I love our intense internal discussions here at the office. Our current dilemma: Is this a keyboard or a gaming controller?

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dave January 31, 2011

I love our intense internal discussions here at the office. Our current dilemma: Is this a keyboard or a gaming controller?

We're having a discussion about these sorts of keyboards (and even mice) that are specifically for a certain gaming console. Should they technically go under our peripherals > keyboard / mice categories, or should they go under gaming > controllers?

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JasonTsay 2011-01-31 18:50:19

It's a keyboard that can be specifically used with that gaming console so it's a keyboard.

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peterto 2011-01-31 18:53:06

It's a gaming controller that happens to be a keyboard. No one interested in buying a keyboard for a PC/Mac will buy a keyboard made for a console. It's a controller of a different form factor. It should go under controllers.

dave 2011-01-31 18:53:34

Yeah, I'm mixed. I added this (and other similar devices) under peripherals > keyboards. However, we have this categorized as a remote on gdgt (which technically, it is): gdgt.com/lenovo/multimedia-remote-with-keyboard/sp...

JasonTsay 2011-01-31 18:55:49

True, but it also isn't a gaming controller as it can't duplicate the DS's buttons and can only be used to input text into the device, defined as a keyboard.

JasonTsay 2011-01-31 18:57:15

If the product is called "Remote with keyboard," it's probably dominantly the remote part of the name. Also notable that a standard keyboard is included with the Lenovo computer and this is only a media remote used as a side controller.

peterto 2011-01-31 18:57:46

That's besides that point. Can the kinect duplicate all functions of the Xbox 360 controller? How about Rock Band instruments? Or a dance pad? None of them can, but they're still controllers just more limited in scope.

JasonTsay 2011-01-31 19:00:14

But they can be used to control the game solely. This product can't control Pokemon.

kris 2011-01-31 19:08:03

By this do you mean that the keyboard cannot be used to control a regular Pokemon RPG?

JasonTsay 2011-01-31 19:10:09

To the best of my knowledge (I actually don't know much about this product at all), this product is only used to input text for Pokemon games. If it does anything more than that and actually controls a part of the game, then I would classify it as a game controller.

ryan 2011-01-31 19:57:32

Hey, a gaming mouse is still a mouse. So a gaming keyboard is still a keyboard.

kris 2011-02-01 00:05:36

For reference's sake, a few more of the products in this grey area:

gdgt.com/nintendo/snes/mouse/
gdgt.com/sega/genesis/mega-mouse/
gdgt.com/sega/dreamcast/mouse/
gdgt.com/sega/dreamcast/keyboard/
gdgt.com/microsoft/xbox/360/chatpad/

Are we categorizing based on what the gadgets do, or what they interact with? These products are designed for use with a particular console, but what they do isn't always necessarily "gaming." The SNES mouse is designed for use with Mario Paint, which is more of a drawing program (that does, admittedly have a few mini-games). Meanwhile, some mice in the mice category are specifically designated as "gaming" mice. If they're essentially designed to control games, then it could be argued that they too, may be designated as gaming controllers instead of under peripherals.

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JasonTsay 2011-02-01 00:38:08

Just because a product is made for a specific gaming console doesn't mean it is no longer a "mouse" or "keyboard," as Ryan points out.

However, in the case of Mario Paint, the SNES mouse would be a game controller, since it is literally used to control the game.

The Xbox 360 chatpad, on the other hand, is an accessory for a game controller, and more specifically a keyboard. I believe if you hook up your 360 controller to a computer, the chatpad can be used as a keyboard.

Otherwise, as stated, keyboards/any variation of a keyboard are mainly used for inputting text and thus don't really count as a game "controller" unless the game is controlled only by inputting text.

kris 2011-02-01 01:09:29

I believe I just pointed out that Mario Paint isn't really a game, it's a drawing program. (With yes, mini-games, but lots of things have mini-games and we don't call them gaming devices.)

Lancer409 2011-02-01 02:05:39

I agree with Obamanizer. That being said, is it possible to have it fall under both categories (as in, tag the item for both such that if you browse controller or keyboard it will still show up).

dave 2011-02-01 14:30:07

It isn't possible since the category tags are directly responsible for what product specifications are displayed for a particular gadget.

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