I fear for Steam's future if GameStop goes under.

[magelord01]

Here is why: Steam is now almost completely dependent on GameStop stores to distribute Steam Gift Cards to its customers. Many Targets, Best Buys, etc. in many cities and towns across America have STOPPED carrying Steam Gift Cards, so this pretty much leaves it up to GameStop to carry them. Once GameStop completely goes under (and thus: ALL GameStop stores shut down), then I fear that pretty much all Americans will have no choice but to use their credit cards to add funds to their Steam Wallets. I figure that Steam's been counting on the sheer convenience of Steam Gift Cards to stay afloat; and once that option is gone, then Steam itself might well go under: Steam Gift Cards are FAR more convenient than using credit cards!

[Kage Goomba]

引用自 crunchyfrog：

引用自 Kage Goomba：

You have a solid point there.

People don't really read enough to understand how it works.
And as you pointed out - "Chicken or the Egg" syndrome becomes a big problem.

But sooner or later someone will figure it out and things could get nasty.
Then again - when you get users who won't read what's put in front of them anymore and scream at you for being wrong - yeah - maybe I'm just too paranoid for my own sanity concerning something like NFT's :)

Yeah that's what I pointed out earlier.

I'm not saying NFTs will never make some impact as it COULD happen that someone may find a way to offer utility.

For example, if a major publisher that put out a load of regular games like Call of Duty annually, they might be well placed for an infrastructure where you could buy something like an NFT which you could actually own in some way, transfer it across all the COD games, and sell it on.

But I wouldn't hold my breath as even then I still fear it's too little too late.

You can fool some of the people some of the time ... as the saying goes.

All it takes is some kid posting a random generic pic - stamping it with an NFT and suddenly making stupid amount of money.

Yep it happened. >.<;

[crunchyfrog]

引用自 Kage Goomba：

引用自 crunchyfrog：

Yeah that's what I pointed out earlier.

I'm not saying NFTs will never make some impact as it COULD happen that someone may find a way to offer utility.

For example, if a major publisher that put out a load of regular games like Call of Duty annually, they might be well placed for an infrastructure where you could buy something like an NFT which you could actually own in some way, transfer it across all the COD games, and sell it on.

But I wouldn't hold my breath as even then I still fear it's too little too late.

You can fool some of the people some of the time ... as the saying goes.

All it takes is some kid posting a random generic pic - stamping it with an NFT and suddenly making stupid amount of money.

Yep it happened. >.<;

Yeah i know it's happened and a lot. But not anymore as even the stupid people got the message. That's why the data shows there's bugger all action in trades now.

Stupid people do stupid things, as it's why crypto is still a thing.

The problem with all that nonsense is that ultimately the only way they make money is at the expense of other unfortunate people. That's a shocking way to try and make money.

But hey, thankfully even in crypto the majority of people have realised how dumb it is.

Never mind the irritantingly piss poor effect it has on the environment.

[Kage Goomba]

引用自 crunchyfrog：

引用自 Kage Goomba：

All it takes is some kid posting a random generic pic - stamping it with an NFT and suddenly making stupid amount of money.

Yep it happened. >.<;

Yeah i know it's happened and a lot. But not anymore as even the stupid people got the message. That's why the data shows there's bugger all action in trades now.

Stupid people do stupid things, as it's why crypto is still a thing.

The problem with all that nonsense is that ultimately the only way they make money is at the expense of other unfortunate people. That's a shocking way to try and make money.

But hey, thankfully even in crypto the majority of people have realised how dumb it is.

Never mind the irritantingly piss poor effect it has on the environment.

Crypto doesn't scare me all that much - short of their disruption of the GPU market (grumble) - The currencies are unregulated - there's no enforcement - no guidelines - and sooner or later they have to convert it back via some merchant exchange.

It makes the stock market look like a preschool playground.

Which is why so many have "crashed" and crashed hard. Yet they insist its the future and there's nothing wrong with it.

Not to mention its the single most powerful criminal pipeline in existence. "oops"

[Zef]

引用自 magelord01：

Here is why: Steam is now almost completely dependent on GameStop stores to distribute Steam Gift Cards to its customers. Many Targets, Best Buys, etc. in many cities and towns across America have STOPPED carrying Steam Gift Cards, so this pretty much leaves it up to GameStop to carry them. Once GameStop completely goes under (and thus: ALL GameStop stores shut down), then I fear that pretty much all Americans will have no choice but to use their credit cards to add funds to their Steam Wallets. I figure that Steam's been counting on the sheer convenience of Steam Gift Cards to stay afloat; and once that option is gone, then Steam itself might well go under: Steam Gift Cards are FAR more convenient than using credit cards!

Silly american, this is only a USA thing. Steam will do fine without gamestop.

I know some stores in EU have them (steam gift cards) but the majority here either use banccontact, visa, or any other digital payment method then having to go get physical cards in a brick and mortar store.

[ReBoot]

I keep seeing prepaid cards of all sorts, Amazon, Switch, and a couple others, including Steam, at almost every groccery checkout. I can't actually remember the last time I got grocceries and the store didn't have those. I do remember the last Kiosk I've seen that didn't carry prepaid cards, that was years ago though. Hell, postal Offices carry prepaid cards! And let's not Forget electronics stores. The kind that sells fridges, PCs, phones, consoles & videogames, also prepaid cards.

... then there's the matter with non-prepaid payments. The one I'm immediately thinking of would be PayPal, there's others.

Steam will do just fine without Gamestop.

[pasa]

People buy gift cards in volume? And those involved need a specially named shop for that? Sounds pretty wild claim, citation?

[76561199049405645]

Here in Maine the Hannaford chain of supermarkets carries them. I believe Shaw's too though I don't shop there as often.

[crunchyfrog]

引用自 Kage Goomba：

引用自 crunchyfrog：

Yeah i know it's happened and a lot. But not anymore as even the stupid people got the message. That's why the data shows there's bugger all action in trades now.

Stupid people do stupid things, as it's why crypto is still a thing.

The problem with all that nonsense is that ultimately the only way they make money is at the expense of other unfortunate people. That's a shocking way to try and make money.

But hey, thankfully even in crypto the majority of people have realised how dumb it is.

Never mind the irritantingly piss poor effect it has on the environment.

Crypto doesn't scare me all that much - short of their disruption of the GPU market (grumble) - The currencies are unregulated - there's no enforcement - no guidelines - and sooner or later they have to convert it back via some merchant exchange.

It makes the stock market look like a preschool playground.

Which is why so many have "crashed" and crashed hard. Yet they insist its the future and there's nothing wrong with it.

Not to mention its the single most powerful criminal pipeline in existence. "oops"

Ah but the thing is with crypto is there's two very big problems at least with it.

First is that you only make money by ripping other people off. The rug pulls are what make crypto worth anything to some people. Sure, there's been things like Bitcoin, where you always get a major player rise to the top and do something.

But again the reason these things exist is dodgy as all hell. If money laundering wasn't possible, then it simply would crash and burn like you'd expect. There's a reason countries like North Korea LOVE to use crypto.

But worse than this is not the GPU problem. It's the energy problem. Maintaining a blockchain takes STUPID amounts of energy - and during the problems we have with climate change that's just unacceptable and unnecessary.

[Phénomènes Mystiques]

引用自 magelord01：

Steam Gift Cards are FAR more convenient than using credit cards!

Going Jester farming I see.

There is no way going to a store, dealing with ♥♥♥♥♥♥ people everywhere and traffic is easier than pulling out your card and typing it in within seconds. Plus CC gives cash back bonuses.

[D. Flame]

引用自 Wynters：

引用自 magelord01：

Steam Gift Cards are FAR more convenient than using credit cards!

Going Jester farming I see.

There is no way going to a store, dealing with ♥♥♥♥♥♥ people everywhere and traffic is easier than pulling out your card and typing it in within seconds. Plus CC gives cash back bonuses.

Gift cards are more secure, easier for purchasing in certain regions, prevents reoccurring charges, and so on.

[crunchyfrog]

引用自 D. Flame：

引用自 Wynters：

Going Jester farming I see.

There is no way going to a store, dealing with ♥♥♥♥♥♥ people everywhere and traffic is easier than pulling out your card and typing it in within seconds. Plus CC gives cash back bonuses.

Gift cards are more secure, easier for purchasing in certain regions, prevents reoccurring charges, and so on.

Not exclusively.

There are many regions that have either decent over the counter debit cards, or other methods of purchasing too.

That's the point - Steam gift cards are not the be-all and end-all, and not a major revenue eaner either I'd token.

[Father Taco]

My local dollar trees carry steam cards this is a non issue

[wesnef]

引用自 Father Taco：

My local dollar trees carry steam cards this is a non issue

Nov 26, 2023

Why?

[HereIsPlenty]

引用自 wesnef：

引用自 Father Taco：

My local dollar trees carry steam cards this is a non issue

Nov 26, 2023

Why?

Better late than never?

[Emma]

This thread was quite old before the recent post, so we're locking it to prevent confusion.