240°

Why Steam Trading Cards Should Embarrass Microsoft and Sony

IGN: "Steam’s recently introduced trading card system might just be the most brilliant consumer loyalty program ever devised within the video game industry."

dedicatedtogamers3923d ago

TBH, gaming needs to move AWAY from meta-achievements, not deeper into it. Cards are fun, but they're cancer in multiplayer games. Anyone think that hats actually improved Team Fortress 2? Well, cards are hats....in every game that supports them.

Theo11303923d ago

Un, they just drop on randomly and or If you've played a certain amount of time, so they're not tied to specific achievements like some xbox/ps3 games.

darx3923d ago

I don't think he read the article.

theEx1Le3923d ago

I really dont think you understand how the system works.

yeahokchief3923d ago (Edited 3923d ago )

Article kinda neglects how you get a ton of exclusive free themes and icons via PS Plus.

I wouldn't buy anything for trading cards or any digital nonsense if I get back into pc gaming. Just loads of DotA2.

aliengmr3923d ago

Enticing gamers to play games, its shameful.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 3923d ago
mayberry3923d ago

TBH, PS+ gives out way more free games and content than what this article is stating that steam cards gives out, and I have, I think at least 3 web sites stored in my favorites on my ps3 web browser that have free themes including
Animated themes!

badz1493923d ago

...and you have to pay for Steam games too! what's your point again?

on PS+, they decide what FREE games and discounted items you get on offer but on Steam, they decide discounted items you get on offer. the FREE games part is what makes the PS+ well worth it as Sony has been proven that those free games aren't shit either!

PeaSFor3923d ago (Edited 3923d ago )

the other day i saw that sleeping dogs, saints row3, just cause2, DeusEx, XCOM..etc was discounted on steam...... but that just too bad because thx to PS+ i already cleared them.

papashango3923d ago (Edited 3923d ago )

theres more free to play content on steam then you'll ever get on ps+

lets not even get into the workshop if you don't want ps+ to look even worse.

Corpser3923d ago

@peasfor

I rather pay $5 each for much prettier versions of these games on Steam than getting the barebones ps3 versions for "free"

stragomccloud3923d ago

@peasSFor
It should be noted that you don't own any of the PS+ "free" games. Once you stop paying for PS+, you can't play the games anymore. You are basically renting them for a short period of time. So you really can't compare it. After all, steam games are ludicrously cheap at times. You can buy more games permanently for probably the same price or cheaper than the "free" games on PS+.

Steam is just so much more convenient, and let's play the games with a console controller, and depending on your specs, you can play the games at settings that can make the games look leagues better.

yeahokchief3923d ago

PS Plus > Steam

PS+ sales were cheaper than Steam sales this year for a lot of games and thats not even including the 1,000s of dollars of free ones.

Corpser3923d ago

@yeahokchief

Not even close, let me give you a few prices from this past summer sale

Dishonored $10
Borderlands 2 season pass $10
Tomb Raider $12.49
Tomb Raider Anni/Legend $0.80
Far Cry 3 Blood Dragon $6.74

Your turn, name some (any?) games on ps+ sales that are better than steam sale prices

Not to mention you get the best looking version of these games on pc

Ragthorn3923d ago

@Corpser
Yea tell him lol, Steam sales are some of the best deals you can get around, I would buy from other places like gog,greenmangaming, and direct2drive, but I just want all my games in one place, and bought from the same place. Btw I got those games you said there as well lol!

PeaSFor3923d ago

@stragomccloud
im on steam since they launched the service http://steamcommunity.com/p...
and also have PS+ since day one(and member until december 2017 in enticipation for the ps4....thats how much psplus is satisfying for me), and yeah im well aware on how Sony service work, what i said is even if steam offer me nice discounted games, it wont appeal me much as seeing Oddworld: Munch’s Oddysee HD, Battlefield3, XCOM: Enemy Unknown, Deus Ex: Human Revolution, Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception,Just Cause 2, Saints Row 2, Saints Row: The Third, Machinarium, Hard Corp:Uprising, Sideway: New York, Choplifter HD, Zombie Apocalypse: Never Die Alone, Little Big Planet 2, Ratchet and Clank: All 4 One, LittleBigPlanet: Karting, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine, Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light, Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown, Pac-Man Championship Edition DX, Gotham City Imposters, Renegade Ops, The Walking Dead (Ep. 1 & 2), Bloodrayne Betrayal, Outland, Borderlands, Double Dragon Neon, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, NFL Blitz, King of Fighters XIII, PAYDAY: The Heist, Resident Evil 5: Gold Edition, Quantum Conundrum, Dungeon Defenders, Gravity Rush, Jet Set Radio, Tales from Space: Mutant Blobs Attack, Uncharted: Golden Abyss, WipEout 2048, Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions, Bioshock 2, Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition, Rochard, Anomaly: Warzone Earth, Retro City Rampage, NBA Jam: On Fire, Chronovolt, Mega Man 9 & 10, Darksiders, Foosball 2012, Ninja Gaiden Sigma Plus, Guardians of Middle Earth, Closure, Vanquish, Mega Man Maverick Hunter X, Plants Vs. Zombies, Spec Ops: The Line, Joe Danger 2: The Movie, Tekken VI, The Cave, Disgaea 3: Absence of Detention, Demon’s Souls, Labyrinth Legends, Malicious, SoulCalibur: Broken Destiny, Zombie Tycoon 2, Sleeping Dogs, Knytt Underground, Pinball Arcade, Zero Escape: Virtue’s Last Reward, Germinator, Blaz Blue, Metal Slug: XX for "FREE"(i clear them and voila).....oh and that list was only THIS year content.

so im not hating on steam(far from it since im using it a lot) but the peoples who simply try to resume ps+ by "an embarrassment" versus steam are clearly CLEARLY out of touch with reality and probably never been a user of the service.

LoveOfTheGame3923d ago

^^^
How did you get those games free? I had to pay Sony $50 to get those. Steam has much more for free the PS+.

Side Note: War of the Lions was on PS+? Which means I didn't have to buy it, I hate myself.

+ Show (7) more repliesLast reply 3923d ago
theEx1Le3923d ago

No offense but what has PS+ got to do with this. They are in no way the same at all. The cards are included with a game you buy. Earned through games you play. Your comparison makes no sense.

s45gr323923d ago

While true, the downside is that trading cards are free plus according to IGN not me game developers make money out of these cards with PS Plus the developers don't make money. Second Valve makes money out of this and the gamer makes money. Not a lot but enough to buy kickass indies or dlc content. Is a win win for everyone involved.

Ragthorn3923d ago

@badz149
But the deals I've seen on Steam appeal to me more than the deals on PS+, i just get the free games on PS+. Steam on summer and holiday sales, have community votes and select a few games for the community to vote for to get a large discount for. Dishonored was $10.19 on Steam recently from the community sale, really good deal which is why I picked it up, if I recall PS+ had it for $25 or $26, like 2 months ago. I love PS+, but imho I think Steam is best!

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 3923d ago
Stsonic3923d ago

The cards would be a lot better if they actually had there own game.

matrixman923923d ago

i said something similar to this article a few days ago and got disagreed into oblivion....I really dont see why people dont like this route. I have over 100,000 gamerscore and it gets me literally nothing. I have about a dozen platinums and they get me nothing. How cool would it be if achievements or trophies got us something of worth and we could sell them or trade them in for money.

s45gr323923d ago

That's very cool indeed hopefully these trading cards have a mini game of sorts were the winner earns prizes like a free booster pack, $100.00, or a free game.

sypher3923d ago

thats what the whole bid for greatness is meant to be. Using your trophies as currency to bid on items.

matrixman923923d ago

thats a competition though..if u put in loads of work, you could potentially end up getting nothing if someone has more than u. With steam trading cards you are guaranteed to at least get something back.

AceBlazer133923d ago

Bid for greatness is just horrible did u see way bidders bet to win those prizes? Gold trophies in the thousands.

WeAreLegion3923d ago

I wish we could get an actual card game out of this. :/ That's what I want! A massive card game like Magic using all the characters from video games. That would be epic!

s45gr323923d ago

Now that would be awesome

yeahokchief3923d ago

Yep thats what i assumed the steam cards were used for. What do you use the cards for then if there isnt a game?

Seems everyone has been trying to cash in on card games recently between steam, naughty dog, blizzard etc

Show all comments (35)
280°

Xbox's Preservation Step Sets A Much-Needed Example, Especially For Nintendo

Hanzla from eXputer inquires: "If Xbox can care about preserving its games and legacy, what exactly is wrong with Nintendo, trying to kill game preservation single-handedly?"

purple1016d ago

Ahh yes the good old game preservation of saving all your games to a removable hhd on the Xbox 360, taking it round your mates house, setting up multiple tvs to
Be met with “save data corrupted, please re download”

Or how about removing 360 games
From the store
, download them now or else, and, better hope to god that save data doesn’t corrupt, or it’s lost for ever

Nice one ☝️

Zeref6d ago

It's better than what Nintendo and Playstation is doing. It might not be perfect but at least they are TRYING. Unlike the others.

DarXyde5d ago

Trying? Take off the blinders for a moment, mate.

1. A failure to preserve games is just that: a failure to preserve games. Don't try to sugarcoat it: NO ONE is doing it properly. Better than awful is nothing to write home about.

2. At the time of this comment, isn't it the case that you need an internet connection to play Xbox games even if you buy physical discs that are hardly in circulation anymore? I don't have a Series X and I can't verify, but I think that is correct. I'm fairly certain you can at least play PS5 games at version 1.0 (not much of a win really when many games require day one patches). I think Microsoft's all digital, licensing approach is by far more aggressive than anyone else's. They really try to push you to game pass where you lose your entire library by umm.... Skipping a month of payments.

I don't think anyone is doing it right whatsoever. Don't get me started on Nintendo, who goes after anyone looking to preserve their games better than they ever would with extreme litigation.

Don't be a simp for any of these companies. Get it together.

PhillyDonJawn5d ago (Edited 5d ago )

@DarX never speak on Xbox again. You lost all credibility with your internet connection comment. Smh you have 0 clue and misinformed yet speaking on something you don't no squat about.

Einhander19725d ago

What has Sony done exactly? You guys keep deflecting to Sony but I am not actually seeing any results, and ai am certain nothing that you can come up with even comes close to what Microsoft has done and what they have tried and failed to do, like tie all your disks to your account on xbone.

Microsoft removed their whole indie section when they moved to the xbone because they were going to only allow games on the service that came from a publisher, id@xbox started after xbone launched and it only exists because Sony embraced indie and Microsoft was forced to cancel their plans and reverse course.

And every single game that was part of games for windows live including disk games (I have gta 4 on disk that won't work) so hundreds of games that use that DRM no longer work unless the company themselves patched it out which of course very few did.

MrBaskerville5d ago

Not trying. Tried. they killed of the backcomp program years ago. They set something up again, but sounds like it's more of an attempt to save the current library on whatever they are planning next. With luck they save everything and more, but let's see. I could see them killing off parts of the OG xbox and 360 libraries. Can't imagine that they would allow us to play Forza 5-7 in the future.

With that said, I do like what they've done and really wish they could have done more.

shinoff21835d ago

Zeref

So killing off physical media is trying what exactly. Ms don't really give a fk if you think they do your kidding yourself.

Profchaos5d ago

They are not trying this team is established for forward compatability the team is. It interested in preserving Xbox or 360 games.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 5d ago
isarai6d ago

Is that why Hellblade 2 is digital only?

Zeref6d ago

Just because it's digital only doesn't mean you can't preserve it. Just put it on an external and you have the exact same functionality of what a disc does.

MrNinosan5d ago

Guess you're trolling, but if you actually think that's how it works, I'd recommend buying some braincells.

mkis0075d ago (Edited 5d ago )

Volitile vs nonvolitile data. A disc will not corrupt either. A drive can be corrupted.

Einhander19726d ago

This is just a scammy PR move to distract from the fact they are going digital only and trying to push streaming and subscriptions only.

No gaming company has pushed harder to remove ownership than Microsoft.

Without discs there is no preservation, preservation can't be done by the rights holders it can only be done by the consumers, anything else is a lie.

6d ago Replies(3)
Einhander19726d ago

Anyone remember xblig which Microsoft removed their whole 360 indie section removing hundreds of games from people?

6d ago
6d ago
Zeref6d ago

Do you know you can put your games on an external and preserve them that way? There are no benefits to discs. ZERO. Idk why some of you are still obsessed with them.

DarXyde5d ago

Because games like Persona 5 exist. It's STILL V1.00. On Playstation, that's a win because 1.00 is installed on the disc—no need to download anything.

If a game does not require any updates, it's all on the disc.

Extremely low bar in the modern era, of course. It's not much of a win by any stretch.

But for now, physical media does have a purpose, at least on Playstation.

Einhander19725d ago

That is factually not how game licensing works, try plugging your hard drive into someone else xbox, It's not going to work, and it won't work if the licensing servers ever go down.

Einhander19725d ago

Anyone remember games for windows live.

I have around a dozen games, some on Steam itself that will not work because Microsoft shut off the licensing servers.

BehindTheRows5d ago (Edited 5d ago )

I do. I STILL have games (Gears of War being the big one) I cannot access because Games for Windows LIVE is total garbage and no one has held Microsoft accountable.

Zeref5d ago (Edited 5d ago )

You don't have an Xbox apparently. Because you can 100 percent plug in your external and play games from it on any Xbox console lol. You just have to be logged in to prove ownership.

Chevalier5d ago

"You don't have an Xbox apparently. Because you can 100 percent plug in your external and play games from it on any Xbox console lol. You just have to be logged in to prove ownership."

Damn how many times do people got to explain your idiocy to you? You can take a copy of Persona 5 like someone used as an example and play that game on ANY console WITHOUT logging in which means I can lend the game to a friend without internet and they can play my game. Can you lend your hard drive to anyone without logging in for them to play? NOPE. That is a huge difference and if you think otherwise then sorry you're an idiot.

Tacoboto5d ago

"No gaming company has pushed harder to remove ownership than Microsoft."

Ubisoft is literally erasing games people bought from their libraries... My PS1-3 discs are useless on modern hardware. Nintendo's re-published and resold almost their entire Wii U library, and the eShop is completely dead with no BC mechanism in the Switch software. Microsoft publishes everything they make today day one on Steam and Xbox/Windows. Sony only brings to PC the titles they think you might want some years later and Nintendo won't even design a functional long-lasting joystick.

You're absolutely trolling and not serious if you think Microsoft today is the worst offender.

shinoff21835d ago

Yay steam

Not everyone fks with computers though. The disc is still the best way as a console player. Period.

Tacoboto5d ago

How do Sony and Nintendo feel about these discs from 2001-2013?

Don't be stupid, you know Xbox is the best at this today.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 5d ago
Hofstaderman6d ago

Nobody wants this. Sales or the lack of it in the case of XBOX is very telling. I wonder how the adorably all digital series X will fare. Adorably dismal perhaps?

crazyCoconuts5d ago

Only time will tell, but for from someone like me suspecting that Xbox is trying to gracefully exit the console market, that "forward compatibility" team is trying to get Xbox games playing on Windows PCs. I mean, it's nice that they're not planning on exiting with a "enjoy your games while the hardware still works" message, so that's nice. They still have a brand to protect via Microsoft so probably feel obligated to have a better exit strategy.

Xeofate5d ago (Edited 5d ago )

That is not their plan, their plan is to transfer users accounts to the cloud.

Phil Spencer himself said as much a few months back, plans could have changed but I think people are reading way too much into one statement where Phil said he would allow Epic on xbox because he wants to be able to sell xbox games directly on other platforms. Aka, instead of selling Sea of Thives through PSN he wants to have an xbox store to sell his games on PlayStation without giving PlayStation any money.

Again, it's extremely unlikely that Phil plans to put PC on xbox and licensing would prevent them from just giving out other publishers games purchased on xbox copies of thier games on PC, Microsoft does not own their games.

crazyCoconuts4d ago

The thing that doesn't align with the cloud strategy is the giving up on exclusives. You'd still need strong exclusives for cloud streaming - it's still a "platform" , just with a lower upfront hardware investment. I feel like they've learned what PS learned with PSNow long ago. We're not ready to stream games and it's only gonna lose them money to try at this point

FinalFantasyFanatic5d ago

I would love that, I'd buy up some of the Xbox games if they could run on PC, like the Rare Replay, Lost Odyssey and Dead or Alive Ultimate, probably a pipe dream though.

Show all comments (43)
70°

Why Are Steam's Recommendations Dogpoop?

Blindfolding myself and clicking a Steam page at random would serve me better recommendations than Steam’s algorithm

Read Full Story >>
thegamer.com
UltimateOwnage10d ago

Hmm, not sure I agree with that. The recommendations I get are usually pretty good, but then again I have pretty large library of games on Steam and hundreds of them in my wish list, along with lots of curators I follow for it to build recommendations off of. On occasion it will throw me a random FIFA game or something I've never bought or shown interest in, but mostly its decent IMO.

280°

Sony Taps Bungie's Head of Revenue to Lead Live-Service Games

Sony has recruited Bungie's head of revenue Jaremy Rich to head up its live-service gaming division, Rich has announced on social media.

Read Full Story >>
techraptor.net
ChasterMies15d ago

Please do not put Destiny’s monetization into Sony’s first party games. The monetization is what’s driving players away from Destiny.

just_looken15d ago

The new temp boss is the sony cfo bean counter so i can see this being a thing get every penny.

Cacabunga15d ago

PlayStation officially losing it.. fans will never support gaas games

just_looken15d ago

@car

The new boss did a interview in japan he wants to tap into the mobile market like nintendio so he give 0 fucks about gamers/fans

https://www.pushsquare.com/...

Redemption-6415d ago

@Cacabunga
You only speak for you and those who think like you, but most fans will support what they want. Playstation and PC fans are literally supporting Helldivers 2 and that is a gaas. Maybe you wouldn't, but many more would if they like it.

Huey_My_D_Long15d ago

@Redemption-64
Look, Im not making any judgement calls about this guy, but I will say that Helldivers 2 GaaS model is unique to Helldivers, and legit the only other game I can think of thats similiar was the Avengers game except HD2 pass is still better.
The fact that you can earn in game currency in a way that doesnt make you feel like you have to grind forever, as well you being able work on that pass that you bought...on your own time without a time limit...that right there is fucking huge to me, and I can't name any game other than avengers that avoided trapping players with FOMO logic...I think GaaS on HD2 shouldn't be compared to the rest of the industry...it should be copied.

Einhander197215d ago

Cacabunga

Helldivers 2...

Redemption-64

In Europe it's a 60 40 split favoring PC.
In the US its a 60 40 split favoring PS5.

So PlayStation owners supported the game just fine, it's not getting carried by PC or anything like that.

FinalFantasyFanatic15d ago

@just_looken,
I'm perfectly fine with the way Nintendo entered the mobile market, I never touched their mobile games, meanwhile, the console/handheld stayed the way it is. As for being a bean counter, he's probably going to reel in these massive budgets that Sony's studios have had lately, I haven't played Spiderman 2, but I cannot see how they almost tripled the budget for that game.

@Redemption-64,
That's an exception to the rule, I'm expecting a lot of these GAAS games from Sony to fail, to be fair, they only need a few to succeed, but I would have preferred that they put more of their resources into other types of games.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 15d ago
DivineHand12515d ago

True their monetization is driving players away and at the same time, their decision to chop out content and convoluted systems is keeping new players away from the game.

Joe91315d ago

I don't think that will happen based on how things worked out at Naughty Dog now that we know what we do, seems they had the option to fully commit to live service games or stay making single player experences so they gave up on their live service game. We are not sure how things came about with Bend making a live service game but I hope that was not a forced situation. Sony doesnt seem like they are forcing studios to switch up but we will see, Sony's bread and butter is single player games it is how they dominated the console market.

Obscure_Observer15d ago

Yeah, I though Sony learned something from all their failures in the LS segment under Bungie´s disastrous leadership and supervision which led to games been cancelled, studios closed and all the people laid off.

Looks like Bungie still plays a major role in Sony´s LS initiative and Sony is not backtracking on their GaaS plans.

S2Killinit15d ago (Edited 15d ago )

Are we forgetting that Destiny is also a highly successful franchise? I feel like that definitely deserves mention here.

Besides, there is no reason why a person cant learn from past experiences.

Joe91314d ago

I agree, people act as if Destiny flopped when it came out lol it took 9 to 10 years for the numbers to fall yet people are still playing it add the success of Helldivers 2 no wonder Sony is going forward down this path.

S2Killinit14d ago

Personally, I see no problem with Sony also having service games as long as they make good ones, and more importantly they deliver the AAA story driven games that they are known for. So yeah, I agree 100% with you.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 14d ago
Christopher15d ago

I mean, this person made some pretty bad decisions at Bungie. I hope they've learned from them because I definitely don't see those type of ideas as good for PlaySation in general.

CrimsonWing6915d ago (Edited 15d ago )

Honestly, what’s to learn from? How to make people happily continuously dump money into a single game over its life-time? Buy season passes continuously for several years with a smile on our faces?

GaaS is a design decision that is everything wrong with this industry. The fact that Helldivers 2 did so well and people defend the monetization because it was $40 and is a fun game, scares the sh*t out of me to see that the door is open and all shift will probably be to replicate that in future games. We already know the ROI for traditional game dev cost isn’t doing it for them.

I thought with Jimbo leaving we’d see a change for the better… I’m not so sure now.

S2Killinit14d ago

Service games are being offered by everyone. Sony cannot afford to only create single player AAA games. No one can. They already said they will be doing both.

Abnor_Mal15d ago (Edited 15d ago )

Ps5 gamers in 2023 seemed to play more live service types of games, so regardless to how people feel about them, numbers don’t lie and Sony is going where the money is. I mean look at the excitement around Helldivers2, people are showing that they want live service games.

Christopher15d ago

They play long-time existing live service games like CoD, Fortnite, Apex Legends, Destiny 2, and the like. Mass majority of new live service games are considered failures and aren't moving gamers away from older games.

just_looken15d ago

Yep the huge issue with live service is they need paid players along with a reason to play them.

You forgot mobile market that also taps into that player base as well as the eve online style games there is only a certain amount of krakens/whales blind supporters compared to the amount of live service games we have its not sustainable math wise.

700 restaurants making food for every seat for 1000-3000 eaters just does not work out

Einhander197215d ago (Edited 15d ago )

Christopher

I am not a big live service fan and literally own zero of the games you listed, but that is not true, unless you call games that aren't the top games to be failures.

There are tons of live service games that are profitable.

Games don't have to be the biggest game ever they just need to make more than they cost.

I challenge you to show professionally prepared data that shows that more live service games fail than make enough to keep going.

Because all the data that I have seen shows that live service is less of a gamble than making a big AAA budget game which needs to survive off retail sales.

FinalFantasyFanatic15d ago

I sometimes wonder if we're at saturation point, where it's hard for a new game to join those ranks unless it's particularly exceptional, people only have so much time and money to devote to these types of games.

romulus2315d ago

Correction, they have no issue playing good live service games

shinoff218315d ago

Lol it's not even a quarter of the ps5s sold. Helldivers may have been a hit but let's not say most are enjoying it because truth is most(the real most ) don't care about it.

S2Killinit14d ago (Edited 14d ago )

I play what is fun. If a live service game is good I’ll play it as long as its not a money scheme which Helldivers is not.

And Im a single player gamer.

mastershredder15d ago

How do you kill a franchise that already been killed?
Destiny’s grind, cash-in-on-playbass-cha-Ching, and pop-culture-insertion mainstream-me-too bs totally killed any rep Bungie had. Sony/Bungie, if you are doing this to ward-off players, it’s already working.

crazyCoconuts15d ago

Headline truncated:
"... off a cliff"

Show all comments (43)