General Video Game Thread

Coin · Aug 26, 2016, 1:01 PM

So I don't post random shit about games not the ones in the actual thread title--

Yesterday I got my Steam controller. It will take some serious getting used to, for starters, but I enjoyed it--it is comfortable in my hands.

However, I found that, for example, Witcher 3 has, since I finished my first 80 hours and my controller got a little fucked up and I had to wait for a new one, not only aded (finally) the "Blood and Wine" expansion, but also changed the inventory interface to the point where I am utterly lost. It's like learning the entire game again--except I'm level 21 and I really need to not suck at shit if I'm going to survive. Lol.

Good thing I have a ton of crappy low-level quests I can go do and practice on...

I also need to figure out how to set up some of the Steam controller's extra buttons into cool commands that would otherwise take me too long... And get used to the positioning of the pads vs. buttons. I am too used to the right joystick being under the four button spread, whereas on this joystick, the right pad is above the four button spread.

Ugh, someone get these first world problems out of my second world country!

Three-Eyed Crow · Aug 26, 2016, 2:57 PM

Does the Steam controller have any advantages over getting an X-Box controller for PC use? I've been meaning to get a controller for my PC forever and have occasionally eyed the one Steam is selling, but idk.

Coin · Aug 26, 2016, 3:07 PM

@Three-Eyed-Crow said in General Video Game Thread:

Does the Steam controller have any advantages over getting an X-Box controller for PC use? I've been meaning to get a controller for my PC forever and have occasionally eyed the one Steam is selling, but idk.

For the moment, I couldn't tell you definitively. The Steam one feels more hefty and solid, but I may have just not had an original, sturdy version of the xBox one. Also, the Steam one is highly configurable--as in, you can customize what everything does. It can also control your PC as long as Steam is running in the background, which means you can use it as a remote control.

I'll give you more details as I progress, but I only really got it yesterday.

Arkandel · May 2, 2017, 7:04 PM

@Coin Are you more used to a controller, is that why you got one for the PC instead of using a mouse+keyboard?

Coin · Aug 26, 2016, 3:13 PM

@Arkandel said in General Video Game Thread:

@Coin Are you more used to a controller, is that why you got one for the PC instead of using a mouse+keyboard?

I prefer controllers whenever possible for most games I enjoy playing. I like third-person action games the most--Prince of Persia, Witcher, God of War, that sort of thing. And for me, the controller is better. It's not a matter of being used to it, but of preferring it.

Arkandel · Aug 26, 2016, 5:21 PM

Playstation owners: The Playstation Network has started using two-step authentication. Turn it on!

Insomnia · Aug 27, 2016, 8:07 AM

Playstation plus is also going up in cost in September, so if you buy the cards now is the time to add more time to your account.

Wolfs · Aug 27, 2016, 10:42 AM

A few years ago I bought two years worth of PS+ for a total of $60 on Amazon during (I think) a Cyber Monday deal. I haven't seen any offers as good as that since. I'm still good through the middle of 2017 thanks also to some promo time but someone tipped me off to cdkeys for discounts.

Lately they've got a year of PS+ going for about $43 and while that's not a big discount from $50, it's decent and when you consider it's about to be $60 it starts to look a lot better. For all I know, cdkeys might sell the updated ones for $53 or so, but with the price about to jump I figured this was the right time to add two more years.

Once I verified my purchase, I downloaded two codes, plugged them into my account (works online, too) and now I'm set through mid 2019. The link for the US PS+ stuff is here if anyone's interested. They were showing as out when I checked last week, but I signed up for alerts and got an e-mail when they were available again, and they still show available now.

HorrorHound · Aug 27, 2016, 2:18 PM

Guys, I think I want this, do I want this?

Miss Demeanor · Aug 27, 2016, 11:12 PM

@HorrorHound I'd be careful.. that's the Steam Controller being shown, and so far as I know, the ONLY way to get one is through Steam itself. Like, its not packaged for third party selling.

*edited for correctness

Insomnia · Aug 28, 2016, 1:54 AM

Steam came out withe their own boxes a while ago, but steam is not the only place to get them.

If you want a PC just for games, you might want to think about it, but Steam OS pretty much sucks balls. Not Ouya sucking but it's around that level. (Although the Alienware is one of the better ones; there like 5 or 7 different steam boxes out there, so if it's something you want you might want to compare first). If you just want to stream games to your TV, I would suggest an Nvidia shield over a steam box. If you want one for just games, I would splurge on a Gaming PC, since then you can use it for other things as well, or a console.

As for controllers; Steam controllers are nice, though it takes a while to get used to the haptic resistance. Sure you can program it so that even the handles can be programmed - not a lot of games are designed with the Steam controller in mind so anything extra you program will be extra.

If you want a plug and play controller that will work with anything, go with the XBox One controller. Plus most of the games you play on the PC will recognize it and tell you to press A already. Cheaper too.

Three-Eyed Crow · Aug 28, 2016, 2:53 AM

@Insomnia said in General Video Game Thread:

If you want a plug and play controller that will work with anything, go with the XBox One controller. Plus most of the games you play on the PC will recognize it and tell you to press A already. Cheaper too.

This is probably the direction I'm going. I'm a little concerned with how the Steam controller would work with non-Steam games (like the ones I've bought off GoG, or that EA has forced me to buy on Origin, etc.).

Insomnia · Aug 28, 2016, 4:21 AM

I would go with XBox One controller for sure. You can get a Logitech controller for cheaper, but they can be super sensitive and have lots of problems. (Ever play LA Noire? The driving is super touchy in that, now imagine that sensitivity on every game.)

Plus the Xbox One comes with a chord, so you can use batteries or plug it in. Plus it has a two year warranty, I believe.

If you are getting a Steam Machine, I would say go for a Steam controller, but if not eh.. it's not a bad controller, and most games won't have any issue. But it was really meant to work with the Steam machines. It would probably come down to a money thing for me, if I had to buy a new controller.

Thenomain · Aug 28, 2016, 5:52 PM

My Xbox PC controller is sitting under my desk somewhere, waiting for me to play a game like Korra that is better played with one.

I can't think of another.

#pcgamingmasterrace

(Kidding, but I still can't think of any other game I would consider improved with a controller.)

Arkandel · Aug 29, 2016, 1:34 PM

@Thenomain I can't quite fathom how a mouse+keyboard would be worse than using a controller but that might be because I suck at the latter.

The one advantage I give to controllers is you can use them while laying down or sitting away from a solid flat surface.

Wolfs · Aug 29, 2016, 2:24 PM

When I PC game, I use an XB1 controller I bought specifically to plug in for it. I own a PS4, and that controller obviously works just fine for their remote sharing function.

I know mouse/keyboard gives you better control, especially when aiming with the mouse, but I've just never been very good at using the keyboard for movement and actions. I'll take the controller when I have the choice.

Thenomain · Aug 29, 2016, 5:24 PM

@Arkandel said in General Video Game Thread:

@Thenomain I can't quite fathom how a mouse+keyboard would be worse than using a controller but that might be because I suck at the latter.

The Korra video game is the only one that I've played that is far better on a controller.

Coin · Aug 29, 2016, 5:42 PM

@Thenomain said in General Video Game Thread:

@Arkandel said in General Video Game Thread:

@Thenomain I can't quite fathom how a mouse+keyboard would be worse than using a controller but that might be because I suck at the latter.

The Korra video game is the only one that I've played that is far better on a controller.

Korra is impossible with a mouse/keyboard. Just SUPER frustrating and the amount of things you have to be able to do in synch don't mesh well with mouse/keyboard.

Ganymede · Aug 29, 2016, 6:00 PM

@Thenomain said in General Video Game Thread:

The Korra video game is the only one that I've played that is far better on a controller.

Any NHL game ever.

Coin · Aug 29, 2016, 6:05 PM

@Ganymede said in General Video Game Thread:

@Thenomain said in General Video Game Thread:

The Korra video game is the only one that I've played that is far better on a controller.

Any NHL game ever.

Sports games in general. Also any fighting game in general is TONS TONS TONS TONS TONS better with a joystick than a keyboard.