My idea of a Steam Controller would be someone who smacks me in the head anytime I consider opening a Steam account.

(I honestly have no opinion on Steam, I just saw a chance to make a wisecrack based on the topic title)

My meaning was not to say that it is illogical for Valve to make it a Steam-specific controller (even if some of its functions can work also outside of Steam).

What I am saying is that I dislike this kind of trend where PC gaming gets even more shattered, where you'd need to buy gaming hardware based on from which PC digital store you mostly buy your games. Earlier I said that I might even like something like the Steam controller to become a defacto gamepad controller for PCs (considering how it caters also for mouse-controlled games), but now that it became clear Valve is pushing specifically the Steam service with it, I wish the opposite. Hopefully other gamepad makers, like Microsoft and Logitech, take some good ideas from there to their future gamepads that work with all Windows games (Steam games included, mind you).

Yes, I would also dislike it if GOG.com came with its own GOG controller which works mostly only with games bought from GOG. Or, Microsoft's next XBox PC game controller wouldn't work that great outside of Windows Store games. It might be logical for them to do it, but it wouldn't make me like the decision any more.

Or. Diablo 3 requiring always-on internet connection for single-player: yes I can certainly understand why Blizzard did it, and it was a perfectly logical move from them, yet I still disapprove that decision. Or Windows 10 wanting to spy on you, or whatever...

I really don't get your argument that if it is logical for someone to do something, then he/it is automatically above any criticism, and one can't dislike them for decision, due to the ramifications it may have.

Do take into consideration that he Steam controller haven't been out for very long yet, and though they built it for Steam first, is there anything that says they won't allow it to work stand-alone if enough people demand it? Or even planned to do so a while later?

Until then, then... I think some have suggested 3rd parties (like users) might make some solutions of their own for non-Steam gaming, but I'd rather not rely on such hacks.

Anyway, what I wish to happen is that some other gamepad vendor with no other affiliations (say, Logitech) takes good ideas from the Steam controller, and makes an universal PC gamepad that works and is supported for all Windows games (and hopefully also Linux, Mac etc...). And that becomes the true de facto standard for the next gen PC gamepad.

MS at least had the decency to not to make the PC XBox gamepad favor Windows Store games/service, at least not yet...

Both M$ and Logitech have been slacking off for ages on that front.

Yeah I don't believe that at least Logitech will set new standards for PC gaming, they are mostly followers. Sometimes they do come up with their own new solutions though, like the uniform "Unifying" wireless receiver which supports several of their wireless devices, using only one USB port. Not sure if Bluetooth has made that obsolete though, nowadays wireless PC peripherals seem to use mostly BT.

I believe MS probably pushes now XBone gamepad as the de-facto gaming pad for PC games too, and for any more innovations on that front, we need to wait for the next console generation, if such ever comes. If next gen consoles would use similar mouse-mimicing gamepads as the Steam controller seems to be, maybe console FPS games would be playable at last.

True, but they do seem to prefer that you play XBox games instead of Windows games. Valve made a solution to stream (Steam) games from the computer in your room/office to the Steam Link plugged in to the TV/projector in your living room, while Microsoft opted for the opposite - streaming from the XBox in your living room to the computer and smaller screen in your office.

At least they're consistant, I feel exactly the same about that controller as I do Steam itself.

At the moment yes, but that is set to change and the Xbox will stream in the opposite direction in future, that is why the Xbox is getting keyboard and mouse support soon- so that it can be used to stream games from Win 10 to whatever you hook it up to. Still, using mouse and keyboard isn't always a good option sitting in front of a TV...

am i missing some new development from steam? 'cause the last time i read reviews of the steam controller, it's still considered an overpriced, cheap-feeling, easily-broken piece of shit.

It seems to me that in recent years design has began to become the most important part in a product, I mean look at this overstyled (or over-stylized ?) atrocious piece of garbage: theres no functionality. I mean is it too hard to add a fucking second thumbstick ? Oh no, wait, Im sorry, thats what these shitty "trackpads" are for...gamepads dont have to be revolutionized.
Id rather use my old Nintendo 64 controller...

Perhaps you would like it if we were still stuck with the NES pad or 1 button joysticks but then the N64 pad comment stretches the credibility of these type of posts enough as it is.

I used the exaggeration to show my discontent regarding this monstrosity of a gamepad.

I'm curious if you've had a chance to try out the Steam controller.

I've spent a meaningful amount of time with it, and, while I think there are times where a 360-style controller works better, that the Steam controller is excellent in many cases.

The trackpad on the right is, in most cases, far superior to a second thumbstick. You have rapid aiming that's similar to a mouse. Sure, you're probably not going to be MLG-level or anything, but for me, who gets sore rapidly using keyboard movement but wants something close to mouse-like precision, the Steam controller is excellent.

I feel it's more of a third pillar (KB+M, 360-style pad, Steam controller) and I use what's best for the job.