Are Events like Spring Cleaning/ SUMMER GRAND PRIX Manipulative?

[*P0P$*FR3$H3NM3Y3R*]

I've been following this weekends Spring Cleaning on the forums. Looking at the general response and the issues that crop up (missing out on days, download issues, idle-ing it etc.).
To make things clear in advance. I don't want to dismiss the event or bash on anyone that partakes in them.

There are certain things about the nature of these Community events that I find somewhat peculiar or noteworthy.

The frontend of the SC is meant to incentivize people to check games from their backlog and do some community related tasks like play a game some friend suggested and the like. Completing these tasks during a three day period will yield a set of rewards depending on the users performance ( i think some emojis, a background picture (?), a badge and profile experience),
There seems to be no special Sale attached to the event, however there is the chance to play some free-weekend promos.

Tho this all seems rather benign and normal, I cannot shake the feeling that below the surface this sort of 'customer-retention events' (for the lack of proper terms I have to make up such words:/) are carefully engineered to achieve a certain behavioral return for the platform.
Ever since STEAM evolved their client from a mere copy protection measure, to a full blown digital store and lately a social media style community, there have been certain additions to the user experience.
I can't exactly recall the chain of events regarding 'features' like achievements, playtime tracking and the concept of a customizable user profile and the community market. [The exact order isn't of particular importance for now. Tho their seemingly vegetative emergence could be.]

Anyhow, the STEAM profile as it is now, has become a very integral part of the STEAM experience for a sizeable ammount of users. The way the profile is designed with tiered expandability, friends list,emoticons, bragging rights etc. creates a secondary layer of experience on top of the original, core features (copy protection/ distribution). The system in itself is intricately designed around core principles that naturally include gaining revenue for STEAM.
The community market became a thriving industry of Trading Cards, Backgrounds, Emoticons and can be considered a pivotal centerpiece of the 'Profile. The ammount of games on the store that solely exist for TC drops and achievement boosting are a testament to that.

To sum up this lengthy explanation: The USER PROFILE is a vital part of the STEAM BOTTOM LINE since it is intervowen with the Community Market.
Naturally a privately held company will strive to capitalize on this construct. (Fair Enuff (?))
It is safe to say that Valve is putting alot of effort into the engineering of the STEAM experience so they will use all the available (business) knowledge available.
Events like the Spring Cleaning Weekend hint that there is also a fair share of psychological and behavioral engineering at play here.

The event, in laymens terms, involves bolting down the striving subject for three consecutive days to their PC. There is a certain 'lore' to it (clean your 'garage') and an automated algorithm that returns games at random according to the 'lore'.
Participants that don't have their whole library on disk will additionally have to cope with lengthy download periods. Playing the games itself only plays a minor role.
The rules of the event are fairly strict and timed adding an aura of urgency to the mix. The last part of course has to be the obligatory reward which come in seemingly minscule things like the pixel badge, emojis and XP.
Some people might see a pavlov / skinner box pattern there.
One could assume that they would also run a special sale along the way, but that isn't the case.

Guessing from the forums, alot of people partake in this event. I would be very curious to know how many badges were completed .

Is it just me or could there be some pattern? One could get the impression that there is some conditioning involved with these events. My guess is that is meant to increase sales during the upcoming summer sale by putting players in a certain type of mindset using means of gamification and tieing them firmly to their PC during such events ultimately reducing their evasion :p.

I think these schemes are probably par for the course nowadays, still I find it a worrysome trend since especially kids and adolescents might lack the scope to identify em as such.

I'd really like to see what other users think about this.
Sorry for the wall of text, but the subject is kinda complex.

[*P0P$*FR3$H3NM3Y3R*]

Thanks for all your answers so far :)
I totally agree that there is no 'force' applied to bind players to their PC, the mechanisms behind them volunteering use a more subtle approach. Appealing to the users connection to their profile and the 'free' stuff.
I was also aware that there are means to simply circumvent it all.
I didn't include that since I would not consider this as the 'vanilla option'.
There is no indication on the Event Page hinting that you can simply cut all the cheese and trick the client into giving you the rewards without the effort.... that is simply not part of the 'lore'.

I don't allege that this is sinister per se or a unfair way of going about things.
However there are similarities to mechanisms that bigger MMO-RPG like World of Warcraft used to tie their customer to their IP, which was widely critized for imo the right reasons.
The difference is that STEAM sort of included the MMORPG into their client over the course of time. These timed events play the role of the 'quests' in that regard.
It is totally okay that players enjoy this mechanism.

On the other hand there are no means to opt out of all of these things. I could only play Fallout Shelter this weekend so to not accidently trigger backlog achievements and get a badge I rather not have on my profile. The problem for me is, all these new 'external' systems weren't in place when I joined STEAM still I have to partake in alot of them regardless if they appeal to me or not, of course I want to keep my library so I have to play along.

[Kelthorian]

You're probably right more or less depending on how much thought they put into this event.

I once read a very nice and short description of past vs present Valve: "Valve used to make games, now they make money".
I would suggest to anybody reading this to always think from that perspective if you are curios about the why for Valve doing anything.


Tbh the idea itself while dishonest isn't necessarily bad. As greedy and/or lazy as Valve have become in the past few years they never sank at EA's level for example. And the event itself isn't that intrusive.

Artifact was only a spin-off and not a direct sequel or continuation to anything for it to ruin more than itself. Paid mods even if Gabe defended them never returned to Steam unlike Bethesda from what I've seen and read.
And unlike EA, Valve didn't try defending loot boxes after they were outlawed in Belgium(?). Even if comparatively speaking Valve has been introducing minors to gambling for FAR longer through TF2.

[*P0P$*FR3$H3NM3Y3R*]

Początkowo opublikowane przez Kelthorian:

You're probably right more or less depending on how much thought they put into this event.

I once read a very nice and short description of past vs present Valve: "Valve used to make games, now they make money".
I would suggest to anybody reading this to always think from that perspective if you are curios about the why for Valve doing anything.


Tbh the idea itself while dishonest isn't necessarily bad. As greedy and/or lazy as Valve have become in the past few years they never sank at EA's level for example. And the event itself isn't that intrusive.

Artifact was only a spin-off and not a direct sequel or continuation to anything for it to ruin more than itself. Paid mods even if Gabe defended them never returned to Steam unlike Bethesda from what I've seen and read.
And unlike EA, Valve didn't try defending loot boxes after they were outlawed in Belgium(?). Even if comparatively speaking Valve has been introducing minors to gambling for FAR longer through TF2.

Agree, Valve manages to walk the very fine line that others like EA seem to cross every so often.
This hints at the ammount of research they put into the push-pull nature of their client relations.
About that Make games/ make money statement: Yeah the trading card market for example created revenue out of thin air. Since there is no way to simply delete them a fair share of these ultimately end up in the community market. (the other options would be badges [require trading to complete] or simply having them clutter the inventory indefinetly).

What is the takeaway of this tho? Should STEAM introduce ways to customize and opt out of certain systems since they can potentially be abusive? Should STEAM come with a warning that there is a fair share of secondary layers of Online Interaction, that emerges from coercing people into a seemingly optional metaconcept that is highly interwoven with their cash flow.

The Small Mode that was mentioned doesn't do away with the bloat it simply reduces the screen estate that STEAM occupies.

[AmsterdamHeavy]

Youre overthinking it; not wrong, just overthinking it.

For any business whose model is to provide a service, your long term goal is to become as integrated as possible into your customers' routine. To the point where they rely on you without thinking about it.

You then use that stickiness/integration to grow your business and expand your service offerings so the same people buy more things.

So again, youre not wrong per se, youre just picking up on the business model, which is get users on the platform in hopes that they buy stuff.

[*P0P$*FR3$H3NM3Y3R*]

Początkowo opublikowane przez AmsterdamHeavy:

Youre overthinking it; not wrong, just overthinking it.

For any business whose model is to provide a service, your long term goal is to become as integrated as possible into your customers' routine. To the point where they rely on you without thinking about it.

You then use that stickiness/integration to grow your business and expand your service offerings so the same people buy more things.

So again, youre not wrong per se, youre just picking up on the business model, which is get users on the platform in hopes that they buy stuff.

I agree to the 'business' explanation of the way STEAM is set up, thats all fine and nifty.
But then again STEAM is a one of a kind, unprecedented entity in the gaming market. (Due to their Early Bird bonus that they used when they evolved copy protection into a almost-always-on system..the genealogy that I laid out in the OP) They are naturally always ahead of the curve and the effects of their engineering become visible long after the fact for the general audience.

I wouldn't mind all of it if there was a proper Age Verification implemented that shields kids from engaging in the metagame (that bear resemblance with gambling mechanisms)
I fear that they will expand on these kind of retention schemes while their ever younger audience potentially get less resistant, unable to properly judge their own behavior and the consequences, jeopardizing not only their money but even more important their time and socialization ( a value which is worth safeguarding in itself).

[Crazy Tiger]

The thing is that a proper age verification is impossible to implement. Only way it could be proper would be through ID, which is impossible to verify for Valve.

[*P0P$*FR3$H3NM3Y3R*]

Początkowo opublikowane przez Crazy Tiger:

The thing is that a proper age verification is impossible to implement. Only way it could be proper would be through ID, which is impossible to verify for Valve.

Well another option could be a customizable client that allows parents to setup the profile for their kids in advance. But yeah Age Verification on the net seems impossible.

[cSg|mc-Hotsauce]

Family View is already a thing for parents to use.

[BossGalaga]

Początkowo opublikowane przez *P0P$*FR3$H3NM3Y3R*:

Are Events like Spring Cleaning Manipulative?

Yes, they're "manipulating" people into playing games that they already paid for. Dastardly!

I'm not participating in the event because at this point I don't really care to. I have no ethical or moral qualms about it though, I just didn't feel like it. It's free stuff for playing games that you already own, take it or leave it.

[Kargor]

I have no idea what Steam tries to accomplish with this, nor do I particularly care. I just use the same idling bot that I use to get my card drops after a purchase to play games without installing them, thus saving download capacity for Steam and time for myself.

[BossGalaga]

Początkowo opublikowane przez Kargor:

I have no idea what Steam tries to accomplish with this, nor do I particularly care. I just use the same idling bot that I use to get my card drops after a purchase to play games without installing them, thus saving download capacity for Steam and time for myself.

This is why it's funny when people complain that they missed exploiting part of a free event.

[*P0P$*FR3$H3NM3Y3R*]

Początkowo opublikowane przez Kargor:

I have no idea what Steam tries to accomplish with this, nor do I particularly care. I just use the same idling bot that I use to get my card drops after a purchase to play games without installing them, thus saving download capacity for Steam and time for myself.

You bolted a mod onto their metagame ;D Certainly an option, probably not in-line with the EULA, don't mind, I could imagine that they might change their stance on that and put some fences there.

Początkowo opublikowane przez BossGalaga:

Początkowo opublikowane przez *P0P$*FR3$H3NM3Y3R*:

Are Events like Spring Cleaning Manipulative?

Yes, they're "manipulating" people into playing games that they already paid for. Dastardly!

I'm not participating in the event because at this point I don't really care to. I have no ethical or moral qualms about it though, I just didn't feel like it. It's free stuff for playing games that you already own, take it or leave it.

Yeah true. Still leaves me wonder if the recurring nature of these events is geared towards conditioning people into a particular behavioral response during sales. Recurring patterns and repetition that impact attention and favor reflexive response.

[76561198001062896]

Początkowo opublikowane przez *P0P$*FR3$H3NM3Y3R*:

Początkowo opublikowane przez Kargor:

I have no idea what Steam tries to accomplish with this, nor do I particularly care. I just use the same idling bot that I use to get my card drops after a purchase to play games without installing them, thus saving download capacity for Steam and time for myself.

You bolted a mod onto their metagame ;D Certainly an option, probably not in-line with the EULA, don't mind, I could imagine that they might change their stance on that and put some fences there.

Początkowo opublikowane przez BossGalaga:

Yes, they're "manipulating" people into playing games that they already paid for. Dastardly!

I'm not participating in the event because at this point I don't really care to. I have no ethical or moral qualms about it though, I just didn't feel like it. It's free stuff for playing games that you already own, take it or leave it.

Yeah true. Still leaves me wonder if the recurring nature of these events is geared towards conditioning people into a particular behavioral response during sales. Recurring patterns and repetition that impact attention and favor reflexive response.

they dont care about idling, it doesnt gives you an edge over anyone

[Crazy Tiger]

Początkowo opublikowane przez *P0P$*FR3$H3NM3Y3R*:

Początkowo opublikowane przez Kargor:

I have no idea what Steam tries to accomplish with this, nor do I particularly care. I just use the same idling bot that I use to get my card drops after a purchase to play games without installing them, thus saving download capacity for Steam and time for myself.

You bolted a mod onto their metagame ;D Certainly an option, probably not in-line with the EULA, don't mind, I could imagine that they might change their stance on that and put some fences there.

Nah, they don't care about that. Never did care about idling programs.

[*P0P$*FR3$H3NM3Y3R*]

Początkowo opublikowane przez Zetikla:

Początkowo opublikowane przez *P0P$*FR3$H3NM3Y3R*:

You bolted a mod onto their metagame ;D Certainly an option, probably not in-line with the EULA, don't mind, I could imagine that they might change their stance on that and put some fences there.





Yeah true. Still leaves me wonder if the recurring nature of these events is geared towards conditioning people into a particular behavioral response during sales. Recurring patterns and repetition that impact attention and favor reflexive response.

they dont care about idling, it doesnt gives you an edge over anyone

For this particular case they probably even embrace it, you know since emoji and background sales.
Contrary if there were other substantial rewards like a free game or the like and they'd see a spike in botfarming these rewards ...they'd probably not approve.