While family member is playing game from my shared library, can't play game both accounts own

[Officer Billiard Ball]

Could someone clarify for me? If I am sharing my library with someone, and they are playing a game that only I own, am I not able to play a game that both accounts own? In my Steam, the game is only listed once, under my games, not his, and when I open the game he still gets kicked out of my library. I am able to open games of his that I do not own. It seems silly that I lose out because 2 copies were purchased instead of 1.

Simply put, I own games X and Y, he owns only game Y. While he is playing X through my library, I cannot open his copy of Y.

I thought that Steam would allow me to open the game that both of us own as if I were sharing it from his library and then we would both be using each others libraries at the same time.

[ReBoot]

If you own Y and play it, then he can't play your library. That's how it's designed to work.

[Cathulhu]

The owner always has priority. So if you start a game, the family member will be notified to exit the game soon or get the game terminated.

[Officer Billiard Ball]

Originally posted by ReBoot:

If you own Y and play it, then he can't play your library. That's how it's designed to work.

Why is it designed this way, i.e. why can't I open the game from his list of games? So there is a disadvantage because we both bought a copy of the game.

[Cathulhu]

Ehrm, you can. As long as he isn't using his own library you should have no problems accessing it while he is using yours.

[Officer Billiard Ball]

He is playing Football Manager 17 which I bought, and I wanted to play Cities Skyline, which we both own. But when I start Cities, he gets a five minute warning to quit FM. I can open his copy of Darksiders, which I don't own, so the sharing thing is working. In the window of games, the games we both own do not appear in his list of shared games, only games I do not have.

[ReBoot]

Steam family sharing was, I think that's to counteract gamepooling, designed to work akin to a family console. As such, it sucks for families where everyone plays 24/7.

[Cathulhu]

Because a library can only be used by one user.
FM17 and C:S are both in your library. So he gets FM17 shared, plays it, and then you take over by starting C:S which you do own.

You can't get games shared you already own.

[Officer Billiard Ball]

Originally posted by ReBoot:

Steam family sharing was, I think that's to counteract gamepooling, designed to work akin to a family console. As such, it sucks for families where everyone plays 24/7.

I am not complaining, it's just annoying that I would have been better off not buying him a copy of Skyline too. Yes, I bought his copy. Effectively I paid for it twice but I can't play it from his library because the game is only listed under my games and my library is in use by him. It's kind of funny I suppose. I wish I never bought him a copy now. Well if there is a way to do it, someone please let me know. Thanks.

[God, owner of the Universe]

Here's Steam's FAQ on Family Sharing:
https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=3784-QLBM-5731

[ReBoot]

If you bought him a copy, then it's on his account. If it's on your account, then you bought yourself a copy. Don't mix things up.
The way to do it is not to play at the same time. There's a plethora of things people can do to entertain themselves.

[Officer Billiard Ball]

Originally posted by Cathulhu:

Because a library can only be used by one user.
FM17 and C:S are both in your library. So he gets FM17 shared, plays it, and then you take over by starting C:S which you do own.

You can't get games shared you already own.

Just a pity, it's not completely unreasonable that in a case where both people own the game, steam would view it as me opening his copy of the game. I am sure this situation pops up a bit.

[Officer Billiard Ball]

Originally posted by ReBoot:

If you bought him a copy, then it's on his account. If it's on your account, then you bought yourself a copy. Don't mix things up.
The way to do it is not to play at the same time. There's a plethora of things people can do to entertain themselves.

I meant by that, I bought him a copy as a gift after I had my copy. I was just saying that I paid twice and it's funny it worked out like this, whereas if I had known this I would have been better not gifting it to him as then I could play it while he is using my library. It is on both our accounts.

[Officer Billiard Ball]

Originally posted by God, owner of the Universe:

Here's Steam's FAQ on Family Sharing:
https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=3784-QLBM-5731

Thanks, but does this specifically mention that sharing is only for games that you do not already own? Apologies if it does, I just don't see it.