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[Wiles]

The thing I'd miss most is the D-Pad. Most of the games I play on my television using steam's "big picture" mode are indie platformers like Spelunky. Though I'm guessing we'll be able to use other USB controllers on a steam box anyway.

[Descan]

Uhm, am I the only one that things the placement of those four buttons seems really good? Like, it doesn't seem that hard to move your thumb up left or down left, or up right or down right.

Personally it's marginally better than the "cluster of 4 buttons in the top right of an asymmetrical controller" that Microsoft and Sony can't get off.

[Hugehead]

Overview of the controller from Tommy Refenes, apparantly it's pretty good.
http://tommyrefenes.tumblr.com/post/62476523677/my-time-with-the-steam-controller

[Shadowlord]

It's interesting to see a controller step away from the dual analog design. I think I'd be hesitant to pick it up before trying it out myself though. I've never ever liked trackpads.

This. Of course with what they say about the super magical force feedback, maybe they've solved the problem of making a sensible trackpad.

[miauw62]

Uhm, am I the only one that things the placement of those four buttons seems really good? Like, it doesn't seem that hard to move your thumb up left or down left, or up right or down right.

Personally it's marginally better than the "cluster of 4 buttons in the top right of an asymmetrical controller" that Microsoft and Sony can't get off.

Hey, Dualshocks are symmetrical. (Also I really like Dualshocks and can't get the hang of the ABXY buttons 360 controllers have )

[Rilder]

The steam controller might be okay. (And this is from someone who as a rule hates controllers)

I guess it would depend on how expensive it is though.

[10ebbor10]

Some more information about steambox specs.

[Catastrophic lolcats]

If anyone is curious there is now a gameplay demonstration of the steam controller. It demonstrated Portal 2, Civ 5 and Papers Please. All of which are very mouse heavy and the controller seemed to perform decently well. It still likely to be crippled in most PC games due to the lack of hotkeys which is particularly noticeable in the Civ 5 gameplay where actions are incredibly slow.

Unfortunately they didn't show off a precision platformer like Super Meat Boy or a console aRPG like Dark Souls which is where the performance of the controller I'm the most interested in. I'm still standing by my assessment that the steam controller will perform worse in those genres, which to my knowledge, are the only genres where controllers are objectively better than keyboard and mouse. 

I know that the steam controller is not necessarily trying to be better than other controllers but instead offering an alternative to keyboard and mouse for people who want to PC game on the couch. However I still think there might be some merit in the trackpad design that could offer a lot more precision over a thumbstick. The design of the controller, particularly delegating the XYAB buttons to a much less prominent location, leaves a lot to be desired and seems to lack some utility as a general controller.   

[Sensei]

Some more information about steambox specs.

Ok, so the Steamboxes they're unveiling now are literally just computers with the SteamOS preinstalled. Not exciting, but expected. I'm still curious as to what the other Steamboxes will be, since apparently there are indeed others. The only thing I can think of is a dedicated streaming device in the vein of Apple TV.

[Chaoswizkid]

Ok, so the Steamboxes they're unveiling now are literally just computers with the SteamOS preinstalled.

That's... that's what the Steamboxes are. They are pre-built PCs. With PC stuff in them. Also, SteamOS.
Why did you think they were anything but that?

[umiman]

Maybe he thought they were minature steam power plants.

[Descan]

Maybe he thought they were building entirely new hardware that every game in your library needs to be converted to run on. :v

[Sensei]

They've been talking about different levels of steam boxes, and they're still saying they have more to reveal. They certainly make it sound like they have more up their sleeve than just a second gaming PC you can put in your living room to compliment your other gaming PC you probably already own.

[Wiles]

If anyone is curious there is now a gameplay demonstration of the steam controller. It demonstrated Portal 2, Civ 5 and Papers Please. All of which are very mouse heavy and the controller seemed to perform decently well. It still likely to be crippled in most PC games due to the lack of hotkeys which is particularly noticeable in the Civ 5 gameplay where actions are incredibly slow.

It didn't look too bad in the fps games but at the same time It really didn't look very smooth, if you watch while he's aiming at the targets it moves stops and moves again. However it looked downright janky playing Civ 5.

[10ebbor10]

Steambox revealed. (ish)