Dave2D

Steam Controller Review - This Was a Triumph!

The speaker, accustomed to mouse and keyboard for competitive shooters, has historically avoided controllers due to their perceived lack of accuracy. Mice, being position-based input systems, allow for precise, muscle memory-driven movements where stopping the mouse instantly stops the cursor. In contrast, joysticks are rate-based, translating stick angle into velocity, meaning the cursor continues moving until the stick is reset to neutral. While controllers are used by many competitive gamers, the speaker finds them less accurate than a mouse and keyboard, which explains the common availability of aim assist for controller users. Two methods for introducing position-based input into controllers are gyroscopes and touchpads. Gyroscopes measure tilt, acceleration, and velocity, translating these into precise positional input. Sony was an early adopter of touchpads, but primarily for secondary functions, with movement and aiming still reliant on sticks. The original Steam Controller, however, was a pioneer in using touch-sensitive areas for primary controls like walking and aiming. This original model featured two touch-sensitive areas but lacked a traditional D-pad and had only one analog stick. The speaker found it lackluster upon its release, primarily due to its deviation from traditional controls and the significant tweaking required to make it compatible with most Steam games.