I was one of those people who snatched up a cheap one. It made me feel less guilty about not using it because, as a lot of people predicted, the lack of joysticks did indeed suck.
I did the same with a steam link! Still don’t know what to use it for. My tv uses my deck and I got a cool, if not slightly chaotic, monitor setup that enables a janky ultra wide or a separate screen for socials while playing.
The premise was cool.
Playing a game where you need a dpad? Spend twenty minutes hacking up config files and the haptic pad of your choice acts and feels almost kinda sorta like a dpad!
Well okay, maybe not that cool.
Ironburg Inventions is the IP holder for SCUF, a controller manufacturer. According to the plagiarism lawsuit against Valve, SCUF patented a controller with rear-facing side buttons in 2014. Then, the prototype for Valve’s Steam Controller was unveiled with the same rear-facing side buttons the following January, even though the company had warned Valve about the patent. The lawsuit alleged that Ironburg continued warning Valve about the patent and even wrote a letter detailing the infringement to the company - which Valve simply ignored.
Patents are so fucking stupid. This is the second most obvious one I know of (the first being random encounter via nintendo)
Huh, I knew that was the patent in question (though I thought it was Sony that held the patent), I just didn’t think the original Steam Controller had rear buttons.
They discontinued it many years ago after they were hit with a patent lawsuit and sold off their remaining stock for 5 € a piece.
When was that? And why did I miss it? 🥲
I was one of those people who snatched up a cheap one. It made me feel less guilty about not using it because, as a lot of people predicted, the lack of joysticks did indeed suck.
I did the same with a steam link! Still don’t know what to use it for. My tv uses my deck and I got a cool, if not slightly chaotic, monitor setup that enables a janky ultra wide or a separate screen for socials while playing.
I got one on ebay a couple of years ago. For me the missing d-pad is even shittier.
The premise was cool.
Playing a game where you need a dpad? Spend twenty minutes hacking up config files and the haptic pad of your choice acts and feels almost kinda sorta like a dpad!
Well okay, maybe not that cool.
It works fine, and didn’t take 20 minutes… It’s a basic part of the software. Still, if they can include one that’s a better option.
It doesn’t have a missing dpad, the whole point is the pads can be used for everything including sticks, buttons, dpads and more.
The old one looked cooler IMO.
Wasn’t the patent lawsuit over the Steam Deck? I thought the original controller was discontinued over lack of demand or something.
https://screenrant.com/valve-steam-controller-lawsuit-controversy-patent-ironburg-inventions/
Patents are so fucking stupid. This is the second most obvious one I know of (the first being random encounter via nintendo)
Huh, I knew that was the patent in question (though I thought it was Sony that held the patent), I just didn’t think the original Steam Controller had rear buttons.
Yes they’re very nice.
Insane that “button” can be a patent
Wow I wasn’t aware of the history, patent law is nebulous bullshit.