Playing WoW with an Xbox 360 controller via Switchblade
by Mike Schramm 
Oct 16th 2007 at 1:29PM
We've seen WoW played with a Wii controller before, but this looks like a really serious effort to get the Xbox 360 controller compatible with our favorite MMO. A company called Blue Orb Software has released an app called Switchblade, a free download that lets you use your PC-enabled Xbox 360 controller specifically to play World of Warcraft.
Why would you want to do this? Their press release cites gamers "hooked on the console experience," and so their controller will let you play WoW console style. You can see the basic settings on their site-- it looks like the left and right triggers are used as toggles, turning the four action buttons into 12, and allowing you to use any icon on one of the action bars in WoW. Probably not quite versatile enough for running PvP, but for running daily quests and grinding, it looks just crazy enough to work.
The download is available through Xfire (and it looks like you need to download Xfire to get Switchblade), and the program should work with any wired Xbox 360 controller (if you have a wireless only, you'll have to buy an extra receiver from Microsoft). I think I've got a wired controller sitting around here somewhere, so I'll give it a try and get back to you on how it works. In the meantime, someone download it, and let us know in the comments-- is it worth installing this thing to play WoW with buttons and joysticks?
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Tricks, How-tos, Odds and ends, News items
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Genixx Oct 16th 2007 1:51PM
yuck.. imho. i'll stick with Keyboard and mouse. less hassle :)
Zumwalah Oct 16th 2007 2:02PM
does anyone else think this is the dumbest fuckin idea evar???? like how is wow possible without a mouse? imagine a tank trying to turn a boss who cleaves, using a joystick.. i smell dead rogues. or a healering trying to spot heal a raid, how do u select party members before then die? or for dps move between mobs quickly
ahahahahha imagine a shaman with this, trying to drop totems,, hed spend more time scrolling through bars then fighting, and then die... this is the worst idea evar!!!!!!
Bravo Oct 16th 2007 2:03PM
if they have support for that snap on keyboard you can add to the controller I might give this a try.. you might not be able to anything crazy like raids or pvp... but it'd be nice for leveling or grinding
Markymark Oct 16th 2007 2:17PM
Lol too much of a hassle just to freaking do a simple task. I will give them credit on their Ingenuity but WoW's more complex in terms of doing actions then to use a mere controller.
Bert Oct 16th 2007 2:18PM
I think this is a great idea. Now I can hook my PC up to my big screen TV and run some easy quests while sitting in my recliner. It's not designed to replace the keyboard while in instances or raids but this looks great for casual grinding and daily quests.
ninjasuperspy Oct 16th 2007 2:29PM
I played FFXI with a Logitech wireless PS2-style controller, and it worked nicely. I've been interested in trying something with a wireless X-box controller like this. Now, does this Switchblade thing work with the messenger kit? Can you patch a headset through it? That might make a killer app. I'll have to test this out.
fjolivo Oct 3rd 2009 3:08PM
:O how do you do it? using switchblade too? what controller is that!?
Caylee Oct 16th 2007 2:29PM
@2 About as dumb as your use of grammar and punctuation.
Delta Oct 16th 2007 2:32PM
I'd say the Wiimote idea is way more practical, because you can aim-click as well as bind a few most-used to the buttons. I'm used to D-pad on the n52, but I like having all my action bar buttons at my fingers, so personally I'll stick to my n52+mouse, with keyboard for non-combat functions.
Dotixi Oct 16th 2007 2:36PM
This is kind of neat. When I finally pick up a 360 (after Mass Effect comes out) I'll give this a try. Hope someone tries it out before then so we all get some idea about how well it works...too much speculation going on.
Try it out then flame that it's the "worst idea evar!!!!!".
Rich Oct 16th 2007 2:39PM
I've been using the 360 controller w/ Pinnacle's software for about a month now. It makes the mindless grind for mats and rep 100x easier. It took about 3 hours to get everything laid out the way I want. I wrote some grinding macros and use the keys to trigger the macros.
When I do PvP and Instances, I drop the controller and go back to the mouse and keyboard.
skeez Oct 16th 2007 4:53PM
This would be fantastic with a combination of the Xbox Messagepad + Bongos.
Jake Oct 16th 2007 5:19PM
This seems like a great idea for certain people. Using a mouse and keyboard can be much more stressful for hands during extended play. My fiance has always bugged me about a way to use a console pad instead of the keyboard and mouse because wrist issues run in her family and using a mouse for extended times hurts her hands pretty severely, but a controller doesn't bother her hands as much. Obviously it wont be great for difficult encounters, but she we can go questing just fine this way with less irritation.
CyberNigma Oct 16th 2007 5:48PM
I've been playing like this since BC came out with the WoW add-on WoW360. I just use the router part. Kitiing is extremely easy with it. The casting class might be difficult due to the number of spells, but pallies, rogues, warriors, etc are extremely easy. I don't need a million skills at once and I can use 1-8 no problem with the 4 buttons plus a shift. It probably takes a bit more skill than the keyboiard/mouse but once you learn it I think most people will enjoy it.
lirean Oct 16th 2007 6:26PM
Well, it looks like it would be fun to play with or just grind with if you're so inclined.
I wouldn't use it, but it looks fun.
fLUx Oct 16th 2007 8:07PM
Damn, I configured it all in pinnacle game profiler yesterday, took hours - and now I find out their is software to do it perfectly! opps...
Though pinnacle game profiler has some neat features, for example - if you press a button, it can keep pressing that button every X secs. Good for shaddow bolt every 3 secs. But I disabled that, as I didn't know if it was botting, seems as I tab to the mob, press the button once, and it does most of the work for me, after I have applied the DoTs. Anyone have any idea if this is agaisnt the rules or not?
But anyway, very neat, I have moved most things over to the left of the controller, and old it in my left hand, then my right hand uses the mouse. Seems to work amazingly well, and I don't see why it couldn't be used in PvP, IMO if it gives the same amount of spells in a smaller space, available to you, its all good! ;)
Prime Oct 16th 2007 9:27PM
too bad this switchblade thing doesn't work
I tired 6 times
everytime I get runtime errors
Hollywood Ron Oct 16th 2007 9:31PM
If it gives me a break on my sore hands, more power to it.
Shane Oct 16th 2007 9:48PM
OK I know this isn't related to Blizzard at all, but if this works, and really starts to work well enough (especially with the snap-on keyboard) is it possible we could see Blizzard releasing an Xbox 360 port of World of Warcraft? Talk about opening up the market!
They are pretty much there already - voice chat, snap-on keyboard & mapped buttons for the controller... I'd play WoW heaps more if I could do it on my console!
I wonder what kind of Achievements they'd do?
Regards,
Shane.
AndyF Oct 16th 2007 10:09PM
I'm going with the "why bother" opinion.
This seems like one of those things that hardcore console gamers will want. And they aren't the sort of people that will play WoW anyway.
WoW has too many bindings and often-used commands for PVE and PVP to make this at all viable other than simple questing. You'd have to be a VERY casual WoW player to want to use an xbox controller to play the game.
Wait, what am I saying? This should totally get adopted. I need to grind honour for next seasons PVP gear. I hope all the alliance on my server start using xbox controllers and thus giving me free kills! :D