Keyboard and Mouse for consoles

[jebussaves88]

What with Halo Wars about to come out, and most reviews stating that all is well with it bar the fact that it is essentially, a console RTS, a friend and I wondered something. Why is it that the only console to have a keyboard and mouse periphral was the Dreamcast? And why wasn't even this used for actual gaming, as opposed to browsing?

The answer is rather obvious; the vast majority of gamers play their consoles sitting on a sofa in the lounge position, or possibly with three other people all wielding controllers. Having a mouse and keyboard isn't practical.
However, with an RTS, there is no splitscreen, and they generally demand you to be sitting up and paying attention (at least more so than Brawl or GRID are going to require).
So my question is this; what with USB 2.0 ports being the standard on PS3 and 360, why don't developers and the creators of the consoles themselves take advantage of this and allow support for keyboards and mice, easily done I assume, through dashboard updates and game patches? Surely this would allow the RTS genre to flourish, and even quell the old "FPS's are better on PC" arguement that has swallowed many a thread (because when it comes down to it, the only difference would be potentially better graphics on PC).

 

[joystickjunki3]

PS2 had a keyboard and mouse as well. So does the PS3, and the Saturn had the ability to attach a keyboard and mouse too.

EDIT: The answer, at least for the 360 part of the question, is that Microsoft will not allow such a peripheral.

EDIT EDIT: The Dreamcast's keyboard and mouse were used for gaming too. Unreal and Quake III are prime examples of this. Especially since Quake III was cross-platform. Half Life: Blue Shift would've had the support as well, but was never released.

 

[rossatdi]

The problem is partially one of fairness.

A keyboard & mouse player has a huge advantage over a controller player. If you release one as a periphery the online multiplayer scene transformers vastly.

Personally I like my controller. Just seems more relaxing than the thing I sit and type at for 9 hours a day!

 

[L33tsauce_Marty]

Yeah, I kind of wanted to buy a PS3 just to kill everyone with a mouse on multiplayer. There is a mouse input for any USB mouse, I plugged my G5 into a friends PS3 and it worked in the menu, but in game it didn't, shame.

 

[Zer_]

Yeah, I kind of wanted to buy a PS3 just to kill everyone with a mouse on multiplayer. There is a mouse input for any USB mouse, I plugged my G5 into a friends PS3 and it worked in the menu, but in game it didn't, shame.

Each specific game must support the mouse on the PS3 for it to work. Unreal Tournament 3 supports a mouse for example. The PS3 can also have Linux installed and thus you can play Quake 3 on the PS3. Not so useless afterall, eh?

 

[L.B. Jeffries]

I suppose Microsoft has a conflict of interest since they also sell PC Software. If my Xbox had a keyboard, what's to keep me from just using it for all kinds of stuff besides gaming? It's technically a pretty good PC at bargain price in that context.

 

[L33tsauce_Marty]

Yeah, I kind of wanted to buy a PS3 just to kill everyone with a mouse on multiplayer. There is a mouse input for any USB mouse, I plugged my G5 into a friends PS3 and it worked in the menu, but in game it didn't, shame.

Each specific game must support the mouse on the PS3 for it to work. Unreal Tournament 3 supports a mouse for example. The PS3 can also have Linux installed and thus you can play Quake 3 on the PS3. Not so useless afterall, eh?

I see, it would be nice if all games supported it though. As for Quake 3, its easier just to get it for PC.

 

[Eagle Est1986]

The problem is partially one of fairness.

A keyboard & mouse player has a huge advantage over a controller player. If you release one as a periphery the online multiplayer scene transformers vastly.

Unreal Tournament 3 (PS3 version) dodged that problem quite easily, when searching for an online game, you could choose not to play against players who were using a mouse and keyboard set up.

 

[rossatdi]

The problem is partially one of fairness.

A keyboard & mouse player has a huge advantage over a controller player. If you release one as a periphery the online multiplayer scene transformers vastly.

Unreal Tournament 3 (PS3 version) dodged that problem quite easily, when searching for an online game, you could choose not to play against players who were using a mouse and keyboard set up.

I enjoy the lack of pressure that a mouse gives you. Now I work 40-45 hours a week, most of it behind a desk, I don't want to come home to sit at a desk. If a game has that option I'd feel pressured to play it with one (because that's how you're "supposed" to play them). It takes far less time to get your controller skills to a level comparable to mouse skills and I like being good at games.

 

[KDR_11k]

Point & Click works fine for the Wii...

Anyway, designing games for non-standard controllers is usually a recipe for desaster. Unless a console actually comes with a keyboard and mouse setup (or equivalent) it's not going to be very profitable to require them. Telling people they can use the controller but that'll be clunky won't go down well either.

 

[nova18]

I'm hoping that with Red Alert 3 coming to PS3 (finally), Sony will finally sort out some GOOD keyboard/mouse hardware so that I can enjoy the game how it is meant to be played.
There is no argument that console RTS fails against PC because it is easier to control units with a mouse and keyboard as opposed to a controller with minimal buttons for micro-management.

 

[GonzoGamer]

You could always get one of these:
http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/peripherals/splitfish-fragfx-mouse-controller-for-ps3-245810.php

I always end up getting my shooters on the PC though and I don't think I'll pick up this controller just for Killzone 2 & Resistance. One more exclusive "must have" FPS though and I will probably pick this thing up. I don't want it so I can pwn others in multiplayer, I'm just a total spaz with the knobs when playing FPSs; I played on the PC for too long.

 

[jamesworkshop]

I think microsoft are stupid for not allowing mouse/keyboard support because it would drag people away from the PS3 and the fact that microsoft doesn't make any money from the PC games market (apart from those they make, not many) but every x360 game pays them royalties.
Also they should have supported the abilty to go online with Pc gamers better, using the PC as a feature that Sony wouldn't be able to compete with them.

 

[Sinvel]

Hey, this looks alot like another thread that I started:
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/9.88727?page=3

From my understanding, the xbox already supports the kb/m through the usb ports it has in the front, but it only works in the dashboard (aka the nxe), to type messages and stuff, but is disabled when any game is running. I think it is a great idea for M$ to start enabling it for games that really need it like halo wars or fps, but it will probably alienate all the other causal users who don't want (or can't) to use it -- like players who want to play it in their living rooms on the sofa with no table in front of them -- and give kb/m users an advantage. I think it's a load of bs and M$ should just allow anybody who wants to use it as an option and personal preference... and give me an excuse to blame when I get totally pwned on live.. :O

 

[AdjectiveAnimal]

I suppose Microsoft has a conflict of interest since they also sell PC Software. If my Xbox had a keyboard, what's to keep me from just using it for all kinds of stuff besides gaming? It's technically a pretty good PC at bargain price in that context.

They would probably make it so that the keyboard would only for the Xbox and then overprice it, such as how they made the wireless adaptor.