[section_title title=”Introduction and Specifications”]
Introduction & Specifications
Manufacturer: Valve
Model: Steam Controller
UK Price: £39.99 @ Steam (at time of review)
US Price: $49.99 @ Steam (at time of review)
For as long as I can remember, every console seems to be remembered for the controller. From the Nintendo 64’s odd 3 pronged controller to the more modern and sleek PS4 and Xbox one controllers, every major console has had a controller that is synonymous with the system. For PC, many have always proclaimed the superiority of mouse and keyboard but another way of looking at it is that since the PC has spanned so much time, every controller has been a “PC controller”, it’s just that some adapters needed. So when Valve announced the Steam Controller, I was immediately curious and excited. Could this finally be the iconic PC controller to be paired with the PC as a gaming machine? Would it be able to displace the Xbox 360 controller as the PC gamer’s controller of choice? These were the questions I had in mind when I started to take a more in-depth look at the controller.
Specifications
These are the specifications as listed on Valve’s Steam Controller page:
- Dual trackpads
- HD haptics
- Analog stick
- Dual-stage triggers, each with 10° of travel, a magnetic flux sensor, and a tactile switch
- Gyroscope and accelerometer sensors enabling tilt-to-steer racing wheel functionality and other motion-controlled input
- Configurable controls
- Local multiplayer capability, as supported by games
- Wired or wireless (dual mode)
- USB 2.0 via Micro USB port (cable not included)
- Estimated 5 meters of wireless communications range. Actual results may vary.
- Provides up to 80 hours of standard game play using the included AA batteries during preliminary testing. Battery life will vary based on usage and other factors, such as type of batteries used. Actual results may vary.
FPS games are always going to be the hardest nut to crack when it comes to competing against a mouse and keyboard, I do like the Steam Controller however when using standard buttons, its more cramping than a traditional Xbox360 controller for me.
Yeah, I 100% agree buddy!
Not as precise as a standard controller? are you serious??? This is way more precise, especially for FPS games, once you get the hang of it and a bit of practice under your belt.
Also, expensive? Really? this is not something I’ve heard before. The cost is comparable to other wireless controllers.
These are good points, for me though when I tried my normal Speed run route of Dark Souls 2 I couldn’t keep my camera in the spaces I needed. Plus as I mentioned the controls (buttons and stick) feel looser to me, its really noticeable in Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth. Price-wise, its about 15 more than a wireless Xbox 360 controller in the U.S. to me it seems expensive (for how I felt it performed) but its honestly a subjective call.