controllers
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360 controllers get crunchy candy shell [update 1]
If chrome isn't your thing, you might like the Fantasy360 controller shells from Xtreme Enterprise. The shells come in all kinds of Skittle-licious colors as well as black and white. The shells look more or less like the colored, semi-transparent S controllers for the original Xbox. They should be available by the end of the month, and I can only assume that Xtreme Enterprises won't be liable if you attempt to eat your scrumptious looking controller. The read link points to Xbox-Scene, as Xtreme Enterprise's Xbox website was down at the time of this writing. [Via Xbox-Scene] Update 1: The site is back up. Click here or hit the read link.
Forget Wiimotes, we need beer controllers
Wired News' Lore Sjöberg considers the popularity of novelty controllers like the Guitar Hero axe and Nintendo's revolutionary console controller ("and its myriad attachments") and follows it to its logical conclusion: we need a beer controller! Well, he doesn't arrive right at beer controller. His argument evolves from action-figure controller ("Remember when you'd take two action figures and 'make them fight'"?) to brick controller ("It would be great to have a game where you take down enemies by heaving an actual brick at them. I guess it would have to be a foam brick ...") to a roadie controller ("And the controller for all this exciting work in the world of sweaty entertainment? Your trusty Leatherman, of course.") ultimately arriving at the delicious, refreshing beer controller, of which Sjöberg pines, "The controller could have a light that goes off when you're supposed to drink, a tilt sensor to make sure you're drinking, and a motion sensor to call 911 when you drop it due to the onset of alcohol poisoning."Then, and only then, would we buy the whole gaming addiction thing. Make it happen, Nintendo.[Via Boing Boing]
Wiimote getting more changes?
Take this for what you will, but IGN is reporting that a comment made by the esteemed Shigeru Miyamoto in an interview with Japan's Famitsu may indicate that the supposed "final design" of the Wii controller that we saw at E3 isn't so final after all. Responding to a question about problems the company had in developing the Wiimote, Miyamoto stated that in fact "we're still debating on the area of how many buttons to use," which could be taken to mean that Nintendo has PS3-like changes in mind for the controller before the console ships. Of course, it could just as easily mean that although the design has been finalized, the Wii development team still discusses its merits and detriments amongst themselves, and the fact that the interview was translated over from the native Japanese only further muddies the issue, as Miyamoto's comments may have been taken out of context or lost the meaning he intended. Like we said, this is all just pie-in-the-sky speculation for now, and we're mainly passing it along so you don't freak out if you go to pick up your new Wii in a few months and the controller doesn't look exactly like you've been daydreaming it would.[Thanks, Dave Z.]
Video: Water-proof 360 controllers
Anyone else surprised that Mad Catz hasn't tried to market this idea for $19.95?
Immersion ready to rumble with PS3 controller
Why doesn't Sony's Playstation 3 controller give you the shakes? According to the company, the familiar DualShock-style force-feedback was dropped from the new controller in favor of motion-sensors. However, Immersion Technologies -- which sued Sony for using its haptic tech in earlier controllers -- believes that the controller could be made to rumble, and has some ideas for Sony about how to do it. The catch: Sony needs to drop its appeal of the verdict in Immersion's 2004 lawsuit, and pay Immersion the $90 million that the judge in that case awarded the company. And, of course, Sony would have to pay Immersion for whatever technology they use in the PS3 controller. Frankly, it doesn't sound like a bad deal. By continuing to appeal the lawsuit, Sony's risking another loss and piling up legal fees, and by dropping the shock, they're left with a controller that many have called a weak attempt to copy the Wii. Working with Immersion on a haptic solution could solve both problems.
Lower-end PS3 to ship with wired controllers, non-upgradeable HDD?
Besides the disheartening news that the cheaper version of the PlayStation 3 will lack WiFi, a memory card reader, and most significantly, an HDMI port, we've now learned that the $500 PS3 may also be shipping with wired, and not wireless, versions of that rumble-less, Wii-like controller. While adding separate Bluetooth controllers would only set you back a few bucks -- if, in fact, the lower-end model actually ends up shipping with BT functionality -- boosting your console's storage capacity in the future may be a non-starter, as Sony reps supposedly told Games Radar that the 20GB hard drive isn't upgradeable. With so many significant differences between the two configurations (and let's not forget the snazzy metallic lettering you get on the $600 models), it's not clear how many consumers are going to agree with Sony's Kaz Hirai that the "crippled" version of the console is a "good value" for them.Update: If it wasn't entirely clear, please bear in mind that until confirmed by Sony, the information contained herein concerning the controllers and hard drive falls squarely into the rumor camp.[Thanks, J and Ameya T.]
The PS3 controller that might have been
Gimmicky controllers are all the rage at this year's E3, so Fanatec's German-made PS2 Speedster fit right in. In fact, I consider it a sufficiently odd alternative for eccentrics disappointed by the miscarriage of Sony's PS3 boomerang design. The controller has a hinge that basically replaces left/right axis of the left analog stick, best used for driving games. Get the company to slap some motion sensing crap in it and it could have been the PS3 controller of Kutaragi's dreams.
Rumor: 360 wireless gaming receiver $20; wheel $130; headset $60; camera $40; Halo and Forza faceplates $20 [update 1]
Thanks to a reliable source from Microsoft, we've learned some important details about the new peripherals announced for the Xbox 360, including pricing and a few Halo faceplate (non)specifics. Check out the leaked info and prices below: 360 wireless gaming receiver (which enables wireless 360 controllers, headsets, and wheels on your PC): $20 Wireless racing wheel: $130 Wireless headset: $60 Xbox Live Vision Camera (with headset, one month of Live Gold, and one arcade -- presumably Xbox Live Arcade -- game): $40 New faceplates for Halo (with the Master Chief on 'em, but not Halo 3 specific) and Forza (no word on connections to the sequel): $20 each 256 MB portable memory unit (MU): no official price yet, but definitely not four times the cost of the older 64MB MU Besides acknowledging that the PC is "the biggest gaming device of all," MS appears to be setting an agressive price for its most relevant new PC accessory, the wireless gaming receiver (at least in comparison to the outrageously priced 360 wireless networking adapter). Unfortunately, no price was revealed as of yet for the USB-based HD-DVD add-on.We've speculated in our recent podcasts as to what would happen to the various 360 SKUs when price drops inevitably occur. An interesting theory bandied about by prolific Joystiq Contributor epobirs (on our earlier bump-to-256MB-MU post) was that a $20 price drop for the Core system, coupled with a $20 price drop on the 64MB MU, would finally allow folks to pick up a capable non-Premium bundle for the original $300 Core price point. (Not a bad way to undercut PS2 memory card prices, too.) We hope to get official confirmation on this info in the not-too-distant future.[Update: Sorry, had the camera price wrong in the headline; it now matches the price of the bundle listed in the body of the text below.]See also: 360's Mem Unit getting a bump to 256MB? (Comment from epobirs) Use 360 wireless peripherals with a PC Engadget & Joystiq's live coverage of Microsoft's Xbox 360 E3 event Joystiq / Engadget podcasts from Day One and Day Two of E3 2006
Cheaper PS3 loses HDMI, slots, Wi-Fi, 40GB
As you can see above, there are a few things different between the two PS3 SKUs planned. (Hint: the obvious alterations concern high-def output and wireless connectivity -- though Bluetooth controllers should work just fine with both, with or without any chrome case highlighting.)So what's HDMI, built-in multimedia card-reader slots, wireless internet connectivity, and an extra 40 gigabytes' hard disk space worth to you? $100? Now that Sony's gone with the 2-SKU approach with its next-gen hardware (a la the Xbox 360's premium and "Core" systems), we can expect some tough consumer choices after six months -- with console shortages possibly for another six months after that -- as $100 separates the base $499 and premium $599 versions of Sony's "Clear Black" hope.HDMI is important to those who want to take full advantage of Blu-ray high def and have the new screens to use it; MemoryStick, SD, and CompactFlash slots would be nice for the PS3 memory-card users and those will run multimedia on the system; Wi-Fi's the only way to avoid stringing ethernet cables for online access; and 360 owners might appreciate the full 60GB available to potential buyers of the premium PS3 model. Neither model comes with a second HDMI port; thankfully, one should hopefully be all most users need. The details are laid out in a feature-comparison table at the end of Sony's official PS3 hardware press release, available in both Adobe Reader and Microsoft Word formats. Determine what's most important to your PS3 ambitions there.[Image pieced together from the PlayStation.com forums; thanks, Guru]
PS3 pad loses DualShock name and vibration but picks up Wii-esque motion detection and wireless connectivity
In a shocking turn of events, the PS3 controller has gone from banamerang to wireless DualShock 3, except without the DualShock name and vibration.If you take a good look at the back of the new control pad (see the close-up above), you'll notice that the DualShock 2 brand name imprinted on the old controller has now been supplanted by a row of LED lights to show which input has been set, either wirelessly or via the wired USB recharge port. Sony's now the only name in-line for PS3 controllers either on the pad or in the press releases (see "the new PS3 controller").
PS3 boomerang controller tossed, doesn't come back
Despite sentimental appeal in the Australian market, Sony's initial "boomerang" PS3 controller always reeked of funky concept design for funky's own sake. Now that we know Sony "doesn't do gimmicks" (unless stolen from Nintendo) It's little wonder the "Croc" has been tossed, never to return.Here's to the last burst of creativity Sony ever had.
The Duke takes a dump
Ever wonder what would happen if the original Xbox controller, known 'round these parts as "The Duke," got together with the comparitively sleek Xbox 360 controller and didn't bother to use protection? Their bastard offspring might look like the MadCatz Microcon (pictured above in all its cuteness). If you're a toddler or a Keebler Elf, IGN's early review says the build quality is decent enough. Just remember what the Duke says about men with small hands.
Xbox 360 controller faceplates
Lik-Sang is now offering Xbox 360 controller faceplates in a variety of styles:There is an array of 7 colors available from kick-off, including bubblegum pink for the girlfriend (also recommended for gay cow-boys and metrosexual men who are so at ease with their sexuality that they are actually comfortable at shaving their torso plus their legs, at wearing pink shirts if not their wife's panties, and at engaging in other such weird activities that Cosmopolitan columnists and Vogue editors will regularly encourage or praise. For those not familiar with the trend, think "David Beckham" or "male fashion models" as illustrating example).Ok, not so sure about the marketing language, but the metallic silver one is cool and a good match for the chrome TeamXtender faceplate we noted earlier. Keep in mind that taking your controller apart voids the warranty, although the installation guide available down the page as a PDF makes the process look pretty painless.
Emerging tech conference looks at controller design
Tom Armitage delivered an interesting session at O'Reilly's Emerging Technology Conference last week called "From Paddles to Pads: Is Controller Design Killing Creativity in Videogames?" and we make money not art has taken the trouble of giving us a rough transcription. Armitage's presentation focused on the complexity of the modern gamepad, while finding salvation in the Revomote and various novelty controllers (Guitar Hero, Donkey Konga, Singstar Karaoke, Buzz, even Steel Battalion). Most interesting is that Armitage is not in the games industry, but rather a longtime gamer and, by extension, one who is presumably very comfortable with said designs. If you agree with Mr. Armitage's assessment, then Nintendo might lead their revolution from the inside out, attracting disaffected gamers as well as newly engaged onlookers. [Thanks, Eliot]
