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Pax Prime looks like it was pretty good for Valve and Steam machines, as Robin from Valve did a little chat about the Steam Controller, and behind him you can see a big Alienware Steam Machine section, love it.

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I really do love the idea of what he's talking about with reloading, it sounds like it's going to be a very useful gamepad. Who knows, this could end up quite easily being the main gamepad game developers go for supporting.

The more I see of it, the more excited I am to get my hands on my ordered copy. Sadly, I missed the early orders, so look out for me talking it up in November. Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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40 comments
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Keyrock Sep 15, 2015
fraghopper Sep 15, 2015
I much prefer a wired solution.
Nyamiou Sep 15, 2015
Here an easy solution for those that do not like AA batteries :
ricki42 Sep 15, 2015
Quoting: fraghopperI much prefer a wired solution.

The just connect it using a USB cable.
Quoting a reddit comment from someone who has a controller:
QuoteI took out the batteries, unplugged receiver and plugged in the usb to check just for you. You'll be glad to know that everything still worked perfectly!
When you connect it using a wire, it powers and communicates through the wire. You can choose whether you want to use it wired or wireless.
Beamboom Sep 15, 2015
Quoting: ricki42When you connect it using a wire, it powers and communicates through the wire. You can choose whether you want to use it wired or wireless.

The perfect solution.
nullzero Sep 15, 2015
Quoting: ricki42Just got an email from Steam to verify my shipping address by Sep. 25. Looking forward to getting my hands on the controller!

*cough* *cough* What?!

let me me see my email box... Yay! Also got one!
linux_gamer Sep 15, 2015
Quoting: ricki42Just got an email from Steam to verify my shipping address by Sep. 25. Looking forward to getting my hands on the controller!
Got it!

Strange mix of german and english:
"Hallo *steam_name*,
Please verify your shipping address.
Wenn die unten angegebene Adresse korrekt ist, müssen Sie nichts weiter unternehmen. ..."
mao_dze_dun Sep 15, 2015
I haven't received and email, yet :(
pete910 Sep 15, 2015
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Never been a "controller" fan. But this does look an interesting take on them. I especially liked the 2 stage trigger that he explained.

Handy for me as I could have my other hand/fingers on the running away key :P
MayeulC Sep 15, 2015
Quoting: miro@FutureSuture

I didn't mean it that way - my idea was to have no proprietary battery pack built into the controller fore sure - I meant replaceable batteries of course, + the ability to recharge them via cable.

As a technician and with more than 500mA coming from any USB port I see no real reason why one would not be able to charge them. Surely, this requires some technology in there and a max. capacity allowed, but I'd see it as a benefit in any way.

But true, some built in pack that can not be replaced, is true BS, I was not even thinking about that

I think the issue is detecting whether the batteries can be charged or not -- Of course, from an electrical standpoint, charging batteries is not a big deal, but if the user puts in non rechargeable batteries and forgets to move the - hypothetical - switch, great damage could occur to the batteries, and thus the controller.

Overall, that's not a really big deal. You can still play wired while your accumulators are charging on a plug behind the TV.
Mountain Man Sep 16, 2015
Quoting: MayeulCIs it just me, or we didn't learn anything new in this video?
There's really not much else to say about the controller at this point.
Shmerl Sep 16, 2015
So will there be an FOSS way to configure the controller? I hope Steam won't be required for it.

Quoting: BeamboomWired? Seriously? A WIRED controller in 2015? For a livingroom "console-PC"? You got to be kidding me, and kidding me hard. That cable must go. Please tell me this is a prototype or something.

I like a wired option. Too much radiation isn't needed. And good point about batteries waste others already brought above.


Last edited by Shmerl on 16 September 2015 at 3:53 am UTC
ElectricPrism Sep 16, 2015
How do people not see the USB Micro connection @ Time Index 3:36?

Also, I recently am using Steam Big Picture on my ArchBox on a 43" 4k TV and it's truly amazing - It makes me want to go out and buy buy buy Steam Linux Games by the truck load.

The Experience has changed quite a bit, maybe we should have a post on that as it seems things like daisy wheel are hindsight at this time with the awesome improvements.

Bravo Steam, Lots of $$$ is in their future.
neffo Sep 16, 2015
Quoting: ShmerlI like a wired option. Too much radiation isn't needed. And good point about batteries waste others already brought above.

A tin-foil hat shouldn't affect the controller. All good.
tuubi Sep 16, 2015
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Quoting: neffo
Quoting: ShmerlI like a wired option. Too much radiation isn't needed. And good point about batteries waste others already brought above.

A tin-foil hat shouldn't affect the controller. All good.
WHO only classifies wireless radiation as "possibly carsinogenic" pending further research into it's long-term effects, so no worries I guess. I wonder if it's even possible to meaningfully reduce the radiation we are exposed to in an urban environment...

Personally I use a wired controller because I've never been bothered by the cable, even on the sofa.
Zelox Sep 16, 2015
Nice! Looking forword to get my hands on one of those.
But the design / look of it. Its fuggly as hell xD.
But I guess its all about functionality and not a badass look. ^^
Eike Sep 16, 2015
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I really wonder what these pads feel like...
Mountain Man Sep 16, 2015
Quoting: ShmerlSo will there be an FOSS way to configure the controller? I hope Steam won't be required for it.
From what I undestand, outside of Steam it will simply function as an Xbox 360 controller.

As for it being open source, I remember that was Valve's original design goal, to make it a completely open design (hardware and software), but I haven't heard anything about that for a while.
ricki42 Sep 16, 2015
Quoting: Mountain ManFrom what I undestand, outside of Steam it will simply function as an Xbox 360 controller.

From what I read, it should function as keyboard and mouse. I'm not sure though how the keyboard part works though.
Shmerl Sep 16, 2015
Quoting: Mountain Man
Quoting: ShmerlSo will there be an FOSS way to configure the controller? I hope Steam won't be required for it.
From what I undestand, outside of Steam it will simply function as an Xbox 360 controller.

As for it being open source, I remember that was Valve's original design goal, to make it a completely open design (hardware and software), but I haven't heard anything about that for a while.

I've heard it can be configured individually for each game. And it will have firmware which will send different events, i.e. it won't be in the driver, but in the controller itself. So for that to be configurable without Steam, such firmware must be FOSS (or at least documented how to configure it).


Last edited by Shmerl on 16 September 2015 at 3:50 pm UTC
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