XIM2 brings your keyboard and mouse to the Xbox 360. But you still suck at Halo.

Oh man, remember that one time we tried to balance the teams in your favor, so there were like eight guys on your side, and just two of us? And then we still kicked your ass at CTF? Yeah, well XIM is gonna get you nowhere. Sure, the newly refined mod can hijack the Xbox 360 controller input and allow you to use just about any USB input device with the console -- for instance, a keyboard and mouse -- but we're still gonna shoot you in the face while you're trying to remember where that shotgun spawns, steal your flag right out from under you, and then snipe your base's spawn points. Get used to it. Simulated video of us owning you is after the break.

[Via Xbox-Scene]

[misha @ Jul 18th 2008 11:29AM]

i dont like the the art of the HUD

[Wally @ Jul 18th 2008 11:35AM]

Might actually give the game a chance now

[kornation @ Jul 18th 2008 1:10PM]

i dont get it, my usb wireless keyboard (that came with my pc) is already compatable - i use it to do song titles when ripping and chatting to mates on live.

The games are geared towards the controller, you'd only really need a keyboard to do chatting or naming.

[Flashpoint @ Jul 18th 2008 2:50PM]

Kornation

Keyboard+mouse gives first person shooters, especially, unmatched aiming abilities. The simple fact is that you can spin, point and re-center yourself infinitely faster without being stuck to two analog sticks.

If you use a small HDTV monitor with a high resolution, it makes your sniping even more accurate.

[dubbbya @ Jul 18th 2008 11:39AM]

The video is with a mouse right?

It looks so effortless.

[Shinigami @ Jul 18th 2008 12:47PM]

Mouse + autoaim = noskill, noobz xD

[yode @ Jul 18th 2008 11:42AM]

I wonder how like binding keys on the keyboard and changing mouse sensitivity or installing a "mouse_fix" (remember CS?) will work

[jeavis @ Jul 18th 2008 11:43AM]

I still can't understand why consoles just don't give you the option, out of the box, to support keyboard and mouse.

[kal326 @ Jul 18th 2008 12:02PM]

@jeavis
I want to say a PS2 shooter or two did. May have been the Dreamcast though, since it actually had a first party mouse and keyboard. There probably isn't a lot stopping developers from doing so, but it may not be perceived as a popular enough feature to spend the time developing two control schemes for a console since most generally NEVER has a kb and mouse hooked up.

[Clinton @ Jul 18th 2008 12:08PM]

I was wondering why this functionality is not standard as well. The only reason I can see to exclude support would be the possibility that some folks would only use a mouse and keyboard, taking away from the sales of additional controllers.

[emagius @ Jul 18th 2008 12:24PM]

Plenty of Dreamcast and PS3 games do give you such options right out of the box. Microsoft's between a rock and a hard place, though -- they have to cripple the Xbox platform to make PC gaming attractive.

[SouthEastBeast @ Jul 18th 2008 12:36PM]

*** Incoming wall of text ***

The reason that they don't converge the two is because there is a distinction between the two: pc gamers (m/kb) are usually more hardcore that curl up at their desk with wrist callouses, and on the contrary console gamers are a bit more casual and like to relax on the couch and play on a big screen (in the realm of FPS). Don't get me wrong, there are hardcore players on console, however, in my opinion if they were truly hardcore they would play on PC (m/kb support) for the precision and customization. (G9 anyone?

[SouthEastBeast @ Jul 18th 2008 12:42PM]

...continued...
Lets keep it real: If they merged console + pc realms console players would be rocked in fps. Console players would be forced to use kb/m to keep up their kill:death ratio therefore not really making a console a console anymore. Which is another topic in itself... Death of the console with convergence of the two platforms.

***Wall of text crits you for 5000! ***

[Wwhat @ Jul 18th 2008 1:16PM]

A joypad lacks precision, so all console games have aito-aim enabled, now with a mouse you have precision and it becomes too easy with the auto-aim.
Of course they COULD simply make it detect a mouse and disable auto-aim and then the mouse would require more concentration rather than less, and it would actually allow me to consider buying a console!

[computer.dude.28 @ Jul 18th 2008 1:43PM]

Wwhat:
"all console games have aito-aim enabled"
I'm going to assume you meant auto-aim.

Really? Would you please show me the auto aim in Call of Duty 4? How about Halo 3?
Just because you have to use joysticks doesn't mean you need auto-aim. Controls for any game could be ridiculously hard but what counts is that everyone's controls are EQUALLY hard. This is why consoles don't support a keyboard and mouse.

[tcc3 @ Jul 18th 2008 2:47PM]

Both COD4 and Halo have varying degrees of auto aim. When the reticule is near an enemy it "sticks" a little. Havent you ever had an opponent you werent aiming at run by and pull your aim away?

The old Unreal Tournament for Xbox had no auto aim, and it was hard as hell. PD0 had the option to turn off auto aim, turning the game into a ridiculous game of spam your rolling/dodging opponent with bullets and hope you get lucky. When you could get a game that is.

[BigD145 @ Jul 18th 2008 3:56PM]

Yes jeavis. Just, yes.

[rock99rock @ Jul 18th 2008 11:43AM]

engadget, you may not kick my ass at such games, but you get my ass kicked for loss of productivity due to reading your articles at work. Thx.

[Zach @ Jul 18th 2008 11:49AM]

Ditto

[Kizorblade @ Jul 18th 2008 11:51AM]

See. They're that good. Kicking your arse with words.

[sgikandi @ Jul 18th 2008 12:36PM]

Heh, I'm reading engadget at my desk at the office usually. Worst part is that my boss, the director of IT, is usually reading it at his too.

[rock99rock @ Jul 18th 2008 12:55PM]

@sgikandi

I wouldn't say that's the worst part, sounds like you can just pull out the ol "From you alright? I learned it from watching you!". Same with my boss, Director of IT :) Except he reads it as an RSS in his outlook. I prefer the real deal.

I just need some sort of RSS feed to the brain. Then a thought_to_comment translator.

[riggs @ Jul 18th 2008 1:01PM]

and taking names.

[Rainier @ Jul 18th 2008 3:19PM]

@rock99rock

Was that quote from that old drug commercial, where the kid gets busted for having weed, and says he learned it from watching his dad?

[SweetSauce @ Jul 18th 2008 4:50PM]

@ Rainier

Correct-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-Elr5K2Vuo

[rock99rock @ Jul 18th 2008 5:15PM]

@SweetSauce

Thanks, that's the one. Brings back memories. Of laughing.

[DssTrainer @ Jul 18th 2008 11:46AM]

Well at least the mouse part is good.. but seriously... keyboard gamers need to evolve.

Left Hand gamepad / Right Hand Mouse is the only way.

[iamsoinsane @ Jul 18th 2008 12:11PM]

I'm sorry I prefer my 104 keys and keeping my options open then a controller limiting me. But that's just my preference, to me it seems your mind is in need of evolving in accepting other people's options other then yours.

Flame on!

[DssTrainer @ Jul 18th 2008 2:01PM]

You are soinsane! Keyboard has a lot of keys, but it still takes 3 fingers to move leaves only a pinky and a thumb.. Thumb can't do much more than space bar, and pinky can maybe do shift, tab, and left ctrl.

Gamepad does all movement in thumb and leaves 4 fingers in a position to hit at least 4 more buttons without stretching... WASD was all they had when they made pong.. The mouse is the only improvement on FPS for aim, but walking, jumping, crouching is much more ergonomic on a gamepad.

I guess its still better left to let people do what they like best, but you know the age-old debate... keyboarders think their way is best, gamepadders think their way is best... But us Hybridders will be crowned :)

[Shinigami @ Jul 18th 2008 12:53PM]

I agree - gamepads suxx when it comes to FPS with lots of buttons. But games where you don't need precise aiming (but need button mashing) are best played with gamepads. CS is best with KB/mouse, Soul Calibur is better with gamepad.

[erislover @ Jul 18th 2008 1:10PM]

A keyboard is simply a poor substitute for good control design.

Can't argue on the mouse, though.

[Wwhat @ Jul 18th 2008 1:19PM]

Keyboard is the mother of all input device designs I'd argue.

[iamsoinsane @ Jul 18th 2008 1:43PM]

hey eris, Take your good control design and.... type on it while playing. :P


I for one welcome our Keyboard and Mouse loving Overlords.

[Benson @ Jul 18th 2008 7:19PM]

6DOF (Spaceball) + mouse FTW, actually.

[johnl1479 @ Jul 18th 2008 11:56AM]

Those guys sucked

[DssTrainer @ Jul 18th 2008 2:04PM]

Meh who needs to type? You are playing a game! I hate when people turn online maps into their personal chatroom. Shut up and shoot! Just because you "can" control a game with a keyboard, doesn't make it a good idea. You could drive with your feet, but that doesn't mean you should do it!.

[Peter F @ Jul 18th 2008 4:15PM]

absolutely. I'd love to see this keyboard usage against some decent players! Ugh, most of those guys weren't using the battle rifle.

[killploki @ Jul 18th 2008 12:02PM]

it would have been better to actually show the keyboard and mouse being used. as it stands right now, it just looks like he played against someone he was better than.

[ZaKmAnZ @ Jul 18th 2008 12:07PM]

LOL, I will pwn everyone all day using a mouse and keyboard on a console. You take the best PC FPS gamer vs console gamer and the console gamer will get pwned every time!! MOUSE AND KEYBOARD 4 LIFE!! HAHA flame away. Console Controllers Suck! Good Write Up Engadget!!

[substance90 @ Jul 18th 2008 12:08PM]

I doubt the video is done with a gamepad ;)
Such rapid turning is very specific to FPS games played with a mouse. The analog sticks offer much more smooth turning of the camera!

[DssTrainer @ Jul 18th 2008 12:09PM]

Splitfish.com ftw.. keyboard for the arthritis!

[Chird @ Jul 18th 2008 10:54PM]

Yeah totally. I have a splitfish for my PS2. Aside from the slightly squishy mouse buttons I love it.

What I REALLY wanna see is a splitfish for the 360 with a USB port for swapping out the mouse. Then I could use my trusty MX518 with the awesome Lefty-Nunchuck thing (and then maybe use it for PC gaming too...o the possibilities).

[Cal @ Jul 18th 2008 12:11PM]

I wonder when (or if) they are going to release halo 3 for the pc. Then i'll buy it.

[Jason @ Jul 18th 2008 12:13PM]

Doesn't the 360 already work with a keyboard? I know mine does.

And now I can own everybody in CoD4 and Halo, maybe I'll finally be able to win a game!

[Chip @ Jul 18th 2008 12:15PM]

This is going to be a huge seller. M/K (mouse keyboard) has always ruled over console controllers. Why do you think they keep PC online separate from console online play?

The only problem is, where do you put a mousepad on the couch?

[Cornelius @ Jul 18th 2008 12:39PM]

With an optical or laser mouse, you don't really need a mousepad- just use the couch.

I play counterstrike from the couch all the time on my 42" 1080p LCD. Just as long as your couch isn't leather, it works fine. If you're worried about damaging the couch fabric, use a pillow.

[Da_Glu @ Jul 18th 2008 12:23PM]

FragFX FTW!

[thedesolate1 @ Jul 18th 2008 12:27PM]

I know a certain other console you dont have to mod to have that functionality.

[Vcize @ Jul 18th 2008 12:27PM]

This is lame. I don't want to use a KB/mouse on my couch, that's why I'm playing on a console. I have a PC for that, and many of the 360 games are on PC's also anyway.

But on the other hand, I don't want to be getting pwned left and right either. Yarrrr...

[Vcize @ Jul 18th 2008 12:29PM]

Although, if this means you could use one of those USB SNES controllers for XBLA games, that would be all kinds of win.