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PlayStation (Games) XBox (Games)

Play Console Games With a Keyboard and Mouse 68

Posted by Zonk from the way-it-was-meant-to-be-played dept.
HunterX writes "Lik Sang took the videogame community by storm this weekend by announcing a new entry in its product catalog. The SmartJoy FRAG is an adapter that allows Xbox and PlayStation 2 owners to connect a mouse and a keyboard to the console and replace the standard controller with the well known PC combo that has been the envy of many console gamers for years. TeamXbox.com has more on the story, and there is plenty of commentary on Lik Sang's Forums."
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Play Console Games With a Keyboard and Mouse More

Play Console Games With a Keyboard and Mouse

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  • Unfair Live Advantage (Score:3, Insightful)

    by DreadPiratePizz ( 803402 ) on Wednesday October 06, 2004 @11:36AM (#10451713)
    This is going to ruin games such as Halo 2 on Xbox live.

    • Re:Unfair Live Advantage (Score:5, Insightful)

      by Glytch ( 4881 ) on Wednesday October 06, 2004 @02:26PM (#10453304)
      Why? Just because some people insist on crippling themselves with joysticks in an FPS, I should have to suffer?

      The entire reason I don't play console FPS games is because of that braindead, ridiculous, two-little-joysticks-and-a-couple-of-buttons control setup. Now I might actually bother to play Halo and all those others. And I know for damn sure that there's lots of people like me out there.
      • The way the joy stick lovers see it is that you are not smart enough to be able to adjust to using a joystick/controller. I think it will be hard to balance the keyboard and mouse on my lap while I play a game. Besides its not wireless so I have to move closer to the TV.
      • Mod my parent up to +99999 please Seriously, the product is available for all. Just becuase some people insist on using such a retarded controll method doesn't mean I should have to!
      • Damn, I wish I still had my mod points...

        I do not like console FPS, with the only exceptions being Goldeneye and Metroid Prime.

        Now, platformers and sports games are "different" with a keyboard; I enjoy the controller experience much better on those.

      • I'm kind of half-and-half on the joypad vs. keyboard and mouse issue.

        I appreciate that the mouse provides precision and speed to those with the skill. You can turn 180 degrees almost instantaneously, which you can't with a joystick (or in real life, but that is very much beside the point). Personally I was brought up on GoldenEye and Perfect Dark and I am firmly of the opinion that GE's is the best control system of any game, video or otherwise, but if you think you can get better accuracy with a mouse, t

        • Uhm, they did - it's called a Nostromo. See this link: http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatSectionView.proces s ?Section_Id=2071

          Admittedly you are not a PC gamer if you were "brought up" on GE and PD. While it is interesting to hear your thoughts, you really aren't able to accurately critique the differences between a controller and mouse/keyboard for fps games.

          The idea of playing an fps on a console is, in my opinion, and with some exceptions, generally a poorly concieved notion.
    • i know since halo on the pc is hard enough online
  • I spent a fun-filled evening playing SOF on PS2 with a mouse plugged into the USB port on the front.

  • Hasn't this been done sorta? (Score:3, Interesting)

    by Joe the Lesser ( 533425 ) on Wednesday October 06, 2004 @11:49AM (#10451872) Homepage Journal
    I'm pretty sure that the PS2 already has a keyboard adapter, because how then else would PS2 FFXI players type to me? :)

    Still, this is probably a bit better than what they thought up, specially if the mouse is new.
    • Not really the same thing. What this adapter does is take keyboard and mouse inputs and translates them into controler outputs. As far as the console is concerned, it's just another regular controller. You wouldn't be able to use the keyboard to type messages in FFXI if it was attached with this adaptor.
    • One of the more interesting things I saw in a video game store in Japan was a ps2 controller/keyboard combo. It had the layout of a normal ps2 controller, only slightly wider and a bit longer. But instead of the gap in the center of the controller, there was a qwerty keyboard with tiny keys. Interesting, but it really wasn't worth it to me, since I didn't lug my ps2 along for the trip, and I really don't like online gaming.

  • Not the first time this has been done... (Score:4, Interesting)

    by Grey Ninja ( 739021 ) on Wednesday October 06, 2004 @11:54AM (#10451922) Homepage Journal
    But this is one of the stupidest.

    My problem is that the Xbox has PC hardware running it, has a PC operating system, and now has the standard PC input device. The way I see it, if you are willing to put out about $500, you can have a working PC made out of your Xbox. Whoop de doo.

    Honestly, I think if you are playing console games with a mouse and keyboard, it's probably time to buy a PC.

    • Re:Not the first time this has been done... (Score:5, Insightful)

      by gl4ss ( 559668 ) on Wednesday October 06, 2004 @11:59AM (#10451982) Homepage Journal
      **Honestly, I think if you are playing console games with a mouse and keyboard, it's probably time to buy a PC.**

      why? if you think keyboard+mouse are the best way to play some type of games, why not use keyboard and mouse? what difference does it make if the thing running the game is a "console" or a "desktop computer"?

      if console pads would kick so much ass for playing first person games pc gamers would buy them for usage on pc..

      (of course it would be pointless if you could play the games on your pc - which you can't in some cases. sure you could just not play them but thats beyond the point..)

      besides, these converters cost around 30 bucks, not 500...

    • Honestly, I think if you are playing console games with a mouse and keyboard, it's probably time to buy a PC.

      Why?

      You're forgetting that consoles have the benefit of hit-the-power-switch-and-play; you'll never have to worry about having the latest video card that's compatible with DirectX 9.72r3-beta. At least in theory.

      For that matter, if you're paying the $200-something for a console, why shouldn't you use it in a manner that's easiest for you? Once accustomed to the mouse and keyboard combination of a

    • Get me a $500 PC that will play every major game released in the next five years, then I'll never buy another console.
    • But Halo sucks on PC.

    • If you are playing console games with a mouse and keyboard, most likely you already own a gaming-capable PC. I doubt many people would voluntarily switch.

  • Stupid peripheral bastards. (Score:5, Insightful)

    by hollismb ( 817357 ) on Wednesday October 06, 2004 @11:55AM (#10451942) Homepage
    I hate this. Way to try to un-level the playing field you bastards. Fortunately, I think that most people both won't know about this, and won't bother to pick one up because you can't just grab it at the store, like you could with the Dreamcast, for example. I also have the feeling that this will totally suck for those who try to use it anyway. It's not as if the games are programmed to handle the precision movement of a mouse, so it'll probably end up being somewhat awkward. Fortunately, I don't know anyone on Xbox Live that would even care about using a KB/M, seeing as most console-FPS gamers actually prefer using a controller anyway, or at the very least have gotten used to it. If not, they'd probably be playing them on the PC. I can see the usual Live A-holes doing this because they care so much about stats, but the average population, probably not.

    • Anyone remember back in the days of Doom, 'mousers' versus 'keyboarders'?

      Google Groups Thread [google.com]

      Now you'll just see people arguing joystick vs keyboard/mouse
    • A superior control system = superior game immersion = more fun
      • 80% of people using joypads = pissed off at mousers = kicks, bad karma = fun spoiled utterly
        • I had a mean response all set up to counter your rude reply to the other post you made but meh...

          KB+Mouse is cheap and you can likely set it up on your coffee table and have plenty of fun. Otherwise get used to being spanked. It takes too long to turn around with those analogs. It doesn't really give the opportunity to have a "realistic" fight.

          Maybe some car racing games might be more to your speed now? Tetris?

          btw I don't play on the Xbox at all so, sadly, it won't be me wrecking you analog monkeys.
          • Your 'turning around' time will be as limited as the joypad - this just translates mouse movements into joypad movements. Sorry :)

            Of course it does it by whacking the sensitivity right up, but then anyone who plays these games for longer than 5 minutes does that anyway.

    • don't know anyone on Xbox Live that would even care about using a KB/M, seeing as most console-FPS gamers actually prefer using a controller anyway, or at the very least have gotten used to it.

      we'll see if they'll get used to being headshot repeatedly at their spawn.

      people who prefer dual analog to kb/m deserve no mercy.

      • I prefer dual analog on average, as it doesn't lead to a massive narrowing of game types. I'd be much happier if this thing had never been invented to be honest, there's more than enough FPS games on the PC to keep the religious kb/m people happy.

        Hopefully it won't make FPS games on consoles a no-go area for people who don't really want to have to set up a fucking desk in their living room like some kind of sad twat.

    • Boo-freakin'-hoo. I thought Slashdot was all about the rights of the end user. Yet you don't want to learn to play an FPS with mouse & keyboard, yet you are going to get upset that have the freedom to make that choice? As someone else already pointed out, my Radeon 24000 may be faster than your geForce 12, so I have an unfair advantage already. Or maybe you're on broadband and I'm on dial-up, guess who's going to win THAT shootout? Just work with what you have, or change it, so that it works well f

  • About bloody time! (Score:5, Insightful)

    by Lord_Pain ( 165272 ) on Wednesday October 06, 2004 @12:00PM (#10451987)
    The lack of mouse/keyboard support has been the only reason why I would not give FPS on consoles the time of day. I was brutally tramatized by Halo's control scheme. Game pads do not cut it for me...

    • I second the motion. Just yesterday I was writing a rant about how I wasn't going to play Halo 2 until it came out for PC because of the lack of KB/Mouse support. In fact I have hacked my Xbox and put Linux on it (in a loop file) and I already have a USB KB/Mouse on my Xbox, but it sure won't work on games. The only drawback I can see to this plan is that I'm going to need a separate set of input devices because this unit uses PS/2 instead of USB, which is probably a big mistake but I'm sure it's a lot che

    • Halo on XBox controlled pretty well, actually. Granted, this had a lot to do with the autoaim, but it was still by far the best experience I've had with a console FPS. I assume you were lucky enough not to have played any of the other console FPSes that are out there.

      Rob

  • I welcome this. (Score:5, Insightful)

    by EvilAardvark ( 819035 ) on Wednesday October 06, 2004 @12:03PM (#10452018)
    I am primarily a PC gamer, but I do play action titles on my xbox and I definitely welcome this. The FPS controls on the xbox have always seemed awkward and clumsy to me. And of course this will tip the performance balance in favor of those who use this new adapter in online matches. However, I don't believe it will be as serious as some are saying. Unlike a PC console games typically have fairly forgiving hit detection so accuracy isn't quite as important.

    Anyway, that's just my two cents.

  • I have always had console gaming systems for when people come over and want to play games and the PC for when I want to game alone or online. However, the average gaming pad [amazon.com] can do wonders for some games on the PC and makes it useable by more people who will not even touch a mouse/keyboard combo. We run MAME and the Ninendo emulators [emulator-zone.com] on an old 1 GHZ Duron in the living room and currently it is getting more play with 2 wireless USB controllers than our XBOX or PS2.
    • that's what i was thinking. i won't touch pc games, because i can't stand using a keyboard and mouse to play games. i use them waaaaaay too much at work . . .

      i think making a keyboard / mouse combo for consoles isn't the answer. the answer is to get more companies to do what epic did, and make the game work, and work fluidly, with either.
    • If you have an XBOX you can run MAME and the Nintendo emulators on that you have no need for your Duron. Now send me your Duron and i'll have your modchip there within the week.

  • This will transform console FPSs (Score:5, Interesting)

    by GreatDrok ( 684119 ) on Wednesday October 06, 2004 @12:16PM (#10452151) Journal
    I had pretty much given up on FPSs for my PS2 in favour of using my Windows PC. However, the PC is aging now and the cost of upgrading it is worrying me but the latest games are really starting to crawl. I can just about play Doom 3 on the thing but have to have the graphics are the lowest res and with all the nice effects turned off just to get a decent frame rate. The advantage of games on the PS2 or XBox is that you know the game will run well on the hardware. With the ability to use a keyboard and mouse I think this will give FPSs a much better shot (slight pun). I expect I will even go back to a number of games I gave up on because I just couldn't stand the joypad having got used to the keyboard and mouse.

    For some games the joypad is great, I found GTAIII on the PS2 much better with a joypad than the same game on the PC with keyboard and mouse (and no way to map a joypad on the PC to match the PS2 which is doubly annoying). Best tool for the job and the keyboard and mouse is better for FPSs. The annoying bit is the PS2 has USB ports already and some games support a keyboard and mouse through those but really, all games should have the option. This is a hack but if it works gimme gimme gimme!

  • Screw that! (Score:4, Funny)

    by Sean Johnson ( 66456 ) on Wednesday October 06, 2004 @12:21PM (#10452206)
    I want to be able to hook up an original Atari joystick. That would be weird just to try out.
    Or better yet those paddle thingamagigs. Imagine the possibilties!
  • the question will it still have the sluggish mouse/crosshair resolution that has always plauged video games... or is it actually comparable to the pc?

    But its definately not worth 30 dollars... for that price I will develope and make my own, and I bet i will still come out much cheaper even after 2 or 3 prototypes.
    • Then I await the slashdot post of your hackjob, as soon as it (never) shows up. What they are doing is not a simple thing, and $30 to be free of the shackles of that horride gamepad seems perfectly reasonable to me.

  • Xbox Communicator? (Score:4, Insightful)

    by redune45 ( 194113 ) <slashdot@ r e d u n e . c om> on Wednesday October 06, 2004 @12:41PM (#10452391) Homepage
    The adaptor doesn't seem to have the port on it that the Xbox communicator plugs into.
    This will make it much more annoying to make use of this thing online. Though I think that is a good thing, I get rocked bad enough online as is, if I were up against guys with superior controllers I would be murdered.

    • Re:Xbox Communicator? (Score:1, Informative)

      by Anonymous Coward
      It plugs into that little tab on the top of the unit...

      http://www.lik-sang.com/image.php?category=82&pr od ucts_id=5438&img=smartjoy-frag-xbox

  • Thank god (Score:4, Funny)

    by sahonen ( 680948 ) on Wednesday October 06, 2004 @01:02PM (#10452621) Homepage Journal
    The number one complaint I have whenever I'm playing a console game is having to deal with the clunky console controllers. Nothing will ever beat the flexibility and fluid control of a keyboard and mouse combo for me.
  • Could this be used to write bots for XBox Live? Take the video out, feed it to a PC for analysis, and then hook the PS2 keyboard and mouse outs to this device?

    It seems like it would be pretty easy to make a camping sniper bot :)

    • Re:XBox Live Bots? (Score:4, Insightful)

      by Glytch ( 4881 ) on Wednesday October 06, 2004 @02:21PM (#10453258)
      If you can write a program that an average PC is fast enough to run that can do real-time video analysis, then you not only deserve to win the game, but you'd deserve a Nobel prize.
      • real-time video analysis, then you not only deserve to win the game, but you'd deserve a Nobel prize

        It's not that hard. The analysis software doesn't have to totally understand the scene, just pinpoint a few common features and aim directly at them.

        For example, a lot of games will draw the names of other online players floating over their heads. Those names are in a fixed-size font, in a color selected to highly contrast with the background. Detecting those names from a video signal would be hard, but
  • ok, so now you can use a keyboard and mouse to squint at the low-rez tv screen.
  • The only advantage of the mouse over a controller with well-designed aiming assistance (i.e. in Halo) is that you can turn much faster with the mouse. It would be trivial for the developer to directly limit your character's maximum turning rate, so you wouldn't go any faster no matter how fast you move the mouse.
    • There are other advantages:
      • Being able to use your hand and arm instead of your thumb to turn. This (in addition to the fact that mice instantly "recenter") makes aiming a lot more precise. For proof of this, try moving a mouse pointer with a thumbstick some time. Even with good autoaim, this makes a difference.
      • Better button placement. Most mice have three buttons (five if you count the wheel axis), all within easy reach of your right fingers. The rest of the buttons you need are all within easy rea
      • With a controller, most of your fingers are needed for stability. A keyboard requires no extra stability, while a mouse requires at most your thumb and pinky to keep it steady (leaving your most useful fingers free).

        Uh... a mouse and keyboard require a whole freaking TABLE for stability. I had a Dreamcast with a keyboard, and keeping it steady on my lap while playing Typing Of The Dead hurt my typing rate and accuracy. I had similar performance problems playing certain Sega CD games that used the MegaMous

        • I know plenty of folks who play console games with a keyboard/mouse combo.. most of them play lying in bed, or in a lazy-boy type recliner. While I can understand the issue with a typing tutor, as you said, with most normal games, such as FFXI or FPS this isn't an issue.

          As for comparing Doom3 or HL to to Metroid Prime... I'm not going to say it's not a great game. It is, and I love it to death. However, it's not really a good comparison to other FPS games, as it was designed to be played with the contr

    • right, so they're going to patch all of their console games then?
      • This would be easy to do over Xbox Live if MS thought it was a big enough deal- they can do executable patches.

        XBL is really the only place where this adapter could cause much disruption in the first place. It's easy to find out if someone is cheating during system link play (just go over there, take a look, and mock/smack him if necessary), and nobody cares if people use it in solo games.
    • the 'aiming assitance' or 'auto-aim' or, as real gamers like to call it: fucking cheating is exactly the problem. Of course, a mouse could not outperform auto aiming. The reason for this is that auto aiming is put into the console games to make up for the weakness of the standard controller. Btw, this is something I don't get about the console fps'ers: Why do you even bother to play a game like that if you let the computer do the most important part, aiming? The whole point of FPS is to be faster in reflex
  • As far as the use of a mouse and keyboard being an advantage in gaming, the outcome lies not in the control peripherals of the player, but the skill of the player using them.
  • What I really want is a ball-top joystick for the PC just like the ones that were in arcades for retro gaming like Pac-man. Using a pad controller, or a flight stick just isn't the same.
  • I've found the dual analog, a.k.a. timesplitters method, to be better than the keyboard and mouse in FPS games. I find it make straffing much easier. While I await flames on this comment, I'd encourage PC FPS players to try it. There are dual analog joypads out for PC now. it's a little trying at first, but I think it offers better movement control than KB and mouse, if not as much aiming precision as you'd like.

    It also avoids the dreaded, out of mousemat overflow found with most KB and mouse combos, :E
  • If they would only allow consoles to be hooked up to computer monitors.

    Then I could have a $200 replacement for a game pc sitting on my desk with a broadband connection and the input methods I'm used to instead of shelling out thousands every few years in PC hardware upgrades.

    I think this is the future of gaming.
    • Welcome to the wonderful world of VGA cables [lik-sang.com], which were introduced to consoles a few years ago.

      The Dreamcast had quite a few games that looked much better on a computer monitor than on a television. A few of my friends do the use them at LAN parties for Halo.

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