The good and bad of the Steam Controller and how to fix it.

[cmh175]

To see summary of review scroll to the bottom.

To start with I'll provide a bit of background information to explain my gaming experience. Before building my own PC I was a solid console gamer since I was a kid and have owned nearly every major console at some point, so controllers come naturally to me. Ever since though I've adapted to mouse and keyboard controls for better aiming during online playing, so I'm pretty adept with both control schemes.

The controller is a good size, and although an unfamiliar concave shape it sits comfortably in my hands. It's made of a sturdy plastic and all the buttons and triggers feel great and precise. The single joystick is very smooth and not spongy at all like the Xbox One. The four buttons on the bottom of the controller are great for configuring hotkeys or mapping buttons for actions and reloading so you can continue running around and shooting. Overall the controller is the most comfortable I've tried other than maybe the PS3.

The first negative I've found is the D-pad. It's very large (probably too large) and very easy to get lost on. If you remap the joystick to the D-pad it would probably work really well for moving your character around, but I think it would be just as effective if it were half it's size (I think it's mostly that big to match the track pad on the right). The next negative are the bumper buttons by the triggers. They're slightly curved and stick out too far. You get used to this so it's not a huge issue, but the shape of the Xbox One bumpers are much better. The next thing I found are the A,B,X,Y buttons are too small, about 50% smaller than on the Xbox One. It'll take awhile to get used to their new size and location. Otherwise my biggest issue is the track pad. I really wanted to like it, and practiced enough with it to beat 75% of Portal 2, but I don't think it works anywhere near as well as a joystick. If you just slide your thumb around you will roughly have a vantage point of 45-75 degrees depending on your FOV and mouse settings. However unlike a joystick to keep turning around you either need to move your finger to the center and slide again, or flick your thumb across the pad to turn further. You basically need to flick and plant your thumb to quick turn and aim. You'll be able to turn very quickly, but mastering this technique would take a lot of practice, and still wont feel as natural as a joystick.

To summarize on how to perfect the design of the controller:

1) The bumpers need to be reshaped closer to the Xbox One.

2) Make the arrows on the D-pad more distinct and shrink it down about 50%.

3) Enlarge the A,B,X,Y buttons and place them in their natural position where the track pad currently is (every single controller since the NES has used that layout).

4) Replace the track pad with a second joystick where the A,B,X,Y buttons currently are.

I think with this design (with two parallel joysticks in the center) you get a good mix of what works best with the PS4 and Xbox One controllers and the new functionality and smooth precision of the new Steam controller. Of the consoles the Xbox controller feels the best, but I've never been a fan of the joystick positions (and they're way too spongy, I always have to fix them when I get a new controller). If the Steam controller was redesigned with the changes listed I think it would be the best controller available for any platform.

[minego]

So, in other words, make an Xbox controller instead? If that is what you want stick to that.

[Shaiky]

Yeah, i get your complains, and personally, I got my own as well, but your changes are too big to even consider it a steam controller anymore

[cmh175]

Originally posted by minego:

So, in other words, make an Xbox controller instead? If that is what you want stick to that.

I just explained how this controller is already better than the Xbox One. The suggestions I made are more of a cross between the PS4 and Xbox One. No controller is available with that design, let alone the Steam functionality as well.

Originally posted by Shaiky:

Yeah, i get your complains, and personally, I got my own as well, but your changes are too big to even consider it a steam controller anymore

The main thing that makes it a Steam controller is the Steam Big Picture and button mapping functionality. The actual layout of the controller only really effects how it's used. The biggest change suggested was adding a second joystick, which is something nearly everyone has mentioned in their reviews.

[Zelda👑Bridget 🎀 Sky]

IMO the "d pad" track pad is the one that needs to go actually...I've never had a game actually use it and have it be useful beyond a really clunky d pad replacement. Right pad is great--except when emulating an analog stick. Left pad is...literally why is it there. It's kinda neat to do the two finger keyboard, so far that's absolutely it.

Stick a real d pad or second stick where the left pad is IMO, though I don't think the controller can really be configured to have two analogs while keeping the right track pad. And maybe it's because I'm a righty, but I feel way more comfortable using the right pad as a mouse so I'd want to keep the pad on that side.

[minego]

Originally posted by cmh175:

Originally posted by minego:

So, in other words, make an Xbox controller instead? If that is what you want stick to that.

I just explained how this controller is already better than the Xbox One. The suggestions I made are more of a cross between the PS4 and Xbox One. No controller is available with that design, let alone the Steam functionality as well.

You suggested removing every unique feature of this controller. If you want something that is a cross between a PS4 and XBone controller then why would you even consider this?

[petition]

Originally posted by cmh175:

To see summary of review scroll to the bottom.

To start with I'll provide a bit of background information to explain my gaming experience. Before building my own PC I was a solid console gamer since I was a kid and have owned nearly every major console at some point, so controllers come naturally to me. Ever since though I've adapted to mouse and keyboard controls for better aiming during online playing, so I'm pretty adept with both control schemes.

The controller is a good size, and although an unfamiliar concave shape it sits comfortably in my hands. It's made of a sturdy plastic and all the buttons and triggers feel great and precise. The single joystick is very smooth and not spongy at all like the Xbox One. The four buttons on the bottom of the controller are great for configuring hotkeys or mapping buttons for actions and reloading so you can continue running around and shooting. Overall the controller is the most comfortable I've tried other than maybe the PS3.

The first negative I've found is the D-pad. It's very large (probably too large) and very easy to get lost on. If you remap the joystick to the D-pad it would probably work really well for moving your character around, but I think it would be just as effective if it were half it's size (I think it's mostly that big to match the track pad on the right). The next negative are the bumper buttons by the triggers. They're slightly curved and stick out too far. You get used to this so it's not a huge issue, but the shape of the Xbox One bumpers are much better. The next thing I found are the A,B,X,Y buttons are too small, about 50% smaller than on the Xbox One. It'll take awhile to get used to their new size and location. Otherwise my biggest issue is the track pad. I really wanted to like it, and practiced enough with it to beat 75% of Portal 2, but I don't think it works anywhere near as well as a joystick. If you just slide your thumb around you will roughly have a vantage point of 45-75 degrees depending on your FOV and mouse settings. However unlike a joystick to keep turning around you either need to move your finger to the center and slide again, or flick your thumb across the pad to turn further. You basically need to flick and plant your thumb to quick turn and aim. You'll be able to turn very quickly, but mastering this technique would take a lot of practice, and still wont feel as natural as a joystick.

To summarize on how to perfect the design of the controller:

1) The bumpers need to be reshaped closer to the Xbox One.

2) Make the arrows on the D-pad more distinct and shrink it down about 50%.

3) Enlarge the A,B,X,Y buttons and place them in their natural position where the track pad currently is (every single controller since the NES has used that layout).

4) Replace the track pad with a second joystick where the A,B,X,Y buttons currently are.

I think with this design (with two parallel joysticks in the center) you get a good mix of what works best with the PS4 and Xbox One controllers and the new functionality and smooth precision of the new Steam controller. Of the consoles the Xbox controller feels the best, but I've never been a fan of the joystick positions (and they're way too spongy, I always have to fix them when I get a new controller). If the Steam controller was redesigned with the changes listed I think it would be the best controller available for any platform.

i would like to see it to belive it. all you need to do is sent me or you can post here my friend the amount of hrs you have been playing cosoles games on xbox or ps i will take a look at it! and i hope you right about the steam controller is the best! me dont worry about me if dont you for steam, i love you staem. i beem playing games for over 30 year and i aint nobody my friend!!!!

[petition]

Originally posted by Sir TapTap:

IMO the "d pad" track pad is the one that needs to go actually...I've never had a game actually use it and have it be useful beyond a really clunky d pad replacement. Right pad is great--except when emulating an analog stick. Left pad is...literally why is it there. It's kinda neat to do the two finger keyboard, so far that's absolutely it.

Stick a real d pad or second stick where the left pad is IMO, though I don't think the controller can really be configured to have two analogs while keeping the right track pad. And maybe it's because I'm a righty, but I feel way more comfortable using the right pad as a mouse so I'd want to keep the pad on that side.

when do you mean the left pad is the one using for aming or move the camara around?

[cmh175]

Originally posted by minego:

Originally posted by cmh175:

I just explained how this controller is already better than the Xbox One. The suggestions I made are more of a cross between the PS4 and Xbox One. No controller is available with that design, let alone the Steam functionality as well.

You suggested removing every unique feature of this controller. If you want something that is a cross between a PS4 and XBone controller then why would you even consider this?

You guys seem really hung up on this. I didn't suggest removing everything, just the size and location of certain things and replacing the track pad with a joystick (which seems to be a pretty popular idea). Otherwise everything else I mentioned is mostly nitpicking. The main appeal of the controller is the built in Steam functionality.

I tried the controller because I'm not a huge fan of the Xbox layout (One and 360) and the PS4 is a bit of pain on the PC.

Originally posted by petition:

i would like to see it to belive it. all you need to do is sent me or you can post here my friend the amount of hrs you have been playing cosoles games on xbox or ps i will take a look at it! and i hope you right about the steam controller is the best! me dont worry about me if you not work for steam i beem playing games for over 30 year and i aint nobody my friend!!!!

I have no idea what you're saying here. If you're referencing what I said I mentioned that to say I'm not biased between KB/mouse and controllers.

[petition]

Originally posted by cmh175:

Originally posted by minego:

You suggested removing every unique feature of this controller. If you want something that is a cross between a PS4 and XBone controller then why would you even consider this?

You guys seem really hung up on this. I didn't suggest removing everything, just the size and location of certain things and replacing the track pad with a joystick (which seems to be a pretty popular idea). Otherwise everything else I mentioned is mostly nitpicking. The main appeal of the controller is the built in Steam functionality.

I tried the controller because I'm not a huge fan of the Xbox layout (One and 360) and the PS4 is a bit of pain on the PC.

Originally posted by petition:

i would like to see it to belive it. all you need to do is sent me or you can post here my friend the amount of hrs you have been playing cosoles games on xbox or ps i will take a look at it! and i hope you right about the steam controller is the best! me dont worry about me if you not work for steam i beem playing games for over 30 year and i aint nobody my friend!!!!

I have no idea what you're saying here. If you're referencing what I said I mentioned that to say I'm not biased between KB/mouse and controllers.

do you had evr play console you known you can post here the amount of hrs you had played any game. i trying to find out how good was you skills in cosoles to take note but i just want to help for better exp on pc in the future. thk and if cant find out how to post profile from psn or xbox live here add me ill help you