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Chatpad Messenger Kit will cost $30 [update 1]
var digg_url = 'http://www.digg.com/xbox_360/Xbox_360_Chatpad_Messenger_Kit_will_cost_30'; Eagle-eyed fanboy reader lee\ sent in a tip telling us that our long awaited Chatpad (which was announced back in May) has been priced and now has its own page up on Xbox.com. The Chatpad will be part of what is called the Xbox 360 Messenger Kit which will also include a separate headset and retail for $29.99. No other new Chatpad news or surprises that we haven't already known are detailed as we'd still like to have a look at the separate headset. Though, we're banking on seeing all the goods later tonight. So fanboys, is $30 worth paying for this text input kit or will you pass and put the money towards a new game?Update 1: We just found out (via some searching on Xbox.com) that the Messenger Kit's release date will be September 4th.[Thanks, lee\]
Chatpad seen in Chicago at GSB Road Tour stop
Charles Huseman over at Gaming Nexus attended GamerscoreBlog's Road Tour event in Chicago, and got some hands-on time with the Chatpad, although not the retail version that'll hit shelves this summer. Charles said the Chatpad doesn't get in the way at all or messes up the weight balance of the controller. He also noted that the buttons are backlit for those who may be texting in the dark, with minimal impact on the wireless controller's battery life. Still no word on pricing or when we'll be getting it this summer. The special headset packed with the Chatpad has yet to be seen. Either way, exactly 1/3 of X3F staff (We bet you can't guess who) is all about the IMing whilst gaming, to the point of having a USB keyboard handy to make use of the overlay window for quick conversations. Have any of you slowly warmed up to the idea of IMing while you game? Or would an accessory like this be necessary for you to make the jump?
360 TID officially dubbed the Chatpad
Formerly known as the TID (text input device), the thumb board, and "that thingy," the Xbox 360 controller keyboard has received an official name. In the Spring Update help document (found by clicking the "Learn More" ad block on the Marketplace blade) the device is referred to as the Chatpad. Now all we need is a price and a release date.We think it's a good name, though we were really warming up to calling it the TID. It's got that cool acronym flavor. Everyone likes three letter acronyms. Like X3F, right? Right? Guys ...?
Goodbye TID, hello Xbox 360 Chatpad
Not that this is life-changing news or anything (except maybe for Major Nelson), but it looks like Microsoft has snapped out of its DOS flashback and given the upcoming Xbox 360 QWERTY thumb keyboard a less technical-sounding moniker than "Text Input Device": meet the Chatpad. The real name of the peripheral-formerly-known-as-TID was discovered by a Joystiq reader poking around the Marketplace after Tuesday's Spring update, where its identity is revealed in a page about Windows Live Messenger integration. Expect lawsuits from the makers of ChatBuddy and PepperPad any day now.
Xbox 360's QWERTY thumboard in the wild
If you're one of the few large-handed gamers out there still pining for the bulk-tastic days of the original Xbox controller, then you're sure to have a great time with Microsoft's new "Text Input Device" QWERTY thumb keyboard add-on. The bulk of the TID is all at the base, so it shouldn't be a deal breaker for the small handed, but we'll have to get this in hand to know just how ergonomic it's going to be to type with. An anonymous tipster, who spotted this before it went official, had these encouraging words to say: "The thumboard beats the hell out of the one on my BlackJack, and once they let me play with it I didn't want to put it down." We wouldn't really say TID vs. BlackJack is the ultimate comparison, but it at least sounds like the tipster had a good time. A flickr set from Microsoft's Gamerscore Blog has some solid shots of the TID, which you can find at that fancy little read link below.[Via Gamerscore Blog]
