Close
Page 1 of 3 1 2 3 LastLast
Showing results 1 to 10 of 23
  1. #1

    Default Hey There, Y'all!

    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.



    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**!

  2. #2

    Default

    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.
    The Zins - 10 Boxing
    Xzin, Azin, Bzin, Czin, Dzin
    Xyzin, Ayzin, Byzin, Cyzin, Dyzin
    Magtheridon - US

  3. #3

    Default

    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.

  4. #4

    Default

    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.
    The Zins - 10 Boxing
    Xzin, Azin, Bzin, Czin, Dzin
    Xyzin, Ayzin, Byzin, Cyzin, Dyzin
    Magtheridon - US

  5. #5

    Default

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

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

    btw.. what is a Multicaster??

  6. #6

    Default

    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!)

  7. #7

    Default

    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/Produc...82E16813188014

    Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600
    Price: $300
    Link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115017

    Memory: Kingston HyperX 2x1GB DDR2 800
    Price: $144
    Link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820134012

    Hard Drives: 2 x WD Caviar 500GB SATA 3.0Gb/s (for RAID 1)
    Price: 2x$110
    Link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136073

    Video Card 1 (Main): XFX GeForce 8600GT
    Price: $120
    Link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150230

    Video Card 2 (Touchscreen): EVGA GeForceFX 5500
    Price: $50
    Link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130255

    Sound Card: Creative X-Fi XtremeGamer (or maybe a Fatal1ty)
    Price: $81
    Link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16829102006

    Case: CoolerMaster Cavalier 3
    Price: $60
    Link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811119074

    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!)

  8. #8

    Default

    have you tried any voice command interfaces?

  9. #9

    Default

    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 )
    The Zins - 10 Boxing
    Xzin, Azin, Bzin, Czin, Dzin
    Xyzin, Ayzin, Byzin, Cyzin, Dyzin
    Magtheridon - US

  10. #10

    Default

    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.
    The Zins - 10 Boxing
    Xzin, Azin, Bzin, Czin, Dzin
    Xyzin, Ayzin, Byzin, Cyzin, Dyzin
    Magtheridon - US

Similar Threads

  1. Mag Zerg: how are y'all doing in instances?
    By Ughmahedhurtz in forum General WoW Discussion
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 08-22-2007, 02:42 PM
  2. Howdy, y'all!
    By Ughmahedhurtz in forum General WoW Discussion
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 08-08-2007, 10:46 PM

Posting Rules

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •