5 ms·

The key to its success I think is controls. I could never feel comfortable with portable gaming because controls always felt clunky for games I like. This thing

The key to its success I think is controls. I could never feel comfortable with portable gaming because controls always felt clunky for games I like. This thing treats controls as the centerpiece, allowing seamless sharing of layouts between players: just pick the most popular layout for any game. You can play freaking real time strategies on this thing fairly comfortably.

gpderetta 4y ago
The two games I have played the most on my SD are Stellaris and Oxygen Not Included, which is kind of absurd!
- goda90 4y ago
  I did an entire Civ 6 game on Epic speed on my SD. I did find the touchpad uncomfortable to use with my large hands, so I 3D printed one of these[0] in PLA and it lets me more comfortably rest my thumb on the pad. [0]https://www.printables.com/model/259733-steam-deck-grip-extension https://www.printables.com/model/259733-steam-deck-grip-exte...
- the_cramer 4y ago
  How do you play these? I tried ONI on steamdeck and it felt clunky compared to KBM...
  - gpderetta 4y ago
    Of course KBM is better, and the touchpads involve a lot of pausing to make up for the less immediate reaction, but the fact that the experience is enjoyable at all is surprising. The form factor and the ability to be able to instantly pick up were you left off for a 10-20 mins session more than makes it up for the awkwardness. Edit: I guess it also help that while I've played Stellaris extensively on a desktop, I never played ONI outside of the deck, so I don't know what I'm missing.
goosedragons 4y ago
I want a standalone controller with the full Steam Deck layout so bad. I'm amazed nobody has put out anything like it yet besides maybe the old discontinued Steam controller.
- yesco 4y ago
  The Steam Deck is an upgrade to the Steam Controller in my eyes; I own both but just never really liked using the Steam Controller the same way I do the Steam Deck for some reason. I guess the Steam Deck just feels more comfortable?
  - mrguyorama 4y ago
    The steam controller suffers immensely because valve was trying to push the dumb touchpads replacing sticks mentality at the time. The touch pads are a horrible replacement for sticks because they lack the physicality and feedback. The original vive was similarly hampered by controllers that had no sticks because valve got weird for a bit.
    - horsawlarway 4y ago
      To be fair, I think the touchpads are pretty crucial on the deck. I play a bunch of games where I just really want a mouse and the touchpads make that feel relatively natural in a way that joysticks just don't. I do agree, though - the focus on the touchpads on the original steam controller was perhaps over the top, and the absence of a second stick was limiting. I think the deck gets it right: You have two of each, one for each hand. I can play games designed for controllers, and I can play games designed for mice, and everything just works.
      - mrguyorama 4y ago
        The deck has a sort of "second gen" implementation where they realized sticks are important but trackpads can be great secondary or alternative controls. They figured the same thing out for VR controllers, with the index having a thumbstick for most interactions but some weird little touchpad thing for whoever wants it.
singularity2001 4y ago
are there any cases which turn ipads into steam decks, control wise?
arvindhmani 4y ago
And those trackpads! I was skeptical until I held mine and got to use them - they're a real joy to use.

gpderetta 4y ago

The two games I have played the most on my SD are Stellaris and Oxygen Not Included, which is kind of absurd!

goda90 4y ago
I did an entire Civ 6 game on Epic speed on my SD. I did find the touchpad uncomfortable to use with my large hands, so I 3D printed one of these[0] in PLA and it lets me more comfortably rest my thumb on the pad. [0]https://www.printables.com/model/259733-steam-deck-grip-extension https://www.printables.com/model/259733-steam-deck-grip-exte...
the_cramer 4y ago
How do you play these? I tried ONI on steamdeck and it felt clunky compared to KBM...
- gpderetta 4y ago
  Of course KBM is better, and the touchpads involve a lot of pausing to make up for the less immediate reaction, but the fact that the experience is enjoyable at all is surprising. The form factor and the ability to be able to instantly pick up were you left off for a 10-20 mins session more than makes it up for the awkwardness. Edit: I guess it also help that while I've played Stellaris extensively on a desktop, I never played ONI outside of the deck, so I don't know what I'm missing.

goosedragons 4y ago

I want a standalone controller with the full Steam Deck layout so bad. I'm amazed nobody has put out anything like it yet besides maybe the old discontinued Steam controller.

yesco 4y ago
The Steam Deck is an upgrade to the Steam Controller in my eyes; I own both but just never really liked using the Steam Controller the same way I do the Steam Deck for some reason. I guess the Steam Deck just feels more comfortable?
- mrguyorama 4y ago
  The steam controller suffers immensely because valve was trying to push the dumb touchpads replacing sticks mentality at the time. The touch pads are a horrible replacement for sticks because they lack the physicality and feedback. The original vive was similarly hampered by controllers that had no sticks because valve got weird for a bit.
  - horsawlarway 4y ago
    To be fair, I think the touchpads are pretty crucial on the deck. I play a bunch of games where I just really want a mouse and the touchpads make that feel relatively natural in a way that joysticks just don't. I do agree, though - the focus on the touchpads on the original steam controller was perhaps over the top, and the absence of a second stick was limiting. I think the deck gets it right: You have two of each, one for each hand. I can play games designed for controllers, and I can play games designed for mice, and everything just works.
    - mrguyorama 4y ago
      The deck has a sort of "second gen" implementation where they realized sticks are important but trackpads can be great secondary or alternative controls. They figured the same thing out for VR controllers, with the index having a thumbstick for most interactions but some weird little touchpad thing for whoever wants it.

singularity2001 4y ago

are there any cases which turn ipads into steam decks, control wise?

arvindhmani 4y ago

And those trackpads! I was skeptical until I held mine and got to use them - they're a real joy to use.