Can you run it?

[theMilkDrinker]

It would be cool if steam would tell you if you could run a game or not, instead of just telling you the specs. It would save lots of money for people who don't know their specs well, or don't know how to check.

[Marble]

I think anyone who uses their PC for gaming should take a few minutes to look into what is actually running in their system.
Steam cannot tell you whether your system can run it or not, especially if they didn't make the game, because if it doesn't run then they could be held liable.

[Anrothan]

My friend, Google it. For most OS, its: Start Menu [or the windows key on your keyboard], Control Panel, System and Security, System, and there you have it. If you want to further your search, click on the Windows Experience Index [directly to the right of your "Rating"] and see more stats on what you need to upgrade. Most computers nowadays will tell you if your apparatus can handle the games.

I seriously hope this helps you my friend. Always remember that Google is your friend.

-Love

[Tito Shivan]

And what exactly means "can you run it"???
Because the game working at minimum graphical quality, with a 640x480 resolution ay 10FPS is a "game running" but is as enjoyable as stabbing your eyes with a jalapeño dipped in hot sauce.

[Hayk]

I agree with you guys that every person should look into the system requirements before buying a game, however, wouldn't it be nice if Steam could actually gather your system's information and show you how smoothly you could run a particular game based on the information gathered before? There could have been something like 'levels' of running a game such as: minimum settings, medium settings, high settings and maybe ultra-settings. Next to each setting you could see the resolution and FPS that your system is able to run the certain game in the chosen settings. I personally think it would have been very convenient and useful some people who don't own high-end computers, Macs or simply don't know much about computers and would love to enjoy games without wasting money.

[Tito Shivan]

Liability.
If Steam tells you "this game will work at this level of performance" and then it doesn't, it's Steam fault.

There are also factors no system-check can look into that can greatly hamper the performance of a game (or even make not run it) like OS degradation or lack of system updates.
Which turns us back to the liability point.

[theMilkDrinker]

I didn't mean I needed to know how to look it up :P I was thinking of this for people who don't like techy computer stuff and would like to know right there whether they will probably be able to run it or not.

I never said steam had to give an exact answer, they could always just have something that would tell you your stats next to the game's requirments, and you would have to compare it yourself.

Steam adds lots of new features as time goes on. This post was supposed to be a suggestion to them for something they could add, not a question asking how to look up stats.

[Kirito San]

yes please

[theMilkDrinker]

Well, I didn't res this, but as long as it is I might as well add to my point.
One of PC's main reasons for being shunned by console gamers is they are unsure about how the specs work. They hear you need to build it yourself or that all games have different requirments and they feel like they might buy the wrong parts and games or pay too much for something they didn't need. This would make it more welcoming and would draw more people in.