Steam page shows 3 announcements coming

[smackababy]

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.

And how do you know this?

Regardless, a trackpad, no matter how 'haptic' will still be terrible for games whose primary design was around a controller. Dark Souls 2 will suck with a trackpad. Ultra Stree Fighter? Yep, terrible. Any racing game? Awful.

 

[crashtestdummy]

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

Look at the picture in at the bottom of the page of the beta device. It's a lot smaller than I thought it would be initially.

It's still awkward, and I don't know it's really amenable to something like simultaneous aiming and firing.

 

[Childs]

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

X and Y are going to be used for different things by default. What they are used for on a 360 pad is on another button. I think. I dont remember what the letter buttons do.

 

[irishScott]

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.

It's also click-able and has those "haptics", which means it pivots and actuates up and down. Not like any trackpad I've ever used, and nothing close to a slick-ass iPhone. I'm not saying it'll work, but it deserves a fair shot. Even if it does work I have to admit I'm curious how well the texture on the trackpads will hold up after years of use. My skin is acidic enough that I wear down the texture on any mouse/keyboard/trackpad I have over months, even keeping my hands scrupulously clean. Maybe if they're modular valve can offer replacement trackpads? They said they were making it hackable.

 

[gorcorps]

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.

They aren't as smooth as glass, but they look like laptop trackpads which I would never use for gaming. I'm not sold on this controller, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to try it. Surely there's a reason they went this direction so maybe it actually works well. Doubt I'd pay for it though, so the only chance I'd have is if I got in the beta.

 

[smackababy]

They aren't as smooth as glass, but they look like laptop trackpads which I would never use for gaming. I'm not sold on this controller, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to try it. Surely there's a reason they went this direction so maybe it actually works well. Doubt I'd pay for it though, so the only chance I'd have is if I got in the beta.

Chances are they are probably better for FPS and emulating precision mouse movements, however, games traditionally played 'in the living room' don't require such except for shooters.

 

[Nintendesert]

My issue with the haptic description is that they provide the rumble etc. but if your thumbs have to slide across those big touchpads then it still defeats for me what the advantage joysticks offer, that neutral point that always draws you back to it. Just having a rumble sensation doesn't cut it. I need that physical push back to the center position.

I've played games using control schemes that moved based on a trackpad position and they are horrible. Maybe I'm just not understanding fully what these haptics bring to it, but maybe they draw the control back to the center vs. having to move your thumb to find that center position again.

However its designed, I'm sure like any other controller it ultimately comes down to how it feels in your hands. For that we'll have to wait until they let people at a gameshow use it.

At least we can all agree it's ugly as sin.

 

[Stringjam]

How am I supposed to pull off my Tekken combos with that thing?

 

[cbrunny]

Look at the picture in at the bottom of the page of the beta device. It's a lot smaller than I thought it would be initially.

It's still awkward, and I don't know it's really amenable to something like simultaneous aiming and firing.

Well.. presumably you would use the triggers for firing, so that shouldn't be too much of a problem. I think if function is mapped properly this won't be an issue.

For example, lets say you're playing any Mario game. You can move with the left pad and jump or action with one of the two buttons on the right. You wouldn't have the controller mapped so that the buttons on the left were the action. I hope.

 

[cbrunny]

They aren't as smooth as glass, but they look like laptop trackpads which I would never use for gaming.

It's a rendering...

 

[Maximilian]

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.

Looks like ipod speakers

 

[tviceman]

Everyone has formed a final opinion and no one has had an opportunity to try it yet.



Only the internet.

 

[tential]

I have to say no matter how great these controllers are, there is a good reason why everyone has almost the EXACT same controller. It makes it easy to move a game from one system to another.

It really makes no sense too because I'm clearly not going to buy this special controller. I'll buy a PS3/PS4/Xbox360/XboxOne controller first.

 

[hans030390]

I'm not going to comment on whether or not the controller looks cool/good (I suppose it's neat). I just see this as a huge, wasted opportunity. With SteamOS and the Steam Machines, what Valve needed was a new Source engine that was cross compatible with Windows, OS X, and Linux/Unix if they wanted to "complete" their vision and see it succeed. If Valve wants SteamOS and the Machines to succeed, they need to give developers a reason and the necessary tools to want to develop on SteamOS. And streaming from other machines is just part of the puzzle.

We already have the KB/M and the 360/PS3 controllers. Gamers don't need a new controller, and it's not going to sell developers or gamers on SteamOS or Steam Machines. This new controller should be an accessory to their 3-pronged approach, not a key part of it.

The Wii U and Ouya fell into a similar trap (among other traps as well). How well are those consoles doing?

 

[Qbah]

4 buttons less than a typical controller? :hmm: Yea... no.

Then again, my PC is already hooked up to my TV. So I'm not the audience anyway, I guess. But I find it very weird... how are people supposed to use it with existing games that already have controller support out of the box? Or any other future console port?

 

[Red Storm]

Yeah I'm not sure about the button layout. It's missing the 4 common buttons on the right, but I will wait to try one out first.

 

[KaOTiK]

I'm not going to comment on whether or not the controller looks cool/good (I suppose it's neat). I just see this as a huge, wasted opportunity. With SteamOS and the Steam Machines, what Valve needed was a new Source engine that was cross compatible with Windows, OS X, and Linux/Unix if they wanted to "complete" their vision and see it succeed. If Valve wants SteamOS and the Machines to succeed, they need to give developers a reason and the necessary tools to want to develop on SteamOS. And streaming from other machines is just part of the puzzle.

We already have the KB/M and the 360/PS3 controllers. Gamers don't need a new controller, and it's not going to sell developers or gamers on SteamOS or Steam Machines. This new controller should be an accessory to their 3-pronged approach, not a key part of it.

The Wii U and Ouya fell into a similar trap (among other traps as well). How well are those consoles doing?

They already said they are working on Source 2 awhile back iirc.

 

[KaOTiK]

4 buttons less than a typical controller? :hmm: Yea... no.

They have the same amount of buttons.

 

[KaOTiK]

Yeah I'm not sure about the button layout. It's missing the 4 common buttons on the right, but I will wait to try one out first.

Here is a rough idea that someone on another forum put out there since everyone can't seem to get their mind of it not looking like a conventional controller.

 

[flexy]

Funny to see that several people are extremely enthusiastic about a GAME CONTROLLER.
Mind you, we're on a sub-forum titled PC GAMING. PC Gamers (in case someone forgot) normally love to play with a mouse and KB, for various reasons.

Don't get me wrong - this controller MAY actually turn out quite good for a game controller.

The point I am making is merely to show that some people are now already in the very first stages of becoming console gamers...and this a mere week after Valve's announcement...people who once considered themselves PC gamers are now drooling over a...uhm...yes...game controller...

 

[ImpulsE69]

Funny to see that several people are extremely enthusiastic about a GAME CONTROLLER.
Mind you, we're on a sub-forum titled PC GAMING. PC Gamers (in case someone forgot) normally love to play with a mouse and KB, for various reasons.

Don't get me wrong - this controller MAY actually turn out quite good for a game controller.

The point I am making is merely to show that some people are now already in the very first stages of becoming console gamers...and this a mere week after Valve's announcement...people who once considered themselves PC gamers are now drooling over a...uhm...yes...game controller...

I think you've mistaken that we ALL just play games on PC's. We're gamers. I don't care what the platform is as long as the game is good. I think you'll find more people who play both PC and consoles here than people who only play PC. Opinions will vary as to what is the best method to play said games.

 

[Jodell88]

Funny to see that several people are extremely enthusiastic about a GAME CONTROLLER.
Mind you, we're on a sub-forum titled PC GAMING. PC Gamers (in case someone forgot) normally love to play with a mouse and KB, for various reasons.

Don't get me wrong - this controller MAY actually turn out quite good for a game controller.

The point I am making is merely to show that some people are now already in the very first stages of becoming console gamers...and this a mere week after Valve's announcement...people who once considered themselves PC gamers are now drooling over a...uhm...yes...game controller...

We're not turning into console gamers, we just have options. KB and Mouse, controllers, steering wheels, flight sticks. They all have their uses depending on the game.

 

[smackababy]

I think you've mistaken that we ALL just play games on PC's. We're gamers. I don't care what the platform is as long as the game is good. I think you'll find more people who play both PC and consoles here than people who only play PC. Opinions will vary as to what is the best method to play said games.

I play some PC games with a controller. In fact, there are games I play both with a controller and a mouse / keyboard (BF series and GTA4).

 

[KaOTiK]

Funny to see that several people are extremely enthusiastic about a GAME CONTROLLER.
Mind you, we're on a sub-forum titled PC GAMING. PC Gamers (in case someone forgot) normally love to play with a mouse and KB, for various reasons.

Don't get me wrong - this controller MAY actually turn out quite good for a game controller.

The point I am making is merely to show that some people are now already in the very first stages of becoming console gamers...and this a mere week after Valve's announcement...people who once considered themselves PC gamers are now drooling over a...uhm...yes...game controller...

Funny, I consider myself a gamer first and foremost. The PC is my primary platform for gaming though. There are times when a controller has use and anyone that doesn't want to acknowledge that is a fool.

 

[ImpulsE69]

I play some PC games with a controller. In fact, there are games I play both with a controller and a mouse / keyboard (BF series and GTA4).

Yea...that's what my last sentence was referring to.