Joystick
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XCM introduces Rumble Joystick and KO Adapter for PlayStation 3
Hot on the heels of XCM's Dominator joystick comes an even more irresistible iteration, making those that took the plunge in January inevitably jealous. The newfangled Rumble Joystick for PlayStation 3 isn't terribly different from the original... save for the fact that this one shakes, rattles and rolls, of course. Described as the world's first PS3 joystick to rumble natively, this bugger also packs four memory buttons for programming all sorts of sick, twisted macros alongside independent Rapid Fire and Turbo buttons. Moving on, we've got the all new XO Adapter for PS3, which adds support for macros, Rapid Fire and Turbo to any vanilla Dual Shock or SIXAXIS controller. There's no mention of pricing for either, but we suspect that'll change in the near future (like, real soon, given that they'll be shipping in under a month).Read - Rumble Joystick for PS3Read - XO Adapter for PS3
NES Joystick Test Cartridge lands on eBay, complete with lowest replay value ever
Not that we haven't seen some pretty crazy Nintendo gear fetch some pretty crazy prices on The Bay, but this is definitely amongst the weirdest. Shipping directly from the frigid tundras of Fairbanks, Alaska, this Joystick Test Cartridge for the Nintendo Entertainment System will undoubtedly spend a record low amount of time within your still kickin' NES console. Put simply, these carts were passed out to game stores for them to test out their NES machines, and after they were done, they were instructed to ship the cart back to the Mushroom Kingdom. Clearly, one renegade employee shoved it in his coat pocket and made a beeline for The Last Frontier. Surely all that's worth $1,050, right?[Via TechEBlog]
Video: ASUS Eee Stick demoed at CeBIT
We already gave you a sneak peek at ASUS' Eee Sticks yesterday, but we couldn't resist video taping a fellow giving these a go today. The not-at-all-familiar tennis title worked about like you'd expect it to (if you've ever played a Wii, that is), but judging by the pent up frustration we felt from over on the sidelines, the learning curve on these is a bit steeper than advertised. Just mash play to live vicariously through this dude.%Gallery-46719%
ASUS shows off Eee Stick at CeBIT
Just in case you missed the ASUS barrage from earlier this morning, we'll bring you back up to speed while also showing off another fun gizmo the company drug to Hannover. The motion sensing Eee Sticks were on hand at CeBIT, and in varying colors to boot. We were too bashful to get a video of ourselves playing in the demo rig the company had set up, but we're making it our mission to coerce other attendees to have a go and let us film them tomorrow. 'Til then, have a look at the stationary Sticks below.%Gallery-46440%
Mad Catz: 'well under 50' complaints about FightSticks
Mad Catz's Alex Verrey issued an official response to the reports of defects in its standard edition Street Fighter IV FightSticks, admitting that there is in fact an issue, though it "does NOT happen on each Arcade FightStick and has been reported on a small number of units." The statement confirms that the "sticky joystick" issue is related to a metal washer moving out of place. While Verrey says that the issue is simple to fix, he suggests contacting Mad Catz for repairs to avoid voiding the warranty.Verrey told 1UP that the number of complaints received by Mad Catz numbered "well under 50," and that the issue has "blown out of proportion." When asked about the connection between the FightStick issue and a recent drop in Mad Catz's stock price, Verrey responded that "It is my personal belief that the notion that this issue (Which has only surfaced in the last 48 hours or so) has in any way affected our company's stock price is slightly fanciful to say the least." We also doubt that a tiny, angry contingent of the Street Fighter community somehow performed the Guile handcuffs on Mad Catz's stock.%Gallery-40901%
XCM Dominator PS3 joystick out this week
Here's an alternative to those Mad Catz pads for fighting game fans. The XCM Dominator Joystick for PS3 is due for release sometime this week, according to Engadget. It's a stylish looking pad with some common tricks such as Rapid Fire and Turbo Modes, but it also has four memory buttons which can each be programmed to execute combos of up to 20 moves. It also doubles as a nightlight. The Dominator is $89.99 and is available for pre-order here.[Via Engadget]
XCM Dominator joystick for PlayStation 3 ships next week for $89.99
Well tell ya, these cats at XCM really know how to craft some irresistible gear. After making us wait seven painstaking months for a new gadget to drool over, the creators of the Mega-Cool component-to-VGA converter have announced that the Dominator Joystick for PlayStation 3 is all set to ship next week. The highly programmable arcade-style stick includes a Combo Attacker and Rapid Fire mode for borderline cheating, and the four memory buttons enable macros to be stored and kept at arm's reach. Of course, a gaming joystick wouldn't be a gaming joystick without a superabundance of blue LEDs, so you'll certainly find those there as well. You can toss in your pre-order now if you'd like, but make sure you've got $89.99 free and clear before doing so.[Via Slashgear]
NetDevil producer discusses the Jumpgate Evolution experience
Space-based massively multiplayer games are few and far between, in an industry dominated by dragons, monsters, swords, and all the other mainstays of the fantasy genre. Of course there are a few prominent examples of sci-fi MMOs on the market, most notably EVE Online which seems to be holding its own in a fantasy-fixated industry. But EVE is a particular type of game that doesn't quite meet the needs of those sci-fi fans who want a more visceral combat experience. Jumpgate Evolution, which is in development at NetDevil, may well be a title that provides that style of play gamers want in a sci-fi MMO. Indeed, Jumpgate Evolution is introducing an old favorite to the sci-fi MMO genre -- the joystick.But there's certainly a lot more to Jumpgate Evolution than its dogfighting. Jim Rossignol from Eurogamer caught up with Hermann Peterscheck, the Producer of Jumpgate Evolution, and spoke with him about some of the core concepts of the title, its mission (quest) system, and objective-based PvP. Peterscheck also walks the reader through what the new player experience will be like when beginning Jumpgate Evolution. If you're interested in hearing more about Jumpgate Evolution and how its gameplay is going to differ from a title like EVE Online, head on over to Rossignol's Eurogamer interview with Hermann Peterscheck.
Mad Catz Street Fighter IV joysticks surface for PS3
We at Engadget will always have a special place in our hearts for Street Fighter, and if you can't help but agree, you might be unable to resist picking up one of these. Mad Catz has introduced a new pair of joysticks for Sony's PlayStation 3: the Street Fighter IV FightStick Tournament Edition and the Street Fighter IV FightStick. The first will only be available in "very limited quantities," and it'll pack the exact Sanwa joystick and 30-millimeter buttons found in the official Street Fighter IV arcade machine; the latter is a more commoditized version with a more vanilla 'stick and plain jane buttons. Both devices are scheduled to ship on February 20th of next year, with pricing set at $149.99 and $69.99, respectively.[Via PS3 Fanboy]Read - Street Fighter IV FightStick Tournament EditionRead - Street Fighter IV FightStick
15 Minutes of Fame: Disabled player goes hands on with joystick
15 Minutes of Fame is our look at World of Warcraft players of all shapes and sizes – from the renowned to the relatively anonymous, the remarkable to the player next door. Tip us off to players you'd like to hear more about.Back in October, we posted a way for players with hand dexterity issues to play WoW using a joystick. Inspired by WoW Insider posts about playing WoW with a Wii remote and playing WoW while exercising on a treadmill, reader Aaron Stacey submitted an ingenious script in hopes of helping others with similar disabilities. The keystone of his strategy: GlovePie, a Windows freeware emulator that was originally written for virtual reality gloves. GlovePie allows gamers to play any game with any type of controller, from joysticks to gamepads, mice, keyboards and Wiimotes.This month, 15 Minutes of Fame swings back around to speak with Aaron and learn more about he combines gaming with a physical disability.
World of Warcraft Molten Core raid for ATARI becomes reality
Earlier this year, Blizzard won the prank wars with Molten Core, a faux ATARI game based on World of Warcraft's Molten Core raid complete with eight directions of movement, glorious 2D graphics and, yes, sound. We bet you thought that was just a joke, and that everyone would have forgotten about it after a week had gone by, but guess what? It's back, and this time it's real!Gamer's University made a "port" of the ATARI game for WIndows PCs, and it includes all that was promised in Blizzard's trailer. One player plays as a priest, the other as a warrior, and each has eight movement directions and one action button (heal for the priest, attack for the warrior) with which to defeat the ten bosses. Hard to believe people used to pay big bucks for these sorts of games, isn't it?[Via Eurogamer]
Tatsunoko vs. Capcom arcade stick on the way, but not from Hori
We fully expected Japanese accessory company Hori to release a version of their Fighting Stick Wii with Tatsunoko vs. Capcom art. They frequently release branded versions of their less expensive (as in, not Real Arcade Pro) sticks to coincide with new fighting games. But another company somehow got the deal with Capcom, and plans to release Classic Controller-compatible sticks both with and without Tatsunoko artwork this year. Exar, the company responsible for the Wii Neo Geo Stick 2, will release the EXARSTICK on November 27 for 5229 yen ($54) and the TATSUNOKO VS. CAPCOM STICK on December 11 for 6279 yen ($65). The only differences between the two seem to be cosmetic: in addition to the obvious artwork differences, the buttons and outer casing on the Tatsunoko stick are different colors than those in the plain stick, which is Wii white and blue with Super Famicom-color buttons.We don't know how this compares to the Fighting Stick in terms of quality -- at these prices, we don't expect either to use genuine arcade parts -- but at least it looks like something that needs to be sitting on our coffee table right now.%Gallery-32421%
How to play WoW with a joystick
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/pc_games/How_to_play_WoW_with_a_joystick_WOW_Insider'; Reader Aaron Stacey wrote to tell us about a simple new script he's developed that allows him to play WoW more fluidly, despite having little fine dexterity control in his right hand. Since a spinal cord injury, he is only able to grasp and release his hand. Prior to developing this script, Aaron used to play only with his left hand using "an abundance of key binds and keyboard/mouse switching." He was restricted to caster classes because of the difficulty in moving and attacking at the same time.Inspired by our Wii remote post and our treadmill post, Aaron came up with an ingenious idea that he hopes will help others with similar disabilities. The key is GlovePie, a piece of Windows freeware (donations welcome) originally written for virtual reality gloves, which allows you to play any game using any type of controller you like. GlovePie's website lists controllers like joysticks, gamepads, mice, keyboards, and Wiimotes, among a host of other hardware.Find out how to do it yourself after the break.
Overheard@E3: 'You guys did a cover for us, right?'
Le sigh. A sincere question coming from the developers of acrobatic Gears of Civil War shooter, Damnation, once again brings us in direct competition with longtime Joystiq nemesis and mistaken alternate identity, Joystick Magazine. "You guys did a cover for us, right?" asks a member of Blue Omega Entertainment, unaware of our disdain for paper and our geographical avoidance of France.Being mistaken for Joystick has become one of our favorite trade show traditions (does it happen to them too?), if only for the ironic reminder that the Joystiq with a "q" is the one that isn't French.
The most unwieldy Wii arcade stick ever
Dream Arcades sells complete PC arcade cabinet kits meant for use with MAME and official arcade compilations; they also sell kits without PCs so you can use your own -- or the console of your choice. The company has announced that all of their kits, which start at $589 and top out at a heavy-in-quarters $4000 (for a system that includes a projector) will now include support for every current console, including, of course, the Wii -- via console-specific adapters sold separately.You're totally welcome to stand in front of an arcade cabinet (or sit down at one of the cocktail units) and waggle -- in fact, now that we think about it, both arcade cabinets and Wii motion controls lend themselves to standing. But the real attraction here is the ability to play Virtual Console games on a real arcade cabinet, with real arcade controls.Well, sort of real arcade controls. Instead of the high-quality Sanwa or Seimitsu buttons and joysticks that arcade stick nerds prefer, Dream Arcades uses cheaper knockoffs of Happ parts, which are already considered inferior. Most people won't care, but if you're dropping $1200+ on one of these, you might want to look into some replacement parts.[Via GoNintendo]
Prototype iControlPad proves itself on video
Hah, did you really have the nerve to doubt CraigIX? The iPhone gamepad add-on that we heard about just last week is already inching closer to reality, and there's a video to prove it. In the somewhat unexciting clip posted up after the jump, you'll see a PCB mockup of the device doing its thang, though it's quite inelegant in its current form. If you just needed one more something to boost your interest / confidence that this critter was real, you know where to head.[Via zodttd]
This is what the Neo Geo Stick 2 looks like
As much as we'd love to import one of these gorgeous arcade sticks -- modeled after the original Neo Geo AES arcade stick -- $59.90, not including steep shipping fees for the 4+ lb. controller, is just too rich for our blood, especially since it's only compatible with a limited selection of Wii games. For Virtual Console games, however, this would be the business. For now, we'll just have to live through David Spreckley who bought one of these sticks from an Akihabara shop and posted photos of the unboxed product online to torment jealous gamers. Down, Down Forward, Forward + Punch past the post break for another glamour shot of the Neo Geo Stick 2.
Two useless accessories become one
CYBER Gadget has made significant technological strides in the field of unnecessary Wii accessories, combining two of the least helpful accessories in one package. The CYBER Smash Grip combines a Wiimote controller grip thing with a D-pad thumbstick cover, and adds (as a bonus!) a thing that makes the A button stick out more for some reason.If we were going to get some kind of controller for, uh, Smashing, we're pretty sure we'd go ahead and spend the extra for a Classic Controller instead of dropping 1,280 yen ($12.75) for this thing. Not that this thing is being marketed with Brawl in mind or anything. "Smash Grip" is just a catchy name, right?[Via GAME Watch]
Custom-built Xbox 360 joystick gets lit with LEDs
Oh yeah, we've seen homegrown Xbox 360 joysticks that we would love to wrap our digits around, but ShaolinDrunkard's latest creation is almost too pretty to touch -- almost. The Xbox 360 Classic Led joystick sports the prototypical stick / button layout, but also includes that iconic green swirl and a smattering of lovely LEDs to really get the oohs and ahhs flowing. The handmade oak chassis isn't too shabby, either, and as much as we'd love to see these being offered up to those with more dollars than creative genius, we've all ideas this is a one-of-a-kind. Tap the read link for a few more pics.[Via technabob]
Researchers tout progress with maglev joystick, aim to bring it to market
Maglev technology may be best know for its use in trains (and the odd wind turbine), but a group of researchers led by Carnegie Mellon University's Ralph Hollis have some ideas of their own for it, with them now touting a so-called "maglev joystick" that they hope to bring to market. That, they say, can provide increased feedback compared to a standard joystick, and offer an alternative to complicated gloves and robotic interfaces. Key to that, obviously, is a whole bunch of electromagnets, which are concealed in the bowl pictured above and allow the "joystick" to levitate, while also providing resistance when it's moved in any direction. Needless to say, there's no indication as to when the joystick might actually be available, but Hollis has recently formed a company, Butterfly Haptics, with just that as its goal, and it'll apparently soon be shipping six of the joysticks to a consortium of US and Canadian universities for testing.
