1) Valve makes the lofty claim that their controller provides the same precision as a mouse. 2) $50 USD 3) With the Steam Controller and Steam's Big Picture Mode you can PC-Game in the comfort of your couch 3a) of course couch co-op and couch 1v1 are possible... they only showed 1 friend in the video... no idea about 2v2s...but it seemsthat it should be possible as well 4) Download control schemes from Steam rather than inventing your own control scheme from scratch 5) October 16th for early pick up of pre-orders. 6) Available for standard in store purchase November 10.
considering all the tech packed into the controller the $50 USD Price Tag is good if a) claim #1 is basically correct b) the controller is reliable and durable
the big question is the degree of truth in claim #1.
I've tried it once. Not sure if it's the revolutionary product Valve claims it is--it seemed like a pretty good controller though. Of course they've probably tweaked it since then.
On June 06 2015 04:28 killa_robot wrote: There's no way it has the same precision as a mouse, but so long as it's close enough I don't think that'd matter.
From reports, it is good enough to play games like Cities Skylines and other slower paced games. No one is going to be playing CSGO, Dota, LoL, HotS or SC2 on this controller. I think anything single player will be ok.
And of course it won't beat a mouse. The key goal is to make something people can use from their couch.
this is not a steam bash as i actually love steam but....out of all things you could invest in why attempt to reinvent the controller? there is honestly no combination better currently for games than a gaming rig with the ability to use PS4/XB1 and or mouse keyboard combination.
i can play my games just fine by plugging in my ps4 controller with a USB. i also can wirelessly adapt it to the PC by purchasing the latest 10 dollar bluetooth dongle. i don't want to be the one to rain on their parade but this is going to flop worst than google glasses. at least google glasses SOUNDED plausible, the controller looks like a 3rd party knock off. valve is better off investing their TI Hats donation on the valve-rift / virtual reality.
On June 09 2015 09:12 saocyn wrote: this is not a steam bash as i actually love steam but....out of all things you could invest in why attempt to reinvent the controller? there is honestly no combination better currently for games than a gaming rig with the ability to use PS4/XB1 and or mouse keyboard combination.
i can play my games just fine by plugging in my ps4 controller with a USB. i also can wirelessly adapt it to the PC by purchasing the latest 10 dollar bluetooth dongle. i don't want to be the one to rain on their parade but this is going to flop worst than google glasses. at least google glasses SOUNDED plausible, the controller looks like a 3rd party knock off. valve is better off investing their TI Hats donation on the valve-rift / virtual reality.
I may be in the minority here, but I own no current consoles (other than wii u). And I think having a steam controller is an amazing idea. Definitely beats using keyboard and mouse all the time.
The buttons are in a weird place and why does it have 3 analoge directional inputs, do they not trust their touchpad things? Because thats the only reason to but a 3rd analoge input in the form of a stick, you can only ever use two unless you are an octopus. Which sacrificed a Dpad, which have their uses for me always. Well, at least we didnt get that ghetto dpad from previous designs that was 4 small buttons.
I wont buey this thing, i dont think valve knows wtf they are doing with gamepads.
On June 09 2015 09:12 saocyn wrote: this is not a steam bash as i actually love steam but....out of all things you could invest in why attempt to reinvent the controller? there is honestly no combination better currently for games than a gaming rig with the ability to use PS4/XB1 and or mouse keyboard combination.
i can play my games just fine by plugging in my ps4 controller with a USB. i also can wirelessly adapt it to the PC by purchasing the latest 10 dollar bluetooth dongle. i don't want to be the one to rain on their parade but this is going to flop worst than google glasses. at least google glasses SOUNDED plausible, the controller looks like a 3rd party knock off. valve is better off investing their TI Hats donation on the valve-rift / virtual reality.
I may be in the minority here, but I own no current consoles (other than wii u). And I think having a steam controller is an amazing idea. Definitely beats using keyboard and mouse all the time.
i can understand your disposition, considering your only console is a wii. wii isn't generally meant for competitive gamers so the idea of a stable controller is foreign to you. wii is more or less the console which is interactive in a fun way hence why it's a nintendo product and not necessarily a product made for competitive gaming. it is appealing to those who haven't grown up playing games on PS and Xbox. but to fill you in, the PS and xbox controller are essentially ancient. they have been refined over time but the build is essentially always the same, it is THE standard for most games outside of keyboard and mouse.
so to put in perspective how much of a bad investment this is, this is like someone attempting to reinvent the wheel, that process is pretty much beaten to death and refined to the point of redundancy. no matter what you innovate in this particular area, it really won't get better than what we currently have. it's just a null factor and a lost cause. while amusing and intriguing, it won't be taken seriously. its ironic in fact that valve was the one who introduced this, knowing full well their most successful game has absolutely no chance of adopting this seriously. good luck trying to win a dota game on this.
On June 09 2015 10:06 LaNague wrote: i disagree with ALL of the design.
The buttons are in a weird place and why does it have 3 analoge directional inputs, do they not trust their touchpad things? Because thats the only reason to but a 3rd analoge input in the form of a stick, you can only ever use two unless you are an octopus. Which sacrificed a Dpad, which have their uses for me always. Well, at least we didnt get that ghetto dpad from previous designs that was 4 small buttons.
I wont buey this thing, i dont think valve knows wtf they are doing with gamepads.
As far as the YXAB placement goes, the layout is similar to that of a Wii U Pro Controller imo, which is a very good controller. I use that and the Xbox 360 controller and it's actually very easy to switch back and forth between both. They have a 3rd stick obviously for compatibility with controller-based games (things that you would play today with an Xbox 360 pad), not for mouse games. The only valid interrogation is if the pads are responsive and accurate, but that's all. That's about their only innovation too, so unless you know something we don't, I think you just don't know wtf is going on with gamepads in general .
Yeah, I wouldn't have said "at all", as I googled the same thing as you when I read Plansix's comment. A classic rumble pack can pretty much be called haptic feedback too and is mentioned in the same breath as the Steam controller in the wiki page. But I think Plansix is right in that it's a different technology and will feel different anyway. A rumble-pack is essentially just that, it vibrates when the game tells it to. Here it might send more varied interactions, and not just when the game wills it, probably also just in reaction to your input (that's how you can understand "reactor", maybe).
Edit: With that being said, I don't think I'll get it unless it proves better at handling things that either a classic controller or a classic keyboard+mouse combo, which I find highly unlikely ;D. It will pretty much only be useful to those who don't already have a gamepad, or as Steam seems to push us into, if you want to play mouse games on your couch in front of your TV. Obviously you're not going to play Starcraft 2 or Dota with that thing :D Well, that hands-on video above mirrors my thoughts on why I would use this controller.
This actually seems great. It fits a niche that doesn't exist. I obviously will never use this thing for an FPS, or and RTS, or any other accuracy intensive game. I will also not use it for platformers and the like.
But ohhhh yeeessss will I use it for computer RPGs and point&click adventures. Or tower defense games not intended for controllers. Baldur's Gate 1 and 2, Fallout 1 and 2. All the old point and click adventure games. All the new adventure games. All the roguelikes.
Basically, it will let me play a ton of games I love on the couch.
Yeah, I wouldn't have said "at all", as I googled the same thing as you when I read Plansix's comment.
I was obviously (or not so obviously I guess ) joking, I'm sure Valve wouldn't advertise a basic rumble-pack like that, although it would be pretty funny
so i found out the real reason why steam is selling a controller and it's not what we all initially thought. the controller is actually made to be compatible with valve's "steam box" which is basically valve's partnership with alienware to bring games that are only PC, to be used more as a console or played in the living room.
so what they're basically doing is pitching the controller as a teaser, so you can eventually buy the system it's compatible with which runs around 500-5000 USD. basically valve wants to sell you a high powered computer / pre-built computer under the guise of a homeroom console. the majority will considered it to be a console because the apps, os, etc will basically be only compatible with steam. alienware has been attempting to do this more or less with no success with their other reiterations. in fact i don't actually think valve has any hand in the components, this is more or less a repackaged product that alienware tried to sell off ALONG time ago.
if i recall correctly there was a commercial with EG.Fear & Universe sitting in the living room playing games with the console that spoke to it. this is probably that same console (upgraded) being sold under the valve brand partnership to be compatible with steam games using valve's game controller. now it's merely pitched as a game console and being able to play PC games in the living room without a PC. so while it is more like a portable computer, used as a console. i still don't see the point of this as despite the parts being great, it's limited by it's graphic's card. you will eventually have to swap out a graphics card within 2-3 years time as games get more demanding.
despite the fact i love the alienware brand and their laptops, you will be paying significantly more for the labor and the custom chasis. in this sense the customization comes from the chasis being a console. thinking about it now, this could work because game consoles will always be behind in terms of power in comparison to computer components, and eventually a new console is introduced every 5-10 years. alienware being a subdivision of dell is generally known for it's longevity in computer components. my laptop from 7 years ago is still being used to this day.
On June 10 2015 04:51 saocyn wrote: so i found out the real reason why steam is selling a controller and it's not what we all initially thought. the controller is actually made to be compatible with valve's "steam box" which is basically valve's partnership with alienware to bring games that are only PC, to be used more as a console or played in the living room.
so what they're basically doing is pitching the controller as a teaser, so you can eventually buy the system it's compatible with which runs around 500-5000 USD. basically valve wants to sell you a high powered computer / pre-built computer under the guise of a homeroom console. the majority will considered it to be a console because the apps, os, etc will basically be only compatible with steam. alienware has been attempting to do this more or less with no success with their other reiterations. in fact i don't actually think valve has any hand in the components, this is more or less a repackaged product that alienware tried to sell off ALONG time ago.
if i recall correctly there was a commercial with EG.Fear & Universe sitting in the living room playing games with the console that spoke to it. this is probably that same console being sold under the valve brand partnership to be compatible with steam games using valve's game controller.
Valve have been extremly open with the controller being for steambox. That concept existed long before they developed the controller. But yes, its mostly for being able to sell steamboxes. But you didnt magically find some sort of conspiracy, its just that Valve think PCs can take the console market and they want to facilitate that. They dont really want to do hardware but they do controllers and vr because they have to. And they do software because they have to and it helps them. But the real reason is in the name. Steam is the biggest pc game marketplace in the world and if computers take the living room its the biggest console marketplace too.
Let's assume Valve/Steam can manufacture a reliable controller and can easily imitate all of the current features in a PS4 or XB1 controller.
The success and uniqueness of the Steam Controller hinges upon how much better the analog input is than the current standard.
I think the answer is as analog as the controller itself. I think it is a matter of degree and not a yes/no. I don't think it'll be 100% as good as a mouse. If it is 0% better than a PS4/XB1 analog then it offers consumers nothing new.
The question is where will it be in that scale from 0% improvement to 100% mouse replacement.
and i think only time will tell... and the answer may be different for different users. the closer it is to 100% the greater a success this whole project has been. the closer to 0% improvement this is and the more the entire Steam Controller project looks like a failure.
only time will tell how much better their analog input is than the current standard. i don't think top notch Dota2 pro teams will use the current Steam Controller to win tournaments.
yes, the controller will work on the WindowsOS on your PC.
compared to the WindowsOS , the SteamOS does not play very many video games.
http://store.steampowered.com/app/353370 "A Steam Machine or other computer capable of running Steam Big Picture Mode, in order to view, edit, save, and share Steam Controller mappings"
just as an example. you can buy GTA5 on Steam; however, it does not work on the SteamOS. The SteamOS is a customized version of Linux.
i love how Valve avoids using the word Windows in all their promo material.
On October 20 2015 12:34 c3rberUs wrote: As accurate as a mouse? Sure, I'd like to see if it's as good as they claim it is. But from the videos it looks like a... mere.. touch pad.
that is my exact concern. it looks like it might be the standard touchpad you get when u purchase a laptop. it turns out my concerns regarding the right-side touchpad are invalid.
it appears the Steam Controller right side touchpad is a definite step above the Analog stick of an XBOX360 controller. however, it is not as good as a mouse. Gyro mode+Track Ball mode is pretty damn good for FPS aiming and spray control
Overall, the Steam Controller is a clear step above the XBOX360/PS4 controller. The haptic feedback makes the right pad feel like you have a track-ball under your thumb.
customizing the controller.
Gyro Mode+Track-Ball Mode appears to a good way to aim in hard core FPS games.
The video above demonstrates that discovering the optimal set up requires some open minded experimentation. Set ups you might first believe will suck balls might actually turn out to provide the best control.
it looks like i'm getting a Steam controller November 10th. Valve may have taken forever to get this piece of hardware out the door, but they got it right.
it appears the Steam Controller right side touchpad is a definite step above the Analog stick of an XBOX360 controller.... ...it looks like i'm getting a Steam controller November 10th. Valve may have taken forever to get this piece of hardware out the door, but they got it right.
Why does JimmyJRaynor sound so much like a paid for advertiser reading from a script? With the occasional "oh but I do criticize their products in a non meaningful way" for plausible deniability?
you caught me man... i've been terrorizing the sports threads for 4 years and made 4400 posts as a setup so i can get away with a series of biased Valve product plugs.
as the thread indicates i knew little about the Steam Controller in early June of 2015. i performed my due diligence and i'm giving the product a positive review. its better than the current standard console controllers and somewhat more expensive. it is not useful for competitive multiplayer FPS; its good for everything else. if u want to play PC games on your couch looking at your giant living room TV then the Steam Controller is much better than a console controller.
On June 09 2015 15:36 -Archangel- wrote: Hmm, will this controler work with fighting games? It has no d pad.
good question.. i like the tactile feedback of either a D-Pad or joystick. keep in mind i'm a casual Mortal Kombat player.
here is a pretty good look at the Steam Controller for Fighting Games.
TL; DR : its basically about as good as a console controller for fighting games.
I played around with my friends Steam Controller for a few hours, using his Steam Link and giant TV.
It will never, ever be close to as good as a mouse and keyboard for: RTS, FPS, 3rd person action/shooter, MMOs.
It isn't any better for platformers and RPGs than a traditional controller.
But it does let you play point and click games from the couch. And that, for me, is worth the price tag. I love my oldschool point and clicks, and being able to play them from the couch is amazing. It also lets you type surprisingly well, so it is fine for internet browsing through your steam box.
I have one, and have bought two (one which is being sent as a gift. It takes some time, you'lll spend the first few days having to remember to keep your right thumb on the track pad but 50 hours into Fallout 4 with this thing and I'm happy with my purchase.
It isn't the game changer Valve's marketing was selling, but it is a unique piece of hardware that can be fun to use if you aren't married to the Xbox or PS4 controllers. for me personally it fills the role of playing games that I own that Mouse and keyboard are simply uncomfortable to play on. I think the only game I don't play with it now is heroes of the storm.
i got one and i REALLY don't think it's worth the money compared to a ps4 or xb1 controller... it feels cheap and it takes a lot of setup time for every same that isn't a mouse only experience..
i usually just hit the "X" button at the config screen and then use one of the 3 most popular community made configurations for whatever game i'm playing. 1 of the top 3 usually turns out to be really good for me. this lowers my set up time for every part of the controller except the right side trak-pad.
Creating your own personal set up for the right trak-pad so that it can give you something very close to a mouse experience requires more than 1 hour of experimentation and research. This depends on how long your thumb is and how big your hands are ; therefore, its slightly different from every person.
if you are unwilling to put in the time to make the trak-pad almost as good as a mouse then i recommend avoiding the Steam Controller. It is time consuming.
if you are willing to put in the time the right trak-pad becomes the closest thing to replacing a mouse on the market. However, a mouse is still slightly better even with the best set up i've found so far.
EPT
