Steam Machines pre-orders up

[HeXen]

As one that games from a recliner with a big screen TV, I'm happy someone finally made something streamlined that allows playing of mouse/kb games. It doesn't have to be perfect but sure is better than putting the gamepad down, reaching over to get a wireless kb/mouse, set the kb on my lap precariously while I awkwardly use the mouse in the most uncomfortable position imaginable, then set them aside and reach for the gamepad again.

Plus analogue sticks really suck for looking around. There's no point in bashing a product for which there are other options. It's obvious this is for couch gamers only.

 

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[ImpulsE69]

I'm sort of interested in the controller, but most of the reviews are pretty meh about it (new design).

 

[cmdrdredd]

M&K has never been a problem in the lounge. I use an armchair, so all I need is a 30x10" sheet of something rigid (in my case, plywood) to bridge the armrests. This gives me a work surface at effectively the same height as my desk. If I was using a couch, then I would simply use one of those inverted U lap trays.

I'm sure M&K would be awkward if I was trying to do something stupid like balance them on my knees, but that would be my own fault, not some inherent limitation of M&K.

There is no substitute for the speed and precision of a mouse, and I'd sooner put up with three seconds of lifting peripherals (oh so strenuous), than the next half hour of frustration with a useless controller.

The steam controller looks terrible. However an Xbox One controller or Dualshock 4 is perfect for many games. Especially when a lot of those games are made with controls that fit those designs.

Plus analogue sticks really suck for looking around.

Honestly many games benefit from analog sticks over a mouse because of the way some games react to mouse inputs with the camera. I find it a lot smoother for many games. I might still use a mouse for an FPS but not for any type of 3rd person action game these days.

 

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[ImpulsE69]

It's all preference. I tend to prefer 3rd person and platformers with a controller because that is what I am used to. I am however playing Witcher 3 with M/Kb because there isn't really anything to set that would work better on a controller.

I'm not really sure why that is always an arguement. The only genres that M/KB's make a huge difference from controllers is FPS and RTS.

 

[cmdrdredd]

I've said this before, but I've found that to be absolute tripe, at least when said in reference to OTS third person games (which it most often is).

"Assassin's Creed plays better with a gamepad because that's what it was designed for". No, it doesn't. The last person I saw on these boards who tried to make this argument had to resort to inventing a deliberately contrived keyboard layout for the game to try and make it sound more difficult to press the keys than it actually was.

It is easier IMO because a keyboard is on or off. You move or you stand still. There is no in between like an analog stick provides where you can creep, walk, and run just based on how far you press it. It's much easier to me than having multiple buttons to control the movement speed. I don't have any platform exclusivity though so I can easily swap between whatever control method works best for me or for the game at the time. I just feel that for moving in a 3D environment where you aren't aiming a gun in free look, a controller is easier to get used to for me. Every game has a sort of learning curve with the controls and camera etc.

I have known people who don't have the dexterity in their thumbs to push analog sticks around. They didn't have problems pressing a key on a keyboard though.