controllers
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Absolutely hideous new Xbox 360 controller spotted online
We're not opposed to colors splashed on our favorite accessories, but a new Xbox 360 controller spotted online at EB Games is making us change your minds. Discovered by Chip Chick, this black and red abomination combines the sleek design of Microsoft's controller with a design only a color-blind person would find appealing. If its lack of style* isn't enough, the controller -- which is bundled with a charger -- will set gamers back $70. We'll stick with our solid colors, thank you very much.*If you happen to enjoy the controller's design, we apologize ... for your lack of taste. Ba-Zing![Via Gizmodo]
Firmware 3.00 blamed for malfunctioning PS3 controllers
A growing thread on the official PlayStation 3 forum alleges the recent hardware firmware upgrade to version 3.00 has spawned a host of controller connection issues for PS3 users. According to the forum, various wireless controllers -- some users specifically naming DualShock3 model CECHZC2H (Ceramic White) -- are unable to connect to the console. When turned on, users claim the controller LEDs for ports 1 and 2 activate, but the controller remains inoperable.Users attempting to troubleshoot the problem claim that resetting the controller (through the built-in pinhole reset function) and plugging it directly into the console (via USB) do not correct the error, with one user going so far as doing a complete system restore to no avail. The issue, however, appears to be isolated, but is still a concern for a number of gamers.Update: Overnight, the issue has spawned an interesting development. Users are pointing out that the problem may be isolated to "knock-off" PS3 controllers. Joystiq has contacted Sony for an update to see if XMB 3.00 targets these fakes or if the controller issue is simply a byproduct of the controllers not being able to catch up with the new firmware.
TUAW at E3: Real Tennis 2009
The last preview we've got for you from E3 last week isn't really a preview -- Real Tennis 2009 was the first game due out from Gameloft that we played in their party bus outside the Los Angeles Convention Center, and sure enough, it's out right now in the App Store for $4.99 (all of the games we played with them last week, including the impressive Castle of Magic, are due out before the end of June). As a tennis game -- Gameloft claimed it was the first on the platform, though that doesn't seem true -- it plays pretty well, though the players are controlled with onscreen buttons rather than touchscreen gestures. Serving is the only activity that tries to take full advantage of the iPhone's controls: you can target your serve with the accelerometer, and then tap the screen anywhere when the serve meter is full. The action is pretty fast, and sometimes too fast: if you don't get moving in the right direction right off the ball, your player will get to where they need to be way too late.Perhaps the most interesting part of the game lies in multiplayer: though we didn't see it in action, we were told that the game offers up to four-player WiFi multiplayer (even before 3.0 is set to make it easier for developers to do). So that's pretty impressive in and of itself -- if you can find three other people with iPhones and the game to play.
SplitFish unveils new PS3 controller series at E3 '09
SplitFish Gameware, best known for its oddly-shaped controller peripheral and not its cruelty to aquatic life, will be showing off its "Frevoution X System" line of PS3 controllers at E3 next week. Both the "Dual SFX Evolution" and "Dual SFX Frag Pro" will be available for playtest at the expo.Expect the Frag Pro to be an upgraded version of SF's older FragFX controller, which is excellent for shooters thanks to its PC mouse-like design. The Frag Pro features an all-new "dual wireless system," and left-grip "Six-Axis" control. Both frag-ing controllers should be available by this fall... when all the shooters come out.
Fight like a king with these SNK fighting sticks
You'll need to wield a sturdy fighting stick if you ever plan on becoming a champ in the fighting genre. Everyone knows that; Capcom knows it, Namco Bandai knows it, and SNK Playmore knows it, too, which is why the latter will be releasing two, brand-new controllers alongside King of Fighters XII in July. The first is a King of Fighters XII USB Stick featuring character artwork of series favorites Iori, Athena and others plastered on the topside. The second fighting pad is the Neo Geo Stick 2, a throwback to the classic controller, which will finally be available for PS3 (It's already out for Wii). They retail for ¥6,279 ($65) and ¥5,229 ($54), respectively.Now, why are those prices in Japanese currency? Well, unlike the game itself, these sticks haven't been given a worldwide release date. They hit Japanese stores on July 16th and hopefully we'll get them in time for launch date, too.
Get a grip: Nintendo reveals Wii 'Classic Controller Pro'
Nintendo's Japanese site is now showing a new version of the dual-analog Classic Controller for Wii. The "Classic Controller Pro" replaces the original's tiny secondary shoulder buttons with a traditional Dual Shock style "two rows of buttons" set up, moves the two analog sticks out a bit from the center, and adds some hand grips. Hand grips are for pros.Basically, if a Dual Shock and a Wii Classic Controller had a baby, it would be -- a disgusting thing to think about. But if someone were to design a video game controller that used elements of both of those controllers, it would be the Classic Controller Pro.Nintendo plans a summer 2009 release for this controller, which should dovetail nicely with Monster Hunter 3 -- no doubt irritating Capcom, who is bundling a port of its predecessor, Monster Hunter G, with a special blue version of the original Classic. No pricing or information about a release outside of Japan is given.[Via Kotaku; thanks, Face]
Mad Catz reports third quarter losses
Following a purr-fect second quarter, sales for Mad Catz's third quarter haven't been so good, as the peripheral manufacturer reported losses of $26.9 million for the period ending December 31. To help you wrap your mind around how big a loss this is, during the same period in 2008, Mad Catz reported net income of only $3.3 million. The company was pretty much down all across the board, with gross profit for the quarter down 16.7% to $10.5 million. Net sales were up, however, to $40.8 million, a 19% increase compared to the same period in 2008. Darren Richardson, president and CEO, places the blame on "provisions for increased inventory reserves, higher royalty expenses, increased costs due to added product development staff and higher shipment costs." In other words: business is tough. Richardson says the inventory reserves were necessary due to the "uncertain state of the economy and the retail industry." Yet, from here on out, he remains optimistic, placing profit margins "no lower than the range of those experienced in our latest three and nine month periods." With hot items on the horizon like those RE5 accessories, how can the company not expect to do well?
Interactive Mirror dazzles onlookers, never lies
It was just a month ago that Alpay Kasal of Lit Studios was impressing us with LaserGames, beaming all sorts of fun, interactive visuals on the wall. Now, with a few tweaks, he's turned that projector around and made a two-way mirror into a sort of digital portal. "Interactive Mirror" uses the same basic mouse emulation as LaserGames -- it seems to lack multi-touch but offers some interesting ideas, like showing how a custom T-shirt would look if you were wearing it. That's potentially useful, but its primary function seems to be inducing childish wonderment in your friends. If the wide-eyed participants in the video below are any indication, it seems to do that quite well.
LaserGames mouse emulator: more fun than blinding a 747 pilot
LaserGames is a mod for projectors allowing up to two players to interact with a game using a run-of-the-mill (red or green) laser pointer in place of a mouse or controller, minus the precision response. Developer Alpay Kasal of Lit Studios isn't giving any hints on how this thing works, but we imagine it uses sensor technology similar to interactive projections -- you know, the ones where a video is projected on the ground and you get to kick around a soccer ball and then watch some tacky Nokia ad at the end. If you're up for trying this out first hand, Kasal's prototype will soon be on public display for some wild and crazy retina burning action -- no word yet on when or where. Check out his video after the break.
Rock Band 2 hands on, live shots, Ion drum kit, first impressions: woot!
If you're jonesing to get your Rock Band 2 on like we are, you'll be all over these new shots of the game's upcoming controllers that we got all grubby on today at E3. First, the new guitars not only look better, but they will include some welcome hardware tweaks. The new axe includes an optical sensor that will make syncing the game to your display a breeze. Rather than go through that annoying tap..tap...tap synchronization scheme, all you'll need to do is hold up your controller to your display and it will figure things out with you based on your screen's refresh rate. In addition, the new guitars have been updated with slicker fret controls that make it easier to slide from one to the other. Meanwhile, the strum bar has been tightened up a bit. No clicking, though -- the guys at Harmonix say no one "dreams of playing a metronome" anyway. A dig at Guitar Hero? Perhaps, but if you're looking for some click feedback from your controller, look elsewhere.%Gallery-27915%
Breakfast Topic: Controllers R us
The Falcon controller just looks silly, doesn't it? Everything we've heard about it so far says it's pretty underwhelming -- the feedback doesn't work quite right, the controls seem a little less intuitive than a keyboard and mouse, and in general, it just looks strange. Fortunately, I'll be able to know for myself next week -- I've already got an appointment to check out the controller (and how it plays WoW) at E3 next week.But in the meantime, until I can get my firsthand impressions of the Falcon up here, what are some other strange controllers that actually do work with WoW? We've heard a lot about the Zboard, which seems like a pretty good combination of a keyboard and a custom controller for Blizzard's MMO -- anyone used it? A lot of people have posted before that they use the Logitech G15, and that's really just a keyboard, except for the extra display and macros. I've used Switchblade to play with an Xbox 360 controller (and found it not nearly as easy as playing with a mouse and keyboard). And I know some players, multiboxers usually, will even use foot pedals to supplement keyboard and certain macros.Ever played WoW with a weird controller? Is there something out there that you swear by that's not the standard mouse and keyboard? Me, I'm perfectly happy with an Apple Keyboard and my Logitech gaming mouse -- at least until I try the Falcon next week. You never know, maybe I'll fall in love with it and decide that $190 (!) is worth it.Update: I couldn't remember the name of this one, but a lot of people in the comments (and a lot of folks before this post) have mentioned the n52 Speedpad as a good controller option.
Awesome controller shirt chronicles Nintendo's hardware
For everything leading up to the DS, this shirt displays all of Nintendo's hardware we've known and loved. It's really only missing the DS and Wiimote, but for us nerds who just love Nintendo more than breathing (we pretend it's a game Nintendo invented when we were born and we're maintaining the high score), the above shirt might be the best piece of clothing ever. If we owned this DS Lite and the shirt, we'd feel like we lived a meaningful and good life.The problem is that it's only available in Large, meaning that bigger and smaller folks will have a tough time making the shirt work.[Via Gamesniped]
EA Games aiming to bundle peripherals with games
Oh, brother. Let the onslaught begin. Now that games like Rock Band and Guitar Hero have proven to be huge money makers, not to mention how profitable those ridiculous shells for the Wiimote are, we're betting that EA Games is just the next of many that will soon bundle peripherals with games. According to EA's David McCarthy, his firm will be "using a peripheral strategy to some extent, even over the course of the next 12 months." Thankfully, he did note that extras would only be bundled "if it really does enrich the experience of gameplay and doesn't create a barrier to entry for consumers." We can see it now: $80 sports titles that create all sorts of relationship problems with the partner who actually values a kempt living room.[Via Joystiq, image courtesy of HouseOfNintendo]Read - McCarthy speaksRead - McCarthy elaborates
ASUS Eee Stick hits the FCC, our minds race in wonder
Ah, so ASUS' totally familiar looking Eee Stick wasn't just some one-off prototype. Today, said controller has just surfaced in the depths of the FCC, complete with internal / external photographs, a user's manual and a few reports certifying that no one grew a third leg during testing. Apparently the GMC-1 package will include a pair of joysticks (one with a D-pad, one with an analog stick), a USB dongle and the obligatory Quick Start guide and Support CD. Heck, these critters even come with bundled wrist straps, eliminating any lingering doubt that the inspiration for these didn't come from The Big N. Still, we can't help but be slightly excited about the possibilities here, but whether or not they actually prove useful remains to be seen.
Rumor: Sony's 'break apart' PS3 controller in the works
A little while back, we heard inklings of a Wii-like controller for the PS3 making its rounds in focus group testing. It seems those rumblings have been moved into the next stage: working units of said new remote may have already been delivered to some developer partners, sources say. The reasoning behind this controller is simple -- create similar games that made the Wii such a huge hit and perhaps the PS3 will gain a bigger audience as well. The system's got pretty much everything else under the sun as a feature (insert in-game XMB stab here), but is creating their own Wii-mote a bit too far for Sony to step?
Wiispray turns Wii Remote into virtual graffiti spray can
If only Mark Ecko had a Wiispray when he was developing Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure, perhaps people the world would have understood his vision for a videogame-based, graffiti-tagging urban dystopian angst. Anyway, this Wii Remote turned into a spray can is the product of a student's thesis at Bauhas-University in Weimar, Germany. Martin Lihs crammed the controller into the can-like structure and plans (hopes?) to create a communal -- but not illegal -- virtual graffiti wall in which people can add their digital tags and keep it real clean, yo. Curious that he's using PlayStation-based triangle and square buttons, though.[Via SlashGear]
Ben Heck and eDimensional's Access Controller for one-handed gamers
Leave it to Ben Heck to create something that's not only cool, but also good for humanity. We've had our eyes on the Access Controller, and now it has an actual retail channel and final design. The eDimensional Access Controller enables one-handed gaming in a completely modular design. Each control function module can be rearranged based on the gamer's needs -- even the act of rearranging of modules can be done with one hand. Ben, the nice guy that he is, also includes a custom module-creation guide if you're so inclined. The controller is also designed with a concave back to sit comfortably on either a table or leg and uses 2.4GHz wireless. eDimensional is taking preorders now, and the unit is compatible with PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, and PC. To top it all off, a portion of the $129.99 you spend will go to Children's Hospital and Veterans Medical centers. We feel all good inside.
Nyko ships Charge Base 360, first 200 come from 1986
It's about time 360 owners get some rechargeable Nyko love via the Charge Base 360, which is shipping to stores at a $34.99 clip. So why should you care? This charger / controller storage solution comes with two NiMH drop-in (i.e. shaped for your 360 controller) rechargeable batteries that promise to make your gaming downtime a lot less extant. Nyko says a single charge will provide "up to" 25 hours of play time while charge time takes about 2 hours per controller. If you act quickly, you could get one of the limited 80s coffee table-friendly Black & Gold-colored units which go on sale June 2.[Via IGN]
Wii Fanboy Poll: Best control scheme for Mario Kart?
We've heard from a lot of you that Mario Kart Wii is awesome -- we completely agree. Some of you were even surprised to find out that you actually liked using the Wii Wheel.But now that you've had some time to play around with the game, you have to have a favorite control scheme. So, what is it?Hit up our poll after the break to let us know, and feel free to explain why in the comments section.
Player vs. Everything: Gaming with a disability
Stephanie Walker was a gamer who had never expected to have to deal with a disability. She was 23 at the onset of her condition, a college student who also worked a full-time job. She liked to spend the little free time she had unwinding online. Initially resistant to the idea of playing EverQuest, Stephanie quickly discovered that slaying virtual orcs and bandits while joking around in party chat was surprisingly fun. It was a great way to keep in touch with long-distance friends and burn some stress after a long day. She didn't have a lot of time to play, but she was good at it when she did. While working at her job one day, Stephanie noticed that her right hand and leg had fallen asleep. When she tried to get up to walk the sensation off, she realized that something was seriously wrong -- the entire right side of her body had just stopped working. Stephanie was rushed to the hospital, and the diagnosis was confirmed the following morning: she had multiple sclerosis, and she would have to deal with it for the rest of her life. Overnight, everything changed. She went from being someone who spent 20 hours per day away from home to someone who really never left. Moving around within her house required an enormous effort on her part. Even feeding herself had become a challenge. The little things, like not being able to get online and chat with her friends (something she really enjoyed) just made her situation that much more painful.
