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Smartjoy Frag

Posted: 2005-06-12 02:32am
by Alyeska
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.

Posted: 2005-06-12 03:57am
by Mr Bean
Pics or a link?

Posted: 2005-06-12 07:00pm
by Stark
Aly, does it come with a method of mapping mouse/key to controller functions? Many Xbox games dont' have very flexible button arrangements.

Posted: 2005-06-12 07:36pm
by Alyeska
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.

Posted: 2005-06-12 07:37pm
by Alyeska
Mr Bean wrote:Pics or a link?
Ask and you shall recieve

Posted: 2005-06-13 02:33am
by Cal Wright
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.

Posted: 2005-06-13 02:44am
by Alyeska
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.

Posted: 2005-06-13 02:52am
by Praxis
Aiming isn't always necessary. Metroid Prime ends up being an insanely great game despite the fact that it has auto-aim and locking on.

But that's why I don't have an XBox. Most of the XBox lineup are FPS (which I will not play without a mouse), racing and sports (which I hate).

Posted: 2005-06-13 02:55am
by Alyeska
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.

Posted: 2005-06-13 06:38am
by Stark
MP isn't based on shooting like FPSs are: it's still a platform game at heart. Autotargetting like that in a 'proper' FPS would just remove all the skill.

I'm kinda surprised the higher difficulties dont' have less autoaim.