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Thread: Steam Trading Card Economics - What happens next

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    Steam Trading Card Economics - What happens next

    So I've been pondering what is likely to occur with the Steam trading cards, recently launced.

    At present they are being given away like sweets. The price has therefore plummeted, currently most seem to go for less than 10p. But what are they likely to do in the short and medium term, when the sale is over and further down the line. Will the price continue to be next to nothing, or will they go up significantly?

    Some other of my random thoughts that may affect this:
    - The reward for collecting an entire "set" would need to be reasonably significant for the "value" of cards to be worth anything much
    - The number given away would need to be small, or kept restricted in conjunction for the price to go up.
    - If they're given away as now, and the reward for collecting a "set" is neglible or "status" only, then price is likely to stay low.
    - I'd have thought they were worth little, as point above, but then why do Steam take a "cut"? Especially when any money made can't be withdrawn, so it's not like a real "cut".

    For me the presence of a "cut" for Steam suggests some deeper idea than simply persuading people to pay for cards.

    Does anyone else have any thoughts or ideas?

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    Mostly Me Lucio's Avatar
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    Re: Steam Trading Card Economics - What happens next

    I'm furious that they introduced these as a mandatory option. I don't want the cards associated with my account, I don't want the constant spam of notifications when I get "awarded" a card either.

    With regards to the OP, I doubt the economics are anywhere near straight forward, as the real benefit will be an increase in both games purchased and played, so people spend more time using Steam as a brand. Taking a cut now is likely in preparation for the stage when the credit can be used to buy games, not for taking money out.

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    Banhammer in peace PeterB kalniel's Avatar
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    Re: Steam Trading Card Economics - What happens next

    Quote Originally Posted by phil4 View Post
    So I've been pondering what is likely to occur with the Steam trading cards, recently launced.

    At present they are being given away like sweets. The price has therefore plummeted, currently most seem to go for less than 10p. But what are they likely to do in the short and medium term, when the sale is over and further down the line. Will the price continue to be next to nothing, or will they go up significantly?
    Supply and demand. If rate of new card drops continues to be so much higher than the rate they are consumed to create badges (and consider the people who have made a badge might not want to make the same badge again, therefore could be taken out of the demand pool) then I can't see the prices doing much than going down unless something changes.

    - I'd have thought they were worth little, as point above, but then why do Steam take a "cut"? Especially when any money made can't be withdrawn, so it's not like a real "cut".

    For me the presence of a "cut" for Steam suggests some deeper idea than simply persuading people to pay for cards.
    Well it is a real cut for Steam - they are taking a cut of the discount you can apply to future games purchases. While it's a blatant money grab, it's also entirely optional on the part of the player. Companies have made money from trading cards long before this. As for deeper idea.. no, profit isn't a very deep idea

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    Re: Steam Trading Card Economics - What happens next

    The discount codes that get given are a bit 'Meh' and they can be had for cheaper if you just wait for a midweek madness or weekend deal. To be honest I agree with Lucio (with the concept, not the dislike... the cards are like crack to me) that it is more pushing people to purchase directly from steam during this summer sale (no cards earnt by adding 'retail games') and people are buying games they normally wouldn't due to the cards they offer.

    They earn a few pence during the community trading which will add up to a pretty penny without much input from themselves, the cards are made by the community so they don't have to put effort into that, its all win from them.

    Screw it anything that can make me play 4 hours of McPixel must be good.

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    Senior Member Pob255's Avatar
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    Re: Steam Trading Card Economics - What happens next

    That's the other interesting thing about these is that they can manipulate the games played through the offer of the cards.
    lets say after the sale they do a weekend special where you get cards for playing game X, then you'll probably get a spike in the number of people playing X and probably a sales spike on X too.

    I'm with Lucio here, although furious is a bit too strong a word, annoyed would be better for me, however I do fully understand why and I admit it's a genius move by steam.
    It'll also encourage people to bind game not bought through steam onto their steam account to get the cards.

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    Banhammer in peace PeterB kalniel's Avatar
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    Re: Steam Trading Card Economics - What happens next

    Quote Originally Posted by Pob255 View Post
    That's the other interesting thing about these is that they can manipulate the games played through the offer of the cards.
    lets say after the sale they do a weekend special where you get cards for playing game X, then you'll probably get a spike in the number of people playing X and probably a sales spike on X too.
    Or at least a spike of people launching the game then ignoring it

    It'll also encourage people to bind game not bought through steam onto their steam account to get the cards.
    That doesn't work AFAIK, it's only steam versions that have cards (or do you mean something else?) EG. I have the GOG version of The Witcher 2 - I can add it to the steam library and launch it via steam but as it's not the native steam version I don't get cards for it.

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    Senior Member Spreadie's Avatar
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    Re: Steam Trading Card Economics - What happens next

    To my knowledge, I've never been given a discount code by Steam/Valve.

    I have a bunch of cards though - I'm just sticking them up for sale at 10 or 12p each - It's still a quid off my next steam purchase I suppose.
    Quote Originally Posted by kalniel View Post
    That doesn't work AFAIK, it's only steam versions that have cards (or do you mean something else?) EG. I have the GOG version of The Witcher 2 - I can add it to the steam library and launch it via steam but as it's not the native steam version I don't get cards for it.
    I got one card from The WItcher 2 that was valued at £3 for some reason. I stuck that up for sale, but I don't think anyone's interested. I don't even know how you view your unsold cards or ammend their prices.

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