Valve Launches Steam Trading Cards
There's no Pokemon action going on but there is the opportunity to earn rewards-like coupons and other social goodies.
Valve Software on Wednesday launched Steam Trading Cards, a new system that rewards Steam customers for playing games on the platform. It's currently launched as a beta and provides virtual trading cards that can be collected and used for rewards such as game badges, profile backgrounds, emoticons, coupons, DLC and more.
Steam customers who participate in the beta will receive game-specific trading cards. Qualifying titles currently include Don't Starve, Dota 2, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Team Fortress 2, Portal 2 and Half-Life 2. The service will expand over the coming months to include many more titles on Steam, Valve said.
"Collect a set of cards to earn items that help you customize your profile and show off your gameplay," the FAQ reads. "Each participating game drops up to half the set of cards into your Steam inventory during gameplay. The other half of the card set can be collected from other community members. Try the beta group discussions, community market, barter with friends, and trade discussions."
To get into the beta, Steam customers must join the Steam Trading Card group, which will in turn put them in a queue to be part of the beta. Once the customer is accepted, he/she will be notified and given a few extra passes to offer to friends. Valve said it will add more participants every few days.
To see what cards have been collected or are still available to acquire, users simply head to their Badges page and select the "Badges in Progress" tab. There users can select a badge to view the card set, including cards the user owns and cards remaining.
"A badge is an icon on your profile (and tied to your account) that represents the trading card sets you've collected or your participation in an event," the FAQ states.
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Kevin Parrish has over a decade of experience as a writer, editor, and product tester. His work focused on computer hardware, networking equipment, smartphones, tablets, gaming consoles, and other internet-connected devices. His work has appeared in Tom's Hardware, Tom's Guide, Maximum PC, Digital Trends, Android Authority, How-To Geek, Lifewire, and others.
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internetlad what, hats in TF2 aren't enough?Reply
Dimes to dollars they'll run this for a while and then start "charging" for "expansion packs" that contain rare cards at like 10 bucks a pop.
Gayben needs money to keep PC gaming alive. . . well that and sandwiches I guess. -
Gamer_Pollution Reply
Well, somehow they need to find the money to pay for the Heavy's minigun bullets. I heard it costs $400,000 to fire it for 12 seconds. And don't get me started on the Sandvich's...10813600 said:what, hats in TF2 aren't enough?
Dimes to dollars they'll run this for a while and then start "charging" for "expansion packs" that contain rare cards at like 10 bucks a pop.
Gayben needs money to keep PC gaming alive. . . well that and sandwiches I guess. -
bustapr i like the idea of the cards. I personally wont be scavenging around for any cards, but I see the potential in it becoming a hobby for some people. I wonder what cupons and DLCs can be obtained. surely valve is gonna troll non-card traders some day with an epic deal only users with full sets can buy. seems interesting enough.Reply -
eklipz330 Reply10813600 said:what, hats in TF2 aren't enough?
Dimes to dollars they'll run this for a while and then start "charging" for "expansion packs" that contain rare cards at like 10 bucks a pop.
Gayben needs money to keep PC gaming alive. . . well that and sandwiches I guess.
see, i wish i can agree with you, but i can't.
any of those features don't REQUIRE YOU TO PLAY THE GAMES THEY SELL. they are simply an additional thing gamers can do to play and have fun. it's a little predatory on the people that don't know how to manage their money or their time of course, but it doesn't even give them a lead! the people themselves have created the hat economy, so blame them and not newell.
i welcome any idea they bring to the table as long as it's not required to have fun -
Icecweam7 This has the potential to be really big. Get free games for just playing games? Sign me up!Reply