Resounding endorsement.
The 360 controller is pretty much the ideal controller for that genre so if the Steam controller can reach parity that's a big deal.
The real test is how it performs with twitch FPSs and games like DOTA.
[1]http://www.rahulsood.com/2010/07/console-gamers-get-killed-a...
For clicking and targeting, you have the touch screen. Dota 2 is a 5vs5 player game. Controller can display all your enemies on the touch screen, just as you'd normally see their profile pictures at the top of your screen. You can click on their profile pictures to target them when they're visible on the map etc. As for the movement, I think movement could be much better with a game controller. You probably can not click on a map and wait for your hero to go to the spot you've clicked on, but you can direct him there with one of the touchpads.
I think another big problem would be using the shops. In the current style of the game, I don't think it'd be possible to use the shops with a controller because there are just too many items. Having said that, if Valve really wants people to play Dota 2 with a game controller, I'm sure they can implement some changes. Currently in game items are seperated in categories. They can use that wheel chat idea with the shop and let players browse through the items. I'm just brainstorming. It can be done. 2 different UI implementations for 2 different platforms, but one game.
I'm not saying these changes or even playing Dota 2 with a game controller would be ideal, but I think it's doable to make the game controller friendly. But there's no way in hell I'm going to give up on my mouse and keyboard for Dota 2 and most of the games that I play (apart from the sports games).
Since the Wii U's not selling so well, most people probably don't know about it, but I think the Wii U Pro Controller is probably the best modern controller for classic gaming. It's basically a 360 controller with Nintendo quality. And people have already written drivers for Windows and OS X, and support was added to Linux in 3.11.
Everyone's already pretty happy with their xbox 360 controllers, but Valve isn't happy that their platform isn't in your living room. Therefore, they want to bridge the gap so those titles that wouldn't translate well to the living room are more playable. Spelunky and SMB are amazing games, but very arcadey. They're test cases that can only show that this controller adequately compares to current controllers.
A better test would be hearing how people do with titles you could less readily imagine playing on a ten foot display. I want to know, as a PC gamer and input control snob:
1) does this let me handle FPS games properly (ie twitch controls to compare to mouse level quality).
2) can I play RTS style games and do stuff like macroing and movement with the fluidity of kb/mouse.
3) what advantages do I get over an xbox 360 controller, which is decent enough in most cases.
4) does the loss of thumbsticks mean a loss of tactile response? I love the sensation of movement within Dark Souls as I tap on my thumbsticks.
Nubbins would be helpful it's true, but it would be nice to have detachable sticks for those of us who want them. The valve patents from a few years ago showed something like that. Of course, adding thumbsticks then basically rolls back the design to being just another joypad.
I'm skeptical, possibly because in a sense the SteamPad isn't doing anything new (while yeah the haptic is probably amazing compared to anything else current), it's just trying to translate our current experience of input from the quality we get on desktops, to the couch in our living rooms.
One paragraph later you articulate the very problem for which it is a solution:
> they want to bridge the gap so those titles that wouldn't translate well to the living room are more playable
I don't know about pretty happy...I really wish the 360 controllers were more like Nintendo's traditional controllers (like the Wii Classic Controller or the Wii U Pro Controller)
Then again, I really don't play much.. I do wish the Ouya controllers were actually more responsive in games/emulators.. the controllers feel okay, but when they miss on screen, it's just painful.
Microsoft's...the d-pad is just atrocious.
What Nintendo does right is get the combination of location of control inputs right and their soft, but responsive, d-pad. Game selection is another issue, but controller-wise, I haven't seen anyone beat Nintendo at yet.