My little review on the Smartjoy Frag (X-Box)
Picked this baby up this morning in the mail after having ordered it off E-Bay. So far I am pleased with it. As many reviews I’ve read on the internet, the Frag is not the same as the mouse and keyboard on a PC. Most console shooters have modified various elements of the game making a true PC style changeover not possible. For starters in Halo 2 the vertical axis moves slower then the horizontal axis. This makes aiming (especially zoomed aiming) difficult at first when your not used to that. Halo 2 also lets you ramp up your turn rate. You start slow, but build up. Even then, maximum turn rate is set and you can’t turn as fast as you want like on a PC shooter. Also, auto aiming is constantly fighting with your own aiming.
And yet with all that said, I still like using the Frag. It makes playing the game much easier and more precise for those who are comfortable with the traditional mouse/keyboard setup. I am move about with relative ease, aim with relative ease, and sniping suddenly lost its dread (sniping on a controller for me is like pulling out hair, never fun). After tweaking it a bit I am quite comfortable with the deadzone setting (that controls the level of movement you have to put into the mouse to make movements work).
I’m not a stranger to console shooters. I’ve beaten Halo 2 twice with a controller. And the mere act of switching over to the Frag has me playing through levels significantly faster and more accurately. I die a fraction of the times I do with the controller because I can get through the levels much easier.
The Frag is not the silver bullet that transforms console shooters into something the PC shooter fans are used to, but its familiar and does let you play a game normally outside your reach. I think it was a fair investment.
As for myself, I am slowly turning my X-Box into a PC of sorts. I will shortly have a VGA cable adapter that will allow me to hook up my X-Box to my computer monitor. I already have an adapter that lets me attack my keyboard to both my X-Box and computer. Soon the X-Box will merely be another gaming system sitting next to my computer.
Anyway, for just $31.98 (that included shipping) I got the Frag from a seller on E-bay and I think its well worth it. Soon I will be using X-Box Connect and going online to enjoy multi-player since now I won’t be burdened with a controller. Hope to see some of you guys on.
Smartjoy Frag
Moderator: Thanas
Smartjoy Frag
"If the facts are on your side, pound on the facts. If the law is on your side, pound on the law. If neither is on your side, pound on the table."
"The captain claimed our people violated a 4,000 year old treaty forbidding us to develop hyperspace technology. Extermination of our planet was the consequence. The subject did not survive interrogation."
"The captain claimed our people violated a 4,000 year old treaty forbidding us to develop hyperspace technology. Extermination of our planet was the consequence. The subject did not survive interrogation."
Yes, you can remap it as you see fit. It comes with 8 defaults set for various games (Halo 2 being one of them). Each pre-set can be remapped to any way you like.
My only gripe is you can't have two seperate keys do the same thing. For some games the same button does multiple actions. Like Halo 2. Reload is also the use key and get in and out of vehicles. I don't like having to hit R to get in a vehicle, but I live with it.
My only gripe is you can't have two seperate keys do the same thing. For some games the same button does multiple actions. Like Halo 2. Reload is also the use key and get in and out of vehicles. I don't like having to hit R to get in a vehicle, but I live with it.
"If the facts are on your side, pound on the facts. If the law is on your side, pound on the law. If neither is on your side, pound on the table."
"The captain claimed our people violated a 4,000 year old treaty forbidding us to develop hyperspace technology. Extermination of our planet was the consequence. The subject did not survive interrogation."
"The captain claimed our people violated a 4,000 year old treaty forbidding us to develop hyperspace technology. Extermination of our planet was the consequence. The subject did not survive interrogation."
Ask and you shall recieveMr Bean wrote:Pics or a link?
"If the facts are on your side, pound on the facts. If the law is on your side, pound on the law. If neither is on your side, pound on the table."
"The captain claimed our people violated a 4,000 year old treaty forbidding us to develop hyperspace technology. Extermination of our planet was the consequence. The subject did not survive interrogation."
"The captain claimed our people violated a 4,000 year old treaty forbidding us to develop hyperspace technology. Extermination of our planet was the consequence. The subject did not survive interrogation."
-
Cal Wright
- American Warlord
- Posts: 3995
- Joined: 2002-07-07 03:24am
- Location: Super-Class Star Destroyer 'Blight'
- Contact:
Hit me up on Live! sometime. Koulikov
I thought you were talking about a game at first, and was like wha?!? But I have read the article on that device. If it helps you out, that's great, but unless it's a perfect port over then I'll just stick to the good 'ol joystick.
On a side note, one of the things that is sorely missed from the Dreamcasts depature is its peripherals. I love Quake. I loved Quake III, and while I used a controller with my friends. When I went online, I had the mouse and keyboard, and that was a world of difference. Microsoft wanting so hard for people NOT to think of the Xbox as a mini PC would not allow any form of that kind of devices to be developed, or develop for. A shame. I'd love to drop the auto aim and give me inverted mouse look anyday.
I thought you were talking about a game at first, and was like wha?!? But I have read the article on that device. If it helps you out, that's great, but unless it's a perfect port over then I'll just stick to the good 'ol joystick.
On a side note, one of the things that is sorely missed from the Dreamcasts depature is its peripherals. I love Quake. I loved Quake III, and while I used a controller with my friends. When I went online, I had the mouse and keyboard, and that was a world of difference. Microsoft wanting so hard for people NOT to think of the Xbox as a mini PC would not allow any form of that kind of devices to be developed, or develop for. A shame. I'd love to drop the auto aim and give me inverted mouse look anyday.
Were you born with out a sense of humor or did you lose it in a tragic whoppy cushion accident? -Stormbringer
"We are well and truly forked." -Mace Windu Shatterpoint
"Either way KJA is now Dune's problem. Why can't he stop tormenting me and start writting fucking Star Trek books." -Lord Pounder
The Dark Guard Fleet
Post 1500 acheived on Thu Jan 23, 2003 at 2:48 am
If I could disable the controller oriented features in Halo 2, I would do so in a heart beat. The Smartjoy can allow for a perfect port, it depends entirely on the game. You can tweak sensitivy just by playing with the deadzone. The auto-aim and the different vertical axis movement are the two issues that hit when you try playing Halo 2 with a mouse and keyboard. You can get used to them, but its still going to limit you because it jerks you around. Nothing beats precision when it comes to a mouse and the proper sensitivity. A controller and auto-aim built in is just acknowledging inferior aim with the controller.
"If the facts are on your side, pound on the facts. If the law is on your side, pound on the law. If neither is on your side, pound on the table."
"The captain claimed our people violated a 4,000 year old treaty forbidding us to develop hyperspace technology. Extermination of our planet was the consequence. The subject did not survive interrogation."
"The captain claimed our people violated a 4,000 year old treaty forbidding us to develop hyperspace technology. Extermination of our planet was the consequence. The subject did not survive interrogation."
I prefer aiming for myself. When auto aiming and lock-on occur it throws me off because it suddenly places me on the target and I move off of it because I wasn't ready.
"If the facts are on your side, pound on the facts. If the law is on your side, pound on the law. If neither is on your side, pound on the table."
"The captain claimed our people violated a 4,000 year old treaty forbidding us to develop hyperspace technology. Extermination of our planet was the consequence. The subject did not survive interrogation."
"The captain claimed our people violated a 4,000 year old treaty forbidding us to develop hyperspace technology. Extermination of our planet was the consequence. The subject did not survive interrogation."