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Valve announces Steam Controller

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Nabs

Member
I'm just going to throw this out there, what if Valve found some way to give away these new controllers for free?! Wouldn't that be amazing, i'm sure they could come up with a way to make money off it somehow.

It'll be free...

...after you sell the Dota item it is packaged with.
 

syko de4d

Member
I'm just going to throw this out there, what if Valve found some way to give away these new controllers for free?! Wouldn't that be amazing, i'm sure they could come up with a way to make money off it somehow.
maybe not directly free:

70$ for: Controller
or
150$ for: controller + 150$ in your steam wallet

what would you buy?

maybe sell steambox the same way, 199$ + xx$ each months for 2 years and you get xx$ each month in your steam wallet :p

People buy a new Smartphone every 2 years because of these contracts, with PC it would make sense. Maybe many would start to buy a new contract based steambox each two years ^^
 

Jaded

Banned
Well, actually i have something. I think i read somewhere how valve is looking forward to the community coming up with profiles for the controller for games, maybe they charge for the profiles for specific games :p
 

Kammie

Member
I'm currently playing through Aquaria on Steam, which has horrendous controller implementation. Man, just thinking about transferring the keyboard/mouse controls to this thing seems like it would solve all the problems. I could even map number keys 1-9 to the touchscreen for all the ability shortcuts.

I have a feeling this thing is just gonna work.
 

Afrit

Member
Dual touchpad?

sony-ericsson-xperia-play-review-1.jpg


No thanks, it didn't work well in the PLAY.
but I'm curious about the haptic feedback and the larger and more ergonomic design which could be a a remarkable improvement to the tech. I just need to experience it myself.
 

therapist

Member
I'm willing to make a bet with you that i could beat you with a touchpad, i would be willing to go a few rounds with you in a game. I find touchpads to be a much more precise mechanism then a traditional mouse, obviously the touchpad has some flaws but nothing that hinders my gameplay.

I would LOVE to see this.

I assume you will get dominated , but would be pleasantly surprised to see otherwise.

This must be streamed!
 
The Macbook's touchpad is the best "mouse" I've ever used. Every time I use another computer I always feel gimped because I can't be as versatile with its mousepad.

The positive impressions, and my experience with the Macbook's touchpad, have me confident that a touch surface can work for gaming on a traditional controller if done right.

good point - most times the touchpad is better than mouse control. I really miss it when I have to use another laptop than mine.
 

Veal

Member
Dual touchpad?

sony-ericsson-xperia-play-review-1.jpg


No thanks, it didn't work well in the PLAY.
but I'm curious about the haptic feedback and the larger and more ergonomic design which could be a a remarkable improvement to the tech. I just need to experience it myself.
Not the same. Correct me if I'm wrong but the play used optical based tracking. This is something else entirely.
Edit: nope I'm wrong. They're not optical. Still, I don't think they should be compared in the way since people are trying to compare them.
 

Mindlog

Member
Dual touchpad?

sony-ericsson-xperia-play-review-1.jpg


No thanks, it didn't work well in the PLAY.
but I'm curious about the haptic feedback and the larger and more ergonomic design which could be a a remarkable improvement to the tech. I just need to experience it myself.
Digital distribution?

Z8uto6A.jpg


No thanks, it didn't work well in the PSP Go. Valve should just give up trying to crack that nut.
 

Alien Bob

taken advantage of my ass
Dual touchpad?
No thanks, it didn't work well in the PLAY.
but I'm curious about the haptic feedback and the larger and more ergonomic design which could be a a remarkable improvement to the tech. I just need to experience it myself.

I'd look for a picture of a shitty early joystick or something but I can't be bothered
 

Grief.exe

Member
Not the same. Correct me if I'm wrong but the play used optical based tracking. This is something else entirely.
Edit: nope I'm wrong. They're not optical. Still, I don't think they should be compared in the way since people are trying to compare them.

That correlation equals causation fallacy.
 

Afrit

Member
Digital distribution?

Z8uto6A.jpg


No thanks, it didn't work well in the PSP Go. Valve should just give up trying to crack that nut.

Did I mention anywhere that Valve should give up or I just said I'm curious to try it myself?

Well, I'm just skeptical and curious at the same time. but actually open to try new things if it promise some improvements.

Edit:
Note, when I said "it didn't work well in the PLAY" I didn't mean in terms of sales or success but I meant how actually the thing controlled the camera in say an FPS game. but again valve promising some improvements, I would give them the benefit of the doubt.
 
The buttons placement is weird. Clearly not made for action games. The haptic stuff seems interesting.

It's been noted time and time again that those buttons do not share the same usage as your traditional 360 pad. The "haptic" touchpad is what compensates for that.
 

The Cowboy

Member
I still think with the more recent info we have, a good idea would be to have 4 very small holes around the outer edge of the right trackpad (T/B/L/R) and have a sort of plastic (or rubber) traditional 4 button cover that could drop into those 4 holes. With the SMB interview it stated that the right trackpad could be setup to act as a 4 button setup (like a 360 XYAB layout), and that he wanted 4 dimples to be added so you could locate these easily (I really don't like the idea of the trackpad having 4 raised areas on it).

If you could simply place over the right trackpad a plastic 4 button cover, It would mean it could remain exactly as it is now in layout (the only difference would be 4 very small holes) - but by simply placing a small piece of plastic over the right trackpad (locked in place with those 4 holes) you could have the traditional 4 button layout for other types of games. You could even have the very same holes around the left trackpad and have a plastic dpad cover perhaps?.

Edit.
Actually looking at the controller again, you wouldn't even need the holes - you could make it so the drop in cover it held in place by the raised outside edge of the trackpads and orientation could be maintained with the outer edge XY/AB buttons. With this in mind Valve (modders) could release drop on covers that go over the trackpads to replicate different button configurations, like a fighting game cover than you drop on with a dpad and 4 face buttons.
---
This could also perhaps be used for modders to make various plastic covers for other types of games.
 
D

Deleted member 22576

Unconfirmed Member
Hmm, here's an interesting article about haptics. There's surprisingly not much turning up in google results.
For the sake of improved haptic feedback accuracy, Apple’s patented system uses a minimum of two actuators to provide vibration feedback, with one originating a pulse and one create a second vibration to essentially knock out the first at a specific location, thereby localizing it. This could make sure that a multitouch device could provide localized haptic feedback for any virtual button on its display, instead of just with a few actuators placed under pre-defined, commonly used spots like beneath a home button, as it is currently handled.

It sounds kinda similar to what valve describes
The Steam Controller is built around a new generation of super-precise haptic feedback, employing dual linear resonant actuators. These small, strong, weighted electro-magnets are attached to each of the dual trackpads. They are capable of delivering a wide range of force and vibration, allowing precise control over frequency, amplitude, and direction of movement.

So it will feel like a vibration underneath your finger tip and not like a little something poking back at you? Weird. With all the impressions about there seems to be not as much in depth description about what the trackpad actually feels like.
 
Hmm, here's an interesting article about haptics. There's surprisingly not much turning up in google results.


It sounds kinda similar to what valve describes


So it will feel like a vibration underneath your finger tip and not like a little something poking back at you? Weird. With all the impressions about there seems to be not as much in depth description about what the trackpad actually feels like.

It's all about application. Remember Valve is targeting the game aspect of input which require a complex array of controls and feedback. Apple's attempt on their touchpad on the other hand is more superficial - it's technically not needed but it does give an impression that they are resolving a made up problem.
 
D

Deleted member 22576

Unconfirmed Member
Well, that description in the patent article is purely theoretical. But if the technologies are the same I don't think the application would be any different. iOS is extremely tactile already, and relies on tons of physics and motion. I don't think it would be any different than than "virtual joysticks" on the steam controller. You're scrubbing and poking and dragging and squeezing and flicking all the time on iOS.
 

Jaded

Banned
I would LOVE to see this.

I assume you will get dominated , but would be pleasantly surprised to see otherwise.

This must be streamed!

I would be the first to admit that i am far from even being the best player out there, i typically would say i'm in the middle of the pack when it comes to skills but i am no slouch either ;-).

EDIT: I have been using touchpads exclusively since the original half-life days just to throw that out there.


OhR5UOi.jpg
 

Nzyme32

Member
I would be the first to admit that i am far from even being the best player out there, i typically would say i'm in the middle of the pack when it comes to skills but i am no slouch either ;-).

EDIT: I have been using touchpads exclusively since the original half-life days just to throw that out there.


OhR5UOi.jpg

That's really cool. I'm sure there are others out there who have tried this but I certainly didn't really know of any one doing it. Are those touch pads special in anyway? Higher resolution or something? How would you compare them to laptops/macs? Do you think the steam controller will deliver? Haha sorry, lots of questions!
 

Brannon

Member
Not to go too enthusiastic on the Valve cocksucking here, but I'm really thrilled that they apparently have rethought the very fundamentals of controller design with this. I got shouted down a couple months back when I openly questioned why we still had a d-pad on our controllers and what the "stick + 4 buttons" design on each side of the controller was really for - the most common reply was "that's just how it is" and I was a bit down that I didn't feel like I could think these ideas through to their conclusion with others.

Now Valve comes out with their vision and it's basically telling me "yeah bro, we wondered about that, too" when no one else really wanted to hear about it. No matter if it's going to be a success or a spectacular failure, it kinda makes me want to cheer for them. :D

I feel you, I really do. But all you're going to get for some reason is turbopad360.gif. Henry Ford all up in this mug.
 
Valve needs to set up kiosks at Best Buy/Walmart/Gamestop with the steam box/steam controller. People will need to try it out and see it in action before purchasing the product.
 

Mrbob

Member
Hmm, here's an interesting article about haptics. There's surprisingly not much turning up in google results.


It sounds kinda similar to what valve describes


So it will feel like a vibration underneath your finger tip and not like a little something poking back at you? Weird. With all the impressions about there seems to be not as much in depth description about what the trackpad actually feels like.

This is when I buy a new Ipad. Wonder if Apple is mad Valve beat them to the punch. Now Apple will look me too.
 

The Cowboy

Member
Valve needs to set up kiosks at Best Buy/Walmart/Gamestop with the steam box/steam controller. People will need to try it out and see it in action before purchasing the product.

They need to get it out there via a few methods.

1st is defiantly store demos, so people can get a feel of the controller before a purchase - getting hold of this to try it out will be sorely needed to get possible mass uptake (I would never buy this without being able to try it out).

2nd is of course including it with all Steam boxes (which will happen obviously), but I would go as fat as even to include it on 3rd party Steam boxes (so if a PC has SteamOS on it, it comes with Steam Controller (Valve could offer 3rd party makers a discount on the controller if they include it).

3rd is with a major Valve game release, say for example a box version of DOTA 2 you pay for, it would come with a load of cosmetics items for DOTA 2 and also a Steam Controller.
 
They need to get it out there via a few methods.

1st is defiantly store demos, so people can get a feel of the controller before a purchase - getting hold of this to try it out will be sorely needed to get possible mass uptake (I would never buy this without being able to try it out).

2nd is of course including it with all Steam boxes (which will happen obviously), but I would go as fat as even to include it on 3rd party Steam boxes (so if a PC has SteamOS on it, it comes with Steam Controller (Valve could offer 3rd party makers a discount on the controller if they include it).

3rd is with a major Valve game release, say for example a box version of DOTA 2 you pay for, it would come with a load of cosmetics items for DOTA 2 and also a Steam Controller.

Dota with that,eww...
 
I have no idea how it would feel to use, but it is definitely interesting. First impression is that it won't be the best choice for most games, but there could be some it would make better.

New Marble Madness?
 

Jaded

Banned
That's really cool. I'm sure there are others out there who have tried this but I certainly didn't really know of any one doing it. Are those touch pads special in anyway? Higher resolution or something? How would you compare them to laptops/macs? Do you think the steam controller will deliver? Haha sorry, lots of questions!

Um, i am sure i am in the extreme minority who uses a touchpad for desktop gaming and yes, it is 100 times better than your typical touchpad on a laptop. It is definitely a lot more responsive even though it is easily half the size or more of a typical laptop touchpad. The touchpad i use measures only 1 3/4 inches in size diagonally.

As for are they special, i think so. It is super responsive when i zoom around the surface of it with just a tip of my finger, i personally believe that this helps with super precise aiming when i play multiplayer in tf2,l4d, etc..much more then a regular mouse imo.

Considering that i have been using the same exact touchpad for at least 7 years without purchasing a newer version of it from Cirque i have high hopes for the steam controller especially with the haptics built onto the trackpad.
 

Vanpastel

Member
I simply can't understand how people care about how a controller looks, I mean aren't you supposed to be looking at the screen instead of the controller?
 

Haunted

Member
I simply can't understand how people care about how a controller looks, I mean aren't you supposed to be looking at the screen instead of the controller?
There's a touchscreen on the controller, you will be looking at it.

(I think it looks pretty damn snazzy)
 

aza

Member
From an aesthetic point of view: I think the Xbox One controller is the best looking one of the bunch, followed closely by the Steam Controller, with both looking significantly better than the PS4 controller.

The haptic feedback stuff sounds really interesting. I'm curious to see how it'll be implemented as far as simulating tactile sensations.
 

ironcreed

Banned
Still waiting for someone to explain how this is uglier than the PS4/Xbone controllers.

I love the DS4, but I think the Steam controller just looks way more refined and high tech. Like something one would use to operate some type of machinery or precision device of some sort.
 
Still waiting for someone to explain how this is uglier than the PS4/Xbone controllers.

other than the face buttons looking a little cheap (is that row along the bottom buttons too?) I don't think it's ugly at all. Does sort of look like something out of Brookstone at first, but it's just different.

Even though I'm getting a PS4, I honestly don't think the DS4 is that great looking. It almost looks like it's missing a layer.
 

Branduil

Member
I think the ABXY and bottom row buttons look a bit off, but other than that it looks very sleek. I'm sure the final version isn't going to look exactly the same.
 
Valve grossly overestimates how many people are willing to buy into this "steambox". Only the PC master race holds them in esteem and the whole concept of a controller over m/k is the antithesis of what the master race heralds..This will not end well.

They don't need to buy into Valve. They can buy into Samsung, Asus or Dell, who can all spin their own console based on an open platform now. Do you really think consumers were looking for a "Google" phone when the Samsung Galaxy S series exploded? The open platform approach has conquered PCs, smartphones and tablets, why are you confident it can't prove successful in the console market?
 
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