If the game is free and you review it, are you suppose to check the box saying received for free?

[-$ilver-]

I assume that box is reserved for paid games and they gave you a free copy of directly. But what about if the game is free for everyone? Also what if you got the paid game free on a promotion? They did not give you anything directly, you simply were lucky by checking in when you did. Games like OddWorld: Abe's Oddysee and Shadow Warrior I received for free, because for a limited time they were presented to everyone as free. What is the proper etiquette for reviews? Thank you.

[rawWwRrr]

If you received the game in exchange for a review. It's meant to identify those reviews that may contain a bias. If you just got the game for free because you won a key, or it was free-weekend, then no, you don't check that box.

[м]

if the game is always free = no

if the game was temporarily free, or a gift from friends = check the box

[Kargor]

I never check the "free" box.

I don't think I've ever played a game from a giveaway, but I fail to see how that would be of any significance.

I think Steam is just trying to make their review stuff look more "serious", and missed the point.
One could ask for a checkbox to indicate a paid review -- but nobody would pay for a Steam review anyway. So, they settled for something that they felt could be checked by some people, and ended up with "how about a checkbox for gifts/giveaways?".

[Talamarie]

Here's my point of view : i think like Rawwwwwr up there.

If i had won a key in a contest or the game was gifted by a friend i wouldn't check it.

Buf if i had reached (or was reached by) a team to get a key in exchange of a review, whether it's profesionnal or amator, i would check it.

[Dr.Shadowds 🐉]

When I first saw this I assume, if someone gifted you the game, or basically getting it for free without paying for it, is considered to be under receive for free. But then notice question mark when you hover mouse on question mark this what shows.

Check this box if you were given this product for free. Will show “Product received for free” alongside your review. If you received additional compensation for the review of this game, you must disclose that in the text of your review.

[Morgan Fun Gamer]

Yes unless you payed microtransactions in that game

[.LImz x]

er

[Gallifrey - CSSC Gaming Founder]

The purpose is to try to identify reviewers who aren't independent.

So: -

1) Winning a game - not free because you'll have had to do something to win prize
2) Got game free because you bought another game - not free because "free" game was part of the contract.
3) Got game code "free" in a gaming magazine. Not free because game was part of purchase price of magazine.
4) Gift from friend or family member unconnected with developers or publishers. Not free because they paid for it.

However: - 1) Sent free "review" copy - should identify as free
2) Given to you by anyone connected to the developer or publisher in anyway -identify as free
3) Technically - general giveaway (happens rarely on Steam and often ... somewhere else) - should identify as free.



S.x.

[Crashed]

Better idea would be if the game was acquired directly via the store, remove the checkbox and use account records to set it, based on if it was purchased with money or complimentary.

[-$ilver-]

Originally posted by Crashed:

Better idea would be if the game was acquired directly via the store, remove the checkbox and use account records to set it, based on if it was purchased with money or complimentary.

This sounds good, as it is confusing otherwise. I am in the same mind set as some others, as long as it was not "given" to you directly by the developer themselves, you should not have to say you got it for free. Devs give things to others in hopes of a good review, even though I have seen it back fire many times.

Anything else, whether it was a free promotion for everyone and you got the game then for free or it was gifted to you by a friend, etc. should not be considered received for free. At least I assume that is the spirit and the intention of Steam.

And yet who knows. That is why I posed the question. Interesting answers and thoughts for sure.

[crunchyfrog]

Originally posted by Crashed:

Better idea would be if the game was acquired directly via the store, remove the checkbox and use account records to set it, based on if it was purchased with money or complimentary.

That wouldn't be much use.

As there are other places to buy Steam keys legitimately - it could be the developers own site, or Humble Bundle, Fanatical, or even sites like Green Man Gaming or Amazon.

You'd immediately cut out those and render any such data useless.


Personally, I suspect it's there in part at least, for Valve's records. Maybe it's for them to see if anyone's been abusing or throwing keys around to garner reviews, a bit like how some used to fleece Greenlight by offering games for votes.

[Crashed]

Originally posted by crunchyfrog:

Originally posted by Crashed:

Better idea would be if the game was acquired directly via the store, remove the checkbox and use account records to set it, based on if it was purchased with money or complimentary.

That wouldn't be much use.

As there are other places to buy Steam keys legitimately - it could be the developers own site, or Humble Bundle, Fanatical, or even sites like Green Man Gaming or Amazon.

You'd immediately cut out those and render any such data useless.


Personally, I suspect it's there in part at least, for Valve's records. Maybe it's for them to see if anyone's been abusing or throwing keys around to garner reviews, a bit like how some used to fleece Greenlight by offering games for votes.

I meant for this to kick in only if the acquisition method of the license was through the store and not activating a third party product key.

When you acquire a game license via the Steam Store it is on record whether you paid money or the license was complimentary. I suppose a third category could be for products gifted via the Store.

[crunchyfrog]

Originally posted by Crashed:

Originally posted by crunchyfrog:

That wouldn't be much use.

As there are other places to buy Steam keys legitimately - it could be the developers own site, or Humble Bundle, Fanatical, or even sites like Green Man Gaming or Amazon.

You'd immediately cut out those and render any such data useless.


Personally, I suspect it's there in part at least, for Valve's records. Maybe it's for them to see if anyone's been abusing or throwing keys around to garner reviews, a bit like how some used to fleece Greenlight by offering games for votes.

I meant for this to kick in only if the acquisition method of the license was through the store and not activating a third party product key.

Oh I see, my mistake then. Sorry.