The pads and mods on flickr

The interesting thing about flickr is the amount of pics people show of their mods and rare controllers.

The most interesting find is this large NES controller in early progress.


Not much info as yet, but hopefully a Nes version of the SNES version posted on here last month. The modder mrdodd, has also put up a mp3 player inside a nes controller.
What ever the case we'll keep you posted.

Some other interesting pictures of this agetec Dreamcast stick mod, by zapeipaa.




"I switched the crappy joystick for a Seimitsu LS-32-02 and I love it so far. This is the guide I used (thanks to GaijinP for the link):

www.geocities.co.jp/AnimeComic-Name/4989/dc/dc.html

The guy uses a Sanwa stick, which is smaller. I had to cut off all plastic around to mount the LS-32-02. Also, the Seimitsu harness has different colors, so I had to do trial and error to find which wire to attach to which. Thanks to the landlord who lent me his awesome tools, without them I couldn't have done it."

MeWe reveals new Quad Charger for your Wiimotes

Those of you looking for a rechargeable solution to your Wiimote's power needs, manufacturer MeWe has just come up with a new device: the Quad Charger. As you can see above, it includes LEDs to let you know the power status of your recharging Wiimotes, as well as the capacity to charge four simultaneously. And, of course, it comes with four rechargeable packs (Ni-MH).

The MeWe Quad Charger is currently available and costs $49.95.
Source Nintendo wii fanboy.

NES Controller Socket Lets You Control Your Mods with Nostalgia

Parallax has just released their NES controller socket to the delights of modders everywhere. Instead of forcing them to chop up an old NES to get the 7-pin socket, Parallax has made it available for only $2 on their site. The NES controller would be great for all kinds of little projects, from robots to old-school gaming devices, and we're really looking forward to seeing what inventive modders can do with the humble and much-loved controller.
Source Dcemu.

Thrustmaster thrusts Wii Glow Saber, Dual Trigger Gun accessories in our direction

It's admittedly difficult to take a company named Thrustmaster seriously (especially on casual Friday), but given that it has recently pumped out what are likely the two best Wiimote accessories of all time, we'll give it a pass this go 'round. Speaking of, we'd like to point out that these two have been around the block a time or two, but that doesn't make the red and blue dueling Glow Sabers (each packing 17 LEDs, mind you) and the Dual Trigger Gun (complete with Nunchuck holster!) any less gnarly. The Glow Saber 2-pack is available right about now for $34.99, while the Dual Trigger Gun (shown after the break) should land in short order for $17.99.
Source Engadget.

Thrustmaster Dual Trigger Gun NW Hands-On

Thrustmaster's latest attempt at conquering the Zapper product type, the Dual Trigger Gun NW, has taken the idea and built upon it slightly by adding an optional Nunchuk holder attachment for improved ergonomics and enhanced efficiency. Instead of having to hold the Nunchuk out to the side and lose a significant amount of steadiness to the gun itself, the Nunchuk attachment mounts to the left of the gun like an additional handle. The biggest marketing point of the Dual Trigger Gun NW is simply that—its dual trigger. Built into the handle of the gun is a rectangular trigger that serves as an alternative to using the main trigger. Ultimately, however, the rectangular trigger is more responsive than the main trigger, which often becomes stuck and fails to fire at all.

When we tried it with the awesomely bad Wii-shooter Target Terror, the Dual Trigger Gun NW would have only been more ineffective if we had the TV turned off. AIMing with the device was simple, however, both of the shooting mechanisms required a sizable amount of applied force to get even the slowest sprays of fire. For a gun whose sole marketability is based on added speed and ergonomics, Thrustmaster's Dual Trigger Gun NW fails by all measurable standards.
Source IGN

Samba de Amigo - more maracas shell pics

Sega has just unveiled, at le Festival du Jeu video in Paris, the final version of the red maracas that will be used for Samba de Amigo Wii for the Wii, released today in Europe. Sega has confirmed to Gamekyo that a special bundle 'Samba de Amigo Wii + 4 maracas' will be available in about one month from now.
Source gamekyo.

Nova explodes your brain with the Slider X 600 gaming mouse and OVER Slide pad

If you're having trouble choosing which gaming mouse to sink your teeth into next, here's a newbie to add to the ever growing pile: the Nova Slider X 600. Not surprisingly, it's tethered to a "recommended" mouse pad -- a cornerstone product for this French based company. As for the laser mouse it features "indestructible" super-glide ceramic feet for speed and precision, along with 8 programmable buttons, a gold-plated USB connector, five luminous color options, and a cable that is notably positioned to the side. The 16.5-inch x 11.5-inch "OVER Slide" mouse pad boasts a 12,000 dpi ceramic surface, and promises "zero lag and optimal conditions" for the laser -- you know, way better than that magazine you've been using. The mouse and pad can be had for $99.99 and $39.99 respectively this November.
Source Engadget.

Mad Catz Rock Band Portable Drum Kit Review

Lets face it, the Rock Band series is based entirely upon the idea that people will be playing with friends, coworkers, or in certain party situations, other inebriated individuals. But despite being so multiplayer-centric, Rock Band requires a lot of hardware—guitar controllers, cables, microphones, and drum kits. While the guitar controllers can be carried around in one piece, the drum kit controllers must be either lugged around as one jarring unit, or broken down into several pieces. In either case, a Rock Band drummer on the go is a hard thing to be. Fortunately, the developers over at Mad Catz have posed a solution to the plight of the traveling virtual percussionist: the Rock Band Portable Drum Kit.

As part of Mad Catz's impressive series of licenses with Harmonix to produce some of the world's first Rock Band 2 accessories, Mad Catz has assembled one of the more truly unique products to come out of the franchise. By essentially breaking the Rock Band drum kit's components down to the absolute necessities--drum pads, control pod, kick pedal, and sticks—Mad Catz has made not only traveling with the kit easy, but storing it as well. The drum pads can be stacked for maximum space efficiency and portability, and the included wires are coiled to minimize cable-clutter. Taking the portability sentiment a step further, both of the included drumsticks unscrew into two pieces.

More here.

de Blob dev not down with MotionPlus

ick Hager, producer on de Blob, isn't too jazzed at the idea of MotionPlus. It's not that he doesn't like the tech, he just has a problem seeing the majority of people that enjoy Wii on a regular basis want to play with the new peripheral.

"While it's definitely intellectually stimulating from a development perspective to play with those ideas - and I think it does appeal to a set of gamers out there - I think the majority of people that play on the Wii want something very simple that they can just immediately get their heads around," Hagger said. Does he mean the casual crowd that bought Wii Fit and played it once? Is he talking about the people that nabbed the system only for Wii Sports?
Source Nintendo wii fanboy

Is 1:1 movement really that much of a leap for the casual crowd that are looking for a simple experience? We'd think not, because it's basically the same deal: moving the Wiimote to afftect things in-game. That's what got most into the console in the first place, so if the tech works a bit better, how is it deterring the extremely casual crowd away from the system?

Gyration Is Back With... Another Air Mouse...

Remember Gyration's range of 'air mice'? They didn't do too well in the UK and the company seems to have adopted an almost shameful silence over the last couple of years.

With no mention towards its previous foray in this area it seems to be trying again, and in the hope that we forgot why we didn't buy them a few years ago has released a new Air Mouse device to the UK market.

In case you don't know, Gyration devices typically adopted a Wii-style system by using in-air motion tracking to control a mouse cursor on screen.

They're designed primarily for business professionals to help them conduct presentations from afar but have a reasonable claim for offering a bit more control in the home media market, much like yesterday's rather more straightforward remote control.

However with Gyration's device you can use flicks of the wrist to invoke certain commands and it uses RF technology which means it'll work up to 100 feet away and through walls (why do we need to know that?).

The Air Mouse with Motionsense is available from October for a recommended retail price of £69.99, and you can find out more from the link below.
gyration
Source gizmodo.

Tiny keyboard with retractable USB cord

Either this hand model has some serious glandular issues or that, my friends, is a tiny keyboard. The aptly-named “Super Tiny Keyboard” from Brando is probably aimed at keyboard-less UMPC owners? Maybe for in-car PCs? Whatever the case, it’s got a USB zip-cord, so whatever device you plug it into will have to have a working USB port – so cell phones and PDAs are out.

Actual dimensions are 6.7 x 2.9 x 0.6 inches.
Source crunch gear.

How to Use the Playstation 3 Controller in Windows Vista

Hardcoreware writes, "So after picking up an emulator (I opted for Nestopia, which works very well in Vista by the way) I had to find a controller. As it turns out, I am very picky about controllers, especially for playing older games. When I play an NES game, I want something that is as close to an NES controller as possible. When I play SNES, I want a SNES controller. That’s why I love the Wii Remote and Classic Controller so much; they do a very good job of emulating the feel of the originals (I just wish we could remap the buttons on the Classic, so we can use Y and B as B and A - if you’ve played Super Mario All Stars on SNES, you will know what I mean).

But for the PC, decent controllers are few and far between. There are custom controllers out there - NES and SNES controllers converted to USB that natively support the latest operating systems. Cheap adapters are out there as well; everything from the NES controller to the DualShock 2 can be used with these. I needed one now though, and my choices were the XBOX 360 controller (no thanks, that cross pad is absolutely wretched), the gamepad that came with the Foxconn GeForce 7950 GT we reviewed last year (appreciate that they threw it in, but the cross pad is even worse than the 360’s), or one of my Playstation 3 controllers - DualShock 3 and original SixAxis. These controllers are pretty much perfect, as they have a nice cross pad feel, and a layout similar to the SNES.

If you’ve tried to install a SixAxis or DualShock 3 on a Windows Vista PC, I think you know where I’m going with this. It is actually identified in the Game Controllers section of the control panel, but doesn’t seem to accept button inputs."

Source hardcoreware.

Nyko Wing hands-on: we still suck at Mega Man

We just never got the hang of that little blue robotic man, with his arm-blaster and his wall jumping and his awesome friends, and the Nyko Wing helped none at all: we managed to kill they guy about five seconds after picking up the controller. Still, it's a nice little chunk of plastic. It's much more natural in the hand than that funky Classic Controller, and seems rather high-quality for a Nyko product, but the d-pad is too mushy for our taste, and the whole assembly seems a tad too light. Either way, we're sticking with Mario.
Source engadget.

New charger sends power to batteries through Wii Remote jackets

Teknocreations has unveiled their InCharge battery pack and charge stand for Wiimotes. The new stand uses a set of lithium polymer batteries, which, according to the press release, are half as heavy as other rechargeables and work over hundreds of charges. Each charge provides 25 hours of gameplay. The stand can charge two Wiimotes side-by-side.

But all of that is just a leadup to the real magic trick that separates this thing from other chargers: it charges without any metal contacts, and will charge a battery through a silicone cover. If you actually use your Wii Remote Jackets, you can leave them on when you dock your Wiimotes to charge. That is really, really cool. No word on whether or not this charger will melt your controllers.
Source Nintendo wii fanboy

Activision giving away free guitar with World Tour preorders

Even though we regard Activision as greedy for its approach to downloadable content and subscription models, we have to confess we're impressed by Guitar Hero World Tour's preorder gift of a totally free guitar.

The company just announced the scheme, but don't get too excited, because there are a couple of disclaimers to this. One: as far as we can tell, this is currently a UK-only offer (one that includes all online and high street retailers). Two: you do have to buy the full band set, which is currently going for around £150 at most online stores; still, this does allow you to have a bass player in your band from the get-go. Here, Activision, have some props from us.
Source Nintendo wii fanboy.

ITC to probe Wii patent violation claims

A US manufacturer’s recent claim that four of its patents for on-screen navigation and control technology have been infringed by the Wii are to be formally investigated by a US trade body.

The US International Trade Commission (ITC) has voted to investigate Hillcrest Laboratories’ allegations – made in a recently filed lawsuit - that Nintendo has violated three patents Hillcrest owns relating to a “handheld three-dimensional pointing device” and a fourth for a “navigation interface display system that graphically organises content for display on television”.

The ITC said that the complaint alleges “violations of section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930” and that it relates to “certain videogame machines and related three-dimensional pointing devices”.

Initially, the ITC's Chief Administrative Law Judge will assign the case to one of the ITC's five administrative law judges, who will hold an evidentiary hearing.

The selected judge will then make an initial decision over whether there is a violation of section 337, after which the ITC will make a final decision over the lawsuit’s merits.

Hillcrest’s hoping for an exclusion order and a cease and desist order, which if successful could see the Wii and/or the Remote and Nunchuck controllers banned from sale in the US and from being imported into the country.

Getting the ITC in on the act is a commonplace tactic used by US companies who allege that a foreign company has riden roughshod over their intellectual property rights. It's often seen as a quicker way of getting a result than waiting for the case to come to a conclusion in the courts.

Charlie Scibetta, a spokesman for Nintendo of America, has already claimed that none of the videogame pioneer's products infringe Hillcrest Laboratories’ patents. Nintendo plans to “vigorously defend” its position, he said

Let the fight begin...

Source The register.

New Samba De Amigo trailer, no sign of maracas

The new Samba De Amigo trailer is out, complete with a break dancing chimp!
But what is interesting, no actual maracas addon, just a standard Wiimote, and nunchuk setup, not a rattle anywhere...well apart from the chimp, which pretty much goes to confirm that there will be no official addons from sega, i'm guessing we're going to have to go unofficial as reported earlier this week.

Nintendo facing lawsuit over Wii - again

A lawsuit has been filed against Nintendo by a US-based firm, which claims that the Wii tramples over four patents for on-screen navigation and control technology.

Hillcrest Labs owns three patents relating to a “handheld three-dimensional pointing device” and another for a “navigation interface display system that graphically organises content for display on television”.

Exactly how Nintendo is supposed to have ridden roughshod over Hillcrest’s patents isn't yet clear, but it's believed the lawsuit is likely to focus on the console’s Remote and Nunchuck units, rather than the Classic Controller - which has already been the subject of a patent infringement action brought against Nintendo.

Hillcrest’s patents are believed to relate to its HoME and Freespace technologies. HoME enables consumer electronics manufacturers to create interactive digital media products for, say, TVs. Applications made with HoME are used in conjunction with Freespace, which allows devices like remote controls and PC mice to be turned into three-dimensional motion-sensitive pointers.

Nintendo hasn’t said anything publically about Hillcrest’s lawsuit yet, but this isn’t the first time the Wii has faced legal problems.

Last month, a US judge rejected Nintendo's attempt to avoid a $21m pay-out awarded against it over the design of its Wii Classic Controller.

In 2006, Nintendo found itself on the receiving end of a lawsuit alleging that the Wii’s Remote ripped off another patent owned by US firm Interlink Electronics for a “trigger-operated electronic device”. That case is thought to be ongoing.
SourceThe Register.

Wii want what you have

The motion controller is an integral part of the Nintendo Wii’s point of difference. Now PS3 and Xbox 360 are looking to change that.

When it comes to next-generation gaming, each of the three contenders has its own unique way to pitch their respective consoles. Sony can push the superior graphics potential and storage capacity of the PS3, Microsoft can highlight the Xbox 360s impressive selection of games and accessories, while Nintendo has the family-friendly Wii that revolves around motion control gaming. Now it looks as though Sony and Microsoft are looking to dull down Nintendo’s point of difference.

In2Games has released the first image of its proposed upcoming and familiar looking motion controller for the PS3 and Xbox 360. The Wii Nunchuk Xbox 360 and PS3 motion controller claims to operate through "proprietary and cutting-edge patent-pending ultrasonic technology". It will be interesting to see if this “patent-pending” product can get approval considering how similar in design and concept it is to the clever Wii controller.

If this product is approved however, PS3 and Xbox 360 gamers have no need to rush out just yet to buy one so they can play the latest in next-gen games with motion control. The only game that is supported currently is the (surprise, surprise) In2Games title Squeeballs.

If this patent is approved on the In2Games remote, it would be great to see some PS3 and Xbox 360 titles provide support for the motion controller. The Force Unleashed anyone?
Source gadgetzone.

Peter Moore: Iwata brought out the Wii controller and we said, “What the hell is that?”

Videogaming247 writes.
More completely frankness from the Moore. This time, he’s admitted that he and Robbie Bach were baffled by Wii’s controller, but knew Nintendo would come back despite the GameCube’s death.

“I was in Tokyo when Iwata-san brought the controller out and said, ‘here it is!’ and we were all going, ‘what the hell is that?”. I was with Robbie and I remember going ‘I don’t know… it’s different’. But we knew that they were too good a company to lose twice in a row,” he said.

“But even then it was all about Sony, it was not about Nintendo, because they were so down and out – it’s very difficult to think now, it was four years ago. You just couldn’t picture that four or five years ago. GameCube was just… dying. The Revolution as it was called, we knew it couldn’t be anything powerful. It was in the days when Sony and ourselves were saying it’s all about hi-def, it’s all about 5.1 sound, it’s all about 1080i, and they said it’s about a GameCube 1.5 and you’re going to wave this stick around and have a lot of fun.”

This was featured in the forth part of the guardian interview.

Guitar Hero pedal controller in action

Ben Heck writes, Aside from the 2 I built for a show back in May, the 3rd pedal demonstrated below is the first I’ve actually built by request for a customer. He knew the secret to getting a Ben project - diligent (yet not annoying) emails and patience! Plus he can play Guitar Hero on Hard, something I cannot. (Rock Band, yes)

Click here to check it out on YouTube…

In other related news the Access Controller should be arriving for shipment sometime next week… more details to come.

PS3 FPS Controller Invades Tokyo

SplitFish AG (SplitFish), the world's premiere designer of PlayStation 3 first-person-shooter (FPS) console controllers, announced that it will be showing off its award-winning FragFX v.2 at the TOKYO GAME SHOW 2008, October 9th-12th, 2008 at Makuhari Messe in Tokyo, Japan. On hand to put the FragFX v.2 through its paces will be one of the top FPS players in the world. Members of the media and other visitors to the Splitfish booth will be able to test their skill and get game playing tips from this pro.

Xbr-TV

Another Look At Konami's Rock Revolution Drums

It was refreshing to sit down at an actual drum set this time around after trying get by with nothing but air a few days ago. After jamming out to a few songs with them, I have to say these are better than the original four-head Rock Band drum set. Now, that's not to say the RB2 or Guitar Hero sets won't better (and they probably will), but I like the setup of these drum heads much better. It's too bad, however, the actual game makes drumming on this particular set very frustrating.

For the drum set itself, it's really nice and sturdy. You can store the sticks right into the side, and the pedal is solid and has some weight to it. What I like the most is how the yellow snare head is sort of in the middle and much larger than the other ones. It's the head you'll be hitting most and it fits more naturally right in front of you like a real set. The other heads are positioned correctly as well, but I'm not really feeling how the cymbals aren't floating like they should be. It's makes it a bit hard to focus on the notes when you might end up missing the cymbals all together since they're small. But these are minor complaints compared to the gameplay.

Read more at kotaku

So What Happened to the Newton Xbox 360 Motion Controller?

It has been a while since I have typed the name "Newton” as in the semi-secret Xbox 360 motion controller wand project. So what happened to Newton?

There are two possibilities:
1. It was delayed and they are still working on it. Either the software or games is not ready.
2. It was canceled and it will never reach market. They might have decided that it was not going to work in the Xbox accessory lineup.

At PAX 08 all of the Microsoft folks that I talked to would clam up at the mention of the Newton code name. I have no doubt that the Newton project is either still going on or was real at one point before being put on hold or canceled out right. I have seen evidence of them building hardware and I think that they invested more resources than if it was just a research and development project.

They unveiled that the game Ninja Blade does not use the Newton controller nor does Banjo Kazooie : Nuts and Bolts. Also the fact that they are making another Sceen It! game that will ship with the Big Button controller is another sign that the Newton is not on track.

They might end up using the research from the Newton project on project Phoenix (the third generation Xbox AKA 720) or it might be introduced in 2009.

The Opus motherboard is out, they are working on Valhalla, Lips is out soon but not every video game hardware project in development makes it to market. I am still waiting for that Super Nintendo CD-Rom drive.

Source 8bitjoystick

Games will have to be programmed to support new Xbox 360 LE controller improvements

At last month's Leipzig Games Convention, Konami mentioned that a new Xbox 360 limited-edition controller would be coming to Europe. The company's spokesperson said that the green controller would be released alongside Pro Evolution Soccer 2009, and it was unveiled alongside the game at the show.

The Xbox 360 controller has received criticism for its directional pad, which is why this new pad sees a 16-way upgrade. That's up from the eight directions on the regular pad, although everything else on the joypad remains the same as before.

According to Microsoft, the new limited-edition green wireless controller offers "enhancements to D pad functionality, which will add to the experience of playing games where the D pad is the primary control mechanism." While only Pro Evo has been announced as supporting the new pad, various rumours suggest other games may offer support, including Street Fighter IV; however, when we spoke to Capcom about the matter, it declined to comment.

We tried the new controller at Leipzig 2008 and found it was fairly difficult to notice the difference. In office tests on Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 and Forza Motorsport 2, the control pad performed at the same standard as regular controllers on both games. It appears that games will have to be programmed to support the new pad or retrospectively offer downloadable updates.

Source gamespot

HP goes wild with new mice and keyboards

We know -- there's a certain sect of you out there that just goes bonkers whenever a new mouse and / or keyboard is released. Unfortunately, we'll be catering to the other 99% with this one. Alongside a few new laptops, a new desktop and a pair of digiframes, HP is also unveiling a whole host of input peripherals this evening. Up first is the HDX Laser Mouse, which features five programmable buttons, on-the-fly DPI switching up to 2,400, five individual setting profiles and USB 2.0 connectivity. Next up is the Wireless Comfort Desktop, which includes a spill-resistant Wireless Comfort Keyboard, a Wireless Vector Mouse (800 DPI), a USB wireless receiver and four AA batteries (imagine that!). Last, we've got the Laser Gaming Mouse with VoodooDNA, which cranks the DPI up to 3,200 and includes VoodooDNA GUI software. As for pricing, you're looking at $39.99, $79.99 and $59.99 in order of mention.
Source engadget

Samba maracas are unofficial, which probably means no bundle

Samba de Amigo ships out next week and we're still scrambling over the maracas situation. We once thought that a retailer's mocked-up bundle box was proof that a maracas peripheral would be bundled with the game, but that image was taken down and, in fact, Sega denied that a peripheral would be produced. And then that statement was seemingly excised from the original source. And then actual pictures appeared of some Wii maracas, along with standalone retail listings. It's been a bit confusing.

It would appear that you'll be paying an extra $14.99 for the first set of maracas and not the second, because looking at the box, it is quite clear that these Wii maracas are not official Sega products. Gamestop lists them as being produced by Cokem International. That, and the fact that no retailer mentions a bundle (and the fact that Sega said they weren't making any) makes it very likely that you'll get a disc with Samba and nothing else.

The good news is that it's basically just a bulb with a Wiimote-shaped slot (and hopefully some rattly stuff inside), and so it doesn't really matter who makes the thing.
Source Nintendo Wii Fanboy

PS3 and Xbox to get Wii-style Nunchuck

In2Games today unveiled Gametrak Freedom, a handheld “ultrasonic 3D motion sensing” controller that enables gamers to play motion-capture games on either console. The controller looks like the Wii’s Nunchuck, but sports four PS3-style buttons and what looks like a microphone cover on the tip.

The system comprises a base unit, which attaches to either console through a spare USB port, and the Gametrak Freedom controller itself. The base unit’s comprised of two sensor bars, which can either be attached to the TV or mounted on included stands.

Gametrak Freedom communicates with the base unit through unmentioned “ultrasonic and RF technologies”, tracking the gamer’s movements with a three-axis accelerometer.

Squeeballs, a bizarre game akin to Wii Sports, is the only title to have announced as compatible with the controller so far.

The Gametrak Freedom controller is expected to launch at some point next year.
Source The Register

Whatever happened to this interesting PS3 handheld controller from Sony?

Maxconsole writes, Way back in 2006, Sony filed a patent (uspto.gov) for a handheld computer interactive device. The 3D game controller was designed to be held in your hands and can capture all your palm and finger movements, and then transmit them as commands into your PS3 or PC. The patent also reveals that it features tactile feedback. But we have not heard anything about this interesting concept for quite some time, who knows when Sony may strike with it if ever...

Official Xbox 360 Red controller and charge kit coming end of September - $65

Maxconsole states, "On September 30th, a new limited edition Red wireless Xbox 360 controller and play and charge kit bundle will be available across The States. The bundle will be on sale for $65 and the unique features of this compared to the blue and pink colors is that it is a "Limited Edition red finish, with newly designed black accents." Ooh, black accents :)!"

That would be that then.

Joystiq sticks-on: Final thoughts on the ION Drum Rocker

Since our initial impressions, we've had a few weeks to get used to the ION Drum Rocker set (a variant of the Alesis DM5 Pro set -- pedal, cymbals, pads/hardware). More importantly, we've had a few days to play on it with Rock Band 2. Is it worth the $300 cost of entry? Read on for our final thoughts.

To read the full review, go to joystiq.

Street Fighter IV controllers Revealed

Here's the first look at the new Street Fighter IV controllers from Madcatz, as you can see they've not only got the joypads, but arcade sticks as well. These designs are still subject to change, but they look very impressive, but lets see if the build quality matches.
Source gamemanx.

Click the images for a larger look!

Rock Band 2 Wireless Guitar and Drums Hardware Review

Gizmodo have reviewed the instruments for the new Rock Band 2.

"Just like the actual Rock Band 2 game, the new Rock Band 2 peripherals work more at refining the experience than redefining it. The wireless guitar and wireless drum kit add a bit of freedom from tripping and crashing into coffee tables, as well as minor design decisions that only improve your fake rocking out. The improvements aren't different or better enough for Rock Band 1 owners to throw out their current gear and buy these versions, but they are a great bonus for people who are buying the Rock Band 2 set."

Read more at Gizmodo.

Arcade-In-A-Box Slim Arcade Custom Controller Review

IGN have posted a review of the Arcade-In-A-Box Slim Arcade Custom Controller, for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC:

Ever since the first caveman programmed a lackluster port of Pac-Man for the Atari 2600, the dream of bringing the arcade experience home has been a motivating force in the game industry. But as home gaming gradually overtook the classic arcade, offering a better audio/visual experience in the comfort of your home (sans the general unpleasantness of arcade-goers), arcade-style controls were left by the wayside in favor of more compact fare. Sure, dual analog is the bee's knees when it comes to 3D gaming, but for fighting game aficionados and retro enthusiasts, nothing beats six giant buttons and a joystick.

Enter Arcade-In-A-Box, a company that uses authentic arcade parts in their console controllers for the most arcade-accurate experience this side of a 300 pound machine in your lap. We visited their shop in Tucson, Arizona for some hands-on time with their latest stick, the PS3/X360 Slim Arcade Custom Controller, which happens to be Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC compatible.

Read more at IGN.

Guitar Hero World Tour - Wiimote required for drums, Battle of the Bands may cost extra?

GoNintendo has posted up details for Guitar Hero World tour:

NEW FEATURES for Wii

• Mii Freestyle - Use your Mii to rock out in the Wii exclusive Freestyle mode. Create Blues, Rock or Metal masterpieces by yourself, or join with friends to jam freely together on guitar controllers and drum kit controller!
• Downloadable Content - Download new tracks through the in-game Music Store. You’ll never run out of songs to play!

All NEW Instruments

State of the art WIRELESS guitar controller with the new neck slider and authentic drum kit controller, with wired microphone deliver the most authentic band experience.

Innovative Music Studio*

Compose, record, edit, and share your own music online. Download and play community-created content for free!

Battle of the Bands Mode*

Rock out solo, with a band or kick it up with 4 vs. 4 Battle of the Bands play.

Create-a-Rocker

Create your own rocker, choose from your favorite Guitar Hero® icons or take the stage as the biggest rock stars around.

The Rock and Roll Experience

Enjoy a massive soundtrack, all master tracks, and no covers!

Drum Kit Controller (NOT included)

• Wireless!
• 5 pressure sensitive drum pads including a high-hat and cymbal
• Non-slip moveable kick pedal
• One-piece collapsible adjustable stand
• Expandable setup via MIDI hookup
• Authentic wood drum sticks

Guitar Controller (NOT included)

• All-New touch sensitive neck slider for nailing intense solos
• Increased accuracy with more responsive, dual-color fret buttons
• Jam effortlessly with an elongated strum bar and dedicated star-power button
• Improved battery life with built-in auto sleep mode.
• Wireless and removable faceplates

Microphone (NOT included)

• High performance, high clarity, wired microphone
• Reliable and durable design
• Includes 15 foot USB cable

Gameplay Modes:

• Players 1-4 (online multiplayer 2-8)
• Co-op 2-4 (online co-op 2-4)
• 1-2 Guitar Controllers*, Drum Kit Controller and Microphone
• Content download

*Guitar Hero® World Tour Game is compatible with Guitar Hero® guitar controllers for Wii™. Wii Remote™ required for guitar and drum peripherals. Sold separately. Some features may be limited in the Wii™ Guitar Hero World Tour games. Battle of the Bands only available in online play; it may require an additional subscription.

Playstation 3 boomerang controller

Wow, now this is interesting, how many of you guys remembered the original PS3 prototype controller?
Well some very clever chaps at benheck, in this case forum poster HotDog-Cart, has let us imagine how it would of been to have actually had that controller, rather than the simple (if it ain't broke update it) Duel shock 3!

"What I basically did was take a cheap PS2 boomerang-ish shaped controller, and take its guts out and modify a REAL official Six Axis Controller and put it inside the shell. I also expanded the shell 15%.

I got the controller painted black, so it would be a batman inspired "Batarang Controller".

Please excuse my picture quality. My 5mp camera thinks brand new batteries, are dead. Also, excuse my bondo job. It was my first time.
You can see the white PS button. I didnt put any image there due to copyright reasons."


Source Hackaday

Hackaday

News from team hackaday have stated the issues with the current downtime of hackaday.
"Yes folks Hack-a-Day is back online and it looks like most of the issues have been ironed out. I’m sure Eliot and Co. are glad to have it up and running once again.

If you need your fix, please go to http://hackaday.com versus http://www.hackaday.com. Every DNS server I have checked at the time of this posting does not have a standard ‘www’ record for hackaday.com. If you cannot get to http://hackaday.com, odds are your DNS records are stale. You can clear your local DNS cache with an ipconfig /flushdns at the command line. If that does not work, your DNS provider might not have updated records. In that case, use 4.2.2.2 as your DNS host.

Either way, everyone can calm down now since you can get your Hack-a-Day fix once again!"

Novint Falcon Controller with Gun Attachment Reviewed (Verdict: Awesome)

It has been almost a year since we first heard that Novint would add a pistol grip accessory to their 3D Haptic Joystick—but the update has yet to hit the market. Nonetheless, Wired got a chance to play a few FPS games with the add-on and were blown away by the level of feedback and control, saying that it completely changes the experience. Targeting was precise, and each gun used in the game takes on a different recoil intensity—which can sometimes be violent when dealing with high caliber weapons. There is also a steep learning curve with the haptic controls.

More and more games are adding support for haptic controllers, so gamers interested in the experience will have a lot of choices down the line. However, we are still waiting for the pistol grip add-on. Let's just hope that it makes it out of the gate by the end of the year. When it is finally released, the grip is expected to retail for $20.
Source Gizmodo

NFGcontrols

Insert credit, have posted about a site that The Joypad mentioned earlier last month, which is a joypad/stick review and modding site.

Lawrence/NFG has a new site, to (as he says) "get this festering love of controllers out of my system." It's called NFGcontrols, and has reviews, how-to guides for hacking and modification, and features about controller theory. It's all pretty nifty stuff - like this mod that allows use of a Neo Geo, Atari, or FM Towns sticks on a wireless 360 pad (not in the cleanest way, but still). This post is also interesting, regarding the two manufacturers of PS1 pads - one of whom was excellent, and the other, not so.

Microsoft BlueTrack Unveiled: The Best Tracking Mouse Ever, Apparently

It's like Attack Of The Killer Mice around here lately. Yesterday we had the slinky new Microsoft Arc Mouse and now we have BlueTrack.

We reported on a new MS mouse using something called BlueTrack last month, which the company was modestly touting as the next best thing in Mousedom. Well, the covers are off now and Microsoft still thinks BlueTrack kicks the ass of optical and laser mouse technology. A bold claim indeed.

BlueTrack Technology employs a large blue beam and specular optics working with a new image sensor and proprietary pixel geometry to enable a mouse to work on more surfaces than any other, from "granite worktops to the living room carpet".
Source Gizmodo.

RealMotion Pool Cue to help Wii pool sharks sink the stripes

Two things: first off, craptastic pool cue Wiimote accessories are already widely available, and secondly, couldn't you just duct tape a controller to your favorite real cue and achieve almost the same thing? Terrible ideas aside, RealMotion has just revealed that it will be shipping a RealMotion Pool Cue companion accessory for its upcoming title, American Pool Deluxe. Reportedly, the unit is a "meticulously crafted cue built specifically to take advantage of the Wii remote's accelerometer technology for real precision and fun," but we'll have to envision it until the company gets smart enough to distribute a photo. Or is it really that embarrassing?
Source Engadget

Microsoft SideWinder X8 gaming mouse gets official, examined

engadget writes:
Apparently fearing it would get lost among all its other product announcements yesterday, Microsoft waited until today to get official with its new SideWinder X8 mouse, which boasts the same BlueTrack technology as the company's new Explorer mice but in a more gamer-friendly package. Those touches include a play and charge system to let you keep playing while your battery recharges, switchable DPI settings, interchangeable feet to suit your "glide preference," seven programmable buttons, and a dedicated macro record button, to name a few. Unfortunately, you're going to have to wait even longer to get your hands on this one, with it only set to be released in February, 2009 (for $100), but you can at least get a good idea of what's in store by hitting up Maximum PC's hands-on below.
Source Engadget.

Top 10 - Best Console Add Ons/Accessories

Gaming corner have posted their top 10 best addons for consoles, it's interesting what didn't make it, than what did.
Source Go Nintendo.

Rock Band 2, standalone instruments coming next week

Harmonix has announced that the Xbox 360 version of Rock Bad 2 has officially shipped to retailers in time for its September 14 release date. The standalone wireless drums and guitar are also shipping sometime next week for $90 and $70, respectively. Also shipping next week are Mad Catz's "Fender P-Bass" wireless guitar controller ($70) and the ION Drum Rocker set (wired; $300).

The press release also reminded us that the RB Music Store had recently surpassed 21 million song downloads since its launch in late November. That's 15 million more since we last heard about it in March and an average of 2.3 million per month.
Source Joystiq.

Hands-on with Nyko's new Wing controller for the Wii

Destuctoid writes Nyko had a little event in San Francisco with Capcom last week where they showed members of the press their new Wing Controller, along with a selection of Capcom’s Virtual Console titles. I played with the controller for a good half-hour as I played Ghosts ‘N Goblins, Super Street Fighter II and Mega Man 9. A little side note here: I forgot how impossibly hard Ghosts ‘N Goblins was, Chad Concelmo is a masochist for liking Mega Man 9’s difficulty, and I'm still awesome at Super Street Fighter II even though it's been years since I've last played it.

Let me get this out of the way first before I continue: I hate the Wii Classic Controller. It never feels right in my hands due to it’s odd rounded shape and the joysticks aren’t the greatest.

Enter Nyko’s new Wing Controller for the Wii where it might be the first time in the history of Nintendo that a third party accessory is actually better than a Nintendo product. Simply put, the controller felt fantastic. It’s extremely smooth, the layout feels right and the Wing barely weights a thing.

The Wing is wireless and comes with a little transmitter that you’ll plug into the Wiimote. It will come with 2 AAA batteries and you can use rechargeable batteries that can be charged in the Wing so long as you have a Mini USB cable.

The Wing will be out this October for $29.99 and will make for a great alternative to the Classic Controller. Check out the official product page for more info on the Wing.

The future of gaming is all in the mind

CNN writes. LONDON, England (CNN) -- Be excited, but be scared. A world of mind-blowing possibilities is suddenly being thrust upon the world of video gaming.
Detecting your thoughts: the EPOC headset is a breakthrough in brain - computer interfaces.

Detecting your thoughts: the EPOC headset is a breakthrough in brain - computer interfaces.
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The era of thought controlled games has arrived, and soon you could be required only to 'think' to operate a video game. Maybe you'll even have the chance to be completely immersed in a video game 'world'.

The Emotiv EPOC headset - the first Brain Computer Interface (BCI) device for the gaming market is the technology behind the revolution -- and the company claims to have already mastered thought control.

The EPOC detects and processes real time brain activity patterns (small voltage changes in the brain caused by the firing of neurons) using a device that measures electric activity in the brain.

In total, it picks up over 30 different expressions, emotions and actions.

The leap in technology has been met with excitement amongst many gamers. Singapore enthusiast Samuel Lau has even made a video showing his hopes for the future of gaming.

But, for the creators, what possibilities does this open up for future video games?
Source CNN

5 Great Wiimote Mods

Nintendo Wii fanboy has a rundown of their favorite wiimote hacks, from a nicely lit up wiimote, to a wiimote powerglove!
Source Nintendo Wii Fanboy.

Premium Rock Band Drums Will Be Hard To Find

Kotaku wirtes, Rock Band 2's Ion drum kit is scratching our Phil Collins cosplay itch like you wouldn't believe. But, uh, where can you buy it? The thing's not only expensive, it's huge, meaning you're unlikely to find it stacked end-over-end atop a shelf at the local Best Buy. Well, it was confirmed today at the GameStop Expo that the specialist retail giant will be stocking the drums, albeit with a catch: not every store will have them. Instead, certain stores will act as "hubs", where customers can order drums that are then delivered. If it's not too hard, it'll be delivered to the customer's local store. If that's too hard, they'll be delivered straight to your home. That's some blue-ribbon service from a place like GameStop, but then, it had want to be for a $300 peripheral.
Source Kotaku

New Dell keyboard and mouse leak out

Endgadget writes about the new keyboard and mouse from Dell.
"Dell has a ways to go before it can match, say, Microsoft's peripheral acumen -- or the considerable buzz being generated by Blue Track at the moment. That said, the computer giant looks to have a couple new ones in the pipeline, and that's always a treat for the folks too poor or lazy to replace their pre-bundled keyboard and mouse. The keyboard's short-throw keys will be a love it or hate it affair, but the media keys seem nice enough, while the mouse offers sensitivity-denoting LEDs and some laser tech underneath to match those smooth, predictable contours. No word on a ship date, but look for these to show up in your new Dell boxes before long."
Source Engadget.

Mad Catz Ships the First-Ever Rock Band(TM) Bass Guitar

Fender Precision Bass Guitar Kicks Off a Full Line of New Rock Band Products

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 8, 2008--Mad Catz Interactive, Inc. (AMEX/TSX: MCZ), a leading third-party interactive entertainment accessory provider, announced today that it has begun shipping its Fender(TM) Precision Bass guitar for the Xbox 360(TM), the initial offering under its license with Harmonix and MTV Games to produce and distribute game peripherals and other products for the critically acclaimed Rock Band(TM) game.

"We are excited to be providing an opportunity for the millions of Rock Band fans to enhance their game-playing experience with our Fender Precision Bass guitar," commented Darren Richardson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mad Catz. "This is the first in a series of Rock Band products we expect to release this fall, each of which we believe will add to the realism and enjoyment of this immensely popular game."

This premium bass guitar provides gamers with a licensed, authentic Fender Precision Bass guitar to complete their ensemble. Compatible with both Rock Band and the upcoming Rock Band 2 games, the Fender Precision Bass can be used to play both lead and bass guitar portions of a selected track. Incorporating all the features of the standard guitar, including Solo Keys, Whammy, and Overdrive Mode, the Fender Precision Bass comes equipped with innovative features designed to enhance the Rock Band experience.

The unique Split Strum Bar allows gamers to strum and pluck notes faster and with more precision, vital for fast tempo tracks. The genuine Fender Precision Bass does not have a whammy bar. To respect the accuracy of the bass, Mad Catz has engineered whammy compatibility by discreetly incorporating it into the volume knob of the bass, providing gamers with essential functionality when playing both lead or bass guitar portions of the track while preserving the timeless authenticity of the original design.
Source Madcatz

Microsoft's Cool Arc Laser Mouse In The Wild

gizmodo writes about microsofts new laser mouse first shown in july.
"A mouse is a mouse is a mouse most of the time but, Microsoft's Arc Laser mouse actually looks like a mouse worth getting just a little bit excited about.

It popped up on our radar first back in July but now we have some new photos of the mouse in use, along with its tiny USB dongle. The Arc is interesting, not only because of its slick looks but because it can fold away to about half of its size, thanks to a 'strong hinge'. So, you get a full-size mouse to work with on the go, but which is portable enough to stow away. Pity it doesn't stick to your laptop too like the new Logitech V550 Nano."
Source gizmodo