Link TTG Account with Steam Account

[Thriftweed Fancy Pants]

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.

[NeatNit]

Oh, it's been thrown out there... Sooo many times.

Bottom line is usually "it's possible but way too unlikely".

[Thriftweed Fancy Pants]

Originally Posted by NeatNit

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)?

[patters]

Originally Posted by Thriftweed Fancy Pants

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.

[Tor]

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.

[Thriftweed Fancy Pants]

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.

[Tor]

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.

[Tea]

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.

[patters]

Originally Posted by TheJoe

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.

[Thriftweed Fancy Pants]

Originally Posted by TheJoe

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.

[nodmonkey]

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.

[Neelo]

Originally Posted by nodmonkey

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.

[Ribs]

The only way this would happen ever is if TTG were bought by Valve. Which won't happen in a billion years.

[sysosmaster]

Originally Posted by StLouisRibs

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)

[Darth Marsden]

Originally Posted by sysosmaster

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.

[Ninja]

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.

[sysosmaster]

Originally Posted by Darth Marsden

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

[Hassat Hunter]

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...

[Elvenmonk]

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.

[sysosmaster]

Originally Posted by Elvenmonk

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