Razer hits the Xbox 360 with Onza controller and Chimaera headset, we go hands-on (video)
By Tim Stevens 
posted January 9th 2010 10:11PM
posted January 9th 2010 10:11PM
Razer's come from nowhere over the past few years to establish itself as a serious player in the PC gaming peripheral market. Now it's hitting the consoles, starting with the Xbox 360, and the first iteration of offerings are already looking solid. They were announced yesterday and we got some time with both, starting with the Onza contoller, described in detail in the video after the break. Each stick's resistance can be individually tweaked, there are additional shoulder buttons that can be assigned to replicate any other button on the controller (no more stick-clicking), and what's pledged to be a d-pad that's far superior to the generally junk one on the stock controller. Unfortunately they were still working on perfecting that, but everything else feels great already. The other thing on display is the Chimaera wireless headset, which uses a base-station to connect to the Xbox 360 (or other audio device) which doubles as a recharging station. Turn it on and it'll intercept the audio, silencing your entertainment center, and with a built-in microphone you won't have to stop the trash-talk. The Onza is set to cost $50 when it ships sometime by Q3, and the Chimaera for about $130 in the same period. We can't wait.
this needs to have a rechargeable battery and i know i would get one
@dirtballrotten
If it was wireless I'd get one. I've gotten too used to no tangles to go back. ):
@dirtballrotten The controller's wired, mate. No batteries required.
I said it before, but I'd love to see Razer make a PS3 controller with 2.4Ghz wireless (if not Bluetooth) and adjustable tension sticks, so hopefully this works out for Razer.
@dirtballrotten Make it work with the PS3 and I'll get one. I fucking hate the PS3 controller!
@RBSIS
itd go against razer and be way too expensive if itd be wireless. they want to give the best gaming experience, and i think affordability and game response tops being wireless too. just like their mouses they only have one wireless gaming one. its 120. and there is no way id pay 100+ for a controller.
This guy sounds like arnold schwarzenegger.
@gonintendo Maybe when he was twelve...
Looking good, can't wait to get one. Want a 360 pad for my PC; was gonna get a MS one but I never got round to it and I'm glad I didn't. This one looks a ton better and knowing what Razer's product quality is like I'm sure it's gonna be a great controller to use. Another bonus is that it's black so matches my PC nicely unlike the white 360 ones as MS haven't put out a wired black controller.
@richb93
You do know you can use the wireless Xbox 360 peripherals with a PC, right?
@Ordeith
Yeah, but the wireless adapter costs an extra $40. Odds are that he's sitting right in front of the computer, so it's not really necessary.
Plus, there's always an extra bit of lag when using a wireless controller, though I would assume it's relativally low for the 360 controller.
@richb93 I like how broken the comment system is. Anyway, what I said earlier is that I am aware of that, the adapter is only in white so it wouldn't match the PC or controller. That and it would be more expensive and I don't even need wireless. Batteries are a pain in the arse, I prefer wired peripherals.
@richb93
I wasn't aware of any extra cost. At the time I got my adapter it came with the "Xbox 360 wireless controller for PC" package which was price the same as a regular 360 wireless remote.
The for PC added the adapter, which given the equal pricing ont he controller packages at the time, ammounted to free for me.
is... is that a D-Pad thats.... dare i say it? awesome?
For a game controller wires aren't preferable these days. But that D-Pad certainly does look a lot better than the one on the first party controller.
@Solidstate89: Speak for yourself. I hate seeing that damn blinking whenever my controller gets down to half power, which takes maybe a day with AAs, and about 40 God damn minutes with those crappy-ass battery packs. It's distracting enough that I pretty much leave the play and charge wire attached all the time just to avoid it. If this is at least as comfortable as the first party 360 controller, I don't see why anyone wouldn't want one of these instead.
@Cameage For some reason with my eneloops, my controller dies like 10 minutes after the lights start flashing. Unlike my battery pack, it doesn't come back on after that either and is completely dead. I'm not sure what batteries you're using, but I play like 8 hours a day, and I haven't seen a blinking light in like a month. I swap out the batteries every 2-3 days so I don't have to worry about my controller dying in an intense game of domination.
Loading Video Information. This is what I am getting on all engadget videos since I applied mvps.org hosts file ad block. Anyone know what exactly is getting block which disables me from seeing the video?
@Superhearing Gadget porn.
@Superhearing
I had the same problem with the Engadget videos. The MVP HOSTS file was blocking the Engadget Viddler videos from loading. Open up the HOSTS file and comment out (put a # sign in front) of "127.0.0.1 adm.fwmrm.net" You can use the search feature to quickly find it. Also, if you are using Windows 7, you have to pull the HOSTS file out of "C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc", edit it, then put it back.
i bet they didn't make a wireless one because of lag (most people would not notice) so it dose suck for people that shit miles away from there tv and the wire just being annoying. if i buy a new controller (that dose not have rapid fire mod on it) i would get this. would be easier to use with my pc (i have the wireless adapter know but if i need to use the play will charge kit it takes two usb ports). and my rechargeable batty is dieing.
@MichaelB it's wireless because it's for Pro Gamers. At all the Pro Gaming events, you have to use a wire because there are so many people in the room and not enough wireless channels to go around.
@scogre
The main reason why the hardcore people use wires is cus the lag and when you're a pro you need the best equipment available. That's why all the gaming mice on computers are wired as well.
Want this to be wireless SO bad. I love the better placement for start and select.
How do you know engadget doesn't have a clue when it comes to PC gaming? The first sentence says it all. "Razer's come from nowhere over the past few years to establish itself as a serious player in the PC gaming peripheral market."
Come from nowhere? Really? Remember the Boomslang 2000?
Welcome to 1998, engadget...
@IamDefiler Yeah... Razer's not exactly a new player to the PC gaming market... but I don't think the people at Engadget know much about PC gaming, somehow.
@IamDefiler
Try clicking on tim steven's name to see some info on him, info like:
"He got his start writing professionally in the mid '90s, covering the gaming world while in college,... He's an avid gamer"
And let me explain, if you are 12 razer was there always, if you are older then there were other companies for years ruling the roost then razer showed up (acting all haughty, but that's another topic)
@Wwhat "...covering the gaming world..." That's fine and I can't argue that, but if you look at my statement I said "PC gaming". I guess Razer didn't fall into his gaming world in the late nineties.
BTW. What does your age have to do with a certain company and their presence in any industry? If they were there, they were there. And Razer has been there since '98. There wasn't a more advanced mouse for gaming back then than the Boomslang 2000.
I was all excited until I saw the wires... no way. I don't want any more wires in my house.
@Kie +1, my couch is juuuuust barely in range of my wired controllers, hence why they are only used for guests.
His hands look big!
I want this controller for the ps3
@SilverSurfer Me too :)
Maybe it has a mode to switch from 360 to PS3? I would KILL for that, since the controller is AWESOME, better than both the 360pad and the DualShock3, and that I own both consoles. And if it works with those 2, it should work with my gaming pc also. I get the best controller, and Razor gets a new customer(except mice, MX518 FTW). Its a Win-Win.
@Cheesus Crust
Better than DS3 ?
You want to trade of wireless gaming to some lights and better controller texture ?
@xValentine Dude, that trigger and improved sticks shit on the DS3. I still love both of mine though :)
Q3 SON OF A BITCH. I want one right now, I need me a black wired controller, this hits the spot.
@Anticrawl
How much do I have to pay to just take one of those display models home with me? I have a couple hundred cash on me.
I don't understand how anyone would want this wireless. The 2.4Ghz spectrum is cluttered to hell and causes lag already, plus the battery pack on the MS controllers gets in the way of my fingers, which is why I prefer the more comfortable wired controller. They just don't last though, the sticks seem to go bad in them much faster than their wireless counterparts (MS branded ones).
You idiots realize there's a reason they made it wired. Wireless has a delay, you may not notice it but its there, ask any pro gamer. Adding the wire eliminates this factor. Razer wants their controller to be the best it possibly can be which is why they made it wired.
@D taktics
That's why they made the Mamba, right?
@D taktics is right about lag, but also because in Pro Gaming events there are not enough channels on the wireless spectrum to accommodate all the players. It would be havoc in a gaming event and having everyone try to stay off the same channel.
@D taktics
Lag really isn't the whole truth. MS really doesn't want a better controller to be wireless.
@D taktics
Where's the proof? Perception is one thing, numbers another. Fact is there is no lag with a wireless controller. You'd have better luck blaming the refresh rate of your TV.
Actually the only reason its not wireless, is because Microsoft doesn't allow third party developers to make wireless controllers for the 360. The wireless guitars being the exception.
The wires are to reduce "latency". I mean afterall these are intended to be high end controllers. I'm more a PC gamer but I assume people that play console games know about latency? Anytime you are using wireless anything (controller, router etc) you get more latency.
@stockjones So the end result, since just about every xbox player is using wireless controller and there you will be with your wired super controller kicking ass!
DrOoOoOoOL, its such a good price point, why would you ever need to buy an microsoft controller ever again?
That is amazingly a decent price. If only they would make a wireless one. I don't care about the extra 1ms latency. Microsoft probably won't license the wireless tech though.
I wonder if mapping the stick clicking to the extra shoulder button disables the stick clicking? Or if its toggleable? I absolutely hate it in CoD when I get ambushed and am trying to turn my stick to fire only to have my guy knife the air and die.
Meh, I'm done with Razer since they don't admit they're not supporting the AC-1 soundcard with Windows 7.
Oh goodness, they're putting their rubberized mouse finish on it? Great, it's going to start peeling within 6 months and become even nastier than a regular controller gets. Sorry, but no buy because of that.
@Ayepecks
I totally agree. I am using a Copperhead mouse right now and the rubberized finish is all peeled off and looks terrible. I didn't think about that on the 360 controller though.
That is a slick looking headset! Can't wait for the reviews :D
...and that controller makes me want to replace my current controller even though there is nothing wrong with it :P