ChatPad spotted at Chicago community event

So the much-awaited text input device (TID) for the Xbox 360 is called ChatPad. Such a simple and lovely name for a nifty mini qwerty keyboard, if we may add. Anyway, the add-on will be available later this summer but the guys over at Gaming Nexus were able to check it out during the GamerScoreBlog community event in Chicago.

The ChatPad fits quite tightly to the controller so players don’t have to worry about accidentally knocking it off during gameplay. In terms of weight, it’s not quite heavy and is unlikely to affect the weight or balance of the Xbox 360 controller itself.

The keyboard will sport a backlight that goes on when you’re typing and goes off during times that you are not. Some Microsoft representatives during the event mentioned that the ChatPad consumes the battery power of the controller, but gamers don’t have to worry because of the above mentioned on/off feature.

Here are several snapshots of ChatPad. The retail version, as Gaming Nexus noted, will be similar to this prototype. The pricing and concrete release date for ChatPad are still to be finalized as of this writing.

So the much-awaited text input device (TID) for the Xbox 360 is called ChatPad. Such a simple and lovely name for a nifty mini qwerty keyboard, if we may add. Anyway, the add-on will be available later this summer but the guys over at Gaming Nexus were able to check it out during the GamerScoreBlog community event in Chicago.

The ChatPad fits quite tightly to the controller so players don’t have to worry about accidentally knocking it off during gameplay. In terms of weight, it’s not quite heavy and is unlikely to affect the weight or balance of the Xbox 360 controller itself.

The keyboard will sport a backlight that goes on when you’re typing and goes off during times that you are not. Some Microsoft representatives during the event mentioned that the ChatPad consumes the battery power of the controller, but gamers don’t have to worry because of the above mentioned on/off feature.

Here are several snapshots of ChatPad. The retail version, as Gaming Nexus noted, will be similar to this prototype. The pricing and concrete release date for ChatPad are still to be finalized as of this writing.