As mainly a console gamer over the years, I’ve become quite used to playing with a controller that has vibration. I feel that this is one thing the Deck is missing out on.

So I’m wondering if it’s possible to somehow connect up a small vibration motor (externally) that can be connected to the Deck, and have it recognised as a controller?

Possibly more effort than it’s worth but would be interesting to see if anyone has any ideas.

  • niisyth@lemmy.caEnglish
    211·
    11 months ago

    The deck does have a vibration motor. Do you mean to rig up a more powerful one?

        • SatyrSack@lemmy.one
          4·
          11 months ago

          Even though they use the same haptic motors, they do technically have the ability to be way stronger than they actually are while rumbling. Like when you first turn the device on and it vibrates, that is definitely more intense than it ever rumbles during gameplay.

          • arefx@lemmy.ml
            2·
            11 months ago

            I don’t think I’ve ever even noticed it rumble during the gameplay I just assumed it was the fan speeding up lol.

            It’s not a deal breaker for me it stronger haptics would be nicem

          • Molecular0079@lemmy.worldEnglish
            1·
            11 months ago

            They can be stronger but then they start making audible noises. The original steam controller had stronger haptics and it sounded super loud.

  • redsol2@lemmy.worldEnglish
    15·
    11 months ago

    For some reason this post reminds me of the good old N64 days where you had to load a vibration pak into the controller. Good time, good times.

    • OmegaMouse@feddit.ukOPEnglish
      8·
      11 months ago

      This may actually be the perfect solution! Internal vibration. Imagine playing Forza and feeling your insides jiggle as you accelerate through a corner. Possibly the closest thing to actually driving a car.

      • ExLisper@linux.communityEnglish
        6·
        11 months ago

        It sure sounds like a fun project to work on. If only I didn’t have so many things in backlog already.

          • ExLisper@linux.communityEnglish
            2·
            11 months ago

            Yes as I understand it usually the game would call buttplug.io directly but since Steam Deck already has vibration motor that games use I think it could be possible to detect when the internal motor vibrates and then pass the same signal to buttplug.io. So kind of a bridge between the build in motor and a buttplug.

            • OmegaMouse@feddit.ukOPEnglish
              2·
              11 months ago

              Thanks for the idea! I’ll look into this. Could be useful from a more generic perspective (i.e. just some kind of bluetooth vibration device that could attach to the Deck rather than a sex toy).

              Sex toy genuinely would be great though lmao

      • bug@lemmy.oneEnglish
        3·
        11 months ago

        All the sim racers use them, only a casual would drive without the SportsPlugGTX

  • peanuts4life@beehaw.orgEnglish
    4·
    11 months ago

    1. I’m in the work bathroom so I can’t check, but I think you can crank the haptic settings up on the deck, maybe that might help hold you over.

    2. it might actually be easier to replace the vibration motors in the deck with those for another controller. They could be a standard size, and other motors might fit. It all depends on how the motors are controlled electrically, and whether sufficient power could be sent to the new motors, and if so whether the electrical system can handle it.

  • Onurb@lemmy.world
    3·
    11 months ago

    Theoretically of course :D The Software side shouldn’t be that hard either so if you get the motor somehow connected you could get fancy rumble instead of the haptic feedback which you can currently enable.

  • dan1101@lemm.ee
    3·
    11 months ago

    Seems very doable, would just need a custom driver for the built-in controls that implements vibration.

    • OmegaMouse@feddit.ukOPEnglish
      1·
      11 months ago

      How difficult would it be create a driver like that? Would someone with virtually no coding experience have any chance?

      • dan1101@lemm.ee
        4·
        11 months ago

        As a programmer that has little to no idea how to program a driver, I think it’s basically zero chance. It would take a LOT of research and learning. Define the problem, choose an appropriate language, choose and install the programming tools, learn how to program a device driver, learn about controller hardware, learn about Linux, learn the programming language, learn about Steam Deck, write code and test probably hundreds or thousands of times. If I were to wildly speculate I’d say it would be several months starting with basically zero knowledge but having time, will, and aptitude.

          • dan1101@lemm.ee
            1·
            11 months ago

            I don’t know LOL. My experience is mostly with Windows, I assume things are different with Linux.

        • OmegaMouse@feddit.ukOPEnglish
          1·
          11 months ago

          Ah, I would definitely struggle then! I guess my most realistic options would either be to take apart the Deck and replacing the existing motor with a stronger one, or hope that someone smarter than me has a similar idea and can code a driver

        • OmegaMouse@feddit.ukOPEnglish
          1·
          11 months ago

          Thanks for this info. I think a hardware mod and/or software coding for this would be beyond my understanding.

          Something externally plug and play would be amazing, but I doubt such a product exists.

        • OmegaMouse@feddit.ukOPEnglish
          1·
          11 months ago

          Great info! I did wonder if something like that would be possible. Will look into this, thanks

  • Midnitte@kbin.social
    3·
    11 months ago

    I always thought it would be a cool product idea to create a usb haptic feedback thing that attached to your desk, but no idea how you’d extract the vibration data unless you fake it based off of bass in the sound…

    You could always use an external controller with haptics?

    • Fidelity9373@artemis.camp
      1·
      11 months ago

      If the game has native support for controllers, maybe the USB pack could act as a controller and you “mirror” the controller input between both the pack and the deck itself?

      • Midnitte@kbin.social
        1·
        11 months ago

        Probably, though that might not work if you wanted to actually use a mouse + kb on the desk

  • Corroded@leminal.spaceEnglish
    2·
    11 months ago

    Most things are possible with enough effort but the question is if it would be worth it. You could potentially replace the weight the motor spins with one that’s heavier but then you risk burning out the motor and I’m not sure how easy it would be to replace. Adding an additional motor to the back could work. Maybe you could use an Adruino in combination with the Steam Deck’s USB C port?

    I imagine without a fair amount of effort though you’d lose any kind of feeling of 3D vibration. Depending on where it’s mounted as well you might see diminishing returns.