What's the story with Steam Level?

[ploppo]

I seem to be Level 11 and I have been on Steam for like 13 and a half years. I am pretty sure I have been Level 11 for a few years.

There is someone on Steam for 8 years who is Level 2,784.

Is there any point to it?

I mean, what is the point of being Level 2,784?

ie, am I shooting myself in the foot by not increasing my Level?

[wuddih]

https://steamcommunity.com/tradingcards/faq
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=212414540

[sfnhltb]

No, there is no point to it for most people. Some people raise their level to customize their profile a bit more (you get one extra slot for each 10 levels), some do it to get the extra friends slots because they friend a large amount of people they play certain online multiplayer games with, some scammers level up to make their account seem more legitimate, but other than that there isn't really any reason to do it generally.

[ploppo]

Steam must think it important though. To me it seems to be a carrot and stick thing.

If increasing Level allows you to have more friends - imagine if Facebook had a similar feature to unlock more and more slots for friends?

I don't get why you need to unlock more slots for friends.

Why limit the amount of friends someone can have in the first place?

Bare in mind that I am clueless on this sort of stuff - so I might be missing any obvious reasons.

[VRtopian]

The true benefit from your Steam level is the higher level you are the more likely you are to get booster pack drops. For every 10 levels it increases the base percentage chance of getting a booster pack.

https://steamcommunity.com/tradingcards/faq

[sfnhltb]

ploppo の投稿を引用：

Steam must think it important though. To me it seems to be a carrot and stick thing.

If increasing Level allows you to have more friends - imagine if Facebook had a similar feature to unlock more and more slots for friends?

I don't get why you need to unlock more slots for friends.

Why limit the amount of friends someone can have in the first place?

Bare in mind that I am clueless on this sort of stuff - so I might be missing any obvious reasons.

From Steam's perspective I think it is just a loyalty program, trying to get people to buy all their games here (or at least somewhere that gives steam keys) rather than picking and choosing different stores for each game based on price at the time of purchase alone.

Whether it is people that collect badges, or compete to get higher levels, or the ones that just sell cards it presumably increases the chances Steam will make sales (or get more users to install Steam and thus become potential future customers) rather than their competitors that don't have the trading card system.

As to the friends limit, before trading cards were added I think it was just 250 for everyone (which I believe is what it starts at now, and that still seems like plenty for the vast majority of people). Why raising the cap was tied to steam level is probably just coincidence that it was something a few people in the forums were asking for a way to do at the time trading cards were added, so it was something that could be added as a minor perk of raising your steam level.

[ploppo]

Aha, thanks!

I didn't get the 250 friends starting point.

I thought it was incrementing up 5 friends at a time.

I was thinking people like start at 5 friends and have to work up Level by Level.

[tuxdelux]

some nice profile customization widgets at higher levels..
I found them mildly amusing to use, once I had them available

[Glimmer]

250 base friend slots. 50 from linking your profile to Facebook. 5 for each level.

[ploppo]

It's still a bit weird though - in a way.

I really don't get the unlocking of friend slots.

Is there a point to unlocking friends?

I've been on Steam for 13 and a half years and I have never bothered having any.

What do you do with them?

Why beaver away to unlock an additional 5?

If I had 250 friends on Steam, I'd be worried that half of them are planning to steal my account or something.

[Black Blade]

Its mostly a thing to make more money
You know like cosmetics in a game that do nothing but just give you maybe a look you want

That is most of it, and on the side, you have some small benefits as friends slots and higher chance to get cards so you can level more

ploppo の投稿を引用：

It's still a bit weird though - in a way.

I really don't get the unlocking of friend slots.

Is there a point to unlocking friends?

I've been on Steam for 13 and a half years and I have never bothered having any.

What do you do with them?

Why beaver away to unlock an additional 5?

If I had 250 friends on Steam, I'd be worried that half of them are planning to steal my account or something.

So people like to add the entire world and their wifes

I add when I am asked for the most part, or people I want to play again with or people I know outside of Steam as well or help

Some just like to have big number of friends for some reason

[ploppo]

What does Steam get out of it though?

I mean, Steam are the ones that want people to Level up - what's in it for them?

[Black Blade]

ploppo の投稿を引用：

What does Steam get out of it though?

I mean, Steam are the ones that want people to Level up - what's in it for them?

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=491665799

If you buy or sell the cards on the market Valve takes a cut
If you buy a game from Steam Store for cards they take a cut
If you get a background, emote, anything else from the market they get a cut

So ya..

[ploppo]

Maybe some of these 'friends' are not real?

Do all of them talk normally - I mean do some people have friends who literally don't interact?

I mean, could Steam literally create an automated system of 'pretend' people that they want you to Level up to be 'friends' with?

Imagine if a ton of people on Steam are just some kind of Steam AI.

Can Steam have an AI that trades with you, like a real person?

[Glimmer]

Leveling up is primarily done through crafting badges. When people are crafting badges with the intent of leveling up, they are usually purchasing things from the Market. Valve gets a cut of every Market transaction.

It's also something other platforms do not offer, which for some people helps incentivize continued usage of Steam rather than moving over to (E.G.) GoG.

You might also be over thinking this. The system is set up so users are not compelled to participate if they don't want to, and for the most part Valve has adhered to that design philosophy.

Is it possible that Valve is operating a bunch of fake/AI account, sure, But for what purpose? 250 is a lot of friends. 300 is even more. Most people who hit that number add people they play with, not traders. Running hundreds of accounts who are playing games well enough to get invites is a lot of time/monet and I just don't see it worth the effort.

[ploppo]

I have read a lot on Steam before about bots - ie external bots that scam people, etc.

So, surely Steam must have realised they could have 'legit' bots on Steam that are driving an economy of some sort.

Or is that too far-fetched?