Well, I mean... what we have does already work. The current controller design is probably quite close to optimal for controlling the specific subsets of games it's meant to tackle -- easily accessible analog and digital motion, about as many buttons as one can reasonably expect to physically and cognitively use with a single hand, and effective use of the first three fingers on each hand. People stopped innovating on this shape because it's evolved in tandem with many of the games being made, to the point that it's hard to actually improve much on the design for purposes of playing said games.
I don't think it's actually unreasonable to judge that this controller would be a terrible replacement for the 360-style pads we use now. It's when you view it as a supplemental tool for solving a different problem that it gets interesting.
You honestly think someone can play Starcraft on that thing?
A touchpad is fundamentally different from a stick in that the stick is a relative control mechanism while the touchpad is absolute. Like a mouse, you can tell a touchpad to turn as fast as you can physically move. You say "go to there", whereas with a stick it's "go that way".
Could be neat if this can be used for just regular ass desktop and media functions as well, without needing a bunch of random programs and xpadder-esque workarounds. Then I could retire this, haha:
Maybe text input could be done on the touch screen as well for those situations?
I dispute the idea that what we have already works. There are entire genres of games that just don't work on the "standard" controller.Well, I mean... what we have does already work. The current controller design is probably quite close to optimal for controlling the specific subsets of games it's meant to tackle -- easily accessible analog and digital motion, about as many buttons as one can reasonably expect to physically and cognitively use with a single hand, and effective use of the first three fingers on each hand. People stopped innovating on this shape because it's evolved in tandem with many of the games being made, to the point that it's hard to actually improve much on the design for purposes of playing said games.
I don't think it's actually unreasonable to judge that this controller would be a terrible replacement for the 360-style pads we use now. It's when you view it as a supplemental tool for solving a different problem that it gets interesting.
So did I, I'm still not seeing where the number six is coming from. I don't see evidence of anything more than left trigger, right trigger, left grip, right grip as far as inputs on the back of the controller.
1) The design is completely alien which by default for a lot of people will be very offputting
2) This is Valve's solution to bringing the KB+M into the living room, it's very creative but unfortunately...
3) We won't know how this performs until we hold it in our hands. This is one of those extreme controllers that will either be amazing or terrible, not much room for middle ground with this thing.
I´m just worried about the X and Y buttons. Trying to figure out how to play FIFA with it. But maybe the two back buttons will fix that. WOuld be a good idea to replace the two shoulder buttons with two wheel shoulder buttons. Would be great for scrolling.
That looks amazing. can't wait to retire the 360 pad.
Right trigger
Right bumper
Right grip
Left trigger
Left bumper
Left grip
So seems that Valve has quitted the idea that in FPS movements have the same importance of aiming.
Can't wait for Team Fortress 3 "Meet the limped Scout" and "Meet the Solly without rocket jump". Yay.
You can still use a DS4 for platformers.
I'm thinking it could give a little jolt of rumble whenever a digital direction is engaged. Might actually work of the feedback is precise enough.
Hmm. Trackpads instead off sticks. That's pretty cool. I would have never thought of that.
All I wanted was a great controller for all the indie platformers. Guess I'll just have to keep waiting...
looks horrible, if this was a different company people would make fun of it, valve gets a free pass
Thats what im worried about, button placement seems iffy.
Right trigger
Right bumper
Right grip
Left trigger
Left bumper
Left grip
Because a universal solution for these kind of games would have been awesome And no, please don't suggest a 360 controller for fighters.There are pads for that already, with newer versions coming soon. They all work on the PC. I don't know why people expected Valve would simply make another console controller.