Valve finally announced their controller
- Thread starter Pinkamena
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Still seems like a hard sell lots of people have mouse and keyboard or a controller already is the steam controller really that great that its going to persuade a lot of people to switch? Im unconvinced by it anyway same with the whole Steambox thing tbh.
I would have to try it out for myself but I really cant see bothering to pick one up. Also is there a price for this thing yet? and how is it sold?
I would have to try it out for myself but I really cant see bothering to pick one up. Also is there a price for this thing yet? and how is it sold?
I might get one, I am curious to test on how easy it would be to play a game that requires mouse and keyboard. I already have my PC connected to my living room entertainment system and I prefer using my big screen TV when possible but was regulated to use my computer desk when playing FPSs like Battlefield 4. It would be awesome to play all of my games from my couch.
Meh. Still don't see the need for a console of a PC store. I mean why doesn't Gamestop get their own console?
Also the controller...it doesn't look terrible, I just don't get why there's a touch pad. Like is that for swiping on OS games that get ported over to Steam? 'cause that just seems like a waste and no one wants to play Angry Birds on a console.
The rest just seems like any ol' 3rd party controller.
Also the controller...it doesn't look terrible, I just don't get why there's a touch pad. Like is that for swiping on OS games that get ported over to Steam? 'cause that just seems like a waste and no one wants to play Angry Birds on a console.
The rest just seems like any ol' 3rd party controller.
Found it shortly after posting its 39.99 here thats GBP. So not exactly cheap but not hugely expensive either. I see they are pushing steam link as well which seems even more niche.Most gamers I know who play on PC play on a monitor because they prefer it or cant hog the TV because someone else is watching stuff on it most of the time or they have the PC hooked up to the TV anyway (like me). Also wouldnt streaming to the TV increase lag? cant see how it would provide as satisfactory an experience as just playing straight from the PC.Foolery said:
Those buttons also look very close to the stick maybe im wrong but I would imagine it being very comfortable to play for some games. I remain very sceptical anyway. If this didnt have Valves brand power I would have no hesitation in saying it will sink without trace. As it is I dont think it will be very successful but will satisfy a small niche.
Um...they showed the final build well over two months ago.Pinkamena said:
<.<
Already pre-ordered mine. Looking forward to trying it out a full month before the public release. My first impressions of the very early build were generally positive, so if this last build improves on the original designs it could be quite spectacular.
Still, we'll see. If it winds up being ill-suited for my needs, it has a fantastic return policy. And more over, since I'll have one of the limited number, early release versions, I could even put the thing up for sale on eBay and maybe turn a small profit.
Cheaper than an equivalent Xbox or Playstation controller.Maximum Bert said:
All streaming has an inherent level of latency. But from what I've been hearing, the combination of the Steam streaming service and the Steam Link provides an extraordinarily smooth experience. Provided, of course, there's no bottlenecking within the home network.
Not to keep targeting you, but this is a comment I see often in regards to the Steam Controller, Steam Link, and Steam Machines.
Why does a product having a niche market somehow "invalidate" the product? Not every product has to have mass-market appeal to be successful. The Steam Link seems built from the ground up to fill a niche need. I think this was the intent in it's production.
The Controller, depending on reception, may have mass-market appeal. As long as it delivers on the promised input experience, of course.
The Steam Machines, on other hand....well...
Sure, it's easy for most of us to say, "Pff. How dumb. Why would anyone buy one of those when they could just build their own PC?"
Thing is, most PC gamers don't actually know how to do that. Personally, of all the dedicated gamers (and PC gamers, specifically) that I know, only three of them actually know how to build a PC. And of those three, only two of them currently use a homebrew PC for gaming. The other's been buying pre-builts in recent years.
I can't really say that there will be any significant adoption of the Steam Machines, but for people to pretend like there's no market for such devices is silly.
As someone who doesn't have a controller and who has been wanting a more analogue input, but still with a PC focus, this is pretty tempting. I'll be waiting for some in depth reviews to come out before I go for it, but I seem to recall hearing reasonably good things from articles about earlier prototypes.
It may be that the pads are better than traditional analog sticks, but it doesn't really matter to me since the rest of the buttons are placed in such a stupid position. I don't like taking my thumb off the aiming or moving inputs in order to use the face buttons. Nintendo did the same thing with the Wii-U tablet.
I know not everyone claws, but if you are going to make someone take their thumb off the 'stick' you might as well put the buttons somewhere at least some people can use it.
But who knows, perhaps someone can tell me why they might prefer the button placement below the 'sticks', because I can't think of a reason.
I know not everyone claws, but if you are going to make someone take their thumb off the 'stick' you might as well put the buttons somewhere at least some people can use it.
But who knows, perhaps someone can tell me why they might prefer the button placement below the 'sticks', because I can't think of a reason.
You really think that they would design a controller around the tiny fraction of people who hold their controller in a weird way? Also, there are "grip buttons" on the back so you won't have to move your right thumb to reload/grenade/jump ect. This is in addition to the bumpers.TheSapphireKnight said:
Well, I could not say for certain how many people use their index finger to press the face buttons to keep their thumbs on the sticks, but surely it would not have hurt. It just seems sensible to me. You still haven't given me a reason why having buttons below the 'sticks' may be better for some people.jlchavis0844 said:
I'm still not sold on it for one major reason: no d-pad. (The minor reason being the touch pads probably won't sit well me, no matter how great everyone else might like them. I just really don't like touch pads.) I'll stick with my dual shock 3 and 360 controller for games that work better with controllers rather that M & KB, and if I really want to use a mouse while sitting at my tv, I'll set up a board to hold the mousepad and keyboard comfortably.
If they ever decide to make a d-pad version, I might get one.
If they ever decide to make a d-pad version, I might get one.
I think some games have gotten patches to work directly with it, and for others, it should have the finalized configuration software to set it up globally or per game. Whether or not either method works for enough games to make it worth the price to most people remains to be seen.Wings012 said:
Why?
I already have a 360 controller for anything console-ish like Assassin's Creed or whatever.
I already have a mouse and keyboard for anything that requires precision.
This just looks like a crappy attempt at melding the two. Track pads/touch pads are awful.
I already have a 360 controller for anything console-ish like Assassin's Creed or whatever.
I already have a mouse and keyboard for anything that requires precision.
This just looks like a crappy attempt at melding the two. Track pads/touch pads are awful.
It looks like a shittier version of the 360 controller.
The touchpads, to me, look like they'd offer no feedback. And I need that feedback on my fingers. It's the main reason I don't like typing on phones. You hear the click, you see the keypress, but there's no actual button getting pressed. It's just a flat surface with no... Give?
Maybe I'm old. Maybe there was just no way in hell I could ever justify any of this... But that controller looks prettymuch worthless.
The touchpads, to me, look like they'd offer no feedback. And I need that feedback on my fingers. It's the main reason I don't like typing on phones. You hear the click, you see the keypress, but there's no actual button getting pressed. It's just a flat surface with no... Give?
Maybe I'm old. Maybe there was just no way in hell I could ever justify any of this... But that controller looks prettymuch worthless.
It's ugly but it's been ugly from day one. Watching it in the motion though makes it seem overly complicated compared to either the keyboard/mouse setup or the 360-controller that everybody is already used to. As for the part about "going on to the Steam User Forums to find optimal layouts" that just seems to be a little way of admitting that they aren't sure of how to properly implement the controller in games that have perfectly good control schemes already.
LostGryphon said:
I know how it looks at first blush, but consider looking up how the trackpads on the Steam Controller actually work and how they use Gen-3/Gen-4 haptic feedback to simulate a range of sensations - from varied surfaces, motions, basic rumble feedback, and even sound.BeerTent said:
And just for clarity's sake: The Xbox and Playstation controllers use Gen-1 haptic feedback. Tech so old it was around in the early 80's.
Not sure it's possible to craft a shittier controller than the 360's...BeerTent said:
Really? That's what you think the community feature is?Shoggoth2588 said:
Theoretically, any game. A game can be coded specifically to support it, but the controller can also be run in "classic controller" or "keyboard/mouse" modes, allowing it to function in any game you wish to use it in.Wings012 said:
I know this wasn't directed at me, but if I may?TheSapphireKnight said:
I can think of two reasons why the buttons in the lower position are the best option for the Steam Controller.
1: It doesn't really matter if their above or below if someone has to move their thumb to reach them. Either way, you're still moving your thumb to a new position.
2: Placing the trackpad lower would make it hard to use properly and would result in 'cramming' the buttons in the upper portion of the controller in order to accommodate the extra space needed for the pad.
Is it an optimal design for someone who claws? Hell no. Of course not. But that's not the point.
It's not made to replace all other forms of input. It's an alternate option for those who want something different, something that attempts to bridge the gap between K&B and controllers, or something more suited to their needs.
You could also just pre-order one now and get it a month before the public launch. And, if you decide it's not for you, you can utilize their return policy to get a full refund for it, including the shipping.Evil Moo said:
I assure you, if I end up hating the thing, I'll be demanding a refund so quickly that the new-plastic smell won't even have worn off yet.