Steam Greenlight launched last Thursday as a money-free Kickstarter like programme. Using Steam Greenlight developers are able to submit game projects that they would like to release on Steam. Steam users can then vote on which titles they would like to be included on Steam. The service has reported that they have received over 700 submissions. However many have been a number of illegitimate submissions.
Internet trolls have clogged the Greenlight system with numerous Half Life 3 submissions and and a range of other illegitimate titles. This has meant that gamers have had trouble finding legitimate titles in the service. Valve have announced that they plant to combat this issue through the introduction of a $100 dollar submission fee for Steam Greenlight service.
Steam have discussed the issue on their community forum commenting that:
“There are a ton of legitimate submissions that people want to see…there is unfortunately a significant amount of noise and clutter being submitted, either as a joke or by fans not fully understanding the purpose of Greenlight."
The idea behind the submission fee is that those who are submitting a game as a joke will not want to waste their money. This will eliminate the vast majority of joke submissions from internet trolls. This will make it easier for players to find the legitimately submitted games.
Valve have also announced a second change to the system to further assist gamers in the navigation of finding games that will suit them. Steam Greenlight will now have a "smaller, manageable list of games that you haven't rated." The list will include games that are both popular and new to the Greenlight service.
Valve have also stated that they aren’t attempting to make money with this venture. The $100 dollar submission fee will be donated to the charity Child’s Play.
Valve have stated that those who have already submitted a game to Greenlight, are not required to pay the fee but will need to do so for future submissions.
For more information about Steam Greenlight visit: www.steamcommunity.com/greenlight.
