Is there any way I can request a dev kit to help find bugs with Steam Input?

[ugafan]

I'm interested in helping discover problems with setting up configurations with Steam Input. I have a lot of experience and knowledge in this area that could be useful, but I'm not a game developer so I don't know any other way to request a dev kit.

[Nathan]

There is a request form here .

[ugafan]

Thank you for the link. I'm not a game developer or publisher though. I'm simply someone who is interested in helping Valve identify bugs that affect controls. I don't know of any means for someone in that category to request a kit.

[Shibby]

Originally posted by ugafan:

Thank you for the link. I'm not a game developer or publisher though. I'm simply someone who is interested in helping Valve identify bugs that affect controls. I don't know of any means for someone in that category to request a kit.

They already have a team working on things like this. You would need to be an employee of Valve or work with a contractor if they outsourced it. I hate to say it but you are probably stuck waiting like the rest of us.

[ugafan]

Originally posted by Shibby:

They already have a team working on things like this.

Even if they do have a team, it's only natural that there will be some things that they miss. Casting a broader net will help catch more problems so they can be fixed before release.

I think it would be especially advantageous to reach out to some people who have lots of experience with the software and who have contributed to bug reports over the last several years, helping others with controller configuration questions, etc.

After all, some of these issues may only be identified through the creation of complex or novel configurations, some of which would beyond what the average user is doing.

[ReBoot]

The Steam Deck shipments just got delayed, meaning there is a serious shortage of hardware. That in turn means that dev kits are limited as well, that in turn means that dev kits will be likely given to the people who need them (so, uhm, devs) and not to some Average Joe.

Originally posted by ugafan:

I think it would be especially advantageous to reach out to some people who have lots of experience with the software

So, people like devs?

[ugafan]

Originally posted by ReBoot:

So, people like devs?

Developing for a specific game is very different than creating configurations for a multitude of games and identifying bugs with Steam Input. Both roles have value and would benefit people using the Steam Deck.

[ReBoot]

Originally posted by ugafan:

Originally posted by ReBoot:

So, people like devs?

Developing for a specific game is very different than creating configurations for a multitude of games and identifying bugs with Steam Input. Both roles have value and would benefit people using the Steam Deck.

I said "devs", not "dev". A single dev will only take care of their own games. But multiple devs will provide the coverage of multitude of games.

That, and devs can actually tweak their games to support Steam input (or gamepads). Which you can't. Tweaking Steam input settings for a game until you get it just perfect is all fine & dandy, but it's an afterthought. The primary goal is for this stuff to just work without tweaking.

Both roles have value, but one of those roles has more value and with limited hardware supply, I think you get the point.

[ugafan]

What I'm saying is there are bugs that exist now that have yet to be fixed. Some of these bugs are less likely to be spotted by game developers, as "official configs" tend to be fairly generic.

For example, if you're mode shifting the right joystick to a horizontal only relative mouse and using a left trigger soft pull to activate the shift, there is a bug that activates the mode shift after the config has loaded, but prior to the left trigger being pulled. That's obviously a problem if the default mouse is set to vertical and horizontal, but the cursor only moves horizontally because the mode shift loads instead of the default joystick setting.

This behavior doesn't exhibit when the activation button is changed to a full pull on the trigger. But switching the button to a full pull has it own limitations as it increases the distance the trigger must travel before the mode shift is activated, so that workaround isn't ideal.

Move cursor position with a horizontal mouse can be a great way to reach inventories and taskbars. And it could be especially useful on the Deck with the smaller screen size. But it's not something that I've ever seen in a config created by a developer. Unless they've tried to do this in a configuration, they likely wouldn't know this bug exists.

[ReBoot]

Originally posted by ugafan:

What I'm saying is there are bugs that exist now that have yet to be fixed. Some of these bugs are less likely to be spotted by game developers, as "official configs" tend to be fairly generic.

For example, if you're mode shifting the right joystick to a horizontal only relative mouse and using a left trigger soft pull to activate the shift, there is a bug that activates the mode shift after the config has loaded, but prior to the left trigger being pulled. That's obviously a problem if the default mouse is set to vertical and horizontal, but the cursor only moves horizontally because the mode shift loads instead of the default joystick setting.

This behavior doesn't exhibit when the activation button is changed to a full pull on the trigger. But switching the button to a full pull has it own limitations as it increases the distance the trigger must travel before the mode shift is activated, so that workaround isn't ideal.

Move cursor position with a horizontal mouse can be a great way to reach inventories and taskbars. And it could be especially useful on the Deck with the smaller screen size. But it's not something that I've ever seen in a config created by a developer. Unless they've tried to do this in a configuration, they likely wouldn't know this bug exists.

I think, you're missing the point here. The point is not "you've got absolutely nothing to say that devs couldn't say either" (that said, your assumption of devs not noticing this does hang on a thin thread). The point is:
1. We have a hardware shortage
2. Henceforth the number of units is severely limited
3. Henceforth priorities have to be set
4. Devs have higher priority than you

[ugafan]

I'm not missing the the point at all. I know that developers have a higher priority than me.

What I'm asking for is a Deck to do that which I stated in my original post.

[ReBoot]

Originally posted by ugafan:

What I'm asking for is a Deck to do that which I stated in my original post.

... which you'll get at the same time as the rest of us, namely when your position in the queue pops from the front.

It's not like I don't get YOUR point. I'm a software engineer and a gaming nerd (the kind who likes dissecting things, not spending hours grinding) so I'm at least as qualified as you to find such things. We both have to deal with reality on reality's terms.

[ugafan]

.. which you'll get at the same time as the rest of us, namely when your position in the queue pops from the front.

Most likely, but we shall see. :)

[ReBoot]

Originally posted by ugafan:

.. which you'll get at the same time as the rest of us, namely when your position in the queue pops from the front.

Most likely, but we shall see. :)

I wouldn't get my hopes up if I were you. This certainly isn't the first wishful thiking-thread I've seen about the Steam Deck and while I doubt it will be the last, I also very much doubt it would be the first to actually come true.

Before I go, I really suggest to not paint yourself as the expect finding things no one else will.

[ugafan]

Originally posted by ReBoot:

Before I go, I really suggest to not paint yourself as the expect finding things no one else will.

I never claimed that I can find things that no one else could. Only that based on my knowledge and experience that I can help.

[Nathan]

You can always apply and let valve decide, then there's no need to assume either way.