Store, library and Steam forums search

[Yohan]

Hello there.
You already did a great job on the searching mechanisms in Steam and it's really awesome!
But, in some ways, it's still awful, sorry. For example, well, my library in Steam consists of more than 1000 titles and that's still far not the biggest one, and some of these titles released in 199x-s, and some are in 202x-s. And I sometimes surely feel like "I wanna play something old, but don't know what exactly". What should I do? Of course, for start, I should try and look for some old games in my library. But how will I know, if they are old, if I don't know all of them by names?
Well, yes, for every game there is specified year of their release, but how much more convenient it could be, if I could search for only games for year 2003? Or for games from 2001 till 2005?
And that has sense for the Steam store also. Sometimes I interested in old titles only, and sometimes I want new ones only, just 2021-2022.
Also, about searching through forums: you say "before suggesting anything, try searching". OK. I tried. Entered "Suggestions/Ideas" branch and searched for "search" and "store search". And it gave me results in "Suggestions", and in "Help and Tips", and in "Steam Discussions", etc. Why would I need that? Why can't I restrict search to just that exact branch? In that one branch only are dozens of topics, that used such words somewhere, but you suggest me to look through another several thousands? No thanks! I glad to suggest a good idea and I'm here not for doing that job of searching tonight.

With best regards.

[Gwarsbane]

We have been asking for better search of the forums since they put them in. We have asked many times to be able to actually restrict the searching to the specific section we want to search in.

There are a few other upgrades they could do to make search better like being able to exclude words or search for an exact match.

That being said, while the search could be better, its still usable. Sometimes it takes a bit of digging down a few pages but usually you can find stuff.

But yes, a better search feature would be so much better.

[zaphodikus]

LOL

Steam search is not that great, use a google search and the site:www.steampowered.com as a starting term.

[Yohan]

Originally posted by Gwarsbane:

We have been asking for better search of the forums since they put them in. We have asked many times to be able to actually restrict the searching to the specific section we want to search in.

There are a few other upgrades they could do to make search better like being able to exclude words or search for an exact match.

That being said, while the search could be better, its still usable. Sometimes it takes a bit of digging down a few pages but usually you can find stuff.

But yes, a better search feature would be so much better.

Then I guess we want to make hundreds and thousands of that suggestion. Because I could do some digging on the forums... but why would I ever want to do this?!
We are here to play games, to relax, to entertain ourselves, and not to do some work! Work of some other people, by the way.
Again, while I am truly glad to do a suggestion, hopefully a good one, I'm not digging into forums, it's excessive, and I just want things nice and simple.

[Yohan]

Originally posted by zaphodikus:

LOL

Steam search is not that great, use a google search and the site:www.steampowered.com as a starting term.

Yes, you are right. That's the point: it's not great, but it could be a bit better.
And my post is not only about forums, but about searching criteria at the store as well.

[MoonC A T]

Originally posted by Yohan:

Hello there.
You already did a great job on the searching mechanisms in Steam and it's really awesome!

I think you're being really generous here. It can find a word you type, the most basic search can do that, but beyond that, all hell breaks loose.

[zaphodikus]

Normally people jsut want game troubleshooting help or system troubleshooting help. and then the google search needs to be the choice or duck-duck really.

[Yohan]

Originally posted by MoonC A T:

Originally posted by Yohan:

Hello there.
You already did a great job on the searching mechanisms in Steam and it's really awesome!

I think you're being really generous here. It can find a word you type, the most basic search can do that, but beyond that, all hell breaks loose.

Can't just deny that they tried)

[Yohan]

Originally posted by zaphodikus:

Normally people jsut want game troubleshooting help or system troubleshooting help. and then the google search needs to be the choice or duck-duck really.

Yes, you're not wrong. But it's not just about people looking for troubleshooting. My guess is that I'm not the only one who really tries to use it and to use it for other people. Because I came here to do a good thing, and they asked me to "search before speaking". But that's there system is broken to the point where you'd rather use Google to google you answer at the Steam forums. Ridiculous.
Of course, if I really have a problem, I'll use everything and search everywhere. But if I'm here not for that?

[zaphodikus]

Yeah, "search before asking" works when the search system is like stackoverflow or reddit (both are very chiquey techbro heavy platforms sadly), where search uses NLP or such-like and words are weighted and alternative words are subbed.

Of course we want all software to be all things to everyone, and best-of-breed products are best because they do just one thing well. Steam should either subscribe to google search engine and pay up, or give users the choice to perform google searches outside of any of the Steam private hubs for search? Valve should stick to trying to write a new game and not try to do search; although that's a different topic, but illustrates the point. Do one thing well, sub-contract or plug in everything else.

[Yohan]

Originally posted by zaphodikus:

Yeah, "search before asking" works when the search system is like stackoverflow or reddit (both are very chiquey techbro heavy platforms sadly), where search uses NLP or such-like and words are weighted and alternative words are subbed.

Sadly, they have section for suggestions, but it's not working properly because they even have much less people who want to use it because of it not working properly. Beacuse searching here sucks >__>

[Yohan]

Originally posted by zaphodikus:

Yeah, "search before asking" works when the search system is like stackoverflow or reddit (both are very chiquey techbro heavy platforms sadly), where search uses NLP or such-like and words are weighted and alternative words are subbed.

So yeah, better let google do searching system for them. That is about forums.
And I can't let go idea that there are many "game databases" in the net, that aren't Google, but do have a great searching system with many filters.