Steam Controller vs DarkWalker ShotPad - Trackpad Gaming Reviews
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 มิ.ย. 2024
- A review of Valve's Steam Controller and the DarkWalker ShotPad (aka the IFYOO GTP01, or also the IINE Mouse-Pad Pro Controller). This breakdown/analysis/comparison examines their shape, button layout, comfort level, and functionality to determine which is the better trackpad controller for people who want to be able to game on a handheld controller, but who want to use mouse-like aiming instead of a typical thumb stick. There are assorted Pro's and Con's to each device which might make one better suited than the other depending on your needs and interests. Both options can include a gyroscope for gyroscopic aiming, in addition to the trackpad. This video shows gameplay footage of these controllers in action for Killing Floor, Stardew Valley, and Dragon's Dogma, plus a look at some of the Steam Input configurations for the Steam Controller.
00:00 - Introduction
02:00 - Steam Controller Overview
02:59 - Darkwalker Shotpad Overview
04:17 - Darkwalker Shotpad Review
09:49 - Steam Controller Review
16:21 - Outro/Conclusion
Other hardware seen in this video includes
- 8bitdo Pro 2 controller (classic game boy style color scheme)
- HexGaming PS4 "Hyper" controller (customized red/chrome color scheme)
- Elecom Deft Pro trackball (finger operated)
- Elecom EX-G Pro trackball (thumb operated)
- Dygma Raise mechanical/ergonomic split keyboard (left half)
All music used in this video is CC1.0 provided by FreePD.com:
- "Martini Sunset" by Kevin MacLeod
- "Arpent" by Kevin MacLeod
- "3am West End" by statusq
- "Limit 70" by Kevin MacLeod
- "Favorite" by Alexander Nakarada
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gyro, touchpad, trackpad, track pad, touch pad, gyroscope, gyroscopic control, motion control, PC, PS4, Xbox, PS5, Xbox SS SX, Console, Linux, Mac, Steam, Valve, analogue, joystick, keyboard, mouse, trackball - เกม
This is a well-timed video, as I purchased and received both of these controllers last week (mine is wireless though, not wired). Bellow I would like to share some info that might be useful for people considering buying the Shotpad.
The shotpad has 3 brand names:
- DarkWalker Shotpad
- IFYOO GTP01
- IINE Mouse-Pad Pro Controller (I bought this for 35€ at AliExpress... And a few days later, I found it was 32€ from the same seller).
The DarkWalker/IFYOO/IINE is just a keyboard (with less keys) & mouse/trackpad combo in a gamepad shell. I bought it as an alternative to my Steam Controller for games like Horizon: Zero Dawn and God of War (2018) that don't accept mixed inputs (gamepad and mouse at the same time). I want mouse-like precision while playing with a controller on my living room couch, but I really don't like to have an in-game button icons showing keyboard buttons when I have a Xbox type of controller on my hands. So if I'm going to have keyboard button icons, I want keyboard keys on my hand and the IINE does that.
One thing that I can't avoid to notice is that the wired version looks like a commercialised prototype. First, no gyroscope for a controller clearly aimed at FPS/TPS games? Second, what is the purpose of those 4 leds at the left of the trackpad?? On the wireless version with the gyroscope, each of these leds have a function and icons near them to indicate what they represent. From top to bottom: Battery, Gyro, Roll and Yaw. None of this makes sense in the wired version. So unless you really hate FPS/TPS games and just want to play keyboard & mouse strategy games, buy the wireless version.
Also, in the wireless version, you can adjust the sensitivity of both the trackpad and gyroscope separately in 6 preset levels. From levels 4, 5 and 6, you also have mouse acceleration.
The Gyro has 3 modes: Manual (only while holding one or more buttons of your choice), Classic (always on) and deactivated. In order to use the manual mode, you need to set one or more buttons that the manual call as "Action button" and this can be any button except the Fn (Function) button. I don't remember from the top of my head if you can chose trackpad click as an Action button, but you can't chose trackpad touch as you can with the Steam Controller.
That was a long text. If someone has any question, let me know.
Definitely agree about the wired ShotPad feeling like a prototype. The four LEDs were clearly visible in the store page when I bought it so I assumed they would be used for some kind of status display, but they don't serve any purpose on the wired version. They do glow every so slightly when plugged in, but obviously in that case the only status they're indicating is that the device is plugged in, but the lights are so faint it just looks like ambient light reflecting off them, not that they're actually emitting light.
So it's a clear example where they had a shell for the device already manufactured and then just cut out the gyroscope and battery to sell it at a cheaper price, then seemingly heard feedback from people complaining about the position of the Function key and swapped it with the Alt key, but then also took away the Y key to make THAT the settings key. That one really bothers me on the wireless one, because I actually use that Y key a lot on the wired Shotpad, so it sucks to lose an input in a good position, and it concerns me to have a settings button mixed in with regular gameplay buttons. Like, they really should've made an all-new button somewhere in an out-of-the-way position for the settings options. And not having a way to adjust the trackpad sensitivity on the wired version (which is included in the wireless version) is a serious design flaw.
@@TheNocturnalRambler I wasn't aware that there was an Y key present in the wired version that was left outside of the wireless version. That's a bad move.
The Shotpad is a good product, but I still see some room for improvement:
- Why not 6 face buttons instead of just 4? Just move the mouse scroll slight to the left and add 2 more buttons to the left side of the buttons C and V
- Additional Fn activated inputs for the face buttons and the yellow buttons at the right side; that would add at least 7 extra keys.
- A smaller trackpad could allow additional buttons to it's left side. Those buttons could be F1-F6 and F7-F12 if holding the Function button.
- A second trigger buttons at the right (and both triggers would act like Left and Right Mouse click).
- A second shoulder button at the left side as well.
- Maybe a fourth or even a fifth button at the right side.
- Touchpad touch could also be programmable to activate the gyroscope, just like the other buttons (Personally I'm fine doing that with left and/or right mouse button click, but I've seen people asking for that)
These are just a few ideas to reduce the gap between the number of buttons available from a real keyboard.
Hello, I have the steam controller but if it's not a steam game I can't use it... I have games that I download from the internet and I would like to use the steam controller but it doesn't detect them.. :( Is there a way? If there isn't, I will buy the other controller too
@@TheGuitarnob you have to add it to steam as non steam game
THIS is how you review the Steam Controller!!!
I have been using the SC for a couple of years now, but I enjoy watching and critiquing how new users try it out.
Most of the newer reviewers out there just download community configs and complain about how choppy the input feels, so I’m glad you actually took the time to make your own configs and explore what Steam Input has to offer.
Amazing review! I'm always pleasantly surprised by smaller channels like yours
What a loser. Sucking up to TH-camrs.
The trackpad on the shotpad feels like the people who made it clearly never used touch input in their lives. The thing sucks to use in a way that makes it hard to understand how a human received an income to bring it into the world.
But why ? Is it because of the material or because of the shape ? Because if you're talking about the shape I actually understand why they did that, they probably just tried to recreate the feeling of a phone before it's the main device you'll use a touch input on. And as a mobile player, it doesn't look that bad.
@@Cobra_08YT ngl I was gonna type a whole rant but nah. Just know it’s not the shape of the controller. The input isn’t calibrated intuitively and it shows a distinct lack in the field experience of the people involved
@@micah4539I wonder if there’s any difference in the quality of the trackpad between the wired and wireless versions?
I just got the wireless and while it definitely doesn’t feel great (especially for me, considering I’m used to the absurdly fantastic Apple trackpads), it also doesn’t feel anywhere near rage-inducing for me.
There’s a distinct lack of smoothness to the movement, and I can definitely see the cursor just kinda jaggedly jumping around when I’m moving it either too fast or too slow. But it always goes where it needs to go in the time I expected it to do it. It’s serviceable. It’s even, I would say, good enough.
Fantastic video. Honestly wish there was a new contrlller with the extra features of the Steam Deck's controls for PC, and with the adaptive triggers of the PS5 controller.
I think that the problem with Steam Controller (and in fact similar purpose devices) is despite all their functions being undoubtedly great, they go against what most people expect from controllers in comparison to keyboards - accessibility. Casual gamer expects controller to be plug&play, and as you stated, one needs to be a dedicated player in order to apreciate the layers of complexity of such controllers.
Well... That is true to a certain point, as Steam Input being like a tool box really requires time and effort to learn how to use it, something that many players don't want.
However, the fact that players can share controller layouts to the community is already enough to justify a Steam Controller even for those who don't want to learn anything about how to create controller layouts.
Carlos already touched on an important subject, which is that the Steam Controller can be relatively straightforward to use by selecting pre-made layouts that function exactly like a regular controller, but with simply swapping out the right joystick for the trackpad, and maybe adding some extra functions onto the back buttons. I for one had a much easier time adapting to the Steam Controller than I did the ShotPad -- it was just all the time spent digging into the configuration settings to make a more advanced layout that did all the little things I wanted it to (and figuring out how to do it all just right, in some cases) that took the extra time and effort. Whereas on the ShotPad I had to develop more muscle-memory to get used to the different button layout, and still had to remap a lot of the in-game settings to put things in more sensible positions.
The big issue I would guess is that most people are just accustomed to one particular type of input device, and they've gotten so used to it that they see no reason to branch out and try different things. I question how many console gamers actually care about having mouse-like aiming in a gamepad, for instance, if they've spent the last 20-30 years gaming on a thumbstick and feel perfectly content with that, which means I don't see the ShotPad appealing to very many console gamers at all. I was admittedly the same way when the Steam Controller came out: "I already have an Xbox controller, and I already have a keyboard and mouse, do I really need another controller to do what I can already do on either one of those?" I severely underestimated it, and judged that it wasn't worth the $50 or whatever it cost when it was new, and then was out of the loop when they went on that $5 clearance sale and missed the boat. But having actually tried it now, sporadically over the last year, it's been a literal game-changer.
Really hoping for a Steam Controller revision to come out. With the commercial success of the Deck, it would be perfect when docking to a TV.
So I’ve owned both wired and wireless shot-pads.
The difference being they swap the alt and fn buttons around. And the wireless has a built in gyro functionality with sensitivity controls.
I like the wireless more for using it as the main aiming device. The gyro really helps with sniping and the finer mouse movement if you can get the learning curve down.
The wired is better for a half controller half mouse imo because all fingers get a button to press as a command.
I do wish that they would swap the mouse button click to the “E” position as that puts your had in a more optimal position to aim. The great thing is that your pc sees it as a keyboard so its easy to rebind the keys to whatever you want.
I have totally rebound the buttons to be more like a standard controller layout.
Overall I like it a lot and play helldivers 2 with it.
I completely agree with your review, but I have to say one thing: the Shotpad (or, in my case, the IINE Game Pad) is a dream come true for playing Tabletop Simulator in specific. I can’t imagine it being more than an ok controller for action games, but for TTS is shines bright as heck. And I haven’t tested it much yet with anything else, but I can imagine it being pretty great for any sort of game where you’re actually controlling a cursor instead of a character - so, stuff like Civ, or RTSs.
So, yeah, the Steam Controller (or, better yet, the Steam Deck) is much better in an overall sense. But I would still highly recommend the IINE for people whose bread and butter games are non-action games with cursor control and lots of keyboard-activated stuff.
Wait... Did Valve accidentally make the best Gamecube emulation controller?
Valve just made one of the best controllers ever. So versatile.
Few days ago I was checking this out in Amazon, thanks for the detailed eview!
Years ago, the steam controller looked so strange to me. I've been a big fan of gyro ever since the first Splatoon introduced it to me, but I could not get behind the track pads on the SC. Now, I wish I'd purchased a pair of them. It's exactly what I want out of a controller for any shooter.
Hello brother, it’s me, the other slugcat
I don't play FPS games. I mainly got the Darkwalker Shotpad for older PC games that don't support controllers like Vampire the Masquerade, which works fine for me.
I have never expected this channel to review Steam Controller, I still got mine
I have both. I wish that the Darkwalker had a better key layout.
It's great to see the Steam Controller getting some love in 2024. I still use mine that I got back in the day. The back bumpers have gone a bit dodgy but otherwise it works great and I agree with everything you say about it here. Also give the cat a fluffle from me.
Bumpers are a real Steam controller disease. On my steampad the left bumper broke back in 2016 and the right one this year. Fortunately, the repair is quite simple.
We really need steam controller 2.0
It would be cool if Valve made a sequel to a Steam Controller, but the chances are unlikely due to the company that sued the original controller out of production because they have a patent on back buttons.
They released the Steam Deck, which has 4 back buttons. They could pretty much just release a Steam Controller 2 that is like the Steam Deck but without the screen in the middle (although I would still like to see improvements).
In the case of the steam deck, the same company did come after Valve, but I think they might've settled it out, so maybe there's a chance for a sc2.
@IcyXzavien Last I heard, Valve won an appeal in the lawsuit from SCUF, but there was hardly any news coverage about this and there hasn't been any other news since, so I'm not sure what the eventual outcome out that appeal was. This was back in late August 2021, so whatever happened Valve apparently felt comfortable enough to proceed with their design of the four back buttons on the Steam Deck, and there's been no news of any issue on that front. Meanwhile, there are plenty of other companies making controllers with back buttons -- 8bitdo, GuliKit, eXtremeRate, PowerA, Nyxi -- so I can't imagine they'd have those types of legal troubles with the Steam Controller 2. I fear the real reason we may not get a proper Steam Controller 2 is because the first one may not have sold well enough to justify the expense of making another one.
@carlosbarreto4695 I see this sentiment a lot about a possible SC2 copying the Deck's controls, but I personally would not want this. The big issue for me is that the trackpads feel like a huge downgrade on the Deck by being smaller, square-shaped, flat-surfaced, and in the lower position on the device. I think I also prefer the physical click of the SC versus the haptic click of the SD. The Deck grips feel wonderfully comfortable and the joystick/button layout is great when using those as the primary inputs, but the trackpads just feel like an awkward afterthought. So if they could re-design it where the trackpads are more like SC's, and placed up where the joysticks are, then I would probably be happy with such a controller. Sadly, that may not appeal to the mass market, who seem to predominantly use the sticks on the Deck over the trackpads.
@@TheNocturnalRamblerI obtained these items backward: First the Steam Deck and while looking for a Steam Deck-like controller for playing on TV, the Steam Controller. And so far, I just tested the Steam Controller, so I lack the experience to speak confidently about it (and now that I have the Steam Controller _and_ the Shotpad, I have two items that I need to spend time testing).
However, because screens are retangular, I have a tendency to believe that the square format is better than rounded one. Maybe two square trackpads near each other could make them work also as a bigger, rectangular trackpad, somewhat similar about what is present in the DS4 (but bigger). I can imagine that this could potentially create 3 trackpads: Left Trackpad , Right Trackpad and Big Trackpad (which could be useful for Mouse Region).
On the Steam Deck, I use the Steam Deck even for games that are not shooters or keyboard & mouse exclusives because radial and touch menus are too good to ignore. On the Steam Deck, I'm more confortable using touch menu than the radial menu. Maybe that's because of the squared touchpad... And perhaps I will prefer radial menus on the Steam Controller's rounded trackpad.
In any case, I still think that most players are ignoring the trackpad just because they ignore how awesome it is and how it can enhance the gameplay, whether by using it as an alternative to the right joystick in shooters or to use touch/radial menus. I'm using the right trackpad in Magicka and that makes a whole difference.
I'm definitely a trackpad enthusiast, although I don't think it should _replace_ the right joystick and (to a certain extent) the D-pad, like it happened with the Steam Controller. This is why I think Valve did well with the Steam Deck's controller.
I have some ideas about how a Steam Controller 2 could be... But I don't think these ideas will be seen anywhere soon.
I love the cat cameo! :)
I have both and agree with everything you said
Also figuring out how to customize the Steam controller carries over to the Steam Deck
And things like motion aiming and back buttons spoil you, to the point where you get annoyed that consoles lack this stuff
yeah. To this day, i dont undestand why the playstation and xbox controllers doesnt have back buttons. The switch at least has gyroscope, witch is nice...
@@gabrielnovaes7306 The Playstation has had gyro since the PS3's Sixaxis controller, it's just that games tend not to use it. My theory is that it's because the majority of popular shooters are cross-platform with XBox, which doesn't have the gyroscopes in their controllers. After Breath of the Wild brought gyro-aim to the mainstream on the Switch, Horizon Forbidden West included gyro-aim on PS5.
@@taliadxGod of War Ragnarok also supports motion aiming and I think TLoU2 also added it post launch.
At this point it’s just Microsoft holding back the mainstream adoption of motion aiming. It’s unfathomable that not even their “Elite” Xbox controllers have any sort of motion sensors.
I wish steam decks right track pad was about double the size so I could really have the mouse precision and a good 180° of movement. I know not practical if if we want to keep all of the buttons, but if steam deck has swappable controllers I'd keep a large track pad spare in my case for fps games. As it is I keep a numpad, mouse and kickstand at my desk for lunch time gaming sessions.
What mouse and keyboard is that 9 minutes into the video?
All the hardware that appears in this video is listed in the description. Those specifically are the left half of a Dygma Raise keyboard, and an Elecom Deft Pro trackball.
Can the steam controller be used on Series X using xim or Cronus? Haven't found anyone thats put out a video yet
What does the darkwalker controller show up as in steam input
It doesn't show up as anything at all, it's treated as a mouse and keyboard because that's effectively what it is.
Hello fellow unique controller enjoyer! I seen the Shotpad being sold at an used electronics store, I was tempted but also suspicious. The stick being digital on it is a deal breaker for me. My current setup on PC is a Hori TAC Pro with mouse, so I get true analog movement from the Hori and it has great ergonomic placement of the stick. This is great on my wrist as I dont have to do WASD. I like playing on thee couch too, so I got one of those padded boards people use for reading and I wrapped one of those long mousepads around it. Pretty comfortable setup for me now!
Hey nocturnal rambler what do think pf pillars of eternity 2 is it better than 1 or worse ? And have you seen neverknowsbest poe 1 review ? If so do you agree or disagree ?
Is with the Shotpad possibility to program it in Steam (like gamepad)?
The Shotpad is not recognized as a specific controller, your OS treats it exactly like a mouse and keyboard. I don't believe Steam Input allows you to program options for M/KB like you can with gamepads, so there's no way to customize settings that way -- only in-game settings for things like key-bindings or mouse sensitivity. Third party software like reWASD or RawAccel might help in those instances but I haven't tried any of that.
@@TheNocturnalRambler@therightman2031 It is possible using an app called reWASD. A bit clunky, and has a learning curve, but it works.
Your cat when you pulled the corded controller end away lol and had to brush the kitty paw away lmao 😂🥰
as someone who does actually play on half controller half mmo mouse the shot pad would appeal to me alot, however the lack of analog inputs kills it for me (all that grip stuff you said reminds me of the 3ds 😂). maybe one day there will be an all-in-one device that has both analog and keyboard inputs, or games actually start to accept inputs of both forms instead of either denying one or anxiously flickering between the two
wait i see a crack in front ifyoo? similar to some IINE stuff, damn the company only focus on OEM stuff.
Great review and comparison! I love my Shotpad but mainly for tactical/strategy games that rely on a floating cursor. I always found the Steam controller kind of stuck in an uncomfortable middle ground of trying to be familiar enough for traditional gamepad players but also be able to control traditional mouse-based PC games, and ended up not really satisfying either side. The sheer customization of it via steam input is a great thing but it's also the kind of thing most people will never really drill down into to find the right setup and get used to it as you did with Killing Floor.
Ultimately I think the Shotpad design is kind of what the Steam controller should have been, with a much more limited focus on making PC-style games (think stuff like cities skylines, civilization, total war, etc) playable from a couch with the assumption that people would just use regular xinput controllers for gamepad style games as they continued to do anyway. You also avoid any mixed input confusion and setup by making the device totally m/kb based, and the larger trackpad and overall design of the controller clearly shows it is not trying to be a gamepad replacement but instead do something else entirely.
The Steam controller felt hamstrung by using a gamepad layout, with a traditional button diamond and dual analog configuration only now with trackpads, and the people that was targeted toward just ended up using Xbox 360 controllers anyway. I like that the Shotpad just goes for it and makes something totally different and doesn't try to be another normal controller, with it's larger single trackpad and layout filled with keyboard and mouse inputs (in the same left/right orientation as a real mouse) showing that it's meant to be a replacement m/kb and not a replacement gamepad. The Steam controller did some great things like help popularize Gyro control, but after watching it falter back in the day it's hard not to imagine how things could have gone differently.
Good points. I think the Steam Controller could have been what the Steam Deck's controller are now: Full-fledged Xinput controllers with additional functions added (the dual trackpads, like the Steam Controller, plus twice the number of customised rear buttons) that, thanks to Steam Input, can give players keyboard & mouse functions.
Still, for an original - and why not to say revolutionary - idea in 2015, I think it still holds as a good controller even today until Valve decides to release a Steam Controller 2 that either export the Steam Deck controller or creates an even better version of it (which I hope will be the case).
Another point is that Valve should have made what was left for TH-camrs: they should have made clear and concise videos (with examples) of how to use Steam Input. Yes, they have documentation, but that only appeals for those who are dedicated to make a deep dive into the subject.
Finally, there where a LOT of horrible reviews - including by big names like IGN and PC gamer - made by people who didn't invest the minimum amount of time to learn about the product.
I mostly agree! I use the Steam Controller for all of my PC games, all of the time, because I can't use a mouse and keyboard for gaming. Overly mouse-heavy games are the hardest to get feeling right. I can sort of get around it by mostly using the gyroscope, as though the controller was a wiimote, and then dialling in using the trackpad for the fine movements. It's not ideal, but it's better for me than using a mouse most of the time.
That said, for games like Cities: Skylines, I tend to use the gamepad layouts they already come with. It's not quite as smooth as kb/m controls, but they work better than you'd think. After all, they do sell these games on consoles and they do pretty well on those platforms. Cities: Skylines is one I actually played on ps4, and it worked more than well enough, as did Jurassic World: Evolution. I'm currently playing Jurassic World: Evolution 2 on PC with my Steam Controller, and I made an idiosyncratic control scheme using keyboard and mouse inputs but swapping to gamepad for vehicle controls and... it works? It works well enough *for me*, because I spent the time to build it and tweak it, but honestly the gamepad controls were fine the whole time.
@@taliadx These types of games have definitely improved their gamepad support a lot in recent years due to how many console ports get made of them these days, but I still think for a lot of cursor-built games that the trackpad works better. Especially when you have to go from one region of the screen to another far region and don't want to tab through a bunch of stuff to get there. It is nice that they have good gamepad support but I still think the Shotpad or something similar works better especially for so many of the PC based games that were made before this recent time too
The Darkwalker is really promising for people coming from mobile gaming. To be competitive in FPS mobile games you need to use the touchscreen, fire with one of your left fingers, aim with the right thumb, and get a little assistance from the gyro functionality. The developers of this controller seem to understand all of that!
It would be great if this controller was compatible with mobile and tablets. And if it had a software on PC or MAC to adjust settings more precisely.
Great review btw! Keep up the good work!
Like number 420 :v
This is a very good video, I got a steam controller recently just because I tried to get a valve index too. Now both are considered aftermarket stuff, I guess.
I wanted the steam controller since launch, it is REALLY hard to get used to because I actually prefer the inner analogs position like playstation or the earlier 8bitdo controllers, so with everything inverted and with xbox type buttons in it, I'm lost. Still, I was able to edit the configuration for No Man's Sky and achieved with it what I couldn't with the dualshock 4 and dualsense for whatever reason - gyro while the multitool is out. It was a bit too much at first, but made aiming faster than ever.
After your review on how you configured yours for Dragon's Dogma, I'm specially interested in configuring it for Skyrim now. The added controls from mods will be a piece of cake for the steam controller.
Man, I wanted them to keep the screen they showed in the prototype. Or maybe have slight bumps/indents on the right pad too to represent extra buttons.
I love touchpads, but I stick to dualsense for 99% of games. Any good gamepad needs regular dual analog sticks or regular d-pad, some games just need those to feel right. I don't like how these controllers require you to use touchpad since no second stick. I can use Dualsense for touchpad mouse and gyro and thats enough for me
doesn't the dualsense have a touchpad
@@flamestoyershadowkill6400 Yes that's what makes it better than a regular Switch Pro or Xbox controller to me. I had the Steam Controller track pads in mind, I guess I could've phrased better
You've convinced me to just stick with the steam controller :)
Love the cat cameo lol
So sad that Valve seems to have dropped the Steam Controller. I have had 3 over the years and adore it. Recently gone back myself agyer playing a lot of Steam Deck recently. I could not imagine going back to a traditional controller for PC gaming. I am hoping that Steam Deck has given Valve the idea of giving Steam Controller a second wind. I'd snap one up.
SC2 Anyone?
I friggen love the dark walker! I have one myself and have had so much fun using it!
Homie brings you over for some split screen action and hands you this
Even if it's not a good controller, I like seeing new designs being explored
The first in nine years who decided to experiment with the Steam controller settings.
gonna copy/paste my reddit post here, with some additions, for more visibility:
Idk about the gyro version, but when I tried the wired version of the shotpad the trackpad felt stupid low resolution. Like, maybe 10% of what the steam controllers resolution is (this is especially noticeable when trying to make small movements by just slightly rolling your thumb around), at least to my feel (I put a sc trackpad sticker on the shotpad so I could feel how far I was swiping, and I couldnt get nearly the same amount of camera rotation even when maxing in game sensitivity).
I guess it makes up for that with size... But ehhh... Using trackpad for fast/big camera movements and gyro for aiming on the sc makes me think the trackpad doesnt need to be massive to get good results. At some point, the worse ergonomics cancel out the benefits of the larger trackpad.
now onto the additions:
For everyone who complained about the sc's trackpads being "like a laptop" - even though they are much higher quality - the shotpads trackpad does legit feel like the manufacturer had some spare bargain bin laptop trackpads laying around and wanted to do something with them. The shotpad does fit that "laptop trackpad blech" stigma a lot more than the steam controller does.
With any bespoke hardware, the software is what matters most. I've heard that the newer gyro equipped shotpad has support in rewasd, but considering steam inputs gyro rework and rewasd's bare bones trackpad support I'd still put the steam controller above the shotpad in the software department (especially because there are rumblings of a trackpad rework, which means even if rewasd steps their game up they'll be outdated again in due time).
the shotpad really seems to be more aimed at console gamers who play games that support kbm on console but they still want to use a controller. At that point, any trackpad and gyro is better than no trackpad or gyro. I wouldnt consider using the shotpad on pc, just because the steam controller is a much better option - provisionally, as you have to hunt one down due to being discontinued.
Kind of a final note...
something doesnt sit right with me. Tech Yesterdays thumb mouse, the Alpakka gyro only no right stick or trackpad controller, the shotpad, PyottDesigns controller trackball... all highly upvoted and all have people excited over innovation. people clearly yearn for what the steam controller was capable of, but when it comes to the steam controller itself? suddenly everyone is complaining about the lack of a right stick, as if all those other controllers dont also not have a right stick. Its bizarre.
Shotpad is my dream controller in concept. I hope to one day see a second generation product with better ergonomics.
What mini keyboard is that??
It's the left half of a Dygma Raise.
I play aoe4 and use the shotpad in left hand and mouse in right. I can now play laying on couch
Please valve release steam controller v2
Main issue with the Steam Controller is that it feels quite cheap. Otherwise it's a very nice design.
What your track pads clicks! I my solid .
Why review a controller not longer available for purchase from VALVE and can only be bought from eBay or amazon for a ludacris high prices ranging from 430 Euro's up to 800 dollars !!!!
Sick review mate. Looks like I'll get a steam controller, I hate traditional controllers which makes some games not so pleasant on pc. Might see if a newer might be in the works and wait to see it.
I loved the cat
Sooo.... how's Elex 2 on it? :D
I finished all my playthroughs of Elex 2 before purchasing either of these controllers so I only ever did basic testing. The Steam Controller made aiming ranged weapons really nice with the trackpad+gyro combination, and moving around with the analogue stick was more precise than usual WASD controls. The big thing I found is that the jetpack utilized the analogue triggers by allowing you to change your velocity by how far you pull the trigger, such as by hovering in mid-air with only a slight pull or going full power with a full pull. I never bothered to set up any fancy configurations in Steam Input since I wasn't actively playing the game at that point.
The ShotPad I thought was fine, but ultimately had the same feeling I described in the video of being slightly awkward to get used to versus just using a standard mouse+keyboard. It was easier to use the in-game quick-wheel than the hotbar (aka the d-pad) for switching weapons/item, though, which I remapped to the Alt key on the back of the device, so it wasn't as problematic as my Killing Floor example.
@@TheNocturnalRambler I tend to always get confused whenever there are TOO many buttons on a device. In general it looks interesting (and flimsy, lol) but if I could, I'd always prefer keyboard + mouse. Tho I have to admit that my Steam Deck also gives me some nice options to setup. Lots of games on which I can use keyboard hotkeys while playing in game pad mode due to L4/L5/R4/R5.
Thanks for the review!
This same controller is on AliExpress for like 20-30 dollars
I don't think anyone will out-do the trackpads on the Steam Deck OLED
There's plenty of room for improvement in the Steam Deck's trackpads just compared to the Steam Controller alone, as far as my opinion goes, so I'm sure Valve could improve them if they took concepts from the SC and applied them to the SD. The Steam Deck is a great device and I love having the option to use the trackpads, but I don't like them nearly as much as the Steam Controller's, in part due to simple ergonomics but also due to pure functionality. I'm sure the SD's pads are better quality and the haptics are certainly much improved, but their shape, size, and position on the Deck are a straight-up downgrade compared to the SC for me, and I also prefer the physical click of the SC to the haptic "click" of the Deck. Things like the Outer Ring input also work better on the SC than the SD, at least as far as I've been able to configure, since the circular shape of the SC gives a uniform radial length of the "inner ring" whereas some portion of the inner/outer ring will always be bigger in the corners of the SD due to their square shape.
@@TheNocturnalRambler Yeah it'd be an ergonomic downgrade for sure, but I've adjusted to them. Calling the Deck/pads uncomfy at all couldn't be more untrue
IDK if the Steam con has it, but I'm pretty sure the Deck pads have pressure sensitivity. The pads on the deck change. They could have multiple clicks, or none at all and feel solid. Never felt that on the Steam con
I also don't rly care about the shape. Round or square doesn't effect me. I like not having a + in the left tracc pad. Having a right thumbstick is also rly nice. The A B X Y is in a much more comfy spot. The bumpers arenpt as stiff as the Steam con. The triggers don't have a second click (never liked that in Steam con or my old gamecube con). Having 4 back buttons sure is nice, too. Most of all, having a physical Dpad is nice. I hate navigating menys with a sticc
I wish VALVe would make a new Steam con. I wouldn't mind it being just like the Deck, but more ergonomic
You've brought up some good points about the pressure sensitivity that I had forgotten. That's one aspect where the technical design is superior to the SC. And I do like having a physical D-Pad as an option because it does feel better on certain games, not to mention a right joystick as well. I'm glad the Deck works so well for you, but that still doesn't mean it's a perfect fit for everyone or that there isn't room for improvement that can address other situations without compromising the core design. For instance I'll still disagree with a few key points and offer a few differing opinions on why it doesn't always work for me, and how I think they could be improved without sacrificing things that you're advocating for in its favor:
For me, the Steam Deck seems designed to have your thumbs on the sticks with quick access to the D-Pad and ABXY cluster. This lines up perfectly for me and feels amazingly ergonomic with the way the middle finger cradles the trigger flare-outs and the bottom corners that curve down and away from the face of the device feeling perfectly sculpted to nestle into the palms of my hands, where all the weight can be supported on the palms themselves without putting any excessive weight on my fingers. However, accessing the trackpads from this position requires me to curl my thumbs WAY back to reach them which DOES cause discomfort after a short while, and could in fact cause long-term repetitive strain injuries to my fingers if done continually. This is something I'm extremely conscientious of as I already have RSI issues in my right wrist/elbow, and some mild symptoms in my left thumb.
In order to put my thumbs in a more neutral position on the Deck's pads, I then have to lower my grip on the device to bring my thumbs lower, which shifts the weight out of my palms and a little more onto my fingers; moves my index fingers further away from the triggers to where my finger tip is just barely reaching around the corner for the bumpers; moves my middle and ring slightly off from the back buttons so that I have to curl them up more to properly access the back buttons (another potential trigger for RSI issue); and makes the D-Pad, face buttons, and start/select an awkward stretch to reach from the trackpads, where I sometimes even have to completely reposition my hand to reach the upper inputs. The ABXY are indeed in a more comfortable position if you're using the sticks, but definitely involve more extreme motion if using them from the trackpads as they're literally farther away from the edge of Deck's pads than from the edge of the SC's pads.
So for me, my choices if I want to use the trackpads as the primary inputs are to either 1) Hold the Deck in the most "normal" way and then use an uncomfortable, abnormal posture for my thumbs, or 2) Hold the Deck in an abnormal way that makes my thumbs more comfortable, but makes everything else less comfortable. Neither of which is a desirable option for me.
Just looking at the device itself, it seems like there'd be ways to mitigate this issue by just re-designing the layout a little bit. There's a lot of negative space between the trackpad and the face buttons, for instance, which seems like it could be easily filled by making the trackpads circular and moving them up and to the side a little more, so that the top of the circle can set in-between the joysticks and D-pad/ABXY cluster. Then they'd need to re-design the grips to make them flare out from the side a little more so you can have a better approach angle to everything, and the problem would be solved. That's literally all it would take. It would retain all the same inputs people already like and wouldn't change the primary positioning of the sticks/buttons, but would just put the trackpads in a better, more usable spot.
The circular shape of the trackpad is what would allow it to fit into that negative space better (as long as the internals can be arranged properly to allow for this), but that also solves one of my other issues with the square shape. I like to use a lot of outer ring commands on the Steam Controller, but it always gets weird on the Steam Deck because the square shape creates inconsistent radial lengths from the center of the pad to the outer ring, where you can accidentally trigger outer ring commands on the corners of the square pad much more easily, or else you have to reconfigure Steam Input's shape for the trackpad joystick and ring to be square, too, in which you create a longer distance to reach the outer ring any time you need to use the diagonals. It's a clunky issue either way. Besides that, I find that I just get less tactile feedback on the Deck's left pad in those instances where I can't FEEL the outer edge coming where I have the outer ring command set to, and I also like having the indented plus-pad to let me feel where my thumb is on the pad as I move in different directions and to different regions of the pad.
bro it can't do WA AS DS WD?! That's babytown and is unforgivable
Games will accept simultaneous input from multiple keys just like a regular keyboard, so you can do 8 directional movement with diagonals.
@@TheNocturnalRambler oh thank god, might buy one then. thanks for the awesome video btw
16:40 you can use steam input with any game, just add it to steam as non steam game
You can add any non-steam game to steam but that doesn't automatically guarantee that steam input will work correctly with that game. I have direct first hand experience struggling to get a couple older non-steam games to work with the steam controller, where simply adding them to my steam library as non-steam games didn't solve the issue, or where the steam overlay wouldn't work right, or where the steam controller would default to some weird layout that was neither my desktop configuration nor what I set it to through the controller settings menu before launching. I've also read tons of reports from people struggling with games that require a special launcher, or that were purchased from another client, that required layers and layers of effort to make work with steam input, if they even could at all.
That's the real point I was trying to make with that note in the conclusion: the SC can have compatibility issues with needing to go through steam input, which doesn't always play nice with certain games and may require extra hurdles to jump over. These are issues you don't run into whatsoever when using the ShotPad since it works on a fundamental level through the OS without needing extra software or possible troubleshooting issues. I wasn't categorically saying the SC wouldn't work with older/non-steam games, just that the ShotPad will definitely work in situations where the SC might not.
@@TheNocturnalRambler Hm okay personally I never encountered this issues but I could be spoiled by steam os on deck, it’s works without overlay and may be doing something different.
Another option - standalone driver for SC (sc-controller). It should work with any game but it’s not so easy as with ShotPad.
Great video.
@@aimmlegateYeah. On SteamOS that isn't an issue since Valve has full control over the OS to make sure issues like that don't pop up. On Windows, however, those issues are extremely common with non-Steam games. It's why I make sure to just get all my games on Steam and avoid all the inferior launchers.
Holy crap Batman! I forgot there was a dongle for the Steam Controller. I been using BT for my connection and.... now I got to... find the USB dongle. Also this made me think I could use my SC once more for the Steam Deck when I hook it up to my dock. :Sank yo!:
the steam controller is the greatest controller ever
Check out input labs alpakka controller.
ive got a wireless keyboard track pad combo and it looks like its just as mediocre as the shot pad, the track pad takes a while to get used to its nowhere as intuitive or accurate as a physical mouse
I’ve used a bunch of different couch pc controllers and for me I always go back to using a ps4 controller. You can’t use the touchpad for fps games but for using the mouse and some infrequent stuff and the gyro when it works it’s great. I have the steam controller and I do like it but I always have such a nightmare setting up biddings, even picking the most voted for user config can end in nothing working correctly 😢
There’s apparently a gamesir game controller with a touchpad
i hope there are steam controller 2 layout copied from steam deck
I see this sentiment a lot including a lot of mockups that simply copy the Deck layout while getting rid of the screen, but I would personally not want this in a Steam Controller 2. The Deck itself is a wonderful device and I'm grateful for the inclusion of dual trackpads and the usual benefits of Steam Input (not to mention the additional back buttons), but the trackpads on the Deck feel much worse than on the Steam Controller to me. My big issue is that they're in a lower position which doesn't align naturally with the rest of the device, which therefore involves either awkward stretching of my thumbs or awkwardly holding the device. And then if you want to map other functions onto the face buttons or D-Pad they're further away from the trackpads than on the Steam Controller so that's even more stretching. I'm also not fond of their square shape as I find that leads to imprecise tactile feedback when using them as a joystick, and it also complicates the "Outer Ring" by making it easier to accidentally trigger the outer ring on the corners, in addition to the pads being smaller in general. I also prefer the physical click of the Steam Controller pads over the haptic "click" on the Deck's pads, and may even like the SC's concave shape more than the Deck's flat profile. So naturally, I would prefer something closer to the Steam Controller but with extra physical back buttons, and putting extra programmable buttons around the perimeter of the two trackpads, maybe dual bumpers like the ShotPad has on the right side.
@@TheNocturnalRambler I was never touch steam controller because it was price was 100usd in my country so I never know how its feel, it sad when steam stop sell it
The Steam controller was ahead of its time.
That ShotPad is the most uncomfortable looking controller I've ever seen
7:29 obligatory youtube comment, which game is that?
That's Killing Floor, a coop zombie-horde-survival shooter from 2009.
@@TheNocturnalRambler thank you, u gothic lover :)
Think I heard of a mod that makes the steam deck into a controller on pc... might look into it now😅
My problem with the steam controller just was pressing my thumb against the texture of the pad rubbed it the wrong way (literally) and made my fingers feel crinkly like they’d been in water all day lol. I still love the controller with my whole heart, and the motion control was top tier
Fun fact in the steam controller configuration. You can make any controller like an Xbox controller have turbo features, macros, hair trigger etc. Save your money and never buy those pro controllers.
nice vid.
terrible trackpad lag kills the wireless shotpad for me. just hold your controller up to the screen and swipe around. ...60 some bucks! really pisses me off.
Maybe your shotpad is broken. I have one and I didn't notice any lag. And you are the only person that I see in every video of this gamepad mentioning this lag.
@@carlosbarreto4695must’ve got a dud one, that’s fucked up. Ill stick to ps5 controller with gyro until alpakka controllers are available for purchase eventually with dual sticks
love my steam controller i bought it at a gamestop back in the day and recently found one locally for around 20 bucks so that i have a back up best controller ever made
The steam deck has paved the way for a steam controller sequel to succeed, it was too weird to most people when it came out but with stuff like the switch and steam deck normalizing gyro aiming/trackpads, I think a successor would do much better considering the next best is the darkwalker.
Azeron has a one handed mouse, isn’t too far from what you are looking for, only caveat is a steep learning curve
I wish steam would make a revision on their controller based off the Steamdeck. The steam controller is just missing too many buttons that I am used to, so it feels awkward to adapt too. Meanwhile the Steamdeck has every feature and the button layout required to be my dream controller. My only complaint with the Steamdeck is that the back paddle buttons are too clicky. I would prefer something that requires less force to activate the back switches as they can be tiring to use. I prefer the feel of the steam controller’s cheap feeling back paddles, but that may just be due to the ergonomics making it feel easier to trigger.
If they made a controller with the layout and features of the Steamdeck, with onboard customizable profiles, and compatibility with Switch and PS, I would be willing to pay over $200 maybe even $300 to use that controller for everything. It would be neat if it had an oled display so you could see and switch through profiles without using an app. Basically I want the brain child of the Steamdeck and 8bitdo pro 2.
i have steam controller but i cant play no steam games.... shit
bruh usb A in 2024? bruh
Chapeau to Darkwalker to making a even weirder looking and propably feeling pad than Steam
That's an achievement
The shotpad looks like it had been designed by AI
Im at 1 sec. Steak controller>>>>>>>
Mmm I love steak.
Most of your Steam Controller praising feels devoted to the software; everything you've stated I've done on rewasd and even more. Weirdly convincing me against it.
I could absolutely set up equivocal if not fancier stuff with the shotpad. Hm.
The Steam Controller gives you dual trackpads, dual-stage analog triggers, an analog joystick, haptic feedback, a more intuitive button layout, and a much more comfortable ergonomic shape. I'm not sure how much (if any) of that can be changed/emulated with reWASD on the ShotPad but it certainly wouldn't be the same experience as what's available on the SC.
hard to take someone who uses a trackball seriously.
There are multiple advantages to using a trackball over a standard mouse, one of the most important being to help alleviate or prevent symptoms of repetitive strain injuries. As someone who's experienced cubital tunnel syndrome and found relief by switching to more ergonomic input devices on my computer, your prejudice against my opinion due to my use of a trackball is sincerely disheartening.
Valve has already replaced the Steam Controller with the Steam Deck since console gaming has been on the rise for a long time now
just use gyro