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[Vargavinter]

How am I supposed to use the XYAB keys? It looks way to hard on your hands.

 

[InvaderZimmer]

The look of it makes me cringe a bit but I feel like I should at least try it first to see if it works well.

 

[antibolo]

Map one or both trackpads into virtual d-pads that give you a little vibration feedback for each of the eight directions.

Map the triggers, paddles, and bumpers to the standard six attacks.

You lost me at "virtual d-pads". Fuck virtual d-pads. Vibration feedback is not going to make them suck any less.

Real d-pad as standard issue or GTFO.

 

[Dolor]

I'm actually pretty game for this. Will very probably buy one when they are released. All the description text sounds really cool.

It looks a little weird, but everything looks weird when it's legitimately new.

 

[ComputerMKII]

With products like these I've learned not to cry 'shit' right away. I want to try it before I can form an opinion.

 

[1upmuffin]

This should work for PC games with mouse-aim type controls, but for shit for anything else.

Yeah I can't imagine it being good for sidescrollers or racing games in particular.

 

[Opiate]

It usually appears that any substantial deviation from the Dual Shock Controller is frowned upon.

I'm not sure what to make of this yet.

 

[Beardz]

I can't see myself playing DotA with that thing.

 

[R1CHO]

This may be awesome or a total failure, but i am very happy that they are trying, trying to solve problems that everybody else are ignoring. It can be huge for pc gaming.

I am definitely interested.

 

[Volotaire]

Woah, this is sure interesting. very interesting button placement, I really want to try out those trackpads.

 

[phileep]

I remember playing games with this thing and hating life. This thing is like a super version of it.

 

[CharmingCharlie]

I cannot stand current controllers (it's one of the reasons I am still a PC gamer). However I have to confess I am intrigued by this new controller.

I am not at the "TAKE MY MONEY NOW" stage but if impressions are good from other people I might grab one and try it out.

 

[McHuj]

This is wii-mote-esque WTF reveal. It could the best thing ever or the worst. i don't know. but i can't wait to try it.

 

[TomcatTheLion]

I'm pretty interested in trying it out.

 

[ironcreed]

This controller is too radical a change if they want console players to jump in.

Nah, it has me intrigued.

 

[terrdactycalsrock]

You know, Valve has a lot of smart people. Im sure a lot of time and effort went into this. However, I cant get pass the fact that it doesnt have duel analog sticks

 

[Gully State]

I feel as though Valve should've posted a video demonstrating how this controller works. It would've made this announcement a bit more positive..

 

[Cuyejo]

...A huge variety of indie games. Simulation titles. And of course, Euro Truck Simulator 2.

lol, what's up with that name drop?

 

[Ploid 3.0]

I'll give it a try but I did not like that SNES Turbo Touch 360, and the overlay touch analogs of smart phones and tablets.

Edit: Crap someone already mentioned Turbo Touch 360

 

[Graphics Horse]

No it's not the same. You can let go one stick and press all 4 face buttons, you never have to stop moving your character. In this scheme, you have to let go both controllers half the time. How the flying fuck are you going to play action games with this?

There's 6 buttons on the back/shoulders.

 

[MulderWasTaken]

On the left pad you can see the third option starts with "Sp" and tails off into "ace Bar" if I had to guess. I just don't understand what makes the different things on each pad actually work.

I read it as press&hold and click...

 

[jwhit28]

Maybe I can understand it better if they mapped Call of Duty or NBA 2k13 to it. I really don't know what to make of it.

 

[Orayn]

You lost me at "virtual d-pads". Fuck virtual d-pads.

I'd normally agree with you, but it depends on how well the haptics work. If they can do strong, distinct vibrations that are triggered very precisely, it could work.

Imagine if doing a hadoken motion let you feel three little jolts, one for each direction you hit.

 

[jett]

The reactions in this thread...

Hackable, works with EVERY game, community can easily provide control schemes...sounds fantastic.

Why would I care that it's hackable? Means nothing to me.
"Works" with every game. Yeah, go play Street Fighter with that thing.

I can give Valve the benefit of the doubt with those trackpads, but not with the button placement. That's just a disaster, this smells of being designed by a leftie.

 

[GregLombardi]

Wow, someone's trying to actually innovate the gamepad. Fucking well done Valve.

This.

This this this this.

So happy they're trying.

 

[Wereroku]

Looks like a controller made to avoid having to pay for patents. This just looks uncomfortable and useless for simultaneous button presses like in a fighting game. Really its a controller made by people who hate controllers.

 

[Mango Positive]

"It looks like shit!!!"

Function over form, guys. You picked the least important aspect of a controller and are now judging this controller based on this trivial aspect.

 

[CountAntonius]

 

[DieH@rd]

HAPTICS???!!!?!!?!!!! FUCKING 100% PURE CONCENTRATED FUCKING VICTORY!

Where are the STICKS?!

Haptic electricity field will provide you with the resistance. You finger will feel the tension that pulls you to the center of the touchpad.

I always wanted for Apple and Google to introduce haptic screens on mobile phones, tablets. But Valve was fist. Insanity. This is so awesome.

 

[symphonask]

Looks like it'd be impossible for fighing games or character action games.

Skeptical.

 

[mrjohill]

With products like these I've learned not to cry 'shit' right away. I want to try it before I can form an opinion.

It's a wierd looking thing tho that's for sure

 

[EVIL]

can I listen to my music on it too?

Seriously, that design is... out there.

Actually, you can!

" This haptic capability provides a vital channel of information to the player - delivering in-game information about speed, boundaries, thresholds, textures, action confirmations, or any other events about which game designers want players to be aware. It is a higher-bandwidth haptic information channel than exists in any other consumer product that we know of. As a parlour trick they can even play audio waveforms and function as speakers. "

 

[Archaix]

Neat. I have absolutely no interest in this product. The button placement is godawful, and I'd much prefer analog sticks to trackpad. I'm sure it'll find an audience of people who just love RTS games and can't stand the mouse/keyboard setup though...

 

[Psycho_Mantis]

No sticks, horrible button placements, bad triggers oh wow

 

[SmokyDave]

I'm not really sure what I think about that, but I'm willing to buy one and find out.

 

[flkraven]

This controller looks awful. I don't even care about the lack of analog sticks, but look at that button placement? X and Y with the left thumb....wut?

 

[Alasfree]

Look weird and interesting, i definitely want to try it. Also the trackpads are speakers, lol?

 

[Ylyon]

First impression: what is this? How do I hold it? Am I watching it upside down?
Then: I want it.

 

[Grover Cleveland]

Steam just insured that DS4 will be the go-to gamepad for PC for the next few years.

 

[Bob Dobalina]

Shaking my head at the hyperbole in the first few pages.

I think if they get the haptics right these touchpads will be very useable. I don't expect Valve to halfass this, they've clearly put a lot of thought into why traditional touchpads and even analog sticks aren't suited for many PC games.

The lack of a d-pad means I'll have to keep another controller around though. Interesting to see a similar center touchpad between this and the DS4, hopefully it leads to simple, shared implementations in Steam games.

 

[F!ReW!Re]

It looks ehm weird, but reading up on it has me intrigued....
I guess you need to actually try it before judging it.

I'll give them the benefit of the doubt.

 

[WillyFive]

 

[FrostuTheNinja]

Looks weird as shit, but I'll check it out. I imagine it probably spend a damn good while in development/testing.

 

[venne]

The more I look at it and read about it, the more I like it.

Replacing sticks with trackpads is a good call, since the latter is much better for mimicking mouse movement, a crucial feature in making sure the entire catalog of Steam games work with this thing. Furthermore, if latency is small, the trackpads can easily be faster than a dual analog scheme for FPS games, since you have no limitation other than how fast you can move your fingers, as opposed to moving as fast as the sticks can move. The haptic feedback seems impressive as well.

I really want to get my hands on one.

I agree for aiming.

It seems like movement will be something that you will really need to get used to.

IMO, should have gone one stick and one trackpad.

 

[diffusionx]

This looks like the solution to bridge the gap of the problem of playing with a keyboard and mouse in the living room.

It doesn't look like that, though. Valve says it does, but they can say whatever they want.

The touch pads are cool, particularly on the left - I'd much rather use an analog stick than WASD to control my character, so you have that.

The screen is cool, would work great for selecting weapons in FPS games like Quake or whatever.

But the button situation is the same as it always has been on a controller.

I can't picture playing Starcraft 2 on this.

 

[Kinyou]

The super symmetrical layout might actually a good thing for lefthanded players.

 

[Mutanthands]

Uhhhhh...

I don't know how I feel about this yet. I need a hands on before I can even begin to know whether I should be excited.

The haptics will be key. The track pads make me nervous, but if there is as much feedback from the haptics as they claim, I can live with it.

I will keep my wired Xbox 360 controller on the side, though.

 

[Zeth]

Awesome thumbstick controllers already exist for those who want it. I believe this is Valve solving the Mouse in the living room problem.

 

[j-wood]

As amazing as I'm sure this controller is, you guys realize how expensive it's going to be right?

 

[MesserWolf]

1) it is ugly

2) Is it wired ? there are pictures with cable and I do not see reference to autonomy or wireless....