Has this ever happened before? Just like the headline says, a man put his Steam account for sale on eBay, essentially beating the system and finding a way to sell secondhand games via the digital distribution platform. It appears to have worked out very well, too.
139 games were up for grabs, and somebody actually bit, stumping up $1,000 for the "Buy It Now" price. It seems that the seller, "dave311freak," has inspired some other hopeful Steam merchants, as two more Steam accounts have popped up for sale, albeit with significantly less to offer. Dave, for his part, said he wanted to sell the account to spend more time with his family and less time playing games. For $1,000, you can take your family somewhere pretty cool.
In any case, this is an interesting new development in the realm of digital distribution. One of the big problems people have with digital games is the inability to sell them when you're finished. Seems this chap has found the perfect loophole.
Steam Account with 139 Games Worth Over $2,700!!! NR!!! [eBay]
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Contest:
8:00 AM on 01.16.2010
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http://feedback.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewFeedback2&ftab=AllFeedback&userid=dave311freak&iid=-1&de=off&items=100
The buyer left negative feedback:
http://feedback.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewFeedback2&userid=dave311freak&&sspagename=VIP:feedback&ftab=FeedbackAsSeller
also I thought you could "gift" games in steam... wouldn't that let you trade/sell individual copies?
He's right; when you're in the process of purchasing a game, you can choose to buy it for yourself or as a gift for someone else. You can't 'gift' something you already have.
Disregarding the EULA, I believe there is nothing wrong with such actions.
So now, not only has the seller illegally sold his games on, he's got an angry customer and Steam have disabled his account. He'll probably have to give back the money and he won't have any games to play.
What a dumbass! LMAO!
This's like that guy who won a Beta code from Giantbomb at PAX and then tryed to sell on the code even though he didn't have it with him and he tryed to do it right next Actiblizzards section of the conference under. Under their noses, to put it lightly. lol.
2. go on ebay and put the retail prices, wait for someone to bite.
3. get found out as a scamming asshole.
Fuck digital.
But yea, reselling digital distribution, how strange and kinda meta.
You know... you may have a point. In fact, let me check the resell value of my copy of The Witcher GOTY edition... $.75, huh? I bought it for $40 though... look, I know this is a great argument to make if you're not a PC gamer. But as a PC gamer, PC games have little to no resell value whatsoever. Especially since you do not know if the previous owner registered that copy you just bought and you might be locked out of the purchase. In other words, in theory there is real value in reselling your PC games when you're done... I just don't know a single place you can do it without hardcore fleecing.
@Xzyliac
It's been banned since the day Steam started. Seriously. Those End User License Agreements have some pretty important information... I suggest a policy to actually read them for all gamers. You'd be surprised how many people are readily agreeing to permanent system damage not being the fault of the developers just because they're too bored to read three pages.
But on the other note, as mentioned above, this guy got banned because he was stupid. Dumb, retarded, emotionally handicapped, and all sorts of "shitty criminal." Like the kind of idiot who shows ID to buy beer before robbing the liquor store kinds of dumb. Because people have been selling steam accounts for a while now. The unspoken rule is "don't waggle your rule-breaking cock in Valve's face and no biggie." There is a common practice for game exclusive steam accounts to sell for when you're done with the game.
Well, I'm done with AC2, so I'll just sell all my 360 games. Is this the argument DD is reduced to? Because that's exactly what this guy did.
Valve sucks. As a developer and just in general.
Link
Ok i'll give you a reason why.
Hypothetically, I pre-purchase... lessay Bad Company 2, Mass Effect 2, and Star Trek Online. I make a convincing ad on ebay, craigslist, cheapcycle, everywhere. Being well-advertised big games it'll sell somewhere. for $50 more than retail.
I've just made more profit than Valve.
And I could use that money to keep exploiting this ad-nausem, making a bit more each time.
I've just paid for a new PC with one initial investment of $180
THATS why nobody lets you sell accounts
Gamers have a grand difficulty understanding IPs and ownershop. If I write a story, design the game's art and the gameplay, that game is legally mine - I'm just letting you purchase a license to enjoy it. Its not yours and it never will be. You just have data on plastic, pages in a book - you don't own the intellectual property, no matter how much you feel you have a stake in i emotionally.
Simply put: The creators have rights, too.
Seller is a SCAMMER DONT BUY! Buyer: firedm1 ( 5 ) Jan-15-10 18:59
Steam Account with 139 Games Worth Over $2,700!!! NR!!! (#220538110051) US $1,000.00 View Item
I'm pretty sure you would get a lot more than 75 cents, I have sold some PC games and got decent amounts of money for them.
That said I hardly ever sell games, I like to collect them. Which of course relates to the article because as a collector of boxed games you have control over your collection, you own the games no matter what the EULA says because no one can break in and take them legally and no one will take you to court for playing games you purchased and have a copy of.
Steam though? It's all an account, they can do what they want... Valve is in control of your games, not you. Same thing on Xbox Arcade and similar things.
Support consumer rights, buy your games in boxes, else I fear for the future.
Digital distribution is the cancer killing freedom.