this post was submitted on 08 Sep 2023
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Steam Deck
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Even the steam controller?
The Steam controller is a miracle. Yes, it's a first Gen product that needs iteration but a controller with track pads, gyro, paddle buttons, and wireless for $50 is still the best value controller ever made imo.
Throw in steam input, which if you haven't tried it lately is fucking amazing at this point, and I honestly can't understand why companies aren't clamoring to integrate it.
Full controls customizability with 1000's of options and, something very few controllers seem to have for some reason, digital+analog triggers.
Plus it helped normalize paddles.
Steam controller is amazing and I'd love a gen 2 that matches my steam deck layout.
It was killed by patent trolls because of those back paddles. I'm still kicking myself for not grabbing some when they were clearance for $5.
I'm glad I picked one up when they first came out though.
Wait what was killed? The steam controller?
Yeah, they stopped producing them due to the patent trolls. They ultimately won the case though, which is why the deck has back buttons.
You could only buy one during the sale, I already had one but grabbed another.
Apparently, I did too. Found a brand new one sealed in a box while moving.
I have a Steam controller and a Deck, I never clicked with the SC. Its touchpads were just a bit inconsistent, so I would end up rubbing them uncomfortably hard to make sure they register. The regular controller inputs are tiny and horribly offset from any comfortable position.
The deck absolutely nailed the controls. (Well, once you replace the sticks with Hall sensors. The stock rheostats are toast after a year.)
The steam controller is fucking fantastic. No other controller lets you play mouse based games the same way. With its trackpads and gyro aiming you can be way more accurate than a normal controller. If you're using it expecting it to be just a variety of a traditional console controller, you're in for a bad time.
The steam controller is more personal, you can remap any button to be anything, and any modifier to enable on any button press. (Like turn on gyro aim when you hold R2) there's a ton of aiming options, you can use the trackpads to create circular menus for weapon or skill selections.. the possibilities are endless.
But instead people just bought it, and thought 'this not as comfy as xbox, why only one joystick, why no dpad' and put it down again.
People had the chance for better but it meant learning something new.
It has a pretty significant learning curve and because you're not at all familiar with the layout it's hard to decide on a layout that works for you. That 'more personal' aspect is part of the problem, at least at first. It's going to feel awkward no matter what, but without a consensus on how to use it, it gives me analysis paralysis trying to decide how to set it up.
Welcome to the way PC players have played since remapping keys was a thing. Not everyone wants basic WASD and to learn the game’s control peculiarities - which you have to learn for each game anyway regardless of control type.
Get a customizable controller, map the same functions to the same buttons each time for each game, then place the new functions based on accessibility and importance. Works great, reduces the curve for learning the new game’s tools.
I’ve been using a version of a small gamepad for over a decade, it has selectable setups and can custom map each game. My jump key is always the same. Grenade always the same. Interact always the same. Next item always the same…you get the idea.
I play almost exclusively on PC, and even there controls are pretty standardized. WASD movement, E typically to interact. R to reload (if relevant). Space to jump.
There's no analogue to the steam controllers touchpad anywhere. What do I do with it? How do I use the back buttons effectively?
It's all doable to learn of course, but it's just a slightly too high barrier for most. I've got a steamdeck and honestly I never use the touchpads or the gyro, they just feel awkward so I stick with a mostly Xbox style setup.
Just try different options till you find one you like. I find it much more accurate than a joystick.
My steam controller is almost worn out I've used it so much... and I never bought any when they were on sale for 5$ I'm so mad, so hopefully a new one somes out before mine finally dies but I doubt it.
If it's your sort of thing it's such a good controller, and if not there's community layouts for most games.
I do get a little satisfaction out of playing a more complex game like Cities Skylines on the sofa and figuring out a controller friendly build for it.
I'm hoping they do a Steam Controller 2.0 at some point that has the same inputs as the Steam Deck - two sticks, proper D-Pad, etc. In terms of compatibility, it can't be beaten.
You've convinced me to give mine another go. As soon as I find it that is.
You can take my steamtroller when you pry it from my cold dead hands. Fucking love that thing. Not just for gaming either, couch computing is all possible via the steamtroller. LOVE IT.
I use the steam controller. Nothing wrong with it in my mind (except maybe the fact that it uses batteries and is slightly too large).
I disagree. Because of swappable batteries my controller is still relevant 7 years and half worn down stick later.
If I were to complain, it's about unpleasant hollow sound on trackpads and L1/R1 button clicks.
Those are my two gripes too. They seemed to have fixed those issues on the deck though. If they ever do a v2 I'm sure those improvements will carry over.
Deck bumpers are still a long way from the best bumpers - xbox's.
You mean those delicate little things that snap off if you use it over 1000 presses?
The AA batteries last really, really long and you can get rechargeable ones. You swap them in a few seconds and can continue playing.
The ones that were included with the controller lasted me for several months before I had to swap them.
Yeah, they do last a long time.
Yes, it's imo the best controller to ever exist... For my needs at least. Also the most comfortable
I own two and use them
I actually bought one for my collection. Takes a lot of tweaking, which I think is what detracts a lot of people, but it's not bad hardware at all.