Steam Controller

[mr. rampage]

In case you haven't seen this yet...

Thoughts? I'm interested in trying this out. Really curious how it does perform against a mouse and keyboard in FPS games.

[esoomenona]

Hmm... Interesting. I'm going to become a beta candidate now. Only one more simple step to complete to do so.

[LONGZILLA]

Will definitely need to get my hands on to try it, but it sure seems like they put a lot of thought into it.

[vun]

Looks very interesting, I'm curious to see how it performs vs. a 360 controller. Although the clear benefit of the 360 controller is that a lot of games support that out of the box, idk how they plan on doing it with the Steam controller. That's probably gonna be the biggest problem, and a dealbreaker for many I'd imagine.

[CorsairJames]

Honestly, I've always thought the best controller would be the Xbox 360 with the analog controls from a PS3 Dual Shock. I like the shape of the 360 since I have big hands, and the PS3 analog controls feel great. I'm not sold on the dual trackpad given that I hate trackpads.

[esoomenona]

Yeah, the trackpads definitely seem like they'd be less preferable than the analog sticks most people are used to these days with controllers.

[Cafiend]

ok i have been trying to wrap my head around this for days now...

The first that I read sounded like you could play/share pc games on your steam account to anyone or any TV.

How do you know that tv or whatever system can run that game?...so i guess it would be powered thru a box? ok so another console game platform?

I love steam straight up..ever since CS and Half Life.

For all the indie games and all that they could pull it off ...but can that thing run bf4 as well as a pc or xbox?

[inteli722]

I'm fine with trackpads as long as the friction level is small, but still there. The worst feeling is when your finger starts making noises and jerking about because of too much friction. Don't like those ridges much either.

[Tym]

Since BF4 wont be on steam I highly doubt you will be able to play it on SteamOS

[SpAmRaY]

Since BF4 wont be on steam I highly doubt you will be able to play it on SteamOS

Who needs BF4 when you can have a BFF!

[Tym]

Battlefield Friends?

[inteli722]

Battlefield Friends?

That series...

[noisyturtle]

I hate using touch control on my phone, I don't think this will be much different.

[demik]

**** looks dumb

[Tym]

I wish steam/valve would get back to making games not this ****, how spawns Source 2 not announced :,(

[Artichoke]

I think it's an interesting innovation compared to the last few generations of controllers. Looks like it would be uncomfortable to use though, seems like your thumbs would be at a strange angle.

[noisyturtle]

[NamelessPFG]

Dual trackpads? What is Valve smoking?

If they think they can substitute actual spring-loaded thumbsticks with gimbals with those using "haptic feedback"...if it's the typical rumble/vibration feedback, then it's going to suck. Gimbals, true force-feedback (which you're not going to find in a gamepad due to the required power for the motors and size of said motors) or don't bother.

The lack of a traditional face button arrangement and D-Pad is another major issue. Try playing a platformer or a fighting game on that thing...

...wait, a friend of mine on IRC brought up the possibility of clickable trackpads. Think 2nd-gen Zunes. That MIGHT work, but I still don't think it'll be ideal in the end.

[Dubsgalore]

I'm going to stick to my keyboard 

[noisyturtle]

I'm going to stick to my keyboard 

Pretty much this. Remember trying to play Starcraft with a N64 controller, or Sim Themepark with the PS1 controller. It was horrible! Which on another note, how well does Blizzard think D3 is actually going to play without a mouse?

[The_Beast]

It looks nice, but once I switched from console (PS2/gamecube being my last) there is no going back to controllers. Keyboard and mouse are just better for what I need IMO.

[metalliqaz]

It looks like ****.  Touch surfaces offer no tactile feedback and aren't precise enough for intense gaming.

[fydo]

I think it sounds quite interesting, and I'll reserve judgement until I actually try it. The open-source nature of the design is particularly cool.

Gamasutra has an article with some feedback from real game developers who have tried it: http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/201195/Select_game_developers_used_the_Steam_Controller_Heres_what_they_said.php

Seems quite positive!

[tricheboars]

so i have been thinking about this today.

i think we have to think of this thing as a replacement for keyboard and mouse and not as a gamepad. the thumb will rest gently against the touchpads. the left one being wasd and the right being a mouse.  i am not sure how it will work. i hate touchpads but i have to say that apple has been surprising me with what they are doing with touchpads. so whatever drivers and the hardware they chose to put in this thing will determine whether it is acceptable for "intense gaming". i have never gamed with anything like that.

however, i am concerned that it will not support legacy gamepad games. the abxy button configuration is whack as ****. and games that have xbox 360 controller support or even a game with a tutorial often have pictures of the 360 controller (even on pc) or have a picture of a mouse doing left click etc. that **** will be confusing on this beast and i sure as **** dont want to have to configure controls every time i want to play a game. although i do make caps sprint, shift crouch, and control prone in all fps games on pc. but valve will have to have this thing rockin and ready to go with their catalog ASAP for it to take off like. right? are the casual ($$$) gamers going to configure the gamepad before they play a new game?

i am more excited to play with an xbox one controller on steamOS/big picture with existing games and steady Microsoft drivers. they will come out soon for pc.  i will still buy a steam machine and i signed up me and my fiance for the beta. i will buy the controller and use it. i dont see myself playing starcraft with it though.

[davkol]

It looks like ****.  Touch surfaces offer no tactile feedback and aren't precise enough for intense gaming.

They could... see Senseg's haptic feedback. Unfortunately, the technology appears to be kinda stuck just like Pixel Qi.

[hazeluff]

**** looks dumb

Get the **** out demilk. You don't know what you're talking about. xD SHOO

Back on topic:

Like tricheboars, I agree with him saying that people should think of it as a keyboard+mouse replacement and not a gamepad replacement. Its not going to replace keyboard+mouse outright, but it's gotten me really excited in the fact I can sit back and play all my pc games. Still going to use keyboard+mouse for anything competitive. But this is nice along side with steam boxes and steam OS.

[Phedran]

I'm obviously skeptical, but interested. This could be the next huge leap in gamepads, or it could be a huge flop--we don't know yet.

After having read Tommy Refenes (Super Meat Boy developer) thoughts on his time with the controller I'm definitely very intrigued and am willing to suspend my disbelief until I can get hands-on myself.

[vun]

I'm obviously skeptical, but interested. This could be the next huge leap in gamepads, or it could be a huge flop--we don't know yet.

After having read Tommy Refenes (Super Meat Boy developer) thoughts on his time with the controller I'm definitely very intrigued and am willing to suspend my disbelief until I can get hands-on myself.

It could be a flop, but the thing with Valve is that so far they haven't managed to really screw things up that bad. I mean even if what they make isn't always groundbreaking, it's usually solid enough that it can't be called a flop, which is part of the reason I'm not willing to dismiss this as lunacy just yet. Had this been announced by any other company(ok maybe Logitech could pull it off as well) I would dismiss it outright as, even if the concept is sound, most companies don't put enough work or tought into their products to execute complicated ideas properly.

[Phedran]

I'm obviously skeptical, but interested. This could be the next huge leap in gamepads, or it could be a huge flop--we don't know yet.

After having read Tommy Refenes (Super Meat Boy developer) thoughts on his time with the controller I'm definitely very intrigued and am willing to suspend my disbelief until I can get hands-on myself.

It could be a flop, but the thing with Valve is that so far they haven't managed to really screw things up that bad. I mean even if what they make isn't always groundbreaking, it's usually solid enough that it can't be called a flop, which is part of the reason I'm not willing to dismiss this as lunacy just yet. Had this been announced by any other company(ok maybe Logitech could pull it off as well) I would dismiss it outright as, even if the concept is sound, most companies don't put enough work or tought into their products to execute complicated ideas properly.

I agree! But time will tell. I'm looking forward to hearing more about it for sure.

[hazeluff]

I'm obviously skeptical, but interested. This could be the next huge leap in gamepads, or it could be a huge flop--we don't know yet.

After having read Tommy Refenes (Super Meat Boy developer) thoughts on his time with the controller I'm definitely very intrigued and am willing to suspend my disbelief until I can get hands-on myself.

The idea sounds solid. A lot of people are behind supporting it. Just hope it delivers.

[noisyturtle]

Really, the true question is - why the **** would you want to use a Steambox in the first place. Steam already has Big Picture mode if you want to play on your television, you already are in your house where your desktop is, and your desktop has infinitely more powerful and exponential hardware. I don't understand why Steambox exists. Unlike actual home consoles the Steambox offers nothing new, exclusive, or even useful as far as I can tell other than a funky controller design that seems like nothing more than a gimmick at this point.

[demik]

**** looks dumb

Get the **** out demilk. You don't know what you're talking about. xD SHOO

Back on topic:

Like tricheboars, I agree with him saying that people should think of it as a keyboard+mouse replacement and not a gamepad replacement. Its not going to replace keyboard+mouse outright, but it's gotten me really excited in the fact I can sit back and play all my pc games. Still going to use keyboard+mouse for anything competitive. But this is nice along side with steam boxes and steam OS.

reported!

[inteli722]

Really, the true question is - why the **** would you want to use a Steambox in the first place. Steam already has Big Picture mode if you want to play on your television, you already are in your house where your desktop is, and your desktop has infinitely more powerful and exponential hardware. I don't understand why Steambox exists. Unlike actual home consoles the Steambox offers nothing new, exclusive, or even useful as far as I can tell other than a funky controller design that seems like nothing more than a gimmick at this point.

Well, it's not specifically aimed at us PC Gamers.


First, one model will be an entry level gaming PC that can help lead console players towards the wonders of PC Gaming.
A second model will be a streaming PC, in case you don't want to lug your uber-powerful Gaming PC into the living room every time you want to play a game on the TV. With the Streaming, it also makes it a lot easier to play games with friends splitscreen like you would with an Xbox or PS3.

[hazeluff]

Really, the true question is - why the **** would you want to use a Steambox in the first place. Steam already has Big Picture mode if you want to play on your television, you already are in your house where your desktop is, and your desktop has infinitely more powerful and exponential hardware. I don't understand why Steambox exists. Unlike actual home consoles the Steambox offers nothing new, exclusive, or even useful as far as I can tell other than a funky controller design that seems like nothing more than a gimmick at this point.

Well, it's not specifically aimed at us PC Gamers.


First, one model will be an entry level gaming PC that can help lead console players towards the wonders of PC Gaming.
A second model will be a streaming PC, in case you don't want to lug your uber-powerful Gaming PC into the living room every time you want to play a game on the TV. With the Streaming, it also makes it a lot easier to play games with friends splitscreen like you would with an Xbox or PS3.

This plus the controller makes me a very happy PC/Console gamer. I used to get a lot of console games, but slowly moved to PC. But I totally want to play all my PC games sitting back and perhaps in a separate room/setup.

[inteli722]

Really, the true question is - why the **** would you want to use a Steambox in the first place. Steam already has Big Picture mode if you want to play on your television, you already are in your house where your desktop is, and your desktop has infinitely more powerful and exponential hardware. I don't understand why Steambox exists. Unlike actual home consoles the Steambox offers nothing new, exclusive, or even useful as far as I can tell other than a funky controller design that seems like nothing more than a gimmick at this point.

Well, it's not specifically aimed at us PC Gamers.


First, one model will be an entry level gaming PC that can help lead console players towards the wonders of PC Gaming.
A second model will be a streaming PC, in case you don't want to lug your uber-powerful Gaming PC into the living room every time you want to play a game on the TV. With the Streaming, it also makes it a lot easier to play games with friends splitscreen like you would with an Xbox or PS3.

This plus the controller makes me a very happy PC/Console gamer. I used to get a lot of console games, but slowly moved to PC. But I totally want to play all my PC games sitting back and perhaps in a separate room/setup.

That is my theory, but that seems like the most likely possibility. Why else would there be streaming, besides a lack of native support for many games?


I know I'm going to look into a streaming steambox, maybe a full fledged consolized PC later.

[noisyturtle]

The PC already has a myriad of controllers for it and games that support them, so that's not an issue. On the other point, I guess I've had a wireless pc to tv transmitter for so long I forgot it's not a standard feature. It really should be for how inexpensive they are though.

[hazeluff]

The PC already has a myriad of controllers for it and games that support them, so that's not an issue. On the other point, I guess I've had a wireless pc to tv transmitter for so long I forgot it's not a standard feature. It really should be for how inexpensive they are though.

Those controllers aren't that good for games that require the use of the mouse. I guess the steam controller isn't revolutionary, but it's different, exciting and trying to solve the problem of trying to sit back and playing kbd+mouse games.

[davkol]