Creating a better sorting system for the Steam Library

[Ryan]

So if you're someone like me that has 1000+ games and you have a difficult time finding certain types of games to play because the list is stuck in some sort of alphabetical order with nothing to go off of but the name, then things can get a little aggitating.
Steam has the ability to allow you to put games into groups currently, though I have an idea that would help create a better sorting solution for people with too many games on their hand

SO here's the idea:
When you're creating a category, have a seperate list option to auto sort games in your list. Such as:
Auto sort games into this group with Horror Tag
Auto sort games into this group with Local Multiplayer Tag
Romance Tag
Single Player Only Tag
Bethesda games Tag
Valve Games Tag
First Person Shooters Tag

Etc... All games already come pre-tagged. All that needs to really be coded is for Steam to be able to sort the games into the categories.

[tin]

+1

There's a lot of information Steam already knows about each game that could be used for storing/grouping games... Tags, publisher, library path, whether updates are required or not, etc.

[Ryan]

Publicado originalmente por tin:

+1

There's a lot of information Steam already knows about each game that could be used for storing/grouping games... Tags, publisher, library path, whether updates are required or not, etc.

Right? All the tags are still there. All that needs to be coded is for Steam to take the games with those tags and shove them into the category system that already exists. And maybe if they want to go the extra mile:
"These following games are already in a category. Would you like to move them?" Then proceed to check which ones you'd want moved.

[Shiina]

but you can organize them yourself right?

[Ryan]

Publicado originalmente por Shiina♪:

but you can organize them yourself right?

Do you want to self organize 1000+ games?

[Shiina]

Publicado originalmente por Kitten:

Publicado originalmente por Shiina♪:

but you can organize them yourself right?

Do you want to self organize 1000+ games?

but you need to do that from the start when you buy them, not after when you own 2000+

[Ryan]

Publicado originalmente por Shiina♪:

Publicado originalmente por Kitten:

Do you want to self organize 1000+ games?

but you need to do that from the start when you buy them, not after when you own 2000+

Or we could use a versatile sorting system that would allow us to change categories on a whim depending on if we wanted a different layout or not.

[Shiina]

Publicado originalmente por Kitten:

Publicado originalmente por Shiina♪:

but you need to do that from the start when you buy them, not after when you own 2000+

Or we could use a versatile sorting system that would allow us to change categories on a whim depending on if we wanted a different layout or not.

I get the idea with the tagging system but, so many games have 1 or more tags, that it would still be a mess. Eitherway, you could create your own skin/layout?

[Ryan]

Publicado originalmente por Shiina♪:

Publicado originalmente por Kitten:

Or we could use a versatile sorting system that would allow us to change categories on a whim depending on if we wanted a different layout or not.

I get the idea with the tagging system but, so many games have 1 or more tags, that it would still be a mess. Eitherway, you could create your own skin/layout?

You would still be deciding what game went into what category. If you already made a first person shooter category, but you also made a puzzle game category and you felt like portal would fit better in that category, I go back to what I said before;
These games are already in a category. Would you like to move them to the new category?
* Portal
* Portal 2

[Shiina]

yea but, you can make catagories, and add that game in many catagories you want.
it's not limited to just 1 catagory.

Also, with you saying you can decide what game goes in what catagory, the tagging is kind of defeats it's purpose then.

I thought u meant pre-made tags to select, that are linked to the game's tag on the store.

[Ryan]

Publicado originalmente por Shiina♪:

yea but, you can make catagories, and add that game in many catagories you want.
it's not limited to just 1 catagory.

Also, with you saying you can decide what game goes in what catagory, the tagging is kind of defeats it's purpose then.

I thought u meant pre-made tags to select, that are linked to the game's tag on the store.

That is what I meant, pre-made tags already on the store. You'd be able to select an option below of which tags to auto sort into the category If you didn't want to sort them all yourself. I wasn't aware that you could have something in multiple categories, the more you know. Though it doesn't change too much. Could still add an option to keep or remove them from the previous category.

[cinedine]

Google Depressurizer.

I don't want those store tags anywhere near my library. They are partly useless, often wrong, and don't add any value for me. Having those as categories is useless clutter.

[Ryan]

Publicado originalmente por cinedine:

Google Depressurizer.

I don't want those store tags anywhere near my library. They are partly useless, often wrong, and don't add any value for me. Having those as categories is useless clutter.

Quite the reaction. Usually people posting on the suggestion forums offering ideas are looking for constructive criticism and ways to improve their idea rather than an utter rejection, But I digress.

In my experience, the store tags have been, surprisingly, quite useful in finding things with that tag. Horror games? Horror tag. Puzzle games? Puzzle game tag. I've not actually had a situation in which a tag lied to me. However, if you're not wanting them anywhere near your library, of course it'd be completely optional, just as the current category system is. And I wouldn't say useless clutter. Each tab is collapsable after all.

[Ryan]

I found a program called Depressurizer that does this pretty okay. It shows that someone felt the same way I did and took the time to do it themselves, back in 2014 no less. But it's old and doesn't work perfectly, it only sorts what games it knows. I would still love to see this be an official function. Having so many games is really a pain to not be sorted.

[gino costa]

First, did you know that while in your library, you simply start typing the title of a game you want to go to, on your keyboard, to highlight that game?
For example, if you want to go to the first Resident Evil game, just go anywhere in the library, and start typing "resident evil" and you'll get the first game, but from the location of your highlight. So if you're highlighting a game that starts with Z, you won't see any Resident Evil games. You need to go to the top of your library, by pressing the Home key on your keyboard. And if you get to a game other than the one you wanted, but which has a similar title, simply move down with the arrow keys, or search again. I find many games all over my large library quickly and easily this way.


One important suggestion. If Steam makes this new sorting system, PLEASE add an extra tab to the library that displays all games, totally unsorted, like it is now, just by the game name, exactly as it exists now. I say this because you could put a game into a category or sort your games somehow, only to be unable to find your game, and if you forget the exact title, you can't even search for it easily.

In your library you already have tabs at the top for Games, Software, VR, Music, Videos, etc.
Now, there would be two games tabs: Games (user sorted), Games (unsorted), Software, VR, Music, Videos. That way, if you ever have a hard time finding something, just go into the unsorted tab.
Also, have some buttons that allow you to sort many games as well

You could even make custom sorts for the sorted game library listing, again, selecteble by a sub tab, along with the No Sort option.

Why do I ask for an unsorted library even with the No Sort option in the main library? So anyone can know that they can just go to a totally unsorted library easily.

Also, there should be a better search of your library.

But yes, I really like this idea very much

[cSg|mc-Hotsauce]

We'll see...

2019 and Beyond

Steam Library Update: Some long awaited changes to the Steam Client will ship, including a reworked Steam Library, built on top of the technology we shipped in Steam Chat.

https://steamcommunity.com/groups/steamworks/announcements/detail/1697194621363928453