XFPS lets you use keyboard/mouse on the 360
by Christopher Grant 
{ Nov 27th 2006 at 9:35AM }
Despite the popularity of online-enabled console FPSs like Halo 2, some people have never been able to effectively make the jump from keyboard and mouse to gamepad; whatever 1337 skillz they once had are rendered inert in the smooth, ergonomic grips of a gamepad. 360 modders, XCM, recently unveiled the XFPS 360 adapter to connect either a USB or PS/2 mouse and keyboard to the Xbox 360 console. Just to make things confusing, the device also supports a PS2 (as in PlayStation 2) gamepad although we're not sure why anyone would want to substitute one gamepad for another. We'll just consider that a value-add. The device isn't available yet, so interested parties should keep an eye on XCM's site. But before you go plunking down your paycheck, we'd be wary that Microsoft will try to detect -- and disable -- devices like the XFPS in an effort to maintain a balanced playing field.
[Via Xbox 360 Fanboy]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
aj @ Nov 27th 2006 9:43AM
this would suck...
rafa @ Nov 27th 2006 9:47AM
you would dominate in any FPS. looks pretty sick.
Extorn @ Nov 27th 2006 10:19AM
Finally.
Someone at microsoft has a brain to appeal to the PC Gamer Market.
Lorben @ Nov 27th 2006 9:53AM
The PS2 controller slot would help out if you want to play DDR Ultramix with a PS2 pad.
Anyway, this is great. No matter how much Halo I play I can’t get used to dual analog control. It just feels unnatural. This adds a lot of value to the 360 in my eyes if it works well in game.
joshua @ Nov 27th 2006 10:06AM
oh my god, i hope this thing gets released. i'm gonna be on top of the leaderboards if i can use keyboard & mouse for 360 games. WASD 4 Life!
Chiax @ Nov 27th 2006 10:15AM
aaaaannd the line between pc and console further blurs....
Greg @ Nov 27th 2006 10:18AM
The PS2 pad would be super-helpful on a lot XBLA games that use the D-Pad - especially Street Fighter II. The D-Pad on the 360 is ass, and we all know it.
Hopefully we'll be able to do a fair amount of key binding with the XFPS.
hey alex @ Nov 27th 2006 10:23AM
I thought you could plug a keyboard directly into the 360 via USB, why the need of another device to do the same thing?
Just because you can plug in a keyboard/mouse doesn't mean the game will support it. I would think the designer would have to program for it, or somehow the controller would have to be mapped to the keyboard/mouse. Or does it all magically work?
Stujiro @ Nov 27th 2006 10:24AM
Microsoft is going to put the kaibosh on this thing super quick.
Everyone knows that it'd give people an unfair advantage in any shooter. That's a big reason people like console games online, it levels the playing field (with the exception of HD vs. SD and Surround vs. Stereo).
iceatcs @ Nov 27th 2006 10:24AM
Extorn:
It is not came from MicroSuX. It is modder's idea (xcm.cc)
I suggest you to read more careful in next time.
KilgoreTrout XL @ Nov 27th 2006 10:26AM
Wouldn't the developer have to choose to write code to support use of a keyboard or mouse? How would you calibrate it otherwise? This is especially an issue on games like Gears of War, where the reticle sensitivity is low. I can see myself rollign my mouse across my entire dining room table just to turn left.
Mapping movements to the keys would probably be difficult as well.
Great idea, and the hardware itself even looks kinda slick. It just seems like it isn't going to work.
Derka @ Nov 27th 2006 10:27AM
You can already use a keyboard, but a mouse would be a nice change.
modeps @ Nov 27th 2006 10:30AM
I hope they release it, and it is subsequently disabled by Microsoft. Talk about an uneven playing field...
cyberfrog @ Nov 27th 2006 10:35AM
Ahh... I remember the good ol days when people whose first fps experience was via consoles (usually halo) and them arguing that a keypad was just as precise as a mouse and keyboard. Then two things happened, keyboard and mouse adpaters got released for the xbox and halo also showed up on the pc. Suffice to say that the debate was solidly concluded. It's just fun to see how people now say it's an unfair advantage :)
Saying that it levels the playing field is a bit much in my opinion. The gamepad naturally favors some types of players and hands, etc. With a mouse and keyboard, people are allowed to customize until it feels right for them (ergonomic keyboard, left handed people, etc). The only thing i consider unfair are things such as changing sensitivity on the fly for weapons that usually decrease your sensitivity as a balance move (like most sniper weapons).
siro @ Nov 27th 2006 10:45AM
Controls will be unprecise and shite, because mouse and analog stick work so differently.
TheScantronman @ Nov 27th 2006 10:46AM
to hey alex,
The device is probably used to emulate some of the functionality of the controller, I guess to "fool" the 360 into thinking a controller is plugged in. I guess it could be a cool device for some FPS games like CoD2 and FEAR. I can't imagine playing GoW on it due to the issues mentioned above (sensitivity).
GoPodular @ Nov 27th 2006 10:59AM
XCM will be sued by the end of the week. Anyone paying for one of theses will have ~0.5% chance of actually getting one.
If you *do* get one, I'd give it one week later before MS makes sure it doesn't work anymore.
ManekiNeko @ Nov 27th 2006 11:14AM
"Just to make things confusing, the device also supports a PS2 (as in PlayStation 2) gamepad although we're not sure why anyone would want to substitute one gamepad for another."
Uh... ever play Street Fighter II Turbo? Or Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3? Yeesh!
I personally don't understand why everyone's got themselves worked into a lather about the whole FPS thing. USB Keyboards seem to connect just fine to the Xbox 360, and I assumed mice wouldn't present much of a problem either.
Also, it's worth pointing out that a keyboard and mouse aren't going to do you much good if the game you're playing isn't specifically designed to use them... and I doubt that Gears of War and whatever else the kids are playing these days are.
JR
quizzle @ Nov 27th 2006 11:14AM
WOW.. I can't wait for this to be released. I've said from the start MS should release a kb/mouse to atlease give people the option. I'm glad to see Xtender release this.. LOl @ ms stopping it from working... see fw hack.
naiberson @ Nov 27th 2006 12:03PM
With the Smart Joy Frag for the ex-box was hit or miss. Games like UC2 you could tell people had a distinct advantage. Halo 2.. not so much. There's some deadzones in the middle that mess up the sensitivity.
My introduction to FPS was Quake, and I scoffed at buddies playing Goldeneye. That said, I upgraded my TV to get away from my desk. I'd like to keep everyone using the analogs. =Þ
dorkusmalorkus @ Nov 27th 2006 12:03PM
isnt windows vista with live anywhere suppose to connect PC gamers with console gamers anyways. So the whole keyboard/mouse combo is unfair advantage would be null anyways. this just speeds things up a bit.
SilverSlide @ Nov 27th 2006 12:08PM
The xbox had one of these mouse/keyboard combos and it didn't catch on, main reason being that you still have the turning speed of a pad even with the movement of the mouse (i.e. no super high pc style sensitivity), which kinda makes the experience frustrating.
360 Lover @ Nov 27th 2006 12:14PM
Just like the versions of this stuff for the orginal xbox.....it wont work well.
The games are not written to use a keyboard and mouse so the keyboard and mouse emulate the sticks....which equalls lag. You can plug a USB keyboard into the 360 right now but no game will see it.....hence you will have to plug the keyboard into this device so it will see it as a thumb stick or button on a gamepad.
This company made a version for the Xbox and so did another called Joyfrag link-sang or something like that. I tried them both and they both had lag....as in you move you mouse...and then a moment later the recticale would move. When things got really busy in Halo 2 you were always over shooting.
I honestly dont think MS really cares about "advantange" to anyone they just want to keep it all the same on a console....as in all games use the game pad...not some use a keyboard, others use a game pad. With all games using a gamepad, and you get a gamepad with a the 360....then you game right out of the box.....and not you have to go buy one.
MS will bring the keyboard and mouse to LiveAnywhere and Halo 3 on the PC against Halo 3 on the 360. Then once and for all the "who is better" will be answered. I know alot of great gamepad gamers that will hold their own with out a keyboard and mouse.
DWells55 @ Nov 27th 2006 12:26PM
They had one of these for the original Xbox - I bought it hoping it'd make me better at Halo 2. It made me worse. It's nothing like a real mouse and keyboard, because all it's doing is using the inputs to emulate a controller. Ii's nothing like the real thing because of factors like joystick acceleration and such. You gain nothing from using it - it was utterly worthless for me. I can play Halo PC just fine, but I sucked horrendously playing it with the mouse and keyboard adapter on the Xbox for both Halo 1 and 2.
razer @ Nov 27th 2006 12:27PM
Mouse/Keyboard suck period. Please keep the lame-o creepy PC gamers and their over-rated peripherals off my console!
Joe Smith @ Nov 27th 2006 4:59PM
I wouldn't count on the mouse being worth shit in games. The games aren't designed for it. THey all use the analog sticks which behave in a very different fashion than the mouse. Unless these guys have some amazing firmware to translate the mouse into analog stick equivalents, I would expect total suckage. And why you would want to replace buttons and sticks with a keyboard totally escapes me.
BowDownBitches @ Nov 27th 2006 1:56PM
"25. Mouse/Keyboard suck period. Please keep the lame-o creepy PC gamers and their over-rated peripherals off my console!
Posted at 12:27PM on Nov 27th 2006 by razer 0 stars"
It's going to be a pleasure ass raping console whores in FPS's. The controller is THE main reason I won't play shooters on the 360 because the sucks the ass. Bitch all you want, this king of stuff is coming like it or not.
Maniaco @ Nov 27th 2006 11:51PM
My fav games are fps's, I'm not getting a useless console with a pathetic controlling method like a gamepad. Anyone who thinks gamepads are better for fps's are on serious drugs or simply never tried more than 10 minutes. I'll never see beyond Halo 1 cos I'm not playing fps's with a gamepad no sir, anyway halo is overated. The only reason why it worked is because of uncultured console only players that thinks the first fps's is goldeneye.
I'm so happy now that I can play Perfect Dark emulated with mouse controls...who cares for consoles, just sell me a x-box 360 emulator for my pc.
Matthew Lenz @ Nov 27th 2006 3:21PM
Who cares about online play. I want something like this for my PS3 just so I can do the single player campaign.
Anyone that thinks they would stand a chance against a mouse/keyboard in an FPS is crazy.
Pikachelsea @ Nov 27th 2006 2:51PM
Unless Microsoft stops it. Don't cream your pants yet, PC whores.
SuicideNinja @ Nov 27th 2006 4:57PM
Anyone who is excited about the Mouse/Keyboard functionality obviously never used a JoyFrag for the original Xbox.
I own one. The mouse support is horrible, setup is a chore, and overall it is not worth the effort.
You have to keep in mind that technically, the adapter is just adapting mouse movements to thumbstick movements. So there's still no "quick turns", and the increased accuracy is so minimal that it isn't worth the effort. Should I also point out that dead spots are a big problem?
You also lose the ability to walk "slowly". Holding "shift" and a direction key is not the same as complete movement control with an analog stick.
So those who think it will "unbalance" the playing field have nothing to worry about. This device will merely appeal to the stubborn who are too lazy to get decent with the sticks.
Lefty @ Nov 27th 2006 3:23PM
keyboard/mouse does not have an advantage over controler. its a rumor/myth based off many players doing begtter in what they are comfortable with. The devs of SHADOWRUN the first live anywhere title did a year of studies(they wanted to make sure both keybaord/mouse and controler we on level playing field)
The controler kept owning keyboard/mouse players. they had to tone down the controler
they found that keybaord/mouse was more accurate in longrange battles ie snipping but the controler gamers had quicker response and owned in mid range to close battles.
They tweaked the settings for both so now neither has an advantage of the other.
here is the link for those that don;t believe a word i just said
http://shadowrun.com/behindthescenes/articles/ControllerBalancing.htm
enjoy the read.
still trying to figure out how to get a star :-( lol
Trauts @ Nov 27th 2006 6:39PM
To the person who cited Shadowrun to explain that there is "no advantage" to controller vs mouse/keyboard...
From the page they link:
"WTF? Do the mouse players just suck? No, some of our testers play semi-professional gaming, so we know they don’t totally suck (In fact they recently dominated in a shooter tournament at PAX). Is it because our game plays so much differently than a standard shooter? Partially, but we also found a bug. The mouse players were getting slightly more recoil when shot, this caused them to lose most of their fire fights. So we fixed that, and the mouse players finally started to win. So now we know we are close to having a balanced game."
Shadowrun's devs are coding the two interfaces differently. The controller has AUTOAIMING to compensate for its small "throw distance."
Furthermore, the only real advantage in design, not coding, that a controller has is that it has analogue movement as well as easy access to different functions.
With a keyboard, you use WSAD... there are no diagonals, and the key is either pressed down or not. You can't be subtle with your speed or direction.
If you had a single handed "controller" with a joystick for a few features and a buttons for convenience, and used a "mouse" with the other hand, the advantages of both would be obvious.
The ZeroCorpse @ Nov 27th 2006 11:13PM
Trauts speaks the truth!!!
The ideal combination would be a combination of the analog joystick & finger-reachable additional keys, along with a mouse for aiming, primary buttons, and camera control.
Someone make it so!
James @ Nov 30th 2006 8:25PM
Has anybody else stepped back and read this thread? You actually have people saying, "Hey! You're not hampered by the same crippling, worthless control scheme I am, so you get an unfair advantage! MS better break your new toy!!!" How about instead MS offer the ability to control the game *properly* to everybody, e.g. by mandating mouse/keyboard support for every FPS. Then, we can do a proper "study" -- I did not follow that Shadowrun link, but I guarantee that there was a flaw in their methods if they did not find that mouse/keyboard always, always trumps dual analogs in a fair fight. Now, it's just up to the console companies/coders to support the One True Input Method.
e.thermal @ Dec 2nd 2006 11:49AM
I have a Max shooter for xbox 1, it works great I read many reviews that slammed the smart joy frag but really liked the max shooter so I picked it up off ebay. It works like a dream, I hook my xbox to my monitor and have my mouse keyboard hooked up to a kvm so I can switch between my pc and xbox very quickly. The programmers don't need to program for it but having sensitivity controls help. The better of these types of converters use a processor to translate mouse acceleration into proper analog movements. As far as microsoft detecting these it might be very difficult to do unless they see some kind of movement that would be "unnatural" with a controller but as far as the hardware is concerend it sees it as a regular controller. If they have a device id's that are banned then the controller manufacturer can switch device Ids and you are back in business. But this wouldn't be a technical stop by a licensing issue, this company would probably be shut down in court before they implemented any kind of technical fix.
noshi @ Dec 6th 2006 2:53AM
Yep. The idea in consoles is already there with double analog sticks but trying to access the right one for aiming is not ergonomic. One game I played where the mouse has limited movement (before having 'negative acceleration') is the Prince of Persia series on PC. The camera can move only as fast as the analog stick can, which is about 400 DPI or so, even with mouse input. It's also hard to move without an analog stick because a lot of movements in that game are not cardinal directions, and that screws up jumps with awkward camera angles.
If anyone wants to know how will it feel like using an emulator for mouse/keyboard on xbox 360 it will feel like PoP or N64 emulators. Slow and sluggish.
duff @ Dec 22nd 2006 1:06PM
Not that anyone is reading this anymore but if you are, the thing is released and the really shitty part about it? From the website that sells it:
Note: Requires a wired 360 controller for setup.
I don't know about you, but I don't have a wired controller... Boo! I wonder if the play/charge kit counts as wired?
Pestrofa @ Dec 25th 2006 6:46PM
On a controller, they map the sticks to a curve so that most of the area is used for micro movement and only the very edge is used for large turns.
IMHO that's the only disadvantage a mouse will have over a controller, unless you can adjust the sensitivity through the game.
Yet adjusting it really high, it will skip 3-5 pixels to all directions, hence loss of precision, - which is the very point!
ZippyDSM @ Dec 27th 2006 6:24PM
I can get use to FPS's on a game pad I CANT get used to Halo the 30% fine aim and the rest for quick look/turn destroys whats left of my game pad skill.
e.thermal
I have a joyfrag for the Xbox....its jumpy jittery and imprecise I have a Maxshooter for the PS2 and it is perfect
James
Devs now adays have a standard 2 config design if you don't fall in thier "cookie cutter" you are out of luck....back in the n64 days you had button mapping on most if not all FPSs game control,design and gameplay is a lost art now adays its going to take the adapter and cheat device manufactures to bring balance,control and "fun" back into gaming and that is sad ,sad indeed.
Halo dose control in a odd way make it hard so that only 40% of people are good the rest either cope with suxing or are frag fooder.whatever happen to full mapping and adjusting the game to you....
Pestrofa
its better than a jumpy aim witch I get with the a pad on Halo 2.
this is a first "model" the 2nd one either by XFPS or by someone else will be better like the max shooter is almsot perfect compared to the joy frag.