Idea for Steam Points and further growth of Valve

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TheBowtiedBandit 9 Dec @ 2:36pm

myself and other Steam members have a couple ideas that would allow Valve to take advantage of current gaps/failing markets.

In short, it boils down to 2 ideas
1) allowing steam points to be converted into steam wallet balance (turning the current system into a cash back system of sorts)
2) building a streaming platform similar in feel (or UI) to current platforms.

Steam already has connections with many game publishers, and several games available on steam, have television adaptations that i imagine would fit right in with current licensing agreements, or would require minimal restructuring of.

by allowing the steam points to be transferred into steam wallet balance, this cash back system would end up driving sales of both ends, the streaming services, AND the game services.

Additionally, with the streaming service opening steam to newer markets (people that watch movies and shows but dont play much in the way of games) steam would be increasing exposure of both markets to the other, allowing for greater sales turnover. It would also have the added benefit of driving platform engagement through the forums, and steams current rating system.

with current consoles already having various streaming services' apps, this falls right in line with current technology and software capabilities.

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Showing 1-13 of 13 comments

pckirk 9 Dec @ 2:56pm

no and no

SilentBugler 9 Dec @ 2:57pm

A lot of folks want to Convert Steam Points to something more valuable for them, and that's understandable, but Valve already has a system for "impromptu discounts" -- the community items, gems and the Market. Seems they deliberately created the Steam Points system as an alternative to the market for cosmetics, I only recently found out that Points even have their own prepaid Wallet Card equivalent being sold in stores! So If they ever let you convert points it's going to be at an abysmal rate.

Second suggestion is cool and all, but it's difficult to get people off of Twitch as it is, Microsoft found that out the hard way once, just as Amazon and Google found out that it's very difficult to convert their thriving Streaming/Video platforms into competitors for Valve.
Valve likes to be cost-efficient and opportunistic, and there's no good cost-efficient profit opportuinities in the streaming space right now.

Start_Running 9 Dec @ 3:14pm

Originally posted by TheBowtiedBandit:
myself and other Steam members have a couple ideas that would allow Valve to take advantage of current gaps/failing markets.

In short, it boils down to 2 ideas
1) allowing steam points to be converted into steam wallet balance (turning the current system into a cash back system of sorts)
2) building a streaming platform similar in feel (or UI) to current platforms.

So basically you want Valve tyo give you free money.

nullable 9 Dec @ 3:26pm

Originally posted by TheBowtiedBandit:

Steam already has connections with many game publishers, and several games available on steam, have television adaptations that i imagine would fit right in with current licensing agreements, or would require minimal restructuring of.

What licensing agreements are you referring to.

Also just saying something is trivial doesn't make it so.

Originally posted by TheBowtiedBandit:
by allowing the steam points to be transferred into steam wallet balance, this cash back system would end up driving sales of both ends, the streaming services, AND the game services.

Valve didn't forget to make Steam Points worth something, they chose not to. What's changed? You got a pile of points you imagine would be great if Valve gave you money for them? Why? Vague allusions how that will make people spend more money?

Originally posted by TheBowtiedBandit:
Additionally, with the streaming service opening steam to newer markets (people that watch movies and shows but dont play much in the way of games) steam would be increasing exposure of both markets to the other, allowing for greater sales turnover. It would also have the added benefit of driving platform engagement through the forums, and steams current rating system.

And think of what McDonald's could do if they sold tacos, pizza, fried rice and sushi!

Maybe just glomming on stuff and calling it growth, you might consider the costs and risks.

Like what happened when Steam tried to dip into selling books, software and movies and TV. Great idea! It was worth a look. But reality is most people have established stores and sites they use. And Steam doing something may not cause everyone to switch or attract non-gamers.

Your idea screams happy path, field of dreams, build it and they will come malarkey.

Originally posted by TheBowtiedBandit:
with current consoles already having various streaming services' apps, this falls right in line with current technology and software capabilities.

Consoles are a walled garden, PC's are not. And for all the similarities you can identify between Steam and consoles, the differences matter too.

Sony, MS, Nintendo control their consoles. Valve dors not control PC, that means significant differences.

Last edited by nullable; 9 Dec @ 3:26pm

Deadoon 9 Dec @ 3:32pm

So basically your ideas are to make jester farming and trolling profitable, and make steam broadcast more like a bootleg twitch.

Ettanin 9 Dec @ 3:50pm

Originally posted by TheBowtiedBandit:
In short, it boils down to 2 ideas
1) allowing steam points to be converted into steam wallet balance (turning the current system into a cash back system of sorts)
2) building a streaming platform similar in feel (or UI) to current platforms.

1)
Steam points are intended to reward loyalty by buying directly from Steam. Giving them monetary or kickback value changes them into a loss leader for Valve for which they would have to compensate the publishers out of their own pocket.

Valve does not need a loss leader to attract more customers. They already are on top.

If you want to have games cheaper, wait for sales.

2)
Valve tried to sell movies on Steam but stopped that project because the interest on the producer side wasn't there.

Sciencemile 9 Dec @ 4:07pm

Originally posted by Ettanin:
2)
Valve tried to sell movies on Steam but stopped that project because the interest on the producer side wasn't there.

Such a shame too since they wouldn’t be likely to try it again even though I think the environment has made the idea a better one now.

nullable 9 Dec @ 4:35pm

Originally posted by Sciencemile:
Originally posted by Ettanin:
2)
Valve tried to sell movies on Steam but stopped that project because the interest on the producer side wasn't there.

Such a shame too since they wouldn’t be likely to try it again even though I think the environment has made the idea a better one now.

Forever is a long time, and who knows about tomorrow. Just keep in mind that your intuition is mostly based on your imagination of what tens of millions of users will do. Valve might have a bit more insight, experience and data to make those decisions.

The other thing to consider is it's easy to have these sorts of ideas because you don't have any skin in the game. After all you don't think your idea is so good to start your own streaming service. Naw, Valve should, they can afford it. So what you really think is Valve should spend a hundred million dollars on your intuition. Kind of a big ask...

JPMcMillen 9 Dec @ 4:59pm

Originally posted by Ettanin:
Valve tried to sell movies on Steam but stopped that project because the interest on the producer side wasn't there.

It certainly didn't help that you could only watch those movies on your PC and not stream them to other devices or download them to your phone or tablet, even with the Steam app installed on it.

Now I do agree that the OP's two suggestions aren't likely to happen, Valve should really come up with something else Steam Points could be spent on. For example, items for CS2, TF2, and Dota2. Sure, you can't sell or trade them, but it would at least be some other outlet for points. Maybe allow a 3rd or 4th showcase. And with more things users could do with their points, they might be less likely to waste them, trying to troll people with a certain award.

Yzal 9 Dec @ 5:15pm

And the tin can rattles yet again...

#10

TheBowtiedBandit 8 hours ago

Originally posted by Sciencemile:
Originally posted by Ettanin:
2)
Valve tried to sell movies on Steam but stopped that project because the interest on the producer side wasn't there.

Such a shame too since they wouldn’t be likely to try it again even though I think the environment has made the idea a better one now.

I was unaware of this bit, guess that shows how unsuccessful it was 😆

#11

TheBowtiedBandit 8 hours ago

The other thing to consider is it's easy to have these sorts of ideas because you don't have any skin in the game. After all you don't think your idea is so good to start your own streaming service. Naw, Valve should, they can afford it. So what you really think is Valve should spend a hundred million dollars on your intuition. Kind of a big ask...

My idea was based on the fact that steam already has the audience base, but as I am learning they already tried dipping into other media, it's likely not a good business decision after all

Last edited by TheBowtiedBandit; 8 hours ago

#12

cSg|mc-Hotsauce 8 hours ago

Valve tried coupons a couple times with the Token system for a $5 coupon off a $30 purchase. Each time people exploited the crap out of it and Valve never brought it back when they switched to the points system. Tokens also expired and points don't.

If Valve wants to try this again, they'll definitely have plenty of restrictions in place and will cost hundreds of thousands of points for a coupon and not the silly low conversion rate. This on top of the many ways to farm points easily and cheaply (I can actually make money and get free points) would probably make it magnitudes more points per dollar.

Valve covered the cost of the coupons for the purchases. Devs still got paid real $ by Valve. I don't know why people still think Valve didn't cover the cost of the coupons.