Display non-Steam games on profile, track playtime...

[Dreakon13]

I think it would be cool if my non-Steam games were on display in my profile, just like my Steam games (I mean, as insignificant as they are, demo's are shown). Or at the very least, track the playtime of my non-Steam games. If not permanently, then maybe just in the "Recently Played" until they drop off.

I like my Steam profile, and as pointless as my life may be for thinking this, I take a bit of pride in it. Moreso than any other gaming service, at the moment. It's my all around gaming service, for Steam games or not. If I spend 100+ hours playing Mass Effect 3, I'd like it to appear just as the first two games would, personally.

Just a thought anyways. ;-]

[Tito Shivan]

Sure Steam will be fine to entice you even more to buy games out of their store and then offer you their functionalities for FREE...

There's a reason why STEAM only tracks stats for STEAM titles. I'm pretty sure you can guess why by yourself.

[Black Blade]

I dont thibk that will happen as steam has over a millon users just abut and doing something like that will take too much memory to something im guessing steam will not see so inportent... or even as something that takes one of steam feathers but if you like maybe look into Evolve its not a store like steam but free software that give many feathers like tracking play time that is what you looking for and it tracks also for preety much any game...so maybe you like to chake it out
link: Evolve[www.evolvehq.com]

[Marble]

There are services like Xfire and Raptr that provide what you're looking for.

Originally posted by Tito Shivan:

There's a reason why STEAM only tracks stats for STEAM titles. I'm pretty sure you can guess why by yourself.

There are technical reasons too. Playtime, achievements etc. are recorded against a title in Steam's database. Non-Steam games will not have a database entry as such, so Steam will not know which game is being played.

But yeah, they are not obligated to provide services outside of titles they sell, this is not the purpose of Steam.

[Dreakon13]

1. I never said Valve was obligated to provide such functionality, it was merely a suggestion. No wonder there's a stark layer of aggression in your posts. You misunderstand.

2. Why is it wrong to suggest encouraging siphoning all of my games through Steam (which would be advertising in and of itself, simply being on the service is an invitation to use it), but it's okay to suggest third party services like Raptr and Xfire? Isn't that just directing people away from Steam as their "one stop shop" in regards to gaming? Where's the incentive to buy Tomb Raider on Steam instead of Origin if I use Raptr for my game tracking?

3. Obviously there would not be achievement tracking. Just playtime (even client-side) and have it on display on the profile. If having a "database entry"... or lack thereof... is an issue, then make database entries for popular games. The client can already pick up the games executables, why not take it a step further?

[Marble]

Originally posted by Dreakon:

Where's the incentive to buy Tomb Raider on Steam instead of Origin if I use Raptr for my game tracking?

That was the point of the suggestion. Steam's primary purpose is to sell you games, Raptr's is to track your games which is what you are wanting to do.
Where you buy it is up to you, there is certainly nothing wrong with buying it on Origin, but you would still require a Steam account to play it as it is a Steamworks game.

Originally posted by Dreakon:

3. Obviously there would not be achievement tracking. Just playtime (even client-side) and have it on display on the profile

This would not be possible unless it was stored server-side as well.

Originally posted by Dreakon:

If having a "database entry"... or lack thereof... is an issue, then make database entries for popular games. The client can already pick up the games executables, why not take it a step further?

It can only track times for games it knows about. When you add a non-Steam game, it just lists installed software, it doesn't know whether it's a game or not. Even Raptr cannot track times for games it doesn't know about.
Adding Steam features to non-Steam games just gives customers a reason to buy elsewhere and publishers a reason not to list their game on Steam's store, which is not what Valve want.

[Black Blade]

It will be cool but dont think it will happen and if you want it better use Evolve or Xfire or something else
And steam is a one stop store more or less not gameing center but a store...

[♦Pieramyd]

It should be an optional feature in-case it comes into fruition.
I really like the ~hours played~ idea.
Maybe you could transfer that time to an actual steam game in-case you're playing retail Oblivion and you want that playtime to be recorded for your Steam copy.
Same with mods.

[Black Blade]

Originally posted by BDX777:

It should be an optional feature in-case it comes into fruition.
I really like the ~hours played~ idea.
Maybe you could transfer that time to an actual steam game in-case you're playing retail Oblivion and you want that playtime to be recorded for your Steam copy.
Same with mods.

First why will you have a pc copy and a steam copy?
And second you can just use Evolve (link on my first post) or xfire and the outhers

[♦Pieramyd]

Originally posted by Black Blade:

Originally posted by BDX777:

It should be an optional feature in-case it comes into fruition.
I really like the ~hours played~ idea.
Maybe you could transfer that time to an actual steam game in-case you're playing retail Oblivion and you want that playtime to be recorded for your Steam copy.
Same with mods.

First why will you have a pc copy and a steam copy?
And second you can just use Evolve (link on my first post) or xfire and the outhers

It was just an example, I actually have to launch Oblivion via shortcut because of some bug where the buttons are greyed out.

[Black Blade]

Originally posted by BDX777:

Originally posted by Black Blade:

First why will you have a pc copy and a steam copy?
And second you can just use Evolve (link on my first post) or xfire and the outhers

It was just an example, I actually have to launch Oblivion via shortcut because of some bug where the buttons are greyed out.

Did you try to fix it? Do you want to try? You can connect me and il see what i can do

[♦Pieramyd]

Originally posted by Black Blade:

Originally posted by BDX777:

It was just an example, I actually have to launch Oblivion via shortcut because of some bug where the buttons are greyed out.

Did you try to fix it? Do you want to try? You can connect me and il see what i can do

I already came up with a work around, a common way to fix broken steam games is to replace the .exe, also in order to mod GTA San Andreas using CLEO you have to replace the executable file.

Tip: Try installing onto your main hard drive instead of your external USB hard drive, some games absolutely do NOT work properly (some times not at all) if they're installed on an external drive.

[Dreakon13]

Originally posted by Canti:

That was the point of the suggestion. Steam's primary purpose is to sell you games, Raptr's is to track your games which is what you are wanting to do.
Where you buy it is up to you, there is certainly nothing wrong with buying it on Origin, but you would still require a Steam account to play it as it is a Steamworks game.

Oh... shrug. Then as per the first reply in this topic, why would Valve care where you buy it's games then? In the end, you wind up using Steam, which should be their goal. As I said, allowing you a means in which to work ALL of your titles through Steam (with a few bonus features like playtime tracking, obviously not more integrated ones like achievements) and not just the Steamworks games... could do nothing but good for Valve and the service. It only means more exposure, more people using the service and ultimately, more people buying games on it.

Giving people the option to use Steam in more areas isn't advertising for other services, since the people who would use such a feature already know about them. And already use them.

Originally posted by Canti:

This would not be possible unless it was stored server-side as well.

I'm aware, that doesn't mean it isn't possible... and even solely client-side playtime tracking of the Library entries would be better than nothing.

Originally posted by Canti:

It can only track times for games it knows about. When you add a non-Steam game, it just lists installed software, it doesn't know whether it's a game or not. Even Raptr cannot track times for games it doesn't know about.
Adding Steam features to non-Steam games just gives customers a reason to buy elsewhere and publishers a reason not to list their game on Steam's store, which is not what Valve want.

I'm not following the logic. Regarding tracking games "it knows about", I find it hard to believe that a service with literally thousands of games in it's catalog is baffled at the idea of adding a few more... even if it's just a basic information for tracking purposes. However it's being done now could surely be expanded. The only argument I would give you is licensing and whether or not they can officially acknowledge games like Mass Effect 3 that are exclusive to other services.

I'm not sure how Steam incorporating functionality for non-Steam games encourages people to buy games elsewhere. If you're using Steam's functionality, odds are you already have an account on Steam, purchase games on Steam and use it's other features with other games... at which point does this customer say "♥♥♥♥ you Steam" and go elsewhere?

If given the choice (ie. the game is available on Steam or another service), this customer would go with Steam every time. It's clearly their preferred place for gaming. If not given a choice, then that's a sale that never belonged to Steam in the first place... but at least they get some publicity out of it (everytime the person launches their game, they know it's on Steam).

[c704710 [🐧 #LinuxOnly]]

Valve in not obligated to provide any support whatsoever for non-steam games.
That said, I'd like a feature to add non-steam games to my profile.