Steam Controller trailer, $50

Some members don't want to be stuck in the past with AA batteries, rechargeable or not.

Why? What benefit do other batteries offer you over AA rechargeables like Eneloops? Square vs. round?

Some of you act like battery technology hasn't been stagnant for the last 30 years.
 
Tell me something, what is the exact function that the right tumbstick is achieving that makes it irreplaceable in the "focused" control scheme you talk about?

You're the one who brought up dual thumbsticks. I think the Steam controller will probably handle dual stick controls just fine. Many if not most of the games I use a controller with on the PC are 2D games that I feel control better with a D-Pad. The prototype Steam Controller didn't have anything resembling a good D-Pad and it doesn't look like the new one is much better in that regard.

I think that the Steam controller is definitely going to be the best game for kb/m heavy games, like Civ or Pillars of Eternity.

I love the current controls for Civilization V because it can easily be played with only the mouse. It's my main game for playing while holding a baby.

Like I said earlier, I think the main advantages of the Steam Controller are for couch play (which I'm uninterested in) and for games that would play well with a controller that lacks a D-Pad but aren't actually set up for controller play (like Mass Effect 1).
 
I can play and charge the same battery, for one.

So your complaint is that after 80 hours of gaming you have to pull the other 2 batteries out of the charger and put them in your controller?

Having a set charging while you play eliminating the need for a cord, while being cheaper to replace (being able to be replaced at that, I'm looking at you DS4 battery!) with 80 hours of play time for $15 is somehow inferior to the charge and play kit for the Xbone or the irreplaceable batteries for the DS4?

/rollseyes

Edit: You can even get some Amazon Basics for $12.99
 
So your complaint is that after 80 hours of gaming you have to pull the other 2 batteries out of the charger and put them in your controller?

Having a set charging while you play eliminating the need for a cord, while being cheaper to replace (being able to be replaced at that, I'm looking at you DS4 battery!) with 80 hours of play time for $15 is somehow inferior to the charge and play kit for the Xbone or the irreplaceable batteries for the DS4?

/rollseyes

I'm never far from my computer, so that's not a problem for me. Plus I used wired any time that I can over wireless.

Buying the batteries isn't a problem, I have many Eneloops here already.
 
Glad it's using AA batteries. My Eneloop & Amazon Basics (Rebranded Eneloop) 2400mAh rechargeable last a really long time.
 
Tempted to get a steam link as I have a mini PC hooked up to the tv but it is a bit jittery and I get the slow decode message pop up quite often.
 
I'm never far from my computer, so that's not a problem for me. Plus I used wired any time that I can over wireless.

Buying the batteries isn't a problem, I have many Eneloops here already.

Great, you can hook your controller up with a usb cable and charging batteries becomes a non-issue.
 
You're the one who brought up dual thumbsticks. I think the Steam controller will probably handle dual stick controls just fine. Many if not most of the games I use a controller with on the PC are 2D games that I feel control better with a D-Pad. The prototype Steam Controller didn't have anything resembling a good D-Pad and it doesn't look like the new one is much better in that regard.
This a rather peculiar answer. Basically this reduces your main point of contention to the singular missing input system not present in the controller. When most of the discussion in this thread centers around the replacement of the Thumbstick.

The reason why the Dpad is absent is pretty obvious, it's the most easy to substitute input method. The analog stick does a good enough job working for 2D platformers which is the example you used and there's even videos showcasing the trackpad used for this genre. Now, a more interesting example would have been traditional fighting games but you didn't use that one.
 
The reason why the Dpad is absent is pretty obvious, it's the most easy to substitute input method. The analog stick does a good enough job working for 2D platformers which is the example you used and there's even videos showcasing the trackpad used for this genre. Now, a more interesting example would have been traditional fighting games but you didn't use that one.

I never said platformers. Mostly old-school JRPGs and hardcore score attack arcade style games like Pac-Man: Championship Edition & various shmups. Some of those games could probably be played fine on the Steam controller, but when you're trying to top leaderboards, a mediocre D-Pad replacement isn't going to cut it.

EDIT: I do like dual-stick + gyro aiming so if the Steam controller allows you to add that to any game, it just got a lot more interesting. Still would want to have another controller with a quality D-Pad on it hooked up to my PC though.
 
Oh lawd at people complaining at AA batteries....

I have a drawer with more or less 20 enelops AA precharged... so at all times in my life i have pre charged AA (and AAA) batteries at hand....

I much prefer to ALWAYS be able to go FULL ON wireless and just change the batteries (take me about 10 seconds on a X360 controller)


But this is the world where we live in.... people complain about SMARTPHONE that dont come with replaceable batteries (im looking at you S6)

But complain about controller where you DO have that option

People be cray sometimes....
 
I can play and charge the same battery, for one.
And what does that have to do with AA batteries?

The mouse i have uses AA and i can play and charge by just plugging the cable.

People like to complain some times withouth grasping the whole picture. Having AA gives a bigger net of options. There is the posibility to even make a recharble battery like you like that adapts to the AA form factor.

So in this case having more options benefits the user.
I never said platformers. Mostly old-school JRPGs and hardcore score attack arcade style games like Pac-Man: Championship Edition & various shmups. Some of those games could probably be played fine on the Steam controller, but when you're trying to top leaderboards, a mediocre D-Pad replacement isn't going to cut it.
i assumed you were talking about platformers because those are a sort of extreme example for preference of using a dpad. But the types of games you mentiones work even better than platformers with a thumbstick (Pacman is played proffesionalyy with sticks), so your compalins seem even more weird to me now XD
 
Alright, Im buying this. I hate playing 3rd person perspective games with a mouse and keyboard, yet I also hate the inaccuracy of aiming if for some reason I need a gun/crossbow etc. Should be an interesting mixture.
 
I see this one day after ordering a DS4. Of course that happened! But I'm not mad. I've never used one of these so I don't know if I'll like it, and part of the reason I wanted a DS4 was for the dpad.

Best of luck to everyone getting one of these though.
 
One word for AA battery needs: Monoprice. Their batteries are actually extremely high quality for low prices.

103641.jpg


http://www.monoprice.com/Product?c_id=116&cp_id=11603&cs_id=1160301&p_id=10364&seq=1&format=2

I see this one day after ordering a DS4. Of course that happened! But I'm not mad. I've never used one of these so I don't know if I'll like it, and part of the reason I wanted a DS4 was for the dpad.

Best of luck to everyone getting one of these though.

http://ds4windows.com/
 
i assumed you were talking about platformers because those are a sort of extreme example for preference of using a dpad. But the types of games you mentiones work even better than platformers with a thumbstick (Pacman is played proffesionalyy with sticks), so your compalins seem even more weird to me now XD

It's just what I'm used to. Rarely played in arcades, but grew up with D-Pads so I'm much better with them.

My ideal controller would have a NGPC D-Pad/Thumbstick hybrid. So good.
 
My biggest concern was for basic walking/running in many games, using the trackpad didn't seem like it would be ideal. While a mouse might be better for head movement, I think an analogue stick is better for movement than a keyboard. So I'm relieved to see they added an analogue stick. Hopefully it is a decent one.
 
I get 50 Duracell batteries off eBay for £10, it's not a big deal. Last me about 8-12months usually. Better than sticking the thing on charge every few days.

When is the rekease and is it pre orderable in the UK?
 
I just use rechargeable batteries. They have some that retain most of their charge for a very long time now.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00N05RL22/?tag=neogaf0e-20

Looks like Amazon Basics has their own now, too.

Just like me... i bought a huge package of AA enelop and hobbyking batteries almost 10 years ago... they still holding up perfectly!

This is my drawer that contains only spare charged batteries... im a LOT in all my devices (wireless keyboard and mouse both on work and home, controllers, etc etc)

10167972_1638693323035081_3767864763643230098_n.jpg
 
So your complaint is that after 80 hours of gaming you have to pull the other 2 batteries out of the charger and put them in your controller?

Having a set charging while you play eliminating the need for a cord, while being cheaper to replace (being able to be replaced at that, I'm looking at you DS4 battery!) with 80 hours of play time for $15 is somehow inferior to the charge and play kit for the Xbone or the irreplaceable batteries for the DS4?

/rollseyes

Edit: You can even get some Amazon Basics for $12.99
this.

double AA batteries in 2015...uggh
AAAA batteries? Sign me up
 
Feels like a weird hybrid device that lacks what I like in a controller (dpad, two analog sticks, not looking like shit) while unlikely to provide the same accuracy as a keyboard and mouse
 
I doubt anyone is going to buy this thinking it's going to be a great boost to performance in playing shooters in MP or that it's going to replace a mouse because they're going to be very disappointed when they're getting stomped by the average KB/M players. There's really no replacing a mouse for those kinds of games. It's not just the input method but the mechanics involved in controlling the input method. Your thumb, unless maybe you're a mutant, isn't going to compete with a device that is designed for being moved with your hand/wrist.

That "D-Pad" also looks like nothing but an imprint on another track pad, can't imagine it really being any good for 2D games and almost certainly useless fighters. The only games it looks like it'd really be good for are strictly mouse heavy games that don't require any sort of twitch reaction.
 
Sorry if this is a dumb question, but if I were to preorder the controller and a steam link today, would I be charged today or when the products release?

Edit: just saw the part at the bottom titled Preorder Payment that confirms you're charged immediately, thanks anyway :D
 
Sorry if this is a dumb question, but if I were to preorder the controller and a steam link today, would I be charged today or when the products release?

Edit: just saw the part at the bottom titled Preorder Payment that confirms you're charged immediately, thanks anyway :D

If you order outside of Steam, most retailers will charge only when dispatched while also not charging for delivery
 
What is the latency/performance supposed to be like with Steam Link? Better than using another computer?

I ask because laptop to laptop had lots of drop out, and looked blurry bad when I tried it a few weeks ago. That was all close proximity wireless though, but I can get a smooth connection going from that same laptop to Moonlight on my phone (formerly Limelight).
 
Do we know how games will handle the controller in terms of those games that change UI when a controller is detected?

Will a game see the Steam controller as a keyboard and mouse or as a 360 controller?
 
I just made a quick search for the steam link capabilities, but I couldn't find a clear answer for this: does it just stream games or can you stream your media too?
 
I just made a quick search for the steam link capabilities, but I couldn't find a clear answer for this: does it just stream games or can you stream your media too?

it will stream anything you can launch through steam. And, you can launch any windows application through steam.

Meaning you can easily launch XBMC/Kodi through steam and stream your media. I do just that with my real steam machine.
 
Top Bottom