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Rumor: Tatsunoko vs. Capcom FightStick, game bundle on the way

by JC Fletcher { Dec 4th 2009 at 12:27PM }

[Comic-Con mockup; see retail box on Flickr]

Tatsunoko vs. Capcom proves that the Wii is a perfectly capable platform for fighting games -- except that it doesn't have a high-quality arcade stick. If these box images found on MadCatz staffer Mark "MarkMan" Julio's Flickr stream are any indication, the company behind the Street Fighter IV FightSticks is going to take care of that. Julio posted two images of a retail box for a Tatsunoko vs. Capcom FightStick using the same shape and layout as the company's Standard Edition Street Fighter IV FightStick for PS3 and Xbox 360. It would seem that response to the Comic-Con mockup (seen above) was positive enough for the accessory manufacturer to go ahead with a retail release!

The stick may be included in a special bundle for the game, as well. One Shoryuken forum user claims to have found both a normal and arcade stick bundle SKU in the GameStop database. We've contacted Capcom and MadCatz to find out just how we'll be controlling a giant lighter in a fight against Mega Man.

[Via NeoGAF]

Standalone DJ Hero controllers now available for $70

by David Hinkle { Dec 1st 2009 at 7:30PM }

If you've been sitting around on your fat stacks of cash, waiting to pick up an extra DJ Hero controller then now is the time, friend. Activision sent along a press release stating that the turntable controllers are now in stock at the Guitar Hero Store for $70 a pop, $40 cheaper than the regular, game-packing bundle.

With a weak showing on October's NPD charts and UK retailers slashing prices, we can't say we fully understand Activision's decision to charge so much for the turntables. From our vantage point, it looks like this: if Activision came down on the price a bit, more people would buy a second controller and have their friends try the game. Then, maybe those people would go out and buy their own set-up. Isn't that a novel idea?

Tony Hawk talks Ride sequel, confirms board for snowboarding and surfing games

by Ben Gilbert { Nov 23rd 2009 at 10:00PM }

[Giant Bomb]

In the realm of games that cost over $100 released by Activision this holiday season (we're counting four including the Prestige Edition Modern Warfare 2 pack), Tony Hawk Ride wasn't one that we thought of as a hot ticket item. The man who lent his name to the series, however, has a different take, saying in a recent interview with GameSpot UK on the prospect of a sequel to Ride that "We have already started that process, but who knows what the future holds."

Additionally, like multiple people at Ride developer Robomodo have already intimated, Hawk confirms plans to put the game's board to use in other places – specifically, the woefully underserved snowboarding and surfing game genres. Hawk even speaks of resurrecting one-shot last-gen game Kelly Slater's Pro Surfer, saying, "I always thought that Kelly Slater's [Pro Surfer] was an underrated title for the PlayStation 2 ... I thought that people didn't really give it the attention it deserved." And us, well, we're still hoping that someone makes a bicycle peripheral so that we can finally get the reboot of Downhill Domination that we've been waiting for.

Robomodo CEO hints at new software for RIDE peripheral

by Xav de Matos { Nov 17th 2009 at 6:45PM }

Robomodo CEO David Michicich hinted that more software for the Tony Hawk: RIDE skateboard controller could be on its way. When asked if the developer had other ideas for the peripheral's use outside of the skating genre in an interview with Develop, Michicich replied, "We're doing a game with Activision and we're not allowed to talk about it right now."

In June 2009, Robomodo president Joshua Tsui commented that the (probably going to be involved in its fair share of accidental injury lawsuits) peripheral could be used for a variety of software. "The obvious ones are snowboarding and surfing and such," he told Videogamer.

With a new entry into the Tony Hawk: RIDE franchise probably already in the planning stages, it appears the hardware will see new software to help lighten consumer guilt. Sure, our dream is for some kind of Lumberjack Simulator to be in development, but the controller will more than likely focus on something closer to snowboarding. If EA hasn't jumped on that train yet, former EA employees are more than welcome to try.

Mad Catz offers alternative to Xbox 360 Wireless N Networking Adapter

by JC Fletcher { Nov 16th 2009 at 2:29PM }

Following the release of Microsoft's improved Wireless N Networking Adapter for Xbox 360, Mad Catz has announced its own wireless adapter, which improves upon Microsoft's device in a couple of ways. First, the adapter, essentially an Ethernet bridge, works with the PS3, allowing for the use of the 802.11n standard with Sony's console.

Second, and most importantly, the Mad Catz adapter improves upon the most reviled feature of the Microsoft model: the price. At $79.99 (£49.99/€59.99 in the UK and Europe), the Mad Catz Wireless-N Gaming Adapter is no impulse buy, but it's exactly twenty dollars better than Microsoft's version. Mad Catz told Joystiq that its device is currently shipping to North American and European retailers and will be available in the company's online store this week.

Net sales down for Mad Catz, Q2 earnings show rise in PS3, Xbox 360 biz

by David Hinkle { Nov 10th 2009 at 9:32PM }

Plastic peripheral powerhouse Mad Catz has unleashed its fiscal 2010 Q2 earnings results (that's the three months ending September 30, 2009 for us normal folk) and, while the company is still making plenty of cash ($21.6 million this quarter, to be exact) it saw losses of 16 percent when compared to the same period last year, where Mad Catz' net sales earned it $25.8 million. Its biggest market, North America, also saw a dip in sales this year to the tune of 18 percent; US sales have fallen nearly 20 percent this quarter, while Canadian sales rose 55 percent.

When comparing its gross sales by platform, Mad Catz only managed to lose a small fraction of its PC platform business, while simultaneously building its PS3 and Xbox 360 revenue streams by ten and four percent, respectively, and growing its specialty controller business nearly 20 percent. The company did take a considerable hit in its Wii business -- sales dropped eight percent -- as well as in other platform markets, however.

Citing what its key products were during its fiscal Q2 2010, Mad Catz obviously had a lot of love for Capcom, as several of the fight sticks it offered for 2D fighters were top earners. Aside from that, it pointed to its new line of Rock Band accessories and some Wii items such as its Remote and z-Chuk as other successful ventures.

While this quarter may not have been the best for the company, all signs point to it being a successful fiscal Q3 2010 for Mad Catz. With its collaboration with the biggest game in the universe and its venture with Capcom to offer new fighting game stuff -- the company also confirmed that Marvel vs Capcom 2 stick is legit -- we have a feeling our next post on its earnings will probably have an image of Scrooge McDuck in it.

Xbox 360 Wireless N adapter live in the UK, US release still a mystery

by Christopher Grant { Nov 9th 2009 at 2:30PM }

Alas, the troubled tale of the Xbox 360 Wireless N Networking Adapter has reached a conclusion, albeit not the exact conclusion many (including Microsoft, no doubt) would have hoped. Nearly two months after first being caught in the public spotlight (thanks, FCC!) – and then casually confirmed, sans press release, price, or release date – the Xbox 360's second attempt at a this-should-really-be-built-in wireless networking adapter has found its way to some store shelves, apparently.

An Engadget reader snapped the above pic at UK-supermarket Asda where the adapter is evidently selling for £49, which converts to a (relatively speaking!) very reasonable $82. Of course, it's nowhere to be found on any major US retail sites and Microsoft is keeping mum so the cat-and-mouse game continues. Naturally, we've put (another) word into Microsoft and we'll let you know when they respond with the usual shrug.

Thrustmaster puts a board on your (balance) board

by Richard Mitchell { Nov 5th 2009 at 10:30PM }

For those of you who aren't totally bored with boards and board-based peripherals, Thrustmaster has just the thing for you. Introducing the T-Freestyle NW, a skateboard attachment designed specifically for the Wii Balance Board. The peripheral is crafted of maple and includes "Rolling Motion Board" technology for "true lateral movement capabilities." Also, unlike your real skateboard, the T-Freestyle NW includes a "safety stopper" to keep overzealous virtual skaters and snowboarders from tipping over.

Perhaps such a peripheral could interfere with games designed to work with a naked Balance Board but, assuming it works as advertised, the T-Freestyle NW just might be the thing to make your extreme games that much more extreme. For the asking price of $29.99, it had better.

Expect the T-Freestyle NW to hit shelves at the end of November.

Gallery: T-Freestyle NW (Wii)

Scratch: The Ultimate DJ deck ain't no half-steppin'

by James Ransom-Wiley { Nov 3rd 2009 at 11:50AM }

"These aren't some made up tricks," scoffs our friendly narrator. "They're authentic scratches heard every night in the hottest clubs in the world." But authenticity -- the act of keeping it real -- doesn't end there for Scratch: The Ultimate DJ's Numark-designed peripheral, the Scratch Deck. Check these street credentials:

"the first legitimate DJ controller for video gamers" (oh snap!)
"Numark have been at the forefront of turntable production since the 1970s" (before you were even born, son!)
"utilizes technology that locks your scratches in the sweet spot of any sample" (bust that scientifical)
"build skills that will transfer over to any DJ setup" (who said anything about mad skillz?)
"you need beats" (just sayin')
"Dr. Dre, Just Blaze and Pete Rock" ( ... just sayin')

"The controller," authenticates Mix Master Mike, "very authentic." With that our narrator concludes, "So, now you're up on everything related to Scratch: The Ultimate DJ." But wait, isn't there, like, a video game somehow related to this peripheral? What up with that?

Update: So what's up with the game? "The game is coming along quite nicely under the direction of the Commotion Interactive team, and we will be releasing some new assets in a few weeks," a Scratch spokesperson tells Joystiq. And adds, "As of now, the release date is still spring 2010."

Gallery: Battle of the best turntable: DJ Hero vs Scratch: The Ultimate DJ

Splitfish brings the Fragchuck back just in time for Modern Warfare

by JC Fletcher { Oct 22nd 2009 at 6:00AM }

Despite having released a product called the "fragchuck" once, and (if there's any justice) being roundly humiliated for it, gimmicky peripheral maker SplitFish is releasing a new version of its PlayStation 3 FragFX controller, called the Dual SFX Frag Pro. In addition to the ... fragchuck ... it features a 2000 dpi mouse, and loses the wire between the two halves. It'll be out at a cost of $90 on November 10, which, coincidentally, is also when Modern Warfare 2 comes out. If you like the Fragchuck but don't care for the mouse part, there's also this thing.

The good news: the more people see the word "fragchuck," the worse they'll feel about using the outmoded, kind-of gross word "frag" in general.

[Via Engadget]

Altec Lansing feeds rock fantasies with mini monitor

by Justin McElroy { Oct 21st 2009 at 1:00PM }

Ever have a musician friend over to your house, only to find yourself ever-so-slightly embarrassed by the pile of fake instruments filling your den? Well, you should probably never let them catch you with the Altec Lansing Stage-Gig, a replica monitor meant to give guitar heroes the sense of a real rock show by blaring their audio straight up at them from the floor.

It's kind of a cute idea, but we're not sure we're willing to pay $99 to have our 5.1 audio replaced by a single Altec Lansing speaker. Sure, you could buy two and have a really inconvenient stereo setup, but we think it's safe to chalk up another victory for imagination.

[Via Engadget]

GameStop-exclusive 360 controller goes radioactive

by Richard Mitchell { Oct 16th 2009 at 7:30PM }

click to irradiate

Major Nelson has revealed a new Xbox 360 wireless controller bundle, which includes the in your face controller seen above. To be carried exclusively at GameStop, the controller features a "carbon fiber" color scheme overlaid by a red trefoil, and also includes a Play & Charge kit so you can keep playing into the wee hours of the morning. If, for whatever reason, you like the design and decide you'd like to put your money down, they run $69.99 and can be pre-ordered now. According to GameStop's website, they go on sale next week.

For those who can do without a Play & Charge kit (normal old batteries work great!), don't forget that the Wireless Controller Game Pack goes on sale next month for $10 less and includes four XBLA games.

Blaze unveils Wii-like motion controller for PS3

by Justin McElroy { Oct 13th 2009 at 11:30PM }

The subset of people who really want motion control on their PS3s yet refuse to wait for Sony to actually add it is pretty small, but never let it be said that peripheral maker Blaze is willing to leave money on the table. The company has just announced the Motion Freedom 3D controller for the system, and it looks unmistakably like a Wiimote for the PS3.

The release promises the "all new device opens up unthinkable gaming possibilities," which we're taking to mean that no one actually thought to make any games for it.

Okay, fine, Blaze says it at least works with Sega Tennis and Tiger Woods, but we can't imagine that such a retrofitted solution would be worth investing in before Sony's official offering arrives.

[Via Engadget]

Gaming glasses not a scam after all

by Richard Mitchell { Oct 9th 2009 at 7:00AM }

Ars Technica recently decided to try out a set of Gunnar Optiks, glasses which are designed to improve your gaming performance. You may recall we found another use for them during PAX 2009. The Gunnar website espouses scads of advantageous features, including scientifically miraculous coatings, tints, shapes, and materials -- which are purported to do everything from reducing glare to "blocking out evaporative air currents."

Given such claims, we're sure many gamers might scoff or, at the very least, cock an incredulous eyebrow. Ars Technica harbored similar feelings, but it turns out the glasses actually do help. The site spoke to a optometrist, who noted that she offered many of the same features in the glasses she sells in her practice. More importantly, Ars Technica took the glasses for a spin and found that they did have a positive effect during prolonged gaming sessions.

Still, at prices hovering around (and above) $100, Ars suggests you price glasses with similar features with your eye doctor before taking the plunge.

Mod: Buttons and analog sticks just don't get along

by Richard Mitchell { Oct 5th 2009 at 3:45PM }

We've seen plenty of interesting Xbox 360 controller mods. From one-handed controls to controls with swapped parts to other one-handed controls, the 360 mod scene is pretty lively. This one is definitely different from the usual mods we see though, with the right stick and face buttons switching places and being pushed to the edges of the control. Built by Acidmods, the controller was designed for a disabled player so that he could hold the control more comfortably. The quality of the build is pretty impressive, with nary a scratch, cut or patch to be seen. And, of course, the best part is that it actually works.

See it in action after the break.

[Via Engadget]

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