Want to play Steam titles in the living room? Well this handy new device, the steam controller will allow you to do just that.
The controller is set to be sent out to 300 consumers for a thorough beta test. It features 16 buttons, a touch screen and a pair of trackpads with haptic feedback.
It will come supporting the full catalogue of curent Steam titles and can also be fully configured by the player. The inputs have been compared to that of a desktop mouse with the trackpads allowing for ultra high precision aiming and control.
The touch screen can be used to display game information i.e map and can also be used as a clickable button. Tools will be available so that users can fully customize their controller. Valve stated:
We set out with a singular goal: bring the Steam experience, in its entirety, into the living-room, We knew how to build the user interface, we knew how to build a machine, and even an operating system. But that still left input – our biggest missing link. We realized early on that our goals required a new kind of input technology – one that could bridge the gap from the desk to the living room without compromises. So we spent a year experimenting with new approaches to input and we now believe we’ve arrived at something worth sharing and testing with you.
This haptic capability provides a vital channel of information to the player – delivering in-game information about speed, boundaries, thresholds, textures, action confirmations, or any other events about which game designers want players to be aware.
Are you going to be getting the steam controller? Let us know your thoughts via the comment section below.
Source: CVG
