Well, I still maintain that FPS on consoles are a poor alternative to the much more precise and true to life mouse targeting. I quit CoD4 on my 360 for this reason as well and just about every other console FPS I have tried. Analog sticks simply are not as precise or intuitive - physics simply will never allow the 2 inch radius or whatever it is of an analag stick to effectively target all that is seen on your pc screen. There is also a diminishing curve here - the larger resolution you play at the more imprecise an analog stick becomes.

Before the recent console boom FPS on consoles were an afterthought and considered the poor man's FPS. The graphics hurdle has been crossed but the controls have not. That being said, if you want to go where the players are you have to go console - the matching service helps as well. I still don't understand why the 360 will not release a mouse/keyboard option. I saw the PS3 has this in the works, this would solve my dilemna.

As well, RTS on consoles suck. The UI's just don't work. So, if you are a RTS player your best choice is still PC because of controls again - I am just not a fan of the genre.

In the end, for the same reason MMO's are best on PC's - FPS's and RTS's also are best on PC's - and that is the control scheme. Likewise - platformers and sports games particularly are far better on consoles - and traditionally game makers have understood this as well. The only difference today is the online connectivity of the consoles has allowed it to infiltrate on what used to be pc only turf which has incread its already larger place in the market - the market saturation of consoles has dictated that developers concentrate on the consoles so you, I, and most others will gravitate where the players are. Unfortunately, this doesnt mean it is the best possible solution (again, controls).

All that said, because of online connectivity, I hope full implementation of mouse and keyboard will find its way to consoles - and then, why would even MMO's belong to the PC? This is why, software developers will not risk producing games that are designed for an aftermarket item IE eyetoy etc. - they are niche at best (music games aside).

If consoles wanted to send the gaming PC into oblivion all it would take is for them to include a mouse/keyboard along with a gamepad in the box! - problem solved.

I think I would argue that FPS already have (by the majority) moved over to Consoles. I know that most of us here on this board are 'old school' and play with the mouse and keyboard (and thats how we learned) but I think the majority of younger players has that base in consoles AND a decent amount of he older base has already moved to controllers.

RTS is a good point though. That probably is a genre that i would classify like MMOs that likely for the next few years has a home on PCs. There are some new innovative things coming up (Check out the voice control in the 360's Tom Clancy End War) but over all I would still def agree that for hardcore RTS players, the PC is still the system of choice.

I completely agree with you there Rot. And Cyan I also understand that FPS is already moved to consoles - online connectivity in this generation ensured that - so now most players may never have used the mouse/keyboard. I have heard that microsoft will not promote a keyboard/mouse because it is a competitive advantage - well of course it is - because its simply better. Mouse/keyboard combos are outlawed in official gaming competition for the same reason - to level the playing field. I say thats dumb, point in shoot simply does not replicate well to analog sticks - people can get good at it, game developers have even gotten better with the control, but it will always be a poor alternative.

If you want to replace the computer forever I will say again, just package the keyboard/mouse in the box - death nail of the pc game.

One more reason, people are so accustomed to online chatting through their keyboards, not just with voice. Even with 360 chat I sometimes wich I could send a quick keystroke instead of being forced to invite you to voice to communicate something simple. Why do they not implement keyboard for ease of communication alone.

Somebody answer why the hell are keyboards not fully implemented/included with online capable supposed home entertainment/communication systems? It baffles me.


Theo

I use the xbox 360 type pad all the time it is always connected to my comp and unless joining a channel for a game is the primary way I communicate on the 360. Its pretty ergonomic and doesn't get in the way of gaming at all. A must buy imho.

Yes but a console is a standard PC that everyone uses, thats the point of a console. So yes you are right they are really a lot more PC like than they used to be, but the fact they are all the same and their is only one target PC configuration is what makes them a console.

100% positive, and they don't have to worry about different configurations (and hire people to worry about it).

At this point the only thing that I can think of as a reason that they do not want a keyboard / mouse combo on the 360 is :

a.) It is known as the FPS console
b.) They don't want to alientate all the people that have "grown up" playing FPS on the console.

If they introduced a mouse/keyboard combo I think that it would be hard to balance all the older games and such. The K/M combo would just have too much of an advantage.

Honestly,

How many of you guys get 4mb on the dl?

I am quoted at 3.5, I usually get around 2.

It sounds like all they are doing is keeping the heavy processing on their end and feeding you screenshots at 60fps. I am not saying I don't think it will work, but until connections become a.) faster and b.) more predictable I don't see hardcore pc gamers moving at all.

I do however see a great market "at this time" for demo'ing games and/or just trying them out.