Pay It Forward: Steam Edition

[Kotaro]

EDIT AGAIN: I've decided that since it will likely be easier to spread the cause if there's a full website, I am delaying the event until sometime in May or June (TBA), while I work on getting a full site made. For now, here's a link to where it will be located: http://payitforwardsteamedition.tumblr.com/

EDIT: After getting some feedback here and elsewhere, I've decided to make participation easier on other people. I'm changing it so that you only need to buy a game for one other person, rather than three. Easier to afford, and it's more even. I originally decided on three, so that it would spread geometrically in each step, but with finances, it's not quite even. So, I'm changing it to one.

On the fifteenth of April, in the year 2012, I shall find a randomly-determined gamer on Steam, and purchase for them one game that is present on their Steam wishlist. Attached to the gift, I shall give this message (or a shortened version of it, depending on character limits):

You have been randomly selected to receive this game as part of "Pay It Forward: Steam Edition." You may accept or decline it, but there is one condition that you will be asked to meet should you accept:
You must also randomly select another member of Steam whom you have never met, and purchase for them one game from their wishlist, and copy-and-paste this message for them as well.
In this manner, we can spread joy--the joy of games--to many people.
"Share the Game, Maintain the Chain."

I invite anyone and everyone to do the same, to join me in this endeavor. Perhaps, through random acts of kindness, we can make this world just a little bit brighter.

 

[RanD00M]

I like this idea and would participate if given the opportunity, I am not someone who would start such a chain.

 

[Kotaro]

I changed the conditions to make it easier.

 

[Trivun]

Well, that sounds pretty damn decent of you, and anyone who accepts and continues it also deserves credit . I'm not so sure I'd start something like this, but if picked if the chain ever reached me I probably would take part. Hell, I can afford to now I'm actually earning money, and one good turn deserves another, right? Even if that turn is indeed to a completelydifferent person...

One thing, though - surely it revolves around an honour system of sorts? I mean, if invited to join in I personally would continue the chain properly, and so would many others I can think of, but surely there will be a sizeable amount of people who accept the gift then never bother to buy games for anyone else, thus breaking the agreement?

 

[Kotaro]

Well, that sounds pretty damn decent of you, and anyone who accepts and continues it also deserves credit . I'm not so sure I'd start something like this, but if picked if the chain ever reached me I probably would take part. Hell, I can afford to now I'm actually earning money, and one good turn deserves another, right? Even if that turn is indeed to a completelydifferent person...

One thing, though - surely it revolves around an honour system of sorts? I mean, if invited to join in I personally would continue the chain properly, and so would many others I can think of, but surely there will be a sizeable amount of people who accept the gift then never bother to buy games for anyone else, thus breaking the agreement?

This does depend on people being honest and continuing it, but that's the whole point, really. The idea is to give people a chance to receive an act of kindness and then have the ability to turn around and do the same for someone else. If they decide not to, then that's a problem, but ultimately their choice. And I like to think that everyone has the capacity for generosity.

 

[ms_sunlight]

I bet Valve will bloody love this idea, if nothing else. It means a bunch of people will give them more money!

I wish you could sign up for something where someone would buy you the game they think you should try playing. I wouldn't mind paying a few pounds to evangelise one of my favourite classics, and in turn get something unexpected to play. (Someone would get Loom. That's all I'm saying.)

 

[Kotaro]

I bet Valve will bloody love this idea, if nothing else. It means a bunch of people will give them more money!

I wish you could sign up for something where someone would buy you the game they think you should try playing. I wouldn't mind paying a few pounds to evangelise one of my favourite classics, and in turn get something unexpected to play. (Someone would get Loom. That's all I'm saying.)

Maybe next time. I'm hoping to make this an annual thing, if enough people participate. I also posted threads about this on Reddit and the Steam forums, and if you like this idea, spread the word! The more people participating the better.

 

[Trivun]

Well, that sounds pretty damn decent of you, and anyone who accepts and continues it also deserves credit . I'm not so sure I'd start something like this, but if picked if the chain ever reached me I probably would take part. Hell, I can afford to now I'm actually earning money, and one good turn deserves another, right? Even if that turn is indeed to a completelydifferent person...

One thing, though - surely it revolves around an honour system of sorts? I mean, if invited to join in I personally would continue the chain properly, and so would many others I can think of, but surely there will be a sizeable amount of people who accept the gift then never bother to buy games for anyone else, thus breaking the agreement?

This does depend on people being honest and continuing it, but that's the whole point, really. The idea is to give people a chance to receive an act of kindness and then have the ability to turn around and do the same for someone else. If they decide not to, then that's a problem, but ultimately their choice. And I like to think that everyone has the capacity for generosity.

Ah, fair enough I guess, just tought it might be of concern. I'd like to hope that people are generous enough to do so, though admittedly I am normally a massive cynic

 

[Kotaro]

and whats going to happen when you get a game to someone who can't afford to buy some random person a game?

Its a nice thing to do but, times are kinda tough. I know I can't afford anything and my life has been crashing since last monday.

If you can't afford to continue the chain, then you don't need to accept the game. When you receive a gift on Steam, you have the option of declining it.

 

[MajorTomServo]

Put this on Reddit, they love this kind of thing. You'll get a ton of others to do it.

 

[Kotaro]

Put this on Reddit, they love this kind of thing. You'll get a ton of others to do it.

I did. One person replied.

 

[MajorTomServo]

Put this on Reddit, they love this kind of thing. You'll get a ton of others to do it.

I did. One person replied.

Well that's disappointing. Usually they're all about giving stuff away on steam.

 

[Kotaro]

Put this on Reddit, they love this kind of thing. You'll get a ton of others to do it.

I did. One person replied.

Well that's disappointing. Usually they're all about giving stuff away on steam.

Well, Kathleen (of LRR) actually responded to my incessant Tweeting all over the place. She mentioned that having a website would help me rally people more easily, and would be better in the long run (since I hope to make this an annual thing). So I'm delaying the event until May or June, while I work on creating a site for this.