Steam reveal

FoxEye · 28 Sep 2013 at 12:31

mark43 said:
Umm, no.

Although console owners who have always used a controller are happy with them, most PC gamers do not like using a controller for things like FPS or RTS. Valve are trying to come up with a solution, a different type of controller that offers us the precision we want. Its not the same as just using an XBox controller to play existing games.

Hopefully they can get it right.

You sure you can speak for most PC gamers, fella?

For a long time, I've been using a 360 pad for every game that supports it. including FPS. It's super comfortable, and since I'm only playing single player anyhow, I don't feel that it hinders me (at all, actually).

Defiant306 · 28 Sep 2013 at 12:38

FoxEye said:
You sure you can speak for most PC gamers, fella?

For a long time, I've been using a 360 pad for every game that supports it. including FPS. It's super comfortable, and since I'm only playing single player anyhow, I don't feel that it hinders me (at all, actually).

I cant say I stand for all gamers, but I find game pads to be the worst thing to control a game. I was a console gamer up until the Playstation and then i built my first PC and found mouse and keyboard to be amazing.

Maybe I just cant get used to the XBOX and PS ones, but I'm not inspired at the look of the Valve one just now.

The only games I can think of that I might want a controller for is MK or SF, but it would have to be something better than the 360 and PS version.

AWPC · 28 Sep 2013 at 12:43

Boycey0211 said:
Are you really suggesting a partnership with Alienware? The most overpriced 'gaming' rigs around???

Not anymore the X51 is under £700 does it all in one box all you need is a gamepad

AWPC · 28 Sep 2013 at 12:44

mark43 said:
Umm, no.

Although console owners who have always used a controller are happy with them, most PC gamers do not like using a controller for things like FPS or RTS. Valve are trying to come up with a solution, a different type of controller that offers us the precision we want. Its not the same as just using an XBox controller to play existing games.

Hopefully they can get it right.

Xpadder can perfectly emulate the mouse on the X360 controller since about 2006 :rolleyes:

Boycey0211 · 28 Sep 2013 at 12:47

AWPC said:
Not anymore the X51 is under £700 does it all in one box all you need is a gamepad

Yeah, but the one that matches my PC specs is £1500 with no peripherals, screen or controllers

TallPaul_S · 28 Sep 2013 at 12:49

Controllers on PC with no aim assist and against other players using KB&M are rubbish. Yeah you can get used to them, but they're nowhere near precise enough for FPS or strategy games.

Ever used the web browser in steam big picture with a 360 controller? It's frustratingly bad.

If they can nail the feedback and be able to have the touchpad read thumb movement input at the same time as button presses (on the same touchpad) then valve could be onto a winner.

Personally, if Steam OS supports XBMC/allows for a dual boot then I for one will be very interested in building a steam box with the steam controller, as a HTPC/streaming machine, playing my entire steam library streamed from my main PC gaming rig.

It'll save me building a separate low/medium power HTPC to use for XBMC and the odd game, and will probably be significantly cheaper.

Vulcan · 28 Sep 2013 at 12:56

AWPC said:
Xpadder can perfectly emulate the mouse on the X360 controller since about 2006

Perfectly emulate? So I can get the same precision from the analogue stick as I can get from the mouse? I don't think so.

Hence why Valve have come up with a better hardware solution.

mark43 · 28 Sep 2013 at 13:10

FoxEye said:
You sure you can speak for most PC gamers, fella?

For a long time, I've been using a 360 pad for every game that supports it. including FPS. It's super comfortable, and since I'm only playing single player anyhow, I don't feel that it hinders me (at all, actually).

Well I've certainly not carried out a wide ranging survey, but based on comments posted on forums such as this and people I speak to then I would say yes, 'most' PC gamers still prefer a keyboard and mouse.

iv-tecman · 28 Sep 2013 at 13:10

AWPC said:
Xpadder can perfectly emulate the mouse on the X360 controller since about 2006

Yes it can emulate a mouse, but the accuracy and precision is dreadful compared to a native mouse.

Keymapping to existing controllers isn't all that great IMO. As said, this is why Valve have designed the Steam Controller.

If xpadder was as good as you say, then all Valve needed to do was rip the xbox360 controller design off, package in xpadder with Linux and say - there you go.. All steam games now work with a 360 lookalike steam controller.

but as it happens, xpadder or any keymapping software is not all that good and hence Valve have had to spend a considerable amount of time coming up with what they believe is a solution to the issue regarding gaming on the big screen.

smelly_legend · 28 Sep 2013 at 17:38

Hers is what the pads needs after some thought >>>

- Left pad need to be mini mechanical D-pad for movement. (wasd)

- Bigger pad on the right for aiming. stuff the symmetry. (mouse - noting could a thumb come close to a mouse and keyboard?)

Andrew_McP · 28 Sep 2013 at 18:38

There are some intriguing dev thoughts here... http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/28/steam-controller-dev-reactions/?ncid=rss_semi

413x · 28 Sep 2013 at 18:45

saw the controller yesterday..very intersting
i use an xbox controller with my htpc and this certainly looks different.

looking forward to being able to try it!

iv-tecman · 28 Sep 2013 at 19:42

Andrew_McP said:
There are some intriguing dev thoughts here... http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/28/steam-controller-dev-reactions/?ncid=rss_semi

It does seem to be getting fairly favourable opinions from developers... Quite a few indie developers have had a go with it and seem to think it works very well.

i'd be interested to see how something like the total war games would work with it, or Mass Effect - Mass Effect shouldve have controller support built it but doesn't for PC gamers.

Squark · 28 Sep 2013 at 20:04

I'd like to try the controller, it sounds really interesting.

RedStarRiot · 28 Sep 2013 at 22:10

AWPC said:
Xpadder can perfectly emulate the mouse on the X360 controller since about 2006

I think you have lost all credibility with this comment. I'm not even going to debate this it's so retarded.

Kishywish · 29 Sep 2013 at 00:04

iv-tecman said:
It does seem to be getting fairly favourable opinions from developers... Quite a few indie developers have had a go with it and seem to think it works very well.

There's a lot of positive commentary on the finesse of the haptic feedback. Sounds very cool.

HangTime · 29 Sep 2013 at 00:47

iv-tecman said:
Nintendo sorta changed gaming years ago with Wii

I dunno, they popularised the concept of motion control and perhaps made gaming a tad more mainstream, but from what I can tell there isn't really a lasting legacy. I look at what gaming people are doing these days and very little of it was influenced significantly by the Wii.

HungryHippos · 29 Sep 2013 at 01:24

TallPaul_S said:
Controllers on PC with no aim assist and against other players using KB&M are rubbish. Yeah you can get used to them, but they're nowhere near precise enough for FPS or strategy games.

Ever used the web browser in steam big picture with a 360 controller? It's frustratingly bad.

If they can nail the feedback and be able to have the touchpad read thumb movement input at the same time as button presses (on the same touchpad) then valve could be onto a winner.

Personally, if Steam OS supports XBMC/allows for a dual boot then I for one will be very interested in building a steam box with the steam controller, as a HTPC/streaming machine, playing my entire steam library streamed from my main PC gaming rig.

It'll save me building a separate low/medium power HTPC to use for XBMC and the odd game, and will probably be significantly cheaper.

I just use a raspberry pi to run xbmc at the moment. Pretty cheap and does the job to be honest. Hardly uses any power either!

Devrij · 29 Sep 2013 at 02:01

iv-tecman said:
It does seem to be getting fairly favourable opinions from developers... Quite a few indie developers have had a go with it and seem to think it works very well.

i'd be interested to see how something like the total war games would work with it, or Mass Effect - Mass Effect shouldve have controller support built it but doesn't for PC gamers.

My thoughts exactly. I'm less interested in using it for fps, which although being an improvement over sticks just can't be as good as a mouse, but more for rts and driving games. Could be a very interesting move away from the norm.

TallPaul_S · 29 Sep 2013 at 02:01

Eulogy said:
I just use a raspberry pi to run xbmc at the moment. Pretty cheap and does the job to be honest. Hardly uses any power either!

Ahh but can you game on it?

Yeah if I only wanted XBMC then a pi would be ideal (apart from it not being able to run Aeon NOX

) but a steam OS box could be a replacement for a £300/400/500+ HTPC for a fraction of the cost.