Steam Link and Steam Controller now available to Pre Order

[Narj]

I'm struggling with the controller too. Batman AC is not fun with it. I was hoping to get more accurate flying but it's not working for me.

I'll give it a go in some other games but I don't find it as comfortable as the Xbox360 pad. The ABXY buttons are too far over to the left IMO.

 

[Vonhelmet]

I'm getting on OK with the controller. I've played Prince of Persia: Sands of Time with it and I'm playing Warrior Within now. I've also played some Batman: Arkham Asylum and Burnout Paradise as well, which have been fine. I've got some FPS games waiting in the wings, which will be a real test, things like FEAR and STALKER.

 

[PinkFloyd]

I'm not too worried about issues getting it to work well with FPS games or similar. I've no intention to stop using a mouse there. For me I'm looking for a straight replacement to a 360 pad with the convenience of mouse/keyboard control in big picture mode should I be chilling on a sofa. The option of being able to tweak controls is something that'll be handy over time but right now I'm just wanting something to work. Perhaps I'm better just getting a new wireless xbox pad?

 

[mountaincow]

I'm not too worried about issues getting it to work well with FPS games or similar. I've no intention to stop using a mouse there. For me I'm looking for a straight replacement to a 360 pad with the convenience of mouse/keyboard control in big picture mode should I be chilling on a sofa. The option of being able to tweak controls is something that'll be handy over time but right now I'm just wanting something to work. Perhaps I'm better just getting a new wireless xbox pad?

Right now for every game I've played the currently popular community configs are terrible, there's no nice way to browse or share them, and there are too many to bother looking through each one. I very quickly stopped checking them and bound my own. It doesn't take long once you realise what you can do with it, but it's not plug and play for anything that doesn't support xinput.

It is miles better than a standard controller, but currently browsing big picture mode seems no different other than the keyboard and the fact that you can minimise to use it on the desktop for mouse and keyboard.

 

[Seanspeed]

Right now for every game I've played the currently popular community configs are terrible, there's no nice way to browse or share them, and there are too many to bother looking through each one. I very quickly stopped checking them and bound my own. It doesn't take long once you realise what you can do with it, but it's not plug and play for anything that doesn't support xinput.

Yea, the current way is that the 'top' configs are just the ones that have been used the most. Which means nothing at all. People inevitably use one at or near the top, so no matter how bad a configuration is, people will use it more and more and more, keeping it at the top.

It desperately needs a rating system.

It is miles better than a standard controller

Cant agree with that. Plenty of games I've tried it with where I'd much rather use a regular controller for the better fine precision. I've found that when aiming, you can get the reticule *near* the target quicker, but actually fine-tuning that aim for a precise action is woeful.

 

[mountaincow]

Yea, the current way is that the 'top' configs are just the ones that have been used the most. Which means nothing at all. People inevitably use one at or near the top, so no matter how bad a configuration is, people will use it more and more and more, keeping it at the top.

It desperately needs a rating system.

Yep, it certainly needs some love, but these are early days. For the less enthused this is bad. Personally I'm not bothered about the community side of it, but that's certainly the most important aspect to make it grow right now.

Cant agree with that. Plenty of games I've tried it with where I'd much rather use a regular controller for the better fine precision. I've found that when aiming, you can get the reticule *near* the target quicker, but actually fine-tuning that aim for a precise action is woeful.

Well to be honest I haven't got on with controllers since I moved on from the PS2, so I'm terribly out of practice. For me the mouse emulation and gyro is much easier to use than a stick.

 

[Worthy]

Cant agree with that. Plenty of games I've tried it with where I'd much rather use a regular controller for the better fine precision. I've found that when aiming, you can get the reticule *near* the target quicker, but actually fine-tuning that aim for a precise action is woeful.

That extra precision will come with practise though right? The first time I tried an FPS game on a pad, I thought I'd never get the hang of it.

Or is it that the pad just isn't accurate enough?

 

[FirebarUK]

Link was working fine but now I just get no audio and just this loud buzzing through my TV speakers whenever I fire it up, even when not streaming. When streaming everything works fine but audio is still hosed, just buzzing still. Anyone had this?

 

[Seanspeed]

Well to be honest I haven't got on with controllers since I moved on from the PS2, so I'm terribly out of practice. For me the mouse emulation and gyro is much easier to use than a stick.

Makes sense.

That extra precision will come with practise though right? The first time I tried an FPS game on a pad, I thought I'd never get the hang of it.

Or is it that the pad just isn't accurate enough?

Difficult question to answer as different people will have different experiences. I know some exceptional people who can use a controller and beat out 99% of wheel users in Project Cars. That doesn't mean that a controller is 'just as good' as a wheel, it just means that certain people were able to really get to grips with the control scheme for any multitude of reasons. I'm pretty 'fluent' with a normal controller in games like Forza Motorsport or Gran Turismo but I found Project Cars unplayable with one, even after trying many, many different suggested settings. Was just miles off the pace and couldn't drive properly at all like I can with a wheel.

So I dont want to sit here and say the Steam controller plain isn't accurate enough. I've seen videos spread around with people playing Counterstrike with it doing 'ok', so clearly some people can manage decent enough. But I also feel these videos are spread around by people trying to 'prove' that it's great, while I'm unsure if these people in the vids are the norm with some practice or one of the 'exceptional' people I was talking about earlier. Kinda need more widespread impressions on the issue. My personal experience is leading me to believe that no, for myself at least, fine-tuned accuracy just doesn't seem to be possible. I can get in the ballpark of my target quickly, but after that, I've found the pad too jittery to nail precise shots.

 

[Devrij]

I only got to spend 10 mins with the pad (xmas present that my missus allowed me to test), but does anyone feel there's a slight latency to the track pad? Is that just the configuration I had on by default.

 

[coutinho]

I don't get why amazon isn't selling these , its 60 quid on the game site.

 

[Epoch]

I only got to spend 10 mins with the pad (xmas present that my missus allowed me to test), but does anyone feel there's a slight latency to the track pad? Is that just the configuration I had on by default.

Did you update the firmware?

 

[Seanspeed]

I only got to spend 10 mins with the pad (xmas present that my missus allowed me to test), but does anyone feel there's a slight latency to the track pad? Is that just the configuration I had on by default.

Yea, it sounds like a specific configuration issue. Possibly a large deadzone.

 

[Devrij]

Did you update the firmware?

I did yeah

Yea, it sounds like a specific configuration issue. Possibly a large deadzone.

That sounds quite likely. Well, I have to wait a month before I find out how to tweak it. I'm looking forwards to retraining my brain to use it.

 

[Vonhelmet]

I don't get why amazon isn't selling these , its 60 quid on the game site.

It'll be an exclusivity deal. Lord knows Game need something to get people through the door.

 

[Firejack]

I did yeah



That sounds quite likely. Well, I have to wait a month before I find out how to tweak it. I'm looking forwards to retraining my brain to use it.

Another Firmware update came out in the Steam beta Client yesterday -

With this client, a new firmware for the controller has also been released with improved touchpad finger tracking and various other bug fixes.

Probably helps fix the issue

 

[FirebarUK]

Link was working fine but now I just get no audio and just this loud buzzing through my TV speakers whenever I fire it up, even when not streaming. When streaming everything works fine but audio is still hosed, just buzzing still. Anyone had this?

unplug Link and plug it back in, done! Had to be at the wall though, not just the back of the unit. Wierd!

 

[mountaincow]

My personal experience is leading me to believe that no, for myself at least, fine-tuned accuracy just doesn't seem to be possible. I can get in the ballpark of my target quickly, but after that, I've found the pad too jittery to nail precise shots.

The gyro and mouse dampening settings help a great deal with this.

 

[Kosmiche]

is it best to buy this on steam store or game? for speedy delivery? thanks.

also im trying to work out if id be better off with steam link or nvidia shield tv, from what I understand the nvidia only works with a limited number of games? and with steam link the game must be on steam? add to steam library doesn't work?

 

[ThePainBarrier]

is it best to buy this on steam store or game? for speedy delivery? thanks.

also im trying to work out if id be better off with steam link or nvidia shield tv, from what I understand the nvidia only works with a limited number of games? and with steam link the game must be on steam? add to steam library doesn't work?

I ordered from Game yesterday and it arrived today.
I did choose first class delivery though.