Why no Mouse and KB on the 360???
 

This may have been discussed before, but I could not find it so...

Why in the heck don't MS release a Mouse and Keyboard for the 360 that could be used in games????

First Person Shooters and RTS games just BEG for this type of control.

Man, in BF:Modern Combat, using the controller makes it feel like I am trying to aim holding a 15 foot javalin instead of a sniper rifle!

I have also tried the LOTR RTS demo and while they have done quite well with the controller, I would MUCH rather have that Keyboard and mouse.

What the heck is up????

keyboards work fine on the 360--plug one in and you can type messages to people and stuff. one of the final fanatasy games will require a keyboard I think.

I heard mentioned on the xbox forums that they dont want to use a KB/Mouse for FPS games because it would be too much of an advantage against people who used the controller--It would force everyone to use a KB/mouse.

I think it's also because of MS's insistence on the Xbox being a game console, not a PC (despite what some may say).

Well, what is wrong with forcing everyone to get a KB and Mouse? I am SURE they could sell a KB AND Mouse for less than the price of an extra controller....

If that is the only reason, then I see way more positive-reasons to sell one... Namely being able to sell MANY MANY more FPS, RTS, and MMO games on the 360.

People don't seem to ming playing FPS games with the controller, but I don't ever see the RTS and MMO games becoming popular on anything but the PC...

There must be more to it than this... Who really cares if some people see it as a PC? Really?

a little something called freedom of choice

Heck, they could probably GIVE AWAY a KB and Mouse with a game... Thats what Nintendo did with Donky Konga... They gave you one of those bongo-controllers with the game!

why not just get rid of consoles all together and use PC/Mac, I'm not a console fan and will stick to PC gaming :)

I HATE using a mouse and keyboard for gaming. I like my controller. I can see it being useful for some games, but not all. I wouldn't see it as a mass-market thing.

The MS attitude about not wanting the Xbox to be seen as a computer was more in line with the first Xbox. They wanted to come into the console market with an authentic 'console'. I dont think they care so much with the 360--the thing uses a USB interface for petes sake. Its very much like a computer in form and function.

The thing with a mouse/keyboard is the way you use them. You need to set them down on a flat surface--a desk--and not everyone has one in front of thier TV. Also its not as convenient to keep in the livingroom, with a flat surface a cords length away from the Xbox. People could use a wireless setup but it just keeps getting more complicated/expensive. I would say that typical console users would not like to be forced into using a KB/mouse. I dont think I would. And believe me, if 20% of the FPS users switched to a KB/Mouse they would have HUGE advantages over us who used just a controller. It wouldnt be fair and the games wouldnt be fun anymore.

^Good points.

Also, I believe that since it hasn't happened yet, it won't ever happen on the 360. Games have to be programmed for it, most likely with an in-game option of "Mouse & Keyboard" or "Controller." Since I've heard no news of it yet, if it were to come out it would be leaving a good handful of games behind it. Over 100. Patching each one would show it as poor forward-thinking on M$'s part. Not patching them would show it as poor fan maintenance.

I think it's safe to say it's not happening. Maybe with the PS3, though.

Why can't someone develop a controller than offers the benefits of a keyboard/mouse combo without the clunky nature of using a typing device as a game control?

Because console gamers and PC gamers are differnet beasts. I've gamed for 20 years or so and never got into pc games as I hated trying to play with the keyboard and mouse.

Thus making it where people with using controllers will be unable to compete with those using keyboard/mouse combos will just drive off the console only gamers, who probably greatly outnumber pc gamers given the explosion in console gaming over the past decade.

Not to mention I'm not dorky enough to have a key board and mouse in my living room. :D

I could care less about using m/k with gaming, but I would love to see a bluetooth option with the ability to surf the web. I'd even put up with IE for that function. :lol:

Keyboards work on 360?? Have you tried mouse?

I would have never use the keyboard/mouse to play online against others, but for single player game.

im sure no mouse works on the 360.
But just plug a USB keyboard in and you can type out messages to people on your gamertag list. The Final Fantasy game uses the keyboard I believe.

You sir are a brave man.

But you're dorky enough to wear a headset? ;)

I would love the addition of a keyboard and mouse (wireless of course).

to tell you guys the truth, my PC is in my living room and uses my 60" TV as a monitor. I have a bluetooth KB/mouse (gyration mouse/no flat surface needed) so my home theater serves as my PC/Game/video center. But I still dont like the idea of using a KB/mouse for FPS games. It just changes the way people play. I have a hard enough time eating cookies and drinking beer while playing one handed with a controller--Imagine how hard it would be with a mouse!

You can get a program to surf if you have a MCE machine. But I wish they would add this functionality to the 360.

Nope, don't own a headset, and would never wear one. Don't play online at the moment other than my DS.

I was just expressing the reasons why there is not a keyboard option, I don't care personally as I don't own a 360 and never play online FPS's period. :D

How do you like that gyration mouse?

Its great. It might drift by itself sometimes but it snaps out of it eventually or when I turn the mouse on/off. I get nervous every time I drop it but it comes out ok every time. I did have it replaced by the company (no charge) once in 2 years.

Not really... I have been playing online (PC) multiplayer FPS games for 5 years, I found KB/M is much easier to fight with that. I've played FPS on Nintendo 64 (Dark Zero), I had struggle with aiming with right stick on the controller. I had similar problem with Ghost Recon on 360 - I couldn't even past Helicopter with mounted machine gun!!

So, not everyone like KB/M or controller. :shrug:

Yeah, that would be nice. What would be good is something that had two parts: a remote with a D-pad and buttons, and an attachment with an analog stick and two more buttons. Oh, and each one would detect motion, so you could wave them like a wand to control the game. That would be great, if only someone would do that. :)

1) Most people don't want to spend $1000 a year upgrading a PC to meet the ever increasing requirements.
2) Most people probably don't have the technical know-how to upgrade a PC.
3) PC games are fairly buggy and can run inconsistently because they have to be designed to run on thousands of possible PC configurations. There is only one Xbox or PS configuration, so console games are less buggy and more dependable to run correctly.
4) Most people would rather play games sitting on a comfy couch rather than sitting at a PC desk.
5) Console gaming is a much bigger market, especially in recent years. New console launches and a few of the top games sell out in stores. When do you ever hear of a PC game or gadget selling out? Do you see people camping out in front of a store waiting on the newest video card?


Anyway, I would love to see something like the Wii-remote on the 360. The Wii-mote is basically a mouse that moves in 3D space. It would kick ass in FPS and RTS. Unfortunately, the Wii probably won't see too many games in those genres.

I bet you want the damn thing to be able to sing to you too! Ludicrous...

:lol:

I don't believe that microsoft really cares that much, but that would be 100% true. Gaming with KB+mouse is night and day over a controller. Obviously some people like the controller though, so they would have to have the option of both. I would personally buy many more FPS's if they had this option as I dont have the cash to upgrade my computer every other year to get a decent frame rate...

Pretty much my reasons for never liking gaming on a PC and never getting into it beyond the occasional game like Diablo.

I'd also add:

6. I'm at a computer all day at work, so I don't want to spend much of my free time at home in front of another computer. Would much rather lounge on the couch.

7. Prefer gaming on my HT set up, than a computer monitor. I know you can hook your PC up to an HD TV etc etc., but again, I wouldn't be caught dead with my PC in my living room.

8. Just don't like the genre's the PC does better than the consoles. FPS, Strategy games, sim games etc. aren't my bag. I like platformers, japanese rpgs, and quircky games like Warioware and Brain Age, along with the occasional fighting game, racing game or sports game. The consoles do most of those genre's better than PCs, and at worst are equal.

Still wouldn't have all the extra keys that a keyboard offers that are particularly helpful for these type of games :)

After seeing Ferris' setup I did that with my own HDTV. I like it because if I need to look something up it's just a matter of switching the source on the tv.

FFXI does use a keyboard, but has anyone played that? Even on a big tv the dialog screen is so small. It didn't get a good transfer as far as that is concerned.

Having a keyboard to type messages would be nice, but I'm not using one to game. That's why I don't play on my pc, it's too much of a pain in the ass to remember /d and all the other codes to use a keyboard.

There are a few people on this forum that use game pads that would own a k/m user in an FPS game, doctor west for one.

For years I've played all my PC games with a joystick for my right hand (with a nice weighted base) and a Logitech trackball mouse for my left. I move around and shoot with the right hand, and look around with the left.

I've never, ever heard of anyone else who has done this. So I might be the only one. :shrug:

Yes, but I'm sure you can find keyboard/mouse users that could beat those excellent gamepad users as well. The belief is that on a general level a keyboard/mouse combination has the advantage over a gamepad. You'l find particular users on both sides that excel at whatever controller they use, even trackballs :p

I swear, there were times in multiplayer HALO II when the some of the players made what seemed like very precise shots and I wondered if they were using a keyboard and mouse. Then I had heard that some did indeed have that set up.

Fuckers... :grunt:
http://www.lik-sang.com/info.php?cat...ducts_id=5438&

I buy most of my FPS's for the computer because of the mouse keyboard setup. Actually I use a Nostromo Speedpad N52 for my keyboard, it has less keys and gets less confusing. I can't stand playing FPS's with a controller.

I dont have a 360 but i have an Xbox and for Rainbow Six 3 Black Arrow i could NOT get the hang of using the controller to aim for the life of me :lol: A shame too cuz it seemed like a great game but total frustration for me trying to target enemies even after using the invert controls it wasnt any better and i stayed away from FPS games for Xbox after that.

Thanks for that link! If they had a 360 version I'd buy it.

Yeah if the consoles offered a KB/M setup I would actually buy one. I have the shakes so it is almost impossible for me to play consoles FPS since I can't aim. I have the same problem with laptops. I can't use them without a mouse attached.