News - Valve shows off Steam Controller redesign - without touch screen

[HEXUS]

Incorporating feedback garnered from the Steam Dev Days during January.

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[CampGareth]

I wonder whether they're sticking with AAs or whether they're moving to lipos, maybe 18650 cells in the grips for weight and relatively easy replacement. My experience with wireless xbox 360 controllers has been that out of 4 controllers maybe one has working cells.

[azrael-]

I wonder whether they're sticking with AAs or whether they're moving to lipos, maybe 18650 cells in the grips for weight and relatively easy replacement. My experience with wireless xbox 360 controllers has been that out of 4 controllers maybe one has working cells.

Does it really need to be wireless? I'd prefer a wired controller myself, although the prudent thing to do would probably be to release both a wired and a wireless controller.

[DanceswithUnix]

Does it really need to be wireless? I'd prefer a wired controller myself, although the prudent thing to do would probably be to release both a wired and a wireless controller.

Does wireless where you can plug in a long usb cable to tether it when needed not work for you?

I am wondering how this is now better than an Xbox 360 controller (I somehow never got an Xbox, so I don't know how good/bad they are in extended use).

[Ksyruz]

I am wondering how this is now better than an Xbox 360 controller (I somehow never got an Xbox, so I don't know how good/bad they are in extended use).

They are utterly crap, it only has around 2-3h depending what batteries you use, if you don't get the play & recharge pack or quick recharge pack. If you want to get a controller for your PC get a PS3/PS4 controller and Bluetooth, also you can recharge it using a USB power socket.

[CampGareth]

Does it really need to be wireless? I'd prefer a wired controller myself, although the prudent thing to do would probably be to release both a wired and a wireless controller.

Does wireless where you can plug in a long usb cable to tether it when needed not work for you?

I am wondering how this is now better than an Xbox 360 controller (I somehow never got an Xbox, so I don't know how good/bad they are in extended use).

That's the ideal situation imo. As for controllers, try playing an FPS with a joystick then try with a trackpad, neither is ideal but for me the trackpad is workable (quite happy to play CS:GO on one) so that's why this is better.

[azrael-]

Does it really need to be wireless? I'd prefer a wired controller myself, although the prudent thing to do would probably be to release both a wired and a wireless controller.

Does wireless where you can plug in a long usb cable to tether it when needed not work for you?

I am wondering how this is now better than an Xbox 360 controller (I somehow never got an Xbox, so I don't know how good/bad they are in extended use).

Well, if the USB cable is used for more than just charging...

[DanceswithUnix]

They are utterly crap, it only has around 2-3h depending what batteries you use, if you don't get the play & recharge pack or quick recharge pack. If you want to get a controller for your PC get a PS3/PS4 controller and Bluetooth, also you can recharge it using a USB power socket.

Ah, now PS3 controllers I have. I hadn't looked at whether you could get them to talk to a PC though, but I had seen people talking of using Xbox controllers.

[Odeas]

This is getting closer and closer to an xbox controller, which is already supported by windows & the Steam OS so those thumb pads had better be something special or the price of the pad has got to be pretty low to compete, I'd like to give one a try though.

I use a wired 360 controller on my PC which works really well in games where they're not really designed for keyboard and mouse or for things like some flying/driving games (or like GTA/Battlefield where I switch between) where having the sticks and triggers really helps.

It'd be nice if it is wireless and can be used wired with a micro usb cable which also recharges the batteries.

[Odeas]

Ah, now PS3 controllers I have. I hadn't looked at whether you could get them to talk to a PC though, but I had seen people talking of using Xbox controllers.

Yep they work fine with PC, you can even use them with most Android devices too.
Think for PC you just need to download a program that'll come with drivers. Should work either wired or via BT.

[GeorgeStorm]

Just thought I'd comment on the PS3 controllers, me and my brother tried with his controllers when I was home for Christmas, sadly we couldn't get either to work using a variety of suggested methods on the internet (although maybe we were just unlucky with the PC/whatever)

We bought 360 controllers (wireless) which are just plug and play, worked fine, and have lasted a lot longer 2-3 hours so far with the stock batteries, although I will most likely get a charge set thingy so I can recharge it by plugging it in.

[DanceswithUnix]

Thanks for the comments, from a quick reading around it looks like the ps3 controller is well supported in Linux when wired in (so I guess USB doesn't just charge) and can be made to work wireless as well.

It seems I am only missing a modern enough graphics card to have enough old junk to make a just about fast enough albeit really ugly SteamOS PC

[crossy]

Ah, now PS3 controllers I have. I hadn't looked at whether you could get them to talk to a PC though, but I had seen people talking of using Xbox controllers.

Yep they work fine with PC, you can even use them with most Android devices too. Think for PC you just need to download a program that'll come with drivers. Should work either wired or via BT.

I got the official Xbox controller for PC and it was pretty much plug-n-play for my Windows 7 gaming PC. Also surprising how many titles support it - although I tend to go with FPS's, so I'm biased. Not as precise as a mouse, but a lot less likely to give me RSI than a keyboard after an extended gaming session. Didn't fancy the wireless version because of the battery issue (see below) so got the wired one - never regretted it because it's got a nice long lead.

PS3 controllers on Android? I got one for Dead Trigger and you need to buy a piece of software called "Sixaxis Controller" from the Play store. Wasn't expensive, certainly less than £2.

By the way, it's interesting to see the amount of folk complaining about the battery life of the rechargable packs on the XBox 360 controller. I didn't used to have a problem, then the packs on the controllers on both '360's started having standby times measured in hours. I bought new packs, but the problem persists - making me wonder if one of the later '360 upgrades is doing something strange with the controllers to drain them faster.

[moeburn]

I have to slide my thumbs along little pads? AGAIN?! My thumbs hurt from trying to play RTS's on my laptop's touchpad, they hurt from trying to play FPS's on my touchscreen tablet.

What is this, some secret plan to erase the thumbprints of all gamers to engineer a super nerdy yet undetectable crime force?

[herulach]

They are utterly crap, it only has around 2-3h depending what batteries you use, if you don't get the play & recharge pack or quick recharge pack. If you want to get a controller for your PC get a PS3/PS4 controller and Bluetooth, also you can recharge it using a USB power socket.

What are you playing? My 360 doesn't get a lot of use anymore, but I've easily had 24 hours of game time out of alkalines. IME rechargeables get a similar amount of time (at least eneloops do) but the low battery indicator will flash for nigh on 50% of it, but thats down to the sensing circuitry being setup for alkalines rather than the battery.

As far as the controller goes, it looks pretty awfule. Alising your thumbs around those ridges is going to get annoying fast. In all honesty given the choice I'd have a mk 1 Xbox pad (the huge one) any day of the week, but 360/XBone ones aren't a bad second. I've never been able to get on with PS3 pads, I don't get the left thumbstick being where it is, and I find the triggers difficult, but then my console history was megadrive>dreamcast>xbox>360. I dare say someone coming from a snes via PS1/2/3 might think differently.

[RT-XD]

I'll pick one of these up I think when it comes out Looks nice!