We store cookies, you can get more info from our privacy policy.
GC

North America

ASCII Keyboard Controller

by Jonathan Metts - May 24, 2002, 12:46 pm EDT
Discuss in talkback!

Now you can play PSO Episodes I & II and type on the same controller...but how well does it work?

I still don't know jack about Phantasy Star Online, but I did get to try it out with Ascii's hilarious yet intriguing GameCube/Keyboard hybrid controller. Honestly, the thing is smaller and lighter than I expected. It places your hands about nine inches apart (as opposed to maybe three with the normal controller), but I found it rather comfortable to not have my wrists turned inward like usual. The normal GameCube controller parts on either side are exactly the same as on Nintendo's first-party controller; the sticks and buttons and triggers are 100% unchanged, which is certainly a welcome change from your typical third-party products. So obviously I'm completely satisfied with the controller part of this crazy contraption...what about the keyboard? Honestly, it's tiny. The buttons are about half the size of my fingertips, meaning I can't accurately type while still looking at the screen. After a few unsuccessful tries, I resorted to looking down at the keyboard and "hunting and pecking" in order to hit the right keys, and even then I had to occasionally use Backspace to correct an error. Obviously space is limited, but I can't help but wish all the extraneous function keys and other non-character keys would just be left off. Then there would be plenty of room to make the letters and numbers bigger and actually usable.

So far I love the feel and aestetics of the keyboard controller, but the keyboard itself is just awful to use with my relatively large fingers and fingertips. Maybe kids and those with small, thin fingers will have more luck, but I can probably type faster with the control stick and on-screen keyboard than with this controller's tiny little layout.

Share + Bookmark





Genre
Developer Agetec (ASCII)

Worldwide Releases

na: ASCII Keyboard Controller
Release TBA
Got a news tip? Send it in!
Advertisement
Advertisement