XIM 3 REVIEW

Posted by Chris Meadows on March 27, 2011 in Gaming · View Comments

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The input methods between the Xbox 360 and the PC are very different, with the former using a controller and the latter being the mouse and keyboard. The PC peripherals are far better than a controller when it comes to precision, which is the main basis for skill in first person shooters (FPS games). This XIM3 review will cover the functions of the peripheral, which aims to bring the precision and flexibility of PC gaming to the Xbox 360 console.

xim3 review

The Precision of PC Gaming on a Console

The mouse is the most powerful peripheral an FPS player could dream of, and for years the PC market was the only one privy to the freedom it provides. The mouse offers 1 to 1 movement and aim precision, while console controller analog sticks have a dead-zone and do not offer much in the way of precision. The XIM3 connects to the Xbox 360 to allow the player to replace the controller with the more functional mouse and keyboard combination.

XIM3 Deals

PC Gamepads Also Apply

Not only does the XIM3 allow mouse and keyboard support as if it were native on the console, but also allows players to use their preferred PC gamepads. The precision of a mouse is always nice, but some players far prefer to use their favorite controllers no matter what system they are using. Many quality PC controllers are more functional than the standard 360 controller, making this something of note in any XIM3 review.

Getting Over the Hurdle of Translation

What is especially impressive is the XIM3′s “Smart Translators”, which are created on a per-game basis to effectively translate the mouse and keyboard inputs into a language that the Xbox 360 understands as the controller. Each first person shooter has a different feel, and that feel is a vital part to the game; XIM3′s Smart Translators aim to carry that feel over from the traditional controller input method to the player’s chosen peripherals.

Real-Time Feedback

Hardcore FPS players need to know that they are getting exact input, and the XIM3′s colorful LCD screen gives just that. The screen offers an easy set up for each peripheral, and constantly displays what is being pressed and how it is being translated to the console. Though the device itself is impressive enough, the LCD screen and the functions it provides are the gem of this XIM3 review because it makes it easy for even the least savvy tech user to quickly and accurately set up their preferred peripherals.

Controversy Behind The XIM3

No XIM3 review would be complete without mentioning the controversial buzz around the device. Xbox LIVE is constantly looking for unfair advantages that players may have and consequently banning them from playing online. While the XIM2 was under heavy scrutiny from Microsoft and players alike, it flew under the ban radar on Xbox LIVE. XIM3 will likely not be banned from online play either, but players without the device are unhappier than ever with the advantage that it gives users.

XIM3 Features

3 USB ports for peripherals
Xbox 360 headset support
Precise mouse movement in-game
Colorful LCD screen
Smart Translator technology
Upgradeable firmware

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While you did mention Smart Translators, it wasn’t quite in the capacity of their function. All mouse and keyboard adapters on consoles translate input in to that of a gamepad based on various parameters. How large is the deadzone, how does movement between the X and Y axis correlate to one another, how much of an increase or decrease to speed is added on to diagonal movements, etc. The variations of sensitivity over the entire axis of the joystick coupled with look acceleration created an inconsistent scaling of movement, on both gamepads and the mice emulating them. This is where Smart Translators come in to play.

Smart Translators are built by having a computer play a game while analyzing how the look mechanic reacts in order to completely map the deadzone used with the joystick and to create a translation profile that allows a 1:1 translation of mouse movement to turning, up to the maximum turn speed allowed by the game. In use, the translator constantly and automatically adjusts how the signal of the mouse is translated, creating a smooth, linear scaling of turn speed. This way, moving the mouse at 3 inch/second will be always be three times faster than moving the mouse at 1 inch/second. The translator skipping exactly over the deadzone also ensures that no mouse movement will be too small to trigger a response, and the smallest, most minute movements capable with the game are still accessible and not skipped over themselves. This not only makes mouse behavior as consistent as when natively supported on the PC platform, but by extension aids the player’s development of a muscle memory when using the device.

Although the XIM3 can not bypass the limits set by the game, and therefor not turn any faster than a gamepad at maximum sensitivity, the higher quality of the hardware used and greater ergonomic design of the mouse makes shooters much less annoying to play. Where someone might never be able to go over a 3/10 sensitivity without sacrificing accuracy on a gamepad, the experienced XIMer can use a 10/10 sensitivity while maintaining an equal or higher level of precision than the average person can manage at even a 1/10 sensitivity.

XIM 3 REVIEW

XIM 3 Review