Eagle-Eye Converter to upset balance in FPS online multiplayer modes?
Videogame peripheral and accessory manufacturer Penguin United has recently produced a wondrous piece of kit called the Eagle-Eye Converter, which gives PlayStation 3 owners the option to use a standard USB keyboard and mouse instead of a controller. As you might expect, Los Angeles’ E3 Expo will be the platform for its official launch, with an SRP of $59.99.
Penguin United’s President Richard Huang believes that one of the drawbacks with first-person shooters specifically is the lack of speed and precision offered by Sony’s SixAxis and DualShock 3. As reported by PS3 Center:
“The Eagle-Eye Converter provides a customized key mapping feature for all PS3 controller buttons that seamlessly transfers the command data to your keyboard and mouse. Now first-person shooter games like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, Killzone and BioShock can be played with greater dexterity, speed and accuracy than with a standard controller.”
In all honesty, it’s a brilliant concept. An immediate benefit that springs to mind is that PC gamers can finally enjoy console gaming without having to get to grips with finicky and disorienting handsets which, to us, feel natural and intuitive.
However, I foresee an uprising as far as balance in FPS online multiplayer modes is concerned. Permit me to explain why.
Problem #1:
The Eagle-Eye features a turbo option for X, Triangle, Square, Circle, L1, L2, R1 and R2 buttons.
Why this is a problem:
Two words: rapid fire. Look forward to all handguns on Modern Warfare 2 emptying clips faster than the Tar-21, and all shotguns offloading like the AA-12.
Problem #2:
The Eagle-Eye incorporates programmable Macro functions to turn any single key into a combination of moves.
Why this is a problem:
The ‘clever’ gamer will no doubt exploit this feature to perform sequences at the press of a button, such as prone / reload / stand or crouch / aim / shoot, for example.
Problem #3:
A mouse is far more sensitive (and precise) than an analogue stick.
Why this is a problem:
Eagle-Eye owners will have the ability to spin on a penny and blast us in the chin before we’ve unleashed a second burst of Famas fire.
Feel free to disagree with me, but in my opinion this contraption – innovative though it is – will put gamers without one at a huge disadvantage when facing those with one. To quote the product’s advertising slogan, “ownage never comes easier”. Great, if you're the one doing the owning...
At time of writing, there is no evidence to suggest that this product will be available outside of the United States. Unless some sort of functionality restriction is incorporated to prevent the use of turbo and Marcos features online, Kill/Death ratios everywhere else are about to take a serious hit. Mark my words.
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Comments
This is a brilliant idea for years i have been wanting to use a keyboard and mouse with my play station, I find it impossible to use the controller, its a shame play station, did not do this first. Playing FPS with out a mouse is just crazy!!!!!
It has all ways been this way, especially if like me you have been brought up on PC gaming. And lets be honest, its only this last few years since PS3 and 360 came out that gaming has got to the stage where games like this have got good enough to spend the time on..
Well done Eagle eye...Its been a long time coming..
The hell do you mean "skill level of PC gamers exceeds those of console", if a PC gamer used to the mouse plays a FPS game on console with controller he will get his ass kicked and vice versa. In fact FPS games tend to be way easier multiplayer on PC, any idiot can point and click my W/L and KDR were way higher on the PC version last BF3 beta.
I started prefering console shooters a few years back because everyone was at the same level hardware wise but these peripherals mess up that balance, no shit that a mouse is more accurate than a controller but that doesn't really matter if everyone is using the controller which is not the case anymore.
Guess some people need to have an advantage over others to "PWN". Just stick to your PCs and let the consoles have a level playing field.
If playing with EALG-eye is cheating. Playing in GT5 wheel is also ....
Car games must be played with the steering wheel also FPS mouse ..
I heard The Eagl-eye is perfect for seeing threw girls
clothing , I guess that's a little cheating if don't
just take them off !
EXCELLANT POINT I COULD NOT HAVE SAID IT ANY BETTER.
I REFUSED TO EVEN TRY TO PUT IN THE TIME TO LEARN USING MY THUMB FOR RS ANOLOG MOVEMENTS,IT SEEMS VERY CLUMSY TO ME.
WHAT AN OUTSTANDING PIECE OF EQUIPMENT (EEC). NOW ALLS I HAVE TO DO IS WORK OUT SOME KINKS AND THEN I CAN BEGIN ENJOYING SOME (OWNAGE).
Se jogar com ealge-eye e batota. Jogar com volante no GT5 também é....
Jogos de carros deve ser jogado com volante igualmente os FPS de rato...
Try telling this to my friend who plays Killzone 3 with a controller who, nine times out of ten, finishes in first place.
Does this guy shine shoes for The Mafia ?
اطير مثل البط و انزل على طيزك غط
FUCK ALL OF YOU. ASSHOLES
As long as anybody can buy it and as long as it is not an exploit of some bug, I do not see why this device would be cheating. It isn't so that you have to build it yourself, no just buy one and start using it!
I just can't get used to the DS3 with FPS games. This EEC (or any other emulating device say the Fns/Aimon) is perfect for me. I do not want to "own" in multiplayer, I just want to play it without the frustration of getting used to the DS3... And there are DS3 users who still own my EEC ass online, so what's the fuzz all about?
Hello.
I understand the critic that is mentioned in the earlier mosts: The eagel eye shurely gives an advantage to a user in multiplayer games. But this controller converter should not generally be banned for this.
I never play multiplayer games but I am a passionate fan for first person shooter in singleplayer mode. For this I am going to buy an eagle eye converter and I am looking forward to enjoy my favorite shooter games on the PS3 more than ever before.
Funny that all those fanboy kids who stated that controller is superior to mouse/keybaord now cry like little babys about this,get one yourself or shut the fuck up !
Amen brother
I have never, in my life, played PC games before, but I did knew that FPS was just not meant to be played with a controller, especially with those uncomfortable, DS3 controllers.
Turbo features may be of concern, but it's not going to upset the balance of the game unless the games' developers decides to had a hole bunch of "Single fire" weapons. The Macro feature, well who knows?
I hope that this product will be good. I will be on the lookout for reviews and game plays from this product. xD
Does anyone know when this comes out?
@ Beto:
I think the problems are listed in order of priority - ie the biggest concerns are turbo buttons and Macros. Mice and keyboard set-ups can be hard to play against, but it doesn't make a massive difference if you're a good enough player. And you're right, mice aren't truly 1:1 just yet, but some people can still kick ass with them.
Have you guys noticed your kdrs going down in the last year or so? If not, then this will not probably make a big difference. Three products come to mind: Bannco's Fragnstein, Splitfish's fragfx, and xim. These have been out for awhile and offer the use of mice on ps3 for FPS.
As much as these companies try, getting true 1:1 movements is just not there. You can either have fast movements with poor micromovements or slow movements with micromovements (at least on the FnS). If anything, these devices just give us PC converts a fighting chance. And yes I agree, turbo buttons should not be allowed online.
What?!?! I am now gonna say how about Creative Assembly make a game for consoles now! Total War on PS3.....that's what people should be happy about! RTS and strategy games too. The possibilities.
@ Narcowski:
Other third-party controllers do sometimes bundle-in turbo buttons and such, but this isn't revolutionary technology - they were around years before consoles went online. Plus you don't hear of many people using them in FPSs. People will use keyboards and mice in FPSs however, as you say, and you can do much more with a programmable product like Eagle-Eye than you can with any preset third-party gismo. And we commoners don't play tournaments, so it's not as if we can 'ban' people using it in their own homes.
As primarily a PC gamer, I completely agree that this will be an advantage for those who have it. That said, arcade sticks provide similar advantages over pad to fighting game players, and besides - FPSes were designed to be played with a mouse. Do I like the fact that the company is including macros and turbo-fire? No, but both are available on third party gamepads as well. Tournaments simply ban their use.
Good points made here. OMG, could you imagine Eagle Eye owners using the Killdot as well? Honest gamers don't standard a chance!
This device could ruin online multiplayer for everyone. I'm totally going to give up on FPSs if things pan out like you predict.
Thanks for your comments Rios...
Believe it or not, I used to be a PC gamer. I was legendary at Quake and Unreal Tournament back in the day, so I'm no stranger to the benefits of a mouse and keyboard arrangement. This is exactly why I'm concerned for gamers who won't have this bit of kit. 'Ownage' will come easy to Eagle-Eye users, leaving us Dualshockers less than happy - not to mention very dead.
I'm not overly techy, so I've no idea if this converter can be programmed to disable certain functionality during online play. What I do know is you're right; this is more of a cheat than an accessory. It's worse than the Killdot.
Keep commenting friend.
Hey been a long time follower of this site yet have never got round to replying on any of the articles, however this one caught my eye.
I agree with you Craig 100% about how not having one of these could in the long run turn out to be a disadvantage if everyone and their dog starts using them.
I mean for example, i had been an avid pc gamer for over 14 years up until last year, when i sold my pc gaming setup and switched over to consoles, and heres why i made the switch.
I found there was so many different factors on the PC that in the end ended up more important that an individuals skill as a gamer, these differences would come in different forms, but ultimately came down to "hardware/peripherals". Having a better graphics card, processor, mouse, keyboard with macro capability etc etc, not to mention the tweaks that can be done with some games code to make things run smoother/faster, need is say "Counter-Strike:Source" In the end you could take two equally skilled players with different setups and the one with the more expensive toys so to speak would always come out on top.
So with the above in mind i chose to move over to the console, where the bar is set at the same level for everyone, sure it took me awhile to get used to the controller, but hey everyone else is using one so it only took me time to get used to it. The system itself is the same for everyone etc etc.
Now don't get me wrong i like the idea of something like the "Eagle-Eye" as i would love to return to a keyboard and mouse combo, but at the same time when something gives you an unfair advantage it turns more into a cheat than a nice accessory.
Ps3 and Xbox 360 need a standardised mouse and keyboard sold and manufactured by sony and microsoft, im sorry but your all using the wrong tool for the job, you effectively trying to cut glass with a hammer.
I'm all for having EVERYONE own one of these devices, it would mean a huge advance in playing and remove aim assist (in the PC world we call that a cheat, it gets you banned from every game). It would also mean a huge influx of PC players selling thier PC's, you fucking console gamers are lucky, when you buy a game you can return it, sell it or trade it in, once we buy a game and it ends up to suck ballz were stuck with it, we cant sell it, we cant trade because the CD key is used (CDkey is for software anti piracy and cheat banning) its also linked to an online account that it cant be removed from.
Ther pc community is sick of being sold shit games we cant get rid of and would all perform a mass exodus if we could all mouse and keyboard on the console of our choosing.
I agree.
Also, the skill level of PC FPS gamers far exceeds those of the console format. It is no wonder the console gamers are trembling in a pile of their own excrement as this new technology will allow PC gamers to set the bar even higher rendering the now claimed top players of the console world as wall bumping noobs.
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