Valve’s entering the hardware game. As masters of service delivery, they’ll soon be deploying licenced third party hardware in the form of Steam Machines; little Linux-powered set-top boxes that die-hard Pc gamers can wilfully ignore. I’m far more interested in Valve’s revolutionary controller with its odd haptic feedback.
The controller’s meant to make PC-centric genres like FPS and RTS games a little easier to play on a controller. That’s great news because as accurate as they are, a mouse and keyboard combo is backwards office tech and has no place in modern videogame input.
Valve set out to re-invent the controller and over the years theirs has gone through a number of changes. According to what may be the latest reference design, it seems to be becoming more and more like a traditional console-esque gamepad. It now has a left thumbstick, for people who aren’t stuck in 1996 and are afraid of change.
Check it.
This comes via Steam Database who found the image buried deep within the latest version of Steam’s beta client files. The last physical revision of the controller has been criticized rather heavily, with PC Gamer saying that they "didn’t once feel comfortable, in control, or that Valve’s hardware configuration was in any way an upgrade over a controller with analog sticks"
I think it’s probably better for the thing to have an analogue stick – though I think it would be better if it had two, scrapped the weird unwieldy haptic sensors and was in fact just a standard, tradition gamepad, because those are pretty much perfect already. Right?
Last Updated: July 24, 2014
Umar GAAAAHH!!!
July 24, 2014 at 08:36
It’s about time someone posted up the real purpose of the KB+ M
Sith JJ
July 24, 2014 at 08:42
*intended purpose
Just like the intended purpose for a car was transport. But I’m not going to buy a Ferrari because I need to drive to Namibia.
Admiral Chief Saxon
July 24, 2014 at 08:43
Right, my KB and mouse vs anything you got, lets go UMAR!
Umar GAAAAHH!!!
July 24, 2014 at 08:45
You don’t want to mess with me now,okay. I’m armed with a ball mouse and I’m not afraid to use it!
Sith JJ
July 24, 2014 at 08:46
So you’re bringing a knife to a gunfight? 😉
Admiral Chief Saxon
July 24, 2014 at 08:46
Huehuehue
Umar GAAAAHH!!!
July 24, 2014 at 08:48
Ball versus Optical? You tell me which one will win in a fight….Balls my friend…Balls will win everytime
Admiral Chief Saxon
July 24, 2014 at 08:49
FRIKKIN LAZORS
Umar GAAAAHH!!!
July 24, 2014 at 08:52
You’re playing with your life son, this ain’t laser tag! This is balls to the wall street fighting!
Admiral Chief Saxon
July 24, 2014 at 08:55
*shoots umar with frikkin lazor in eye
NOW YOU CANNOT SEEEEEE
Sith JJ
July 24, 2014 at 08:49
LOL
Admiral Chief Saxon
July 24, 2014 at 08:46
Bring it!
http://d3dsacqprgcsqh.cloudfront.net/photo/agyRO26_460sa_v1.gif
Sith JJ
July 24, 2014 at 08:46
Donner
oOqUiS
July 24, 2014 at 12:31
HAHAHAH terwyl sy geslaan word sy sommer gevloek ook!
Hammersteyn
July 24, 2014 at 08:50
She hits like a girl. oh wait.
Sith JJ
July 24, 2014 at 08:43
For those interested. And those who can believe it.
EA sales on Steam.
Admiral Chief Saxon
July 24, 2014 at 08:44
Say what now?
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 24, 2014 at 08:56
I’m guessing pre-Origin days games right?
Viking Of Science
July 24, 2014 at 08:56
From What I can gather it looks like racing games…
Admiral Chief Saxon
July 24, 2014 at 08:58
Well @johnambitious:disqus was looking for a racing game, so there
Viking Of Science
July 24, 2014 at 09:00
I’ve been thinking about Burnout Paradise for a while now, myself…. Maybe after I’ve made more progress in the backlog, it is on sale often…
Sith JJ
July 24, 2014 at 09:00
Burnout Paradise is really great fun.
Viking Of Science
July 24, 2014 at 09:01
Would you say more fun than say… a mid 90s shooter made by Romero? 😛
Sith JJ
July 24, 2014 at 09:03
loooool
Possibly. But the 90s have a way of surprising you
Sith JJ
July 24, 2014 at 09:00
Always looking for a racing game. NFS only counts as arcade though.
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 24, 2014 at 08:59
EA AND racing games? Double pass.
Sith JJ
July 24, 2014 at 08:59
Looks like a bunch of the NFS titles. So there’s the Uberkak like Most Wanted there if you missed out and feel like you have hours of your day that you need to waste away.
Mossel
July 24, 2014 at 09:02
Yeah I check Shift 2 is on special. I need a nice racing game, really liked the first Shift.
Sith JJ
July 24, 2014 at 09:03
Shift 2 sounds like a plan.
Mighty Meh
July 24, 2014 at 13:25
Just be warned, there are some problems with Shift 2’s input lag. I was playing it with a logitech g25 and was loving it. That was until you start driving faster cars, eventually it made the game unplayable for me. Maybe you will have more luck.
VampyreSquirrel
July 24, 2014 at 08:44
That controller still looks freaking weird… could be fun though.
Sith JJ
July 24, 2014 at 08:44
That what she said?
VampyreSquirrel
July 24, 2014 at 09:13
Actually yes, it is.
Mossel
July 24, 2014 at 09:20
hahahaha!!! what a gem.
Sith JJ
July 24, 2014 at 08:45
My first optical mouse was an MS mouse like the one in the header. Still have it. Still works.
Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim
July 24, 2014 at 08:47
Mine was the very same mouse. It died last year – after many, many, many years of reliable service.
Sith JJ
July 24, 2014 at 08:48
I think if I used mine actively through the years it would’ve died by now as well, but man I loved that thing. Excellent response.
Admiral Chief Saxon
July 24, 2014 at 08:48
My Razer mouse is older than my relationship with my wife…9 years
Sith JJ
July 24, 2014 at 08:49
Knowing Razer it probably cost about the same too. 😉
Admiral Chief Saxon
July 24, 2014 at 08:50
Nah, back then it was R650, considering 9 years (and NO faults), I say that is a PROPER investment
Sith JJ
July 24, 2014 at 08:52
Mine was R650 last year. Considering average inflation that mouse cost you about R1,200 in today’s money. So yea. Expensive as hell once off, but cheaper than a marriage 😉
Admiral Chief Saxon
July 24, 2014 at 08:55
Marriage is also an investment, what you put in (huehuehue) you will receive back in abundance
Sith JJ
July 24, 2014 at 08:59
I read ambulance first. Hehe. But abundance. Yes.
🙂
Umar GAAAAHH!!!
July 24, 2014 at 09:00
That too is a true statement lol
HvR - Still dislikes Random.or
July 24, 2014 at 11:28
I got the black one late 1999 or early 2000 also died last year (the left click button).
Was my main gaming mouse and my main day job mouse for 2 years, up until last year I only gamed on PC, so:
All the C&C games (replayed the first two about half dozen times)
Both Starcrafts
All the Warcrafts
All the HL games
Cookie clicker broke it…… RIP
Umar GAAAAHH!!!
July 24, 2014 at 08:52
Mine was a genius mouse…oh
Sith JJ
July 24, 2014 at 08:53
Dum dum duuuuumm!!!
Admiral Chief Saxon
July 24, 2014 at 08:54
So you WERE a genius eh? No longer!
Hammersteyn
July 24, 2014 at 08:48
With the thumbstick the controller is now complete
http://weknowmemes.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/what-valves-new-steam-controller-really-does.gif
Skyblue
July 24, 2014 at 10:00
LOL!
Sir Rants A Lot Llew
July 24, 2014 at 08:49
http://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/original/2/22563/1316623-obvious_troll.preview.jpg
Hammersteyn
July 24, 2014 at 08:49
Where?
Sir Rants A Lot Llew
July 24, 2014 at 08:50
*facepalm*
Sith JJ
July 24, 2014 at 08:50
So obvious. Who wears a white blazer if he’s not a cocktail waiter? 😉
Admiral Chief Saxon
July 24, 2014 at 08:51
Yeah I mean really, wtf is up with that.
Actually I’m more concerned with the lady (bottom left) and her choice of attire
Sith JJ
July 24, 2014 at 08:52
Damn hippies.
Admiral Chief Saxon
July 24, 2014 at 08:53
Everywhere!
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 24, 2014 at 09:04
Not really, it’s the wrong colour.
Sir Rants A Lot Llew
July 24, 2014 at 09:31
*sigh*
Admiral Chief Saxon
July 24, 2014 at 08:56
This argument is ONLY valid if you ONLY play on KB and not KB and MS.
The kb+ms combo is and will always be best.
Viking Of Science
July 24, 2014 at 09:07
This is my current KB + Mouse Setup
a Zmerc and an X7 laser mouse… And I’ve been using these since 2006… So that’s what… 8 Years? Oh, and I’m on my second X7, it did have that very thin cord problem…
http://tpucdn.com/reviews/ZBoard/MERCKeyboard/images/merc_title.jpg
http://store.donanimhaber.com/39/fa/ca/39FACA1BCE6ACD68F7CC0E2AF0759E5E.jpg
Praise Lord GabeN
July 24, 2014 at 09:40
Sexy! But you should consider a mechanical keyboard, you won’t regret it.
Viking Of Science
July 24, 2014 at 09:49
I’ll go Mechanical when it dies… I’d struggle to replace the old Merc… I doubt they’re still being made…
Skyblue
July 24, 2014 at 10:02
Too loud. I switched to a SS Apex when my last kb died. The noise on the mech’s put me off.
Skyblue
July 24, 2014 at 10:03
Great kb that. I used one for years as well.
Rags
July 24, 2014 at 15:12
The preferred mouse by many top Quakers :>
Ross Woofels Mason
July 24, 2014 at 15:50
I honestly prefer a keyboard and mouse for a lot of games. Especially RPG’s, the witcher, skyrim, mass effect, last remnant, final fantasy XIV Found all of them far more enjoyable on keyboard, though something like transistor and bastion controller is king.
I don’t care if it’s backwards office tech, I will keep my mechanical keyboard and space age mouse with far too many buttons =p.
However I am very keen on this controller, been thinking about picking up an XB1 controller for my pc when they hit but might rather hold out and get one of these.