steam (valve) survey what is it

[Syrieux]

should i trust this steam or valve survey it askes for to much but i cant tell if its not from steam (valve) it askes for your if you have a mic and whhat your internet speed is but then it loads all of your software and hardware Data and asks if you want that Data to be sent to Valve

[Ad Hominem]

http://store.steampowered.com/hwsurvey

[Freyar]

The Steam Hardware Survey is a utility that pops up for a sample of the Steam userbase. This data is collected anonymously and submitted to the link Z!LLA provided in an effort to show people what hardware people are using, what the trends for adoption are and overall allows for developers to be more aware of their target audience's hardware.

It is safe to use and disclose, though it does take hardware information AND a list of installed applications.

[jonicon]

Hardware query is ok, but list of installed applications should not in anyway be relevant to Steam service. That is pure market research and spying. Valve intentions may be good, but I find this intrusive. I would be happy to answer a survey that allows to opt out of intrusive questions and automatic data collection.

Why can't Steam just remain a game store.

Valve should be careful with walking the spyware route and not to alienate their good customers.

[Felix]

Originally posted by jonicon:

Why can't Steam just remain a game store.

Things can't improve without data.

In addition to that, Steam is much more than just a game store to many people. For example, for me Steam is also my primary Instant Messenger for contacting friends.

[Τhe Rolling Cheese Wheel]

Originally posted by jonicon:

Hardware query is ok, but list of installed applications should not in anyway be relevant to Steam service. That is pure market research and spying. Valve intentions may be good, but I find this intrusive. I would be happy to answer a survey that allows to opt out of intrusive questions and automatic data collection.

Why can't Steam just remain a game store.

Valve should be careful with walking the spyware route and not to alienate their good customers.

Then opt out :\. no need to make a huge scene about it. At least Valve has the common courtesy to ask their customer, EA just takes your pc information till you tell them to stop.

[Syrieux]

well you cant take just part of the survey if you dont send the HW&SW data then you dont take the survey what i think they can do is just ask what the model of the comp and stuff like that if they need specs

[dirrtymartini]

Originally posted by ????????????:

well you cant take just part of the survey if you dont send the HW&SW data then you dont take the survey what i think they can do is just ask what the model of the comp and stuff like that if they need specs

*sigh*

Nvidia driver versions, directX versions, dotnetfix versions, OS patches, AMD driver versions, physiX version, etc. etc. etc.

There are plenty of reasons why Valve should ask for software details as well as hardware. In this case, the more they know, the better they can do their own damn job. If they see that the majority of users are still using DriectX 9 for games, they might be more inclined to include DirectX 9 support with their games.

Also, if they see people are still running some buggy AMD driver, they can include "update your POS AMD crap" in their Release Notes, Support Articles, and troubleshooting flowcharts.

If you don't like it, opt the ♥♥♥♥ out.

[Akyho]

Originally posted by dirrtygsharp:

Originally posted by ????????????:

well you cant take just part of the survey if you dont send the HW&SW data then you dont take the survey what i think they can do is just ask what the model of the comp and stuff like that if they need specs

*sigh*

Nvidia driver versions, directX versions, dotnetfix versions, OS patches, AMD driver versions, physiX version, etc. etc. etc.

There are plenty of reasons why Valve should ask for software details as well as hardware. In this case, the more they know, the better they can do their own damn job. If they see that the majority of users are still using DriectX 9 for games, they might be more inclined to include DirectX 9 support with their games.

Also, if they see people are still running some buggy AMD driver, they can include "update your POS AMD crap" in their Release Notes, Support Articles, and troubleshooting flowcharts.

If you don't like it, opt the ♥♥♥♥ out.

Of course all the things your are saying makes sense. I am fine with my PC Specs.

What I am not happy with is it details ALL things you have installed. It knows I have Gamehack installed, , it knows I have Kerbal Space Program installed and probably knows its not hooked up through steam as I bought through the site 2 years ago. It knows I have VLC player installed it knows stuff that its of no use to Steam. Its knows things I dont want it to send.

I am not happy with such strong invasion and thus I did opt out. Except I dont like this invasion beyond myself, this is the first actual thing I have not liked about Valve/steam and it makes me worry about such future practices.

[Jade]

Originally posted by Akyho:

I am not happy with such strong invasion and thus I did opt out. Except I dont like this invasion beyond myself, this is the first actual thing I have not liked about Valve/steam and it makes me worry about such future practices.

Do you seriously think that people at Valve are that interested in you? That's pretty egotistical if you ask me.
It's not like there's someone at Valve saying "oh look at all these programs that Akyho has installed".

The software survey is there so that Valve knows what software people are using. People in general, not just you.

[Jasperline]

They REALLY REALLY REALLY don't care if you have porn/hacks/cheats/pirated games download. It's NOT what it looks at. Dirrty covered what it takes. It's non-invasive.

[Spawn of Totoro]

Originally posted by TheBDK:

Your hardware/software + a ton of other stuff is being sent to valve regardless of you joining the survey or not. How you play, how you die, where you die etc. It's all very scary.

Proof?

Game related data is sent to the Developers/Publishers by their own software, Steam is not involved. Steam's survey is 100% voluntary. Nothing is sent unless there is a survey and you say it is ok to send it this one time.
-----

Originally posted by Akyho:

I am not happy with such strong invasion and thus I did opt out. Except I dont like this invasion beyond myself, this is the first actual thing I have not liked about Valve/steam and it makes me worry about such future practices.

As long as you can opt out, what is the problem? There is nothing to worry about. Even if you do take the survey, it is no personal data with no way for them to tie it to your account.

[aiusepsi]

It's an anonymous, opt-in survey. If you don't feel comfortable participating, then don't. There's nothing underhanded or duplicitous going on.

If you want to get paranoid, bear in mind that any program you run could collect the same information and upload it without your knowledge or consent. Getting suspicious because a program is explicitly asking you for permission to do so is a little odd.

As to why they collect software data, other programs can interfere with Steam. The classic example is anti-virus, but I've seen Razer Game Booster generate errors in Steam, for instance. Collecting data about programs that Steam users commonly have installed can help them test more effectively for potential common conflicts.

[taran858]

For some reason though I had vista installed when I have 7 not sure if anypoint doing this if the data is going to be wrong anyway.

[TeKraken]

1 error (or even a few % of errors) out of all the samples they collect shouldn't matter.

[Exxoduss]

What do I get out of it? Nothing? Then I give nothing.. If it is volentary on my part and steam gets info, then when steam gives contests its volentary on there part but its also a marketing gimick to improve sales so they still get something, What do I get out of this survey?