Poll: Is the XCM XFPS device cheating?

[L.B. Jeffries]

I can't tell the difference between any of the options in the poll. It looks like I PWN no matter what I say...

 

[henrebotha]

I voted that it is cheating. I liken it to putting a bit of transparent sticky tape on the center of the computer monitor when playing Aliens vs Predator as the Alien - they left out the crosshair and it is the player's responsibility to learn how to play without that particular crutch.

 

[henrebotha]

People using the XFPS aren't controlling the game with a mouse. They're using a mouse to control the controller.

However, this is markedly different from telling another human which buttons to press because the human-to-mouse/keyboard and mouse/keyboard-to-controller data exchange happens much faster; and the point here is that people are using the mouse/keyboard option because, for $100, it allows them to skip the controller ineptitude that other players are stuck with.

I've always thought that allowing people with money to pay extra to be better at a game is batshit ridiculous, but then what do I know.

 

[social_outcast]

Maybe its the PC gamer in me, but I don't see any problem when you consider one thing; why would you play an FPS without mouse and keyboard in the first place?
its what they were DESIGNED for - as much as analog sticks trys to keep up, they'll never offer the same amount of precision.

For the sake of example, consider it in gardnening: one person uses a spade to dig (like the pc, the tool fits the medium) and the other usess a fork - you cant accuse the person with the spade of cheating unless you slung a huge sign saying "Warning: non-fork users will be shot". Stupid metaphor, but I find it works

Edit: by "They were designed for", I mean the fps, to save confusion

Im not saying that all console controls are bad for the humble fps(heck, Tycho from Penny-arcade himself commented on the amazing precision of the wiimote in metroid prime 3), just remember that the genre was not made with intention of being ported.

 

[Second-Thought]

However, this is markedly different from telling another human which buttons to press because the human-to-mouse/keyboard and mouse/keyboard-to-controller data exchange happens much faster; and the point here is that people are using the mouse/keyboard option because, for $100, it allows them to skip the controller ineptitude that other players are stuck with.

I've always thought that allowing people with money to pay extra to be better at a game is batshit ridiculous, but then what do I know.

Yet it is slower than the controller while still being limited by it, so what about the disadvantage suffered by those who use this device? It is the same form of user interaction and also comparable to operating the controller with sticks. The same process of control is present and the total ability of the controller is in no way altered (if anything, it is degraded). Suppose any number of people managed to use those sticks to not only play, but to play better than they could with just the controller and that this particular pair of sticks was marketed at $100 by its manufacturer? By your definition that would qualify as an unfair advantage as well, but only someone who is if more accustomed to the physical form and function of a mouse limited by the controller than the controller itself will be any more able using the XFPS. The only advantage there was already present and is coming entirely from the user. Even without their ability to use a limited mouse, the same situation exists between controller users, and the only way to actually remove it would be to bar the players themselves. Whatever level of inequality in this situation is at work in the world itself. You might as well label anyone who is faster, smarter, or stronger than you as having an unfair advantage due to their personal ability. But that isn't something you or anyone else can police. Likewise, the ability to pay money for an item that better suits the user in any field is not a new aspect of the world. Perhaps you may feel that this is cheating, but it is only that---a feeling. An opinion. And the fact is that at the moment and by definition of Microsoft's own user agreements it is not.

I won't disagree with your describing the world in which we live as being "batshit ridiculous," though.

 

[Sinvel]

Wow, I wasn't expecting so many replies to this thread. So far from all the posts that I've read, the consensus is (and this is a gross generalization): 1)Though most agree that the XCM gives an unfair advantage (and therefore cheating), it is not actually illegal for use on xbox live (or on any other forms of online for that matter), and 2) though controllers are not necessarily superior (ie better or etc) to the kb+m setup, they should not be (ethically speaking for fairness) playing together on the same server (though people with the XCM are using it with impunity from what I saw on live).
Personally, I actually prefer to use the controller since I felt so comfortable with it -- all of the buttons at my fingertips, ease of use, weight and recoil -- which was one of the reasons why I got a console in the first place, but it looks like the XCM is here to stay since there is no current method for M$ to detect them online. It hasn't effected my decision on whether or not to buy one yet (probably because I can't afford it... , and will continue to be fodder to those clans whenever they log on, but I'll still have fun and try to remember that it's just a game... *sob*
Thanks for all of your replies!

 

[B4D 9R4MM3R]

It's cheating in a way, and not in another. Really helpful, I know.

In one way it's just saying, 'Well, I prefer this controller set-up'.

The problem being there is only supposed to be one controller set-up so these things don't get out of control.

I always thought that this might be a reason why custom controller set-ups never appear in games any more. You know, the ability to map controls to your controller. However, everybody can do that for free. So, I guess that that is just laziness.

Whereas, one console that is only supposed to have one controller suddenly finds itself with a keyboard/mouse controller option, not even officially endorsed mind you, and we can see plenty of people getting annoyed.

Thing is, I would want one of these but not because I want to be better than everybody else. It's simply because I have always preferred the keyboard/mouse due to playing on computers since age 5.

 

[Jumplion]

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.

It just sounds like you don't like tracking an enemy. PC FPS games don't have the autoaim/aim-assist doing half the work for you. But its just a different system for doing the same thing. You move the stick to the left, you move the mouse to the left.

What kind of mouse are you using? A brick?

flimsy plastic piece of crap. My PC was never intended for gaming (as shown by the integrated Dell Graphics chip (that's complete bullshit)), and neither is the mouse. And the place the Keyboard and Mouse are positioned is a sort of drawer kind of thing and it doesn't leave that much mobility for my mouse. Even if that wasn't the case, I'd still have to roll over and reposition my mouse to let it continue to move.

I think part of the problem with that (along with no auto-aim) is that all visionary movement is controls by the one output; the mouse. While on a controller, looking around is usually controlled by both of the nubs simultaneously (I think...?). It's hard to do 2 things at once on one mouse rather than 2 things on 2 different nubs, or at least that's what I feel personally.

 

[Lukeydoodly]

Its unbalancing the playing field, so I would count it as cheating.

 

[Gamer137]

I don't notice any difference between keyboard/mouse and controllers when it comes too shooters, so I say no.

 

[Wargamer]

Someone mentioned steering wheels for racings games, and I figured I'd comment on that.

Steering Wheels, in my experience, are about trying to add 'realism', not give an edge. I give consistently better lap-times on Gran Turismo with a controller than a steering wheel. Force-feedback is unsettling, the wheel doesn't behave like it should (I drive a real car, so I know exactly what it should be like), it's a pain in the arse setting them up in a user-friendly way, and overall people who want that absolute best lap-time should stick with the controller.

I can guarantee using a Keyboard and Mouse is not adding realism to your FPS experience.

 

[Jursa]

Everybody knows that the keyboard and mouse provide better accuracy and aiming speed. These tools on their own are not a cheat but they do create unfairness against the players who don't use these items. It's also a good reason why the PC will never go out of style.

 

[Pipotchi]

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.

I dunno I would bet money on a inverse relationship between Clan membership and woman pleasing abilities, not saying its impossible for the two to co-exist though

 

[cuddly_tomato]

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

Naah. I played using controllers on PC games and regularly came top of the scoreboard on both CoD4 and UT2004. Once you get used to the controller it can be as good as a KB&mouse. This comes down purely to personal preference.

 

[Gormers1]

I say, if you want play mouse and keyboard you should play the pc. I feel that they only use this to get an advantage over people they otherwise would not be as god as (since they dont play cod 4 on the pc instead), so I think it is unfair. But imo its not that much difference that I would not play against someone using it.

It's also unfair to have a nice TV and even more unfair to have an excellent internet connection...Finally, it's really unfair to have a high quality pair of headphones with great stereo imaging. It's basically like a wallhack; that's how effective a good pair of headphones are.

All of these things cost more than the XCM as well, but how many of you are on broadband? How many of you have an HDTV? You're all cheating scum ;D

I dont know why this but I feel that it is a difference between this and playing with XCM.