Take a look at the latest Steam Controller redesign

[mikeangeles 75]

Looks fat...

[Misanthrope]

... Are you talking about the Playstation controller or the Steam controller? 

The Steam controller has 1 extra set of buttons over normal controllers. It has trigger, shoulder, and grip buttons (the grip buttons being unique AFAIK). 

For using the PS controller as I do, it's practical for me (as I actively do it). My finger doesn't bend in an unnatural way to do it. It curls and moves inward (towards the middle finger) to press the buttons. 

That's entirely practical.

 

That's what I meant with the extra buttons on the back: the Steam controller grip buttons.

[Misanthrope]

Looks fat...

 

Is not fat, just healthily robust, like GabeN

[mikeangeles 75]

Is not fat, just healthily robust, like GabeN

Ok, it's GabeN fat. Holy GabeN fat.

[gastew15]

Looks just like an xbox controller really, but I mean I guess that's ok since  why change something if it works well.

[Humbug]

Looks just like an xbox controller really, but I mean I guess that's ok since why change something if it works well.

what? How is it like xbox? The reason they are changing it is to try and make games without controller support work well from the couch. Like RTS games. I reserve judgement until i can try it for myself.

[martinrox1568]

Don't know what you are talking about. That is one option for the touch pads, but there is the Slide, wait, slide, wait option too.That's not what he means. He means how, when doing 1:1 stuff, you have to use it like a laptop touchpad. Move mouse, pick up finger, move mouse, pick up finger.That's annoying enough on a laptop. It being on a gamepad would be terrible.And that's why I said what I said above. There is a "slide, wait" option. Where it has zones on the touchpad so that you don't have to constantly pick up your finger. It's not 1:1. It's like a Thumbstick, but different.

I don't think it will work like that. Rather it will keep scrolling left until you move your finger back to the center. EXACTLY like a thumbstick

[Humbug]

I don't think it will work like that. Rather it will keep scrolling left until you move your finger back to the center. EXACTLY like a thumbstick

both Those ways are possible with this controller. That's a software level decision so i suppose devs can decide What works best for their game.

[malaki]

We should just all just go back to the gamecube controller!

[Vitalius]

I don't think it will work like that. Rather it will keep scrolling left until you move your finger back to the center. EXACTLY like a thumbstick

 

Then you didn't watch the demo of the original.

both Those ways are possible with this controller. That's a software level decision so i suppose devs can decide What works best for their game.

 

This.^ It's up to the one who makes the game. For 1:1 movements, it will work like a laptop touchpad. For constant movements, it will work like a thumbstick (except you don't have to move your thumb back to the center, just picking it up automatically does that). Then there's the new Momentum Switch. Which is freaking awesome.

We should just all just go back to the gamecube controller!

This.

No really. I loved that controller.

[EChondo]

Really want to try it. Could be awesome as a universal controller for all my emulators.

[martinrox1568]

Then you didn't watch the demo of the original.

 

This.^ It's up to the one who makes the game. For 1:1 movements, it will work like a laptop touchpad. For constant movements, it will work like a thumbstick (except you don't have to move your thumb back to the center, just picking it up automatically does that). Then there's the new Momentum Switch. Which is freaking awesome.

This.

No really. I loved that controller.

I was aware that its up to the developer, i just meant that a developer with half a brain will implement it the way i described it

[Vitalius]

I was aware that its up to the developer, i just meant that a developer with half a brain will implement it the way i described it

Hmm, no. I disagree. 

Each form has different utilities. Thumbstick version covers the most things, but momentum switch has huge potential and 1:1 has unique uses. 

The point of the touchpad is to enable more unique uses than what a thumbstick is limited to. That way the only real limitation is the developer's imagination. Where they may come up with something even better for their game than any of those 3 choices.

If developers are smart, and I hope they are, we will see more uses out of the touchpad than the default thumbstick.

[Logan2012]

The Touch pads need to go.

[MrAlexOneill]

They added xbox buttons...

[Vitalius]

The Touch pads need to go.

 

Yes, let's just piss all over innovation and have another copy of the same damn thing. 

They added xbox buttons...

True, but they are in a different location. I don't think I've ever seen a mainstream controller with the buttons there.

[Misanthrope]

If you guys have a 360 controller and a laptop, maybe you can do a bit of field testing: Try to play an RTS first with the 360 thumb sticks and then with the touchpad. I'm sure that while nowhere near as good as mouse controls touch pads would trump thumb sticks in this specific situation.

This being a PC Game controller needs to at least attempt to accommodate things like RTSes.

[martinrox1568]

Hmm, no. I disagree. 

Each form has different utilities. Thumbstick version covers the most things, but momentum switch has huge potential and 1:1 has unique uses. 

The point of the touchpad is to enable more unique uses than what a thumbstick is limited to. That way the only real limitation is the developer's imagination. Where they may come up with something even better for their game than any of those 3 choices.

If developers are smart, and I hope they are, we will see more uses out of the touchpad than the default thumbstick.

Entirely agree with you. For some reason I can never post what I want to say. For fps and driving games the thumbstick "mode" would be perfect. But if you have ever tried using a mouse on a thumbstick u would know it's absolute crap and that a touchpad mode would be more suitable

[Rorgash]

i doubt there is any issues with the comfort, as thats easy enough to notice while making it but sure it wont be the same as others and that can be awkward at first.

[Vitalius]

i doubt there is any issues with the comfort, as thats easy enough to notice while making it but sure it wont be the same as others and that can be awkward at first.

The one true enemy of Quick-time Events:

Notice how the X and Y/A and B buttons are flipped between the two controllers. 

I pity anyone who would use both frequently. 

Also, HOLY CRAP, how did I not realize the Wii U has the same layout as the new Steam controller, effectively? Wow. I haven't played Nintendo in ages. No wonder.

[isteelsolz]

Im still not sold on the whole touchpad thing, but i can understand why they are trying to do it.

[flibberdipper]

I don't think my hands would like it that much. I really like my Xbox 360 controller though. Fits PERFECT.

[LifesCompanion]

Doesn't change the fact we're still rubbing Lord Gaben's nipples 

[NICKT]

Yes, let's just piss all over innovation and have another copy of the same damn thing. 

True, but they are in a different location. I don't think I've ever seen a mainstream controller with the buttons there.

 

People are always figuratively sucking the cocks of innovation but are swift to forget the quintessential thought that not everything that is new is good.

It's like people who praised the Wii on the wii-mote and motion controls, no, just no, bad, very bad, much bad...

[Vitalius]

People are always figuratively sucking the cocks of innovation but are swift to forget the quintessential thought that not everything that is new is good.

It's like people who praised the Wii on the wii-mote and motion controls, no, just no, bad, very bad, much bad...

Things that aren't made to solve a problem are probably going to be bad. i.e. Wii controllers. Trying to be innovative for no real reason and with no obvious goal.

The touch pads were made to solve the problem of playing an RTS with a gamepad, while also being able to play FPS and other games with the same gamepad in a logical way. 

This serves that purpose and does so well by putting it in the developer's hands.