Valve Explains Why Its Latest Steam Controller Has an Analog Stick

Steam Controller testers are having trouble making the switch from traditional thumbsticks to its unique dual trackpads, says Valve.

[BrandanT]

I always preffered analog sticks. It's too cumbersome for me to get use to stuff like that.

[UltimateMaster]

Because people wanted analog sticks.
These feedback are never as accurate, size of fingers comes into play.

[starchild]

Well, good for you, but I for one can see areas that can be improved in a standard gamepad. I think the track pads are going to be really beneficial for many types of games. Having the option of using an analogue stick for positional movement will better suit certain games and is a smart inclusion.

[iamnsuperman]

I feel Value are just trying to reinvent the wheel just for the sake of standing out from the crowd. An all in one controller will turn out like all "all in one" devices. Jack of all trades master of none. Though the master of attracts doesn't even have a d-pad

[ForgottenProphecy]

exactly. I can't see anybody really using this controller when the DS4 and Xbox 360 controllers are damn near perfect. (Yes, I believe the 360 controller > the Xbox One controller)

[donthate]

Problem is, you don't know what perfect is until you tried something else!

People thought the mouse was perfect and the controller pad could never compete and now many people prefer the pad.

I would support another input mechanism. In many ways, the controller is an old old input mechanism. Kinect was and still is a good attempt, and I think a new steam controller would be too.

Surprises me how "open" people are to VR which makes you nauseous and have all sorts of problems, but a simple update to a very often used item is NOT NEEDED!!!

Really?

[ForgottenProphecy]

@YouAreSalty I have personally tried Project Morpheus, but not Oculus so I can't speak for that, and I can say it didn't make me nauseous one bit.
VR is what we have been dreaming about as children as far as video games go. As for the Steam Controller, they are trying to fix something that isn't broken.

[edqe]

ForgottenProphecy: "As for the Steam Controller, they are trying to fix something that isn't broken."

Those who doesn't want to use keyboard and mouse in the living room has no options at the moment. Valve's controller could be a solution to that problem.

[Volkama]

These controllers are far from perfect. Gamers wouldn't still be using the designed-for-desktop mouse if the designed-for-gaming controller was perfect.

I did say the moment I saw the track pads that I could see aiming benefitting, but the analogue stick was probably better for movement. I would say including the analogue stick is a step away from re-inventing the wheel for no reason.

[Kingdomcome247]

I, love the 360 controller,and the DS4 as well. I, however think that the Xbox One controller is a subtle improvement over the 360's. I'm curious as to why you prefer the 360 controller. Is it the bumpers?

[CloudRap]

No way man the one controller is definitely an improvement over the 360 in every way

[levian]

Somebody needs to reinvent the controller though. The N64 had a great idea with the Z button on the back of the controller, but we need 2-4 buttons on the back. Ever tried to hold down Circle as a sprint button while moving your character and trying to move the camera all at once? You start to learn how to use "the claw"

[-Foxtrot]

Exactly, they think they have to do something new but at this rate it's gong to turn into a traditional controller

Want to know why? Because there is nothing wrong with them, like you said they are perfect.

Wouldn't they rather have people using a traditional steam controller then a Sony/MS one. They need to make it look different from the Xbox one, too many controllers look like it these days, i mean why add the X,Y,A,B, do what Sony has and do something different. Numbers, colours, more shapes.

[SuperBlur]

Good luck playing moba/tps/fps/strat with a ps3/60 controller vs a bunch of kb/m users.

They're trying to bring PC to the living room, on the couch, these 4 kind of games is one of their most played on Steam. I sure wouldn't want to play Dota with a 360 controllers, which is what they want to correct.

So, props to Valve for trying.

[Volkama]

If current controllers were so perfect we wouldn't need aim assist in every shooter.

Valve are trying to bring some of the undeniable advantages of the mouse into a more convenient form. I hope they can do it!

[garos82]

@volcama killzone shadow fall has no assist and I love it

[aliengmr]

Yea!! Down with innovation!!/s

Many may think existing designs are "perfect" but what's the harm in trying something different?

What has anyone lost if this Steam controller fails or succeeds?

[ShowGun901]

its no suprise that, with minor additions, playstation has kept their controller pretty similar from gen to gen... its a good design! 360 improved on it (i still like the stick layout on the PS controllers better, though), and the PS4 and X1 improved on it more, but the DNA is the same, and has been for, what, 15 years?

People are used to it, and once a standard like this has been set, experimentation away from the norm will probably be penalized... by nobody wanting to use it.

imagine if they designed the new Fords to all run with a steering system taken from RC cars, or zero turn mowers, the "2 lever" system... how far do you think that'd fly? heck, even if its superior, nobody wants to retrain all that muscle memory, and not to mention look goofy as hell. the trackpads are the same, it might work, but nobody wants to switch to it...

[edqe]

It is worth to remember that Valve's controller is not meant to be replace any other controller devices; KB+mouse, joystick, traditional game pads, etc. They are still all meant to be used and working on SteamOS.

I personally think Valve is definitely on the right track. Current analog stick controllers are totally useless in many genres PC has; RTS, grand stategy, complex RPG or even FPS.

It is not going to be easy to make a controller that would work for many types of games but what they are working now sounds the controller could actually be quite good.

Pretty much what "SuperBlur" #2.2.1 already wrote earlier.

[Qrphe]

And it's now useless without a D-pad. Nice back-peddaling btw Valve

[macethedon]

Exactly, platformers are going to suffer.

[GamersHeaven]

Flllllop

[josephayal]

Fantastic design, cannot wait to try it out

[Agent_hitman]

Wow that new Steam controller looks more appropriate and more appealing due to added thumbsticks

[ShowGun901]

correct me if im wrong, but i think its just the left thumbstick. (right one still missing)

i think they should add 2 thumbsticks, and put the trackpad in the middle, much larger... nobody wants to use it for first person games anyway, and you could still play something like Total War with just the one. but then i think they'd be afraid of it looking like they ripped off the DS4, when in fact this pad has been in dev hell for a while now!

[TomahawkX]

all this time and they are still working on the design of the controller when its just going to end up looking like a 360 controller lol.

[OC_MurphysLaw]

Gabe: "Because it sacked without one..."

[Kevlar009]

They added a training wheel to the steam controller? Kind of funny if you ask me, but if that's what they need to do.

[ChronoJoe]

So now it has two sets of left-side analogue input and no d-pad? This thing is a mess.

[Pandamobile]

There one analog stick and two track-pad inputs.

[ChronoJoe]

A track pad in regards to a control is still an analogue input device. Analogue is a term applicable to much more than just the sticks, for instance all the buttons on a PlayStation 3 controller are analogue supported.

It just refers to the variability of input, in regards to pressure sensitivity. For instance a digital button is just on / off, whilst analogue has a multitude of degrees of sensitivity in regards to pressure.

Didn't mean to sound condescending or anything, just intend to clarify what I mean by the two left-side analogue input. Both the track pad and stick are analogue input devices. And in this case my gripe was related to the fact that functionally they both serve very similar roles, and the ommision of the d-pad is a huge shame.

If Valve are confident in the quality of their track pads then they should focus on them. If they are indeed good, people will learn to use them.

[Ocsta]

Because thumbsticks are a f***ing NECESSITY YA MORONS! DUH!

[Bodge]

This controller is designed to be played with PC games from the get-go, if you want a controller for fighting games then buy one that exists now. Don't go ruining a controller with massive potential.

[cfc83]

OT - if these machines can't be upgraded, then what is the point in owning one unless you're minted ? Let's say someone spends something like 1500 pounds to play current games on ultra settings, then how long before it stops being a machine that handles the latest ultra games ?

[SuperBlur]

"Can I hack this box? Run another OS? Change the hardware? Install my own software? Use it to build a robot?
Sure."

straight from the FAQ on their official site
http://store.steampowered.c...

[cfc83]

They haven't been designed to be upgraded. Sounds like more of a buyers risk than a feature.

[aliengmr]

@cfc83

So...Reading is an actual thing.

[Biohazard8860]

Give us Half life 3 no one asked for this crap..

[SuperBlur]

oh yea lets put the hardware guys on the dev team of hl3

[Biohazard8860]

:|

[Muzikguy]

And this is just the beginning. I'm not saying I liked the idea of how their controller was before, but now they're starting to conform already. I do believe they were trying to just reinvent the wheel just for the sake of it also

[annus]

ITT: Nobody knows what a prototype is. It's not unusual for companies to TRY things. If you think a company just throws something together and just rolls with the first thing you are a fool.

[Mr Tretton]

Exactly. Difference here is Valve actually has the community involved so we are seeing the changes with this as opposed to secretive console companies.

[ocelot07]

Am never one to complain about controllers as I ushally adapt to them fairly quickly. But that looks hard to use.

[CertifiedGamer]

That controller looks ugly.

[Catdawgg]

Does anyone else think it looks like the controller is backwards and they put all the buttons on the back of a normal looking controller?

[kingPoS]

No need to explain, analog sticks have been around in game consoles since the N64. They simply realized they shouldn't try to fix what wasn't broken. The very least they could do is sell the analog stick model separately for those who want the good ol stuff.

edit:
Wait! It doesn't have a d-pad, WHY!!! That wasn't even broken to begin with!!

øBurn IT.. Burn IT to ashø

Gateway MT6706 2008

[Wikki]

I had one of these touch pad controllers for the original NES when I was younger. I absolutely hated it. The pad rarely worked the way you intended it. Now, the technology may have improved over the last 25 years (and now I feel old), but I will not pick this up until they offer what is considered by today's standard, a 'normal non-wii controller'