Steam Controller: Easter Egg makes the Valve gamepad scream
Users of the new Steam Controller have discovered a hidden Easter egg. If the input device falls to the floor, the famous Wilhelm scream sounds under certain conditions. The implementation takes place via an unexpected hardware component.
Secret feature in the new gamepad
Buyers of Valve’s new Steam Controller have discovered a hidden feature that can be described as a classic Easter egg. The PC input device, available for 100 euros, emits an acoustic scream when it falls to the ground from a low height. The sound triggered is the so-called Wilhelm’s scream. This is a well-known sound effect from the 1951 film industry that appears in numerous productions including Star Wars, Indiana Jones, The Lord of the Rings and more than 400 other films. To trigger the Easter Egg, the gamepad must be connected to a computer. The system must also run Steam in Big Picture Mode. If the controller then falls onto a surface, the built-in gyro sensors register the fall and trigger the audio signal. There is a cooldown of about a minute before the scream can be provoked again. Valve has decided on an unusual technical solution. As PC gamers reports, there is a trick by the hardware engineers behind the implementation. The device does not have a dedicated speaker. Instead, the developers used the large haptic motors inside to play the sound.
Watch on YouTube
Hardware motors instead of speakers
Those responsible have programmed the motors so that their subtle mechanical vibrations acoustically simulate the human scream. The sound generation process has various advantages and disadvantages. A positive aspect is that Valve didn’t have to integrate any additional components. This saves space in the housing and reduces the production costs of the input device. The downside of the technology is limited audio quality. The Wilhelm’s scream produced is relatively quiet and sounds slightly tinny due to the mechanical production. There is also a real risk of permanently damaging the input device due to hard impacts when trying it out. The mechanics inside are complex and sensitive to strong physical shocks.
Be careful when trying it out
If you want to test the hidden feature yourself, you should take appropriate precautions. It is advisable to only drop the controller on soft surfaces such as thick pillows. Hard floors could destroy the sensitive TMR joysticks or the built-in sensors. So: only test at your own risk!
