Hey There, Y'all!

[Memooselah]

Just discovered this site a couple of days ago and I wanted to say hi to everyone. I've been dual boxing for a really long time (since EQ1) and it's really great to find a site filled with people who actually get the fact that multi-boxing is the only fun way to play.

After reading all the info on here, I'm ready to move up to the 5-box. I did have some questions, though. I charted out the rig I'm planning on putting together. My ultimate goal is to be able to control 5 unique classes fairly easily.

http://img365.imageshack.us/img365/3374/mylayoutgr6.gif

Basically, it's a 21in for the main monitor with 5x15in satellites around it. Each of the boxes will be running in clone mode with ultramon to handle keeping the cloning at 2 different resolutions. With this arrangement I should be able to keep track of what is happening with all 5 characters simultaneously. All of the boxes will be hooked into an 8 port KVM so I can switch between them.

For controlling the 4 extra toons I had originally planned on using 4 XKeys pads. But after looking at the optimus maximus keyboard, I realized I wanted something where the buttons would update depending on which modifier keys I had depressed.

This led me to an idea I had a couple of years ago. Using small touchscreens with a VisualBasic virtual keyboard app to send keypresses to WoW. When I first thought of the idea, I wanted to use it for work (having a customizable virtual keyboard for Photoshop, 3DS Max, etc.) But I couldn't get my boss at the time to foot the bill for it.

I'll have 4 small touchscreens for controlling the individual characters and a large touchscreen on the right to send commands to all 4 extra characters simultaneously. Plus an XKeys pedal on the ground to handle modifier keys. The touchscreens will be hooked up to an extra, el cheapo graphics card which is just there for the extra desktop for the third monitor on each machine.

Anyway, here's what I'm curious about. Right now, I've got two monitors hooked up to a single graphics card on my machine. When I run WoW in fullscreen mode (not windowed mode, maximized), like every other video game it pushes any windows on the second monitor way over to the far side of the screen.

If I use a second card for my virtual keyboard app, will WoW do the same thing if I run it fullscreen? I'm just curious if it would, since it's on a seperate video card. If it does, I'll just run it in maximized windowed mode, but I'm also wondering how much that would degrade performance with something like a GeForce 8600GT.

Anyway, I probably won't have all the components assembled and the coding done until sometime October/November. But after that, I'll be lookin' for y'all on Mag!

BTW, have y'all checked out the info on Wrath of the Lich King? The death knight class looks sweet! I'm seriously thinking of setting up a Death Knight, 2 x Shadow Priest, 2 x Warlock squad when it comes out.

Laters!
-Memooselah

PS,
The 10 boxing movement video was bada**!

[Xzin]

HAHA YES!!! A DIAGRAM!!!

Ok let me go back and actually read your post :)

Wow - I love the touchscreen idea. It's novel and cloning it would make is work with little overhead.... not sure how it would scale though. Also not sure what performance implications it would have. I can't imagine they would be that high... it is a 2d app right?

I love the optimus keyboard idea. I thought about using one when they come out - but they are rather large and I find that I only use my HHK to chat and nothing else except open menus, etc. I would love a OLED Xkeys but I rarely move my keys around so the utility would be only to switch between mage and warlock spells on the fly.

As for the foot pedals. I own both X-keys and Vetras. Both are QUITE heavy. Designed to be put on the floor and pressed with several pounds of weight. Not exactly ergonomic. What I would suggest is getting the Vetra box (or just the board if you are cheap - no case though) and making your own switches. That is what I plan on doing when I need the foot pedals to 10 box with (switch between groups). Any SPST switch (check mouser.com or digikey.com) should be able to activate the pedals and press and depress the key. Also consider a rocker switch which would be either / or. Not sure how that would work though with depressing keys.... but could be of some use.

[Memooselah]

Well, actually, the virtual keyboards would be unique to each of the extra machines (ie, B,C,D,&E). So, I'd be cloning the two screens on the main graphics card which is running WoW and the virtual keyboard would be running on a third screen which is being handled by a second, el cheapo graphics card.

Another nice thing about using the virtual keyboard app is that I should be able to code in multicasting. So I could use one touchscreen to control any combination of multiple machines, or have a virtual keyboard for each extra machine, depending on the class loadout I want to do.

[Xzin]

I assumed you would "clone" them .... but yes I used the wrong terminology. You would probably just dual screen them...... I like the concept though - no scaling issues that way then.

No tactile feedback though, unless you manage to get a haptic touch screen times 4 or 5.

Which will eventually be available...

By Oct or so, Vetra should have their combo KVM / multicaster unit. Might save some $$$ that way.

[beyond-tec]

nice thread - and finally... A DIAGRAM!!! :D

can you tell me something about the hardware config of your PCs?

btw.. what is a Multicaster??

[MrLonghair]

How much are touch-screens these days? I really like the idea and I have been thinking about something like that ever since people started to use Nintendo DS touchscreens for computer input.

(That is a holy grail of a rig. I bet AlienWare would like to try selling something like that!)

[Memooselah]

Beyond-Tec: Here's what I'm planning on for the PCs. It's total overkill, but I'm planning on keeping these boxes for a while. So, I'm looking for future upgradability. Here's a breakdown of the components -

Mobo: EVGA nForce 680i SLI
Price: $195
Link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188014

Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600
Price: $300
Link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115017

Memory: Kingston HyperX 2x1GB DDR2 800
Price: $144
Link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820134012

Hard Drives: 2 x WD Caviar 500GB SATA 3.0Gb/s (for RAID 1)
Price: 2x$110
Link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136073

Video Card 1 (Main): XFX GeForce 8600GT
Price: $120
Link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150230

Video Card 2 (Touchscreen): EVGA GeForceFX 5500
Price: $50
Link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130255

Sound Card: Creative X-Fi XtremeGamer (or maybe a Fatal1ty)
Price: $81
Link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829102006

Case: CoolerMaster Cavalier 3
Price: $60
Link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119074

To answer your question, MultiCasters (I think the correct term is MultiPlexer) work kind of like KVM switches. Only, instead of allowing you to hook multiple computers up to one Monitor, Keyboard, and Mouse, they work in reverse. They allow you to connect one input device to multiple computers and one keypress is broadcast to all of the connected computers simultaneously.

MrLonghair: This is the place I've been looking at to buy the touchscreens from. They're the only ones I can find who have any screens smaller than 12".

CyberTouch: http://www.cybertouch.com/
(10.4" and 15" Orion Series)

The 10.4" Orions and the 15" Orions are $875 each.

Laters!
-The Moo

PS,
After doing some more digging last night, I'm going to take Zin's advice and use something else for the foot pedals. Right now, I'm leaning toward these (CH Products Pro Pedals):

http://www.chproducts.com/retail/pedals.html

Hook a couple of those up and I could jam out like I was playing drums at a Def Leppard show... (Kudos if you get the reference!)

[mmcookies]

have you tried any voice command interfaces?

[Xzin]

Voice chat is unreliable in its current state IMHO. At least for PvP when missing a heal is fatal.

However, it could be nice for buffing.

Makes it hard to also chat on Vent/TS tho :(

POWER WORD FORTITUDE!!! POWER WORD FORTITUDE!!! POWER WORD FORTITUDE!!! POWER WORD FORTITUDE!!!

Might get a bit annoying :)

(Not that you couldn't bind "fort" to it instead :))

[Xzin]

Do you mind sharing which software you used to make that diagram?

Mine were always hand drawn... would be neat to put them in a digital form.

[deadarcher]

Look like flash....or at least photoshop. I don't mind sharing though ;)

[MrLonghair]

MrLonghair: This is the place I've been looking at to buy the touchscreens from. They're the only ones I can find who have any screens smaller than 12".

CyberTouch: http://www.cybertouch.com/
(10.4" and 15" Orion Series)

The 10.4" Orions and the 15" Orions are $875 each.

Laters!
-The Moo

Yikes, doesn't seem like touch-screens have become cheaper over the years! Even the horrible CRT ones I've seen on a few ATMs :( once I get a Nintendo DS again I'm going to see what I can do with it - this will probably be after Warhammer Online has gone retail. Very small surface, but it should be enough for six comfortably large buttons of input at most, maybe seven if using a center key.

I thought about pedals even when I was single-boxing a hunter in WoW, could never find anything within my price range (zero budget, groan!) so my plan was to do some DIY magic and make my own with momentary-contact switches.

[Memooselah]

I used Photoshop. If you want a copy, I could possibly ftp it to you. But, it's big (something like 200MB).

Later!
-The Moo

[Xzin]

Oh ok, didnt know Photoshop had flowchart ability... I can see how you did it now though.

I was looking for a more featured one.... I know there are some out there.

As for touch screens.... Xenarc makes some good 7-8" ones for around $350. Not super high resolution but I use one in one of my cars as a touch screen for my MP3/GPS/etc box.

Their 10" ones are $600 though!

[Memooselah]

Thanks for the tip! I'll definitely check it out!

-The Moo

[Shogun]

Oh ok, didnt know Photoshop had flowchart ability... I can see how you did it now though.

I was looking for a more featured one.... I know there are some out there.

As for touch screens.... Xenarc makes some good 7-8" ones for around $350. Not super high resolution but I use one in one of my cars as a touch screen for my MP3/GPS/etc box.

Their 10" ones are $600 though!

If you need software to draw diagrams etc, go with AutoCAD or similar. Really easy to learn the basics (would take a beginer about 5mins to draw the above diagram) It's an architects program, which I use daily for work (and am using as we speak ;) )

It's also an excellent tool if you're building desks, monitor arrays, shelves etc, as you can work in 1000's of a millimeter (and metric or imperial) licenses are expensive, but for home use go grab a pirate copy...

If any one needs advice on setting it up or using it just start a thread or PM me :)

[Xzin]

I use several CAD packages for various purposes.... what I need is a DEDICATED flowchart tool... I guess I can just look it up though.....

[Shogun]

I use several CAD packages for various purposes.... what I need is a DEDICATED flowchart tool... I guess I can just look it up though.....

google ^^

http://www.smartdraw.com/specials/testcases/flashb/flowchart_n.htm?id=48898

[Picticon]

I'd suggest Visio for flowcharting. I used it years ago for some massive program flow control layouts. Microsoft bought them a few years back and I think it's now part of Office.

AutoCAD isn't really for flowcharting. (I'm program AutoCAD at work and I'm getting a kick out of these replies.) Seriously, the project I'm working for now has a small flow diagram as part of the drawing. I had to write a specialized Leader class that stays snapped to the objects it is attached to... it's not a standard part of AutoCAD.

[Shogun]

I'd suggest Visio for flowcharting. I used it years ago for some massive program flow control layouts. Microsoft bought them a few years back and I think it's now part of Office.

AutoCAD isn't really for flowcharting. (I'm program AutoCAD at work and I'm getting a kick out of these replies.) Seriously, the project I'm working for now has a small flow diagram as part of the drawing. I had to write a specialized Leader class that stays snapped to the objects it is attached to... it's not a standard part of AutoCAD.

True, Cad isn't for flowcharts, but it's excellent for diagrams and schematics/plans etc. Which was the point of my post in a roundabout way ^^

[MrLonghair]

I just saw a chassi-less (raw panel with all cabling, right from the factory, ready to plug in and use) 3M MicroTouch 17" for 1000 SEK ($145 US approx) on auction in the national eBay affiliate. 17" viewable, 1280x1024, 15pin HD15 VGA connector, 60-75 viewing angles.

That is extremely tempting. If it wasn't for the lacking a chassis thing. Here's the auction for any Swedish multiboxers who think it might be something for them, along with a picture: http://www.tradera.com/17_LCD_Pekskarm-auktion-47232915

(edit: The word I was looking for was bezel, not chassis. And holy hell this is a great deal on what usually goes for $600+. So, anyone know someone who works for 3M and can get the 17" bezel, heh?)

[Djarid]

Oh ok, didnt know Photoshop had flowchart ability... I can see how you did it now though.

I was looking for a more featured one.... I know there are some out there.

As for touch screens.... Xenarc makes some good 7-8" ones for around $350. Not super high resolution but I use one in one of my cars as a touch screen for my MP3/GPS/etc box.

Their 10" ones are $600 though!

You beat me to it Xzin...

check out http://linitx.com/ or http://www.mini-itx.com/ they do various SVGA touchscreens

I actually have the linITX branded 7" widescreen device and this would be perfect for me (1280x768) but you may need larger screen area.

love the idea though.... maybe when I get the funds for 5 boxing ;)

[Bradster]

Touch screen! Now theres something new. Awesome idea sir, also welcome to the forums.