Understanding controller layouts

[RedBaronK™]

If anyone can help answer these basic questions I'd appreciate it... And please, let me know if any of my assumptions are wrong.

The following questions are all while in DESKTOP MODE:

1. My understanding of "Non-game controller layouts" in Steam settings is that it behaves as the "master" layout for the entire device in desktop mode... Navigating web pages, desktop itself, gaming, etc... It seems like this mode is the default in all games UNTIL you create your own individual controller layout inside a particular game, at which point it seems like the game controller layout is used over the non-game controller layout.. Is this right?

2. In order to create any custom layout, we have to use one of the 7 base templates created by valve... gamepad with joystick trackpad, gamepad with gyro, keyboard and mouse, etc. Is there a such thing as a "blank" template we can use, or does it always have to be from one of the 7 base templates?

3. If I created a layout using the "keyboard (wasd) and mouse template", i noticed there's no option for either left or right thumbsticks to register as a "joystick" under the drop down menu... The only thing that even comes close is "joystick mouse".. Which I'm taking it as the system still does not "see" an actual analogue joystick, but rather we are fooling it to register thumbstick movement as if it was a mouse being moved. Does this mean with this keyboard and mouse set up, once you build off of it there's no way to add an analogue joystick later on to either thumbsticks?

4. I realized that navigating desktop and playing games with 1 layout wasn't ideal, so my current "non-game controller layout" was built off the keyboard and mouse template, so I can navigate desktop, with an action set button assigned to the hamburger button (3 horizontal lines) that will switch into gamepad mode to play games... Is this ideal or is it just better to create custom layout for each individual game?


Thanks for the help!

[ugafan]

1. The desktop configuration is what you're using in desktop mode. But once you launch a game, it switches over to the configuration for that individual game. That's how it works so long as it's Steam game. There are instances of non-Steam games from other launchers not hooking into the game's individual configuration, but if it's a Steam game it will.

2. You can use one of the templates or create your own. If you want a blank configuration, you can create one. For me, there is an option that shows up as a blank template with a Steam Controller icon next to it. Perhaps it's because I created one previously, but it shows it listed under the templates by Valve.

You could also use a community configuration. And some games aren't based on those templates at all. They are games that utilize Steam Input API. For example, Portal 2, Euro Truck Simulator 2, etc.

3. If you're not seeing the option to set it to joystick, it's likely because you're editing the desktop configuration and not the configuration for the individual game. Once you edit the configuration for the game, you'll see that option.

4. Each individual game will have its own layout and that is what you should be editing. If there are settings that you like using across games, you could save it as a template and then load your personal template for those games.

[RedBaronK™]

ugafan eredeti hozzászólása:

1. The desktop configuration is what you're using in desktop mode. But once you launch a game, it switches over to the configuration for that individual game. That's how it works so long as it's Steam game. There are instances of non-Steam games from other launchers not hooking into the game's individual configuration, but if it's a Steam game it will.

2. You can use one of the templates or create your own. If you want a blank configuration, you can create one. For me, there is an option that shows up as a blank template with a Steam Controller icon next to it. Perhaps it's because I created one previously, but it shows it listed under the templates by Valve.

You could also use a community configuration. And some games aren't based on those templates at all. They are games that utilize Steam Input API. For example, Portal 2, Euro Truck Simulator 2, etc.

3. If you're not seeing the option to set it to joystick, it's likely because you're editing the desktop configuration and not the configuration for the individual game. Once you edit the configuration for the game, you'll see that option.

4. Each individual game will have its own layout and that is what you should be editing. If there are settings that you like using across games, you could save it as a template and then load your personal template for those games.

Thank you so much for taking the time out to explain and teach me, it cleared up a lot of confusions.. at the same time it's good to know I wasn't too far off... Getting the hang of this thing!

Valve should host a daily "help class" or something for an hour with volunteers to answer questions for noobs on discord/TS3 or something, my company does that for work related stuff with veterans and it's good to pop in and ask. It'll get more people into the deck, especially the ones on the fence thinking it may be too complicated.