The XIM started a few years back to add keyboard and mouse support to the Xbox 360 Console.  Companies such as XCM sold usb adapters for using keyboards and mouse on the XB360.  The performance of the XFPS by XCM was decent but not like playing a FPS on a PC.

XIM1

The XIM1 was made to improve the performance of the of the XFPS adapters by using a computer with custom software to translate the inputs to smoothen out the mouse and keyboard inputs. Still required the use of a XFPS but the unit worked much better

The XIM1 still need the XFPS adapters ($100) and ONLY worked with Keyboards and Mouse.  Yes the Panther XL ver3 can output as a keyboard but not a good solution.

Typical XIM Box as sold on eBay for $65 plus the need for XFPS Sniper at $100 makes for a not cheap solution that would only with with PXL in Keystick mode or by running keyboard emulation software on the host PC.

XIM2

XIM1 still not being the perfect solution, a community team decided to do better.  Removing the XFPS from the setup and using a wired Xbox360 controller instead.  The XFPS uses some hacked code to allow the unit to work on the XB360.  A dashboard update could easily render the XFPS useless.

The wired controller carries the security chip onboard and is a licensed official MS Product.  If MS wanted to lock out the XIM2 they would have to not allow any of the XB360 wired controllers.

So the way the XIM2 works is that it solders up to the switches and POTS and other control points of the wired controller.  The the XIM2 board sends signals and closes switches like the user was pushing buttons, moving thumbsticks.  But the inputs are coming from the XIM USB board inside the wired controller and those inputs are sent from the computer the XIM2 is connected to !

Newest XIM2 Flex board where the board gets overlaid on the controller electronics and the holes of the board for easy installation by the trusted community members who are approved to build and sell the XIM2’s.

Software on the computer takes the inputs of the keyboard and mouse and lets the user make configs for what key or mouse axis does what and at what speed and threshold it does it !  Different games need tweaks to different settings and the XIM software allows the user to load configs for specific games as needed.

Why the XIM2 Matters ?

Unlike XIM1 and XFPS, the XIM2 was designed to allow nearly ANY input device that will work on the PC to be configed in the software to control the Xbox360.

The have said PC Steering Wheels and Joysticks work well in the XIM2, this give us every reason to believe the unit will support a Panther XL in joystick mode no problems.

Any Panther XL could work !

If it all works as planned and configs can be made to make the Panther XL work, the Panther XL outputing as a joystick will work.  Ver1, Ver2 and Ver3’s in joystick mode should work !

This is a long shot but if the Panther XL in stock form works on the PC with the drivers and all working on the control PC, it might just be able to use the XIM2 to control the game !

XIM2’s as sold as prebuilt into the wired controller, kits will not be available.  A prebuilt solution is a great option for PXL users !

XIM360.com Store

XIM2 Community Forums