So, I have my shiny new Steam Controller, and I've been playing PoE with it for a few hours. It's definitely a huge learning curve, and my character has died several times just because I have to stop and think, "where is the potion, again?" But I'm starting to get used to it.



So far, here's the setup that I find useful:



Right pad: mouse in trackball mode

Left pad: in "button" mode, W=left, E=up, R=right, T=down

Right trigger: Mouse button 1

Left trigger: Mouse button 2

Right button: Q

Left button: 1

A: 2

B: 3

X: 4

Y: 5

Hat left: C

Hat up: I

Hat right: S

Hat down: P

Bottom right button: shift

Bottom left button: control

Steam button: unmodified

Left arrow (next to steam button): tab

Right arrow (next to steam button): esc



How it works



You have to start the game in Big Picture Mode in order to gain access to the controller configuration (that might change in the future, I don't know). Once you do that, you go to PoE through the UI and then either select controller configuration from the PoE menu options or run PoE and then press the Steam button after it starts up and then select controller configuration.



Gameplay



I find that the trackball mode works well, but it's still hard to get used to at first. The real problem is that all of those reflexes I've built up playing the game are gone, and so when I get in trouble, I have to fumble around and find an ability or other button to press. But that's the same learning curve I'd have going to any other input device than a keyboard, no matter how good.



I do still keep the wireless keyboard near the couch while I'm playing because I might want to chat or do other things (like go to the store: "m").



Other possibilities



You can get a LOT more buttons out of the controller by using modifier buttons, but I didn't want to get that advanced on my first go.



Downsides



It seems as if you can't directly program in a chord like shift-button 1. You have to make a button be button 1 and another button be shift. That's unfortunate, IMHO. Also, I'd much rather have a second set of buttons than the hat, but I understand that they're just covering their bases for all game types, there.

Last bumped on Sep 28, 2016, 10:18:00 AM