Valve has hidden your profile features behind a paywall?

[Alice How Do You Do]

From what I'm reading, for people to even see my achievements, for example, I have to level my profile, and the only practical way to level your profile is to buy their "trading cards."

Even then, people can only see a few of my achievements.

Could someone please inform me if this is incorrect? Also, is there a way to level your profile just by gaming?

[The End]

Escrito originalmente por Alice How Do You Do:

Escrito originalmente por Satoru:

You made your profile private which has nothing to do with your account being limited

My friends should still be able to view it?

No, not when you have your account to "Private", and that is what you have, with that, no one, not even those on your friendslist can see anything on your profile.

You need to set it to "Friends Only" if your friends should be able to see your profile.

[Washell]

Escrito originalmente por Alice How Do You Do:

It just seems like these cards are more or less just a facade for what is essentially buying levels for your profile.

That is correct. The whole system is designed to be an extra source of income for Valve and the participating developers.

Ignore it, spend the minimum to get what you want, try to make a buck for yourself through smart trading, or waste hundreds to thousands getting levels. It's your choice.

[Gauvain]

Yes its a paywall of a sorts (Kinda) and a system set up to get more cash out of you.

Thats why Steam destroyed the trading system.

They are a for profit company.. Did you expect any less from them?

[Spawn of Totoro]

I have not spent a penny on cards, yet made level 24 and about $30 from selling most those cards. I only got the ones from games I played and traded with friends.

Other then that, the age of my account, number of game's owned, Community Leader badge and free badges from events. It all adds up quickly and easily to unlock those showcases.

I honestly don't see a paywall for any feature on Steam.

[Kargor]

Escrito originalmente por Spawn of Totoro:

I honestly don't see a paywall for any feature on Steam.

The cards ARE still a paywall, like it or not.

However, the profile stuff is 100% cosmetic. Not having it... means nothing.

[cinedine]

The community has been "freemium" for years now. Why complain now? It sucked back then, it sucks now. But people happily throw money at Valve for it.

[Spawn of Totoro]

Escrito originalmente por Kargor:

The cards ARE still a paywall, like it or not.

However, the profile stuff is 100% cosmetic. Not having it... means nothing.

No, a paywall is when you have to hand over money to unlock something. You don't have to hand over any money to get the showcases.

http://www.dictionary.com/browse/paywall

As much as some want to call it a paywall, it is not a paywall.

[pennarguy]

Probably most Steam users are like me...not interested.

[Xaelath]

Escrito originalmente por Spawn of Totoro:

Escrito originalmente por Kargor:

The cards ARE still a paywall, like it or not.

However, the profile stuff is 100% cosmetic. Not having it... means nothing.

No, a paywall is when you have to hand over money to unlock something. You don't have to hand over any money to get the showcases.

http://www.dictionary.com/browse/paywall

As much as some want to call it a paywall, it is not a paywall.

Well it does unlock more friend limits and showcase.

but like he said, its just a cosmetic , nothing more

[Messy]

no. you buy games. then you play them. then you level your steam account.

[Zefar]

Escrito originalmente por Kargor:

The cards ARE still a paywall, like it or not.

You get the cards while playing the game you bought with money. You wouldn't just be getting these for free for no reason.
There are like a few thousands of games on Steam, imagine getting several thousand cards per day for weeks to come.

Calling it a paywall is ridiculous as it comes with the game. Free to play games will give couple of ones for free I believe but then you need to buy some bonus packs to the game to get more of those drops. Unless you just buy the cards manually.

Escrito originalmente por cinedine:

The community has been "freemium" for years now. Why complain now? It sucked back then, it sucks now. But people happily throw money at Valve for it.

The reason it stopped being completely free was because trolls, spammers and scammers abused this to hell and back. Valve tried several things before going with the $5 limit.
But because you don't need to pay to just unlock the features you can just buy anything on Steam for about $5 to unlock them.

Unlike Microsoft Xbox Live Gold Membership and Playstation versions of it. Which hides features behind a true pay wall.

[Messy]

whats so important about leveling your profile anyway. its just a number. buy and play more games, trade the cards, make badges.

[Spawn of Totoro]

Escrito originalmente por Xaelath:

Escrito originalmente por Spawn of Totoro:

No, a paywall is when you have to hand over money to unlock something. You don't have to hand over any money to get the showcases.

http://www.dictionary.com/browse/paywall

As much as some want to call it a paywall, it is not a paywall.

Well it does unlock more friend limits and showcase.

but like he said, its just a cosmetic , nothing more

But you don't have to pay anything to get the cards and level up. Least nothing beyond purchasing a game you would have purchased anyways.

Still does not follow what a paywall is either.

Escrito originalmente por UnderButtFat:

whats so important about leveling your profile anyway. its just a number. buy and play more games, trade the cards, make badges.

Exactly. There is no meaning behind it at all. It is just supposed to be a fun extra, yet so many take it to seriously and put so much stock into it. Then they get scammed and say "I thought he was legit because he had a Steam level over 200!".

[僕の名前 (仮)]

There are some cheap cards. If you don't go for very big level it shouldn't be much money.