Valve and Crates

[Rinaun]

I'm wondering how low the rates are on getting a worthwhile TF2/CS:GO item from crates/cases. How often a person will actually come out not just throwing money and getting ten cent items for $2.50? Has anyone here done bulk case/crate openings? How many did you open, and what did you get in return?

The reason I ask is because I've done some research and I frankly can see this system falls heavily into grey areas in some countries regarding currencies and gambling/lotteries. I'm really starting to think this whole key system/marketplace is just a way for valve to get around game gambling without having any legal repercussions. The way the system is currently geared isn't consumer friendly; it costs valve zero dollars to make these items yet the minimum for a stattrack AK is 7-10$ and the chances of you getting that are very slim. I'm not sure where you draw the line between this and a actual lottery. There are differences but for the most part valve knows that opening a case and profiting HEAVILY depends on getting a rare item at abysmal odds. From what I've been told from other places so far, it's lottery-levels random and most people who open large amounts of cases to profit.........don't really profit.

TLDR has anyone came out on top when opening a large amount of crates? If not, let me know what your experiences are so far; be sure to list how many crates you've opened so far. Sure you can get lucky but I want to hear from people who have opened at least 30 crates, please. I also find it funny valve adds this in games that kids under 21 play. Sure, you don't have to buy keys.....but it's a bit hard to not buy keys with videos of people "winning the lottery" and getting a rare knife/stattrack gun. Playing the Crate/case unlocking game is tempting for some and I can see kids with mommy's CC could be a profitable demographic for this.

 

[Lil Frier]

I guess that the line of gambling is the fact that you are guaranteed SOMETHING. You might overpay for an item because what you get isn't that good, but you aren't risking spending $10 on a lottery ticket worth $0. I will never make use of these dumb crates. I trust none of these scams.

 

[DominionSeraph]

All I'm hearing is, "WAAAAAAAH, why can't it be pay2win?" But if it was, you'd be complaining, "WAAAAAAAAAH, why isn't it balanced?" So what we really have is, "Why can't things be shifted so that I, and only I, win?"

Hmmm... let me think about that...

 

[Rinaun]

All I'm hearing is, "WAAAAAAAH, why can't it be pay2win?" But if it was, you'd be complaining, "WAAAAAAAAAH, why isn't it balanced?" So what we really have is, "Why can't things be shifted so that I, and only I, win?"

Hmmm... let me think about that...

That's entirely untrue. Not only have I spent only 10$ in keys (4 keys total), but I've heard from people who have opened 40+ that the returns are terrible. I made the post to see if anyone at all is making a profit on the keys, and if I'm right about them not making a profit how much they lost. The fact still stands that valve makes the items for free and yet makes certain items affixes incredibly rare. That to me sounds like they know they are creating artificial demand, yet want people to buy more keys instead of upping the drop rate and allowing reasonable prices. Just look at knifes and tell me 100$ a knife is realistic when valve creates it from nothing. The game is 15$, FYI. This isn't some incredibly expensive game, which is why the rarity of good drops when someone spends $2.50 on a key for a 15$ MSRP (sale it was 3$ a copy) game is a bit off-kilter from my perspective. Now multiply that by 40 and you can see where it smells like greed on gaben's part.

I'm not saying people aren't spending the money to buy those knives, but I'm not sure personally if I like the fact of valve just printing money and not outright selling the items if they want to make money for events. The whole buy a key and try your luck is just a tasteless mini-game to me; it plays on weaker people's emotions and wallets.

P.S. why would I be "whining" about keys? I can buy the items I want individually with StatTrack for under 10$ per gun and avoid the keys; It's the fact that you have to gamble with money or pay to get these rare affixes is what annoys me. People like you and me might be smart enough to buy items or just stay away from it, but valve is assuredly making tons of money off of either rich kids or idiots banking on a payout over awesome items. Again, they could lower the drop chance and remove the needless trash from crates but they don't. Also, why does valve put ten cent non-stat-track blues in a crate? Almost all the non-affix guns are worth nothing and even on release the blues never sell for more than a key; mostly under 20 cents.

I will never make use of these dumb crates. I trust none of these scams.

I wouldn't call it a scam, but I'd say it's an interesting angle for valve to play. It's slightly different but not far from scratch lottery tickets in terms of the psychological "pull". People are enticed, and valve sees this. Add in younger audiences, virtual cost-us-nothing items, and large prizes like 200$ knives......it's a no-brainer for kids and more susceptible people to buy keys and hope for a big item. It's super dirty IMHO and it kinda makes me distance myself from steam a bit more. This and the lack of responses they give in large franchises like Dota 2 and CS:GO.

 

[spacelord]

I used 1 key in my life. A free key I got for something along many years of TF2.
The crate yielded some POS weapon I already had.
bummer.

 

[DominionSeraph]

That to me sounds like they know they are creating artificial demand, yet want people to buy more keys instead of upping the drop rate and allowing reasonable prices.

It's a computer game. You know you have choices there, right?

Get Icewind Dale 2, enable cheats, and enter ctrlaltdelete:createitem("00ARMBL2") and "00ARMCH" in the console. Congratulations:

Armageddon Blade 2002 (Longsword)
---------------------
Damage: 20d20 +5
Damage Type: Slashing or Bludgeoning, same as target's highest resistance
Attack Bonus: +5
Enchantment: +5
Critical Hit: 18-20 x2
Special: (~10%) +2d10 Fire damage
Special: (~10%) Fortitude save or Slow target
Special: Adds Resistances:
- Fire: +20
- Acid, Cold, Poison, Elect: +4
Weight: 1 lb.


Armageddon Chain Mail of the Tester
-----------------------------------
Armor AC bonus: +10
Max Dex Bonus to Ac: +2
Armor Check Penalty: -4
Arcane Spell Failure: 30%
Weight: 10 lb.
Specials:
- Wearer under the effect of Haste, Freedom of Movement, Death Ward and Regeneration (5 HP per second)
- Attack Bonus: +15
- STR, DEX, CON, WIS: Base score set to 26 (can stack with bonuses from other items or spells)
- Saving Throws: +20
- Resistances: Acid, Elect, Fire, Poison, Magic: +100
- Spell Resistance: set to 50
- Damage Reduction: 149,000,000/+5
- Knowledge Arcana skill set to 100

 

[Red Storm]

It totally is gambling. I've opened many crates, but that's from keys that I obtained through trading. I've only ever opened one worthwhile item, that was an unusual spy fedora hat with ghost effects. I ended up eventually selling that hat for $400 in Steam wallet money.

The crates are a definite money sink, it makes money for Valve and I say good for them and the people who get their items published in the game.

 

[Turbonium]

I have opened way, way too many crates in CS GO and chests in Dota 2. Like way too many.

And it's totally gambling as far as I'm concerned. I've never ever had a penchant for this sort of thing until I started, and it turns out I can get hooked, especially given it's so easy (I don't have to get out of my chair at all, and the possible gratification is virtually instant).

It's pretty messed up to be honest.

 

[Snock514]

I've opened maybe $50 of csgo crates and prolly had about $10 worth of decent items out of it. Totally not worth it but as others said it's just like gambling and I knew that going in, overall not upset.

 

[Lil Frier]

I wouldn't call it a scam, but I'd say it's an interesting angle for valve to play. It's slightly different but not far from scratch lottery tickets in terms of the psychological "pull". People are enticed, and valve sees this. Add in younger audiences, virtual cost-us-nothing items, and large prizes like 200$ knives......it's a no-brainer for kids and more susceptible people to buy keys and hope for a big item. It's super dirty IMHO and it kinda makes me distance myself from steam a bit more. This and the lack of responses they give in large franchises like Dota 2 and CS:GO.

Yeah, let's put it this way: If Microsoft did this on the Xbox One, people would cry foul SO LOUDLY about the microtransactions, but Valve will get the same pass it always does, because it's a "cool" company.

 

[KaOTiK]

Yeah, let's put it this way: If Microsoft did this on the Xbox One, people would cry foul SO LOUDLY about the microtransactions, but Valve will get the same pass it always does, because it's a "cool" company.

Keep yourself that. MS gets shit on a ton due to their own fuck ups and they deserve it. Just like any other company that fucks up and gets shit on.

 

[Lil Frier]

Oh, Microsoft screws up left and right. However, they also get dumped on more for their missteps than other companies. People are talking up the idea of an iPad Pro, which would run OSX and iOS on the same device right now, but people say that Microsoft's too confusing for having a tablet and desktop interface with Windows 8.

Don't take my statement as saying Microsoft isn't doing things wrong, it's a statement that companies like Google and Valve and Apple get passes for garbage like this, while Microsoft gets blamed for most everything.

 

[Turbonium]

I should also add that the system is very deviously designed to make you spend money.

CS GO for example: just opening a crate and watching the thing spin is so addictive. It's like "OHMAIGAWD WHAT IS IT GONNA BE?!?"

Also, sometimes it will make you come really close to getting the item you want or a good item nevertheless, but you barely don't get it, so it makes you think you were close etc., tempting you to try again.

Dota 2 is not even as devious, and yet waiting 5 seconds to see what pops up is pretty addictive.

I've also noticed that adding sockets to items in Dota 2 has a particularly nice sound to it (yea, literally the sound/audio that accompanies the addition of a socket). It's addictive, at least for me. I mean, I'm not adding sockets just to hear it, but it's an added bonus, and it probably plays into the whole subconscious thing, especially for those even less aware of these minute things Valve does to make you spend more.

 

[crownjules]

I've spent maybe $10 between TF2 and Dota 2. I only unpacked one rare item in Dota 2 (worth $0.50 or so) and all the rest was junk common stuff.

This has permeated now beyond just Valve though. A lot of MMOs introduced the random drop crates with key purchase from the store.

 

[steve wilson]

I've opened way too many CS GO cases. When they first released the skins I was saying it's a load of crap ... and who the hell is going to buy that rubbish. Turns out it's me. I've never got anything I really wanted either (Stattrak AK/M4).

 

[Lil Frier]

Is there a way to get the TF2 crates out of your inventory? They're in the way, and I don't want them.

 

[PowerYoga]

Is there a way to get the TF2 crates out of your inventory? They're in the way, and I don't want them.

can you... gift them? :awe:

 

[Red Storm]

You can delete them from your inventory. Click on one then choose delete from the bottom.

 

[Lil Frier]

can you... gift them? :awe:

IDK, can you?