Viewing Thread:
"Xbox and GAMECUBE controller comparison"

http://www.planetgamecube.com/news.cfm?action=item&id=2101


Here's a piccy of the two controllers next to each other.

Man, that Xbox thing is ugly.

Well, aparently it does have a "back" button.

Obviously not used in surfing.

Maybe helpful in the OS, for sorting game saves and stuff?

So much for the "back button" :-D

I suppose it'll still be useful in game menu's, I suppose the rest of the console gamers will just have to make do with the "B" button. :-D

having just read that first paragraph again, I've just noticed that he says "The XBox won't be used for surfing the web."

Blimey!

That dispute is settled then.

Personally, I think I could "whoop" a keyboard + mouse junkie on a FPS using the Xbox pad.

Mice and keyboard might work well, but I get a better sense of control on a pad.

Taken from an article on planetxbox.com:

When Microsoft set out to create the ultimate gaming machine they wanted to make sure that the Xbox was seen as a game console, nothing remotely close to a PC. Being Microsoft, a company known for their PC operating systems and software, this would not be an easy task. Combine this with the fact that the Xbox features an Intel processor, NVIDIA graphics processing unit, a hard drive, and a broadband connection and you can see why the general public has a hard time seeing the Xbox as anything but a mini PC. But Microsoft has been quick to quiet the skeptics, the Xbox will not run Word, check your email, or be used to browse the Internet. In fact, Microsoft is so concerned about the Xbox being perceived as anything but video game console a separate DVD remote control must be purchased in order to watch DVD movies on the Xbox.

So now, what about the keyboard and mouse? PC gamers have been asking the question since the Xbox was first announced, "Will the Xbox have a keyboard and mouse?" After all, how is one supposed to play games such as Halo, Unreal Championship, and any other first-person shooter for that matter with out one? Easy question, with the Xbox controller that will come packaged in with every Xbox. "What?" you say. "You expect me to play a first-person shooter with a console controller?" Why the hell not? GoldenEye 007 for the Nintendo 64 was a stellar game, in fact it is in my opinion one of the best games to ever come out for the Nintendo 64. Not once while playing this title did I say to myself, "Damn, I really wish I had a keyboard and mouse." In case you haven't already figured it out, I Mike Weber do not feel a console is any place for a keyboard and mouse.

Consoles belong in the living room, keyboards and mice do not. Console gamers belong on the couch, keyboards and mice do not. You're telling me you would rather have a keyboard and mouse on your lap, while sitting on the couch, just so you can keep the same controls you're used to on the PC? J Allard said it quite well in an interview we conducted, "People don't want keyboards on their consoles. I think if people want to talk to each other, they should just talk. Typing is completely disruptive for 95% of the games out there, PC or console. The fact that it's used is more in response to the limitations of technology (narrowband, PC's have keyboards, lack of standard voice api's). When was the last time you chatted in an FPS deathmatch? Can you imagine 4 kids on a couch with keyboards, mice, controllers and pizza?"

"But won't PC players whoop up on console players online?" They probably could, but who is to say that the two will compete against each other? In my opinion, pitting PC and console players against each other online is a bad idea for first-person shooters. Some other genres you could probably get away with it, such as sports, racing, and adventure. Am I admitting that consoles need keyboards and mice? No way, I'm simply stating that each platform has its own needs and consoles do not need keyboards and mice. And if you look at the question, "But won't PC players whoop up on console players online?" What happens when a keyboard and mouse is made available to console gamers? You've got an online console community that is split. Those who were openly willing to spend their money on the new setup will have an advantage over those who did not. Which brings me to an additional opinion, Microsoft should not allow third-parties to develop keyboards and mice for the Xbox either.



The whole article can be found at: http://www.planetxbox.com/features/editorials/keyboardmouse/

So long as there's a mic then there's no need for gamers like us to have a keyboard.

But there's always that hardcore PC playing crowd who insist that a pad doesn't cut it for first person shooters and that a keyboard and mouse set up is needed.

I think that the Xbox WILL get a keyboard, the same way the DC and PS2 did. It won't be necessary for gamers like YH though.

Well, as the XBox does come with a broadband connector, I'm guessing that they're going to go the "Way of the mic".

It's already ahppening in PC games, with voice of 'net programs for games like Half-Life, UT etc.

I'm guessing that MS realise that people who want to access email, and go in chat rooms and on forms etc, already have a PC, which is fair enough.


People who buy a console want to play games. They don't need to type anything when they can speak to them directly, so why have a keyboard?

The "Back" button won't make a real difference to porting games over though.

When it comes online, a keyboard will be necessary to communicate with players, unless the companies use their initiative and release a microphone, one that even Ant can plug in. ;-D

One of the odd buttons on the XBox is the "back" button.

I guess this is for use when online, as MS don't want keyboards to be released for the XBox as they want it to keep the image of a console, rather than a PC.

They do have the same number of buttons.

The all have a D-Pad and 2 analoque sticks (one on either side), some shoulder buttons and 4 main buttons.

There's the odd spare button here and there but nothing the develloper can't deal with.