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ExcludedBug 23 Nov, 2012 @ 9:27am
Merging accounts
There should be a merge accounts function.
Personally I have two accounts, and I use both of them regularly.
The reason is that when I made the first account, I was not so old... And after some years of inactivity, I wanted to play on steam again, but I couldn't remember the Email or username of the old one, so I made a new account.

It would make it alot easier for me with just one account instead of having to sign out and sign in all the time.

I know there isn't alot of people who need this, but there certainly are people who do.
I also know that this could make it easier to hijack accounts, but with the right security with it, it can be done.
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Showing 1-15 of 24 comments
Spawn of Totoro 23 Nov, 2012 @ 10:37am 
Ok. I'll just hack your account and merge it with my own.

And that is why they don't let you merge accounts.
#1
ExcludedBug 23 Nov, 2012 @ 11:14am 
read the post, dude.


Originally posted by ExcludedBug:
I also know that this could make it easier to hijack accounts, but with the right security with it, it can be done.

I'm thinking something like if you want to merge two accounts, you send a request to steam, with a reason, and also something to prove that both accounts actually are yours.
And then youll have to do this on both accounts.
Last edited by ExcludedBug; 23 Nov, 2012 @ 11:17am
#2
Spawn of Totoro 23 Nov, 2012 @ 11:23am 
That proof can be faked. Period. Even if it is a copy of a photo ID, it can be faked. The only way to not have someone be able to merge your account is not ot allow them to be merged.

Similar issues have crept up in WoW where someones account was hacked and characters taken. It creates more problems then it solves.

Look at it from their prespective:

They will be blamed for allowing the merger.
Increased support cost.
Cost to research methods to create a secure way to merge while balancing privacy, security, local and international laws.
Legal costs.
Last edited by Spawn of Totoro; 23 Nov, 2012 @ 11:26am
#3
Satoru 23 Nov, 2012 @ 2:04pm 
Most "merges" are suggested only to circumvent VAC bans on old accounts
#4
Bimjee 23 Nov, 2012 @ 3:19pm 
well mobile authenticator or something and something else to security. i have same problem with 2 account with login in both often.

could be awesome with you can merge them or just take some games from first of the account to other one instead merging.. :)
Last edited by Bimjee; 23 Nov, 2012 @ 3:23pm
#5
ChrisW 24 Nov, 2012 @ 12:39pm 
Nobody told you to create more than one account in the first place. It is your own fault you are in this situation.
#6
ExcludedBug 24 Nov, 2012 @ 4:17pm 
No one ever tells you to do things wrong, I know it's my fault, but that doesn't mean it can't, or shouldn't be fixed!
I just posted an IDEA, which is what this section of the forum is FOR.
#7
Spawn of Totoro 24 Nov, 2012 @ 5:58pm 
Originally posted by ExcludedBug:
No one ever tells you to do things wrong, I know it's my fault, but that doesn't mean it can't, or shouldn't be fixed!
I just posted an IDEA, which is what this section of the forum is FOR.

And this section is to also get other players opinion on the subhect.

We post these questions to make you think more about what you are suggestiong and to get you to think about things from the companies standpoint. To help refine your idea into something that can be used by the company. It is their decision to take a suggestion or not, but they need good reason to. Just because you may want it is not a good reason for them to do it.
#8
Satoru 24 Nov, 2012 @ 6:27pm 
Originally posted by DaskendeKlunker:
well mobile authenticator or something and something else to security. i have same problem with 2 account with login in both often.

could be awesome with you can merge them or just take some games from first of the account to other one instead merging.. :)

Do this then

1) enable steam guard
2) use yahoo and gmail
3) enable SMS authentication on the email
#9
ExcludedBug 24 Nov, 2012 @ 7:17pm 
Originally posted by Spawn of Totoro:
We post these questions to make you think more about what you are suggestiong and to get you to think about things from the companies standpoint. To help refine your idea into something that can be used by the company. It is their decision to take a suggestion or not, but they need good reason to. Just because you may want it is not a good reason for them to do it.

I know that, but ChrisW didn't help refine the idea, he was just negative with no valid arguments. ;)

I know this can be done, the hard thing to do is to make it happen in a way that doesn't cost too much for them to implement...
#10
Spawn of Totoro 24 Nov, 2012 @ 7:34pm 
No, the hardest is finding a way that won't compromise security.

There is also VAC bans to consider.
Last edited by Spawn of Totoro; 24 Nov, 2012 @ 7:37pm
#11
DarkCrystalMethod 24 Nov, 2012 @ 9:40pm 
Well if they ever find a way to legitmately confirm both belong to you, then they gotta write an actual program to merge them. That is probably not gonna happen, not for a while and for now... not ever. Unfortunately.
Now you shouldn't go around selling steam accounts(that is against their Terms of Service), but mabye trade what you can and give the other one to a friend. Make sure they change the password and contact info so if THEY mess up Valve doesn't come back to you. I haven't done this and never will. Really though the other account should be killed off. Too bad games can't be moved over.
Or maybe keep them both until Valve makes an appropriate merge tool. Oh and they probably already know you're the same owner (same machine, IP address, computer name, etc) so why they can't act on it is a mystery.
Good luck and may Valve someday merge your accounts.
But the only way to specifically ask them is to make a support ticket. Raw emails will most likely not be responded to.
#12
PentaPenta 24 Nov, 2012 @ 10:14pm 
Originally posted by ExcludedBug:
I know that, but ChrisW didn't help refine the idea, he was just negative with no valid arguments. ;)
Do you know what refinement does?
When smithys refine gold, they are taking impureties out of it, to make perfect gold. You have to refine gold before you can make stuff with it, or else you'll be working with imperfect gold.

Granted, ChrisW wasn't really refineing it, but everyone else was.
Last edited by PentaPenta; 24 Nov, 2012 @ 10:15pm
#13
ExcludedBug 25 Nov, 2012 @ 2:19am 
Originally posted by Spawn of Totoro:
There is also VAC bans to consider.
What is VAC bans?

Originally posted by Spawn of Totoro:
No, the hardest is finding a way that won't compromise security.
Hmmm... maybe, but I think that it could be like the same system they have with hijacked accounts, that if the original holder of one of the accounts goes to steam support and says his/her account has been hijacked, the could undo the merge, and he/she gets the account back. (And maybe a punishment for the other account :P )

Originally posted by steventheslayer:
Do you know what refinement does?
Granted, ChrisW wasn't really refineing it, but everyone else was.

Offcourse I know what it means, did my post ever imply that I didn't?
Well... You certainly didn't help refine the idea in your post either.
#14
Spawn of Totoro 25 Nov, 2012 @ 8:26am 
A VAC ban is something you get from playinga VAC secure multi-player game (eg: Modern Warfrare 3). That account is banned from playign that game on a secure server.

How will that affect the merge? Should a mergre even be allowed? Should the ban be cleared first?

The point of security is to not get into a situation where yout have to unmerge account. That alone could be a nightmare to do. Anyone can "call up" with the right information and unmerge an account. What about people selling their account, then decide they want to keep the money and their account? The other person is then punished for what he though was a legit sale (even though you aren't allowed to sell your account).

There are a lot of security issues ans scenarios that need to be worked out. Then there is the money and resources required.
Last edited by Spawn of Totoro; 25 Nov, 2012 @ 8:27am
#15
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Date Posted: 23 Nov, 2012 @ 9:27am
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