If you’re unsatisfied in using regular console gamepads for FPSes like me, then you’d probably be happy with this news: SplitFish, maker of the FragFX PS3 controller, made a deal with Living Picture AG for the worldwide distribution of SplitFish’s FX line of console game controllers.

How does this deal affect gamers like us?

Simple. If you’ve been trying to get your hands on FragFX for months but can’t seem to because it’s always out of stock, then maybe this turn of events could change all that.

According to the provided press release, the deal will allow SplitFish access to Living Picture’s distribution network and provide financial and additional sales resources to increase the SplitFish production capacity.

As you know, FragFX has a current backlog of orders in Europe and North America.

Unconvinced how useful these controllers are? Then know this: To promote its device, SplitFish sent an employee to play Call of Duty 4’s online multiplayer using the controller. Interestingly, the guy earned top spot in the global leaderboards.

Of course, if you’re terrible in PC FPS, then no special controller could ever help you.

Image of FragFX is courtesy of SplitFish.

Post from: EveryJoe

Having trouble getting a FragFX? This deal might help

I’m terrible at shooters when using two analog sticks. This is why I resort to using the FragFX, a special PlayStation 3 controller that lets me play console FPSes with mouse-like precision. In theory, it’s supposed to be great. Application however, is another story.

My FragFX never really gave me that PC shooter feel. Granted that it could never really replace a mouse and keyboard, but the controls have generally been iffy. When I press R1 to fire, the action for the triangle button is inexplicably activated as well–even if my thumb was nowhere close to it.

This was when I decided to look to firmware upgrades for answers.

According to the FragFX site, the latest downloadable upgrade is said to address the problem of other buttons “bleeding” into each other. The download was over in no time, but the upgrade process was quite a head scratcher.

The readme instructed that the upgrade files should be decompressed into a folder with a specific name. Fine. It also says that the original FragFX driver should be deleted, and that I should use the one included in the download. Let me tell you—it’s not as simple as it sounds.

When all the hairy stuff was done, I plugged in the controller and ran the upgrade program. Inexplicably, an error popped up and it persisted even if I’ve checked the connections several times. I unplugged the FragFX and tried again. Still no dice.

I went back to the readme for options and here’s what I gleaned: either I contact SplitFish support, or I try upgrading the firmware in another PC.

I was in no mood to email support and list down the system specifications of my PC, including the brand of each part. Luckily, my brother has a rig of his own so I tried upgrading it there. For some strange reason, the upgrade worked in another PC but not in mine. When I tried out the controller, the “bleeding” is gone. For the first time, playing console shooters feel more PC-like without the annoying button malfunction.

Watch out Call of Duty 4, here I come.

Image of FragFX is courtesy of SplitFish.

Post from: EveryJoe

FragFX firmware is a pain to update

Using the FragFX on shooters is great. It gives the player PC-like controls and provide pinpoint accuracy when shooting. Given its benefits, I’ve decided to try playing Grand Theft Auto IV using the FragFX. What could go wrong? GTA IV requires a lot of shooting, so the optimist in me was stoked.

Let me tell you, it was terrible.

Despite my strong affinity to the PC and keyboard controls, I was appalled how the FragFX handled in GTA IV. To begin with, it’s tough to shoot using the default settings. Pressing R2 was an exercise in frustration because of the inexplicably sluggish response.

Strangely, the response of the R2 button varies in every game. For instance, the reaction is rather quick in Resistance: Fall of Man, Call of Duty 4, and The Darkness, but was a struggle in Kane & Lynch (in addition to GTA IV).

Here’s another FragFX problem in GTA IV: It’s tough to find the sweet spot for camera movement. It’s either too sensitive or too slow. See, you need the speed to look around, but you need to turn down the sensitivity when you start shooting. Sure, there’s a knob for on-the-fly changes to target sensitivity, but to adjust it, you need to pry your eyes away from the screen, which is a complete no-no.

The Frag button isn’t helpful either because the targeting cursor becomes too slow, and it’s not like you’ll need to use the sniper rifle in every gunfight.

Now combine all those problems and start driving vehicles.

FragFX is a great piece of equipment, but it clearly isn’t designed for this sort of game. What I do want to use when playing GTA IV is the DualShock 3 controller, which comes with rumble. I hope to feel the vibration when shooting the denizens of Liberty City in the face.

Image of Grand Theft Auto IV is courtesy of Rockstar Games.

Post from: EveryJoe

GTA IV and FragFX don’t mix

You must be wondering. Did I get that FragFX deal through? I sure did, but the results aren’t that immediate like some of you may be expecting. No, I didn’t wipe the floor with the controller jockeys, nor did I get a 4:1 kill ratio.

When I got the controller, I tested it out on Call of Duty 4’s online multiplayer immediately. I did manage to kill three opponents at one game (as opposed to zero in several matches), but I was struggling with the product because it has a few quirks on the outset:

• R1’s sensitivity is iffy. It doesn’t always fire if you press it.
• R3 is outright annoying. For some strange reason, pressing it would also cause your gun to fire.
• The Triangle button is perhaps the most annoying button of all. It’s placed too close to your thumb, causing it to be pressed inadvertently when R1 is also pressed. This proves to be disastrous in CoD4 because at default, Triangle causes weapons to be changed.

There’s also the mouse’s overall sensitivity. When tuned all the way up, the crosshairs skip by a couple of inches or so. If you turn down the sensitivity, you have to move your mouse in bigger strokes. This makes targeting very difficult.

I ditched CoD4 for the moment and started playing Resistance: Fall of Man instead. I’ve breezed through the early levels and didn’t have to choose Easy like I always do when stuck with the Sixaxis. I chose Normal, and it’s been easy. At least until those buttons start acting up.

So yes, I did improve ever so slightly and this is better than nothing. Rome, after all, wasn’t built in a day.

Image for Resistance: Fall of Man is courtesy of SCEI.

Post from: EveryJoe

FragFX first impressions

Since I’ve first heard of the FragFX, I’ve been frequenting Play-Asia to see if the FPS controller is available. Not that I’m willing to part with that much money before June 12–I was also hoping against hope that there would be a price drop for the FragFX.

No such luck. The controller is still unavailable and it’s still expensive as hell, thanks to the courier fee.

At least until I joined PinoyPSX, an online forum for Filipino PlayStation owners. One of the regulars there heard about my plight in Call of Duty 4’s multiplayer, and it just so happened that he needed some quick cash. The result was a deal made in fragging heaven.

Does this guarantee that I will be ruling in CoD4? Not at all. I’m sure that there are l33t fratboys out there that would make short work of me when we do meet online for some deathmatch. What this deal guarantees is that I won’t get knifed by better opponents on a daily basis. It would be weekly instead.

Image for the FragFX is courtesy of SplitFish.

Post from: EveryJoe

Personal FragFX deal is in the works

SplitFish, a maker of video game hardware, revealed that demand for its gaming peripherals has led to short supply in North America and Europe. Scratch that; the shortage can be felt in Asia, my corner of the globe.

You see, I’m crazy about the company’s new PS3 peripheral, this handy gadget called the FragFX. Maybe you’ve heard of it. Since I’m perpetual pwned in console FPS, and have always been a keyboard/mouse jockey, I’m going gaga over the thing.

For a very brief period last week, when I was still broke thanks to the recent holiday mania, the gadget was available in Play-Asia, my current favorite importer (I miss you Lik-Sang!). When payday rolled by, guess what was the first thing I checked?

It just so happened that when I looked, FragFX was sold out. That means my teammates in Warhawk will continue to hate me. SplitFish said it recently ramped up production of FragFX to meet the consumer demand, but I’ve yet to see new stock.

If you haven’t heard of FragFX, shame on you. This peripheral pretty much lets you play every PS3 shooter using a scheme very similar to the beloved keyboard/mouse combo.

Watch how awesome this gadget can be in action.

For now, I wait. Sigh.

Post from: EveryJoe

FPS doohickey for PS3 is in short supply