With the rumors that Valve is developing a “Steam Box Console”, plus their less subtle teasing of “big picture mode”, it appears Valve is hoping to heroically usher PC gaming from the office chair to the (much more comfy and social) sofa. So, it’s no surprise that Valve has filed a patent for nifty-looking convertible trackball controller to give couch surfers a practical point-and-click device.
The controller shown in the patent looks like a standard Xbox 360 controller, but with two bays where thumsticks would normally be located:
“A variety of modular input interfaces can be plugged into these sockets. Hardware specific to the input type of the modular input is contained within the modular input itself, and plugged in via an interface. This allows for dual analog sticks, a combination of analog and trackball, or further any combination of touchpad, directional pad, or additional components.”
Will Valve’s increasingly successful game delivery system does find its way into our living rooms? If so, here’s hoping that we can leave the mouse behind.
– Steven
Hi Steve. I have found a manufacturer of trackball controllers for the PS3.
http://sen-feng.en.alibaba.com/search/product?_csrf_token_=barx6ndw_u8b&IndexArea=product_en&SearchText=trackball
I’ve tried to contact them but got still no reply. They are from china but the problem is it looks like they are just shipping to retailers and the minimum order is about 2000 pieces.
Hi , Daniel Natapov – is working with Microsoft since November2010….
http://www.linkedin.com/in/dnatapov
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTyOXUNu824
Hi Steve.
I’ve found another retailer who is selling a trackball controller. The MOQ is about 30 units. The trackball is compatible with ps3/ps2/pc.
I guess our only chance to get this controller we need to organize an omnibus order.
http://www.globalsources.com/gsol/I/Joypad/p/sm/1037786536.htm
Check it out.
Hope you will write a reply man.