popularity, not the game's. This would mean that if you play nice online you pay less, if you act like a spoiled brat you pay more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WytchDokta Posted May 22, 2011 Share Posted May 22, 2011 Bug free games? Pfft. Throw as much money in game development and develop for as many years as possible, you still won't get a bug free game. I say this because nobody is perfect; we are all human. Things do get overlooked during development. Also, bear in mind here the inquisitive nature of gamers - They can potentially break the game through playing the game they way it's not meant to be played (in the developers eyes). For example, block off certain places in maps so the player can't get there, yet add grenade-jumping in game. You follow? Players are just going to grenade-jump over that barricade. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firefly2442 Posted May 24, 2011 Share Posted May 24, 2011 It's an interesting idea but I think it would drive people crazy. Essentially, it would try to encourage team play. However, wouldn't it be price discrimination which is illegal? (IANAL) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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