Where's the d-pad? and the thum buttons?

This is madness! Madness, I tell you!

That controller has seen some shit...

Actually with haptic force feedback, Valve has created a thing. Ask yourselves what the Internet is for. Then think about what you're doing with your thumbs on those touchpads. Those force feedback touchpads.

[url=#user_comment_336485]@RVN[/url]: If you're interested, you can join in the hardware beta they are opening now. If you join in, I'll wish you luck that you'll win.

I'm very interested in this controller. I'm not sure I'll like it, but I DO like innovation, and this thing sounds innovative as FUCK.

And Valve claims that you could play any steam game with this thing. If they don't implement this into X-COM Apocalypse, they're liars.

Emm, thumbsticks are not optimal for FPS? I mean, mouse is way better for FPS than a controller, but on a controller thumbstick is pretty good for FPS. But I don't see enought buttons on this thing, do they plan to put them on the trackball as well?

@Theone freeman are you certain about that?

Engie is so cute when she is uncertain!

IMO though I don't think magnetic vibration feedback is the haptics gamepads are looking for. The Senseg capacitive and texture faking haptics are where we likely need to go.

Funny, I just had a friend start on the gaming while walking a treadmill thing and he was asking if there was a way to play Total War with a controller. This may actually do that.

@Kuba Santora: Wow, didn't know a program like this existed. Thanks :) I was having problems when testing Valve games with my controller so this might make it work.

I see what you did there in the second panel...

"I wouldn't touch it with a ten-foot pole".

I wonder how CS and dota 2 will play on this thing, i'm the kind of person in the "i'll wait to try it before i judge it" zone, i mean, the games i mentioned feature very unique gameplay elements (insane reflexes and insane awareness), they would put to the controller to the test.

Thumbsticks are better for 3D platformers, beat'em ups and a few RPGs. It's not entirely bad. The PS3 D-Pad is great, been playing Tekken Revolution and it's better than the fighting stick for that game.
The Steam Controller is meant to be an controller counterpart for the keyboard + mouse.

The open nature of the controller means that, should the controller be a hit, there will be versions by each and every good controller maker out there, likely including Logitech, Red Octane, Saitek, and so on. If people demands thumbsticks, they will get thumbsticks.

[url=#user_comment_336464]@Otter[/url]: Just download x360ce from http://code.google.com/p/x360ce/ and you can use almost any controller as the xbox one, even binding buttons differently if you want to :)

I hate games where I can't change actions binded to any button/pads. I keep pressing R3 when moving around and that's the last thing You want to do when shooting on an enemy running for Your life.

I was always a keyboard + mouse person, and it takes a little time to get used to controller, but they aren't bad for certain games. For platformers they are quite nice. Although I made the mistake of buying a budget one, and then realizing that most games are optimized for the Xbox controller -_-

Honestly, it's been ages since I used a controller for my games, though I have to say I also never liked using sticks that much.

Call me old fashioned, but the more complex the controller the less fun I had with the game.

This one looks pretty neat, indeed.

Its got potential, as the right trackpad can be used for looking (cursor movement) via sweeping across the surface rather then using a joystick or gamepad. Its not a mouse, but its dang closer then a joystick for me.
It just needs more buttons for the middle/ring/pinky fingers then just 1 for all!

the good thing is that the Steam Machine Controller will be modable/customizable. You can draft and design a rad d-pad if you want to.

Use 3D Printing and even low volume production runs are feasible.

Valve GETS IT like no other company.

I want beta test that Steam Box and the Controller

Honestly, when I saw this controller, I got excited.

The controller is going to be fully modifiable. You want sticks? Put them on. They are going to release it with its API too so you can do whatever the hell you want with it.

I also like the lack of sticks, but they better provide precise tactile feedback.

> while the trackpads may be precise as heck, my thumbs are not
At first I thought 'ugh, those things look like on-screen mobile games nonsense', but then I realized that there is tactile texture to it. With those two circles you most likely will be aware if your finger is off the position.

I CLAIM THE PRICE TAG

Has Valve gone nuts or not? Time will tell. All I can say is "Those days are coming!" (whatever those days are). Anyway, I'm gonna support it, it deserves a chance.

Hmm, the problem that I'm seeing is that, while the trackpads may be precise as heck, my thumbs are not. I can't see this as being any more accurate than, say, an xbox controller.

There's a few game devs that apparently got to try the thing out recently. They're pretty much all saying it's a decent controller, even the guy behind Super Meat Boy. That's reason enough to give it a chance.

I can't wait until i get to try that steam controller, it looks awesome.