STEAM GROUP
Sentinels of the Store StoreSents
STEAM GROUP
Sentinels of the Store StoreSents
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Reporting games - the missing gap with Steam
I'm wondering if we have any clout or ways to suggest, entice, or otherwise convince Steam to make it better to report developers and games that are asset flips or shady developers? I know shady developers can be an opinion but we know there are dozens of developers who have released hundreds of titles all under the same banner. As for asset flips I'm getting tired of reporting them because Steam does almost nothing 99.9% of the time. The gap however I feel is in the reporting. If I report an app these are the choices I get:

Legal Violation - Contains content that violates the laws in your jurisdiction
Child Exploitation - Contains content that exploits children in any way
Broken - Does not download, launch, or run correctly, even on a machine that meets the minimum system requirements.
Adult Content - Contains adult content that isn't appropriately labeled and age-gated
Defamatory - Contains Libelous or defamatory statements
Harmful - This software modifies a customer's computer in unexpected or harmful ways (e.g. is malware or a virus)
Fraud - This software fraudulently attempts to gather sensitive information, such as your Steam credentials or financial data (e.g. credit card information).

The problem for asset flips is there's literally no choice here that you can pick that really reflects an asset flip. It's fraud, but it's not stealing your credentials. It might be broken (if the asset was) but that's not normally the case. It's not illegal because there are no laws against this.

Really what's missing is an "Other" category where you can fill in the details. I mean asset flips are unethical but illegal? No. I've even contacted some of the asset authors and know some of them, but there's nothing they can do short of trying to take someone to court with some kind of misrepresentation case (or whatever you think could legally hold up) but that's a process that takes months, if not years, and costs $$$. Nobody who creates an asset for $30 is going to do that, or can.

Just wondering what others think, are you bothering to even report asset flippers anymore? While I have seen a "few" taken down, there's still a large majority of them out there and have been selling their crap for years with no consequences. It's all very frustrating.
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Showing 1-5 of 5 comments
Selective Oblivion 20 Aug, 2021 @ 9:39am 
In short: "Nope". We have zero influence.
They already have our $. They keep getting $ from said shadey devs.
Legit or ethical devs and customers are caught in the middle.

They won't listen until there is a mass exodus that translates into lost profits.

Get use to the crunchy peanut butter lubricant while you're bent over the barrel.
Be thankful you don't have peanut allergies.
Last edited by Selective Oblivion; 20 Aug, 2021 @ 9:42am
Stefan8000 20 Aug, 2021 @ 11:52am 
It is easy, asset flips are not illegal, so it is a time waste to report them.
Jillas 20 Aug, 2021 @ 12:29pm 
Originally posted by Occular Malice:
Just wondering what others think, are you bothering to even report asset flippers anymore?
Nope, never
Originally posted by Stefan8000:
It is easy, asset flips are not illegal, so it is a time waste to report them.
It's a time waste even if it's illegal*, Steam won't remove any game based on user reports alone, even if the game is using stolen IP or copyrighted assets they still won't remove it, they will remove it only if they get complain from actual owner, not from random dude.

*based on what I saw/believe.
Occular Malice 20 Aug, 2021 @ 1:11pm 
Thanks for the responses. Sorry for the rant, I just feel totally frustrated at the system and realize it is what it is, just wish there wasn't as much shovelware and asset flips on the store. It makes for people like me, trying to create games and have fun doing it, an exercise in futility.
Originally posted by Occular Malice:
Thanks for the responses. Sorry for the rant, I just feel totally frustrated at the system and realize it is what it is, just wish there wasn't as much shovelware and asset flips on the store. It makes for people like me, trying to create games and have fun doing it, an exercise in futility.

Hence, my unhelpful cynicism. Do your thing and try to feel good that you stay within your own ethical boundaries. Vote with your wallet and hope it is fat enough to be noticed. :P
Last edited by Selective Oblivion; 20 Aug, 2021 @ 1:24pm
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