Analog WASD Gaming Keyboard

[ColPaint]

I didn't think to post this here until now.

From the video description:

Ben modifies a keyboard so the WASD keys provide the same analog control of an Xbox controller. Ben takes apart a standard keyboard to install magnets, Hall effect sensors, and a modified Xbox controller to create a better gaming keyboard.

I think it's a neat idea though I'm not sure about typing on it.
From the looks of it the keyboard he used was a Thermaltake MEKA G1.

[khaangaaroo]

siiiick

[nullstring]

Wow. what a great idea.

[Sifo]

What a ****ing terrible idea.

[FoxWolf1]

Of course, for almost any game which is designed as a PC game rather than a console game (and thus doesn't have analog joystick control support), this will do nothing.

 Still, for people who are hardcore about playing games that do have joystick support but who prefer using the keyboard (or just don't want to bother having a controller, since it's yet another thing), I guess there could be a reason to go for a keyboard with this system.

[Chris_F]

Of course, for almost any game which is designed as a PC game rather than a console game (and thus doesn't have analog joystick control support), this will do nothing.

I imagine that to only be true for a small number of games. Most AAA games are developed for consoles and ported to PC, or at the very least developed for both platforms simultaneously. There are relatively few PC only titles, and some of them have support for controllers anyway.

[vun]

Of course, for almost any game which is designed as a PC game rather than a console game (and thus doesn't have analog joystick control support), this will do nothing.

I imagine that to only be true for a small number of games. Most AAA games are developed for consoles and ported to PC, or at the very least developed for both platforms simultaneously. There are relatively few PC only titles, and some of them have support for controllers anyway.

I'll say what I said on DT about this; for the games where this is actually useful you'll most likely be better off just using the Xbox controller. For games that support XInput where a keyboard and mouse is equal or better than the controller this will have no use whatsoever. Let's take his example, L4D; never have I thought "Oh, I'd like to walk slightly slower a bit" and the only games I can see this would be of any use are GTA 4 and Saint's Row: The Third when you're driving. Some might say it's useful for driving games in general, but what the hell are they doing playing driving games with a keyboard in the first place?

I still like the video and it's still a cool mod, but mostly because "why the hell not?"

[Alessandro]

A cool little project, but I feel he would have just had a similar effect using the Cherry Blacks on the keyboard anyway...

[longweight]

Interesting but pointless.

[vun]

A cool little project, but I feel he would have just had a similar effect using the Cherry Blacks on the keyboard anyway...

Umm... No? The whole point was not the feel of the switches, and while the experience, at least in L4D, will be mostly the same, the whole point of the mod was to make a keyboard where the input corresponded with the pressure applied to the key, similar to the sticks on the controller. That's what I like about the mod, it's mostly just for the challenge, not for the usefulness of it.

[jspark]

it is just for nothing.

[wetto]

Look at the reaction he did when he first noticed the difference between mechanical and membrane keyboards... 

[Appeac]

A cool little project, but I feel he would have just had a similar effect using the Cherry Blacks on the keyboard anyway...

Umm... No? The whole point was not the feel of the switches, and while the experience, at least in L4D, will be mostly the same, the whole point of the mod was to make a keyboard where the input corresponded with the pressure applied to the key, similar to the sticks on the controller. That's what I like about the mod, it's mostly just for the challenge, not for the usefulness of it.

Right on!

As a huge Ben Heck fan, I did not expect this reaction from Geekhack. Hack is even in its name, you'd think they'd be more excited about cool DIY things.

[nullstring]

I'll say what I said on DT about this; for the games where this is actually useful you'll most likely be better off just using the Xbox controller. For games that support XInput where a keyboard and mouse is equal or better than the controller this will have no use whatsoever. Let's take his example, L4D; never have I thought "Oh, I'd like to walk slightly slower a bit" and the only games I can see this would be of any use are GTA 4 and Saint's Row: The Third when you're driving. Some might say it's useful for driving games in general, but what the hell are they doing playing driving games with a keyboard in the first place?

I still like the video and it's still a cool mod, but mostly because "why the hell not?"

Any shooter that also has vehicles could make good use of this... Whether it really matters.. probably not. (The example I'm thinking of is Halo)
Either case, it seems like people would buy this if someone made it.

[Hyde]

Look at the reaction he did when he first noticed the difference between mechanical and membrane keyboards... 

LOL I know I wonder if he dropped $150 (Tiger Direct Price) on ThermalTake MEKA G1 without knowing it's mechanical.  Though he probably know because I don't think this mod is possible on rubber dome, maybe he's just surprised at the plate mount.