CES 2014: Hands-On with Valve's Steam Controller

This is Valve Software's master plan to make PC games playable in the living room. We speak with Valve designer Greg Coomer about the design of Valve's Steambox gamepad and spend some quality time with the Steam Controller in Portal. From the way you grip it to how you use your thumbs and other fingers, this is definitely not like an Xbox or PlayStation gamepad.

[ax]

"Just the tip"

-Norm 2014

[MangoTangoFox]

The touchpads CAN act as speakers and make sound with the linear actuators. The Triggers are currently digital but will be analog in the final version. The controller works very well with mouse driven games like Civ V, but aren't optimal for games like star craft or dota, where a lot of keys and fast and accurate mouse input is required to do well.

[unrealeck]

So much innovation in the past couple of years from PC gaming.
This controller alone is a really good attempt at blurring the line between the analogous control of a joystick with the precision of a mouse.
Then there's Oculus Rift, the Omni, G-Sync and with games, ambitious titles like Star Citizen.

[EyJoBeats]

Having major shoulder pain this is what i want to play competitive games on PC. 

[Petulancer]

This interview was extremely well executed - nice and detailed! Gret work

[Jay-May]

Wired is much better for a controller. Watch some arcade game competitions, no one uses wireless.. That split second input is what makes wired controllers THAT MUCH BETTER! (saves the extra ! 's for later posts.)

[MrTx]

did the dude say "ball sack controls" at 06:25

[cabo]

i cant remeber the last time i was so looking forward to a new concept.

[RedVioletVODs]

Unlike 90% of the comments this actually makes me very excited for the final steam machine and it makes me want one all the more

[ngv]

Thanks for the thoughts guys - much appreciated!

[KeatonX]

Just what the gaming community needs, more touch controls... /s

[TheColorfulPube]

9:35
There will be default bindings but you'll be able to remap the controls to whatever and map controls in games that don't natively support controllers.

[NagasakiiVR]

is that portal one or portal 3 in the background?!?!?!?!

[TheDutyPaid]

The biggest problem about a Steam Box will be it's price. There is not much need for a system that will cost more then say a Xbox or PS4 that you may be missing common PC functions. Also will all games that come out will be available for the Steam OS? seeing as the Linus games are limited on the Steam market at the moment.

Also traditionally PC gamers use mouse and keyboard combo.

[urboazer]

thx guys, really excited for this controller.

[AMolinaLamatta]

0:03 is that Combat Arms in the background?(top right) :D

[newtracetriad]

SO EXCITED FOR THE PADDLE CONTROLS. Racing games have always needed that extra level of immersion and I think realistic gear changes with the paddle controls are really going to help

[AMolinaLamatta]

0:03 is that Combat Arms in the background? :D

[McJaews]

Does Will not understand that it's still in the testing stage? The idea is that people give feedback and suggestions for what works best for them, so of course there are options for keybinding, and being negative about the marketing of the controller is just pointless by now. 
I'm generally intrigued about the controller, and I really want to try it out, to compare it with mouse/keyboard controls, but I'm pretty sure it won't replace my controller of choice, the 360.  

[steve]

Did they say that the face buttons (xyab, squarecirclecrosstriangle) were gone?.... 
guys... you DO realise they're not gone! 
You click on the touchpads instead! 
Imagine that the buttons are underneath the touchpads... the d-pad under the left, and the face buttons under the right. 
Basically, as your thumbs move around these touchpads you can click on each side where the buttons have been moved to. 
You guys didn't explain this very well...