The evolution of multiboxing

[Owltoid]

In the beginning...

1.) Multiple computers with one client running on each. Each computer controlled with its own mouse/keyboard, possibly jury-rigged so that pushing one button on one would also push one button on another (think of a physical bridge, similar to Kromtor's picture for EVE, I believe).

2.) Multiple computers with one client running on each, but a hardware multiplexer allowing for one keyboard/mouse to be broadcast to multiple clients. I believe Fur moved off this system a few months ago, so others may still be using it.

3.) Multiple computers with one client running on each, but rudimentary software broadcasting on a one-to-one mapping between computers. I'm not sure how long this step lasted, as the next step was likely quickly developed...

4.) Multiple computers with one client running on each, but software allowing for broadcasting on each while allowing the user to make custom key mappings. Now pushing 'g' on one computer can sent 'ctrl-p' on a remote computer. Octopus, AHK and Keyclone likely the dominant choice during this time.

5.) Single computer with multiple clients running, or a mixture of multiple computers running more than one account. This development likely due to computing power increasing. With the hardware performance increased enough to allow a single computer, hardware development falls out of the picture of the multiboxing evolution.

6.) Mouse broadcasting become a reality. HKN and ISBoxer allow for the functionality, with Keyclone close behind. ISBoxer perfects the craft through window rendering while HKN offers a great solution for those users preferring a free program.

7.) Incorporation of macro generation through the software thereby allowing for teams to mix and match with ease. ISBoxer is alone at the top.

8.) what's next???

Long story short, I'm pumped about the US win in the World Cup and jacked up on caffeine, so I'm bored. I could be totally off in the evolution of multiboxing as I didn't truly start until stage 5. Let me know where you think I'm wrong, or give me your view of the evelution! Some old-timers likely have a much better view of the history of our hobby.

[Sam DeathWalker]

1A. Sam DeathWalker connects two computers to one keyboard in 2003 allowing two wizards in EQ to cast at the same time. Multiboxing Focus Fire is born.


5A. DeathWalker still using a combination of hardware (one keybaord/mouse to 6 computers) and software (ISboxer running 7 clients per computer).

[zenga]

Good summary. It's not that i'm against evolution cq better technology. But i fear the point where boxing is going to become so sophisticated (while it's still within the rules), that it's no longer acceptable to *tolerate* it from the game developers point of view. I.e. that the 'future ways' to box are gonna change the perception blizzard gets from us.

Long story short, I'm pumped about the US win in the World Cup and jacked up on caffeine, so I'm bored

Grats, but i blame English not being my native language for reading 'up' as 'off' and thus raising an eyebrow or 2.

[Owltoid]

Grats, but i blame English not being my native language for reading 'up' as 'off' and thus raising an eyebrow or 2.

either meaning works well for me!

[Ughmahedhurtz]

Good summary. It's not that i'm against evolution cq better technology. But i fear the point where boxing is going to become so sophisticated (while it's still within the rules), that it's no longer acceptable to *tolerate* it from the game developers point of view. I.e. that the 'future ways' to box are gonna change the perception blizzard gets from us.

If it gets to the point where multiboxing software gets "too easy" to use, they'll just ban the "advanced" software, IMO. Nothing else will have changed, so why ban the folks who are still UI/macro craftsmen?

I do agree, though, that at some point, if they do decide to ban something, it'll be the software that "translates" a key on one client to something completely different on another client -- not the basic multiplexers.

[ElectronDF]

My hope for boxing is a combination of simpler techs already available.

G15/G13/G19/Keypad/Keyboard Using any special keys on them does.....
Sends the keys to the game. You don't have to map G1 to CTRL-ALT-A and G2 to CTRL-SHIFT-ALT B and so forth. Game natively take the G Keys as inputs.

Next is multiplexing software. The drivers or any program, but preferably drivers are written so your keys are able to be sent to any networked computer. Now, there is no boxing software, it is already built into the drivers. You can share a USB device already, but the limitation is it is only usable by one person at a time. Vectra boxes (http://www.vetra.com/) get close, but they are wires, not software. Software lets you customize it more to suit your needs.

So if you have multiple computers, you push a key on your special keypad and the drivers let you send that key to any number of computers. If you use one computer, you still need boxing software though. Sorry that my idea only fixes my playstyle, I acknowledge that is kinda limiting. I was just trying to get away from they saying, "Blank" program is not allowed. They would have to stop boxing altogether instead of just a program.

Maybe, just maybe they could do social engineering work to get people that actually would work together rather than just be idiots running around. That in my opinion would stop me from boxing competely. Give LFD a check box (only offense, only defense and some of each). That way the careful people won't get put in with people yelling, "Go, Go, Go, Go", "Your GS sucks", "Don't do objectives, you're just supposed to kill stuff", etc. The defensive people don't have to deal with people that just want to AOE everything, don't know how to CC or can't learn how to deal with colors on the floor. Dude, it is a color. You don't hav to learn how to ballroom dance, learn a foreign language or read sheet music. It is just move out of the color. Dang.

So boxing will change (go away) if they give us an option to choose to play with people that caused us to start boxing in the first place.

[Toned]

1A. Sam DeathWalker connects two computers to one keyboard in 2003 allowing two wizards in EQ to cast at the same time. Multiboxing Focus Fire is born.

So true Pre Team Wizzy or whatever you were going by back in the day it was all about alt tab boxing and playing like a f00king octopus.

Then macroquest came along and the fall of EQ began!

[Aenar]

I don't know if it was before '03 or during/after... but had a very popluar guildie in EQ whom we nicknamed xbox. Ran 6 characters consentantly (even during raids) on Vazaelle server (sp?). Forget the exact makeup, but something like Warrior, Cleric, WIz, Wiz, Ench, Druid (or a shaman). Anyways, that was my first insperation to take on this hobby. Tried warrior/shaman combo for a few months before moving to WoW beta (two PCs / two keyboards, etc.. lol)

[HTeam]

The first I heard about in DAoC, way back was Multiple Computers, single account per and a wireless keyboard registered to all of them. Kind of hardware solution without any additional hardware.

[Nejcha]

I'm still useing hardware multiplexing! Hardware foreveah!