CircBoard offers an interesting approach to typing on an Xbox
by Andrew Yoon 
on Feb 5th 2011 8:00PM
78
Reader Comments (78)
Posted: Feb 5th 2011 8:02PM Rannxz said
Looks annoying. No thanks.
Posted: Feb 6th 2011 1:48AM Ballistic H said
@Rannxz
Agree. Chat Pad and/or USB keyboard are still way better.
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Agree. Chat Pad and/or USB keyboard are still way better.
Posted: Feb 5th 2011 8:05PM Riley Freeman said
Honestly, I'd rather just plug in my keyboard.
Posted: Feb 5th 2011 8:12PM Mouthsmasher said
... I think it's implied that anyone using this wouldn't have access to a keyboard they can just plug in.
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Posted: Feb 7th 2011 12:28AM ItsameMatt03 said
@Riley Freeman
Honestly, I'd rather just use my chatpad that's plugged into my 360 controller 90% of the time.
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Honestly, I'd rather just use my chatpad that's plugged into my 360 controller 90% of the time.
Posted: Feb 6th 2011 12:46AM DarkNightRJ said
@Mouthsmasher http://www.amazon.com/107-Key-Windows-Keyboard-Black-USB/dp/B0038M3YM8/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1296971108&sr=8-3 not that they cost a whole bunch...
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Posted: Feb 6th 2011 12:21PM Mouthsmasher said
I agree with both of you (and that's a great link by the way), but I think it's safe to say that a vast majority of gamers are:
a) Too cheap to go buy a keyboard regardless of how cheap they are
b) Don't see the value in it when they can still type with a controller (albeit slowly). Or
c) Are to lazy to go get one (which ironically leaves them with the slower, more difficult controller method).
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a) Too cheap to go buy a keyboard regardless of how cheap they are
b) Don't see the value in it when they can still type with a controller (albeit slowly). Or
c) Are to lazy to go get one (which ironically leaves them with the slower, more difficult controller method).
Posted: Feb 5th 2011 8:09PM lSpam said
That is actually quite ingenious
I'm surprised that no-one thought of it sooner
I'm surprised that no-one thought of it sooner
Posted: Feb 5th 2011 8:34PM Nickelpat said
@lSpam
SwitchBlade has been doing a system like this for a while.
http://www.xfire.com/cms/xf_switchblade/
You can Youtube videos of it.
It's not quite the same thing, but this is just an evolution of SwitchBlade's system.
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SwitchBlade has been doing a system like this for a while.
http://www.xfire.com/cms/xf_switchblade/
You can Youtube videos of it.
It's not quite the same thing, but this is just an evolution of SwitchBlade's system.
Posted: Feb 5th 2011 8:50PM CappyMcKickin said
@lSpam
actually this is essentially a carbon copy of the system that killzone 1 on the ps2 used, as well as a number of psp systems use this (apparently... I don't have a psp).
if you're intresested in reading the whole discussion pretty much everything is written up at: redd.it/ffzg4
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actually this is essentially a carbon copy of the system that killzone 1 on the ps2 used, as well as a number of psp systems use this (apparently... I don't have a psp).
if you're intresested in reading the whole discussion pretty much everything is written up at: redd.it/ffzg4
Posted: Feb 5th 2011 8:09PM b2trumpet said
I like it. I wonder what the chances would be for Microsoft to adopt this method as an option for typing in the future.
Posted: Feb 7th 2011 8:10PM imthatoneguy said
@b2trumpet I emailed this idea to Microsoft (since I assumed there was prior art what with it being so obvious) in 2008.
http://s111.photobucket.com/albums/n134/im_thatoneguy/?action=view¤t=RadialKeyboardMockup.jpg
They said they had tested it before but decided it was too difficult to understand for new users.
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http://s111.photobucket.com/albums/n134/im_thatoneguy/?action=view¤t=RadialKeyboardMockup.jpg
They said they had tested it before but decided it was too difficult to understand for new users.
Posted: Feb 5th 2011 8:11PM SpaceFox said
Doesn't look that much faster tbh
Posted: Feb 5th 2011 8:13PM DarkShock91 said
I'll stick to my chatpad. I've been using it for almost 2 years and its very useful...
Posted: Feb 5th 2011 8:47PM ravissimo said
@Prboi
chatpad is $19 on amazon right now from worldwide sales, $25 from amazon. got mine for $20 a while ago, wireless headset for $25. if you run off the a store and don't know what things cost, then maybe you'd spend $50. if you're reading this though, you're on joystiq and you're smart enough to not pay $50 for the accessory.
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chatpad is $19 on amazon right now from worldwide sales, $25 from amazon. got mine for $20 a while ago, wireless headset for $25. if you run off the a store and don't know what things cost, then maybe you'd spend $50. if you're reading this though, you're on joystiq and you're smart enough to not pay $50 for the accessory.
Posted: Feb 5th 2011 9:26PM PedoJokerBear said
@Prboi
19 dollars is still 14 dollars more than what i would pay for it.
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19 dollars is still 14 dollars more than what i would pay for it.
Posted: Feb 5th 2011 10:52PM ItsameMatt03 said
@Prboi
That's probably the PS3 one. It retails for $49.99.
I bought my chatpad for $15.
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That's probably the PS3 one. It retails for $49.99.
I bought my chatpad for $15.
Posted: Feb 5th 2011 8:14PM The Cole Train said
Posted: Feb 5th 2011 8:15PM fohf said
I hope Microsoft considers taking this as a serious input option. It might take a little getting used to, but will definitely be a better way to write messages through XBL.
Posted: Feb 5th 2011 8:16PM ravissimo said
i think beyond good & evil had the best text input i've ever seen. simpler, more intuitive. just the left analog stick, and one button for text entry, one for delete.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euquOpUmUyk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euquOpUmUyk
Posted: Feb 6th 2011 1:45AM Tachyonic Cargo said
@ravissimo That's essentially the same radial input method SEGA was using on their racing and arcade games going all the way back to the early 1990s - except the BG&E interface has the cool 3D effect to the dial.
The only problem with the radial method compared to CircBoard, is that the radial method would be slower to type with - much, much slower once the user got familiar the CircBoard's use.
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The only problem with the radial method compared to CircBoard, is that the radial method would be slower to type with - much, much slower once the user got familiar the CircBoard's use.
Posted: Feb 5th 2011 8:16PM evebrey said
Sounds interesting, wouldn't mind getting the option to use it.
I actually think PSN users might find this abit more useful since there is HOME and it seems that PMs is the only way ppl like communicating.
I actually think PSN users might find this abit more useful since there is HOME and it seems that PMs is the only way ppl like communicating.
Posted: Feb 5th 2011 8:20PM Prboi said
Looks simple enough. Will take some getting used to though
Posted: Feb 5th 2011 8:23PM AnderFREAK said
If people can get used to texting on cell phone keys they could certainly learn to use this.
I still personally think I'd rather use the regular xbox on screen keyboard or just plug in a USB one. Then again, I suck at texting.
I still personally think I'd rather use the regular xbox on screen keyboard or just plug in a USB one. Then again, I suck at texting.
Posted: Feb 5th 2011 8:25PM JGray73 said
Great idea.
Posted: Feb 5th 2011 8:26PM MusicBox said
This is what I use: http://www.gamerwok.com/main/2011/2/1/hp-mini-wireless-keyboard-review-pcgadgets.html
Works great and I've never looked back. :)
Works great and I've never looked back. :)
Posted: Feb 5th 2011 8:45PM Schlecht said
As a chat pad owner, I'd love to give that a try.
Posted: Feb 5th 2011 8:47PM Cheesus Crust said
It the same as used in a couple other games YEARS ago. On reddit this guy is trying to patent it, an existing idea. Don't give him credit for something he didn't create please
Posted: Feb 5th 2011 8:52PM ilikemonkeys said
@Cheesus Crust Pretty much yeah. First time I saw this exact idea was on Killzone for PS2. Also it's all over PSP homebrew.
The guy is trying to patent it and his defending himself by saying "Oh this is different and more elegant. When we patent it, it'll be worded in such a way that it's different from what's already been done."
As a few commenters on Reddit pointed out as well, why haven't those before patented it? The guys just want to jack licensing fees from developers.
It's just some idiot who thinks he came up with a brilliant idea that's years old and people are now pandering to.
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The guy is trying to patent it and his defending himself by saying "Oh this is different and more elegant. When we patent it, it'll be worded in such a way that it's different from what's already been done."
As a few commenters on Reddit pointed out as well, why haven't those before patented it? The guys just want to jack licensing fees from developers.
It's just some idiot who thinks he came up with a brilliant idea that's years old and people are now pandering to.
Posted: Feb 5th 2011 8:53PM ilikemonkeys said
Posted: Feb 5th 2011 8:55PM LightAce said
I type on my PS3 as fast as I can text which is pretty quick, well almost as fast.
Posted: Feb 5th 2011 9:08PM arucious said
-moves sticks in extremely complicates manor-
Friend: Damn you must be kicking ass!!
-You have recieved a message-
Hai.
Friend: Damn you must be kicking ass!!
-You have recieved a message-
Hai.
Posted: Feb 5th 2011 9:08PM AzBat360 said
Looks better than the current onscreen keyboard method, but I still rather have my chatpad. BTW, looks similar but easier than the Texter idea from a few years back. http://www.joystiq.com/2006/11/16/texter-turns-xbox-360-controller-into-keyboard-sorta/
Posted: Feb 5th 2011 9:20PM BeeDizz said
Its a good idea. But for me personally, I just log into xbox.com on my laptop or phone to reply to any text messages I get on my xbox. Way faster than using the controller. Even with this scheme.
Posted: Feb 5th 2011 9:38PM BPMOmega XBL PSN Steam said
Huh... didn't something exactly like this get announced long ago?
Posted: Feb 5th 2011 10:01PM Imperial said
Too bad this will never make it onto 360 or PS3 as an official typing option.
Posted: Feb 5th 2011 10:02PM Complex said
You should have really read the comments on that reddit post that where you got this because you would have notice that this dude is ripping off killzone 1 on the PS2 and other prior art and is trying to patten it as his own you should really not give press to people like this.
(killzone1 text input) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wuoq__t7NjE
(another example of prior art) http://psp-download-center.com/members/advanced/img/6649_12433_newkey1.jpg
(killzone1 text input) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wuoq__t7NjE
(another example of prior art) http://psp-download-center.com/members/advanced/img/6649_12433_newkey1.jpg
Posted: Feb 7th 2011 8:12PM imthatoneguy said
@Complex http://s111.photobucket.com/albums/n134/im_thatoneguy/?action=view¤t=RadialKeyboardMockup.jpg My mock up. (in 2008) Which I didn't think to patent since I was certain someone else had also seen the obvious solution as I had and implemented it.
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Posted: Feb 5th 2011 10:15PM Pennegan said
No.
