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Steam Controller/Machines/Link hands-on impressions. Final reviews: Nov 10

A

ashecitism

Member
People will mostly care about the controller, but OP also has Link and overall Steam HW impressions (this includes the alienware machine and SteamOS UI which is BPM). These aren't final reviews. Some are just impressions, while some are more, but lack the score. Some of them used it for a week, while others flew out to Valve and tried for a couple of hours. Final reviews will hit on Nov 10. Valve is going to do updates till then.

PC World (controller):http://www.pcworld.com/article/2992...g-a-new-world-of-pc-gaming-possibilities.html
PC World (Link): http://www.pcworld.com/article/2992...eaming-solution-you-wantmost-of-the-time.html
PC World (everything): http://www.pcworld.com/article/2992...-one-week-in-a-steam-powered-living-room.html

Gamespot video (controller): http://www.gamespot.com/videos/will-the-steam-controller-replace-your-keyboard-an/2300-6427642/

Computerbase article (German): http://www.computerbase.de/2015-10/valves-steam-controller-tastatur-maus-ersatz-ausprobiert/

Kotaku article (controller): http://steamed.kotaku.com/one-week-...m_source=Kotaku_Twitter&utm_medium=Socialflow

Tom's Hardware article (everything): http://www.tomshardware.com/news/va...ource=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter#xtor=RSS-181

Gamepro video (German): http://www.gamepro.de/videos/video-kanaele/specials,20/steam-controller,85584.html

Ars Technica article (everything. 4 pages.): http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2015/10/steams-living-room-hardware-blitz-gets-off-to-a-muddy-start/1/

IGN article and video (controller): http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/10...of-none?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
Mitch Dyer tried Dota with it: http://www.ign.com/videos/2015/10/1...ler?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
They also said they're going to have further vids with others playing their favorite PC games with it.

Engadget (Machine and controller): http://www.engadget.com/2015/10/15/alienware-steam-machine-review/
Engadget (Link): http://www.engadget.com/2015/10/15/valves-steam-link-review/

Cnet (Machine and controller): http://www.cnet.com/products/alienware-steam-machine-2015/

PC Mag (controller): http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2493151,00.asp

Polygon (It includes everything and has Valve devs giving their thoughts too): http://www.polygon.com/2015/10/15/9536047/steam-machine-alienware-hands-on-video

PC Gamer (Link): http://www.pcgamer.com/steam-link-impressions-fantastic-in-home-streaming-for-50/
PC Gamer (controller): http://www.pcgamer.com/steam-controller-impressions/

Eurogamer video (controller): http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2015-10-16-watch-hands-on-with-the-steam-controller

Tested (controller): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9WHI49b5Uc
 
K

Krejlooc

Banned
The pc world reviewer doesnt know how joystick camera works. The way he describes it is incorrect:

Joystick move/camera: This is by far the weirdest mode. The Steam Controller tries to emulate the behavior of a joystick, so the closer your thumb gets to the edge of the pad the faster you move/turn the camera/whatever. It doesn’t work that well though, and you can see why Valve eventually added an actual analog stick onto the controller for movement.
Click to expand...

What he describes is how generic gamepad works. Joystick move/camera doesnt work like this. Joystick camera/move sets the deadzone to where your thumb first drops, then, as you extend out from that area, you emulate an analog stick. This means your deadzone can actually be the edge of the pad.

The menus dont explain this well. My animated guide, which I will upload this weekend, explains how the modes work.
 
K

Kysen

Member
The Gamespot video is damning, basically a solution in search of a problem.

For FPS games:
-Not precise enough to replace a mouse
-Not precise enough to replace a thumbstick.
 
B

Bizzquik

Member
Nice. Glad to see you got this thread started.
Can't wait to dive into the media's reactions.

This is going to be glorious!
 
T

TaintedHotSauce

Member
toythatkills said:
Can someone summarise the reviews in the OP? I really can't be bothered to read every single one to get a consensus.
Click to expand...

Not the OP but it seems as if the consensus is "Great for some games/control schemes, passable for some, terrible for some". Won't replace all your controllers, but a good alternative to keyboard/mouse in many cases.
 
B

Blanquito

Member
PizzaRollGoo said:
Not the OP but it seems as if the consensus is "Great for some games/control schemes, passable for some, terrible for some". Won't replace all your controllers, but a good alternative to keyboard/mouse in many cases.
Click to expand...

Yeah, that's what I've seen from Ars and Kotaku reviews.
 
T

Tenebrous

Member
Looking forward to checking out the footage provided. Can't wait for tomorrow.

Thanks for making the thread!

PizzaRollGoo said:
Not the OP but it seems as if the consensus is "Great for some games/control schemes, passable for some, terrible for some". Won't replace all your controllers, but a good alternative to keyboard/mouse in many cases.
Click to expand...

Basically like every other input device in history.
 
D

Devilgunman

Member
The controller configuration sounds like a pain in the ass. The trackpad works like a trackball of the past but much more sensitive. So each game will require adjustment to make it feels natural. Even Valve knows this problem so they a have community page for users to upload their controller configuration. This kinda destroys the plug-and-play nature of PC controller. There are very few games that I need to adjust my controller sensitivity.
 
N

Nzyme32

Member
Seems like no one is using the dynamic analogue variant. It solves the complaint of "struggling to find the centre" gamespot speak of
 
J

jiggles

Banned
How early do preorders have to be to get it tomorrow? I've ordered mine in store at Game (UK) since the beginning of September but I don't know if it's going to be worth my while going in to town tomorrow for it.
 
Krappadizzle

Krappadizzle

Member
Mine will be here tomorrow. I'm excited. Adding 8gb of more ram to my PC today and this will come in tomorrow. I look forward to messing with some first person shooters this weekend and seeing how it works.
 
Hip Hop

Hip Hop

Member
PizzaRollGoo said:
Not the OP but it seems as if the consensus is "Great for some games/control schemes, passable for some, terrible for some". Won't replace all your controllers, but a good alternative to keyboard/mouse in many cases.
Click to expand...

Yup, that was my mindset from the get go about this controller. This whole touchpad thing would never be as precise as analog sticks. It could sure help some games, but your FPS/TPS/Racing games? Nah.

Valve (and other people) are trying to find fixes for something that was never broken (regular controllers aka Xbox 360/One/etc. pads).
 
K

Krejlooc

Banned
Hip Hop said:
Yup, that was my mindset from the get go about this controller. It could sure help some games, but you're FPS/TPS/Racing games? Nah.

Valve (and other people) are trying to find fixes for something that was never broken (regular controllers aka Xbox 360/One/etc. pads).
Click to expand...

I cant go back to analog sticks after using the steam controller. Those controller methods are absolutely awful for the types of games you suggest.

There is no comparison. The steam controller obliterates the xbox controller for fps games.
 
J

jmga

Member
I'm afraid most general media won't even try to configure the pad properly and will just tear it apart.
 
S

Symphonic

Member
Hip Hop said:
Yup, that was my mindset from the get go about this controller. This whole touchpad thing would never be as precise as analog sticks. It could sure help some games, but you're FPS/TPS/Racing games? Nah.

Valve (and other people) are trying to find fixes for something that was never broken (regular controllers aka Xbox 360/One/etc. pads).
Click to expand...

Why would a touchpad not be as (or more) precise than an analog stick?

I've never understood why people are so sold on analog sticks for FPS games. They're so cumbersome and slow.
 
S

shandy706

Member
Symphonic said:
Why would a touchpad not be as (or more) precise than an analog stick?

I've never understood why people are so sold on analog sticks for FPS games. They're so cumbersome and slow.
Click to expand...

The times I've tried playing a FPS with a touchpad were awful. Not saying it is with this controller, but it makes it hard to believe it would be as easy to pick up and play.


hawk2025 said:
Simple: resistance.
Click to expand...

Yep, that's very true.
 
A

ashecitism

Member
That Gamespot vid was on the extreme low end. He was really bad at it. We have multiple impressions who says they're fine for aiming. Also he was making a mistake using joystick emulation most of the time.

Toki767 said:
Are there Steam Link reviews too? More interested in that.
Click to expand...

check my post above.
 
Nabs

Nabs

Member
ashecitism said:
That Gamespot vid was on the extreme low end. He was really bad at it. We have multiple impressions who says they're fine for aiming. Also he was making a mistake using joystick emulation most of the time.



check my post above.
Click to expand...

Yep. He probably should have tried Trackball for FPS games. It sounds like a good middle ground.
 
K

Kamakazie!

Member
All I get from the 3 reviews I've seen is that no one has spent anywhere near enough time to fully understand the different functions, get used to any of them, or comment properly on the pro's and con's.

Lots of contradicting opinion as well, which I expected to some extent.
I am not sure any review is going to be worth reading for me. Everyone is too used to the standard inputs to adjust quickly.
 
F

Felix Lighter

Member
I'm not looking for a mouse and keyboard replacement for FPS and I'm cool with my XOne controller for games I feel are best suited for a controller but I want one for games like Pillars of Eternity or XCom or Civ or Cities Skyline. Games that currently basically require a keyboard and mouse but aren't twitchy. Being able to play these on my television with a controller is what I'm hoping this will provide me, as an alternate for Keyboard and Mouse.
 
Spazznid

Spazznid

Member
I feel like a lot of these reviewers are dissing the use for FPS games due to their own inabilities or unwillingness to get the right settings.


It's like when the Wii Remote came out and everyone had these shaky-ass hands but after a bit of getting used to it, your hands get a lot more stable.

This is in addition to people who've had their controllers for some time stating that the pads work perfectly well for fps games.
 
G

Got the Shakes

Member
funkystudent said:
Seems very much like a first gen device. Definitely a lot of work still to do.
Click to expand...

So much this. I haven't preordered one yet as I was waiting for some hand on impressions and reviews. The reviews so far don't have me chomping at the bit to buy one on 11/10 since I'll have a wireless adapter for the XB1 controller by then and already have a wireless mouse and keyboard.

Felix Lighter said:
I'm not looking for a mouse and keyboard replacement for FPS and I'm cool with my XOne controller for games I feel are best suited for a controller but I want one for games like Pillars of Eternity or XCom or Civ or Cities Skyline. Games that currently basically require a keyboard and mouse but aren't twitchy. Being able to play these on my television with a controller is what I'm hoping this will provide me, as an alternate for Keyboard and Mouse.
Click to expand...

This is exactly what my use case would be if I buy one, just not sure at this point if I can justify buying one at launch since I already have a wireless keyboard/mouse. Sure it would make things less cumbersome, but I actually wonder if it would be a better experience in a game like Civ.
 
N

Nzyme32

Member
Spazznid said:
I feel like a lot of these reviewers are dissing the use for FPS games due to their own inabilities or unwillingness to get the right settings.


It's like when the Wii Remote came out and everyone had these shaky-ass hands but after a bit of getting used to it, your hands get a lot more stable.

This is in addition to people who've had their controllers for some time stating that the pads work perfectly well for fps games.
Click to expand...

I think the fact that there are very positive reviews out there concerning that, all the way to abysmal reviews, speaks volumes of the learning curve and variations for use - not to mention everyone's different background and extremely long history with other input devices
 
J

JohnsonUT

Member
Felix Lighter said:
I'm not looking for a mouse and keyboard replacement for FPS and I'm cool with my XOne controller for games I feel are best suited for a controller but I want one for games like Pillars of Eternity or XCom or Civ or Cities Skyline. Games that currently basically require a keyboard and mouse but aren't twitchy. Being able to play these on my television with a controller is what I'm hoping this will provide me, as an alternate for Keyboard and Mouse.
Click to expand...

Exactly. I could not care less if this controller is terrible for FPS games because adequate FPS controllers already exist. How does this controller do for games and genres that the existing controllers are not capable of controlling?
 
G

Gren

Member
Ars said:
"Digital" games

First off, give up your hope of using the Steam Controller for precise digital input in fighting games or platformers. The left touchpad can be used to emulate this kind of directional input (and there’s even a faint cross indentation on the pad to suggest such a use), but in practice it’s nigh unusable for this purpose.

The pad provides too much room for thumb movement between one direction and another, and pressing down on the touchpad requires too much force (and requires a bit too much downward “action”) for games that require quick response times. You can set up the touchpad to give directional input without a forcible “click,” but the lack of a strong, tangible d-pad under your thumb still makes it tough to know what you’re doing.

The analog stick serves as a fine substitute for movement in most games, but we missed the digital cross on our Xbox One controller for games that need precise directional inputs. And as we mentioned above, the face buttons feel like a small, cramped afterthought compared to the alternatives from Xbox and PlayStation. It’s not unusable, but it’s less comfortable than the alternative.
Click to expand...

Damn, this is really disheartening. I was hoping this thing could effectively replace my 360 controller once & for all. Perhaps for those types of games, the physical analog stick works better. I'll wait 'til the dust settles and monitor the reception in the Steam discussion threads.
 
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