By Shelby Nesmith | Staff writer, Technology editor
So you’re at your computer and you’re looking at your Steam account. After looking at your long list of games you then look down at your old, worn-out mouse, and keyboard. You want a better way to play Steam games and then it hits you; you need an upgrade.
SteamOS, created by Valve, is a new way to play computer games from the comfort of your couch. The new console is basically a great computer formed into the look of a PS4 or Xbox One. One special aspect of this console is that it is run on a Linux-based platform, which is unique to PC games. The only downside to the console is that it doesn’t have the extras such as Netflix, Hulu Plus, or Pandora that PS4 and Xbox One offer. Possibly in the near future they will include that.
The SteamOS controller offers a new way of playing Steam games. Two circular trackpads are placed perfectly where your fingers naturally meet the controller and these trackpads are also clickable so they double as buttons. There are weighted electromagnets connected to each trackpad so there is more control over the simplest of movements.
There also is a touch screen in the middle of the controller, which allows the player to do things without having the controller being completely covered in buttons. The controller consists of 16 buttons but half of them are useable without lifting your thumbs off of the trackpads. It is acceptable to have a controller with less buttons than a usual controller that replaces your mouse and keyboard.
This controller works with any version of Steam and any games on the Steam account. The Steam controller can also work as speakers for when you aren’t playing games. Valve decided to make this controller and system to transform a bunch of standard keyboard and mouse games and into new and optional ways of playing them. Valve has yet to say the release date and is still in beta testing phase.