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In 2021 the kid shows mum the steam store page and asks for permission to buy the game right there and then. Or the child is given a steam gift card and allowed

In 2021 the kid shows mum the steam store page and asks for permission to buy the game right there and then. Or the child is given a steam gift card and allowed to get whatever they want. Your method has caused a lot of upset when the parent comes back with the wrong game or for the wrong console.

allturtles 5y ago
It has also caused a lot of joy when a game arrives unexpectedly and unasked for. I still clearly remember the day decades ago when my father drove up next to me and my friends while we were riding bikes with 3 computer games for me on his passenger seat.
- crocodiletears 5y ago
  The value of the spontaneity in this can't be overstated. The modern method feels so much more transactional because we've optimized it away.
- PebblesRox 5y ago
  My little brother took over my Steam account. He kept my email address on file and I'd occasionally get emails about games on his wishlist going on sale. It was fun to buy those games sometimes as a little gift out of the blue :)
- boomboomsubban 5y ago
  You can still do that with steam, just randomly buy a game for your child. Only now you can see their wishlist or recommended based on what they play or many other methods. Much better for the child than a parent going to the store and saying "well they liked this movie, let's get them the cash grab game."
db48x 5y ago
A lot of growth opportunities for entitled children as well. But yes, while distributors can in theory be useful to customers, I think we’re seeing the end of that business model. And not just in games; car dealerships no longer provide a necessary service. Bookstores and music stores too. Apple made a killing by bypassing distributors, primarily because they could afford to give greater hands–on access to actual phones when people visited the stores. If a bookstore or game store owner wants the business of recommending things to remain, they shouldn’t try to tie it to a physical store, to inventory and payment processing. All of those things are commodities, while the recommendations need not be, if they are good enough. They should make it a subscription service of it’s own; provide none of the store–related things, just the one–on–one conversation and recommendation.

allturtles 5y ago

It has also caused a lot of joy when a game arrives unexpectedly and unasked for. I still clearly remember the day decades ago when my father drove up next to me and my friends while we were riding bikes with 3 computer games for me on his passenger seat.

crocodiletears 5y ago
The value of the spontaneity in this can't be overstated. The modern method feels so much more transactional because we've optimized it away.
PebblesRox 5y ago
My little brother took over my Steam account. He kept my email address on file and I'd occasionally get emails about games on his wishlist going on sale. It was fun to buy those games sometimes as a little gift out of the blue :)
boomboomsubban 5y ago
You can still do that with steam, just randomly buy a game for your child. Only now you can see their wishlist or recommended based on what they play or many other methods. Much better for the child than a parent going to the store and saying "well they liked this movie, let's get them the cash grab game."

db48x 5y ago

A lot of growth opportunities for entitled children as well. But yes, while distributors can in theory be useful to customers, I think we’re seeing the end of that business model. And not just in games; car dealerships no longer provide a necessary service. Bookstores and music stores too. Apple made a killing by bypassing distributors, primarily because they could afford to give greater hands–on access to actual phones when people visited the stores. If a bookstore or game store owner wants the business of recommending things to remain, they shouldn’t try to tie it to a physical store, to inventory and payment processing. All of those things are commodities, while the recommendations need not be, if they are good enough. They should make it a subscription service of it’s own; provide none of the store–related things, just the one–on–one conversation and recommendation.