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Valve's Newest Controller Design Looks Solid

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We are a little bit late on this as we are still doing our post-Christmas catch-up, but it looks like Valve hid a new Steam Controller design in their Steam client downloads.

You can find the newest design in "steam/tenfoot/resource/images/library/controller" and look for the file named "controller_config_controller.png".

New Design
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Previous Design
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The only real change is the d-pad style up, down, left and right sections on the left pad, but what could that mean? Is it possible they have placed buttons underneath the pad in those specific locations, or is it simply a styling change to help you quickly glance to your thumb position?

I think it looks pretty solid now, and sadly a few other "big" sites are clamouring over it saying it's copying the 360 controller, but unless they remove the touch-pads it's still going to be pretty revolutionary as far as game-pads go. The way you use it will still be very different.

This is one bit of hardware I will be selling myself for to play with. I just want to see how FPS games perform without using a mouse, or a stick in my hands.

What do you think? Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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scaine Jan 7, 2015
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Really pleased that they added that analogue thumb stick. Driving games would have been a nightmare without one.

I guess we just need a driving game to launch now! :)
iensensama Jan 7, 2015
I completely agree with micha and valczir, I think adding the analog stick would be a mistake. It's just as bad an idea as it was including a d-pad on analog stick controllers (especially the horrible one on the Xbox360 controller). It only serves to ease people into the new control method, after that it's only used as extra buttons, so just make it proper buttons to begin with. The previous double button diamonds layout also had the benefit they mentioned that the controller would be symmetric and the bindings could therefore be mirrored. <- Which is a much better selling point than that "it has an analog stick..."

I've been a console gamer ever since I switched to Linux, so when Steam finally came out for Linux I was back on PC but I have been playing with my Xbox360 controller. But it is annoying that some games require a different set of options with the xboxdrv to properly detect the controller(s). So as long as the Steam controller just works without all that kind of hassle, I will most likely buy one regardless of the stick, but I would prefer that it was without.

...shouldn't we start a petition or something, to pleed them to remove the stick?
...I feel that we should at least try to do something about it... :P
EKRboi Jan 8, 2015
JUST RELEASE V1 ALREADY! With "steam machines" already coming out sporting windows for the OS and coming with a 360 controller valve has already gimped their glorious Linux based steam machine dreams at best if they have not completely made it DOA. With Linux still struggling in the available games (that sell consoles) department it is going to be very hard to sell a Linux based steam machine that WILL be sitting right next to the windows based ones on the store shelves.. no matter what controller it comes with.

They should have put more time/$$ into getting/helping studios to bring "console selling games" to Linux rather than bothering with trying to come up with a one off controller for it. They could have sold it with a 360 controller (or DS3 if the MS hate runs that deep) and already had 1st gen steam machines out there hopefully gaining traction while working with manufacturers on 2nd gen machines all while working on their controller still.

As much as I hate to say it.. I'm going to ROFLMAO when EVERYONE hates the controller. The "reviews" from hands on experiences that I have read have not been kind.
Waikano Jan 8, 2015
Need another controller and have been holding out on buying another PS4 one...not sure how much longer I can wait. ;-)
ben914 Jan 8, 2015
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Quoting: scaineReally pleased that they added that analogue thumb stick. Driving games would have been a nightmare without one.

I guess we just need a driving game to launch now! :)

I haven't actually used a Steam controller, but I'd imagine the track pads would be awesome at emulating a steering wheel, and be way better than an analog stick.
jarfil Jan 8, 2015
My bet:
Those are grooves or ridges in the rubber of the left pad where the horizontal/vertical dead zone is, so you can easily move your finger in either a horizontal or vertical direction without affecting the other one. The right pad will probably still have the concentric ring ridges to help you locate center and border, but the left one will have a cross instead of a circle.

N30N Jan 8, 2015
Quoting: valczirFighting games do *not* work with analog sticks, and I have my doubts they'll work with touchpads either.
I thought the same till I saw some of the videos on youtube.
View video on youtube.com
EKRboi Jan 8, 2015
Quoting: N30NI though the same till I was some of the videos on youtube.

Maybe it is just me but it looks like he was kind of struggling. His whole execution seemed pretty slow for this game. Would be interesting to see someone use the steam controller against someone with a "traditional" controller.

I'm reserving final judgement on the touchpads until I can get my hands on one and try it.. but I KNOW that I can't play games on mobile with onscreen "touchpads" worth a crap and that is all I can think about when I look at this controller. I remember watching a video from some event/show with random people trying to use it and pretty much everyone was having trouble with it.
Kallestofeles Jan 8, 2015
If only they would release it... I'd buy the controller immediately.
As strange as it sounds, I have never gotten my Logitech Chillstream controller properly working in linux. (manjaro xfce, ubuntu, mint, kubuntu) It uses the same xbox drivers as the original xbox controller. Always there is either incorrect mapping (which can be forced to be replaced via cli) or the games have just freaked out and remapped the controller to hell, making it unusable. I just hope that when this hits the market, the linux support would be 1st class for the controller.
Beamboom Jan 8, 2015
I'm just happy they have decided to go for a total of three triggers/shoulder buttons on each side. Many types of games need those buttons.
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