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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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 old one looked cooler IMO.
When was that? And why did I miss it? 🥲
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)
Wow I wasn’t aware of the history, patent law is nebulous bullshit.
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