camperotacticoNov 15

I wish the Steam Controller used AA batteries

https://lemmy.world/post/38822955

Show threadGrntrenchmanNov 15

This is a strange argument to me. I just don’t get it.

So. You have the controller, advertised 35+h life on a single charge.

Unless you’re some sort of gaming machine, even a no-lifer sleeps.

We’ll do a crazy minimum, you sleep 4h a day. that’s 20h for gaming. You plug it in when you sleep, a time when no one will be using it and it can be “tethered”.

if it’s a straight line (it’s probably not) 20h/35h gets you down to 42% battery.

Even 2-3 years later, battery should be between 70-80% capacity. If the minimum after a full day of usage, from charged, is 42% from the 35h estimate, in your worn 70% capacity battery you’ve still got more than 15% spare between days, after accounting for years of degradation.

And then, after using it for 3 years, you might have to contemplate using the hated screwdriver and replacing the battery. And this is only if you’ve been no-life wrecking this controller for that long. It’ll be much better from “regular” gaming usage.

I think this just comes down to undisciplined people, who can’t manage to plug their stuff in routinely. I really can’t see any other logical reason to feel this way.

And even then, for the people who can’t do charging regularly, and don’t want to worry about being tethered to a charger/their machines, a $10 power bank from a gas station fixes this issue. I charge my controller from a phone charger, already next to me, whenever it needs it. No one says that you have to explicitly plug it in to whatever you’re playing on.

Personally, I think even giving the option of using disposable batteries is irresponsible on the designer’s end. Everyone talks about rechargeables, but there’s still going to be a percentage of people who just use disposables.

This does make more sense for the frame controllers, as when they die, there’s no good/safe way you can still use them, and have them plugged in. even with a power bank the cables are, at best, ungainly, and at worst, an active safety hazard, as you swing them around you while not being able to see them. I’ve tried using index controllers wired to a power bank I was carrying, and it wasn’t good.

Show threadoopsgodisdeadmybad

No one says that you have to explicitly plug it in to whatever you’re playing on.

You do if you want it to connect to the thing you’re playing on.

Unless you’re ok with a shitty Bluetooth connection. But I’m guessing few people comparatively are using that, at least as their primary use case.

You can’t tell me playing with a Bluetooth controller doesn’t actually hurt you. The constant latency is excruciating.

Then again, I use it for mostly real time- based games.

If you’re playing something like Balatro it probably doesn’t matter. But for almost everything else it sure does.

Nov 15 at 7:47pmWeb
Show threadGrntrenchmanNov 15

I have to say, this situation has improved enough that I’ve had no problem using BT controller connection.

We’re talking about games like Elden Ring, Enter the Gungeon, MGS:Snake Eater Delta… and reaction time definitely matters for those games. One controller even came with a 1000hz dongle, and it seems the new controller will probably have an option like that if the GabeGear has the hardware built into it: “Steam Controller’s wireless adapter is built right into Steam Machine for direct pairing.”

Steam Machine

Your games on the big screen

Show threadoopsgodisdeadmybadNov 15

I realize that. But that’s just for that machine, but I’m speaking for arbitrary devices.

The protocol hasn’t gotten faster in the last few years that I know of.

I’ve used several with different devices, but most of my direct comparison experience is with an Xbox series X controller paired to the Deck via BT and by dongle, and it’s very noticeably more laggy with Bluetooth. I’ve only occasionally tried others, but every Bluetooth-connected controller I’ve ever used definitely has a noticeable delay.

Show threadmholivNov 15
But the co troller comes with the high speed wireless puck. That puck works on anything. I don’t see the problem.
Show threadoopsgodisdeadmybadNov 15
My point (the part I quoted in my original reply) was that you would need the puck plugged into the device you’re playing on, assuming you don’t want to deal with the delay.
Show threadNibodhikaNov 15
A couple of things, first no, I don’t feel the latency of a Bluetooth controller. But also the steam controller will be able to pair to multiple devices, in one of the interviews one of the engineers said “The steam Machine has its own antena, but each controller comes with its own puck, we expect the common use case to be to plug that to your PC and use the steam controller in both devices”
Show threadRisingSwellNov 16

I use Bluetooth on TrackMania with no issues, and that’s a pretty fast game. Top 500 in the country for this week’s shorts as well so it’s clearly not my limiting factor.

Maybe for a twitch shooter it’d be an issue but that’s kbm anyway

Show threadoopsgodisdeadmybadNov 16

For one, as far as I know that’s a single player game. Anyone with other players around means constant slight readjustments, and having everything you do held back (even if only a tenth of a second- I don’t know the actual number, that’s a ballpark guesstimate) really adds up.

For almost every game it doesn’t matter a whole lot. But when it does, it really matters. Bluetooth headphones pad the audio a smidge too, to the point of rather play without sound instead of late audio. It causes constant sending guessing, and if you’re using both your leaky playing in a game state that’s already past (although when online you always are anyway but cutting as much out as possible is miles better).

Show threadRisingSwellNov 16

Trackmania requires the same precision as other racing games (I also used controller for Forza horizon and motorsport).

Bluetooth audio is a different issue, where my bt speaker adds like 400ms which… is not suitable for anything where accurate sound matters. Even my bt headset that is meant to be good is uhh… flawed. But noise is far more obvious than a controller being a tiny bit out.

My controller I can’t tell the difference.

Show threaddeafboyNov 16

So… is it an obsession to want to be at least <100? Asking for myself. Send help :D

I get consistently better results on steamdeck vs PC due to lower controller latency.

Show threadRisingSwellNov 16

I haven’t tested my controller but I’m pretty sure it’s under 100.

If you want to remove most latency I think the best option is still wired, just get a long cord that reaches easily.

Show threadtalNov 16

You do if you want it to connect to the thing you’re playing on.

Unless you’re ok with a shitty Bluetooth connection. But I’m guessing few people comparatively are using that, at least as their primary use case.

Okay, but I think that that kind of misses the broader context. This only came up as a hypothetical for how one could discharge a controller. If you’re playing on a wired connection, then the console is charging thr controller and the issue never comes up in the first place.

Show threadoopsgodisdeadmybadNov 17

No, this came up from talking about how it (the puck) doesn’t have to be connected to the device you’re playing on. Which outside of Bluetooth or using a steam machine, you would have to have it connected.

Directly wired hasn’t come up at all until you just mentioned it.