Valve announces Steam OS, Steam Machines, and Steam Controller

[Gahars]

How do hold that?

With your hands. On the grips. The obvious grips meant for hands.

How does it work?

It's almost as if they didn't devote entire paragraphs detailing its functionality and potential for user modifications. And they definitely didn't offer any examples of how users can map PC controls to the device.

Why did they think that was a good idea?

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.

Everything about that controller hurts my brain! I really hope they either change it before release or pull a Nintendo and throw out a "Pro" controller with a more conventional look to it.

If you're going to try to reinvent the wheel, this actually looks like a good attempt. Designing a controller entirely based around PC gaming and offering as much versatility as possible while keeping the modern form? That's pretty neato.

When it comes to fiddling around with the controller design, Valve's making the smart choices. We'll have to wait and see if it pans out, but come on. Really, this isn't that much of a mindbender.

 

[The Catboy]

With your hands. On the grips. The obvious grips meant for hands.
It's almost as if they didn't devote entire paragraphs detailing its functionality and potential for user modifications.And they definitely didn't offer any examples of how users can map PC controls to the device.

I've read and looked at everything for it before hand, it doesn't stop it from looking stupid in my opinion. Maybe you like it, but personally I don't like the looks of it.

It just doesn't look like a comfortable controller to me, maybe I could be wrong and when I do use it I will change my mind, but for now it looks dumb to me.

 

[ZAFDeltaForce]

I would love to know how Valve's controller holds up against conventional thumb stick controllers.

It doesn't hurt for the controller to have a good design too

 

[2ndApex]

I'm going to have nightmares about fighting games on this thing.

 

[jacksprat1990]

That controller is dogsh*t.

 

[Mythrix]

The problem with the current generation of game controllers is that it's not really possible to use both the dual analog sticks and the ABXY buttons at the same time. That is quite likely why Steam wanted to try a new design with this controller, adding additional back buttons and putting the ABXY buttons closer to the trackpads. When looking at the Portal 2 example bindings, it seems like they intend for the L/R buttons to be used for "actions" (like jumps and attacks) while the ABXY buttons and the touch screen is intended for more "menuey" things.

I'm also very curious about the trackpads. According to that product page, they are supposed to have a more advanced form of haptic feedback to make it more useful/userfriendly compared to for example touch screens on smartphones with simple haptic feedback.

Both of the mentioned changes to the controller are major changes compared to traditional controllers, which may or may not work as well as Steam intends. But I do believe that unlike Microsoft and Sony, Steam really is a company driven by people who truly are interested in games. And I'm sure that before they decided to show the controller to the world, they have had "real gamers" test out the controller for a long time.

So I wouldn't dismiss the controller as a bad controller just because it looks too different or weird. At the very least I'm definitely interested in trying the controller out when I get the chance, or even buying it to give it a chance if it's not too expensive!

 

[Mario92]

Since GameCube/PS2??? How young are you? You do know that the standard Controller setup started back with SNES right? Back on topic, I'm willing to give this controller a shot but man does it look....different. Hopefully it"s good different.

2 sticks, dpad, 4 shoulder buttons, 4 regular buttons, 1-3 menu buttons in middle, etc. Every controller after that time perioid has pretty much same amount of buttons in same position so they can be used on PC almost identically. That's what I meant. If we go to SNES era then there's no sticks. NES doesn't even have shoulder buttons.
Yeah I shaped that sentence oddly. Not native english speaker so...

 

[Arras]

I will admit that it doesn't look very pretty, but it looks rather nice to use to me.

 

[Mythrix]

Oh I didn't even notice before now that I can try to join their beta for trying out the new hardware. I'm now "one out of 188,999 eligible beta candidates". :3

 

[Qtis]

It just doesn't look like a comfortable controller to me, maybe I could be wrong and when I do use it I will change my mind, but for now it looks dumb to me.

While I honestly respect your opinions and your personality, I think you have something that I call the "Wii syndrome" here. Valve is trying to make something new and I'm also quite skeptical about it. It honestly looks like shhieet. But still, after playing the Wii, a controller's esthetics mean basically jack. If it works for the games they've thought about, it could just as well make a whole new type of genre in some sense.

ps. #360MasterRace. So far the best controller I've used, but sadly I prefer the PS3 GUI. In other words, Valve, make all controllers work out of the box on top of all the controllers.

 

[The Catboy]

While I honestly respect your opinions and your personality, I think you have something that I call the "Wii syndrome" here. Valve is trying to make something new and I'm also quite skeptical about it. It honestly looks like shhieet. But still, after playing the Wii, a controller's esthetics mean basically jack. If it works for the games they've thought about, it could just as well make a whole new type of genre in some sense.

ps. #360MasterRace. So far the best controller I've used, but sadly I prefer the PS3 GUI. In other words, Valve, make all controllers work out of the box on top of all the controllers.

Well when it comes down it, it could be like the Wii U gamepad, where I hated it before I used it. Sure the gamepad still looks silly to me, but it's actually really comfortable and works quite well. Maybe this will do the same thing. It looks like shit, then when I use it I like it how it functions more than I hate how it looks.

 

[Taleweaver]

The thing with controllers is that you don't really LOOK at it while using it, in the same way you're not looking at your mouse and keyboard while browsing the web. As such, the looks of the controller really don't mean that much.

What I want to see is someone actually playing an RTS or a FPS on that thing. From where I stand, I'd say it is probably similar to gamepads: if the game adapts to it (read: aiming assist in shooting games), it is usable. Valve, however, claims that this should be able to replace actual keyboard and mouse on games that were designed for keyboard and mice. And that's a pretty bold claim. So I want to hear some third party opinions (in other words: from people not trying to sell the things). If I practice a couple weeks, will I be able to play games like Serious Sam, half life and sorts without being seriously crippled for playing with the controller?

(portal doesn't really count as an FPS in this case, as you don't have to make split-second aiming decisions)

 

[urbanman2004]

I would be willing to purchase one of those Steam boxes since I'm mainly into PC gaming but for Valve to compete with consoles it's system is gonna have to be at a comparable price point against the next gen consoles with functionality to back it up (valuable to the end user).

 

[Taleweaver]

I would be willing to purchase one of those Steam boxes since I'm mainly into PC gaming but for Valve to compete with consoles it's system is gonna have to be at a comparable price point against the next gen consoles with functionality to back it up (valuable to the end user).

Erm...that doesn't sound very likely. Consoles are cheaper to manufacture since they are built in large quantities of the same type. Since there are multiple types of steamboxes and users don't even have to buy one to begin with (making it much harder to estimate how many to manufacture), they'll be more expensive. On top of that, consoles are sold at a loss. And though there is certainly a fee to sell your game on steam, it's not like valve can compensate for all the manufacturers who make "steamOS certified" parts of the machine.


The functionality is probably already there. At least: I doubt steamOS will have much success if you can't install and use the linux program of your choice to begin with.

 

[ZAFDeltaForce]

Considering that I could just use my TV as a display for my PC and use a wireless keyboard/mouse combo, I'd say the Steam Box is largely irrelevant to me.

Besides, buying a console that plays Steam games alone when you already have a capable PC doesn't sound like the best of ideas. Granted, people who don't own gaming PCs would definitely appreciate the Steam Box.

I would love to check out that controller though, I hope it's competitively priced. Otherwise I'll just have to settle for my DualShock 3 or buy a cheap PC controller

 

[Veho]

What I want to see is someone actually playing an RTS or a FPS on that thing. From where I stand, I'd say it is probably similar to gamepads: if the game adapts to it (read: aiming assist in shooting games), it is usable. Valve, however, claims that this should be able to replace actual keyboard and mouse on games that were designed for keyboard and mice. And that's a pretty bold claim. So I want to hear some third party opinions (in other words: from people not trying to sell the things). If I practice a couple weeks, will I be able to play games like Serious Sam, half life and sorts without being seriously crippled for playing with the controller?

I imagine it would be like playing those games on a touchpad. Unless Valve has more stuff up their sleeves they're not telling us yet.

 

[Mythrix]

I imagine it would be like playing those games on a touchpad. Unless Valve has more stuff up their sleeves they're not telling us yet.

They did write on the Steam controller product page that the trackpads are supposed to have more advanced haptic feedback than regular touchscreens/smartdevices, "capable of delivering a wide range of force and vibration, allowing precise control over frequency, amplitude, and direction of movement".

But yeah, it's really hard to imagine how well this works without testing it. We'll at least have to wait for them to have a product demo at some game conference so we can get actual video reviews... (or reviews from those who get in the beta, assuming that they also get those gamepads with the Steam Machines.)

 

[Veho]

They did write on the Steam controller product page that the trackpads are supposed to have more advanced haptic feedback than regular touchscreens/smartdevices, "capable of delivering a wide range of force and vibration, allowing precise control over frequency, amplitude, and direction of movement".

But that's just feedback.

I think the advantage over standard analog sticks is the large surface area (larger range of movement) plus a higher resolution, and the possibility of direct (absolute) position control (for better speed and precision in FPS games). I don't think it's fast enough for RTS games though.

 

[Veho]

Moar info, yo.

Developers who've tried the beta version of the gamepad had stuff to say:

http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2013/09/valve-steam-controller-hands-on-unusually-promising/
http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/28/steam-controller-dev-reactions/
http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/...the_Steam_Controller_Heres_what_they_said.php

It boils down to, "the haptic feedback works wonders", "it doesn't feel like a trackpad, it feels much better", and general cautious optimism.

 

[Kouen Hasuki]

My friend passed me this and it scarred me... and what better way then to scar The Temp with it too xD