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The Detonator brings electric biking to bots, looks pretty bomb
Parker Brothers Choppers, responsible for one of several Tron Light Cycle replicas seen recently, is continuing to prove that electric bikes aren't all weedy-looking augmented pedal-powered affairs. This time, it tackled the Detonator concept created by Daniel Simon, a former VW designer who was also in charge of vehicle design for the Tron remake. Wired reports that the $100,000 bike charges in an hour and has an estimated range of around 80-100 miles on a full battery. According to the operations manager at Parker Brothers Choppers, it's "not the easiest bike to ride," though that could have something to do with Simon's original design, geared for non-human droids able to rotate their legs all the way around. Human riders, on the other hand, would likely face some chafing issues.
MadCatz's Tritton Detonator now shipping, detonating
We've all been there: It's 3 am, the guys you share your tiny studio apartment with are zonked out after a hard day's hack-sackin' down on the quad, but you'll be awake for another 6 hours, at least. Now, thanks to the Tritton Detonator from MadCatz and Microsoft, your bitter, sleep-deprived roommates will only hear the sound of your frantic stick waggling and trigger flicking, as opposed to the gunfire and chainsaws they normally have to deal with. The Detonator is the first in a series of official 360 headphones, and its $80 entry fee delivers a USB cord, stereo sound, a detachable boom mic, voice monitoring capabilities and an in-line volume control for the whole kit-n-caboodle. Its big brother, the wireless, Dolby 7.1 rocking WarHead, is still reportedly on track for a holiday release, although we expect that model to cost a bit closer to the self-imposed $300 limit MadCatz mentioned when the headphones were announced.
MadCatz now shipping Tritton Detonator headset, official Xbox 360 stereo sound for $80
PS3 owners have been sportin' their own official gaming headset for a few weeks, and now -- after months of teasing -- Mad Catz is finally granting Xbox 360 owners a similar privilege. The company's announced that its Tritton / Microsoft co-branded Detonator Stereo USB gaming headset is available and shipping, priced at $80. Positioned as the first of a trio of its upcoming headsets -- including its wireless brethren, the stereo Devastator and Dolby 7.1 Warhead -- the Detonator keeps it to the FPS-pwning essentials. The cans are loaded with massive 50mm drivers and along its cord you'll find an inline remote for adjusting game / chat volume, voice monitoring and mic muting. Impressively, aside from its detachable boom mic, the inline controller is also removeable, allowing you plug straight into your PMP when you're done trash talkin' on Xbox Live. We're still anxiously waiting for the Warhead (scheduled to ship this holiday season), but if wired stereo is your thing, hit the PR past the break for more info.
MadCatz launching 'WarHead' and other fancy Xbox 360 headsets
Hey, Mad Catz ... maybe "WarHead" isn't the best name for something that goes on your head. We kind of don't want war on our heads. But despite the name, Mad Catz's new Xbox 360 headset range might find a receptive audience. These are the first fruits of the company's wireless headset deal. Mad Catz's audio-focused subsidiary Tritton is introducing a line of 360 headsets, including the wireless WarHead 7.1 and Devastator, and the "entry-level" wired Detonator. The WarHead has 7.1-channel Dolby Digital, Pro Logic II, and Dolby Headphone audio; the other two are stereo-only. The two wireless sets include a base station that connects to the Xbox through USB and either optical or RCA audio connections. Those base stations allow audio to be shared among four headsets, if you're in the middle of a weirdly antisocial gathering. IGN notes that all three should be out before the end of the year, and none of them should exceed $300 in price. Hey, we just remembered that sometimes headphones cost more than $300! That's an even less appealing thought than putting a "WarHead" on our heads.
If you throw away your console, the terrorists have won
In one of those fun, yet uncomfortable, instances where real life and video games interact, Fox News has uncovered a dusty (and old, very old) PlayStation controller during a raid of an Afghanistani farmhouse, which doubled up as a munitions depository. Lying there, in among rockets, grenades, plastic explosives and tank shells, was this humble blue-hued PlayStation appendage, which we're told can be rewired to act as a remote detonator. Should you question just how seriously the US government is taking this growing tide of console-aided terrorism, below you'll find a press release (seriously, a state-issued press release) detailing the detainment of four men in connection with the illegal transportation of digital cameras and PlayStation 2s to a "terrorist entity" in Paraguay. If convicted of the most egregious charge, they face 20 years in prison... for contraband consoles. Face, meet palm.
Senior staff leave 'The Agency' to start new studio; SOE claims game unaffected
The Agency has lost some top agents as several members of Sony Online Entertainment's Seattle studio have left to form Detonator Games. The losses include art director Corey Dangel, studio director Matt Wilson and producer John Smith -- the latter two were founding members of the development house. Eurogamer reports the departures have ignited rumors that the The Agency will experience a reboot or overhaul -- which wouldn't be the first time the production team has had to go on the defensive. SOE denies that there's any reboot going on and notes that company is "looking forward to showing you new content in the future." Let's see if the game makes its 2010 release.[Via GI.biz]
