Play Halo on Xbox with a Keyboard & Mouse

[ivol07]

The SmartJoy FRAG

Boy, what a stupid name.

Lik Sang took the videogame community by storm this weekend by announcing a new entry in its product catalog: The SmartJoy FRAG, 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.

The SmartJoy FRAG is fully programmable and comes with pre-installed key configurations for the most popular first person shooters, including Halo, The Chronicles of Riddick, Counter Strike, Tom Clancy?s Rainbow Six 3, Return to Castle Wolfenstein and Unreal Championship.

Programming the adapter can be as simple as loading a built-in preset (for instance hitting F3 loads a preset for The Chronicles of Riddick).

Advanced users can customize any keyboard and mouse control, inverse mouse buttons and control sticks and save their own presets in available memory slots. The staff at Lik Sang claims that by using the new setup they have doubled hit rates in all tested first-person shooters. Could this be just a marketing phrase to promote sales of the new hardware? You bet! But, what if this new combo really gives an advantage over the default controller?

Is this new option going to ruin multiplayer matches? If two players with the same skills compete, one with a controller, the other with the keyboard & mouse combo, is it a fair match?

Everybody on the xbox forums I read are saying this will ruin FPS for xbox. Hope this isn't a repost. I searched for "xbox", "keyboard", and "mouse".

 

[Sideswipe001]

How can you ruin FPS on a console when they already sucked?

Sorry, but I could NEVER play Halo until it got to the computer. Who wants to use a controller to play a FPS?

 

[imported_vr6]

how would it ruin FPS for xbox, i would think that it would be a welcomed additon. I would hate to use a controller to play CS.

 

[hevnsnt]

The SmartJoy FRAG -- LOL

 

[edro]

SmartJoy is the company... FRAG is the product name... so it isn't THAT stupid

And I really want one of those... but LikSang is expensive as hell.

$40+ for that with shipping.

 

[StevenYoo]

whoa that's freaking awesome.

it's about damn time too!

 

[Phoenix86]

It'll 'ruin' it for everone w/o the controller. Have you ever seen someone use a gamepad in an FPS against someone with a mouse? Isn't pretty...

 

[bunker]

Holy crybabies batman!

 

[ivol07]

Originally posted by: Phoenix86
It'll 'ruin' it for everone w/o the controller. Have you ever seen someone use a gamepad in an FPS against someone with a mouse? Isn't pretty...

Yeah, I'd like to see this in person. With Halo 2 coming out next month I wonder if those people with this will have an advantage. I would think that the games made for a console would be made optimized for a controller...if that's possible.

 

[tweakmm]

Wow, now I can finally spank my friends in Halo. Video game controllers for FPS games are only second to controllers in RTS games for general suckiness.

 

[gigapet]

Originally posted by: Sideswipe001
How can you ruin FPS on a console when they already sucked?

Sorry, but I could NEVER play Halo until it got to the computer. Who wants to use a controller to play a FPS?

apparently according to game sales mmillions upon millions of xbox halo players.

 

[arod]

Originally posted by: Phoenix86
It'll 'ruin' it for everone w/o the controller. Have you ever seen someone use a gamepad in an FPS against someone with a mouse? Isn't pretty...

Dont tell that to the xbox fanboys.... but yes I agree 100%

 

[rh71]

^ I can agree with that but what about racing games when people have wheels and others don't ? Try throttle controlling with a keyboard too... isn't pretty.

Anyway, this will definitely be a good thing for FPS on XBOX. I am dead-on with aiming at UT on PC but Halo on XBOX... I look like a complete n00b trying to aim properly. The difference is so sad.

 

[purbeast0]

Halo is THE only FPS game that I think controls alot better on console than it does on PC. When I tried playing it on PC, it just didnt feel right, especially since you can only hold 2 weapons, and 1 button switches between the 2, unlike most FPS where the number keys correspond to some type of weapon.

 

[arod]

I agree there are things that the consoles have over pc but FPS never will be one of them.... and anybody who says different is an idiot.

Racing(with the proper config)/FPS/Strategy -> PC
Racing/Fighting/Sports -> console

Racing can be better on the PC due to superior graphics but most people dont hacve a wheel and a controller is better than keyboard for racing.

 

[benliong]

This adaptor comes just in time for people ordering Halo 2 on November 9th. That company sure knows what they're doing.

On the other hand, I would guess that one of the reasons Halo on xbox isn't chopy is because we can't do 180 degree turns like we can with mouse and keyboard. It'll be interesting to see how the engine holds up.

 

[Wingznut]

Originally posted by: edro13
SmartJoy is the company... FRAG is the product name... so it isn't THAT stupid

And I really want one of those... but LikSang is expensive as hell.

$40+ for that with shipping.

Looks like $28.90 plus shipping.

I'm all for a KB/Mouse system for my Xbox... But yes, it definitely gives an unfair advantage over the standard controller. Hopefully, there will be some sort of system where people with controllers can stay in their own game and kb/mouse people in another.

 

[maziwanka]

Originally posted by: arod

Originally posted by: Phoenix86
It'll 'ruin' it for everone w/o the controller. Have you ever seen someone use a gamepad in an FPS against someone with a mouse? Isn't pretty...

Dont tell that to the xbox fanboys.... but yes I agree 100%

i agree too. this will suck hard. im not going to whip out a keyboard and mouse when i play my xbox.

 

[Phoenix86]

Originally posted by: arod

Originally posted by: Phoenix86
It'll 'ruin' it for everone w/o the controller. Have you ever seen someone use a gamepad in an FPS against someone with a mouse? Isn't pretty...

Dont tell that to the xbox fanboys.... but yes I agree 100%

Truth hurts... This is a well known fact umong anyone with a PC and a FPS game. Platform is irrelevant, though.

Same thing in a flight sim, HOTAS ownes keyboard+mouse.

 

[Supermercado]

Holy crap, maybe I can play Halo and Halo 2 when it comes out. I've tried several times but I just can't control FPS games with a controller.

 

[Wingznut]

Originally posted by: Phoenix86

Originally posted by: arod

Originally posted by: Phoenix86
It'll 'ruin' it for everone w/o the controller. Have you ever seen someone use a gamepad in an FPS against someone with a mouse? Isn't pretty...

Dont tell that to the xbox fanboys.... but yes I agree 100%

Truth hurts... This is a well known fact umong anyone with a PC and a FPS game. Platform is irrelevant, though.

Same thing in a flight sim, HOTAS ownes keyboard+mouse.

I have yet to see anyone proclaim that a controller is every bit as good as a kb/mouse in a FPS.

But that doesn't mean they aren't enjoyable with a controller. Halo on the Xbox is probably the best game I've ever played.

 

[TuxDave]

Originally posted by: Wingznut

Originally posted by: Phoenix86

Originally posted by: arod

Originally posted by: Phoenix86
It'll 'ruin' it for everone w/o the controller. Have you ever seen someone use a gamepad in an FPS against someone with a mouse? Isn't pretty...

Dont tell that to the xbox fanboys.... but yes I agree 100%

Truth hurts... This is a well known fact umong anyone with a PC and a FPS game. Platform is irrelevant, though.

Same thing in a flight sim, HOTAS ownes keyboard+mouse.

I have yet to see anyone proclaim that a controller is every bit as good as a kb/mouse in a FPS.

But that doesn't mean they aren't enjoyable with a controller. Halo on the Xbox is probably the best game I've ever played.

It's possible. Example where Controller > KB & Mouse for FPS. Battlefield 1942: The freaking airplanes are hard as hell to fly with KB/Mouse. Of course if you plan to do anything else, better stick with the KB/Mouse.

 

[purbeast0]

halo on xbox > halo on PC ... and thats as far as controls go.

 

[Phoenix86]

Originally posted by: TuxDave

Originally posted by: Wingznut

Originally posted by: Phoenix86

Originally posted by: arod

Originally posted by: Phoenix86
It'll 'ruin' it for everone w/o the controller. Have you ever seen someone use a gamepad in an FPS against someone with a mouse? Isn't pretty...

Dont tell that to the xbox fanboys.... but yes I agree 100%

Truth hurts... This is a well known fact umong anyone with a PC and a FPS game. Platform is irrelevant, though.

Same thing in a flight sim, HOTAS ownes keyboard+mouse.

I have yet to see anyone proclaim that a controller is every bit as good as a kb/mouse in a FPS.

But that doesn't mean they aren't enjoyable with a controller. Halo on the Xbox is probably the best game I've ever played.

It's possible. Example where Controller > KB & Mouse for FPS. Battlefield 1942: The freaking airplanes are hard as hell to fly with KB/Mouse. Of course if you plan to do anything else, better stick with the KB/Mouse.

That's where HOTAS rules... HOTAS whips KB/mouse, left and right, same argument, differnet situation/controllers.

purbeast0, ever play a FPS game with controllers and KB/mouse (at the same time, comparing the same game on a different platform is useless, apples and oranges)? Try loading up something like UT2k4 and play with a controller vs. everyone else who's using a mouse. You simply can't turn as fast as a mouse. I could jump past you, spin around 180 degrees, and waste you before you ever turned around to see me.

 

[Wingznut]

Originally posted by: Wingznut
I have yet to see anyone proclaim that a controller is every bit as good as a kb/mouse in a FPS.

Ok, after surfing some Xbox forums, I see that my statement is in error. Here's just a few examples for your pleasure...

• someone wanna explain how a mouse and keyboard can beat out a controller?
• and i still dont see how it could beat out a controller...since the game is made to be played with a controller....
• kb and mouse wouldn't help them a bit.
• So, it's not a fair match? The k&m will kill us?
• I really do not feel like giving the long winded explanation why a mouse will really offer no help 90% of the time in a console shooter...
• games such as halo would be most likly harder to aim with a mouse due to he built in auto aim.
• some of these new optical mice pump up allot of information per second, can Halo 2's handle it? I doubt it. And if it could, it would be choppy and jumpy as hell.
• I hate ****in' PC gaming. I hate the the ****in' mouse and keyboard for gaming. Just get this piece of **** outta here now!! PLEASE!!
  And yes....I have tried a game or two on the PC with M/K and for the life of me I don't see what all the craze is in playing a game like this.
• Wait till gamers start using laser mice, those things are radical and actually much better than optical mice. Crazy I tell ya.

About the only decent point anyone had was that you probably would still turn at the same speed as you would with the controller joystick. (i.e. Moving the mouse to the right is no different than moving the joystick to the right... No pinpoint 180 turns.) I could see that as a possibility.