Team Xtender's XFPS 360 in action

While product announcements are certainly thrilling at times, there's really nothing better than getting some live action video to spy before you buy. We've seen Wowwee's FlyTech Dragonfly buzzing around T3's headquarters, and we've witnessed Doom being played on an OLPC XO, but now we've got several videos showing Team Xtender's XFPS 360 doing its thang. The handy converter box allows gamers who dig the Xbox 360's high definition visuals -- but prefer to input commands via Sony's dual-shock controller or the tried and true keyboard / mouse tandem -- to have their wildest wishes granted. Moreover, it reportedly plays nice with the PS2 light gun, racing wheel, dance mat, and guitar (huzzah!). So if you're still fence-bound trying to decide whether or not this thing's worth your $79.99 come the first week of January, be sure to click on for a YouTube demonstration, and hit the read link for some more in-depth coverage.

[Derek @ Dec 22nd 2006 7:02PM]

I will be purchasing this the day its available.

[deekortiz3 @ Dec 22nd 2006 7:03PM]

I will be buying this the day it comes out.

[bonkeykong @ Dec 22nd 2006 7:15PM]

congratulations, you have a computer

[I82Much @ Dec 22nd 2006 7:23PM]

I want to see some reviews of this, but this looks tempting. I love fps games but I cannot stand playing them with a gamepad. While I do have a computer, it's getting a little long in the tooth and I don't think it's financially feasible to upgrade right now. Very interesting in dead

[Paul @ Dec 22nd 2006 9:36PM]

I totally agree with you, also I don't know if its just his mouse, but the sensitivity is horrible, he has to move the mouse about 10 inches in order to turn 90 degrees, with my mouse on my computer I move it less than an inch to go 180.

[Geoff @ Dec 22nd 2006 7:26PM]

This is totally awesome. I'm sure this will work with a wireless keyboard and mouse too. I can't wait to try it with Gears of War, Rainbow 6 Vegas, Call of Duty 2/3, and Ghost Recon (hey, maybe that last one will actually be *fun* to play now...).

Screw Microsoft for refusing to release a keyboard and mouse for the 360, and ESPECIALLY for screwing your customers by not allowing any old USB controller to be used with your precious system. Now I can finally use that expensive Logitect MOMO wheel/pedal set and flight stick that I almost threw-out (!) after giving-up on PC gaming. CHEERS to Team Xtender for producing this wonderful product!

[Geoff @ Dec 22nd 2006 7:28PM]

This is totally awesome. I'm sure this will work with a wireless keyboard and mouse too. I can't wait to try it with Gears of War, Rainbow 6 Vegas, Call of Duty 2/3, and Ghost Recon (hey, maybe that last one will actually be *fun* to play now...).

Screw Microsoft for refusing to release a keyboard and mouse for the 360, and ESPECIALLY for screwing your customers by not allowing any old USB controller to be used with your precious system. Now I can finally use that expensive Logitect MOMO wheel/pedal set and flight stick that I almost threw-out (!) after giving-up on PC gaming. CHEERS to Team Xtender for producing this wonderful product!

[Adrian @ Jan 31st 2008 5:42PM]

Hey, did it actually work with the MOMO and flight stick?
Thanks,
Adrian

[TerroN @ Dec 22nd 2006 7:52PM]

Oh my god! I never gave the MOMO a thought! I can't wait for some reviews, I hope it works well.

[sean @ Dec 22nd 2006 8:13PM]

Is it me, or does there seem to be a slight delay in the mouse-look reaction?

[Darren Tilley @ Dec 22nd 2006 8:28PM]

Not just you. I actually just checked the comments to see if anyone noticed it aswell. It's probably not the device introducing the delay though. Many HDTVs introduce a delay as part of their deinterlacing and video processing. Some have "game" modes and some don't. I've found some timing based games unplayable on certain HDTVs because of the delay. The worst I used had almost half a second delay, so by the time you tried to steer around a corner, you'd already be in the wall.

[Alex Ezell @ Dec 22nd 2006 8:25PM]

I agree with Sean. It looks laggy to me.

[Chris Gerding @ Jan 10th 2007 1:17PM]

Previously, I worked for Mad Catz (the largest third party peripheral distributor) as the Xbox product manager, when the OG Xbox was launching. Back then Mad Catz was trying to work with MS for support of the Panther series controller, which featured a trackball. I actually flew up to Redmond and pitched the value of a position based control versus rate based. They were not convinced, and because of their lack of support, all MS games are based on rate based controls (ie analog). Analog controls operate on 256 levels in each direction. At the maximum 256 value, the game specifies a maximum "rate" at which a player will turn. Without MS support, Mad Catz engineers had to create an algorithm to simulate the rate based control as position based. Position based controls are optimal for FPS games because the rate of turn is not set to a maximum, rather it is based on the position of the mouse cursor (meaning you can turn around on a dime). Unfortunatley, the algorithms that convert rate based to position based controls still lack the true position based feel (as of 2001, when we last tested the algorithm). Mad Catz ended up abandoning the product because it would not have met consumer's expectations. My hat is off to XCM if they pulled it off, but I will tell you that it is very, VERY unlikely that this system will truly simulate true positioned based control. Here's to hoping...

[wako @ Dec 22nd 2006 8:42PM]

that would be so cheap on GOW....

it would make multiplayer so much easier

[Arnie @ Dec 22nd 2006 9:21PM]

As a first time console buyer(Xbox360) I would definitely go for this thing.

[glacia00 @ Dec 22nd 2006 9:54PM]

I love the occasional game but not enough to buy a console but I have to say the 360 is creeping up on being a serious all purpose machine. They're about half a step from making my next computer.

[shirizaki @ Dec 22nd 2006 10:08PM]

I assume with this there will be a hammer thrown down, as the Halo twitch kiddies will witness the influx of CS headshots.

"OMFG ACROSS FROM THE MAP! CHEATER!"

In some ways I hope it happens, because then people would leave the FPS to the twitchers and more people will go to the strat games like GRAW and R6: Vegas.

Or everyone spends $70 to play FPS games.

[Tyler @ Dec 24th 2006 12:48AM]

"...Halo twitch kiddies will witness the influx of CS headshots..."

That is great haha! Having played CS (and other games) on PC, and also 360/PS3, I think something like this is interesting. Where do you draw the line between controller and keyboard/mouse? I am much better with a keyboard/mouse but know people who are extremely good with a controller. I say why not have them both? If people want to complain "oh its not fair", then go out and pay the $70 that the other guy did just so you can snipe him for a head shot! Otherwise, get ready for some serious thumb action.

Just my $0.02

[Ryan @ Dec 22nd 2006 10:20PM]

This could potentially make the playing field really unfair on Xbox Live. People with Mouse/Keyboards would have a great advantage over people using standard controllers. I'm personally opposed to this peripheral.

[Andy @ Dec 22nd 2006 11:54PM]

Microsoft/Developers could have allowed mouse hookup for games and simply detected the difference, not allowing for mouse and controllers to connect to the same sessions. Maybe it's too risky because it would be dividing the players out making it harder for one or the other group to find full sessions, but who knows. That's the only way it could be done fairly.

Despite what anyone says, I play both PC and 360 and am usually pretty good at FPS in both arena's, but I can't imaging fighting my equal who is using a mouse, with my controller. The hand is far more accurate, with far more tiny muscles and stability, than a thumb floating on a loose stick.

[Pal @ Dec 23rd 2006 1:48AM]

We've made full-circle, haven't we?

PC turned console turned back into a PC!

[Robocellkid @ Dec 23rd 2006 2:37AM]

When did video game consoles turn into computers?

[Jason @ Dec 23rd 2006 3:00AM]

Well, the xbox was definetly a PC.

[Andrew @ Dec 23rd 2006 10:15AM]

As much as i really miss a mouse and keyboard for gaming (former comp gamer) and would love a keyboard and mouse at times when playing my 360, I really think this will separate the playing field. The amount of precision a mouse offers over the joy pad would definitely give an advantage to anyone using this device.

I'm sure if it becomes an issue or they strongly disagree Microsoft will find a way to combat the device eventually. That or just brick any xbox with it plugged in :-p

[Andrew @ Dec 23rd 2006 12:51PM]

All they would have to do is make an update to block this out somehow. Microsoft knows how

[shirizaki @ Dec 23rd 2006 3:31PM]

They would have to update how inputs are handled through USB ports, which is near impossible. Then there would be issues with the wired 360 pad.


So this product will stay.

[Brent @ Dec 23rd 2006 4:51PM]

"Update how inputs are handled through USB Ports" ?

They don't have to do that.. All they need is a software update that will detect whatever this shows up as on the device list and disable it. Simple fix.

[steve @ Dec 24th 2006 3:32PM]

I agree with Tyler. Some people are really limited by the thumbsticks, while others perfer them. If your gonna bitch that someone is using a mouse to pick ya off, then go out and buy one yourself. If you still can't keep up, well, that's the point of the game, to test your skill. All this is going to do is to allow a choice of preference.
On another note, can you adjust the sensitivity and the button mapping of the mouse/keyboard?

[JeffNLA @ Dec 24th 2006 5:17PM]

I hope MS release a firmware to kill this device.

If you want keyboard and mouse - play on your PC!

Once again idiots will ruin xbox live.

[mrmilktoast @ Jan 1st 2007 6:14PM]

I will never play a shooter with that horrible conroller. I was hoping this would happen. People just need to learn that these game where never to be enjoyed with a analog stick. It makes me sick during game play. Like nausea. I might buy Gears now. Got to see if this is the real deal.

[Mitochondria @ Jan 4th 2007 10:44AM]

The thing some of you people aren't getting is that a lot of people do not like to use keyboards/mouse, like myself, which is why this wouldn't seem fair. That's why they make controllers in the first place. Heck, what joysticks? Do they work with this thing. I suppose most likely that Microsoft will support this with an update of some sort to balance everything out.

Lets not forget about Live Anywhere and PC vs. Console. Microsoft has already given this sort of thing some thought.

[headrush @ Jan 14th 2007 10:18AM]

don't worrie about it being unfair if you are good with controller. This will not make it way easy for anyone using it. its not that great.

[arson51 @ Jan 12th 2007 6:07AM]

I currently own a brand new xfps 360, it is very well designed except for two crippling flaws. It has no deadzone compensation as many had feared before. Do research on what happened to the last adapter that didnt come with deadzone compensation before you buy this product. Also, from what i can tell this adapter only supports Microsoft explorer mice, i have 2 logitech the mx500 and a G5 and they are both incompatible. Since they are both my favorite mice its quite a pain to use the IE6.0 mouse. I have yet to test the Razer series of mice. I pray every day that a patch is released for this ALMOST perfect product.

[GunSHEEP @ Jan 13th 2007 5:55PM]

I can confirm that the razer mice do not work. Out of the 5 mice I have tried only one has worked. What really surprised me that a old Microsoft PS/2 mouse DID NOT WORK.

[Derek @ Jan 27th 2007 4:59AM]

yeah me too wtf nice name

[Shnake @ Jun 6th 2007 10:12PM]

Everyone likes to bitch. It is human nature. What about in game lag? What about mod software for the pc, and moded xbox's? Tha fact is that this device gives people a choice of how to play their games. If you suck, you suck. This device is not going to make it any easier for you . The only way to get better is to keep playing. That is the whole principle behind a game. Name any great in any sport/game, I bet they practiced a lot.... I plan to get this device just to pwn my pc friends that say they could kick my ass if they had a keyboard and mouse. Again if you suck, you suck.... get better or stop playing you whiney bitch!!!!!!

[robna @ Aug 12th 2007 11:27PM]

All this moaning and whining. fact is, 360 gamers and pc gamers have now been brought together by a game called shadowrun. a game where xbox live players can get 10 shades of sh*t kicked out of them by the vista boys. hopefully this little gadget will level that playing field. i play both formats (pc and 360) and i dont mind playing either way. at the moment on xbox live the playing field is level because not everyone has heard of this item. but the whole point of its release is to bring a little bit of pc to the 360, which of course microsoft is rooting for due to the game shadowrun. after all its not the 1st time a console has had the use of a keyboard and mouse is it people? (DREAMCAST) i for one look forward to meeting up with my pc pals on live and blowing their heads through their arses and shouting HA HA NOT BAD FOR A CONSOLE EH LADS.

[TotalDeadEnd @ Nov 3rd 2007 1:58PM]

I just bought my first 360. I've been using my SmartJoy Frag for my standard XBox, and I love it, so I'm looking forward to finding out if the XFPS 360 works just as well as the Frag does. The only complaint I have about the SmartJoy Frag is that the mouse buttons aren't customizable, so I can't use the right mouse button to move forward (which is how I play on PC).

[dsa @ Nov 21st 2007 5:02AM]

This is an absolutely horrible product i bought it off divineo.com and played call fo duty 4 and halo 2 and halo 3 today and it is brutal, it is impossible to aim as it is impossible to keep a mouse perfectly still so your aim is constntly hopping all over the place, slow movements are also not picked up very well, so small adjustments aren't registered properly, don't bother buying it, until developers design games to take mouse and keyboard inputs as positional instead of vector accelerated... mouse and keybaord will be PC only.