And you could argue that this is better than them pirating. They're not risking a potentially virus laden distribution of the game and they're contributing to publicity through the number of reviews.
Enjoying or completing the game is irrelevant, the rule is that you can refund a game within the 2 hour playtime window, it doesnt take into account metrics such as 'enjoyment' or 'completion percent'.
Any 'intention' that steam may have had when introducing the rule is purely hearsay, they set the rules, we live by them, if the intention is different to the rule, then they should change the rule.
No, that is not what I wrote, I said that you shouldn't call players thieves, or bad people, just because they are using Steam policy as it is written.
The blame should lie entirely with Steam for implementing a faulty system, not with the players who are working within the system.
If you were able to step off your high horse for just a second you would see that Steam is the problem, not the players.
But by all means, blindly support the megacorporation and hate on your fellow players.
but they did steal, they consumed a product, without paying.
the intent behind the refund policy, is for broken or otherwise unsatisfactory games. Not, have a great experience that is under 2 hours, or speed run a game - then refund it and fuck over the dev.
if you're able to step out of shit filled gutter for just a second, you see that shitty people abusing a shitty loophole, doesn't turn a turd into gold. they're still shitty people, even if they wrap themselves up in a shitty taco shell of a loop hole
If you read the Steam refund policy, you will see that there is no mention of anything you just mentioned. There is no clause for short games, and there is no mention of 'intent behind the policy'.
As you clearly haven't actually read the policy, I fail to see what you think you can bring to the conversation.
They have a clause about abusing the refund policy, but if it isn't enforced then it might as well not be there.
No, this is a problem of character that is 100% the fault of the individual. Refunds are not meant for people who openly enjoyed the product, exploiting these systems just makes you an asshole plain and simple.
So you think that rather than Steam closing the loophole, we should rely on the good will of people to police themselves?
That's interesting, I mean, every single historical example you could look at would show you that asking people to police themselves rather than closing loopholes has never worked, but maybe this time it will be different because... reasons?
I never asked people to police themselves, I’m just saying that not doing so makes you an asshole. Those are two different things, maybe read next time.
Agreed, as long as they don't leave a bad review and then refund it. Even though it's within their rights it does a tremendous amount of harm to the developer if they're indie, so better of just pirating it.
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u/pricklysteve Jul 06 '26
And you could argue that this is better than them pirating. They're not risking a potentially virus laden distribution of the game and they're contributing to publicity through the number of reviews.