Valve Gets a Jump On Hardware

[Da Orky Man]

How long before Valve starts releasing their own phones and tablets then? Steam OS anyone?

 

[iniudan]

Well, keyboard and mouse haven changed in 20+ years (other than adding extra side buttons to the mouse) because they WORK; whereas controllers had to continuously evolve because they couldn't keep up.
So yeah, I'm not seeing most PC gamers switching off KBM any time soon.

I get the feeling that the idea behind Valve's comment is that because we're putting extra buttons on mouses, we need a better system. You could call it ease of access that we've got buttons bound to our keyboard for commands, but isn't that just another way of saying that the small cluster of keys on the left side of the keyboard isn't enough for our needs?

With more easily-accessible keys, it'd be easier to make those immersive, expansive gaming experiences we've been wanting these last few decades. I know I'd like to have an extra key beside my WASD setup which uses functions typically restricted to my F7-F12 keys, or the right-hand side of my keyboard.

This is your one handed answer on an ANSI layout.

Spoiler

This is one of the answer for people that want cluster of key for 2 handed typing. (available in hard to find disposition like dvorak (sadly I don't think they have a programming dvorak), colemak, bépo (french keyboard based on dvorak principle and with programmer in mind, french been my first language I am kind of interested into that one)

Spoiler

This is an other answer for cluster of key (except make it a programming dvorak if you want to be a real hacker =p)

Spoiler

Admit still on a qwerty at the moment of writing this, for I kind of make use of vim has my text editor and don't really have time to customize input for it and I also write in more then one language, which kind of make choosing a better disposition difficult.

 

[Vivi22]

snip

Thank you for that rant. I think it's sorely needed when a bunch of people like to hate Valve for pretty much those reasons exclusively despite being wrong about all of them. For all the talk about Valve time and never releasing anything over the years, Valve has released more games than any other single developer I can think of since they made HL2. People act like they aren't doing anything because they haven't made that one particular game everyone won't stop whining about, but they actually seem busier than just about any other company out there.

And I wish people would stop talking about them jumping into hardware as though they're going to make a console. The article says nothing about making a console and specifically mentions input devices and peripherals. You'd need a massive failure in logic to get console out of that. Maybe someday, but that's not where this announcement is pointing.

 

[iniudan]

Dvorak efficiency is a myth and the only studies saying otherwise were supervised by Dvorak himself.

The studies for the Turkish F keyboard disagree with you, for that keyboard is based on Dvorak principle and scientific studies. Without the internet, the F would most likely still be the most used Turkish keyboard, for only reason for the Q to have taken over is because, try to type in English with a F. =p

 

[TrevHead]

Well, keyboard and mouse haven changed in 20+ years (other than adding extra side buttons to the mouse) because they WORK; whereas controllers had to continuously evolve because they couldn't keep up.
So yeah, I'm not seeing most PC gamers switching off KBM any time soon.

They work but they can be improved upon, just the simple fact that the keys lack analog control puts keyboard players at a disadvantage.

 

[TrevHead]

But really, when have analog control really made any real difference? Even in driving games, you're better served with steering wheel peripherals anyway.

While mouse control is analog its usually only used a pointer or to aim the camera. It's the keyboard where the player controls the movement which is usually run or stop, sometimes with a walk toggle button

Also in none FPS games it's nigh on impossible to do circular walking movements like any stick can

They give extra gameplay options to just about every PC game and allow games to do innovative new things.

While there are niche controller for the PC they haven't caught on and tend to be niche and overpriced, it's gonna have to take somebody as big as Valve to bring something thats mass produced to the PC gamer masses

 

[dubious_wolf]

Hmm i'll be interested to see a new input device.
Que traditionalist PC gamer rants.

 

[jbm1986]

I can almost imagine it now: Half-life 3, a launch day first-person shooter for Valve's interactive holo-deck.

*wipes drool off mouth*

I'd like to see them use something really crazy like a 4D movie theater but made for in-home use.

 

[SnowBurst]

valve doing hardware? is this a case of apple genius or microsoft stupidity lol if valve do it right id buy it unless its a console which it sounds like it is lol

 

[iniudan]

Dvorak efficiency is a myth and the only studies saying otherwise were supervised by Dvorak himself.

The studies for the Turkish F keyboard disagree with you, for that keyboard is based on Dvorak principle and scientific studies. Without the internet, the F would most likely still be the most used Turkish keyboard, for only reason for the Q to have taken over is because, try to type in English with a F. =p

Disclaimer: When talking about keyboards, I talk about international standards. Extremely local phenomenons are not representative of overall efficiency.

Turkish F keyboard is your standard ISO keyboard, while the Q is your standard ANSI keyboard, those are two standard that pretty much cover majority of keyboard in the world. And modern Turk is a language that use Latin derived script like most Occidental country, so their keyboard optimization study are actually valid has to show the effectiveness of the Dvorak principle with language written in Greek, Latin and Cyrillic derived script, has those are related alphabet system, so the study can be be cross referenced, to each language that use those systems.

 

[Vigormortis]

snip

Thank you for that rant. I think it's sorely needed when a bunch of people like to hate Valve for pretty much those reasons exclusively despite being wrong about all of them. For all the talk about Valve time and never releasing anything over the years, Valve has released more games than any other single developer I can think of since they made HL2. People act like they aren't doing anything because they haven't made that one particular game everyone won't stop whining about, but they actually seem busier than just about any other company out there.

And I wish people would stop talking about them jumping into hardware as though they're going to make a console. The article says nothing about making a console and specifically mentions input devices and peripherals. You'd need a massive failure in logic to get console out of that. Maybe someday, but that's not where this announcement is pointing.

Well, technically, "Valve Time" is a real thing. I joke about it all the time.

But anyway, I agree with you in that it's more likely Valve is planning a peripheral instead of a "console". Or, quite possibly, a line of peripherals. Perhaps for both PCs/MACs and consoles. Their internal experimentation with biometric feedback devices, motion controls, VR goggles; coupled with their recent patents for a modular controller (http://www.faqs.org/patents/app/20110105231#b); seem to indicate a peripheral and not a platform.

Though, I still don't think Valve designing their own platform is out of the question. Gabe Newell has been very interested in mobile gaming as of late while Michael Abrash has been very, very interested in wearable computers. Something tells me the idea of making a mobile gaming device of some kind could be on their minds.

Or not. I can't say.

[sub]But I can sure as hell hope it is![/sub]

 

[weirdee]

Hopefully Valve does some enders game shit to the business. I was happy with Nintendo for a while, but perhaps a fresh perspective would be useful.

no, really, the other two guys are okay but they don't give me things i don't already have on the pc