Valve Reveals the Steam Controller

[FPLOON]

That controller gives me the wubs... I forgot to bring in new headphones...

All in all... I really want to try out this "new-age" controller... Maybe it will reunite the console gamers and the PC gamers in unison... or something like that... (Maybe that's HF3's job... I don't even know anymore...)

 

[Senare]

I am very curious as to the precision, latency and physical feedback of the controller pads. Props to Valve for innovating, especially as it is seemingly with usability in mind - something sorely needed in this day and age.

Actually all the major game industry players deserve bravos for innovating peripherals: Microsoft with Kinect (although it did not turn out that well), Sony with Vita's back touch controls and of course Nintendo for the Wii motion control.

 

[Mr.Mattress]

This is... Odd, to be quite frank:

- The Track Pads instead of Analogue sticks are... Funky. But hey, the Wii worked with Motion Controls, so maybe this will be the next step? I'm worried though that they won't be as fluid as Analogue sticks or Touch Screens (And just as fluid as Motion Controls! *Drum Zinger*)

- The Four main Buttons are placed so awkwardly on the Controller. It doesn't look life fun to reach for them.

- The Controller looks a little too big.

- I have no comment on the Touch Screen, other then being reminded that Nintendo has some sort of influence on the Industry (Come on, without the DS or the WiiU Tablet, would any other Controller ever have a touch pad? No.)

All in all, it's weird. But, it's not the worst controller that ever existed (That's the Jaguars). I'll need to feel it for myself before I say it's good or bad.

 

[KungFuJazzHands]

They wouldn't hard-lock it to Steam games.

A. That's not possible if it's designed to be hackable. Like... physically impossible.

B. Valve has a habit of not committing suicide.

A. I'm no expert on hardware hacking, but couldn't an embedded chip designed to block certain types of software fiddling be a possibility in the Steam Controller? I mean, security chips certainly aren't unheard of in other tech realms.

B. That's a bit of a specious outcome, isn't it? Let's take Steamworks for example: it's an increasingly popular bit of faux-DRM that Steam uses to tie hundreds of games to its service, but there hasn't been a huge backlash against that, has there? No, it will take something like locking down the entire architecture of the Steambox before consumers react strongly enough to cause a company-breaking profit loss for Valve.

None of that tells me specifically whether or not the Steam Controller is going to work with games not associated with my Steam account. For all we know, Valve may decide to hard-lock the controller to prevent it from working with non-Steam games. Until Valve decide to release more info, all anyone can do at this point is speculate.

Seriously, I simply want more details from Valve, and people like you keep telling me to "read the information available". That's exactly what I do, and I'm still not getting answers to all the questions I have regarding Steam Universe and Valve's ultimate intentions with the project.

A fair point. However...

Given that Valve not only plans to provide the source code to SteamOS, but also the driver and hardware rootkits for the controller, it's almost inconceivable that they'd even attempt to 'lock it to Steam'.

Not because I think they wouldn't want to, but because giving the tools to hack and mod the thing to the community would make it almost impossible TO lock the thing to Steam.

Think of it this way: even if Valve somehow made it only functional with Steam games, if the community at large has access to the driver source-code then Valve can do nothing to stop the community from making the thing function with...anything, really.

Unless Valve decides to sue everyone that tries. But then, what would have been the point of providing the tools to mod the thing in the first place?

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Yes, that's all still speculative, but generally speaking if a company is giving out the source code and rootkits to one of their devices, they aren't planning to 'lock it down' to anything.

That said, I'm sure certain features may remain exclusive to Steam games. Like shared profile and mod/hack settings. But having access to the core driver software, the modding community could implement similar features in their own way.

That's certainly a reasonable way of looking at this. I have high hopes that Valve will stand by their word and allow the users to do as they see fit with SteamOS, the Steambox, and the Steam Controller. That said, it seems that the larger Valve get, the more "corporate" they become. They've implemented some pretty shady business practices over the last couple years, and I'm going to err on the side of pessimism until I see something that convinces me I can trust them again like I did half a decade ago.

 

[baconmaster]

I'm interested, but not convinced. I'm excited to see for myself what these trackpads actually feel like, but I'm pretty skeptical about the button placement at the moment. Still, working with every steam game and the freedom to customize controls is a good start. The touch screen is interesting as well. I can see it being quite useful in something like Dota 2

But how would it work with, say, fighting games? 2D Platformers?

 

[lacktheknack]

They wouldn't hard-lock it to Steam games.

A. That's not possible if it's designed to be hackable. Like... physically impossible.

B. Valve has a habit of not committing suicide.

A. I'm no expert on hardware hacking, but couldn't an embedded chip designed to block certain types of software fiddling be a possibility in the Steam Controller? I mean, security chips certainly aren't unheard of in other tech realms.

But then they give the users a guide titled "Here's How To Take Apart And Replace Every Part of Our Controller".

I appreciate that you're a bit suspicious, and have reason to be, but rest easy on this topic. If they attempted an embedded chip, it would be removed, replaced and have all the attached documentation uploaded with guides within an hour.

Plus, every Linux user would turn against them like that.

 

[Vigormortis]

That's certainly a reasonable way of looking at this. I have high hopes that Valve will stand by their word and allow the users to do as they see fit with SteamOS, the Steambox, and the Steam Controller. That said, it seems that the larger Valve get, the more "corporate" they become. They've implemented some pretty shady business practices over the last couple years, and I'm going to err on the side of pessimism until I see something that convinces me I can trust them again like I did half a decade ago.

I've always viewed Valve as less a corporation and more a think-tank.

They're a group of inventors, artists, engineers, writers, and code-junkies with big ideas. Sometimes they get it right and make something fantastic and/or innovative. Other times they fuck up and make a mess of things. (the current version if Greenlight anyone?)

The only shady business practice, that I've seen, was the changing of their TOS clauses. Namely, the one that asks the Steam user to waive their right to a class action suit.

Now, granted, I don't agree with the change in the clause. Not entirely. However, I understand why they did it. Specifically, because frivolous class-action suits have been becoming a very prevalent problem and there are no safe-guards within the legal system to prevent them; nor take action against those that file false claims.

Even so, the change bugged me. Though, not as much as it did when I saw similar clauses in many other TOS's. (like Origins, for example)

This is because, along with that change, Valve also added another change. That being that, in place of class action suits, the user and Valve agree to use 3rd party arbitration instead. And, so long as your claims are less than $10,000, Valve will pay the entirety of the plaintiffs legal fees. Whether you win or lose the case.

Not really a good excuse for the change in the TOS, but at least it shows they were keenly aware of the implications of the change and wanted to mitigate them somehow. Whether that actually be the case is up for debate. I'm not entirely convinced it did.

 

[PoolCleaningRobot]

It's hard to see how a controller will feel until you hold it in your hands, I'll reserve judgement until then.

Le gasp! Can it be?

You may very well be the first, and possibly only, person I've seen post a rational, reasoned comment on this reveal so far.

It's been either "greatest thing ever" or "worst thing ever".

Because, you know, to hell with reserving judgement on anything until you actually get to try it.

I mean, it seems so many are up in arms about how "stupid it looks" and how it'll be a worthless piece of shit because it doesn't have "thumbsticks, buttons, or a d-pad". Or, saying it's just dumb because it has touchpads; citing how useless laptop touchpads are.

It's like the internet at large just looked at the picture, completely glossed over the description of the controller and it's features, and jumped to the conclusion that "lol it doesn't look like an Xbone/PS4 controller, therefore it sucks".

Fo sho bro. At first I saw the picture and was like "oooo uhhh..." but then I read the description and now I'm hype as shit for it. I mean, it could suck but if Valve's haptic feed back works it could be amazing. I want to try this more than the OS or the Steam Boxes. But I just knew though that there was going to be massive amounts of butt hurt from people with a keyboard and mouse obsession and dismissal from people who are too lazy to read a few paragraphs. And with that, I leave this comment thread cause I can already guess half the responses

 

[DrOswald]

In that case we are adding in at least human reaction time into the input time. If we have to visually confirm what button we are going to press then that will slowdown the input, not to mention take your attention away from other things happening on the screen. And clutter up the screen. So, yeah, still inferior.

I'm sorry, but those have got to be some of the flimsiest complaints I've heard thus far.

How would it be any different using this touchpad with pop-up display than using a d-pad to scroll through action items? Please...tell me. Because I'm not seeing it. In fact, I'm of a mind that the touchscreen would allow for more options in that regard; making it superior in this sense.

Also: the pop-up being onscreen is meant to prevent you from having to take your attention away from the screen.

Before I start, I did read your later post and I think you make some fair points. I do like the touch screen and I actually think it is one of the most interesting parts of the controller. But I think it is still worth responding to your earlier comments. So here we go:

Anywhere that popup happens on the screen is a problem. If it happens in the center it clutters the screen and makes it harder to see the action. If it happens to the side you have to move your focus from the action some where else. It is a good idea and greatly helps with the problem but it does not completely negate it.

I don't see your logic here. Especially as, again with a d-pad, you'd have to glance at your inventory slots anyway.

No you don't. In many games each direction on the d-pad is dedicated to a single item for exactly this purpose. It is all depends on the game.

Besides, in many ways this touchscreen interface is very similar to how one would click an on-screen button with a mouse. You just point and click.

Actually, I would say it is significantly better in many ways. It will be easier and quicker to use and you will be able to use it in games that don't have a pointer.

Lastly, slowed reaction time? As opposed to having to move your thumb from the stick, press the d-pad in the right direction, and then moving it back?

Oh yes....the touch screen will be much slower than that.

Yes it will be. Because you need to remove your thumb, move it to a much harder to reach button in the center of the controller, wait for for the overlay to appear, process if you are on the correct button, press the button, and then move your thumb back. That will probably account for an additional 1/3-1/2 seconds for the input and a significant increase in cognitive burden. That is more than enough to be a problem in the middle of a high paced fire fight.

In the end, if it's such a worry, the thing can function simply as one big button. No "slowed reaction times". No "cluttered" onscreen alerts. Just press it and go.

Since when did having options become a bad thing? I don't get people today.

It is not a bad thing. I never said the touch screen was a bad thing. I only said it is a poor replacement for a d-pad in the case of fast button presses. Now, considering that there is a limited amount of space on a controller it may be a better choice. You don't need a d-pad to have a good controller. You can't have everything and it is better for Valve to try to make a unique product than just copy everyone else. I am skeptical but I am going to buy one just because it is interesting and probably the most important thing to happen in video game input since the Wii.

 

[thiosk]

i like it, but im more of a mouse guy. Would have to feel the trackpads to see whats what.

 

[thatonedude11]

Wow, based on the amount of hate this thing is getting, you'd think that valve was forcing you to use the thing. Seriously, no developer in their right mind would have a game require this controller, and I seriously doubt that valve would forbid the use of traditional gamepads on Steam OS.

Not that there aren't some valid concerns. Who can say how well the touchpads or haptic feedback will work? And when you modify the basic layout and design of a controller, there is a good chance that it just won't be successful. My biggest worry though has to be the price. With all the fancy stuff they are cramming into this device, I imagine that it will not be cheap.

However, I am still excited for it. It is trying to do something very new with how we traditionally think of controllers, and that alone makes me want to try the thing.

 

[Vigormortis]

First, let me preface this with an apology. I had edited my previous post with this but feel compelled to repeat it.

My post was not intentionally hostile. If it seemed so I truly apologize. While this isn't really an excuse, I may have let some animosity seep into my post from outside sources. At this point I've been verbally insulted repeated by people who seem to think me showing intrigued interest in this controller is a cardinal sin of gaming. An act so detestable that I should be burned at the stake. So I was a bit touchy when I typed it.

Anywhere that popup happens on the screen is a problem. If it happens in the center it clutters the screen and makes it harder to see the action. If it happens to the side you have to move your focus from the action some where else. It is a good idea and greatly helps with the problem but it does not completely negate it.

I really don't see them being careless enough to have it pop up in the middle of the screen.

If it happens to one side, then in many ways it's no different than, say, an inventory selection scrollmenu popping up when you press a d-pad. So any focus you'd lose with this touchscreen would be no different than a selection menu being a part of a normal, ingame HUD.

Even so, yes it would cause you to glance away from the center of the screen. However, an easy fix would be to simply not map key, fast-response actions to the touchscreen and instead mapping them to one of the other fifteen buttons.

No you don't. In many games each direction on the d-pad is dedicated to a single item for exactly this purpose. It is all depends on the game.

Very true. But this wouldn't really be an issue with the touchscreen either. You could disable the popup alerts and simply map the top of the screen to one item, the bottom to another, etc, etc.

While there'd technically be no sensory feedback as to which one you'd be pressing, simply muscle memory would indicate which you're reaching for. Virtually the same as the D-pad. (but granted, not quite)

Actually, I would say it is significantly better in many ways. It will be easier and quicker to use and you will be able to use it in games that don't have a pointer.

This was one of the possible features that has me intrigued. The ability to point-and-click in a controller based game has tremendous implications.

Yes it will be. Because you need to remove your thumb, move it to a much harder to reach button in the center of the controller, wait for for the overlay to appear, process if you are on the correct button, press the button, and then move your thumb back. That will probably account for an additional 1/3-1/2 seconds for the input and a significant increase in cognitive burden. That is more than enough to be a problem in the middle of a high paced fire fight.

Well, of course. But this is assuming the popup need appear when, as I said above, one could simply map four key actions to the sides of the screen. In which case it would be no slower or faster than a standard D-pad.

It is not a bad thing. I never said the touch screen was a bad thing. I only said it is a poor replacement for a d-pad in the case of fast button presses. Now, considering that there is a limited amount of space on a controller it may be a better choice. You don't need a d-pad to have a good controller. You can't have everything and it is better for Valve to try to make a unique product than just copy everyone else. I am skeptical but I am going to buy one just because it is interesting and probably the most important thing to happen in video game input since the Wii.

Honestly, given the standard use of the D-pad nowadays, it's really the only truly antiquated thing on todays controllers. It's basically just four more buttons.

Still, I'm dubious as to how effectively this thing can "replace" keyboard-and-mouse for fast, accurate, and precise PC controls. Even so, it's refreshing to see a company actually try something new with input tech that isn't just some slap-shod, cheap new idea or some ridiculous gimmick.

It's certainly more creative than putting rumble motors in the triggers...

[sub]It STILL fascinates me that Xbox players are so hyped over that.[/sub]

 

[KungFuJazzHands]

...in place of class action suits, the user and Valve agree to use 3rd party arbitration instead. And, so long as your claims are less than $10,000, Valve will pay the entirety of the plaintiffs legal fees. Whether you win or lose the case.

I'm wandering off-topic with this, but here it goes: that 3rd party arbitration clause is a bit of a hollow gesture, because Valve get to chose the arbitrator. That gives them a pretty blatant advantage, and it's why they're so willing to pay the fees.

That kind of "comfort clause" is SOP for larger companies these days, but it doesn't really make the rest of it any easier to swallow as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Vigormortis]

...in place of class action suits, the user and Valve agree to use 3rd party arbitration instead. And, so long as your claims are less than $10,000, Valve will pay the entirety of the plaintiffs legal fees. Whether you win or lose the case.

I'm wandering off-topic with this, but here it goes: that 3rd party arbitration clause is a bit of a hollow gesture, because Valve get to chose the arbitrator. That gives them a pretty blatant advantage, and it's why they're so willing to pay the fees.

That kind of "comfort clause" is SOP for larger companies these days, but it doesn't really make the rest of it any easier to swallow as far as I'm concerned.

I believe the 3rd party arbitrator is selected by both parties, but I could be wrong.

Even so, I agree in that I wish Valve had found a better solution to the problem. As it stands, it's a systemic and cyclical issue that only seems to be getting worse.

The legal system is messed up, and many companies are making varying degrees of anti-consumer decisions to protect themselves from those problems. Which, in turns, often causes new laws to be passed which compound the problem by making even worse issues within the legal system.

 

[Vigormortis]

Fo sho bro. At first I saw the picture and was like "oooo uhhh..." but then I read the description and now I'm hype as shit for it. I mean, it could suck but if Valve's haptic feed back works it could be amazing. I want to try this more than the OS or the Steam Boxes. But I just knew though that there was going to be massive amounts of butt hurt from people with a keyboard and mouse obsession and dismissal from people who are too lazy to read a few paragraphs. And with that, I leave this comment thread cause I can already guess half the responses

That was basically my first reaction as well. Essentially, "What the hell is this thing? Was someone high when designing it?"

But the more I read about the promised features and performance capabilities, the more intrigued I became. And, the more I thought on it, the more other possibilities started coming to me.

Honestly, this thing could either be a huge step in a new direction, or a complete and utter failure. I would hope the former, given the general stagnation in the industry right now, but I'm not naive enough to think the latter isn't possible.

The only thing that's been more surprising to me than the listed features is the general lack of animosity towards the thing from many gamers and the absolute disregard for any info about it beyond the pictures and the fact that it doesn't "look like my other controllers".

 

[Clive Howlitzer]

I see a lot of people reacting negatively because this controller isn't exactly the same as every other controller ever released. I was under the impression this wasn't meant to emulate standard controllers but provide a middleground between controllers and keyboard and mouse setups. I assumed that if I was using the steam box say, and wanted to play a fighting game, I'd use my arcade stick, not this controller. This isn't meant to be the end all be all of controllers, I figured.
Anyway, I am interested to see how it shapes up. I still prefer a keyboard and mouse and have no real plans to game in my living room. However I still am interested to see what Valve does with it.

 

[Shadowstar38]

Uh huh. So basically you're implying

No.

I'm implying I've tried touch technology before and it was a poor replacement for actual analog controls and buttons. The concept of using touchpads when they could have placed sticks(or d-pads if you prefer them), is an unappealing idea.

 

[Vigormortis]

No.

I'm implying I've tried touch technology before and it was a poor replacement for actual analog controls and buttons. The concept of using touchpads when they could have placed sticks(or d-pads if you prefer them), is an unappealing idea.

But you're comparing modern analog sticks to antiquated, older touch pads. It's hardly a fair comparison.

[sub]You're previous post made it sound as though you meant a controller without an analog stick wasn't a controller.[/sub]

The analog sticks of yesteryears were far worse than todays. So by that comparison, analog sticks are bad and we should go back to d-pads only.

Just because a piece of technology didn't work in the past doesn't mean it's doomed to fail forever. Sometimes technology is used in the wrong way. Sometimes it takes a while for it to advance to a point where it's usefulness can be realized. To simply dismiss these SteamController touchpads because "touchpads sucked in the past" is misguided.

All I'm saying is, there's been some very big advances in touchpad/touchsensing technology in recent years. As well as in haptic feedback technology.

As a result, it isn't that much of a stretch to think that they can, when combined, offer a more responsive, more precise, and faster input method than analog sticks can. Not to mention far more robust and detailed sensory feedback than simple rumble motors.

Also: you seem to be implying that the SteamController has no buttons. It has sixteen of them. So I don't follow the issue in that...

 

[Lil_Rimmy]

Huh, it kind of looks like a bigger version of my phone. I have an Xperia play, which is essentially a PS3 controller and a phone combined. I can play PS games and shit on it.

The two sticks are replaced with really compact touchpads that look weird, but then when you use it, it's actually really good. I'm glad they tried this. I mean, yeah, it's fun to use the sticks and hear them click and such, but the trackpads allows for more control and when you are trying to move for a long time, it's easier than holding down a stick.

 

[Shadowstar38]

Also: you seem to be implying that the SteamController has no buttons. It has sixteen of them. So I don't follow the issue in that...

Sentence structure mother fucker! Do you understand it!

I meant buttons in relation to current stuff. Easy mix up though.