Support NeoGAF

[Kuroyume]

 

[HoosTrax]

Tactile feedback. What is it.

Dual trackpad sigh...

 

[derExperte]

That's the ugliest controller I've seen in my life.

Then you weren't alive in the 80s/90s. Don't know about the concept with the trackpads (and strange button placement) but for what it is it looks good.

 

[baconcow]

Needs a competent D-pad and grouped physical buttons.

 

[The Cowboy]

I don't like it, it just seems very strange to have the 4 face buttons setup like that. I'd love to try it out before purchase, but I can't see my self paying for one of these in the hope I like it.

Needs a competent D-pad and grouped physical buttons.

This is it really, it makes itself good for standard K/M games (that don't use many buttons) but then it makes itself bad for things that would use a D-pad and buttons.

 

[Mairu]

Looks dumb aesthetically, but I'll buy one to try out whenever it releases

 

[Anustart]

So...maybe next week is 3 Half Life announcements?

 

[Rickenslacker]

Dude what

 

[def sim]

Wish granted

You got what you wanted.

Holy shit that thing is interesting.

i love it

 

[VVIS]

"dual linear resonant actuators"

 

[fantomena]

That's one weird ugly ass controller.

 

[Anustart]

"dual linear resonant actuators"

Half Life 3.....is built into the controller!!!!

 

[IblisGinjo]

Buttons aside, it's almost like the PS4 Dualshock 4.

 

[Grief.exe]

Interesting. The whole design of the controller is to be compatible with all PC games available.

The Steam Controller is designed to work with all the games on Steam: past, present, and future. Even the older titles in the catalog and the ones which were not built with controller support. (We’ve fooled those older games into thinking they’re being played with a keyboard and mouse, but we’ve designed a gamepad that’s nothing like either one of those devices.) We think you’ll agree that we’re onto something with the Steam Controller, and now we want your help with the design process.

 

[Leon Belmont]

Steam Controller. HOLY HELL IT'S WEIRD.

I thought that both trackpads were two little speakers! lol

I don't like it!

 

[e3m88]

the controller lucks dumb, like trying to play a snes game on my galaxy s4 without buttons it doesn't feel right.

 

[fantomena]

25% off Blacklist? Hopefully 50% on the winter sale.

 

[VVIS]

Love the buttons on the backside grip, love the steamcastpadlcd, trust valve on the trackpads, ready for live demo videos, enough TL;DR shit.

 

[r3n4ud]

Interesting. The whole design of the controller is to be compatible with all PC games available.

Loving that part

 

[drizzle]

Just like how Steambox is not supposed to replace your regular computer, what if this controller is not supposed to replace your regular controller?

What if this is a solution for games that demand more precise controls, like an RTS and the games they list themselves on the announcement, but for regular games you keep using your 360/xbone controller?

 

[mrgone]

Against

Hopefully it turns out to be one of those "thank you for destroying my preconceptions" moments if/when I get to try one out, but the touchpads/button layout/lack of d-pad are all huge negatives in my currently non-blown mind

 

[duppolo]

at least they could do 3 announce

 

[Deques]

Steam Controller. HOLY HELL IT'S WEIRD.

Do I want to like it? My mind is split

 

[Grief.exe]

I thought that both trackpads were two little speakers! lol

I don't like it!

Actually, you were right!

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.

 

[frogg609]

As soon as I saw it I thought "I wonder if this would work well with the Tron Arcade Game."

If it would work with MAME, and could make playing that a pleasurable experience, I'm all for it.

 

[JaseC]

The controller certainly looks peculiar but I'm looking forward to impressions. "Don't judge a book by its cover" and all that.

Interesting. The whole design of the controller is to be compatible with all PC games available.

The patent that did the rounds last year, though apparently no longer relevant, made that it rather obvious Valve was looking to ensure full compatibility.

 

[def sim]

i wouldn't have been too interested if it were just a variation of the xbox or ps4 controller

good on them for doing something different

 

[MMBosstones86]

at least they could do 3 announce

they....did

 

[Tecl0n]

My intention to use the DS4 cause of potential touchpad use is now difficult. While it looks quite bad, i choose to #believe.

 

[The Cowboy]

Loving that part

Can you imagine using that on Skullgirls or SSF4 etc? - just nope!.

 

[Hinomura]

Mmmmh not very convinced by the controller...

How do you play games which need digital input like fighting games, platform, etc?

I'm trying to imagine playing Street Fighter with this, and I'm failing.

 

[Turfster]

jadedcynic
Junior Member

He hates everyone and everything. It's his shtick.

 

[VVIS]

I like the buttons on the back of the grip! I'll trust valve on the trackpads. And I love the dreamcast lcd, seriously. Not sure about the xyab buttons though...hmm

[O + O]

I GET IT



edit: I think I double posted or something.

 

[Deques]

I've already lost three of you (Stallion was killed in the next mission)

You almost gave me the correct nationality. I am Chinese...



...living in Sweden
AND YOU KILLED ME, DOH!

 

[Leon Belmont]

Actually, you were right!

I knew it, they're little speakers LOL

 

[NingenJanai]

I don't think that controller would be comfortable, the x,y,a,b buttons seem too far apart.

 

[r3n4ud]

Can you imagine using that on Skullgirls or SSF4 etc? - just nope!.

I can imagine using it for old platformers though.

 

[JaseC]

I knew it, they're little speakers LOL

I wonder if they'll whisper sweet nothings into your ear if you hold them close.

 

[Nabs]

This is amazing. I'm so glad Valve went all out and tried something different. I'm excited to give this a try.

 

[morningbus]

I knew I was going to love the reactions to the controller.

In almost all modern games the d-pad is relegated to an additional (and terrible) set of buttons to access inventory items, so I'm not too upset it's gone.

It's going to be hard waiting a year for this thing to be sold at retail.

This is amazing. I'm so glad Valve went all out and tried something different. I'm excited to give this a try.

Absolutely. This entire week has been nothing but people wanting Valve to become Microsoft.

They aren't competing with Microsoft: they're actually trying to find new and creative solutions to problems that have persisted for decades.

 

[Krusenstern]

I wonder if they'll whisper sweet nothings into your ear if you hold them close.

Burn the house!

 

[schwupp]

trackpads ... why -.-

 

[Turfster]

GMG is having a Batman weekend.

 

[Syphon Filter]

Wait weren't they also having replaceable analogs and trackballs? Maybe they have different versions of the controller?

 

[EdwardTivrusky]

I'm intrigued for sure. It's a strange looking beast and i'll get one for sure as i'm a sucker for new input devices and i figure it will be useful for playing adventure games on my laptop. If i can get my old & gog games to work with it i'll be in bedtime hog heaven.

Yeah, i'm very interested in this.

edit:
This is meant as a KB/M replacement rather than a replacement for the standard pads i assume?

Whole genres of games that were previously only playable with a keyboard and mouse are now accessible from the sofa. RTS games. Casual, cursor-driven games. Strategy games. 4x space exploration games. A huge variety of indie games. Simulation titles. And of course, Euro Truck Simulator 2.

Given the lack of face buttons how would a standard FPS game work with it? They say they do but i can't see how it's suited to some games. Street Fighter for example.

 

[JaseC]

Burn the house!

Watch The Host!

 

[Derrick01]

Are they serious with that hideous thing? lol

Not a fan of those trackpads instead of sticks either. I won't be able to control anything with those.

 

[TheSeks]

WTF is that? Horrible button layout.

That's my initial reaction. And they say it's gonna work for older PC titles that don't have controller support natively. That and a focus on FPS "high-fidelity like a keyboard and mouse" make it interesting, but they need to fix the damn layout.

If I can't sprint forward+ADS+crouch all in a smooth action like I can with a PS3 controller in BF3, then it's a failure for FPS.

 

[r3n4ud]

This is amazing. I'm so glad Valve went all out and tried something different. I'm excited to give this a try.

Same here. I was hoping for something different and I have full trust in Valve. Let the naysayers cry all they want. Real excited to try this out...

 

[PixyJunket]

The silhouettes of almost every Nintendo controller ever made is on the shelf in the picture on the Steam Controller page.