Steam trading: exact item name (with region)

[kav2k]

We all know that some games on Steam have different regional versions.

From harmless US/ROW dual versions, to censored DE/AU versions, to restricted RU versions.

When you buy from the store, it's possible (though not easy) to check if you have a version different from another region: in a browser you can check the "add to cart" link for appid.

When you have a game bought by yourself, OR finally registered to your account, you can check the exact item in the account history. Examples, "Jade Empire (ROW)", "S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat (EE)" etc.

However! While you're performing Steam Trading, or just have an item in your Inventory, there is currently no way to check the exact version.

So, my suggestion: When adding an item (game) to Steam Trade, state its name as in account history in the trade log. It should be simple enough and will give the traders much more safety.

-------

I don't know about you, but I'd feel scammed if I got, for instance, a censored DE version of some game without due notice from the trader. However, there's an alleged Support response concerning this (source):

Originally Posted by Steam Support

In order to avoid trades of content that has regional restrictions, please only trade within your current territory or country.

We are not able to make changes to items that are traded between users.

This means we're currently open for scams that Valve will not resolve unless this is implemented.

[Mr Babai]

/signed

In order to avoid trades of content that has regional restrictions, please only trade within your current territory or country.

And how i can find where trading partner live, or what was first deal of a trade chain for a some gift that passed through several trades? Valve think that their customers superhumans with telepathy skill?

[fussel]

Originally Posted by Steam Support
In order to avoid trades of content that has regional restrictions, please only trade within your current territory or country.

We are not able to make changes to items that are traded between users.

that is like saying "please don't use this weapon to kill people" when selling pre assembled bombs.

its the lone reason anyone would use this system anyway, imo.

[Anticitizen]

Thanks for supporting this. The fact that is not currently done is false advertising and completely unacceptable.

At the very least, this must be added.

There has to be notification about any regional or other kind of restrictions on purchase, but currently a few games have the audacity to provide false information as an insult to injury.

[Asbestoser]

Originally Posted by Anticitizen

Thanks for supporting this. The fact that is not currently done is false advertising and completely unacceptable.

At the very least, this must be added.

There has to be notification about any regional or other kind of restrictions on purchase, but currently a few games have the audacity to provide false information as an insult to injury.

totally agree

[Maledict21]

I'm going to go ahead and add my support to this suggestion.

As the responsibility of policing regional trades appears to fall solely upon those engaging in the trade per Steam Support's statement, it only makes sense to provide users with the information necessary to effectively accomplish that task.

In my opinion, adopting an "only trade with users you know" mentality as was previously done with accepting gifts would take away from the trading feature as a whole given Steam's position as a world-wide platform.

[test1000]

Originally Posted by kav2k

in a browser you can check the "add to cart" link for appid.

Actually, in Steam terminology, "add to cart" link shows subscription id, not application id. Subscription is what you pay your money for when you purchase something from Steam store. Each subscription provides access to one or more applications where each application represent a "piece" (like game binaries or english language files) of the game you purchase. So what you actually would want to know is a subscription id of the item being traded, because it determines what exactly the item includes.

Originally Posted by kav2k

So, my suggestion: When adding an item (game) to Steam Trade, state its name as in account history in the trade log. It should be simple enough and will give the traders much more safety.

As I said above subscription id is more important (since it is guaranteed to be unique unlike subscription name). So Trade interface should show both subscription name and id.

Originally Posted by Mr Babai

And how i can find where trading partner live, or what was first deal of a trade chain for a some gift that passed through several trades? Valve think that their customers superhumans with telepathy skill?

Well said! The person who talked with Steam support in the first place should ask them that exact question and let us know what reply he will receive.

Originally Posted by Anticitizen

currently a few games have the audacity to provide false information as an insult to injury.

Yep, here they are: Dead Island, Hard Reset - is this your "better service", Valve?.

Completely agree and support everything else said above.

[amateur7]

Originally Posted by test1000

As I said above subscription id is more important (since it is guaranteed to be unique unlike subscription name). So Trade interface should show both subscription name and id.

Agree. This would be very, very helpful.

[Egomaster]

Signed and bumped

[Geotpf]

How would you know what territory that somebody is selling a game on these forums is from? That Steam Support response (if accurate) is horrible.

[Ghost1138]

Support

[placeboing]

Yes, this is very important, if the trade function isn't just giving you your local version of the game no matter what (which is how I thought it worked, but it seems I was wrong).

[Astarle]

I would like to bump this. I recently had this exact problem with a game. I made a trade with someone for a couple of games, and later found out that one of them is censored in his country. I contacted Steam support to see if I could download or somehow unlock the normal, uncensored version - since that is what is available in my country - and this is the response I received:

The title is restricted to the region where it was purchased. Unfortunately, we will not be able to remove the low violence lock.

I then replied that...

...this is concerning. There is nothing on the gift that indicates what region it was purchased in or that it is a "low violence" version. If the title is restricted to region, and the low violence lock cannot be removed, then this information should be easily available to the consumer. Now I have made a trade for an item I do not want, and am unable to request a refund because it is a gift. This is very upsetting.

As someone who relies on the Steam trading system for secure game trades, this is very alarming as this means someone could easily misrepresent an item. Steam should fix this or offer a way for the consumer to download a game version in compliance with their region.

Response from Steam Support:

Thank you for your comments, we value feedback from the Steam community. I will forward your comments onto the appropriate department.

Additionally, if you wish to share an opinion, suggestion, or idea with the community as well, please visit the Suggestions/Ideas section of the Steam Forums, found here:

http://forums.steampowered.com/forum...splay.php?f=15

This forum is regularly read by Valve's development team.

And now I'm here and I see that this was suggested over three months ago and yet the problem still exists. Disappointing. :/

[Dark Tenshi]

/signed

[Kea Black]

i hope this up will be tolerated, I agree with the op

/signed