Info on steam TCG from IGN site by Justin Davis

This is info here is from IGN here's the link for the full story http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/07/23/why-steam-trading-cards-embarrass-microsoft-and-sony I did not write this, i am only coping the information here for you to see how great it is

Why Steam Trading Cards Should Embarrass Microsoft and Sony

A system where everyone wins.

by Justin Davis

JULY 23, 2013

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Steam’s recently introduced trading card system might just be the most brilliant consumer loyalty program ever devised within the video game industry.

Hyperbole? Maybe. But Steam trading cards are the real deal. Even if you’re a gamer that hates microtransactions, Valve’s innovative card marketplace might just change your mind now that you’re the one raking in the cash.

Let’s run this down:

How it Works

When you play trading card-enabled games on Steam, that game’s cards will randomly “drop,” automatically adding them to your Steam inventory. The number of free drops you can get just by playing is equal to half of that game’s total number of cards. So if a game has 10 cards, you’ll get 5 free card drops.

After that, you become eligible for a random booster pack drop, which provides three more cards for that game. Booster packs are awarded randomly to any Steam user that has received all their free drops and remains active on Steam.

Once you complete a set of cards you can redeem them for a nifty profile badge and a variety of other digital rewards. The more Steam users turning in cards to create badges increases that game’s booster pack drop rate, smartly regulating the card supply.

Got it? Good. Let’s take a look at what makes this so brilliant, and why it puts Microsoft and Sony’s marketplaces to shame.

Real Rewards

Steam trading cards score one over on your Xbox or PlayStation account because collecting and redeeming them actually earns you exclusive digital rewards. Things like silly Steam chat emoticons, profile wallpapers, and, potentially, coupons for other Steam games.

My snap judgement was that these rewards were pretty lame. Emoticons? Wallpaper? Really? But then I remembered that Microsoft and Sony have been selling gamers UI skins and other virtual trinkets for years. Want that sweet Bikini Woman Waving an American Flag theme? Sure thing - just pay $2.99. The Xbox Avatar Marketplace will let you advertise Turbo Racing League on a T-Shirt for the low price of $1.00. Gross.