controller for steam games

[DarkZeipu]

Hey fellow gamers. I have a question. I'm getting into playing games again on steam and want to know what's a good controller to use to play them.

Is there on that's like universal that'll work on all or what? Please help. All the times before I just used the keyboard and want to try a controller. Please and thank you for those of you that take the time to answer. :)

[SHUBBAR]

xbox controller is the best

[Aliquis Freedom & Ethnopluralism]

Previously I would had said the Xbox 360 controller, it's likely still the defacto controller and what the games expect and something the Steam controller in various ways emulates in those games (or does it use Xinput (some other name?) and Xinput is the standard but 360 the most used controller? I don't know.)
At-least the 360 controller would work excellent.

But by now Steam has introduced their own controller and maybe they have some title which work uniquely or at-least best with that. But their controller is completely different and uses touchpads rather than analog sticks so it may not at all be what you want and even if it is maybe you'd want both or what not.

Xbox 360 controller with cable works.
Wireless Xbox 360 controller sold in a PC-kit work (what about the other one?)
Wireless Xbox 360 controller with a third-party copy of the original receiver for USB should work.

Beyond that I guess whatever USB-controller should work too?
The Sony Dual Shock 4 works with DS4Windows which I uses and InputMapper, might be support in the Linux kernel for it too?
The Xbox One controller works in Windows at-least, you need to get a wireless receiver for it.
The Nvidia Shield controller work if you have installed Nvidia Gameworks, you need to have an Nvidia card connected to be able to install it though (I used that but don't have it connected and the controller still works.)

So in short & TL;DR: Xbox 360 controller.
Steam exclusive controller: Steam controller.

So what about the others? What are the advantages?

360:
+ Cheap
+ Regular batteries.
+ Standard
- Battery pack on the backside.
- Directional pad is round.

One:
+ Best quality impression.
+ Regular batteries.
+ Good battery life time.
- Very clicky keys (IMHO, maybe you like it, they aren't mushy but distinct.)

DS4 (DS3 works too):
+ I feel I have better control over the analog sticks than on the One.
+ Mushy responsive / spammable keys.
+ Touchpad which emulates a mouse.
Connects by bluetooth.
- Worse quality.
- Built in battery (you can order compatible batteries and open it and replace it.)
- Short battery life.
- Possibly more laggy than the One controller? (I've seen some video where it lags but I haven't really tested it myself, also is that only when connected over Bluetooth?)

Shield:
+ Large
+ Also good button and analog stick design.
+ Long battery life.
Connects wirelessly with the Shield with Wifi Direct but that doesn't work with PC AFAIK.
Touchpad but it's cheap and inprecise and not at all comparable to a laptop or the DS4.
- Round directional pad.
- Nvidia only just for the sake of it.
- Built in battery.
- At-least previously weak rumble with no power difference working for me.

Steam controller:
+ Lots of settings.
+ Let you use motion for in-game functionality, such as low sensitivity joystick/aiming for instance.
- Lots of settings.
- Non-standard layout.
- Touchpads.

The controller I would recommend is the 360 one because I think it's nice and that the One controller may not necessarily be an improvement in performance (but I haven't used the 360 one for gaming on the PC and compared it), I say that based on button and analog stick responses, possibly shoulder buttons too, the directional pad on the One is Nintendo cross style and better though, but it's clicky. One win the quality impression by far.

The two I own however are the DS4 and the Shield, I know the shoulder buttons break and that the analog sticks wore out on the DS4 for people, and the built in battery are weak and not a regular AA battery. It feels kinda mushy and cheap if one use it for a while and I guess I shouldn't had kept it but the One or Shield one instead. Reason I kept and used it was because it felt more precise in shoot 'em up games and like the quickest directional pad and button presses for fighting games and such.
Shield one I actually like, it's larger and the buttons may be softer and I have no idea about the quality of the, the touchpad feel very cheap and the directional pad isn't the one I want. I also think it's horrible that it needs full Geforce Experience package as drivers, it has no wireless support for the PC and the battery is built in. However I have the same feeling for the buttons and analog sticks as with the DS4 but an Xbox like ergonomy and a good size and that make me feel it's a nice controller to hold. Also if the vibration can't change in intensity that's worse. (The One have vibration in the trigger buttons but I don't know whatever any PC game uses that. Similarly the DS4 have six axis and you can read that but what game uses it?)

My recommendations for Nvidia would definitely had been to use a Sony/Nintendo style cross, improve the touchpad (but it works, it's just imprecise and feel cheap), use normal batteries, make it work with Wifi Direct for PCs if that's possible. Then it would had been my choice - now I'd always recommend the 360 one because it's the standard and it's cheapest and it's a good product.

Games will show Xbox buttons in instructions with Xbox controller and with the Sony controller I don't think it shows Dual Shock buttons but still Xbox controller buttons.
At-least in Hammerwatch using the Shield controller it shows specific Shield controller buttons, I don't know if it does so for all games, the top buttons have the same name and colors like on the Xbox so regardless what you see on the screen will match what you have on the controller.

[DarkZeipu]

@Etnopluralism nice (but long) description there. But it gives me an idea of what controller to get now. Thanks!

[DarkZeipu]

@Shinogekai yeah i really liked the 360 controller a lot so I may just get one of those to start out and if I need (or want) another one or brand I'll get something else. I was thinking 360 from the get-go but wanted to ask what everyone else preferred and somesuch before deciding.

[Aliquis Freedom & Ethnopluralism]

DarkZeipu původně napsal:

@Etnopluralism nice (but long) description there. But it gives me an idea of what controller to get now. Thanks!

Shorter:

Cheap: Xbox 360.
The best? Xbox One Elite?
Steam hacker (unique as a)snowflake-enthusiast: Steam controller.
Nvidia fanboy / Shield owner / cloud gaming enthusiast: Shield controller.
Sony owner: The Dual Shock you already own.
Xbox guy or gal: Xbox controller.
Nintendo guy or gal: Possibly the pro controller (some of the controllers aren't analog on that if I remember correctly.)

;)

Shortest: XBOX

[MancSoulja]

Xbox one controllers are awesome, but the USB cables that come with the play and charge kits are awful cheap crap.

I'd go with the 360 pad personally.

[Tragedy15]

I personally use a wired 360 controller. I used a Dualshock 4 before I got the 360 pad, and I used a Dualshock 3 before I got my Playstation 4. Out of those three controllers, I would say the 360 is the best, but that's just my personal opinion. I can't think of a single time where I've had a compatibility issue with it, while the DS3 and DS4 didn't always work for me. Can't say much about the Xbox One or Steam controllers though because I've never even held either one.

Just go with an Xbox 360 pad.
That's what I use and that's what I'm going to recommend.

[Zulwarn]

Wii U Pro controller, Steam controller, PS3/PS4 controller, or even the Xbox One controller. They even have Logitech based controllers if you wanted that. I personally would go with the Xbox One controller, Steam controller or even the Wii U Pro controller. Good luck.

[Aliquis Freedom & Ethnopluralism]

{OG} Tragedy15 původně napsal:

I personally use a wired 360 controller. I used a Dualshock 4 before I got the 360 pad, and I used a Dualshock 3 before I got my Playstation 4. Out of those three controllers, I would say the 360 is the best, but that's just my personal opinion. I can't think of a single time where I've had a compatibility issue with it, while the DS3 and DS4 didn't always work for me. Can't say much about the Xbox One or Steam controllers though because I've never even held either one.

Just go with an Xbox 360 pad.
That's what I use and that's what I'm going to recommend.

Are the DS4 packs emulating a 360 controller or any controller? Do you know of any game you could mention which doesn't work with the DS4? I can understand how it may not emulate/act like a 360 one perfectly though (then again I can also see how it does that.)

[Spawn of Totoro]

I use a Logitech F310 for a long time, as I like the feel of the PS style controller better. On sale, it runs for about $15 USD, while normal is $20-$25 USD. No rumble, but well made and works great with any game that requires an X-Box type controller.

The Steam Controller is my new favorite though. It works with any game, even those with out controller support, and can be configured in many diffrent ways. It takes some getting used to, as it has a touch pad instead of a second analog, but it is more responsive and controllable then the F310 and even the 360 controller I used to use.

If you want an inexpensive controller and can live with out rumble, get the F310. If you want one that you can configure and even use on your desktop, the Steam Controller is great.

[DarkZeipu]

I guess I can try the 360 controller to start and then try all of the other ones after that. Since I'm more of a Sony fan, I tend to stick with those controllers, but after playing the 360 so much, I've come to realize just how good of a controller it is. So, I'll try that one out first. Thanks for all the suggestions everybody! :)

[Aliquis Freedom & Ethnopluralism]

It's cheaper and works.

If you already have DS3 or DS4 use those.

If you want to get more controllers later then I'd suggest the Steam controller instead because it's more different to the rest and compliments more rather than being more of the same. I have no idea whatever they could throw out a version 2.0 based on how people have reacted to it, since it's so new I guess they may not want to do that and that this will be the one they will have for (quite?) some time.

[DarkZeipu]

Yeah I do and can try out those ones as well, but I keep seeing everybody mention the Steam controller. I didn't know they had one...till I found out that Steam made their own console a little while back. Shows you just how much I pay attention lol. But then again, it has been a loooong while since I've been on here.

[Silicon Vampire]

I have never used any controller as I never could stand how they felt and worked...

I absolutely love my Steam controller. I'm playing games I never have before as they are better with a controller but I could not stand to use one before.

Yes, it has a bit of a learning curve but it allows me another form of input, even on my desktop which helps with my disabilities.

[ReBoot]

I prefer the XBox 360/One gamepad. Only works in games that are programmed for it, but a majority of games nowadays is. And no learning curve whatsoever. Plug it in, start game, start playing.