gaming Valve Reveals Steam Controller

[Bright Honor 2,764]

http://www.joystiq.com/2013/09/27/valve-reveals-steam-machines-pc-game-controller/

 

Today, Valve has announced the Steam Controller for their upcoming Steam Machines. Instead of analog sticks, it uses trackpads for precision and such. It also has haptic feedback too. Valve also gave an example of how a game could use it:

 

 

Thoughts? Certainly interesting..

[a Pegasus Pony 139]

I just don't know what to say about it... Looks ugly but might play like the beauty she was designed for. Don't knock it till you try it I say.

[Moonlight 7,291]

Uses Portal 2 as an example? Cool.

 

But, anyway, it looks confusing as all hell but I'm sure it will be easier to use when you're actually playing a video game with it. Also, it looks like it has a face...y'know, with the two circles (movement and look) as eyes and the line below it as a mouth...

 

I'm sorry for anyone that can't look at it differently because of me, now. 

[Bright Honor 2,764]

Uses Portal 2 as an example? Cool.

 

But, anyway, it looks confusing as all hell but I'm sure it will be easier to use when you're actually playing a video game with it. Also, it looks like it has a face...y'know, with the two circles (movement and look) as eyes and the line below it as a mouth...

 

I'm sorry for anyone that can't look at it differently because of me, now. 

 

http://store.steampowered.com/livingroom/SteamController/

 

If you scroll down, apparently the controller is hackable. I guess that means you can modify it. It certainly is a unique gamepad for sure.

[Fhaolan 4,494]

Personally, I don't like touchpads. I find their accuracy highly variable, especially when you get into the cheaper ones. Unless these controllers are a couple of hundred a pop, just for the touchpads... plus the built-in HD touchscreen, I'm not seeing it. Plus the 'arms' of it look like the holder's wrists are going to twist 'in' somewhat to run the controls. 

 

Might be cool, but I want to actually hold it myself, and see the pricetag, to be sure.

[Prince Midnight 817]

Who cares about a controller for a little box of parts that can play online games from a cloud thingy, we want Half Life 3, and we want it nao. 

[A Blithering Div 247]

At first I was mur because who the funk cares about a controller ffs? But that design... The more I look at it, the more I like it. I do think its good. There's one coveat though. No d-pad. Using a joy/analog stick for 2D sidescollers is crap at best. The only time a stick works is when its microswitched out the wazoo.

[Bright Honor 2,764]

Given all the features such as haptic feedback and high-res trachpads and such, I imagine this will be a pretty pricey controller when sold separately.

[I used to be a stranger 7,994]

I actually think it has a rather elegant charm to it, in form.

Obviously a modern shapley curvature to everything, but also has elements of simple boxes and circles that call back to both an older era of Steam's UI and older-gen console controllers. Say what you will, it could've been worse.

 

Edited September 27, 2013 by Blue

[FoxyCryptid 4,330]

I can already tell I'd hate it, if there's anything smartphone games have taught me it's that I'll take real d-pads and analog sticks over touch any-day. It may be serviceable but it's not something I would want for actual long-term gaming sessions.  

[walale12 23]

I'd like to see it side-by side with an Xbox or PS3/4 controller, just so I can get a sense of scale of the whole thing, because I do NOT want a tiny, fiddly controller, nor do I want a controller that requires massive hands to operate effectively.

[Bright Honor 2,764]

I'd like to see it side-by side with an Xbox or PS3/4 controller, just so I can get a sense of scale of the whole thing, because I do NOT want a tiny, fiddly controller, nor do I want a controller that requires massive hands to operate effectively.

 

Well judging by the design, you certainly won't getting a Dualshock 3-esque size lol. 

 

As I said earlier, you can hack it apparently Seeing as there will be different Steam Machines from different manufacturers, I wonder if that means there will be different controller designs too...

[Mars Caramel 319]

People really need to just stop focusing on touch-pad technology. Seriously, I don't get why it's such a good idea to replace perfectly responsive buttons with a touch-pad that your thumb will probably grip onto and make it difficult to use, as well being responsive as hell to begin with, and just sits there hogging up battery life.

 

I should probably say the same with wireless hardware, unless it involves motion controls. Why would you want to keep replacing batteries that can even burn out over time when you can play for as long as you like without the hassle?

Edited September 27, 2013 by Mars Brownie