Friday, May 18, 2012

Valve Releases Gift Cards for Online Distribution Service


For those of you who buy video games online from Valve Corporation's "Steam" platform, there are now roundabout ways to get those games in a store.
It seems ridiculous at first, but Valve has released pre-paid "wallet cards" that you can now buy in any Gamestop storefront. Many people might ask the question, "Why bother? I can buy and download my games from Steam itself, so what is the point of going to the store to do this?" The answer, actually, is a really smart idea.
Gamers everywhere often request games as gifts, whether for birthdays or Christmas, something like that. Often times they have to specify which games they want, because beleaguered shoppers don't know what they already have, or what they are interested in. These cards provide a nice way for them to simply go to Gamestop, buy a $20 or $50 dollar card, and then their shopping is done.
Steam users can then log onto their account and enter the card number, adding the money to their Steam account balance.
"Offering Steam Wallet codes at Gamestop extends more options and convenience to gamers around the world," said Jason Holtman, Valve's Director of Business Management.
PCGamer, a website dedicated to the news of the PC gaming industry, stated, "The move suggests that the relationship between Steam and traditional retail is warming, or at the very least that brick and mortar stores are learning that they can't ignore the digital distribution juggernaut."
While gamers may not buy the cards themselves, as there is no reason to, at least now grandparents everywhere can feel secure in the fact that they are giving their grandchildren something they will really enjoy. The alternatives, guessing on their interests or simply giving cash, are not nearly as desirable.



http://www.pcgamer.com/2012/05/14/steam-wallet-cards-are-real-in-us-stores-now/

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