I see this:

http://store.steampowered.com/livingroom/SteamController/

Really?  Can someone explain to me what Valve is thinking here?  Are fire buttons on the front old news?

Seems pretty clear to me. What's the confusion?

Looks very ergonomic from the shape. And either it's the best controller ever or the worst one.

it is a reversed controller..you dont know which is the front or back

Only valve has the balls to try some innovation like this. Not sure how it will work, but it could be brilliant, or fail. I wouldn't count valve out. Typical people judging too quickly.

I might give this gamepad a try, just for the simple fact that it has buttons for Quick Save and Quick Load. For example, I currently use a 360 controller while playing a game like Skyrim on PC, but still have to use my keyboard whenever I need to make a Quick Save/Quick Load. I'm also interested in how the trackpads will work out.

Probably the third best shooter controller design after wiimote and Move. Awkward placement of face buttons sucks for nearly every other genre.

Fire buttons are spread across both sides of the controller, making me wonder how the heck you do a fighting game, and other things people play.  

Sorry, but why would a console company make a controller like this? Racing games, platformers, fighting games, adventure games and rpg's don't get anything from such a design. It's MAYBE good for FPS and RTS but then, mouse and keyboard are still better.

I don't have a lot of experience with fighting games, but would the two additional buttons behind the hand grips help in that regard?