Steam, XBONE, or PS4 controller?

[Lasciel]

I've heard great things about it, but at the same time I've heard horror stories about it. I've experimented with both XBONE and PS4 controllers, but never used one with my Steam link or games. I've heard great things about those too, especially playing games like Rocket League, Singularity or Skullgirls (fast-paced games, FPS games, and Fighting games, respectively).

I guess my biggest question is which is the best fit? Are there benefits to using the Steam controller over others, or is it more personal preference?

If someone could give me the pros and cons of using each, that'd be a big help seeing as I don't want to spend money on something I won't like.

[EmperorFaiz.wav]

Mostly personal preference but if you look at the technical side, Steam Controller has far more functions than both Xbox and DS4 controller. Here are the advantages SC has:

• Two trackpads that you can bind as mouse, joystick, dpad, ABXY face buttons, scroll wheel, trackball, touch menu, wheel menu and more.
  
• Two grip buttons at the bottom for more inputs.
  
• Double stage trigger buttons (an analogue and tactile digital inputs). It means you can have to two inputs in a single trigger button.
  
• Gyroscope that can be used as a mouse or steering wheel mode. Pretty useful for shooting game where you use the gyro for finer accuracy. Plus, you can bind left and right tilt inputs.
  
• Despite using AA batteries, the controller can last for 80 hours or more wirelessly.
  
• The included wireless dongle can support up to 4 SCs simultaneously.
  
• Useful for home theatre PC (HTPC) for browsing the desktop, website and play games with a single controller. The trackpads can work as split keyboard mode with the keyboard overlay on the screen.

SC is suitable for people who want more control than other controllers couldn't do.

A reminder that SC required Steam which has its own configuration system called Steam Input to operate properly and for configuration but the Steam Input does support other controllers. Whatever PC-compatible controller you have right now guarantee will work with Steam Input and free to configure on your own way. You can even download community configs if you're lazy.

On the side note, DS4 has much more configurable than Xbox controller because it has a touchpad that you can configure almost as same as Steam Controller's trackpads and gyro.

[Mennenth]

The steam controller has a lot going for it, however its best viewed as being in its own class of input device. A lot of the horror stories come from thinking it should be like a xbox controller, and that any difference is automatically bad.

The sc can fill the exact same role as xbox controllers and then some, but there is one area it sort of lacks in; plug and play. As a one size fits all, it will usually require at least a little bit of configuring to get it working right for you. You also have to adapt to the fact that touch pads are not joysticks or legit dpads.

Once you spend enough time with the sc for it to click though, you'll find its easily the best pc game controller on the market, and that xbox controllers are really lackluster these days (they are coasting on brand loyalty and have therefore been pretty stagnant except for aesthetic changes). Next best would be a ds4 with a strike pack, followed by the switch pro controllers, if you absolutely cant let go of the sticks.

[cammelspit]

Originally posted by Mennenth:

The steam controller has a lot going for it, however its best viewed as being in its own class of input device. A lot of the horror stories come from thinking it should be like a xbox controller, and that any difference is automatically bad.

The sc can fill the exact same role as xbox controllers and then some, but there is one area it sort of lacks in; plug and play. As a one size fits all, it will usually require at least a little bit of configuring to get it working right for you. You also have to adapt to the fact that touch pads are not joysticks or legit dpads.

Once you spend enough time with the sc for it to click though, you'll find its easily the best pc game controller on the market, and that xbox controllers are really lackluster these days (they are coasting on brand loyalty and have therefore been pretty stagnant except for aesthetic changes). Next best would be a ds4 with a strike pack, followed by the switch pro controllers, if you absolutely cant let go of the sticks.

This is pretty much SPOT on. Like EmperorFaiz.vmt says, there is just so much that the SC can do those other controllers simply can't. I 100% recommend the SC to anyone really but you do kind of have to check your expectations at the door and go into it with a clear head. Almost nothing works exactly like a traditional pad does. Unlike something like a DS4, you have other options so you will have to be the one to make yourself get used to it and proficient instead of being forced into one controller design or the other.

Not a lot of people though the SC would or even COULD be a full-on replacement for traditional pads, it has for the vast majority of us. Even if you like regular controllers for specific games or genres, that's fine, it is still well worth having in the bullpen.

[Arya]

None of them are perfect, but from my personal experience the Steam Controller has the most problems and the least going for it. I had major tech problems with mine, and eventually had to scrap it because it was keeping it alive was too much work.

[Lasciel]

Originally posted by Wolfey:

None of them are perfect, but from my personal experience the Steam Controller has the most problems and the least going for it. I had major tech problems with mine, and eventually had to scrap it because it was keeping it alive was too much work.

Could you elaborate more on that, Wolfey?

[Arya]

Originally posted by Lasciel:

Could you elaborate more on that, Wolfey?

My first Steam Controller had a problem with the right-hand touchpad not working properly, it would detect phantom inputs and twitch my view around. When I RMA'ed it the replacement had a battery contact problem and a loose right pad.

[EmperorFaiz.wav]

That’s sucks. My 3 year old SC still working fine with few wears and scratches.

[Lasciel]

Alright, so it looks like most people agree that the SC is good as an input device as opposed to the DS4 and XBONE controllers, even without the sticks. I've seen mods to add sticks to the SC, sort of a snap on thing. Has anyone used these?

[EmperorFaiz.wav]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53m8sv54DVg

There’s also an actual third-party mod sells on Amazon but it’s not that great compared to the 3D-printed mod shown in that video.

[Boreout [Aut]]

Originally posted by Lasciel:

Alright, so it looks like most people agree that the SC is good as an input device as opposed to the DS4 and XBONE controllers, even without the sticks. I've seen mods to add sticks to the SC, sort of a snap on thing. Has anyone used these?

"......even without the sticks"

That is the whole point the SC -> the trackpads (and the gyro ofc).

Once you get used to them , sticks feel like slow and imprecise inputs.
I only use the left stick for movement and some people even prefer the left pad for that.
Going back to stick for aiming is like going back to to a mouse without dpi switching or scrollwheel.

That 3rd party addon:

Yes, you can use it .
But you will be limited to joystick move/ joystick cam.
Imho it kind of defeats the whole purpose of fast trackpad/ trackball movement and mouseprecision.
I can kind of see some niche uses when you want to simply pan the camera (driving games / spacesims ).
But aiming in an fps with a stick is a chore after getting used to the trackpad + gyro combo.

But it is good to see that people are getting creative and are starting to mod joysticks and maybe a DPAD or other things as additional options.

That would be a good addition to the SC 2.0
https://www.reddit.com/r/SteamController/comments/63m3hs/the_smach_z_will_be_offering_these_touchpad/

[Lasciel]

Originally posted by Boreout Aut:

Originally posted by Lasciel:

Alright, so it looks like most people agree that the SC is good as an input device as opposed to the DS4 and XBONE controllers, even without the sticks. I've seen mods to add sticks to the SC, sort of a snap on thing. Has anyone used these?

"......even without the sticks"

That is the whole point the SC -> the trackpads (and the gyro ofc).

Once you get used to them , sticks feel like slow and imprecise inputs.
I only use the left stick for movement and some people even prefer the left pad for that.
Going back to stick for aiming is like going back to to a mouse without dpi switching or scrollwheel.

That 3rd party addon:

Yes, you can use it .
But you will be limited to joystick move/ joystick cam.
Imho it kind of defeats the whole purpose of fast trackpad/ trackball movement and mouseprecision.
I can kind of see some niche uses when you want to simply pan the camera (driving games / spacesims ).
But aiming in an fps with a stick is a chore after getting used to the trackpad + gyro combo.

But it is good to see that people are getting creative and are starting to mod joysticks and maybe a DPAD or other things as additional options.

That would be a good addition to the SC 2.0
https://www.reddit.com/r/SteamController/comments/63m3hs/the_smach_z_will_be_offering_these_touchpad/

Honestly, I'm just trying to get views from each side at this point. I'm looking into the controller, but at the same time I don't want to spend money on it if I won't like it, or if it will be more of a frustration to me than I want to deal with.

I don't play a lot of FPS, though I'm looking into Paladins for PC and games like Rocket League. I've used PS3 controllers, XB360 and even Wii U controllers in the past. I'm aware that none of them are like the SC, nor will the SC behave like the others.

My biggest concern is that the trackpads will be more trouble than they're worth. I've read reviews that mention the trackpad being not responsive enough, or too responsive, or the face buttons being too small, resulting in people hitting the wrong ones or too many of them at once. Of course, I can't verify this without owning one myself, but I'd like to have all the information before I make a final decision, you know?

[cammelspit]

Any review from anyone that says they are not responsive enough or are too responsive in any capacity means they didn't spend more than five minutes with it and didn't have the presence of mind to just move a slider to adjust to their own liking for that game. Literally, it's just that simple and you can almost always discount a review that says anything like that as being done by someone who didn't actually use an SC. Though I must say, you will never be able to say if you like it without having one and giving it a good chance. There is no way to save you the waste of money because no one can say if you will be able to get into it or if you are going to hate it because it isn't an XBOX controller clone.

I am the FIRST person to criticize Valve and the SC for stupid decisions or issues they have but what you gain out of using the SC for longer than one session, well worth the cash. Like I said before, it's worth having even if it doesn't replace every controller you own, though it is very likely to do just that. The only reason you might not like the SC is that of your own personal preferences and no one can judge those but you AFTER you have spent a few sessions getting the hang of what it can do. There is an 85% chance you will love it, haven't you bought things more expensive with less of a sure-fire win in the past? I know I have... Just a thought!

[Lasciel]

That;'s fair enough, Cammel. Now comes the real question: Is it worth it to buy it directly from Valve/Steam, or would it be better to go through Ebay for a lower price? Obviously the Valve route comes with a guarauntee that it'll work first time out of the box, but if I find it cheaper, should I get it?

[Arya]

My main concern(besides my own bad experiences, although I'm willing to accept theuy were an outlier) is the learning curve with a Steam Controller. If you've never used a gamepad before you'll be fine. But if you grew up with Xbox and Dualshock pads like I did, there's some degree adjustment to make and that will take time.

Even once I'd got adjusted and had a working pad, I still found myself preffering conventional sticks. Especially for action games. Today I'm using a Razer Wolverine and have no regrets, although I will admit it's two and a half times the price of a Steam controller.

[figmentPez]

I'll offer a different opinion from Wolfey. I've grown up using both controllers, and mouse & keyboard. Adjusting to the Steam Controller was no more difficult for me than moving from using keyboard only for Doom to using mouse & keyboard for Quake and later games. Or adjusting from using mouse & keyboard to using dual analog sticks to control FPS games. Which is to say, it was tough, but it wasn't an insurmountable obstacle.

I have hundreds of hours playing with my Steam Controller. I started with Portal 2, and moved on to Saints Row 2 - 4. I've also played the Batman Arkham series (the SC is excellent for controlling the tank in Arkham Knight), Shadow of Mordor, the LEGO games, Red Faction Guerilla, Fallout: New Vegas, A Boy and His Blob, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons, Overlord 1 & 2, Guacamelee, Abzu, Inside, Transistor, Ghostbusters The Video Game (2009), Darksiders 2, and more.

For many of these games, I would not choose any other control method over the Steam Controller, period. If you need to drive and shoot in a game, the SC is the best of both worlds; it has the analog controls of a gamepad so that you can drive well, and it's as accurate as a mouse for aiming when it comes time to shoot. I've been playing Red Faction Guerilla: Re-Mars-tered lately, and it plays so much better compared to my last time playing with mouse & keyboard. This feels like the way the game was meant to be played, even though RFG came out 6+ years before the Steam Controller did.

Before I had my Steam Controller, I'd played through the Saints Row games with an Xbox 360 controller. 3rd person just feels better with a controller for me, especially when it comes to driving. Shooting doesn't really matter as much in SR as it does in, say, Far Cry or Half-Life. So I'm not at all unfamiliar with aiming with an analog stick. Having now re-played all the Saints Row games (on PC) with the Steam Controller, I can easily say it's no contest how I want to play them in the future.

I've even surprised myself by preferring the SC over mouse & keyboard for Fallout: New Vegas. I played for nearly 80 hours with M&KB before deciding to give my SC a chance. I thought for sure that I'd be more comfortable playing a first person game with a mouse. Much to my surprise, the SC was not only good enough, it just felt better overall. I had no troubles managing my inventory, looting buildings, or even sniping enemies. I put in 40+ hours with my SC, and if I ever play Fallout 3 or 4, I'm definitely going to be playing with my Steam Controller from the get-go.

The only games on my list I'd not choose the Steam Controller for are old school 2D action. Playing A Link to the Past with the SC just did not click with me. Some people say the left touch pad can work great as a d-pad, but I couldn't find the right settings. Admittedly, I didn't try very hard. I have an 8Bitdo NES30 Pro that I use when I'm emulating SNES games, or anything I want a d-pad for. I didn't see the need to learn a new input method in that case.