Leaked Xbox 360 keyboard controller attachment, Voltron jealous

by Kevin Kelly on Apr 8th 2007 8:38PM

[Update: It's official. More information and higher resolution pics of the rendering here.]

With Gamespot and other sites leaking details about the upcoming Dashboard updates to the 360, you've gotta wonder how text messaging between the 360 and Windows users will work. Typing out even the briefest of messages using the 360 Controller is a lesson in patience; it's easier to record and send a voice message than it is to hammer out "LOL WRU?" on that thing. Enter this Xbox 360 snap-on qwerty keyboard attachment -- conveniently also leaked (and now pulled) by Gamespot -- which will be available in the summer for an unknown price. Luckily Engadget snagged some shots before they disappeared into the ether. One more after the break.

Source

Tags: attachment, Dashboard, IM, keyboard, PC, texting, TID, Xbox-360

Reader Comments (53)

I think that's a green and RED button probably for the basic confirm/cancel actions as it would be a bit of a nuisance to switch up to the regular face buttons everytime during longer chat sessions.

Hmmm, I'm a bit sceptical about this. The mic port for example, isn't a compatible one for the 360 microphone...

I call BS/Photoshop!

Well duh, look at the keys, they have alternate symbols in green and orange... now I wonder what those green and orange buttons do... hmm... could they... oh I know, perhaps they're used to get those alt symbols!? >_>

If you look at the letters you can see green and orange characters on them, I would imagine that the orange and green buttons work like a shift key for those characters.

This is more WTF than Sony combined.

First off, it has a Headset. WTF is this used for in gaming?

Also, if you really need a keyboard, then why not universal USB patch for any USB Keyboard? PS2 did this, WTF?

Microsoft!!!! >,

thats a photoshop job. albeit, not a bad one. but shouldnt there be a headphone jack at the downside of the keybord? or am i supposed to swap it with my headset? that would suck!

@ Sidepocket

I believe that this could be used for the upcoming crossplatform/PC games. Not all PC gamers will have headsets and this could be put out there to give the platform gamers a chance to type so people will have a choice of chat input.

Rumor has it that it will retail for $179.99.

@ Sidepocket

WTF, the dashboard update is supposedly adding MSN messenger support, it would be a bitch to type on the on screen keyboard for that.

Dang, I totally spaced on the alt-key functions, even though I have a Sidekick. Nice call, guys.

http://www.joystiq.com/2005/07/29/xbox-360-gonna-have-a-qwerty-controller/

The picture may be fake, but the product is real.

The green and orange are probably for mute/unmute since the headset input is a single jack versus a wide jack.....then again a single jack would mean the headset sold would not fit it. So either this is an early concept or it's a fake.

some of you are idiots. of course its a mock, up of a real product.the 360 supports usb keyboards already but for some like me i dont like having a full keyboard near my 360 since it sits on top of my tv.i want this attachment.

This was confirmed in the Mexican representation in summer of 05.

http://media.teamxbox.com/dailyposts/xbox360/rumor/es_slide_01.jpg

meh, not for me but whateva, more functionality is never a bad thing. You see, when the 360 came out it was half baked, but for me, it was fully baked. I know that all these features will standard in the next iteration of xbox (720?) anyway, back to Crackdown!

gosh some people are KILLING me. ever since the msn talk and this new keyboard attachment people rant "WTFZ0RZ! Y CANT 1 H@V3 USB K3YB0RED????!!!!!!!!!!!1ONE"

im sorry im so upset, but i see people bitch about this all the time, but none of them realize YOU CAN USE A USB KEYBOARD AND YOU HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SINCE LAUNCH!!

[deep breath]

anyways, cool idea, i might consider it if it isnt overpriced like the rest of the 360 peripherals, but i would rather use a USB Keyboard.

I am going off a limb here, and saying the keyboard accessory is an April Fools Prank, but if it turns out to be true, it will be when Microsoft gets a browser for web access.

"First off, it has a Headset. WTF is this used for in gaming?"

MMO type games would be the most obvious use for this type of contoller. Take for example the upcomming Marvel game that will be both on the PC and 360. Trying to chat on a keyboard and handle a keyboard at the same time would be a bit much to juggle, but would be a bit easier.

Nyko makes something like this for the PS2:

http://www.netpcdirect.co.uk/images/ps2_itype2.jpg

Why would it be an April Fools prank a week later?

Looks kinda cool, but not all that necessary.

If they bring this out they need to do a browser too. DO A BROWSER MICROSOFT!!! JUST GET IT OVER WITH!!

Sold! Quite sleek.

I'd rather use the regular controller and a USB keyboard.

Yeah, we heard about this pre-launch from a Microsoft presentation in Spain. Plus, assuming communication is possible with Messenger (via the Spring update), this then makes a lot of sense for those who want to text with friends.

This only thing that strikes me as odd, is 'summer' release, considering the update to make it possible is Spring. Why force everyone to wait a few additional months?

But then again, Microsoft released downloadable movies/TV before many months before finally announcing a larger hard drive. So maybe they enjoy making us wait.

Man if the keyboard is thin enough the headset would plug in.

Have you used the browser for the PS3? It's really not all that it's cracked up to be. Plus, browsers just open the doors for hacks and such - a nono for MS.

With all respect - this is completely useless and a load of crap, look at that thing, it makes the controller useless as a controller. People forget that the 360 supports a USB keyboard, if they want to type out messages to contacts that will be the solution, or a separate keyboard accessory, but not that brick.

this is stupid and pointless. nothing else needs to be said.

The xbox 360 supports both wired and wireless usb keyboards , so wtf is this for?

shades of jaguar...or intellivision.

Ugh it looks just like the Atari Jaguar controller.

I actually think this is a pretty awesome idea. It's better than having a USB cord running from your 360 or any console for that matter. But, I do like having wireless bluetooth 'boards with my PS3 :)

"Man if the keyboard is thin enough the headset would plug in."

Impossible, considering it would be using the two jacks on each side of the headphone jack to actually plug into the controller and transmit keystrokes.
The headset just has plastic bits that fill those in and don't use them; Also I'm sure they'll add holes next to the headset jack for those bits to go in, as not shown in this concept art.

Though I have a USB keyboard, I'd still want one of these if I'm going to be responding to IMs in the middle of a gaming session.
Then again, I pause the game and do that on my computer anyway...
Still, looks pretty slick to me. Hope it's not too heavy.

that rules. i want one.

voltron rules! but anyway i dont know if i would get a add on like that when i could just get a usb keyboard or use my headset they just need to work on multi chat instead of multi text.

"I actually think this is a pretty awesome idea. It's better than having a USB cord running from your 360 or any console for that matter. But, I do like having wireless bluetooth 'boards with my PS3 :)"

too bad almost all bluetooth keyboards include a USB bluetooth transmitter, so basically any logitech or MS bluetooth keyboard you buy will also work with the 360.

Pretty awesome. No need to leave the bed. Except for sodas, of course. But it does look like the 360 controller is going to start feeling like a big heavy hamburger in your hands... Which reminds me of soda again.

Even though it looks like something made by Playskool, I've got to admit that looks kinda cool.

Assuming it isn't suffering from a form over function problem, that's a pretty good solution to the lack of keyboards on consoles issue.
...although it'd be cooler if the mini keyboard slide out from the back.

At some point, you just gotta ask youself... why not just use a PC?

i lol'd

If web browsing ever comes about, this would be nice setup across the room.

The heaviest (current) game controller gets even heavier.

Since I do have a usb keyboard hooked up to my 360 one might think this is worthless to me. I have to get up and walk over to the keyboard to respond to messages, so by having this right on the controller lets me use a thumb keyboard without taking me away from the game as it were.

That looks like the result of a Fisher Price Speak 'N Spell banging a 360 controller.

40. The heaviest (current) game controller gets even heavier.

Posted at 1:32AM on Apr 9th 2007 by why not the LS2/LS7?

Do you even own a 360? If so, you must have limp wrists. I'll take this over the 10 year old PS3 design any day.

We all know about forming voltronwith the friggin segaCD/Genesis/32X. I was hoping that would be behind us a little by now. THey should have just made a regular keyboard that you could hook up with a wire. A tiny one isn't gonna do anything but piss me off when I use the controller. The wii seriously should have a full sized keyboard attached to the wiimote. Mouse and keyboard anyone?

OMG! One word: World of Warcraft on Xbox 360. Okay that's like 6 words.

I can't find a use for this thing at all. They should have implemented on the fly voice IM'ing instead of "Send Voice Message" back and forth, or joining a room with your friend. If this thing were in the form of a full qwerty keyboard that I could wirelessly type on, then I'd have a use (people sleeping late at night, would be cool to still be able to communicate with other players on some games, instead of staying silent like a noob while others strategize)

Almost noone is going to buy this thing. I hope they don't do any mass advertising for it

"Almost noone is going to buy this thing. I hope they don't do any mass advertising for it"

Isn't it great that MS caters to the minority. Even though this might not sell well they still want to make those few people happy. MS is a great company. I love em.

....people have been using usb keyboards for their 360 ever since FFXI was released on the thing, so what the fuck is the point of this?

i mean wtf microsoft think a little more here the buttons are too small we obviously cant type and play at the same time

| 1 | 2 | Most Recent | Next 50 Comments

Sorry, you must be logged in to leave a comment.

Breaking News

The most popular posts
in the last 7 days

Vita 'UMD Passport' won't be offered in US 220 comments
Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning review: A tempting fate 153 comments
David Jaffe leaves Eat Sleep Play, layoffs hit developer [Update] 108 comments
Don't call it a remake: Final Fantasy X is a 'remaster,' to be clear 95 comments
Battleship movie adapted into FPS by Double Helix 93 comments

Leaked Xbox 360 keyboard controller attachment, Voltron jealous

Reader Comments (53)

Posted: Apr 8th 2007 8:51PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Apr 8th 2007 9:01PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Apr 8th 2007 8:52PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Apr 8th 2007 8:53PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Apr 8th 2007 8:55PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Apr 8th 2007 9:01PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Apr 8th 2007 9:00PM Dix said

Posted: Apr 8th 2007 9:00PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Apr 8th 2007 9:00PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Apr 8th 2007 9:02PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Apr 8th 2007 9:05PM KLind said

Posted: Apr 8th 2007 9:13PM ahigee said

Posted: Apr 8th 2007 9:20PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Apr 8th 2007 9:32PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Apr 8th 2007 9:33PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Apr 8th 2007 9:34PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Apr 8th 2007 9:35PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Apr 8th 2007 9:38PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Apr 8th 2007 9:41PM velocitystrike said

Posted: Apr 8th 2007 9:45PM Smacksmackums said

Posted: Apr 8th 2007 9:56PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Apr 8th 2007 9:57PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Apr 8th 2007 9:57PM Starcade said

Posted: Apr 8th 2007 10:01PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Apr 8th 2007 10:04PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Apr 8th 2007 10:05PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Apr 8th 2007 10:04PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Apr 8th 2007 10:14PM easo said

Posted: Apr 8th 2007 10:16PM moominsean said

Posted: Apr 8th 2007 10:19PM bankholdup said

Posted: Apr 8th 2007 10:20PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Apr 8th 2007 10:23PM OshiHidra said

Posted: Apr 8th 2007 10:28PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Apr 13th 2007 5:38PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Apr 8th 2007 10:55PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Apr 8th 2007 10:57PM ill trooper said

Posted: Apr 8th 2007 11:03PM samfish said

Posted: Apr 8th 2007 11:04PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Apr 8th 2007 11:07PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Apr 9th 2007 12:03AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Apr 9th 2007 1:32AM spin cycle said

Posted: Apr 9th 2007 1:58AM Ironhide Delta said

Posted: Apr 9th 2007 2:09AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Apr 9th 2007 2:22AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Apr 9th 2007 2:31AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Apr 9th 2007 7:08AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Apr 9th 2007 7:41AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Apr 9th 2007 8:33AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Apr 9th 2007 9:34AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Apr 9th 2007 9:29AM (Unverified) said

Info

Description

MSRP

Release Date

Genre

Developer

Publisher

Rating

Breaking News

Double Fine Kickstarter passes $1 million in under 24 hours, breaking yet another record

Featured Stories

Ghost Recon: Future Soldier brings information warfare to the front

Rhythm Heaven Fever review: Crazy into you

Remedy not done with Alan Wake

The most popular postsin the last 7 days

Engadget

TUAW

Massively

WoW

The most popular posts
in the last 7 days