Keyboard and gamepad's unholy love child

by Christopher Grant { Jan 9th 2006 at 2:15PM }

This is the AlphaGrip model AG-5 "3d keyboard and trackball." They describe it, rather accurately, as having "the look and feel of a game controller on steroids." That's where the accurate statements end. Now for the hyperbole! They describe its gaming functionality as "Ten Finger Control" which "greatly enhances your ability to generate any action... If you are currently using your two thumbs and two index fingers to play games, adding the use of six fingers will more than double your capabilities." Really? Because it sounds to me like that would be beyond confusing.

While some have decried the increasing complexity of video games, others are trying to simplify the experience. I'm all for adapting the functionality of video game controllers into all sorts of things; if my car had a Dual Shock hooked up to it, my driving would improve tenfold, but let's call a duck a duck. About the only thing I can see this being good for is text entry in console games, though I think the Phantom lapboard has more of a chance succeeding in that endeavor.

Read on for more pictures and descriptions of all the functions.

[Thanks, [.sm0ke.]]

You know... simple.

"Ten finger control for high speed gaming"? What's high speed gaming and why do you need to use ten fingers to do it?

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

DG @ Jan 9th 2006 2:23PM

That hurts my head just thinking about it. It also reminds me of the Atari Jaguar controller. What a joke that was.

ck @ Jan 9th 2006 2:28PM

So I'm guessing the learning curve to type those 50 words a minute has to be around the 10 year time span? And forget about gaming - where's the joystick? How much does this cost? Why are people crazy?

triscuit @ Jan 9th 2006 2:37PM

And I thought learning how to type on a regular keyboard was hard (at first) and annoying. This almost makes me want to give up on gaming altogether if this is where it's headed. Almost.

mofomojo @ Jan 9th 2006 3:23PM

Jesus fucking christ?! That is definitely an un-holy love child. I mean, there is no opinion or bias when I say this : "That controller looks comically confusing!"

jonboy @ Jan 9th 2006 3:24PM

Might as well sit back and relax, gamers! Every back alley factory from AtoZ who makes little plastic sex toys is gonna be popping out one of these nightmares. These 90 day wonders are all in a mad scramble to get on the "next gen" bandwagon and they all want a slice of the jingo. What puzzles me is why are they trying to re-invent the wheel? The existing controllers-GC,360,PS2,etc. are already superb-leave them alone!

Nushio @ Jan 9th 2006 3:29PM

At first I thought the idea was nice.

Then I reconsidered when I thought of adapting.

Finally I saw this: http://alphagrips.com/typingdemo.html

If you manage to get past the learning curve... It is amazing!

Rameen @ Jan 9th 2006 4:38PM

Well, I can find one use to this:

PC games that don't support gamepads (emulators, old dos games) could actually benefit from this I suppose

Raymond @ Jan 9th 2006 5:14PM

... WTF?

ok, I rolled my eyes when I heard that Nintendo was worried about games getting too complex, but now I see what they were worried about. If someone made me play a game with THAT I would just cry and suck my thumb.

King @ Jan 9th 2006 5:21PM

It looks like it could be good to use for the 360 for text chat in games.

Kajex @ Jan 9th 2006 7:40PM

Ugh... bad enough for this thing to look clunky, gaudy, and overly complex, but it's a freakin' trackball. Trackballs are... bleagh...

Cyberblade @ Jan 9th 2006 7:42PM

Still gotta be better then the PSP's pitiful on screen keyboard. I love my PSP and all, but god that onscreen keyboard is just bad.

Fight or flight @ Jan 9th 2006 10:54PM

It costs $99 (a pre-order special or some such)! I think its a nice idea and would make the whole MMO on TV thing feel much more natural. But for god's sake, make it wireless!

I can imagine this could make its way into offices (Google's or something) - that will be f't up. Everyone will look like they are playing with themselves under the table.

I'd try it if it was $40 and/or wireless.

Rare Hare @ Jan 9th 2006 11:22PM

what the fuck?! jesus christ, that's the most ridiculous thing resembling a game controller that i've EVER seen.

i could almost see playing Diablo II with that thing.. ALMOST. but not quite. i think it would just dampen the experience.

and imagine actually trying to type with that thing..

Frank The Commish @ Jan 10th 2006 3:45AM

Ever hear of a keyboard and mouse? For the top twitch FPS games no controller is going to beat it. It uses six or seven finger control plus axis control with the mouse. They don't get confused, they just execute moves that nobody holding a control pad can execute.

Gamers don't all use contral pads.

vidGuy @ Jan 10th 2006 10:15AM

I love how they have it in a timeline with such things as a chisel and stone and the quill pen as the next standard, as if it would become so wide spread as to replace the keyboard, or even the "thumb keyboard" it proposes to replace.

Petromyzon @ Jan 10th 2006 4:01PM

You know, as confusing as this looks I've been dying to see a gamepad with a trackball on it. If anyone knows of another I'd like to see it but you just can't play pc fps games with a game pad unless it's made for a console. You need a mouse or trackball for the pc and this one has it. I'd love to give it a try.

matt whittall @ Jan 30th 2006 12:22PM

this thing
will never be sold in large quantities

its destined to die in obscurity, disowned and forgotten, damned to hell for all eternity. torturing souls and such. seek salvation, for this is your fate.