Feeling Like I Should've Bought Steam Controller...

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temps 14 hours ago

Been playing games lately on Steam and I've been looking over the list of games and thinking "good with controller? or not?" and this line of thinking is affecting what games I end up playing a lot. Because FPS games , even with controller support, just don't feel right when played on a controller. Keyboard & mouse is just so much better for those games.

But... typically the game types I like (sci-fi stuff), and military shooter FPS games, tend to be games that don't work so great with a controller because they're FPS. There are games appropriate for controllers but they tend to be types I'm less interested in (medieval games, fantasy games, where you play a character with a sword who fights in melee combat...).

I'm really starting to see the appeal of the Steam Controller now because I want a controller that's a bit better at playing FPS games than the usual Xbox Series S / X controller. And I don't feel like playing them at the desk so I can have the comfort of laying on the couch or in bed while playing with a controller.

The Steam Controller seems like a logical solution, with improved aiming ability in FPS games because of the trackpad, paired with the comfort of being able to play while laying down or reclining in a recliner chair.

But... unfortunately Valve doesn't offer Steam Controllers for sale anymore =/

Rumors on the internet are that a Steam Controller 2 might be coming soon, but unfortunately I haven't heard anything from Valve about it...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fs2Yh1PFwM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=breMfRr-0Ks

Leaks about new controllers from Valve... codenames ibex and roy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yVavY8-a2Q

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Showing 1-12 of 12 comments

Bad 💀 Motha 13 hours ago

Just go get a good controller from 8bitDo. They have a wide selection and they are generally all good

_I_ 12 hours ago

steam controller is wonky to use
no sticks, just the touchpads

better off with 8bitdo*, ds4/dualsense, or xbox s/x controllers

*steam link hardware, android and some apps do not properly see 8bitdo controllers

Electric Cupcake 12 hours ago

The trackpads on the Steam Controller and Steam Deck are better than plain analog sticks, but still not as good as a proper mouse+WASD.

inverted Y, of course. Only weirdos do it the other way.

Last edited by Electric Cupcake; 12 hours ago

Bad 💀 Motha 12 hours ago

Originally posted by _I_:
steam controller is wonky to use
no sticks, just the touchpads

better off with 8bitdo*, ds4/dualsense, or xbox s/x controllers

*steam link hardware, android and some apps do not properly see 8bitdo controllers

You tell Steam your 8bitDo controller is either Xbox and if that alone does not work, then Nintendo Switch. I have plenty of them no problems, even streaming on another PC with Steam Link or using Steam Link on a SMART 4K TV

Last edited by Bad 💀 Motha; 12 hours ago

temps 12 hours ago

Originally posted by _I_:
steam controller is wonky to use
no sticks, just the touchpads

Steam Controller has one stick...

ugafan 12 hours ago

See if you can pick up a used one with a dongle. They hold up fairly well long term, so even if it's used, you should still be able to get a lot of play time out of it.

Bad 💀 Motha 11 hours ago

Originally posted by temps:
Originally posted by _I_:
steam controller is wonky to use
no sticks, just the touchpads

Steam Controller has one stick...

Yes but to play most games where you'd normally use 2 sticks; then you'd generally be relying on the touchpad haptics; YUCK

temps 11 hours ago

Steam controller might be interesting to play Grand Theft Auto with. I've always felt like GTA games needs a controller because driving is more fun with a control stick to control the vehicles in the game, and just to run around with your character.

But the shooting aspect of the game sucks with a traditional Xbox controller.

Steam controller gives you 1 control stick to control your vehicle, and perhaps a better way to aim/shoot using the Steam Controller trackpads. Might be interesting to try with GTA games.

Bad 💀 Motha 11 hours ago

All the GTA games plays just fine with a Microsoft, Sony or similar controller. But what you need to do there; if it's GTA5 or Red Dead Online; is change the in-game controller settings to "Free Aim" so you are not put into Lobbies in the Online with people using any sort of "Auto Aim" assist.

smokerob79 9 hours ago

if you know how to solder repairing old 360 controllers is a great option....they still have the widest support....

i got lucky and got a EBAY auction of 7 for 20 bucks that turned out to be 5 new controllers with soda and gunk spilled in them.....clean up with a sonic cleaner and they are really close to new....

#10

_I_ 9 hours ago

the x360 dpad is a joke to try to use as a dpad or stick
and x360 controllers do not use the same pot modules as x1, ps3 and newer controllers

they are larger and not compatible
you can replace the x360 usb cable with a standard one tho, it will just lose the breakaway/adapter end

Last edited by _I_; 9 hours ago

#11

ugafan 8 hours ago

Originally posted by temps:
Steam controller might be interesting to play Grand Theft Auto with. I've always felt like GTA games needs a controller because driving is more fun with a control stick to control the vehicles in the game, and just to run around with your character.

But the shooting aspect of the game sucks with a traditional Xbox controller.

Steam controller gives you 1 control stick to control your vehicle, and perhaps a better way to aim/shoot using the Steam Controller trackpads. Might be interesting to try with GTA games.

Yes, I do find it much easier to aim with a Steam Controller compared to an Xbox controller. Other controllers with gyro will also be easier to aim than Xbox controllers.

However there are two downsides which you should be aware of. Most games, including GTA games, switch between controller button prompts and mouse and keyboard. So if you're playing with the controller, but but have the trackpad to behave as a mouse, on screen it will display keyboard keys instead of gamepad button prompts whenever you aim. This can be annoying because it switches back and forth and there is no way to set it to show only gamepad buttons.

Secondly, although mouse combined with gyro is much better for aiming, you do have to set it up properly. It takes more effort to dial it in how you want it. It's sort analogous to buying a tv that doesn't look so great out of the box, but once it is calibrated, then it looks very good.

If you are interested, here is a video that covers setting up gyro.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0uSfda_-Rc

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Date Posted: 11 Jul @ 7:34pm

Posts: 12

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