the steam gamepad

[Leetgrain]

It's completely impossible that anyone could ever properly design a controller in a useful fashion

Oh, poor soul, it looks like you have not basked in the glory of the Nintendo Gamecube's controller, shit was so comfortable.

[Old Crow]

Nah man the original Playstation controller is where it's at. May not have comfy curves but that is the literal definition of easily useable and reachable. Excellent shape for all hand sizes too.

Not a chance. The joystick placement on the Dualshocks is bad, the select button is a little too hard to hit, and the buttons don't have the feedback that the 360 buttons have. Only thing that was superior was the D pad and the shoulder buttons were better contorted.

[Christovski]

Not a chance. The joystick placement on the Dualshocks is bad, the select button is a little too hard to hit, and the buttons don't have the feedback that the 360 buttons have. Only thing that was superior was the D pad and the shoulder buttons were better contorted.

Dude the xbox 360 abxy buttons respond slower than a drunk old lady compared to the dualshock, the only advantage the 360 has is the thumbstick buttons are snappier and the analog triggers are nice

[Old Crow]

Not a chance. The joystick placement on the Dualshocks is bad, the select button is a little too hard to hit, and the buttons don't have the feedback that the 360 buttons have. Only thing that was superior was the D pad and the shoulder buttons were better contorted.

Dude the xbox 360 abxy buttons respond slower than a drunk old lady compared to the dualshock, the only advantage the 360 has is the thumbstick buttons are snappier and the analog triggers are nice

Maybe but at least their controllers hold up, I've gone through two Duals myself and have yet to break an 360 controller, even though I've thrown it a couple of times. Hell, I need to get a picture of what I did to the joystick because of how much it got used.

At any rate, can't wait for some demo of this Steam gamepad. Lets give it a chance to do its thing before we make a huge judgement on it (like the Xbone)

[Cadaver]

[Pillz]

Not a chance. The joystick placement on the Dualshocks is bad, the select button is a little too hard to hit, and the buttons don't have the feedback that the 360 buttons have. Only thing that was superior was the D pad and the shoulder buttons were better contorted.

Dude the xbox 360 abxy buttons respond slower than a drunk old lady compared to the dualshock, the only advantage the 360 has is the thumbstick buttons are snappier and the analog triggers are nice

Maybe but at least their controllers hold up, I've gone through two Duals myself and have yet to break an 360 controller, even though I've thrown it a couple of times. Hell, I need to get a picture of what I did to the joystick because of how much it got used.

At any rate, can't wait for some demo of this Steam gamepad. Lets give it a chance to do its thing before we make a huge judgement on it (like the Xbone)

Well I've seen all my Xbox friends go through at least 2-3 controllers. One of my friends broke two of the wireless Xbox360 controllers, then he broke his wired one, and now all he has is 2 knockoff wired controllers that are starting to break also.My girlfriends brother was on his second or third Xbox controller before he got the R2-D2/C3PO special edition and he's been very careful with that. Everyone else I know with Xbox360's are VERY careful with their controllers because they're terrified it will break, so it's really strange to hear you talking about them like their superior.

I still have the first Dualshock controller I got with my PS3 4-5 years ago and the controller stick is just starting to break, despite the controller being thrown and dropped all over the place. I think the flaw in most Xbox controllers is their battery pack because usually it's right where the battery connects where the controller breaks, or the controller just stops working for some reason. The design of the Dualshocks alone looks more wear-and-tear-proof than the strange shape of the Xbox controller. The Dualshocks tend to roll more when they hit the ground where the Xbox controller hits the ground and might do a flip or two if it lands right but it just always looks like it hurt the controller more when a Xbox controller falls vs a PS controller. IMO.

Honestly the controllers durability is irrelevant though because everyone treats their controllers different. IE mine usually remains dormant in a drawer until I pull it out to play and then it is returned to a drawer or connected to the PS3 to charge. It's had many tumbles and falls but aside from the one time the plastic ring around the left control stick chipped it's still in perfect condition and works at 100% capacity.

Can't say anything about response time, I think you guys are hallucinating about that one. If there's a difference, it's down to a few miliseconds and I doubt you guys can really notice that. I do prefer PS3 buttons over Xbox ones though, I don't like how spherical the Xbox buttons are and it makes me feel like they're not pressure sensitive where the PS3 buttons (square, tri, X and circle) are flattened and just feel more comfortable to me. I also prefer the Dualshock triggers as to RIGHT BUMPER AND RIGHT TRIGGER. Fuck that, it's R1 and R2 and when I'm playing Xbox and it asks me to press RB I lose my shit. I can easily play with both of them but the Xbox controller has always looked and felt like a joke to me, like they tried really hard to be original by moving the controller stick and flipping the R2 buttons around but hey it works for the millions of people playing COD with it so I guess it's alright.

Then we've got this beauty.


I'm sure there will be other variations but I can't wait, it just looks like it will be fun to use and mess around with when setting key bindings.

The first controller that won't spaz out and move on it's own when dropped or left upside down on a couch, because no more sticks! No more applying delicate pressure to a control stick to get that perfect balance between running and creeping.

It's completely impossible that anyone could ever properly design a controller in a useful fashion

Oh, poor soul, it looks like you have not basked in the glory of the Nintendo Gamecube's controller, shit was so comfortable.

Oh I have, and I loved the GC controller and continued using all four that I owned to play SSBB on my Wii up until this past year. The only problem with GC controllers is the single analog stick and single back triggers. While the controller was innovative and comfortable it lacked all the proper buttons to make it a 5-star controller. I wondered if developers refused to make games for GC simply because of it's lack of extra buttons (like select too), because of the tiny disc size or because it was just Nintendo.

The WiiU pro controller is pretty nice too, it's like a Dualshock/Xbox crossover controller and it's really sleek and sexy. It's basically how I thought Xbox should of made their controllers. If you haven't seen it yet here's a peak.


So anywho, I would not call Steam's controller a Gamepad, because that makes me think of the WiiU's controller which is a form of pad, but this is a controller that has "touch-pads" as it's controller sticks, but you get what I mean. Those of us that will have to use it, will more than likely enjoy it. Those of us who refuse to use it, will probably go on living their lives the same way as before.

[Christovski]

Well I've seen all my Xbox friends go through at least 2-3 controllers. One of my friends broke two of the wireless Xbox360 controllers, then he broke his wired one, and now all he has is 2 knockoff wired controllers that are starting to break also.My girlfriends brother was on his second or third Xbox controller before he got the R2-D2/C3PO special edition and he's been very careful with that. Everyone else I know with Xbox360's are VERY careful with their controllers because they're terrified it will break, so it's really strange to hear you talking about them like their superior.

I still have the first Dualshock controller I got with my PS3 4-5 years ago and the controller stick is just starting to break, despite the controller being thrown and dropped all over the place. I think the flaw in most Xbox controllers is their battery pack because usually it's right where the battery connects where the controller breaks, or the controller just stops working for some reason. The design of the Dualshocks alone looks more wear-and-tear-proof than the strange shape of the Xbox controller. The Dualshocks tend to roll more when they hit the ground where the Xbox controller hits the ground and might do a flip or two if it lands right but it just always looks like it hurt the controller more when a Xbox controller falls vs a PS controller. IMO.

Honestly the controllers durability is irrelevant though because everyone treats their controllers different. IE mine usually remains dormant in a drawer until I pull it out to play and then it is returned to a drawer or connected to the PS3 to charge. It's had many tumbles and falls but aside from the one time the plastic ring around the left control stick chipped it's still in perfect condition and works at 100% capacity.

Can't say anything about response time, I think you guys are hallucinating about that one. If there's a difference, it's down to a few miliseconds and I doubt you guys can really notice that. I do prefer PS3 buttons over Xbox ones though, I don't like how spherical the Xbox buttons are and it makes me feel like they're not pressure sensitive where the PS3 buttons (square, tri, X and circle) are flattened and just feel more comfortable to me. I also prefer the Dualshock triggers as to RIGHT BUMPER AND RIGHT TRIGGER. Fuck that, it's R1 and R2 and when I'm playing Xbox and it asks me to press RB I lose my shit. I can easily play with both of them but the Xbox controller has always looked and felt like a joke to me, like they tried really hard to be original by moving the controller stick and flipping the R2 buttons around but hey it works for the millions of people playing COD with it so I guess it's alright.

Then we've got this beauty.


I'm sure there will be other variations but I can't wait, it just looks like it will be fun to use and mess around with when setting key bindings.

The first controller that won't spaz out and move on it's own when dropped or left upside down on a couch, because no more sticks! No more applying delicate pressure to a control stick to get that perfect balance between running and creeping.

It's completely impossible that anyone could ever properly design a controller in a useful fashion

Oh, poor soul, it looks like you have not basked in the glory of the Nintendo Gamecube's controller, shit was so comfortable.

Oh I have, and I loved the GC controller and continued using all four that I owned to play SSBB on my Wii up until this past year. The only problem with GC controllers is the single analog stick and single back triggers. While the controller was innovative and comfortable it lacked all the proper buttons to make it a 5-star controller. I wondered if developers refused to make games for GC simply because of it's lack of extra buttons (like select too), because of the tiny disc size or because it was just Nintendo.

The WiiU pro controller is pretty nice too, it's like a Dualshock/Xbox crossover controller and it's really sleek and sexy. It's basically how I thought Xbox should of made their controllers. If you haven't seen it yet here's a peak.


So anywho, I would not call Steam's controller a Gamepad, because that makes me think of the WiiU's controller which is a form of pad, but this is a controller that has "touch-pads" as it's controller sticks, but you get what I mean. Those of us that will have to use it, will more than likely enjoy it. Those of us who refuse to use it, will probably go on living their lives the same way as before.

I think we can officially upgrade Pillz's status to "Fanboy" 


Either way, the only times I've ever had controllers break, were from throwing them in rage back in the day.  Never had a dead N64, Gamecube, Xbox360, PS1, or PS2 controller.  All worked fine and never broke down from wear and tear.  I dunno what these people do to their controllers but they did it wrong if they broke them

[IsYn Wooley]

I think analog sticks have a place in this world.

I have pretty huge hands and it was not until I got my hands on these



That I could handle a controller since the sticks were so damn low and it hurt my thumbs to be positioned the stock way.

The look of this new design is sunk in even more. I feel that a persons thumb is not meant to be forced inward that way for extended periods of time. It may cause fatigue, also your range of motion is even more limited.

Only time will tell, but I just feel like this is great concept art. The controller is beautiful, but for me not functional.

[Pillz]

I think analog sticks have a place in this world.

I have pretty huge hands and it was not until I got my hands on these



That I could handle a controller since the sticks were so damn low and it hurt my thumbs to be positioned the stock way.

The look of this new design is sunk in even more. I feel that a persons thumb is not meant to be forced inward that way for extended periods of time. It may cause fatigue, also your range of motion is even more limited.

Only time will tell, but I just feel like this is great concept art. The controller is beautiful, but for me not functional.

Understandable, I also wondered how the controller pads would feel in comparison to the sticks I'm used to; but when playing on my playstation last night I noticed my thumbs have to bend for me to use them properly, and when playing Gran Turismo I have to be delicate when turning, and have to resort to short-taps to do light turns, because if I attempt to make a full movement in either direction I might over-do it and wreck. I've just always felt like it's too hard to accomplish the movements in between still and full-on running.

So I imagine Steams controller eliminates that issue because my thumbs would be fully extended, and how intense my movement is doesn't depend on the pressure applied to the stick but the distance your finger moves from the center, and I'm hoping it is also pressure sensitive. I just feel like this would eliminate the problem of your thumbs slipping and whatnot. I've had many slip-ups in the past where some games require constant movement and you start to get tired of holding the stick down and have to re-situate your fingers and mess up; but perhaps that could still be an issue even on the gamepads.

It's definitely going to be different, but I doubt it will be uncomfortable or dysfunctional.

[IsYn Wooley]

I think analog sticks have a place in this world.

I have pretty huge hands and it was not until I got my hands on these



That I could handle a controller since the sticks were so damn low and it hurt my thumbs to be positioned the stock way.

The look of this new design is sunk in even more. I feel that a persons thumb is not meant to be forced inward that way for extended periods of time. It may cause fatigue, also your range of motion is even more limited.

Only time will tell, but I just feel like this is great concept art. The controller is beautiful, but for me not functional.

Understandable, I also wondered how the controller pads would feel in comparison to the sticks I'm used to; but when playing on my playstation last night I noticed my thumbs have to bend for me to use them properly, and when playing Gran Turismo I have to be delicate when turning, and have to resort to short-taps to do light turns, because if I attempt to make a full movement in either direction I might over-do it and wreck. I've just always felt like it's too hard to accomplish the movements in between still and full-on running.

So I imagine Steams controller eliminates that issue because my thumbs would be fully extended, and how intense my movement is doesn't depend on the pressure applied to the stick but the distance your finger moves from the center, and I'm hoping it is also pressure sensitive. I just feel like this would eliminate the problem of your thumbs slipping and whatnot. I've had many slip-ups in the past where some games require constant movement and you start to get tired of holding the stick down and have to re-situate your fingers and mess up; but perhaps that could still be an issue even on the gamepads.

It's definitely going to be different, but I doubt it will be uncomfortable or dysfunctional.

I use these for racing games.



Also if you hold your hands out in front of you like you are going to grab your controller say Xbox 360. Your thumbs are in a neural position requiring no muscle tension just sitting on the sticks.

Now hold your hands the same way, except make your thumbs flat. This is the position the Steam game pad would be in.

Can you tell you are forcing your thumbs down?

[Pillz]

Well stick-controllers usually curve down where the palms rest


The Steam-troller is raised so your thumbs should rest more comfortably on the pads I'd imagine. It might be terrible for all I know I just really want to try one. I plan on getting a Steam box sooo.

[Finniespin]

I think this is just going to be a huge flop.