and this won't be that much good. When I first bought my laptop, I didn't have any mouse for it, so I was playing every game with a touchpad

It fucking sucked. For every damn game.

Now I have a mouse with 3600 dpi, which is average, and I can't imagine playing RTS or FPS games on anything else. Unless I would like to loose. A lot.

I don't know... I have only used laptops the last 10-15 years, and I am playing a lot of games with the touchpad only. I guess it is all a matter of habit and muscle memory. I can see myself using this controller, as long as the feel, size and wight of it is correct. I have no problems with pads, screens and buttons so far, that is only a matter of habit in the long run, as long as it ergonomically constructed.

I agree a trackpad is not as good as a mouse, for playing mouse games.

But it is still much much better for mouse games than e.g. an analog stick. Try playing the same RTS or FPS games with an analog thumbstick instead. :)

So my point is that this device could possibly emulate both a mouse and an analog stick. Maybe not as good as the real thing in either case, but still better than trying to emulate a stick with a mouse, or vice versa.

So it's worse than a controller when it comes to arcade games, like fighting games, and worse than a mouse for RTS and FPS games. To sum up - it's not really good at ANYTHING. I'll need to see some presentation of it, because I really try to not be skeptical as hell, but I am :P

With a good or average mouse, you can cover entire screen with a cursor on around 1.5 square inch surface and be able to move as little as 2 pixels at a time if you want. Precision is everything in online FPS or RTS games.

Ok, it's better to use a touchepad than analog stick for RTS games, but it's still worse than a mouse. If I wanted to play in my living room for some crazy reason, I'd rather bring wireless mouse and keyboard with me. Just give me a small surface to move it on (like my cat's ass), and I'm set.

It could be good for emulating both gamepads and mouse passably, in one device.

It is a similar case as why most people are not playing racing games with a wheel and pedals but a joystick or an analog gamepad. They don't necessarily care even if it isn't the best possible controller for the game, as long as they have a controller that works passably.

I am mostly interested in this in case it proves to be a passable gamepad for FPS and other mouse games, as I personally hate using analog gamepads for FPS, considering also that it is not always so easy to use wireless keyboard and mouse from the couch either while gaming.

Wait a minute, the trackpads ARE concave already! So it seems Valve was thinking exactly the same I was pondering before. :)

Yeah exactly. Doesn't sound like it's best at anything, even from the generally positive reports. If its sole purpose is to be a decent but not equal emulator for mouse control on the couch then color me ambivalent.

That's surprisingly positive stuff.

For all the ridicule, this is something that could work. It certainly has potential for higher precision than you can ever expect from a typical controller. Not sure about the button placement though.


My thoughts exactly! :D

It always amazes me how the gaming community reacts to anything new with hostility while at the same time bemoaning the lack of innovation in the industry.

I've read a few impressions now and every one that has used the thing is impressed with it, how you immediately notice how much more responsive it is and how it really does feel like you are pressing buttons. Plus the four face buttons are apparently just place holders until the touch pad is added.

This could be the biggest thing to happen to game controllers since the N64, how about we at least give it a chance before getting out the pitch forks?

My jerk reaction was, no thank you. I think mostly due to it being so radically different than anything, but I'm also curious to see if it works. It being different isn't a good reason not to give it a whirl. It would kinda have to be different to do what they need it to.

My only serious concern at this point is the lack of tactile feedback. The ridges may help but have to see.

Very interesting and unique controller. I look forward to seeing it in action.

Nice! I've been pondering this idea for a few years now, and I'm happy to see this implementation. Hope it actually does improve on the standard gamepad precision. Still, make no mistake, this is (or tries to be) a better gamepad, not a mouse-substitute. That would require something far more revolutionary.

All things considered, I'm curious how this will go.

looks horrible hopefully plays great.. only thing what we should do.. I don't have sofa and most importantly living room was ist das?

By experts, do you mean clueless biased journalists (edit : I mean, like the guys who reviewed ROME2) ? I didn't check the chitter links though.