peripherals posts (Subscribe to this feed)

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]

Continued →

GameStop lists November 3 release, $100 price for Xbox 360 Wireless N adapter

by JC Fletcher { Oct 5th 2009 at 1:49PM }

When Microsoft told us that the new 802.11n adapter for Xbox 360 would be "another choice for consumers," we began to develop these crazy hopes that it would give consumers the choice to pay less than a hundred bucks for wireless 360 connectivity, either through a lower price point for itself or with a price drop on the existing wireless adapter.

If GameStop's listings are any indication, however, that's not to be. According to the retailer, the new device will sell for the same $99.99 as the current Wi-Fi adapter upon its release on November 3. Though there's still hope for the price on the existing adapter to drop, it too is currently listed at $99.99. Basically, consumers will now have the choice of which wireless protocol they prefer.

Gallery: Xbox 360 Wireless Network Adapter (802.11n)

[Thanks, Jugger G]

Tony Hawk Ride pushed back to Dec. 4 in UK, arriving on time in NA

by Ben Gilbert { Oct 1st 2009 at 9:00PM }

Despite concerns that one third of Activision's holiday peripheral triforce would be missing its North American release date, the publisher has assured us today that Tony Hawk Ride will still be arriving on November 17 as planned. A rep from Acti told Joystiq, "The game is on sale Nov. 17 in the US, Nov. 27 in Germany and Dec. 4 in the UK," confirming a two week delay for United Kingdom-ers.

We may be getting the game two weeks before you folks in the UK but look at it this way: now you have two more weeks to sell off your furniture and reorganize your living room for all your new plastic peripherals. Hooray!

Gallery: Tony Hawk Ride (09/03/09)

Darth Vader senses your Wiimote's presence

by Randy Nelson { Sep 30th 2009 at 3:14PM }

With the economy the way it is, even Sith Lords are having to work second jobs. Take Darth Vader here, who's moonlighting as the absolute coolest Wii sensor bar holder ever. (We're sure his supervisor will say something similar on his quarterly performance report.)

You can hire Lord Vader for the sum of $49.99 from the official Star Wars Shop website, and he'll drop out of hyperspace (a.k.a. arriving via FedEx) sometime in November. Just be forewarned that his heavy breathing might ruin the atmosphere during those quiet, extremely tense gaming moments. But hey -- as much as old "Iron Lung Ani" needs the work, nobody's Forcing you to hire him.

[Via Gizmodo]

TGS 2009: It's a Gundam! ... stylus!

by JC Fletcher { Sep 25th 2009 at 12:00AM }

Situated right by the entrance to the TGS expo floor, Mori Games drew attention to its selection of DS accessories with Gundam models. Since everyone in Japan loves Gundam, and everyone writing this post (that's me!) loves DS accessories, it was an effective tactic.

The stars of this, uh, booth ... were definitely the DS styli. As Gundam weapons, they're crafted to the scale of popular Gundam models and terminate in a point suitable for use on a DS. We don't want to think that's pure awesome, but here we are posting it, so you can guess how we really feel ...

Review: Rocketfish Rapid Fire PS3 Controller

by Justin McElroy { Sep 23rd 2009 at 5:27PM }

We don't do a lot of critiquing of controllers, we know, but as stacks of them continue to pile up at HQ, it occurred to us that you might be as daunted in the store aisle as we are staring at this pile of plastic. So, in the spirit of making you a more informed consumer, here's a look at the Rocketfish Rapid Fire PS3 controller.

If you're interested in more snappy peripheral analysis from the experts at Joystiq, let us know in the comments section below.

Spotted: Popcorn box o' Xbox 360 peripherals

by James Ransom-Wiley { Sep 23rd 2009 at 1:44PM }

Click to jump in!

Joystiq has obtained official box art for an apparent Xbox 360 peripheral bundle. Diving a hand into the "popcorn" box (warning: contents inedible), one looks to pull out the following:

(1) Mini Universal Media Remote (the original Pro pack-in!)
(1) Wireless Network Adapter (apparently not the 802.11n version)
(1) Xbox Live 3-Month Gold Card
(1) 800 Microsoft Points Card
(0) No actual popcorn

While pricing and release details have yet to surface (though box art has been created for various European territories), we expect this package of dusty inventory -- hey, it's called "flexibility" people! -- to coincide with the release of the remote-less, WiFi-less Elite Holiday Bundle in the coming months.

Gallery: Xbox 360 Popcorn Box

Mad Catz kicks off Round 2 of Street Fighter IV peripherals

by Griffin McElroy { Sep 22nd 2009 at 6:59PM }

Any alley brawler worth his or her salt knows that when it comes to succeeding at Street Fighter IV, a standard controller doesn't really cut it. You can try and hold out on purchasing a custom-tailored joystick, but consider yourself warned: Capcom and Mad Catz are trying very, very hard to break your spirit. Earlier today, the peripheral manufacturer announced "Round 2" of its line of FightPads and a brand new FightStick, all of which will be dropping later this fall.

At $149.99, you'd have to be a fighting game fanatic to shell out for the Tournament Edition FightStick -- though that black and white motif is strangely alluring. You're more likely to spring for the $39.99 FightPads, each of which feature a design based on one of the game's characters. We'd be remiss if we didn't point out that the placement of the Start and Select buttons on the Crimson Viper FightPad is, well ... unfortunate.