XBox 360 controller: now with keyboard
Microsoft announced another big change for all XboX 360 owners, just few days after the official message about XboX 360 Elite. Beginning the week of May 7, 2007, the Xbox 360 Spring Update will provide Xbox 360 owners worldwide with access to Windows Live Messenger features, broadening the communication options on the Xbox LIVE social network. The users of Windows Live Messenger on Xbox 360 will text chat using the virtual keyboard accessible on Xbox 360, or by connecting a USB keyboard to the console. This summer Microsoft will launch a QWERTY text-input device, a new accessory that will connect directly into the Xbox 360 controller to support text and instant messaging.
Also, Microsoft announced at CES this year the unification of Microsoft’s popular gaming platforms Xbox and Windows which will become reality on May 8. With Windows still being the largest platform for offline and online gaming and with Xbox 360 already on track of reaching the 15 million owners target by June, Microsoft is hoping to ensure an even more dominant position by bringing together the Xbox and the PC platform. Gaming is the second most important activity for users of the Windows platform, after Web-browsing, accounting for almost 18% of their time. The bridging will happen when the massive Xbox hit HALO 2 will come out for Windows Vista. Games for Windows – LIVE will connect Windows gamers to over six million gamers already in the Xbox LIVE community. Then, launching in June, “Shadowrun ” will for the first time connect Windows gamers with Xbox 360 players in cross-platform matches using a single service. “UNO,” releasing later in 2007, will also support cross-platform play between Windows and Xbox 360. Nice try, let’s wait few months for first results – I still think that the position of Nintendo Wii remains untouched…
Comments(9)
haha, reminds me of the controller for the Atari Jaguar
-Spamboy
“I still think that the position of Nintendo Wii remains untouched…”
Uhhh, what? Since when did the Wii have the ability to connect to Windows players? =/
I’m doubtful if this little stunt of Microsoft’s will work. Depends on if any game devs give a damn.
I don’t know about this keyboard business, but connecting Xbox gamers and PC gamers is about the best thing they have up their sleeve. Sure, they might not be number one for much longer but their online service is already unmatched and it just gets better and better. Honestly I think the only stupid thing they have done was the Elite pricing and the 120GB HDD pricing…but i couldn’t imagine that many people need 120GB on their 360…
That’s the most retarded controller ever made! Those Microsoft dudes must be on some serious medication
Nintendo wii got 2 USB PORTS .. i guess nintendo will show us some good stuffs soon
@ eX- :
Ehh .. so ?
XB360 got 3
who cares about the number of USB ports!! it’s just opportunity to develop stuffs!
sorry but the xbox and pc won’t be able to fight each other
“On top of that, it appears that cross-platform Halo 2 fragfests will remain a pipe dream for now. According to Bungie, Halo 2 PC will not be compatible with the Xbox version of the game for a few reasons. For one, the PC version of the game will include new maps and a map editor, which raises questions of how to handle play against Xbox players that have neither of these features.
Another reason to pass on the cross-platform play is because “a level playing field would be impossible.” In addition to the Xbox players having more than two years’ head start on the PC players, Bungie says that the controls and aiming have been fine-tuned for each system, and that matches between the systems would be “lopsided at best.” However, the PC version of the game will support other options beyond the keyboard-and-mouse combo, should players feel more comfortable with another control method.”
http://www.gamespot.com/xbox/action/halo2/news.html?sid=6151981
that’s just plain stupid…