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Dwolfy 13 Mar, 2018 @ 3:04pm
Is this allowed by Steam?
This developer advertises selling his game via paypal and with a different price than on Steam... I imagine to avoid the store's fees... But it this allowed by Steam? Looks very fishy to me... (Not to mentions the fact that the "DLC" for this game are merely walktroughs...)

In the description:
In order to promote the game, the developer also sell the game directly. Only 0.3 dollar for this and all 3 DLCs. If you need, please contact the develop by Email (poweroflove1801@163.com) or add his steam id(sunyang1801). Support paypal to pay.

GAME: https://steamhost.cn/app/368710/Power_of_Love/
Last edited by Dwolfy; 13 Mar, 2018 @ 3:05pm
A moderator of this forum has marked a post as the answer to the topic above.
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Originally posted by Mellow_Online1:
The game has been reinstated on Steam and the Paypal payment method has been removed. Frankly I think this highlights Valve's tendancy to overreact a tad when it comes to these instances, as they told me they would converse with the developer, but literally 2 minutes after they talked to me about it, the game was pulled, and according to Dandruff from news Cartridge, even a couple of days after the game was pulled, Valve didn't communicate with the developer when this issue was brought to them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4o3yaJVuKTA

Yes it was against TOS, but it seemingly didn't seem sinister in intent and seems to be down more to obliviousness and ignorance of the rules.
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Showing 1-15 of 34 comments
Mellow_Online1 13 Mar, 2018 @ 3:06pm 
Hello Dwolfy

I believe that this is not allowed, as in some instances Valve see it as you circumventing the sales ability of the game, and in this instance, it is directly cutting Valve out of the profit margin of the purchases. I am not enitrely convinced in this instance, I will see about e-mailing my Valve contacts to inquire further regarding this.

Thanks for the heads up.
#1
Stefan8000 13 Mar, 2018 @ 3:08pm 
I think it is ok. There are many sources of keys outside of steam. I know lots of develpoers, that sell their game on their website. I have never heard, that it is forbidden

UPDAATE: I wrote this in betwen from mellow. Maybe it is a gray area, because, like i said, many devs do it. then, you can buy games via humble and other official game dealers. There Valve will dont get their cut too. Then, there are the humble wichet, where you get a drm free version and a steam key.
Last edited by Stefan8000; 13 Mar, 2018 @ 3:13pm
#2
Mutant Overlord 13 Mar, 2018 @ 3:11pm 
Originally posted by Stefan8000:
I think it is ok. There are many sources of keys outside of steam. I know lots of develpoers, that sell their game on their website. I have never heard, that it is forbidden.
Yes they do sell outside but directly saying that on steam description, the place for a game's description is against rules I think.

Just like that one time when develoeper say on his game description "Ignore X's review. He is a dumbass" or something. (I kid you not, that happen once)
#3
Mellow_Online1 13 Mar, 2018 @ 3:13pm 
Originally posted by 真 MUTANT OVERLORD|off until 25th:
Originally posted by Stefan8000:
I think it is ok. There are many sources of keys outside of steam. I know lots of develpoers, that sell their game on their website. I have never heard, that it is forbidden.
Yes they do sell outside but directly saying that on steam description, the place for a game's description is against rules I think.

Just like that one time when develoeper say on his game description "Ignore X's review. He is a dumbass" or something. (I kid you not, that happen once)

That's one of the main things I'm thinking regarding this. Yes, you are allowed to distribute your games elsewhere, but in this instance, the developer is directly telling his customers to avoid buying it on Steam if they want a large discount and also directly in the Steam description.

I could be completely wrong, this may be allowed, but it's definitely questionable to say the least. I'll update here if I hear back from Valve.
#4
Stefan8000 13 Mar, 2018 @ 3:16pm 
Originally posted by 真 MUTANT OVERLORD|off until 25th:
Originally posted by Stefan8000:
I think it is ok. There are many sources of keys outside of steam. I know lots of develpoers, that sell their game on their website. I have never heard, that it is forbidden.
Yes they do sell outside but directly saying that on steam description, the place for a game's description is against rules I think.

Just like that one time when develoeper say on his game description "Ignore X's review. He is a dumbass" or something. (I kid you not, that happen once)

Yes, maybe you are correct. The problem is, he is advertising this on the steam store front. I forgot this important part.
#5
Dwolfy 13 Mar, 2018 @ 3:27pm 
Originally posted by Mellow_Online1:
Thanks for the heads up.
Glad to help ^_^

Originally posted by Mellow_Online1:
That's one of the main things I'm thinking regarding this. Yes, you are allowed to distribute your games elsewhere, but in this instance, the developer is directly telling his customers to avoid buying it on Steam if they want a large discount and also directly in the Steam description.
Yeah, I think the problem is not selling your game elsewhere, but advertising it on the Steam store - specially if the price difference is significant (total on Steam = $7.96, total directly with dev = $0.33...)

I'm not sure if the dev has bad intentions though... Leaving aside the fact that his games are pretty bad and that he considers walkthroughs as acceptable DLC, he doesn't seem to be doing other shady things...
Last edited by Dwolfy; 13 Mar, 2018 @ 3:30pm
#6
Michel Baie 13 Mar, 2018 @ 3:30pm 
... how did you unearthed that thing in the first place?!

Anyway yeah, it's probably not allowed on principle to try to avoid the steam tax in such a blatant way.


I'm more concerned about what's the point of asking for 0.3 USD on paypal TBH.
Between money change taxes and seller taxes, the biggest winner of such a transaction would be Paypal by far.
Might as well give the friggin thing for free.
#7
Dwolfy 13 Mar, 2018 @ 3:32pm 
Originally posted by Hibachi:
... how did you unearthed that thing in the first place?!
Completely by accident - I saw a giveaway for the game's DLCs on Steam Gifts and went to check it on Steam to see if they interested me. :happy_creep:"
Last edited by Dwolfy; 13 Mar, 2018 @ 3:36pm
#8
Occular Malice 13 Mar, 2018 @ 4:43pm 
Yeah I'm no expert but sellng DLC for a game on Steam through PayPal is just circumventing the 30% take Steam gets. I think if you're selling merch (hats, mouse pads, etc.) that's fine, but not when it comes to the software itself.
#9
Mellow_Online1 13 Mar, 2018 @ 6:05pm 
I have talked with Tom Giardino, he said that it is definitely against their rules and he will talk with the developer.

Thanks again for bringing this up Dwolfy

Update: Valve have removed the game
Last edited by Mellow_Online1; 13 Mar, 2018 @ 6:19pm
#10
Mutant Overlord 13 Mar, 2018 @ 6:25pm 
Originally posted by Mellow_Online1:

Update: Valve have removed the game
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKf4QkLiIV4
#11
trinner 13 Mar, 2018 @ 6:30pm 
which game was that? :)
#12
TrickZZter 13 Mar, 2018 @ 7:19pm 
Originally posted by trinner:
which game was that? :)
Power of Love
https://steamdb.info/app/368710/
#13
Mutant Overlord 13 Mar, 2018 @ 7:26pm 
Originally posted by TrickZZter:
Originally posted by trinner:
which game was that? :)
Power of Love
https://steamdb.info/app/368710/
LOL litteraly one of first threads on hub of this garbage was about how so called "developer" stole a 100% same model of a character from popular anime and used it as a protagonist for his game.

Thread:
https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/app/368710/discussions/0/1693785669869176407/

Picture of said "protagonist":
https://imgur.com/a/3KnBp

Page from wiki of said anime:
https://wiki.puella-magi.net/Mami_Tomoe
#14
Dwolfy 13 Mar, 2018 @ 9:24pm 
Originally posted by 真 MUTANT OVERLORD|off until 25th:
LOL litteraly one of first threads on hub of this garbage was about how so called "developer" stole a 100% same model of a character from popular anime and used it as a protagonist for his game.

Thread:
https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/app/368710/discussions/0/1693785669869176407/

Picture of said "protagonist":
https://imgur.com/a/3KnBp

Page from wiki of said anime:
https://wiki.puella-magi.net/Mami_Tomoe
LOL! I checked that thread and some people were questioning whether that character was actually in the game and if it was really based on the said anime character... I think the "official" wallpaper for the game answers that...

"The Daughter" wallpaper:
https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/market/listings/753/368710-%22the_daughter%22

"Mami Tomoe" (anime character):
https://imgur.com/asY6r8V

PS: Erm... Is it just me, or did he also rip off another anime character here? (I'm pretty sure I've seen this character before....)

"The son" wallpaper:
https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/market/listings/753/368710-%3Athe_son%3A
Last edited by Dwolfy; 13 Mar, 2018 @ 9:28pm
#15
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Date Posted: 13 Mar, 2018 @ 3:04pm
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