I've seen a lot of reviews about this controller from people who used the early releases, and there is one thing I want to say to them: "Early Release", there are always slight changes to a product before it is released to the public.
Alright, now that that's over with on with the review. I got this controller on Friday, 11/13/15 and it is now 11/15/15 and this is my 2 day review. I have grown to believe that this is a great controller. It has tons of features and buttons and little "hidden" program options. For instance, I can program one of the touch pads act as my mouse with a specific sensitivity, slight actions depending on gestures used on it (like track ball emulation), and inverted axes. There is also a "Mode Shift" option that lets you configure the Touch Pad with completely different settings if you do a soft pull on one of the triggers (or any of multiple other buttons). Example of this: I am weird and when playing a game I control the camera with the X-axis inverted, only if I'm using a controller, however when I go into "aim mode" or look down my scope or whatever, the steam controller lets me switch the Touch Pad to not having the X-axis inverted and to decrease sensitivity. (I apologize if that was a difficult sentence to read) The cool thing is I can actually change the "style of input" completely with this mode shift, so I do a soft hold of a trigger and my mouse turns into a touch menu, or a scroll wheel, or a button pad (Like for going through a menu). Basically there's tons of things that can be done to make this controller work the way you want it.
You don't have to program each and every game from scratch, there are 3 templates (by default) and you have access to the community shared configurations created by other people. Sadly I noticed that as of right now it is a little difficult to take your configurations from one game to the next (Like taking configurations from Assassin's Creed II to Brotherhood). Configurations are saved in the following locations: "%ProgramFiles%\Steam\controller_base\templates" is for templates and "%ProgramFiles%\Steam\userdata\%your steam userid%\241100\remote\controller_config\%specific game code%" is for each specific games. You might find it easier to make a configuration a game that is blank or defaulty and name it what the game is to make it easier to figure out the game codes while browsing around.
There are tons of buttons on this controller and you can program them in whatever weird ways you want too (they even sound like weird ways to configure them). The 2 triggers are analog as a soft pull, and when you do a full pull it becomes digital, so you can program each as to different things. In addition when programming the analog stick, you can program a specific button press/action if you take the stick all the way to the end. For example, while playing Warframe I have the analog stick configured so that once push it all the way in one direction it hits the Sprint button, than when I do a soft pull on the Right Trigger I go into a crouch/slide, and finally when I finish that pull on the Right Trigger (turning it into a Full Pull) I go into a jump. This makes parkour work amazingly. I've turned holding W and Shift to Sprint, going into a slide by holding Control, and tapping Space to jump, into only using an analog stick and pulling one trigger.
Some of the reviewers I've read have mentioned the gyroscope for the controller, and you know what? That's configurable, so don't act like it's forced on you. It's actually really cool and I'm looking forward to using it with the Rift. I haven't used it much but I can actually set it up so that if I'm setting in a spinny chair while holding the controller, and I spin, the my character spins! Now that wouldn't be useful for right now when your trying to play a game using the monitor in front of you, but you don't have to program it like that, maybe your flying and you actually want to "Pull Up!" you could set it up like that.
Last week I read a review from someone who fell in love an early release of this controller and compared it to switching from QWERTY to DVORAK. At first I disagreed, but as I've used this controller more I can agree now. I can play these games that I've been playing for years or even a new game very well with a mouse and keyboard, but that's because I'm use to my keyboard. (I can hit most keys on my keyboard without looking at said keyboard). The point is, trying to use the Steam Controller is just like when I tried to switch to DVORAK years ago. I could very easily right now switch back to keyboard and mouse and forget about the $50 I spent on this controller because it isn't instantly easy to use. However, there are so many options that it could actually make my life easier in a lot of ways if I learn how use this controller. Heck, this controller could very well increase my gaming experience. What I'm trying to say is, don't knock it until you've spent the time to try it our properly. This controller has so many configuration possibilities that everyone online could have a different setup even though they're playing the same game.
Steam MUST be open to use the controller yes that is true and there's no way to get away from it, but once the controller is working, you can use it as a normal mouse. Steam does not need to be your active program, at least on Windows, no clue on other operating systems. That is one thing that is sad about with this controller. I WISH that there was a plug and play component of this controller that would revert it to specific settings that make it act like a normal controller. D-Pad is just a D-Pad, touch pad acts like an analog stick, to be used as an analog stick, but it's not. That's my one complaint about this controller.
All in all, I've fallen in love with this controller. Even though it's only been 2 days of using it...of course I've gamed pretty much all of that time (minus a few hours to sleep). I'm strongly recommending this controller for people to use, but remember this is the first release of this controller, but Valve spent a lot of time designing this there is a reason it wasn't released over year ago. The most important thing to remember about this controller is, programming. Do NOT expect to open up Fallout 4 click some random configuration for the controller and everything to be happy days. Your going to be click that Steam button, go to controller config and be remapping buttons for the first 2 hours of the game. Yes, that makes getting into the game a little tough, but once you get a basic setup for a 1st person shooter, you'll be able to build off that for the next one you play. And I say 2 hours because you'll be going back to make minor changes a lot, you could be playing the game for an hour after your last change and than say "Hey I think it would be better if I did this." OK, I'm finished you can stop reading, get this controller and remember it's completely different from any other controller out there.
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From the manufacturer
PLAY ALL YOUR STEAM GAMES FROM YOUR COUCH
The Steam Controller is an innovative input device that allows you to play games from all genres, including traditional gamepad-style games as well as games usually reserved for play with a mouse and keyboard. The Controllers are wireless and completely configurable.
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Steam Controller is nice for Automation of Games or Apps
This controller has done one thing so far for me that I couldn't achieve without writing my own program for the xbox 360 controller and a usb receiver (which I'm done doing):It has allowed me to hit one button to end my turn in Hearthstone.Let me explain, and if you have a similar situation in a game that you play maybe this controller is a good fit for you. In Hearthstone there is no keyboard shortcut for 'end turn' which you literally do 20 times a game (about 5-10 minutes per game). You have to move your mouse to a button and click it. I know I'm lazy but it just feels wrong that there isn't a keyboard shortcut for something you do all the time.So in the controller software (through steam) if you want the 'Y' button to be your 'end turn' button, click into the diamond of buttons area and tell it to use 'style of input' to 'button pad', then set 'hold to repeat (turbo)' to 'on'. Go back and now program the top right touchpad to have a mode shift (top right of interface). (I know its weird but bear with me) It goes into another screen (see screenshot). Make 'Mode Shift Button' equal to 'Y', now tell it to be 'Mouse Region' and set it to the settings from the attached image. Now whenever you press the Y button, it will move the mouse to the button and press it (due to turbo on and mouse region). The only issue I have with this is you can't really use say the 'A' button anymore to say be a left click because you set the whole control button area to 'Hold on Repeat (turbo)' so that when you press the button it clicks the left mouse button over and over again. I use the right trigger (soft press) as left mouse button and I use the analog stick to move my mouse (style of input: 'joystick move' and output: relative mouse')The only other thing I will mention, I'm not sure if Blizzard counts this as a 'cheat' but I have not been banned yet. The only worry I have is the fact that the mouse jumps to same X Y position every time you press it. I would assume if you were ever banned you could just send them to this review.The only reason I took off a star, is the lack of a D-Pad. The top-left touch pad is just not the same as a directional-pad on something like a Playstation controller.
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Adam
Everything a PC game controller should be....unless you race...or fly stuff
Reviewed in Canada on June 11, 2017Edition: ControllerVerified Purchase
Amazon Customer
Buen controlador, pero...
Reviewed in Mexico on January 5, 2017Edition: ControllerVerified Purchase
イサ
If you know what you are getting yourself into
Reviewed in Japan on July 21, 2017Edition: ControllerVerified Purchase
francesco PC Gamers
Steam Controller bellissimo comodissimo, ma non a questo prezzo
Reviewed in Italy on April 21, 2016Edition: ControllerVerified Purchase
francesco PC Gamers
Reviewed in Italy on April 21, 2016
tanto per cominciare ha 2 tasti Trigger in più sul retro che premerete con il dito medio o l'indice,quindi in totale ci sono 6 tasti completamente configurabili+ i soliti 4 pulsanti YXBA, contro i 4 tasti trigger e 4 pulsanti degli altri pad, poi come potete vedere anche dalle foto che ho postato manca lo stick analogico di destra,che è stato sostituito con il d-track,in poche parole funziona come il mouse dei pc portatili o come il tasto centrale del pad della PS4, all'inizio sembrerà strano visto che molti di noi siamo cresciuti con i classici pad della sony\ms, ma una volta presa la mano sarà talmente comodo che non vorrete più tornare indietro al classico pad,,in oltre il pad funziona su tutti i giochi esistenti anche i vecchi classici come baldur's gate,dragon age origins ecc, è configurabile come volete tramite steam che passa in configurazione big picture come potete vedere dalle immagini da me postate sul mio pc,
in poche parole per me è Consigliatissimo logicamente pagandolo 59 euro o ancora meno in saldo
io l'ho pagato su Steam a 32 euro visto che è in offerta fino a metà maggio se non mi sbaglio, e comunque costa 59 euro a prezzo pieno sia su Steam che al GameStop,quindi non capisco il perchè dei 150 euro richiesti per lo steam controller..
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