Show basic system specs under Steam Reviews

[ingueferroque]

I think knowing the basic system specifications of a user is important when they leave a review, especially when it mentions if the performance was good or bad. Since Steam collects hardware data, would this be possible as an option? If the user has multiple devices, they would have to select which device they used, or Steam can select the device they last played the reviewed game on.

[cSg|mc-Hotsauce]

Originally posted by ingueferroque:

Show basic system specs under Steam Reviews

I think knowing the basic system specifications of a user is important when they leave a review, especially when it mentions if the performance was good or bad. Since Steam collects hardware data, would this be possible as an option? If the user has multiple devices, they would have to select which device they used, or Steam can select the device they last played the reviewed game on.

They can not just violate users privacy without the users allowing them to show this privileged information.

[Tito Shivan]

Originally posted by cSg|mc-Hotsauce:

They can not just violate users privacy without the users allowing them to show this privileged information.

:qr:

And on top of that, the review may not be written from the computer the game was played. Or could have been played from multiple computers.

[Mad Scientist]

Users can include their specs in a review if they wish, but the purpose is mostly to review the game itself. I doubt they would want to make a mandatory system just for reviews in regard to system specs.

Remember - the hardware survey is voluntary.

[Crazy Tiger]

If it's optional, sure. And by optional I mean both from including my specs and seeing the specs of others. I have no interest in either.

[cSg|mc-Hotsauce]

Originally posted by Tito Shivan:

Originally posted by cSg|mc-Hotsauce:

They can not just violate users privacy without the users allowing them to show this privileged information.

And on top of that, the review may not be written from the computer the game was played. Or could have been played from multiple computers.

My other PC, HTPC or laptop, yeah. Don't get me started on the Deck.

[Tito Shivan]

Originally posted by cSg|mc-Hotsauce:

My other PC, HTPC or laptop, yeah. Don't get me started on the Deck.

:taloslol:

I can write a review from my phone.That'd be awkward.

[cSg|mc-Hotsauce]

Originally posted by Tito Shivan:

Originally posted by cSg|mc-Hotsauce:

My other PC, HTPC or laptop, yeah. Don't get me started on the Deck.

I can write a review from my phone.That'd be awkward.

In the Mobile Authenticator or Steam Link app?

[ingueferroque]

I do mention that it should be an option. And that the hardware specs the game was played on was chosen.

Suggestion was inspired by seeing a negative review for a game that only mentioned the performance was bad, and based on that user's screenshots it looks like they play 6+ year old games at Low settings. So they are under the minimum system specs most likely. A review like that is misleading.

[cSg|mc-Hotsauce]

Originally posted by ingueferroque:

I do mention that it should be an option. And that the hardware specs the game was played on was chosen.

Suggestion was inspired by seeing a negative review for a game that mentioned the performance was bad, and based on that user's screenshots it looks like they play an older title like PUBG at Low/Ultra Low settings. So under the minimum system specs most likely. A review like that is misleading.

Those screenshots could have been taken from any PC, even an old one they have since upgraded.

[Mad Scientist]

Originally posted by ingueferroque:

I do mention that it should be an option. And that the hardware specs the game was played on was chosen.

Suggestion was inspired by seeing a negative review for a game that only mentioned the performance was bad, and based on that user's screenshots it looks like they play 6+ year old games at Low settings. So they are under the minimum system specs most likely. A review like that is misleading.

They are free to list their own specs if they want to.

Do note that the slowest part is often also the source of all the problems. One can have great specs but a weak video card resulting in graphics performance issues. One can also have a great video card but a weak CPU. In other cases lack of RAM can also cause performance issues by utilizing the HDD which if low can also cause crashes/BSODs etc.

Users may as-is, write their specs if the performance is low. That is also presuming they're telling the truth, and if they can select from a system Steam has recognized, then they can also deceive if they wish to.


It's a horrible idea.

[KamikaziFly]

+1
If there was a check box for it.
And if steam used the specs of the system the game was played on.

Even though there will be joke reviews posting from their refrigerator/toaster, it will give clarity to those who would take advice on how to improve their glitchy PC setup. (And since it was their review, they could delete troll posts. lol)

I see this as a win / win!

[UrbanMech]

I think it would be pointless and maybe even damaging as users with good rigs could lie about it having bad performance and people would take it more credible than before.

It would have to be optional for privacy concerns and I don't think anyone with a wood PC will opt in and admit it. I've seen threads where people will say a game has awful performance but refuse to say what the specs were.

Maybe instead have recommendation tips that say to mention your full specifications when mentioning about performance. The difference being some people wont blindly take every one as true.

[Start_Running]

Originally posted by ingueferroque:

I do mention that it should be an option. And that the hardware specs the game was played on was chosen.

Suggestion was inspired by seeing a negative review for a game that only mentioned the performance was bad, and based on that user's screenshots it looks like they play 6+ year old games at Low settings. So they are under the minimum system specs most likely. A review like that is misleading.

You seem to be basing that assumption on you preconceived bias.

What a screenshot looks like dpends on the display settings and if the person is complaining about performance then it seems very fobvuious that they'd be turning the graphics settings waay down. you know, to impriover performance.

Originally posted by KamikaziFly:

+1
If there was a check box for it.
And if steam used the specs of the system the game was played on.

And if the game was played on multiple systems?
Because its not uncommon for people to have a PC and a laptop you know.

[Hisdue]

With the difference in performance between NVIDIA and Radeon GPU's varying between games, it would be most beneficial to at least SEARCH the gpu in reviews without loading all 20,000 with a Control + F.

[KamikaziFly]

Originally posted by mahajimbo:

With the difference in performance between NVIDIA and Radeon GPU's varying between games, it would be most beneficial to at least SEARCH the gpu in reviews without loading all 20,000 with a Control + F.

Exactly. I had to read discussions instead of reviews on how a new game this year does not support my video card yet. My VGA came out last year, and for some reason many games do not initially support it.

It would have been nicer for gamers to read that on reviews, and easily solved by devs if we could post our specs on our negative review cause the game can't run.

My video card is: MSI GeForce Gaming Trio 10GB GDDR6X RTX 3800.