Anyone use a Steam controller?

Was thinking about picking up a Steam controller to use with my recently acquired Steam Link. I realize it's not your average controller and would take a certain amount of acclimation. My main concern, though, is being able to move back and forth between it and the Xbox One controller I usually use, since I also have a number of games on other digital distribution platforms.

Is it worth picking up, or should I instead consider getting a second Xbox controller?

 

Personal preference, really. I got one, and as much as I tried, I didn't care much for it. It's well built, and felt sturdy, but for me it was too much of a deviation from a traditional Xbox controller, and I didn't use it all that often, it was just too much of an adjustment. If I used it more frequently and exclusively, it probably would be OK. If I play something that needs a controller I still reach for my trusty old Xbox 360 one.

 

i agree with HTWingNut, i got one quite a while ago, i also have a cordless 360 controller and well, i used the steam one for a week, trying my hardest to validate it, its now sitting in a box somewhere at a family members house, it just felt wrong for me, having only one stick and the touch pad was to hard for me to find accurate, it wasn't good enough to use instead of a mouse and keyboard, and if im using a controller 360 just worked better, perhaps im just too used to the microsoft one, like HT if i had have tried it for longer perhaps, but then again if it an't broke why fix it, 360 for me any day.

 

I was looking through some Steam Link support documents, and apparently the DualShock 3 is compatible with it. I have no problems going back and forth between Xbox and PlayStation layouts, so there wouldn't be a learning curve there. Then I'd get a DualShock 4 for use with my PlayStation TV, as the touchpad would be beneficial for a few games on that platform.

 

I have one and find that, while a mouse and keyboard is still my preferred interface, it's better than a 360 or dualshock (at least in my mind).

 

I made a video in it a while back.
I hope it's helpful.
In a nutshell, once you get used to it It's far more potent than a controller. But never better than a mouse. It took me about 1 month to get the level I'm playing at in the video (no aim assists on here either).
There is a learning curve - you'd be forgiven for not wanting to deal with it too. Weening myself from using a pad in GTA5 wasn't an easy task but I'm glad now I did.

I find it best in games like GTA5 where driving with a mouse is simply goofy. Basically any game (except driving games) where I can't use a mouse, I'll use this.

 

Thanks for the video. I wouldn't be using the controller terribly often, no more than a couple hours a month. As such it would probably take much longer to get accustomed to it and I don't think I'm prepared to deal with that.




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Yes if that's the case give it a miss. I ate alot of time working out what all the settings do which was half the battle. The main thing I like is it offers a more analog solution to controller gaming.
If you're only gaming a couple of hours a month just jump in and stick to what you're use to.

 

Just so you know, the ps4 controller now has native support in steam. It's something out of one of the last client builds, the ps4 controller should be treated as a steam controller. Of course, it only works in steam games.

 

Okay alright, so.. I will be sticking to my X360 controller too then.

I am in the same position as OP and it is basically a few hours a month only

 

I know but the DS4 makes more sense to use with the PSTV since the touchscreen would be supported there.


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Yep, but if you're not sure about purchasing a steam controller, and plan to purchase a ds4 for the pstv, imho it would be better to buy a ds4 and use it with both pstv and steam.

 

I would have to re-pair the controller between devices, and if I wanted to do that, I would just use my Xbox One Bluetooth controller when going back and forth between my computer and Steam Link since I vastly prefer its layout to that of the DualShock.


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I just ordered a steam controller during the Christmas sale. It seems the underside buttons should give the fingers supporting the controller something interesting to do. I like the idea of replacing one of the sticks with a pad for better sensitivity control. Thanks for the video post. I'll have to tweek all the settings once it arrives. Any thoughts on the haptic feedback?

 

Yeah the underside buttons are great and start making sense after you unlearn that the face buttons shouldn't be used as primary / secondary buttons as with a conventional controller. The haptic feedback is extremely helpful to know how much velocity you're putting onto the touch pad.
Good luck!