Steam Digital Gift Cards

Crouton · 01-02-2010, 03:51 PM

People have suggested physical gift cards, which would be nice. but I was thinking more along the lines of Digital Gift cards. I have Steam friends I have known for years and years, and it would have been nice to be able to give them even $10-$20 on a Steam Gift Card to help them with their next purchase.

the whole idea goes something like this.

1. New section on Steam under all the different types of games pops up called "Gift Cards"
2. Person A clicks that button and is directed to a list (similar to the games list) where they can search Gift Cards by price (from $5 to $100).
3. Person A buys the gift card and sends it to a friend just like a game, but instead this money is stored in a "Digital account" where the money is then applied to the next purchase (or if you wanted to do the coding, could be selectable).
3A. next purchase,
The money would automatically be taken off thew next purchase.
3B. When someone goes to buy a game, They have an option under payment called "Use Gift Card", which would then take the money off the card and the game, the person would then pay the difference (If there is one).

Potential Implications.
1. Steam gets the money and gets to collect interest off it early, along with being able to use it towards any projects they wish to involve themselves in, as the money is theres and non-refundable.
2. More money travels through Steam. We may not always know what to buy our friends, but giving the gift of digital cash isn't always bad. It would be easier to spend on Steam.
3. Steam could offer a new level of sales, rather than getting a % off games (which may not be possible for some releases and pre-purchases). Steam could offer a $5+ gift card in its place, allowing you to buy something else (giving Steam more money). Give a little to make a lot.

Some Potential Drawbacks.
1. I am not fully aware of the complications of money transfers on this scale (lots of relatively small amounts moving around very quickly). I am not sure what kind of setup would be required to keep all this in check, though I imagine it could be fairly seamlessly integrated, and sold the same way (and through the same system) as a game.

I hope this is original enough to warrant its own post. Thanks for reading.

leveller · 01-02-2010, 04:13 PM

Agreed with the digital gift cards.

Agreed they are likely to be treated as games and useful for friends/family gifts.

Companies, like magazine publishers or gaming websites could obtain the gift cards and use them in competitions - maybe the companies could come to some sort of marketing deal with with Valve to obtain them discounted as multiple prizes considering the free advertising?

Crouton · 01-02-2010, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leveller

Agreed with the digital gift cards.

Agreed they are likely to be treated as games and useful for friends/family gifts.

Companies, like magazine publishers or gaming websites could obtain the gift cards and use them in competitions - maybe the companies could come to some sort of marketing deal with with Valve to obtain them discounted as multiple prizes considering the free advertising?

ya.. thats a good idea actually. I didn't really think of that. Theres a LOT of benefits (for Valve and for the customers) to having these Digital Gift Cards. Im hoping they do it, at least before next Christmas.

02-14-2010, 05:28 PM

Oh ghods, yes please! I'd love to be able to help friends buy steam games, plus the marketing&finance benefits mentioned upthread are fantastic.

SilverShot · 02-15-2010, 02:35 AM

Great idea!

FracOMac · 02-15-2010, 10:06 AM

Do want

02-16-2010, 01:11 AM

I support
i posted something like this
but u posted b4 me

http://forums.steampowered.com/forum....php?t=1147560

07-14-2010, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crouton

People have suggested physical gift cards, which would be nice. but I was thinking more along the lines of Digital Gift cards.

I completely agree!

I've posted a much longer opinion in this topic:
http://forums.steampowered.com/forum...80&postcount=4

Syldan · 07-14-2010, 09:05 PM

I totally agree, I would love to have some steam gift card, I can't always gift games to other, some does not fill their wishlist or the games are just too expensive.

Swixel · 07-14-2010, 09:19 PM

Agree.

Retail cards could just be a sleak black with the steam logo written in the middle...

Perhaps reloadable at 7/11 or similar?

slayvus · 07-14-2010, 09:22 PM

Forget my first post....

You could just ASK him what he MIGHT want.

You CAN add items to a wishlist...

http://i32.tinypic.com/2zqblg5.jpg

adz · 07-15-2010, 12:42 AM

Would love this, awesome idea +1..

.EpicWarrior. · 07-15-2010, 11:15 AM

DO WANT!

KamiofLunacy · 07-15-2010, 11:34 AM

/signed

This would be an awesome idea, especially if you can't figure out what genre of games a friend likes.

Atlantis1982 · 07-15-2010, 03:37 PM

Good idea, but I still would like physical gift cards as well.

01-02-2010, 03:51 PM	#1
Crouton Join Date: Dec 2009 Reputation: 0 Posts: 134	Steam Digital Gift Cards People have suggested physical gift cards, which would be nice. but I was thinking more along the lines of Digital Gift cards. I have Steam friends I have known for years and years, and it would have been nice to be able to give them even $10-$20 on a Steam Gift Card to help them with their next purchase. the whole idea goes something like this. 1. New section on Steam under all the different types of games pops up called "Gift Cards" 2. Person A clicks that button and is directed to a list (similar to the games list) where they can search Gift Cards by price (from $5 to $100). 3. Person A buys the gift card and sends it to a friend just like a game, but instead this money is stored in a "Digital account" where the money is then applied to the next purchase (or if you wanted to do the coding, could be selectable). 3A. next purchase, The money would automatically be taken off thew next purchase. 3B. When someone goes to buy a game, They have an option under payment called "Use Gift Card", which would then take the money off the card and the game, the person would then pay the difference (If there is one). Potential Implications. 1. Steam gets the money and gets to collect interest off it early, along with being able to use it towards any projects they wish to involve themselves in, as the money is theres and non-refundable. 2. More money travels through Steam. We may not always know what to buy our friends, but giving the gift of digital cash isn't always bad. It would be easier to spend on Steam. 3. Steam could offer a new level of sales, rather than getting a % off games (which may not be possible for some releases and pre-purchases). Steam could offer a $5+ gift card in its place, allowing you to buy something else (giving Steam more money). Give a little to make a lot. Some Potential Drawbacks. 1. I am not fully aware of the complications of money transfers on this scale (lots of relatively small amounts moving around very quickly). I am not sure what kind of setup would be required to keep all this in check, though I imagine it could be fairly seamlessly integrated, and sold the same way (and through the same system) as a game. I hope this is original enough to warrant its own post. Thanks for reading. Last edited by Crouton: 01-02-2010 at 03:55 PM.

07-14-2010, 09:22 PM	#11
slayvus Join Date: Jun 2008 Reputation: 782 Posts: 2,727	Forget my first post.... You could just ASK him what he MIGHT want. You CAN add items to a wishlist... http://i32.tinypic.com/2zqblg5.jpg Last edited by slayvus: 07-14-2010 at 09:27 PM.

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01-02-2010, 04:13 PM	#2
leveller Join Date: Dec 2009 Reputation: 421 Posts: 1,806	Agreed with the digital gift cards. Agreed they are likely to be treated as games and useful for friends/family gifts. Companies, like magazine publishers or gaming websites could obtain the gift cards and use them in competitions - maybe the companies could come to some sort of marketing deal with with Valve to obtain them discounted as multiple prizes considering the free advertising?

02-14-2010, 05:28 PM	#4
genjordan Guest Posts: n/a	Oh ghods, yes please! I'd love to be able to help friends buy steam games, plus the marketing&finance benefits mentioned upthread are fantastic.

02-15-2010, 02:35 AM	#5
SilverShot Join Date: Dec 2009 Reputation: 8 Posts: 171	Great idea!

02-15-2010, 10:06 AM	#6
FracOMac Join Date: Sep 2009 Reputation: 2 Posts: 10	Do want

02-16-2010, 01:11 AM	#7
bushidomark Guest Posts: n/a	I support i posted something like this but u posted b4 me http://forums.steampowered.com/forum....php?t=1147560

07-14-2010, 09:05 PM	#9
Syldan Join Date: Apr 2009 Reputation: 44 Posts: 743	I totally agree, I would love to have some steam gift card, I can't always gift games to other, some does not fill their wishlist or the games are just too expensive.

07-14-2010, 09:19 PM	#10
Swixel Join Date: Nov 2009 Reputation: 164 Posts: 755	Agree. Retail cards could just be a sleak black with the steam logo written in the middle... Perhaps reloadable at 7/11 or similar?

07-15-2010, 12:42 AM	#12
adz Join Date: Jun 2009 Reputation: 468 Posts: 2,399	Would love this, awesome idea +1..

07-15-2010, 11:15 AM	#13
.EpicWarrior. Join Date: Apr 2009 Reputation: 30 Posts: 464	DO WANT!

07-15-2010, 11:34 AM	#14
KamiofLunacy Join Date: Jul 2010 Reputation: 230 Posts: 1,334	/signed This would be an awesome idea, especially if you can't figure out what genre of games a friend likes.

07-15-2010, 03:37 PM	#15
Atlantis1982 Join Date: May 2008 Reputation: 252 Posts: 318	Good idea, but I still would like physical gift cards as well.