All Discussions > Steam Forums > Suggestions / Ideas > Topic Details
plantboi04 Apr 2 @ 4:00pm
    
Can the points you earn when buying a game mean more ... PLEASE!
I get the idea behind them. You earn points when you buy games, and you can spend them on profile cosmetics, backgrounds, emojis, or give awards to other people. That’s fine… for a while. But after you’ve customised your profile a bit, they just kind of pile up with no real use.

At that point, they start to feel pretty meaningless. It would be so much better if they had some actual value tied to them... even something small, like being able to use points for minor discounts in your cart. Nothing huge, just enough to make them feel worth earning.

Other platforms have done similar things before. Nintendo used to let you redeem Gold Points on the Nintendo eShop for small discounts on games, which actually made you feel like your purchases were giving something back. Even outside gaming, loyalty-style systems exist everywhere. Microsoft has Microsoft Rewards, where points can be turned into gift cards, and Sony has experimented with similar reward systems through PlayStation Stars.

Right now, Steam Points feel more like a novelty than a reward system. It’d just be nice if they meant something beyond cosmetics. Even if it was limited or capped, just having the option to turn them into small discounts or store credit would make a big difference.

And honestly, it would probably benefit Steam too. If points had real value, it would create a stronger sense of loyalty to the platform. I think it would bring more people to steam and steam players would feel like they’re getting something back over time.

What do others think?
< >
Showing 1-15 of 21 comments
Beardface31 Apr 2 @ 4:01pm 
    
Points have zero value.
#1
plantboi04 Apr 2 @ 4:02pm 
    
Originally posted by Beardface31:
Points have zero value.

Yeah I know. I just wished they did. It just feels like a useless feature having them now.
#2
Beardface31 Apr 2 @ 4:03pm 
    
They have zero value, and that is as it should be.
Last edited by Beardface31; Apr 2 @ 4:03pm
#3
Komarimaru Apr 2 @ 4:04pm 
    
They tried coupons working with points, was heavily exploited.

May come back again now that awards no longer give points. But don't hold your breath.
#4
plantboi04 Apr 2 @ 4:05pm 
    
Originally posted by Beardface31:
They have zero value, and that is as it should be.

Why? Whats the point of them then.
#5
plantboi04 Apr 2 @ 4:06pm 
    
Originally posted by Komarimaru:
They tried coupons working with points, was heavily exploited.

May come back again now that awards no longer give points. But don't hold your breath.

Oh I didn't know they used to have coupons. Yeah I hope they do bring them back. I guess with more stipulations to prevent exploitation.
#6
Wolf Knight Apr 2 @ 4:24pm 
    
Originally posted by plantboi04:
Originally posted by Komarimaru:
They tried coupons working with points, was heavily exploited.

May come back again now that awards no longer give points. But don't hold your breath.

Oh I didn't know they used to have coupons. Yeah I hope they do bring them back. I guess with more stipulations to prevent exploitation.
the coupons for points was done during the major sales events. you got points based on what you bought during the event, then you could use the points to get a coupon. the points expired when the sales event ended.
Last edited by Wolf Knight; Apr 2 @ 4:25pm
#7
plantboi04 Apr 2 @ 5:05pm 
    
Originally posted by Wolf Knight:
Originally posted by plantboi04:

Oh I didn't know they used to have coupons. Yeah I hope they do bring them back. I guess with more stipulations to prevent exploitation.
the coupons for points was done during the major sales events. you got points based on what you bought during the event, then you could use the points to get a coupon. the points expired when the sales event ended.

Oh, that was rather pointless then. Hope they introduce a coupon thing that you could actually spend your points on like idk "10,000 points for £10 off" or something. It would just be a nice thing to do for the long-term steam users that have like over 800,000 points.

Like I see some profile with the collector badge of 1k+ games, which is insane as thats thousands of pounds or dollars or whatever currency. I think steam should like reward that by allowing the steam points to be used for one-time used coupons yh like "10,000 points for £10 off" etc
#8
datCookie Apr 2 @ 5:10pm 
    
Originally posted by plantboi04:
Originally posted by Beardface31:
They have zero value, and that is as it should be.

Why? Whats the point of them then.

To give awards and to use on the steam points shop. They're not meant to have any other uses
#9
Deadoon Apr 2 @ 5:22pm 
    
Originally posted by plantboi04:
Originally posted by Beardface31:
They have zero value, and that is as it should be.

Why? Whats the point of them then.
Cosmetics. Points in their current incarnation are the result of a lot of refinement. The coupons as has been mentioned. Then when rewards gave points there was incentive to manipulate people into giving awards, which led to a degradation of forum content further than it was before, as well as people outright selling points on third party websites.
Last edited by Deadoon; Apr 2 @ 5:23pm
#10
76561198407601200 Apr 2 @ 11:20pm 
    
Originally posted by plantboi04:
Originally posted by Beardface31:
They have zero value, and that is as it should be.

Why? Whats the point of them then.

You stated the very reasons in your op


Originally posted by plantboi04:
I get the idea behind them. You earn points when you buy games, and you can spend them on profile cosmetics, backgrounds, emojis, or give awards to other people. That’s fine
#11
FOXDUDE69 Apr 3 @ 12:05am 
    
Originally posted by Komarimaru:
They tried coupons working with points, was heavily exploited.

Are you implying that the developers at Valve can't learn from past mistakes and develop a system that cannot be exploited?

Originally posted by Komarimaru:
May come back again now that awards no longer give points. But don't hold your breath.

Points that come from awards are generated the same away as all any points: Purchases.
Last edited by FOXDUDE69; Apr 3 @ 12:06am
#12
GloriousZote Apr 3 @ 12:10am 
    
I think they should do the complete opposite, remove all these dumb features that serve no good purpose.

Remove achievements, remove Steam Points, remove Badges, remove TCG, I'm not sure how profile page customization should be handled, and I think the current system limits chat very much with how you need to buy emotes (but also think that... I don't know how to put this, I think emotes are overrated, if you can't explain something in words, is it really worth saying at all?)
#13
FOXDUDE69 Apr 3 @ 12:53am 
    
Originally posted by GloriousZote:
I'm not sure how profile page customization should be handled

Whatever allows me to do more of what I'm doing with my prolife! That's how they should handle profile page customization. You have to admit, my profile is fabulous.
#14
GloriousZote Apr 3 @ 1:30am 
    
Originally posted by FOXDUDE69:
Originally posted by GloriousZote:
I'm not sure how profile page customization should be handled

Whatever allows me to do more of what I'm doing with my prolife! That's how they should handle profile page customization. You have to admit, my profile is fabulous.
That is until people see you not only play, but have 100%'ed Ape Sex Legends.
#15
< >
Showing 1-15 of 21 comments
Per page: 1530 50

All Discussions > Steam Forums > Suggestions / Ideas > Topic Details
Date Posted: Apr 2 @ 4:00pm
Posts: 21
Start a New Discussion

Discussions Rules and Guidelines