Input to Multiple Computers
OK, weird question. I'd like to be able to use a single set of input devices (mouse, keyboard, etc) to input simultaneously to multiple computers. Mind you, I'm not talking about something a KVM box does. It only allows input to one machine at a time. I'm talking about putting the exact same input into multiple machines simultaneously. Anyone ever seen anything or heard of anything to accomplish this?

I believe there are USB splitters that could do it, but I'm not sure how available they are. Why do you want this, though? I ask because I've done some work in the past with trying to provide identical input to different computers (it was an automated testing system), and ran into all sorts of small problems that were painful to resolve.

Why do I want to do it? Because I'm a geek.... It's for a little idea I have for City of Heroes (go on, Gerb, you know you want to...). Great superhero game, but it's missing duplication powers. So I had this idea to simulate it myself. Two accounts, two characters with identical appearances, and probably builds. I've had some success in early levels just having the secondary character in autofollow with one power cued up and targetting through the primary character, but I have doubts about how well that's going to work later on. It occurred to me that haveing two (or more) characters acting in concert would work better, and be quite powerful. I've considered KVM, and if there's a way to switch from one machine to another via keyboard/mouse input, that might work, but single simultaneous control of multiple machines should work better.

Good reason. XD The problem with splitting the input is that you have to synchronize the two machines -- they have to have the same resolution, mouse sensitivity, all that fun stuff. And if there's even a minor deviation between the two -- even something like different frame rates or different lag -- it'll 'cause small differences that will get magnified with time. Most KVMs let you switch between the computers with a keystroke, generally the Scroll Lock key. Mine uses Ctrl-Shift-Alt-Computer Number, hit in order, not at once, which is kinda annoying.

Actually, the way I'm thinking about doing it, it won't need to be perfectly synchronized. I thought of the sorts of things you're probably thingking of when you say that, and I can work around them. I'll be using the mouse on only one machine to control a primary character. The others will be slaved to that character using autofollow. This means they'll also target whatever the primary targets, so targetting is taken care of. All I really need is power activation to all machines simulaneously, and that can be done via keyboard (or keyboard emulating game controller, like a Nostromo gamepad), so all the mouse/position/screen synchronization are fudged out using the game's mechanics.

Looks like cheating to me. *leaves the thread before it gets any worse*

When you say simulateous input, I assume you mean the ability to jump between PC's on the fly providing independent control, not have controls mimiced on different PC's (having some set-up that allows that to work). Are you using multiple monitors too? If so I think a good KVM would the best choice- only use the Mouse/Keyboard inputs insteads, leaving the monitors directly attached to the PC's. Also, on the software side, there is software that allows full remote control of PC ("as if you are there) that may allow something like that also. Never used, so I have no idea how effective it is, resources used, or even if you could play games through it. As for the ceheating thing- for the situation described, I would agree it is not. Could even make thematic- One of the main super heroes power is to control these clones of himself or whatever you want to call them.

OK, so I found this (well, not found, actually, it was suggested through one of the other places I inquired). It's not true simultaneous control, but allows fast, easy switching between controlling one machine and another (or others). That has some advantages, namely that two characters can be made to do different things, rather than taking identical actions. Also has some disadvantages, namely that it's a little hard to keep track of everything and what powers each character has available to them at any given moment. But so far, I like it.