Link TTG Account with Steam Account

edited September 2010 in General Chat
Can it be done?

Instead of giving out activation codes for episodes or seasons (an idea that probably wouldn't work because of the potential for abuse), what if we could permanently link our entire account here on TTG with our account on Steam? I believe it would prevent someone from selling activation codes to the highest bidder if their activation code is only compatible with one Steam account. Perhaps you wouldn't even need activation codes? Hypothetically, if we were to pass our Steam account info to TTG, purchases made here could be communicated to Valve and then added to Steam, right? Of course, I don't think Valve would agree to do this unless it was profitable for them, but honestly, I don't mind paying them a few extra bucks for this service. That's still better than buying it twice.

Also, I don't know whether or not this would lead to a communications nightmare, but I figured it's an idea a that's little different and, as far as I know, hasn't been thrown out there yet.

Comments

  • edited June 2010
    Oh, it's been thrown out there... Sooo many times.

    Bottom line is usually "it's possible but way too unlikely".
  • NeatNit wrote: »
    Oh, it's been thrown out there... Sooo many times.

    Really? I've only really heard the activation code idea thrown out there. Could you direct me to one of those threads sir (or madame)?
  • edited June 2010
    Really? I've only really heard the activation code idea thrown out there. Could you direct me to one of those threads sir (or madame)?

    They're essentially the same thing. If you log into a Telltale game to activate it, it simply retrieves a key from your account. If you want the games on steam, buy there, if you want a disc, buy it here.
  • TorTor
    edited June 2010
    If Valve takes, say, 40% of the cut on a Steam purchase; would you be willing to pay 40% extra to get your game registered on both telltalegames.com and Steam?

    I don't think we know how big Valve's share of a Steam purchase is, and it might be different for each publisher, but I'd imagine it is somewhere in that range. I don't see how Valve would agree to distribute games purchased outside Steam unless they were compensated.
  • What makes you say so? 40% seems like a pretty hefty cut, but I don't know anything about distribution deals. Based on that price model it would be an extra $8 to activate W&G, $12 for SBCGFAP or old seasons of S&M, and $14 for TMI and new season of S&M. An individual episode would be about $3 bucks. But like I said, that's cheaper than buying it twice and I think it would be neat to have the option in "Your Games" on TTG's website to "Activate on Steam for $_____." The only potential problem I can foresee is that this would reveal something about Steam's cut, which Valve or TTG may want to keep undisclosed.
  • TorTor
    edited June 2010
    That's just a guess based on gut feeling, I really have no idea. (But isn't that about the same as what retail stores take? I'm not sure.) It's also likely that different publishers get different deals, which is probably why they're so intent on keeping the information secret.
  • TeaTea
    edited June 2010
    Telltale could easily set up a way to have TTG serials activated on Steam; Steam takes algorithms instead of singular keys like systems such as Impulse do.
  • edited June 2010
    TheJoe wrote: »
    Telltale could easily set up a way to have TTG serials activated on Steam; Steam takes algorithms instead of singular keys like systems such as Impulse do.

    That's not quite true, a lot of games on steam have a finite (yet incredibly large) amount of keys available. You will occasionally see a game sell out, one example being Prey during the Christmas/New Year sale.
  • TheJoe wrote: »
    Telltale could easily set up a way to have TTG serials activated on Steam; Steam takes algorithms instead of singular keys like systems such as Impulse do.

    But doesn't that present the same problem? I think people would still sell them or give them away. The only possible solution I can see is permanently linking accounts and then providing an option to activate your games on Steam. I still haven't really heard from anyone whether or not this could be done.
  • edited July 2010
    It looks like it can be, and has been, done, for one Season of games at least:
    http://www.telltalegames.com/tf2hats

    If you qualify, the code there allows you to activate the entire Sam and Max Season 3 on your Steam Account.

    Surely the magical mechanics behind this only involves a few tweaks and we could have our entire TellTale account purchases also activated on our Steam accounts? Pretty, pretty please? I have to confess, though, that the main motivation would be that I like having all my games located and managed in one place, but I still like to buy from the publishers themselves - it feels more respectful somehow.

    Basically, I know this is unlikely to happen, and my reasons are a bit ephemeral, but it would be cool.
  • edited July 2010
    nodmonkey wrote: »
    It looks like it can be, and has been, done, for one Season of games at least:
    http://www.telltalegames.com/tf2hats

    If you qualify, the code there allows you to activate the entire Sam and Max Season 3 on your Steam Account.

    But then you could sell/give the code to someone who didn't play for the game.
  • edited July 2010
    The only way this would happen ever is if TTG were bought by Valve. Which won't happen in a billion years.
  • edited August 2010
    The only way this would happen ever is if TTG were bought by Valve. Which won't happen in a billion years.

    umm you mean Telltale be bought by activision/Blizzard right?

    (they own Valve)
  • edited September 2010
    umm you mean Telltale be bought by activision/Blizzard right?

    (they own Valve)
    Blatantly untrue. Valve is owned by no-one but themselves.

    It's a bit confusing, so bear with me. Valve used to work with Sierra On-Line, who were their publisher. Sierra On-Line, which was a branch of Vivendi Universal, became Sierra Entertainment. Valve sued Vivendi for illegally distributing copies of their games to internet cafes, adding several other charges later. Following Valve's victory in this, they announced that they were teaming up with EA to publish their games in stores.

    Then Vivendi merged with Activision to form Activision Blizzard, and Sierra was folded into the company as well, losing the name. Valve have since sued Activision Blizzard regarding the previous lawsuit and how the damages they were awarded have not been fully paid.

    So there is a connection between Valve and Activision Blizzard, but neither owns, or is owned, by the other.
  • edited September 2010
    You know, this could be possible with SteamWorks... But to the degree of letting you sign in using your Steam Account really.

    The whole "games you bought on Telltale shows on Steam and vice versa" thing would require an agreement to be signed and that's only if Valve wants to do that sort of thing.
  • edited September 2010
    Blatantly untrue. Valve is owned by no-one but themselves.

    It's a bit confusing, so bear with me. Valve used to work with Sierra On-Line, who were their publisher. Sierra On-Line, which was a branch of Vivendi Universal, became Sierra Entertainment. Valve sued Vivendi for illegally distributing copies of their games to internet cafes, adding several other charges later. Following Valve's victory in this, they announced that they were teaming up with EA to publish their games in stores.

    Then Vivendi merged with Activision to form Activision Blizzard, and Sierra was folded into the company as well, losing the name. Valve have since sued Activision Blizzard regarding the previous lawsuit and how the damages they were awarded have not been fully paid.

    So there is a connection between Valve and Activision Blizzard, but neither owns, or is owned, by the other.

    the lawsuit is true, but (as you say) stems from a diffrent time / configuration.

    but its like trying to find out who owns 'disney" last time I checked it was that VU Vivendi (that owns Valve and Steamworks) is owndded by Activision Blizzard, Sierra/Vivendi was split up to get VU Vivendi (and valve) and something that was bought by actvision some years ago.

    in short its harder to disprove than it on the faceofit looks like. this is created by 'wallstreet coprerational thinking' and creating many subcompanies. the why and how for this is a year economic study if you really wanna know :p
  • edited September 2010
    Valve really isn't connected by Activision/Blizzard...

    Not sure why you think so.

    That's like saying TTG is owned by LA because a lot of people here are ex-LA employees. It doesn't work like that...
  • edited September 2010
    Valve 100% split to their own after that lawsuit. They then teamed up with EA a bit after to just distribute their games in stores. No way Activision would allow something like that from anything they owned.
  • edited September 2010
    Elvenmonk wrote: »
    Valve 100% split to their own after that lawsuit. They then teamed up with EA a bit after to just distribute their games in stores. No way Activision would allow something like that from anything they owned.

    why not? EA had a bigger distribution network at that time ;)
  • edited September 2010
    umm you mean Telltale be bought by activision

    DON'T EVER SAY THAT AGAIN! That would be a nightmare!
  • edited September 2010
    why not? EA had a bigger distribution network at that time ;)

    Activision and EA are enemy companies. They both do nothing but try to kill off the other. They HATE, no LOATHE each other. Plus Activision demands sequels yearly, amongst other things.
  • edited September 2010
    Elvenmonk wrote: »
    Plus Activision demands sequels yearly, amongst other things.
    Heh. Haha. HAHA! HAHAHAHA!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!

    EA (or, more specifically, EA Sports ["it's in the game"]) do the FIFA, Tiger Woods, NBA and NHL games. These receive yearly sequels.
  • edited September 2010
    Heh. Haha. HAHA! HAHAHAHA!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!

    EA (or, more specifically, EA Sports ["it's in the game"]) do the FIFA, Tiger Woods, NBA and NHL games. These receive yearly sequels.

    That's a sports title. Sports titles need (used loosely) those year updates for new stats, and players. You know who else does this? Take2 with their sports games too, and many other companies with their sports games. EA doesn't DEMAND yearly sequels. Activision actually DEMANDS it. They were demanding 6 GH's a year, and a new CoD each year. They actually DEMAND sequels.
    EA leaves it upto their developers, most developers choose yearly sequels, or yearly expansions.
  • edited September 2010
    I'll concede the point, but only because I can't be bothered arguing it.

    But I'm still right.
  • edited September 2010
    Your point was the sport series, which I said they do make yearly sequels. That's because for contract reasons they have to. That's why 2k and all other sports publishers do it too. My point was Activision demands yearly, semi-anually, or even 6-14 times a year for a game to be released.
  • edited September 2010
    I've long since stopped caring. Please join me in my blissful ignorance. It's surprisingly comforting.
  • edited September 2010
    Just because no one has said this yet: If you want your Telltale games to appear in Steam, just add non-Steam shortcuts to them. Yay! Your Telltale games are now in Steam! Congratulations!
  • edited September 2010
    If we're spreading rumors about Valve being owned by another company, why has Microsoft been mentioned?

    Gabe Newell is a Microsoft Millionaire, after all.

    (I heard a rumor Gabe was even Project Manager on MS Bob at one point.)
  • edited September 2010
    Powerlord wrote: »
    If we're spreading rumors about Valve being owned by another company, why has Microsoft been mentioned?

    Gabe Newell is a Microsoft Millionaire, after all.

    (I heard a rumor Gabe was even Project Manager on MS Bob at one point.)

    Valve was definitely started by a bunch of ex-Microsofties, so it's entirely possible Gabe worked with Bob.
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