So Steam has incorporated a new thing, trading cards, what the hell are they?
"Steam Trading Cards are virtual cards earned by playing games on Steam that can be combined into game badges.
Collect cards
Play any of the participating Trading Cards Beta games to get trading cards. Up to half the card set is dropped through game play, the other half is earned through your collecting prowess.
Craft game badges
Once you've collected a set of cards you can craft them into a game badge. Like the current badges, they are tied to your account and are shown on your profile. Unlike the current badges, crafting games badges earns you tradable items like emoticons, profile backgrounds, and coupons. Level up your badge by collecting the set again and earning more items.
Level up
All badges now have XP which contributes to your Steam Level, a summary of your badge collection. You can view someone's Steam Level by hovering over their avatar. Leveling up earns you non-tradable items like profile showcases, extra friends list slots, and more.
Joining the beta
If you'd like to participate in the beta, just join this group! We’ll send out email notifications (plus some extra invites) in the order of members joined."
I managed to get a few invites to the beta (sold one for like 3p? I just wanted a badge) and now I have a level on my profile, I'm level 4 and this makes me sad :(
The games that are currently in the trading card beta, are:
- Borderlands 2
- CS:GO
- Don't Starve
- Dota 2
- Half-Life 2
- Portal 2
- Team Fortress 2
- L4D2
- Sanctum 2
- Go Home Dinosaurs
- Triple Town
- Cubemen 2
- Monster Loves You
- Really Big Sky
- Faerie Solitaire
- BIT.TRIP RUNNER 2
And many more to come!
With these cards, you collect them to make a set (all from one game), and then craft them into badges. Once you made the game badge, you get little extra's:
- a random emoticon item created for this game, that can use in chat or discussions;
- a random profile background item created for this game, that can use on your Steam Community profile
- a chance to get a discount coupon for a different game or DLC
- 100XP, which may increase your Steam Level
If you complete another of the same badge, you get an extra 100XP
I have no idea if this a worthwhile thing to do, but it does seem like a little fun thing to do, and another competitive thing for gamers XD
