Sega releases Phantasy Star-branded texting gadget for PS2, Xbox 360
by Ross Miller 
{ May 30th 2007 at 9:50PM }
Sega has just announced a Phantasy Star-branded Blue Orb Texter for sale through its online store. The gadget is plugged in between the controller and console -- available for PlayStation 2 and Xbox 360 -- and the player can use an analog stick to kind of jab in the text. (Note: Xbox 360 owners must have a wired controller to use this.)Looking at the layout of the characters, pictured, gives us the impression that we wouldn't be so accurate with it. According to Sega's website, gadget can be used with any game that accepts a USB keyboard.
Someone will find this very convenient, to be sure, but considering the price -- $35 for PS2, $40 for Xbox 360 -- we have a hard time justifying this except for PSU enthusiasts who want the packaged "swag aplenty" and free t-shirt. We're eschewing the learning curve for this device and buying a USB keyboard and/or saving up for the Xbox 360 chatpad.
[Thanks, Brett]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Blizz4l9 @ May 30th 2007 9:58PM
yea doesn't seem very user friendly
Xanto @ May 30th 2007 10:30PM
or you could you know, use a USB Keyboard
jusmailuck @ May 30th 2007 10:40PM
Holy crap, I heard about this before I quit PSU way back when in Feb, but I just thought it was a rumor...
They actually put this thing out...
Gavin @ May 30th 2007 10:51PM
That looks like it would be a complete pain in the ass to try and get used to. I'm much rather use a regular keyboard, even thought juggling a keyboard and controller is a pain. I've never tried those minikeyboard controllers, but surely they've got to be a far better option than this thing.
REUYL @ May 31st 2007 12:04AM
Wired controller? That is so, like, 2004.
Tweak @ May 31st 2007 1:33AM
Yay! Another keyboard to learn... to kill my thumbs using!
wewt! go txting thumbs!
Patrick @ May 31st 2007 2:18AM
That video was AWESOME.
MV @ May 31st 2007 3:28AM
This is dumb and it doesn't even work on wireless controllers. What the hell happened to Sega?
baby sea tuna @ May 31st 2007 8:37AM
Failed!
badbob001 @ May 31st 2007 12:18PM
It looks like when you double-tap the back button, the dongle intercepts your gamepad inputs and translates it to a keyboard button press. I bet it may work in other games that has text input.
Wouldn't it be easier for them to just patch the game to support this new input type so you don't need the dongle and thus can be wireless?
Some crazy is going to get get this dongle and one of those new wireless usb hubs to make his controller wireless again.
random @ May 31st 2007 1:31PM
This is not a SEGA peripheral, just a product they are offering on their website. Consider this a marketing relationship, rather than a SEGA branded item.
Now that that's been said, I'll wait until this comment is absorbed and no one understands the differneces, including the article author. Blog-er-ific.
blh @ May 31st 2007 6:17PM
People still play this game? I refuse to pay $20/month for a crappy version of WOW.
Especially since I played it on the DC and it was free!
Liraco @ Jun 4th 2007 6:36AM
It actually doesn't seem to be AS hard as it seems because you don't point at the exact letter you want to use, you merely point at a "block" of letters and then use the left stick to select the color so that it picks out the corresponding letter.
Still, seems like it'll take a while to learn to use and a tad expensive but if you've really gotta text without letting go of the controller this is the only alternative at the moment.