this post was submitted on 12 Nov 2025
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I get that the touch pads are meant for mouse emulation. But, it's a PC! Why wouldn't I just pair my trackball to it?
For any gaming I'd prefer a mouse for, the gamepad is better. But for some games, the trackball is superior to both. Games like Diablo. I'm not into most of the games that would benefit. Someone named a bunch and yeah, I don't play those games. But for those games, I have a Logitech trackball I love, the MX570 or whatever. The trackball everyone uses. Not very original, I know, but hey, the thing's good! It's why I haven't bought the Apple Magic Trackpad for my Mac. If I had a mouse, I would have. But the trackball bridges the divide. So yeah, as a trackpad guy (you can't beat the one on the MacBook) I get it... but not for gaming. Like trying to play Cyberpunk on my MacBook is an exercise in futility. First, there's no traffic or pedestrians because it's a base M2 with no GPU (something like a 12th generation Core i5 on the Intel side?) but it runs! At like 720p. But when I look with the trackpad, I randomly shoot because the stupid game doesn't know how to use a trackpad right. And you shouldn't use a trackpad for a shooter. But for something that's 2D or 2.5D or isometric or whatever? Probably the best thing you can use.
I remember hear8ng during the development of the first steam controller, valve have put in a trackball emulator or behavior (whatever it's called. I'm playing my "English is my second language" card) for the track pads.
I assume they didn't abandon that and did put it as a configuration for the steam deck, and again still assuming, for the new controller.
If I'm wrong I'm happy to be politely corrected.
Also, hello fellow trackball companion ๐๐พ