SDL_GamepadType missing Steam Controller/Deck/Steam-licensed controllers/handheld Type

[AL2009man]

Looking within SDL_GamepadType, I noticed that Steam Controler/Deck/HoriPad for Steam/etc.-variant is not listed there, even tho: SDL is capable of detecting Steam Controller and Steam Deck joystick name. You can already try it out on the devbuild of Yamagi Quake 2 if you wanna see it in action.

While researching around, and looking within VVVVVV's sourcecode: best way to provide Steam Controller/Deck prompts would be to get the Vendor/Product ID and make a "DECK_LAYOUT" code. the downside is that since it's looking at 0x28de: it'll assume a Steam Controller is gonna be a Steam Deck. But if the makers wanna implement Steam Controller and Steam Deck-dedicated prompts together...it's not exactly easy to do, and it might require a quick and dirty workaround.

For the sake of completion: it would be nice to introduce a "SDL_GAMEPAD_TYPE_STEAM" variant that will cover Steam Deck, HoriPad for Steam and future Steam-licensed controllers or devices like the upcoming Lenovo Legion Go S's SteamOS Edition.

As for Steam Controller: I think an alternative "SDL_GAMEPAD_TYPE_STEAM_CONTROLLER" would do fine, and would be similar to SDL_GAMEPAD_TYPE_PS4 would handle in terms of backward compatibility.

While I do understand the usual recommendation is "use Steam Virtual Gamepad" or "Steam Input API", I still think it's worth adding a new GamepadType variant to account for sourceports and emulation projects, while making it easier for commercially shipped games like Ys X Nordics to have a proper way of detecting and provide Steam Deck prompts (as of this writing: playing on Steam Deck will auto-detect and give Xbox prompts, even tho it has Steam Deck prompt support)....without needing to workaround or implement SIAPI completely.

[slouken]

What differences in prompts are there between an Xbox controller and Steam controller?

[AL2009man]

What differences in prompts are there between an Xbox controller and Steam controller?

A few sets of differences between those two:

• START and SELECT button, while using Xbox 360 symbols (START and BACK), is more akin to DualShock 3's "START" and "SELECT" button in name only.
• Both Rear/Paddle buttons are referred as "LEFT GRIP" and "RIGHT GRIP". (under-the-hood: Right Grip is called "Paddle Left 1", while Left Grip is "Paddle Right 1". this is technically a correct location if you only look at the back side of Steam Controller)
• the Left Stick Click is actually called "Stick Click".
• Face Buttons, Shoulder Buttons and Trigger buttons are just Xbox glyphs.
• Left and Right Trackpads, self-explanatory.

All these naming conventions are taken from a SIAPI game (Baldi's Basics Classic Remastered) that uses "Text-based glyphs", and then Yamagi Quake 2.

In comparison to Steam Deck/HoriPad for Steam/future Steam-licensed input hardware: their prompt convention is a combination of Xbox, PlayStation, Steam Controller and Apple MFi. Xbox One/Series X|S for the Face Buttons+D-Pad+View+Menu, PlayStation for the Bumpers+Triggers+Stick Click, Steam Controller for Deck's Left and Right Trackpads and Apple MFi for Back Buttons and Misc buttons (so far: Steam HoriPad only uses it).