Steam page shows 3 announcements coming

[M0oG0oGaiPan]

not really a fan of the track pads. it says you can use press them so there's some tactile feedback but they're not going to work for me if it's like the tracking on touchpad games.

I like the touchscreen idea. I wish it was an actual screen though so you could play all your games on the go as a portable device.

edit: hmm it says the touchscreen can be used for menus. I wonder if it can be used for actual gameplay?

 

[ImpulsE69]

I equate the 2 touchpads to the ones on laptops...while that doesn't sound promising, realize the angle and digit of use will be different.

Since I already have used a thumb ball mouse for years, and using thumb joysticks on console controllers...there is a possibility this will work really well if it is as precise and sensitive as they need to be...

 

[smackababy]

I equate the 2 touchpads to the ones on laptops...while that doesn't sound promising, realize the angle and digit of use will be different.

Since I already have used a thumb ball mouse for years, and using thumb joysticks on console controllers...there is a possibility this will work really well if it is as precise and sensitive as they need to be...

I can't see it working well for anything other than FPS. Playing platformers or fighting games will be terrible. And racing games? No thanks.

I guess I will have to wait and see, but it just doesn't look intuitive at all to use 2 trackpads in place of a mouse.

 

[KaOTiK]

I don't think you can compare what Valve is doing with trackpads compared to what tablets/phones do. Tablets/phones ergonomics for gaming are downright horrible, your fingers don't slide across them well (your hand is either dry and it "catches" the screen or the screen is greasy/wet and your finger slides way more), they don't have a predefined physical area, and since this controller trackpad is suppose to have a resolution of what a desktop mouse is it will probably work better as well.

It is a interesting idea and different. Being able to work on any game though will be nice and with being able to customize controls to your liking, it could be real interesting.

 

[ImpulsE69]

I can't see it working well for anything other than FPS. Playing platformers or fighting games will be terrible. And racing games? No thanks.

I guess I will have to wait and see, but it just doesn't look intuitive at all to use 2 trackpads in place of a mouse.

I do agree in that I think it would be better if it also had a D pad for such games to make it really "complete".

 

[Gunslinger08]

I'm pretty disappointed. Was really hoping for some info on HL3, L4D3, or Portal 3. My disappointment probably makes me hate this even more, but the whole living room PC gaming thing is pointless to me. I have a 27" 1440p monitor, a good sound system, a comfortable chair, and VERY easy to use KB+M at my PC. Why would I want to play games with a very awkward looking dual touchpad interface? As others have said, it seems pretty terrible beyond FPS games, which are still considerably better with KB+M.

 

[gorobei]

they dont really show the underside that well, but the programming interface has 4 shoulder buttons/triggers. what are the 2 giant bars where your fingertips would normally rest? the exploded diagram shows they are part of a single separate plastic section. it would be cool if they functioned like scroll bars.

 

[robvp]

these trackpads need to be really good for me to buy into the whole thing

 

[smackababy]

these trackpads need to be really good for me to buy into the whole thing

There isn't a reason to believe they won't be. Apple makes a good trackpad, so we know it is possible. Other laptop makers haven't figured out how to do that yet though, so who knows.

 

[KaOTiK]

I'm pretty disappointed. Was really hoping for some info on HL3, L4D3, or Portal 3. My disappointment probably makes me hate this even more, but the whole living room PC gaming thing is pointless to me. I have a 27" 1440p monitor, a good sound system, a comfortable chair, and VERY easy to use KB+M at my PC. Why would I want to play games with a very awkward looking dual touchpad interface? As others have said, it seems pretty terrible beyond FPS games, which are still considerably better with KB+M.

There are some games that are just plain better with a controller. Racing games are a much better experience with one and Dark Souls imo is damn near unplayable with a KB/M

 

[irishScott]

I can't see it working well for anything other than FPS. Playing platformers or fighting games will be terrible. And racing games? No thanks.

I guess I will have to wait and see, but it just doesn't look intuitive at all to use 2 trackpads in place of a mouse.

Assuming they're traditional trackpads it would be terrible, but apparently:

The Steam Controller is built around a new generation of super-precise haptic feedback, employing dual linear resonant actuators. These small, strong, weighted electro-magnets are attached to each of the dual trackpads. They are capable of delivering a wide range of force and vibration, allowing precise control over frequency, amplitude, and direction of movement.

This haptic capability provides a vital channel of information to the player - delivering in-game information about speed, boundaries, thresholds, textures, action confirmations, or any other events about which game designers want players to be aware. It is a higher-bandwidth haptic information channel than exists in any other consumer product that we know of. As a parlour trick they can even play audio waveforms and function as speakers.

I'm curious how much they can really do with that. Given the shape of the trackpads and the fact that they're clickable, it may be possible to program them to "feel" like a traditional D-Pad. I also image you could define zones to represent various directions.

Of course all of their "haptics" may be simple marketing technobabble, but I'm intrigued.

 

[crashtestdummy]

these trackpads need to be really good for me to buy into the whole thing

Pretty much this. I'm skeptical as to how well it will work, but it is really different at least.

The big test is whether a pad like this allows you to play RTS and PC FPS games as well as with a mouse and keyboard. I'm not optimistic on this front, but if they're somehow magically able to make it work, it could be the "killer app" for the steam machines.

Edit: I think it's also relevant to say that this probably won't replace your normal dual stick controller. It's really meant to make KB/mouse games more playable from your couch.

 

[Nintendesert]

HAHAHAHAHA


It looks horrible, let's see how it plays though. So.... maybe the new HL3 and source engine will get announced at AMDs November reveal running on Mantle.


Seriously.

 

[Gunslinger08]

There are some games that are just plain better with a controller. Racing games are a much better experience with one and Dark Souls imo is damn near unplayable with a KB/M

I think those will both be terrible with trackpads. I agree that some games need controllers. That's why I have a 360 controller as well. Using trackpads is basically like having two iPhones for input. You ever played an iPhone game with a virtual joystick? Pretty bad. You need the feedback that physical joysticks provide in a lot of cases.

 

[Nintendesert]

I think those will both be terrible with trackpads. I agree that some games need controllers. That's why I have a 360 controller as well.

I picked up a cheapo logitech controller that works just fine for any game I need a controller on.

Edit:

I agree with your statement about the touch games on tablets or phones being horrible. I need to see how these control though, a big part of joysticks on controllers is that they come back to a neutral resting position so you have to apply constant pressure to move them, this is pretty important.

 

[KaOTiK]

I think those will both be terrible with trackpads. I agree that some games need controllers. That's why I have a 360 controller as well. Using trackpads is basically like having two iPhones for input. You ever played an iPhone game with a virtual joystick? Pretty bad. You need the feedback that physical joysticks provide in a lot of cases.

Just think of your thumbs are the "sticks" from analog sticks. With the way they have it setup, it could work very well. We have no idea until they start showing up in some way though obviously.

I addressed the trackpad thing with tablet/phones in a post above that imo changes the situation a lot.

 

[smackababy]

I picked up a cheapo logitech controller that works just fine for any game I need a controller on.

I've had a wired Xbox controller I've been using since '05, so I never had to buy a PC controller.

 

[irishScott]

I think those will both be terrible with trackpads. I agree that some games need controllers. That's why I have a 360 controller as well. Using trackpads is basically like having two iPhones for input. You ever played an iPhone game with a virtual joystick? Pretty bad. You need the feedback that physical joysticks provide in a lot of cases.

Once again, the naysayers in the thread aren't even reading the announcements they're supposed to be criticizing.

Look at it:

I don't know about you, but those look a lot more tactile than iPhones, especially if these "haptics" perform as advertised.

 

[Nintendesert]

I've had a wired Xbox controller I've been using since '05, so I never had to buy a PC controller.

So you're saying PC gamers DO have controllers for gaming and don't simply rely on a Keyboard and Mouse?

I'm really wondering if the focus group and decisions made on this SteamMachine were compiled totally from their Steam surveys at this point.

 

[ImpulsE69]

So you're saying PC gamers DO have controllers for gaming and don't simply rely on a Keyboard and Mouse?

I'm really wondering if the focus group and decisions made on this SteamMachine were compiled totally from their Steam surveys at this point.

I have always preferred controllers for certain types of games too. I've been using a PS2 controller for years on my PC. There are certain genres of games that just play better with M/Kb.

 

[sourceninja]

Once again, the naysayers in the thread aren't even reading the announcements they're supposed to be criticizing.

Look at it:

I don't know about you, but those look a lot more tactile than iPhones, especially if these "haptics" perform as advertised.

That looks horrible to use. I'll stick with my xbox controller hooked to my PC, thanks.

 

[Gunslinger08]

Once again, the naysayers in the thread aren't even reading the announcements they're supposed to be criticizing.

Look at it:

I don't know about you, but those look a lot more tactile than iPhones, especially if these "haptics" perform as advertised.

I read the announcement. Unless the trackpads are "mushy" (if you understand what I'm saying), I still see them having the same issue for me. I want physical resistance when moving my thumbs. That is basically just a textured trackpad with the ability to shake.

 

[EDUSAN]

it does look interesting, it looks weird, but i dont see the difference between an analog stick and those trackpads for the bad comments is receiving

i cant see how would i be pressing the Y and X buttons..with the same finger im pressing the trackpad?

if the 2nd trackpad can work as another set of ABYX buttons according to where you are pressing it then i see some really good implementation possible, cause that would mean that the 2nd trackpad can be configured by the game to be used as whatever the game needs instead of trying to use the buttons in a standard way

 

[Dankk]

it does look interesting, it looks weird, but i dont see the difference between an analog stick and those trackpads

The difference is that a trackpad is more accurate than a thumbstick.

Pretty much anything is more accurate than a thumbstick.

Once again, the naysayers in the thread aren't even reading the announcements they're supposed to be criticizing.

Agreed. I think the people who are criticizing the tracking surfaces on the Steam controller failed to actually read the whole article. This isn't the kind of trackpad you have built into your shitty laptop, this is better.

 

[cbrunny]

i cant see how would i be pressing the Y and X buttons..with the same finger im pressing the trackpad?

Hadn't considered that. Good catch. Could be problematic.