Poll: Is the XCM XFPS device cheating?

[Sinvel]

Hello People! This is my first posting, so please be kind.
There is an increasing number of players using a device called the XCM XFPS, which
basically allows XBOX360 (and other consoles) to use a keyboard and mouse setup, instead of the regular controller. Those of you not familar with this device, check:
http://www.xcm.cc/XFPS_3.0_Sniper.htm
http://www.amazon.com/XFPS-3-0-Sniper-Keyboard-Mouse-adapter/dp/B0010ZH3V8/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1235001007&sr=8-6

It seems that many clans playing on LIVE now require that you use it, and that's how they usually get such high scores in the first place. I was playing one day against a stacked up team with all clan members (I won't say which clan since they actually go to our school) with some friends, and they were absolutely owning the entire map. There was no where to hide since they were picking off players (with headshots) from like a mile away with pistols and smgs. Then we played another clan the other day and these guys were into sniper and other rifles and they were taking people out from like literally across the map. I have gotten pretty good with aiming on the analog stick, but I just couldn't match the speed they were aiming at me. I was asking one of them the next day how did they do it and he straight out told me he and his whole team were using the XCM, and that any clan that was worth anything were using it too.

Some say that it is just personal preference, but I say it gives players of fps (say, Call of Duty or Halo) and unfair advantage. They say its just skill, that I should get better on the regular controller, and that I just suck. They say its not cheating because they didn't modify the game in any way, just using an extra peripheral. Now, myself and a few local friends have gotten pretty good on fps on a regular controller not to brag), we can do pretty well against non-XCM players, but we can never match the accuracy and speed of people using the XCM. It is just not a level playing field. There are just things that an analog controller cannot do what a mouse can, such as quickly turning and looking around, lighting aiming of any gun from the hip, aerial kills, very high accuracy over long range, etc. The device costs about $100 on eBay, a large chunk of change for us poor students who rather spend that on actually paying for games, or at least spend it on another year for the xbox LIVE service.

Question: Is it considered cheating or is it just skill? Give me your honest opinion.

 

[out0v0rder]

My opinion is that using the words skill and xbox live clan in the same post is ridiculous.

 

[Aries_Split]

And thus, PC Gamers around the world scoff at how using our weapon of choice is cheating.

If they choose to use an inferior product, it's their own damn fault.

 

[shadow skill]

And thus, PC Gamers around the world scoff at how using our weapon of choice is cheating.

If they choose to use an inferior product, it's their own damn fault.

It's cheating when MS forbids the use of kb/mouse over live save at least one exception if memory serves me correctly.

 

[zirnitra]

Umm well even the site calls it an unfair advantage " XFPS rapid fire function---You simply need to switch on the turbo keys and get a rapid fire. Yes, your UNFAIR ADVANTAGE to rule the game."

but just be smug about it and think yeah I'm getting destroyed but when they take a girl back to theirs and she asks what's that? they have to answer (puts on dweebiest voice) "it's called the XFPS 3.0 Sniper (XCM) it allows me to plug a keyboard and mouse into the 360 so my clan and I can get more headshots and therefore completely pwn on COD4 and all it cost me was 100dollars/50 pounds (smugly grunts with laughter)"

 

[squid5580]

No. It is like saying using the joystick for SF4 is cheating. Just because you have a way that is easier for you to play doesn't make it cheating. I am also sure there are some who could PWN the mousers with the normal controller (I am NOT one of them but I am sure they exist)

Using the rapid fire or something like that is though. I am just talking straight up, no fancy additions.

 

[Zildjin81]

It's cheating. Imagine playing a PC fps online against people using 360 controllers...you would own everyone.

 

[jamesworkshop]

i think its cheating however if every top team uses it then it becomes a level playing field again

 

[gobblecoque]

Where is the "What are doing playing an FPS on a console anyway?" option?

 

[NeedAUserName]

I had never come across this until today, how coincidental...

But I will admit its frustrating, that people can just get instant kills from little to no effort. The only guns that should be able to do that are shotguns and sniper rifles, and they both have huge flaws in all but one area each.

 

[willard3]

Where is the "What are doing playing an FPS on a console anyway?" option?

Because we get annoying flaming comments like that anyway. No point in wasting space.

To the OP: Interesting first post, btw. Props.

 

[hippo24]

I have used one and they are so hard to make and program correctly (not skill wise Im pretty good at soldering but in time), and when you do it the latency is soo bad that its unbearable.

The only thing its good for is if you loathe touching a controller.

Its really not worth the trouble of spending a substantial amount of money and time to create a half working mouse controller.

But 2.0 comes out soon
and will cost 200 dollars

 

[Jumplion]

It's cheating. Imagine playing a PC fps online against people using 360 controllers...you would own everyone.

That's.....to put it nicely, not a very good analogy at all. Playing a PC game with the "superior" choice of control while the other people are stupid enough to go with the "inferior" choice is...well, stupid?

There's a difference between "superior" controls and "better" controls, I think. Just because it's superior doesn't mean it's better for you to use it. Personally I prefer the controller as even if I'm a pixel off of the head I'm screwed. That and I like having the weight in my hands and the rumbling of the controller so I feel like I'm actually shooting the gun rather than flinging paste at people.

But now I'm rambling.

Anyway, I don't think there's enough total people using this. Really, they're just spending money of a game they're obsessed with. You probably won't encounter them very often, if at all depending on how much you play.

Let them waste their money and feel good about themselves.

EDIT: The weight, and recoil of guns are horrible on PCs (I think). If i get heavy recoil on a PC, I have to readjust my mouse and reposition it to make sure it stays on the guy, while on a controller I just have to move the left nub down slightly.

 

[Zildjin81]

It's cheating. Imagine playing a PC fps online against people using 360 controllers...you would own everyone.

That's.....to put it nicely, not a very good analogy at all. Playing a PC game with the "superior" choice of control while the other people are stupid enough to go with the "inferior" choice is...well, stupid?

There's a difference between "superior" controls and "better" controls, I think. Just because it's superior doesn't mean it's better for you to use it. Personally I prefer the controller as even if I'm a pixel off of the head I'm screwed. That and I like having the weight in my hands and the rumbling of the controller so I feel like I'm actually shooting the gun rather than flinging paste at people.

But now I'm rambling.

Anyway, I don't think there's enough total people using this. Really, they're just spending money of a game they're obsessed with. You probably won't encounter them very often, if at all depending on how much you play.

Let them waste their money and feel good about themselves.

EDIT: The weight, and recoil of guns are horrible on PCs (I think). If i get heavy recoil on a PC, I have to readjust my mouse and reposition it to make sure it stays on the guy, while on a controller I just have to move the left nub down slightly.

better
-adjective,
1.of SUPERIOR quality or excellence: a better coat; a better speech.

Anyway, yep the recoil and weight of guns on PC FPSs are worse, because it's easier to aim with the mouse.

 

[Jumplion]

better
-adjective,
1.of SUPERIOR quality or excellence: a better coat; a better speech.

Anyway, yep the recoil and weight of guns on PC FPSs are worse, because it's easier to aim with the mouse.

Bah, take it in a different context. When I see people saying that M+KB is "superior" they usually associate it with it being easier to aim (and almost nothing else!). When I see people saying "better" it's usually them saying which type of control they like best.

Easier aim control doesn't mean it's better for you overall, there are other factors to controls like how comfortable it is to you, the sense of weight, etc.

It's personal preference. While I would never say that PC controls are inferior to console controls (partially for fear of being gouged alive), I would say that which one you optimize in is personal preference.

 

[Zildjin81]

better
-adjective,
1.of SUPERIOR quality or excellence: a better coat; a better speech.

Anyway, yep the recoil and weight of guns on PC FPSs are worse, because it's easier to aim with the mouse.

Bah, take it in a different context. When I see people saying that M+KB is "superior" they usually associate it with it being easier to aim (and almost nothing else!). When I see people saying "better" it's usually them saying which type of control they like best.

Easier aim control doesn't mean it's better for you overall, there are other factors to controls like how comfortable it is to you, the sense of weight, etc.

It's personal preference. While I would never say that PC controls are inferior to console controls (partially for fear of being gouged alive), I would say that which one you optimize in is personal preference.

I think we have met an understanding. While console controllers are not "inferior" they are certainly much harder to master.

 

[GRoXERs]

My opinion on this is simple: if you want to play point-and-click sniping, get a PC. If you want a game requiring some real skill, try sniping with a console controller on a game that doesn't offer any auto-aim bull$#!% (I'm thinking here of the Gears series, since Halo and CoD definitely do.)

Man, I miss the N64 controller and trying to snipe on Perfect Dark. Now THAT took skill.

Sorry, I realize it makes me flame-bait (and yes, before you call me a console 'tard, I DO have a PC. I just prefer (read: am better at) console FPS's.) Don't be too hard on me?

 

[zirnitra]

but just be smug about it and think yeah I'm getting destroyed but when they take a girl back to theirs and she asks what's that? they have to answer (puts on dweebiest voice) "it's called the XFPS 3.0 Sniper (XCM) it allows me to plug a keyboard and mouse into the 360 so my clan and I can get more headshots and therefore completely pwn on COD4 and all it cost me was 100dollars/50 pounds (smugly grunts with laughter)"

Since yes, every guy who owns one will put on a nerdy voice exactly at that moment, or that every girl would find that peripheral disgusting (I don't even know any girl who doesn't play video games), or that every guy will bring a girl to the place of that peripheral, or that no guy will bring a girl over to, say, play video games, or that every guy will bring a girl over to do... whatever it is you were implying they would bring a girl over for, and so many more things.

Before you do flame me, I'm just saying you're generalizing, and that's not the best thing to do.

As a heads up, if a guy will bring a girl there and have that voice, most likely she will have found it attractive in the first place to go in his house, and please don't try to counter-reply that since you would be implying very horrible and illegal things.

Why do people quote me then tell me not to reply to their point against mine? it doesn't matter if the they do or do not play video games (or even if it was the girl who had the system) the fact of the matter is, if anyone I knew had that system I'd certainly think much much less of them. it's impossible not to sound dweebie when you say that sentence (go on put on a James Dean voice and it still won't sound cool) and I'm guessing that peripheral would be the same place they bring the person back to ie their house where most people keep their 360s unless you have some gaming lair in a hollowed out volcano.

 

[4RT1LL3RY]

Is this thread basically asking if allowing PC gamers to play Xbox 360 games with their usual gear cheating, in my eyes no. Is it unfair to regular gamepad players yeah, but so it having a mouse with a higher dpi, macro support, and auto fire to a person with a normal optical mouse. Skill has its own personal meanings to every one. I would say that a mouse is superior to a gamepad in many ways, including accuracy, ability to twitch aim, quicker turning ability. I have never been good with gamepads, I hate how slow they feel on low and imprecise they feel on high. I am at home with a mouse, with my G5 I can aim precisely even at its max setting, but still am able to make small ajustments for things like sniping.

I know some people who are console gods, great with a gamepad. But once I let them into the same game on PC, they get crushed. One of these times was in Left 4 Dead, in versus we arranged the teams so one was all controller and one was all mouse and keyboard, needless to say the controller team got wiped. They couldn't keep up with the movements of the keyboard and mouse players as the infected, while the keyboard and mouse players were much better able to handle the infected, not only because of being able to faster responde but also because the controller users couldn't pull off the same moves the other team could. Such as much better wall jumping as hunters and dodging.

So I will say that it isn't fair, but not being fair doesn't mean it shouldn't be allowed or is cheating. No matter what it is, there will always be in equalities on games, there are always differences that give others advantages, better rigs, bigger screens, surround sound. An even playing field is a myth, everyone will do what ever it takes to get an advantage if they feel it will give them an edge.

Also if you look at the PS3 it has native support for keyboard and mouse in some games, by some games I mean Unreal Tournament 3, do any other games on it support mouse and keyboard natively?

 

[742]

well, yes, its cheating. if you compete in the special olympics at least make sure to crack a leg or something first. its JUST on the edge of cheating, but yes, it is.