Add "Can you run it?" check through steam

[Stryker]

Ever used the website "can you run it?" or a equivalent tool to check to see if your computer can handle a game? I think steam should add something like this but built right in to steam.

[ReBoot]

«Gғм» Kid Of The Century님이 먼저 게시:

they don't want to bother with.

Unless you have a quote from Gabe (or some other high Valve dude) stating that, let me just assume you've no clue what you're talking about.

[Kalvix]

BlackRayPlayer님이 먼저 게시:

Stryker님이 먼저 게시:

Ever used the website "can you run it?" or a equivalent tool to check to see if your computer can handle a game? I think steam should add something like this but built right in to steam.

I just tested this site to let it judge this computer on what it can run. The website is full of crap. It said some of the games that are very capable of running, because I own them and know they run, were not able to function with this machine.

EpicPsycho님이 먼저 게시:

I checked to see if i could run some games on Can you run it sometimes it would say no but i end up getting some of those games it said i couldn't run and i can. So idk but if they atleast had demos for each game so we can atleast see how well it would run that would be nice.

I have learned about what my machine can do. For example, if I see a game that requires 2.4GHz processor, I get it anyway for my 2.3GHz. That is because I know that I have a 2.3GHz 2nd Gen intel core i3, the specs ask for a 2.4GHz pentium IV. My processor can think at a faster and more reliable speed than Pentium IV, plus my CPU also acts like a GPU. So what might run 2.4GHz in a Pentium IV Processor, might run only 1.7GHz in a 2nd Gen 2.3GHz. The GPU which is intel HD Graphics 3000, helps with graphical process, which helps reduce that processing level as well. That is why finding games for integrated graphics alone is hard. I don't know the limitations except for 128MB of Graphics Memory (Portal 2, Burnout Paradise).

Thats all well and good but I have NO clue what you just said or how to even find out that imformation, I've had people try to direct me tons of times but I can't work out how the hell to see what my pc has. This sort of things would be amazing, so many times iv been forced to not buy things as I dont know if they will work and dont want to risk getting banned by asking for a refund.

Its all well and good for people who are computer pros saying *well just check through the huge list of very technical information*, but that doesn't help most people. Its like a doctor saying *you can cure yourself! just look in a book for the medicine you need then make it yourself from the ingredients you find in a book!* Steam most likely has lost thousands if not millions from people not buying stuff as they have no clue if it would work.

[Kalvix]

Tito Shivan님이 먼저 게시:

@Stryker. What you are asking for already exists. They are called Demos. You get to try the game before you purchase it, then decide if you want to buy it.

Following your example, what's been asked here is the Ford Salesman telling you 'No, don't buy that car, it's not for you, believe me' Before doing a purchase.
Now tell me what business wants salesmen telling that to their customers.

so your sayings they do it on purpose so we buy things we can't play to milk us for money? and no its more like you trying the car and deciding you don't want it. And of course not every game has a demo so how do we find out with then? It wouldn't be so hard to have some terms and conditions that say its an estimate not a definite.

Anything would be good, its no wonder so far gamers go for pcs these days, at least with a console I can buy a game and play it instead of needing to do a in depth engineering investigation first to find out if it will work, even more fun if your buying it in a shop with no access to your pcs stats.

[Tito Shivan]

War-Barney님이 먼저 게시:

Anything would be good, its no wonder so far gamers go for pcs these days, at least with a console I can buy a game and play it instead of needing to do a in depth engineering investigation first to find out if it will work, even more fun if your buying it in a shop with no access to your pcs stats.

It's not that hard, really. It just needs a bit of attention, not a deep engineering invetigation.
I always love how people can fit into their minds every nitpicking tech detail of their cars or his favorite team stats... But cannot remember a couple tech details of their computers because 'it's too complicated'
No, it's not, It's just people being lazy most of the time.
And that's why such systems are requested, not because 'I don't know about it' but because ' I can't even be bothered trying, so someone do it for me'

[gardian06]

Tito Shivan님이 먼저 게시:

War-Barney님이 먼저 게시:

Anything would be good, its no wonder so far gamers go for pcs these days, at least with a console I can buy a game and play it instead of needing to do a in depth engineering investigation first to find out if it will work, even more fun if your buying it in a shop with no access to your pcs stats.

It's not that hard, really. It just needs a bit of attention, not a deep engineering invetigation.
I always love how people can fit into their minds every nitpicking tech detail of their cars or his favorite team stats... But cannot remember a couple tech details of their computers because 'it's too complicated'
No, it's not, It's just people being lazy most of the time.
And that's why such systems are requested, not because 'I don't know about it' but because ' I can't even be bothered trying, so someone do it for me'

realistically War-Barney's point is rendered moot as I was able to search "installed hardware" on google, and not only go 20,000+ hits, but also about 10 suggestions for more specificity.

realistically you only need to get the information once (just copy it to a text file, or email it to yourself. Microsoft has even made this really easy to get to sense Vista, so realistically there is no real reason for a person to say "I can't find what hardware is installed on my system" because not only is it getting easier, but also more straight forward (any Windows after 3.1 has it, and any mac after OSX, not sure on Linux, but would think that it was possible even before Windows)

OT: the real problem with this suggestion is maintaining the features accuracy as in order for it to be 100% accurate then Valve would have to basically test every tech combination (current/recent) with every game to see if it runs.

I actually took the time to go, and check this reference website out: not only did it say I couldn't run some games that I can run those at high settings, so I vote to reject this suggestion on the grounds of cost, and functionality.

[ReBoot]

War-Barney님이 먼저 게시:

at least with a console I can buy a game and play it instead of needing to do a in depth engineering investigation first to find out if it will work

This. A simple "Check specs" button would be a great remedy.

[OldMemes.biz]

Steams wants as many sales as it can get, to include purchases you can't utilize or wish you never made. Steam is not going to make it easy for you to decide not to buy a game. Any porift they lose from someone deciding "I can't run this, forget it" is a buck Steam loses. Welcome to real life.

[Tito Shivan]

Windows 3.1님이 먼저 게시:

Steams wants as many sales as it can get, to include purchases you can't utilize or wish you never made. Steam is not going to make it easy for you to decide not to buy a game. Any porift they lose from someone deciding "I can't run this, forget it" is a buck Steam loses. Welcome to real life.

You realize that you just described how every other store works, don't you?

[nicojuro]

Honestly seems pointless, all games i know of have minimum and required specs on their store page, and if you don't like manually comparing you can look up systemrequirementslabs and check for yourself.
Valve have their hands full, lets not add more to their plate.

[apayton95]

Even if your computer doesn't match the required spec, you can still sometimes run it, but you just need to turn the settings down a little. I know hardcore pc gamers will hate me for saying this, but games can still be fun even if they don't consume enough processing power to autopilot a spaceship to mars. It is kind of like the difference between eating a really delicious dinner made with cheap ingredients, and then eating the same meal made with the really expensive versions.

[ReBoot]

BlackRayPlayer님이 먼저 게시:

...

Yeah, so? Wanna print that guide over every system requirements listing, or what? Customers want easy solutions, customers don't want to think or work. Customers usually work to get money, the least they want is to work while spending money.
Even if this guide was everwhere, the Average Joe would just see a wall of text and skip. Ever thought that this "You gotta be pro @ tech" stuff is a reason for quite alof of people to play on consoles? 0 worries, just buy and play. While "just buy and play" isn't doable on the PC, you can go down to almost 0 worries by checking the requirements for the customer.

[Eudemonologia]

Es una gran idea.

[gardian06]

ReBoot님이 먼저 게시:

BlackRayPlayer님이 먼저 게시:

...

Yeah, so? Wanna print that guide over every system requirements listing, or what? Customers want easy solutions, customers don't want to think or work. Customers usually work to get money, the least they want is to work while spending money.
Even if this guide was everwhere, the Average Joe would just see a wall of text and skip. Ever thought that this "You gotta be pro @ tech" stuff is a reason for quite alof of people to play on consoles? 0 worries, just buy and play. While "just buy and play" isn't doable on the PC, you can go down to almost 0 worries by checking the requirements for the customer.

sorry you chose a platform that has a requirement to do backend work, and are unable to figure out something that every hardware, and software manufacturer feels is second nature to a system that feels standardization is a swear word. no you do not need to be a pro (then you would be expected to know how to lie to a program that you have different tech then what is installed, or be able to decompile the program to modify a constant error to recompile to run it) this is understanding the thing that you use.

If you owned a car that could only take diesel fuel wouldn't you think that it is the owners responsibility to know that it does, or that the owner should know the year, make, and model (+engine size, and cylinders in many cases) of said vehicle. knowing what hardware is in you system is the same thing as knowing the year, make, and model of your car not to mention if you have access to the car you can find the information quite quickly. the same is true with a computer. would you call a person who knows the year, make, and model of their car (or at least how to find it) a pro well almost every mechanic on the planet would call them a responsible owner. the same analogy is for computers (the list is just a little longer.

@ReBoot at this point I am seeing you as a troll to this thread (truncating out majority of valid points so that you can draw specific attention to portions which are not the focus/reason behind the post, and whine) and I am strongly considering reporting you as such.

[ReBoot]

gardian06님이 먼저 게시:

sorry you chose a platform that has a requirement to do backend work, and are unable to figure out something

I perfectly am. I am not Average Joe, I am actually quite a nerd. But unlike the rest of the nerd population, I can imagine how Average Joe feels. And you saying "PC gaming is supposed to be for techie guys" is far from nice. So troll yourself, buddy and don't troll suggestions.

[IEVI]

To solve this problem stop buying toasters