Best controller for strategy games with Steam link on big screen TV

[Salil]

Hello,
I generally play strategy games like Xcom and Civilization and just recently got a new Steam link. I was thinking that keyboards are the best controllers for strategy games. Most of the online review sites don't cover steam controllers for strategy games. Does anyone with similar interests have any recommendations for playing games on big screen TVs with Steam link?

 

[Stg-Flame]

For RTSs like Age of Empires and Starcraft, controllers are difficult to use but it's manageable with a lot of practice. For slower paced games where you just give your troops inputs and watch the mayhem, any 360 controller should work just fine.

 

[XavierMace]

I use a wireless keyboard and mouse. Using a gamepad while possible is impracticable at best.

 

[Salil]

I would like to use a single wireless keyboard touchpad/trackball with steam link as well as my laptop. Is there any such a single keyboard that will work with at least two or more devices.

 

[whm1974]

I have a Steam Controller that I use for turn based strategy games such as Civ: Beyond Earth.

 

[Rifter]

I use keyboard/mouse with my steam link

 

[paperfist]

I would like to use a single wireless keyboard touchpad/trackball with steam link as well as my laptop. Is there any such a single keyboard that will work with at least two or more devices.

Logitech makes one with that tiny USB receiver. To use on multiple devices you'd have to move the receiver.

 

[PingSpike]

If it has to be a controller the steam controller is the best bet IMO. It'll work with anything since it can pretend to be a keyboard and mouse.

 

[Stg-Flame]

If it has to be a controller the steam controller is the best bet IMO. It'll work with anything since it can pretend to be a keyboard and mouse.

The Steam controller only works on Steam and considering how many games are being added to other distributors like GoG, you'd have to add any non-Steam game to Steam's library and play through Big Picture Mode - which isn't always 100% reliable, especially if you're trying to play offline. Not to mention a lot of people have issues with the deadzone on the trackpad.

If it has to be a controller, a wired 360 controller is the best option since every single game that supports controllers, natively supports the 360 controllers. Still, I vote for the keyboard and mouse options, however, in the month I waited for my new desk to arrive after my last build, I played with a keyboard and mouse in my lap and it was extremely uncomfortable to say the least. I managed, but it wasn't worth it just to sit on my couch and play through my TV.

 

[whm1974]

The Steam controller only works on Steam and considering how many games are being added to other distributors like GoG, you'd have to add any non-Steam game to Steam's library and play through Big Picture Mode - which isn't always 100% reliable, especially if you're trying to play offline. Not to mention a lot of people have issues with the deadzone on the trackpad.

If it has to be a controller, a wired 360 controller is the best option since every single game that supports controllers, natively supports the 360 controllers. Still, I vote for the keyboard and mouse options, however, in the month I waited for my new desk to arrive after my last build, I played with a keyboard and mouse in my lap and it was extremely uncomfortable to say the least. I managed, but it wasn't worth it just to sit on my couch and play through my TV.

Actually there is this for Linux:
https://github.com/kozec/sc-controller
The Steam Controller is really great for playing lots of PC games away from the desk.

 

[PingSpike]

There's the driver for linux, yeah. I don't know if there's a comparable one for Windows or not.

I'm actually not sure if you even need to run the games through steam either, it seems like the controller works for me if steam is merely running. The 360 controller does have broader support though...although I'm not sure what controller support for point and click strategy games means, and that is leaving aside whether controlling a mouse cursor with a analog stick is particularly fun.

I have this same problem mostly. I want to play PC games from the couch, but my favorite kinds of PC games are less than ideal with regular controllers. I still wish there was a trackball controller out there but I couldn't find anything besides unreleased kickstarters and guides to build your own custom ones.

 

[whm1974]

There's the driver for linux, yeah. I don't know if there's a comparable one for Windows or not.

I'm actually not sure if you even need to run the games through steam either, it seems like the controller works for me if steam is merely running. The 360 controller does have broader support though...although I'm not sure what controller support for point and click strategy games means, and that is leaving aside whether controlling a mouse cursor with a analog stick is particularly fun.

I have this same problem mostly. I want to play PC games from the couch, but my favorite kinds of PC games are less than ideal with regular controllers. I still wish there was a trackball controller out there but I couldn't find anything besides unreleased kickstarters and guides to build your own custom ones.

When I first got my Steam Controller, I hooked up my 40" 1080p TV to my system and tried playing a few games sitting on my recliner. What I quickly ran into is that most PC games are not suitable to be seen from across the room, as their UI and text is not large enough to make out. I hope that in the near future game developers will design a special mode for this sort of thing.

 

[PingSpike]

When I first got my Steam Controller, I hooked up my 40" 1080p TV to my system and tried playing a few games sitting on my recliner. What I quickly ran into is that most PC games are not suitable to be seen from across the room, as their UI and text is not large enough to make out. I hope that in the near future game developers will design a special mode for this sort of thing.

I've definitely noticed that problem as well. A funny related story, a guy at work was complaining to me he was having trouble reading any of the text because it was so small in Witcher 3 when playing on a PS4. It was eventually revealed he was playing it on a 22" TV.

 

[whm1974]

I've definitely noticed that problem as well. A funny related story, a guy at work was complaining to me he was having trouble reading any of the text because it was so small in Witcher 3 when playing on a PS4. It was eventually revealed he was playing it on a 22" TV.

They still make them that small?

 

[PingSpike]

They still make them that small?

Maybe I guess, but I think in his case it was an old TV he'd bought years ago. I recall them being on sale a lot way back but even then they seemed like a joke.

 

[ImpulsE69]

I have a little 19" in my camper.

 

[Stg-Flame]

I still have my old 13" Sansui from the late 90s. Works like a champ but good luck playing anything later than the PSX era. Couldn't use it for my 360 because even with component cables, it assumed you weren't using a $10 off-brand CRT and the text was completely illegible. I could play Dead Rising and Armored Core 4, but I couldn't read any text on the screen and I could barely see the timer on Dead Rising.

 

[Cozarkian]

I too play Xcom through a steam link and I have used both a 360-style controller and a steam controller. The steam controller is far superior for this type of game over a non-steam controller.

I would give a slight edge to mouse and keyboard for controls, but I use the steam controller because it is close enough and takes up less space than a wireless keyboard and mouse would.

The key is that you can download somebody else's preset control scheme, which minimizes set up time for the controller while still gaining more hotkeys/functionality than a traditional controller.

 

[Stg-Flame]

The key is that you can download somebody else's preset control scheme, which minimizes set up time for the controller while still gaining more hotkeys/functionality than a traditional controller.

I've seen people talk about downloading presets in the past, but I guess I don't understand the allure. Not everyone uses the same control scheme and just downloading someone else's and learning the game that way is the same as leaving it default and learning the game.

Then again, I am one of those weird ones who don't use WASD on keyboards, so I always change the control schemes in games.

 

[Cozarkian]

I've seen people talk about downloading presets in the past, but I guess I don't understand the allure. Not everyone uses the same control scheme and just downloading someone else's and learning the game that way is the same as leaving it default and learning the game.

Then again, I am one of those weird ones who don't use WASD on keyboards, so I always change the control schemes in games.

I've seen people talk about downloading presets in the past, but I guess I don't understand the allure. Not everyone uses the same control scheme and just downloading someone else's and learning the game that way is the same as leaving it default and learning the game.

Then again, I am one of those weird ones who don't use WASD on keyboards, so I always change the control schemes in games.

Using default settings would typically only give you about 10 hotkeys. Customized settings can vastly expand that amount, so that you can minimize the need for a mouse by using hotkeys. You can program it all yourself, but likely somebody has already had similar ideas to your own and done the work for you.

I believe my control scheme was a preset download that I then personalized with a few modifications, which was much faster than doing it from scratch.