The ability to temporarily ban yourself from your steam library. similar to gambling websites.

[✇ | Babushka]

I'd like to propose steam and other gaming platforms to include a self ban system where I could ban myself from my steam library for a time of my choosing.

I say this as someone with a silly amount of hours across games, a college and university degree in video game design and a game designer myself.
unfortunatly I am one of those people who suffer from addiction, Thankfully I don't suffer from drug addiction however I am prone to gambling and video games. I tried to go cold turkey at the start of the year to stop me playing rust however although achieving it, it was insanely stupid to do. I had to give my close friend my steam account and have him change the email and password making me unable to access it for 2 months. Now it has worked a lot. before I was hitting above 100 hours per 2 weeks and am now generally under 60 (i'd still like to get this lower) Mostly what I want to do is ban myself from video games between monday and friday and have a good blast on the weekend.

I think in todays gaming landscape this is an essential thing all companies need to start implementing as video games have changed, many of them even have forms of gambling now (look at cs:go with its crates) along with them purposly having mechanics designed to make players play as much as possible, especially on f2p games.

Of course I can already hear people saying "why dont you just not play them" its not that simple, its like asking an crack addict to stop using it while leaving a big bag of crack on the table infront of him. I have played video games as a coping mechanism since I were 4 so my brain is very hard wired to this to the point that in the 2 months of not having video games I did get withdrawal, it took over a month before my brain stopped telling me to just break and ask for my account back.

These are just my thoughts, im sure there are other people out there with a similar situation to me.

[AmsterdamHeavy]

The funny thing about addiction is only the person who is addicted can solve the problem.

[Nx Machina]

Give your PC, Steam Deck, Laptop etc to a friend or family member. Problem solved.

Secondly regarding:

Originally posted by ✇ | babushka ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥.com:

I had to give my close friend my steam account and have him change the email and password making me unable to access it for 2 months.

https://store.steampowered.com/subscriber_agreement

C. Your Account

You may not reveal, share or otherwise allow others to use your password or Account except as otherwise specifically authorized by Valve.

You are responsible for the confidentiality of your login and password and for the security of your computer system.

Valve is not responsible for the use of your password and Account or for all of the communication and activity on Steam that results from use of your login name and password by you, or by any person to whom you may have intentionally or by negligence disclosed your login and/or password in violation of this confidentiality provision.

Unless it results from Valve’s negligence or fault, Valve is not responsible for the use of your Account by a person who fraudulently used your login and password without your permission.

And finally you are not allowed to advertise sites in your profile name.

[Garou]

They could do that but that won't solve the underlying issue. And if it's an irreversible timeout you will probably regret it and feel bad until it expires. I know it's hard to change your habits, but it takes effort and will to change things. Or it takes over-indulgence and/or desensitization. You have a built in mechanism in your body, which is dopamine. Before you know it it will take care of your situation.

[Lilim]

Originally posted by ✇ | babushka {link removed}:

The ability to temporarily ban yourself from your steam library. similar to gambling websites.

Similar to the website you are currently advertising ?

[BJWyler]

You probably should be more worried about having your account hijacked because of the scam website you are using in your profile name.

[✇ | Babushka]

Originally posted by BJWyler:

You probably should be more worried about having your account hijacked because of the scam website you are using in your profile name.

it would end my suffering anon

[✇ | Babushka]

Originally posted by Lilim:

Originally posted by ✇ | babushka {link removed}:

The ability to temporarily ban yourself from your steam library. similar to gambling websites.

Similar to the website you are currently advertising :hp_kyu:?

its where I got the idea from lmao.

[Brian9824]

If you could impose the ban on yourself you'd be able to remove it. If not imagine all the people getting their accounts hijacked who would have this done and would have no way to remove it.....

I mean you could already have someone in your family change your password, but as the account owner you will always have the ability to recover it

[✇ | Babushka]

Originally posted by brian9824:

If you could impose the ban on yourself you'd be able to remove it. If not imagine all the people getting their accounts hijacked who would have this done and would have no way to remove it.....
gambling websites that handle much larger amounts of money than steam (we're talking 10s of thousands) were instructed to implement these measures, you are warned several times that the ban cannot be undone until the time has passed and of course you cannot set it to something silly like 10000 days. having self temp bans on gambling websites is recognised as a valid method by many governments across the world so I see no reason why steam, which also has games that are featuring gambling via loot crates and keys do not implement this measure. There is no perfect way to stop addiction however this is one that has proven effective in the gambling industry.


I mean you could already have someone in your family change your password, but as the account owner you will always have the ability to recover it

This was a jerry rigged solution the first time, it required a lot of trust and gave up my email and password to my friend, I may have been able to recover it via steam using credit card history but that's why I am suggesting a proper system that would allow a more streamlined way of dealing with addiction.

This method also helped a lot, as mentioned after the first month I was regaining self control and now am in a much better state in terms of gaming hours but I'd honestly like a way to go further so I can reclaim more of my life. I come from a family who suffers from addiction so I will once again state, its not as simply as not playing.

[BJWyler]

Originally posted by ✇ | babushka ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥.com:

Originally posted by BJWyler:

You probably should be more worried about having your account hijacked because of the scam website you are using in your profile name.

it would end my suffering anon

Perhaps, but by advertising it in your profile name you are giving it a level of legitimacy that we probably shouldn't be doing, and it could cause someone to lose their account as a result. Best just to remove it from your name.

On the other matter, you always do have the option of deleting your account. It's a more permanent solution, but could still be the best option if gaming addiction is such an issue.

[✇ | Babushka]

Originally posted by BJWyler:

Originally posted by ✇ | babushka ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥.com:

it would end my suffering anon

Perhaps, but by advertising it in your profile name you are giving it a level of legitimacy that we probably shouldn't be doing, and it could cause someone to lose their account as a result. Best just to remove it from your name.

On the other matter, you always do have the option of deleting your account. It's a more permanent solution, but could still be the best option if gaming addiction is such an issue.

I dont want to just delete my $1000 worth of games here man, I'm looking for a way to steadily lower my hours to a more reasonable amount without having to jump through seven hoops, its something tried and tested across the UK with gambling sites and places so I dont see why a place that features gambling such as steam doesn't also include this feature.

You also keep mentioning this ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥.com will steal my details, it doesn't have access to my account nor its password. its got a high review on trust pilot so I'm unsure of how it would be any worse than me entering a gambling house in my area, I would be happy to hear why this is such a taboo as 50% of rust players I encounter also use this website and have it in their name (its why i started using it myself)

[Gwarsbane]

Oh heck no, this is a bad idea.

If it can be bypassed then its pointless because people with no self control would just turn it off.

If it can't be turned off, then not only would the people with no self control not use it, hijackers and annoying siblings/friends who get access to an account would love it because it would be one more thing they could do to people. And of course there are the people who turn it on to see what its like and then can't turn it off who would be making whole new accounts just to scream on the forums and at support.

That brings up another issue, you turn it on, and because you have zero self control you go and get another free e-mail account and setup another steam account... Valve can't stop you from doing that. If they could they would have a way to stop every cheater from making new accounts, which they don't.

If it could be turned off by steam support, you're just going to get a bunch of people with no self control bugging steam support to turn it back on.



If you are having problems like this, you need to get your family involved, get them to take control of not only your steam account, but also your e-mail account associated with it and your phone number associated with it including changing the e-mail password and the steam account password (they do that not you)

This is not something Valve can help you with, they can't give you that kind of control without putting a billion+ accounts in danger of losing access.

YOU (and people who have this issue) need to ask for help from your (their) family.

[Lilim]

Originally posted by ✇ | babushka {link removed}:

... and have it in their name

They just have not been reported yet .

Advertising third-party sites is not allowed - especially gambling sites.

Originally posted by Rules and Guidelines:

Commercial content is not permitted.

Unless otherwise specified, discussions are not a place for commercial activity.

Examples of commercial content include:

• Advertisements
  
• (...)
  
• Gambling & raffles

Originally posted by Rules and Guidelines:

User-Uploaded Content

There are many Steam features that support custom image and content uploads for players. Examples include screenshots, player artwork, custom profiles, and workshop items.

• Don’t advertise commercial content

Originally posted by Steam Online Conduct:

As a Steam subscriber you agree to abide by the following conduct rules. In general, as a Steam user you should be a good online citizen and not do anything that prevents any other Steam user from using and enjoying Steam.

More specifically, you shall not do, or attempt to do, any of the following on Steam:

• Engage in commercial activity
  
  Examples of such prohibited behavior include: posting advertisements; running contests; gambling; buying or selling Steam accounts; selling content, gift cards, or other items; and begging.

[✇ | Babushka]

Originally posted by Lilim:

Originally posted by ✇ | babushka {link removed}:

... and have it in their name

They just have not been reported yet :hp_kyu:.

Advertising third-party sites is not allowed - especially gambling sites.

Originally posted by Rules and Guidelines:

Commercial content is not permitted.

Unless otherwise specified, discussions are not a place for commercial activity.

Examples of commercial content include:

• Advertisements
  
• (...)
  
• Gambling & raffles

Originally posted by Rules and Guidelines:

User-Uploaded Content

There are many Steam features that support custom image and content uploads for players. Examples include screenshots, player artwork, custom profiles, and workshop items.

• Don’t advertise commercial content

Originally posted by Steam Online Conduct:

As a Steam subscriber you agree to abide by the following conduct rules. In general, as a Steam user you should be a good online citizen and not do anything that prevents any other Steam user from using and enjoying Steam.

More specifically, you shall not do, or attempt to do, any of the following on Steam:

• Engage in commercial activity
  
  Examples of such prohibited behavior include: posting advertisements; running contests; gambling; buying or selling Steam accounts; selling content, gift cards, or other items; and begging.

Interesting, would that you mean you would also get banned for advertising your twitch t.v account in your name then?

[Lilim]

Originally posted by ✇ | babushka {link removed}:

Interesting, would that you mean you would also get banned for advertising your twitch t.v account in your name then?

I don't know that for sure.

I think it would be better not to put any links in your username at all.