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Overwatch Director Speaks Out Against Console Mouse/keyboard Adapters (arstechnica.com)

Striek quotes a report from Ars Technica: Regardless of where you fall in the long-running debate between keyboard/mouse and analog stick controls, you could historically be relatively sure that everyone on a single platform would be playing with the same control scheme. Recently, though, third-party adapters have started allowing console players to use a mouse and keyboard effectively on dedicated consoles, throwing off the competitive balance in a way that Overwatch director Jeff Kaplan doesn't appreciate. "The Overwatch team objects to the use of mouse and keyboard on console," Kaplan wrote on the Battle.net forums. "We have contacted both first-party console manufacturers and expressed our concern about the use of mouse and keyboard and input conversion devices. We have lobbied and will continue to lobby for first-party console manufacturers to either disallow mouse and keyboard and input conversion devices or openly and easily support mouse and keyboard for all players," he continued. "I encourage you to reach out to the hardware manufacturers and express your concerns (but please do so in a productive and respectful way)." Kaplan is talking about products like the XIM4, a $125 hub that lets certain USB keyboards and mice work natively with some Xbox One and PS4 games (as well as PS3 and Xbox 360 titles). IoGear's $100 Keymander does much the same thing, claiming to be "compatible with all console games." These devices essentially emulate a standard controller through a combination of hardware and software settings, disguising the keyboard and mouse inputs in a way that makes them hard for a developer to detect. This is a problem in competitive online games like Overwatch, where the quickness and precision of mouse aiming can give a decisive advantage over players using a slower and clunkier analog stick.

3 of 262 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Read Summary Again by lgw · · Score: 5, Funny

    Where's the outrage in that? Clearly he wanted to keep those filthy console peasants from touching the mouse and keyboard of their glorious PC ovlerlords! Help, help, I'm being oppressed!

    Bah, you and your rational interpretation.

    --
    Socialism: a lie told by totalitarians and believed by fools.
  2. Re:There is no debate by Triklyn · · Score: 5, Funny

    well, you just invalidated your personhood. how's it feel to be not a person?

    the preferences of objects doesn't count.

    congratulations, you've turned back the clock on civil rights.

    PC master race.

  3. Fuck it... handicap everyone by GrumpySteen · · Score: 3, Funny

    Mandate QWOP style controls for all players on all platforms.