Valve Discusses Charging Customers Based on Popularity

[Mr Companion]

This is a bit ridiculous seeing as people could abuse the system with everyone being nice thus everyone getting free games? XD

That is probably their intention, not a problem.
On the other hand people could boycott players as an act of trolling which is a problem.

Edit: Not free but cheaper I mean. I guess every now and then they throw in free games for good measure.

 

[Valdus]

It sounds like a nice idea but I think it would be too easy to abuse. It's easy for grievers to simply have their friends rate them high.

 

[Matthew Lynch]

But what about console-tards like myself?

In seriousness, This is a industry changing idea and could work brilliantly. I would imagine some company would take this idea and fuck up. No prizes for guessing

I agree...EA would love to mess this up...not to mention, how many people use steam and play multiplayer? I have a steam account...but only cause my copy of Supreme Commander 2 required a active Steam account...what would happen to people like me? Would I be forced to pay for being 'unpopular' cause I do not even play multiplayer?

 

[Spud of Doom]

I think this is also a "broken" idea. Discounts for contributors, outstanding community members, bug reporters and popular modders? Yay. Price increases based on community feedback? Heck no. People downvote for the silliest reasons. What if you were new to the game and couldn't pull your weight in the team? Bam, negative feedback. Have a bad day with heavy/twitch weapons and accidentally get some teamkills? Next Valve game will cost twice as much for you.

 

[For.I.Am.Mad]

That sounds like a horrible idea. It's one step away from fascism.

 

[Pigeon_Grenade]

i dont like the idea behind this, because i can see Someone with Anti social behavior or a dislike for everyone spending the a large volume of time logging in to games and giving EVERYONE the Bad Review so that it messes with there naughty or nice list

 

[Griffolion]

The idea is good in theory, it will make griefers, hackers, spammers and general angry 12 year olds think twice before being idiots. But these same people could flag honest players as bad people simply for killing them or something.

So the system needs to be robust to differentiate between these things.

 

[Radoh]

Of all avenues I can think of, it all leads back to one eventuality. Hipster Gaming.

 

[Grufflenark]

What if a person is just having fun and actually is good, then people ragequit?
Does that mean the good person will get punished?

 

[rockyoumonkeys]

This idea is a disaster, and I can't even believe he suggested this seriously.

 

[FarleShadow]

Flagging Bonanza!

Its a GREAT idea! All its gunna take is a core group of acouple hundred trolls to downvote as many players as possible! Imagine the groaning anger as millions of players log on to find their new game now costs 100 bucks instead of 10!

Valve: Trolling Excellence!

 

[CommanderKirov]

If I understand it right the "Terribad" players will just have to pay extra so they can communicate with people in the game. Thus limiting their ability to be outright rude and annoying to everyone else...

Although feel free to correct me here if I'm wrong

 

[rembrandtqeinstein]

And this is exactly why central servers that track everything you do SUCK.

The reality is that this system will degenerate into "anyone who does anything to annoy the mods will be penalized to the full extent of their power". This will be justified under incredibly broad "you agree to do nothing offensive" terms of use clause. And complaining, pointing out flaws, asking questions, and inconveniencing the mods in any way will also be punished. Just like every other moderated system in the history of the internet.

There is no need for this kind of thing either, a better system would be a web of trust style system where you can make friends and your friend's ignore lists are weighted to add to your own.

Instead of a central authority decreeing certain people to be undesirables, it is better to give people tools to help them make that decision for themselves.

 

[Random Argument Man]

..This sounds like a "George Lucas" idea. (Have an idea and no one is there to slap him to say that's a terrible idea)

Note* Or we could call them one-side ideas. We ignore every possible consequences.

 

[DTWolfwood]

I love you valve, but this is a step to far.

You account for the top 2% of the player base and the Bottom 10%, what about everyone in the middle?

Its great the you give those that made hats money for their work, as they should, but what about the hundreds of other submissions that were rejected? or the thousands that were just trying to play you?

Where do one draw the line as to who is worthy and who isn't?

Do you give discounts to return costumers of other games? or just play favorites to those that play YOUR games?

Also never a good idea to make everyone else feel inferior when you willingly tout a elitist class.

right now i downright feel offended that some1 gets a discount on something as arbitrary as how well liked he is in a server. Nothing makes me more irritated when i get into a server than seeing those chummy to each other making everyone else feel completely excluded in their little club.

yes go ahead and foster the "Popular girls and boys" club the rest of us average folk hated from school.

 

[Weslebear]

Worst idea I have heard in a long time.

All that will happen is anyone who is being punished for being a twat will report everyone else for everything until everyone has to pay more, no way can they keep this all monitored without some kind of community rep system which is more representative of the dicks you play with than the person themselves.

Not going to work and if they implement this I am out, so many people will be driven away from Steam it will ruin them.

Also, this means it's now impossible to vent when you need it. Absolutely no one will stay calm and unoffensive for 100% of their gaming career, everyone will be punished at some point.

On top of this, what about people who only play singleplayer, do they instantly get free games since they can't offend anyone?

Valve you absolute asshats, the system we have now is not broken, don't try to fix it with your cock handed shit.

 

[graverobber2]

I wouldn't mind a discount for 'nice' people (i.e. people who actively contribute to make steam a nicer place; like creating mods for everyone to play etc,...), but punishing players by raising the price for them will only cause them to buy there game elsewhere

to have less people buy stuff and give a discount to others doesn't seem like a brilliant business model

 

[Plurralbles]

It makes sense. Kinda' like retail's valued customer systems and the way insurance companies decide how much to charge you- but different and for videogames.

 

[Folio]

Sounds like some kind of 'game police'. It sounds reasonable, but unfair in a way. I can't charge extra if my customer is a dickwad. I could charge for the things he broke before paying.

How can someone judge every single person on the internet if he/she acts like a decent person? What if obsenities are allowed on a server?