The only test that matters for this controller is, can it be used to play StarCraft 2 competively? There is no gamepad out there that can play RTS well right now. This the problem that needs solved to bring PC gaming to the living room in my opinion.
"Whole genres of games that were previously only playable with a keyboard and mouse are now accessible from the sofa. RTS games. Casual, cursor-driven games. Strategy games. 4x space exploration games. A huge variety of indie games. Simulation titles. And of course, Euro Truck Simulator 2. "
Interesting! I gotta say, I find it hard to believe it. RTS games generally have to be designed around a controller, much more so than other games. Maybe they're doing exactly that for Dota 2?
I can't even imagine how a game like StarCraft 2 would work on a controller like this.
Maybe the key is that it just has so many more potential inputs? There are buttons all over the back of it and hundreds of points and gestures can be mapped to those pads. It is comforting that Valve makes Dota 2. They have an interest in figuring it out.
I hate console and touch games. They are simplistic and designed for people who don't like 'real' games. Yes, I am a PC gaming snob. Unfortunately, I work on a computer all day and it's very hard to find time to game on the PC since I like to see the sunlight occasionally. I think there a lot of people like me who grew up playing CS, TF2, UT, Quake, WC3, SC who would jump at a good controller that let them play 'real' games on the couch after being at a desk all day.
Furthermore, Valve is claiming that the controller works well for RTS etc. They demoed it with the newest Civilization to select people. None of us will know until they try it though.
Civ 5 is not real time strategy, it's turn based, and as such requires almost negligible mechanical skill to play.
I could imagine playing Civ on the couch with the Steam Controller - it'd work well. I don't think even Valve expects to bring StarCraft or Dota to the lounge room though - those games are designed around a mouse.
