This controller will connect to your mobile device, by it your iPod Touch, your Android phone you iPad, or what-have-you, with Bluetooth. This is an extension of the already popular iCade line created by ThinkGeek, each new bit released by the team creating a cross-over gaming experience that shouldn’t be missed! As ThinkGeek GeekLabs’s oan Ty Liotta notes,

“We’re excited to extend on the success of the original iCADE. And with millions of iOS and Android devices in circulation it only makes sense to widen the field and bring the fun of iCADE to every possible device.” – Liotta

This controller is battery powered and has eight fully fucntional buttons, controlling everything from the original Pac Man to Super Mega Worm to more modern games as well. Developers can get in on documentation for the controller here and start making their games ready for the oncoming of this magical device in full force soon! Games like Box Cat, Muffin Knight, Plum Crazy, and more are already ready to work with the controller before it’s released! This controller has been revealed at the 2012 Toy Fair in New York City and will be available for purchase later this year for $24.99 – we’ll be sure to let you know how fabulous it truly is!

Certainly it does seem like a bit of madness to attach to your gaming controller a Hot Pocket, the choice food of super slobs and refined gamer ladies and gentlemen everywhere. But when you see this guy actually use the whole setup, it actually seems sort of convenient. On the other hand again, should I ever see anyone I know using one of these, I will personally slap them in the back of the head when they’re taking their first bite.

Watch as Ben Heck takes on this task with masses of plastic and a construction period that can only be described as insane. This fellow makes his living making such objects, you should know, so who are you to call him crazy? Truly Ben Heck is a king of the couch amongst men. Truly there’s been no greater definition for this gamer culture than this.

[via Laughing Squid]

After a hands-on with the peripheral, it seems very well built and I honestly wanted to walk out with one. Playing Modern Combat 3 on my phone would be so much better with a controller. They didn’t know if it was directly compatible with MC3, but gave us a list of many other popular titles, such as: Asphalt 5 HD, No Gravity, Silverfish, Zenonia, and 150+ more.

And just like many of the other wireless controllers already available, you can undock your device from the controller, hook it up via HDMI to your TV, and play games with a truly console-like feel. The only thing missing is a pair of built-in quality joysticks. Expect the controller to retail for approximately $60, and hit shelves before April of this year.

The controller is called the Bridge and it has a smartphone style keyboard that looks like something off a Blackberry. It also has all the buttons you need for controlling your TV, audio, and video playback. The device is in the development phase right now and that is why it is landing on Kickstarter. The guys behind the device are seeking $50,000 to get the product made and to stores.

The Bridge has buttons on the top for controlling things and looks a lot like a PS3 controller to me. The team has 47 days to go to fund the device making the support pledges end on December 31. Right now, they have 48 backers at $3,855 pledged. The least expensive pledge to actually get yourself a Bridge controller is $65.

The company is back with a new controller system called the Fragfx Shark 360 and as the name hints this controller is specifically for the Xbox 360 game console. The Shark 360 will work on the PC and Mac computers too. The Shark 360 is made to allow the console gamer to have a mouse in one hand and a joystick controller in the other so they can play FPS titles on the Xbox 360 with controls similar to those on the PC.

Splitfish says that this is the perfect controller for the gamer looking at getting the coming new Gears of War 3 and Call of Duty titles. The idea of the mouse controller has the familiar colored Xbox 360 buttons. The Shark 360 is a wireless controller that uses a USB dongle to connect to the console with 2.4GHz technology. The controllers are good for 50 hours of play on a charge and support headphones and chat in games as well. Pricing is unannounced and the Fragfx Shark 360 will land in Europe on October 10.

The controller is aimed at the player that is a big fan of games like Metal Gear Solid and the Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker HD Edition that will hit Japan in November. Other than the color, the controller is the same as all others. Fans of the coming game Uncharted – Atlantis Sleeps in the Desert will also be able to get a themed controller for that game too.

The controller is beige and brown with a map design on the top surface of the controller. The special edition controllers will be limited production and will sell for 9,980 yen. It will hit stores on November 2. The controller is a Dualshock 3 unit with all the normal buttons and features of the Dualshock 3 that has been around for a long time now.

The big black box is a controller with 19 ports that you can stick buttons, control sticks, rumble packs, and other gear into to make a custom gaming configuration. The device comes with dual joysticks. There are other configurations too that will allow movement, even if those are buttons rather than a stick or d-Pad.

Each of the ports can also be programmed with macros to perform complex commands with a single press. The controller is made for the Xbox 360 system. Gamers on the PC or PS3 can buy adapters to allow it to work with those systems too.

[via Joystiq]

The controller uses old-school arcade quality components that are sourced from a Japanese arcade game maker Sanwa. The controller uses a Japanese-style ball handled joystick set up with buttons in an arcade cabinet configuration. The controllers are offered for the PS3 and Xbox 360. The Fightstick has eight buttons that have multispeed and turbo functionality.

The controller also has a lock/unlock switch that prevents accidental button presses to prevent the accidental hitting of the home button. The controller has a 13-foot long USB cable and a switch that allows the controller joystick to be used as a right or left analog stick or d-pad. The controllers are available now for $159.99.

The Microsoft concept shows a way to use your entire home as a game controller. The design would allow every surface in every room of your home to be used as control panels for games. All of the surfaces in the home are bathed in an electromagnetic field that is created by appliances and power wires nearby. The Microsoft concept is able to read those electromagnetic fields and recognize simple gestures by monitoring the person’s position relative to the field.

The person is monitored by using a sensor that can be worn on the wrist or the neck. Software tracks thousands of different frequencies of voltages that are picked up by the sensor. The concept system was made to recognize a simple gesture like placing a hand on a wall. The hand placement on a specific wall could be used for things like adjusting lighting or changing the thermostat. Apparently, Microsoft isn’t sure of the concept yet, it hasn’t even applied for a patent.

[via New Scientist]

A company called Knowles Acoustics has unveiled a new low-power digital MEMS joystick that is specifically for handheld consumer devices. The joysticks are small and should fit on many different devices. The controller measures 9.8 x 9.8 x 1.6mm and needs no additional controller IC.

The lack of need for controller IC means that the controller can be integrated into thinner and smaller devices. The maker claims that the joystick has the feel of an analog joystick with the low current consumption needed for extending battery life on portable gadgets.

The new Snakebyte controllers are called the MOV-CON and NAV-CON and will land in North America in April. Both of the controllers are designed to be comfortable with gray/black handles to make them look different from the official Sony controllers. Both of the Snakebyte controllers have USB ports for future firmware updates.

Near the end of Q2 Snakebyte will also offer the controls in red, white, and blue colors and there will be a special version called the Snakebyte-edition that will be in the company colors. Those colors appear to be grey and green. “It’s been a long, hard road to bring the snakebyte Move line to market,” said Howard Borenstein, President of Sunflex USA. “The redesigned handle grip and various color options for the MOV-CON and NAV-CON will both differentiate our product and provide the consumer with the opportunity to have more control, personalization and enjoyment in game play.”

If you are one of the folks that likes to stick to official Sony products, these new accessories from Japan might be just what you need. Sony has unveiled a new charging station that is called the Dualshock 3 Charging Station and has ports for plugging on two PS3 controllers to charge. The station looks nice and has the same black color as the standard PS3 controllers. The Charging Station will charge both the Dualshock 3 and Sixaxis controllers from an AC outlet leaving those USB ports on your console free for other things.

The charge dock comes with little adapters that are plugged into the USB port on the controllers and left there. Once the user is done with the controllers all they have to do is set the controllers in the dock to charge. The Charging Station will sell for 2,480 yen and a new Dualshock 3 controller in Candy Blue is offered as well that will sell for 5,500 yen. Both new accessories will ship in Japan on April 21. There is no word on availability in other countries at this time.

X-Arcade has announced that it has a couple new adapters that will allow you to plug that X-Arcade controller into more systems. One of the adapters allows X-Arcade controllers to be connected to the Wii, PS1, PS2, Gamecube, or Dreamcast and supports dual players. The adapter will cost you $29.99.

X-Arcade also has a slew of other adapters that allow its controllers to be connected to the PS3 and Xbox or to a computer via USB. Most of the adapters sell for the same $29.99 with others accessories costing less than that amount.

The controller is really cool and has a lot of features that Xbox 360 gamers will like. The sticks on the controller have force feedback and a port for the Xbox 360 headsets for talking while you game. The tournament edition controller surface has a non-slip rubber coating to keep your grip even when you get sweaty palms after hours of gaming.

The keys use Razer hyperesponse buttons so you can click them faster to get the edge in your favorite game. A tournament version of the controller has adjustable force for the sticks for even more adjustability. The controller also has two more buttons that can be programmed for other controls. You can pre-order the Onza right now for $49.99 for the tournament edition or $39.99 for the standard.

A couple of handmade, limited edition guitar controllers for the game have been unveiled and are available to pre-order for the PS3 and Xbox consoles. Both versions of the controller will set you back about $250. The controllers are fully functional six string guitars that work like wireless controllers for the game.

The guitar controllers are limited editions and are handmade with a single cutaway basswood body, humbucking pickup, and a maple neck with a rosewood fretboard. The controller can register the users input all along the guitar neck.

Shinobii has unveiled a new controller for Wii gamers that like ping-pong or table tennis. The new controller is called the TT Championship Bat. The controller has the weigh, look, and feel of a real ping-pong paddle and has the hardware inside the paddle to interact with the Wii.

The integrated hardware inside the paddle works with MotionPlus games without needing to use the actual Wii Remote or MotionPlus accessory. The controller will be offered in the EU and USA for $69.99 and will ship soon.

The existence of the Wii Remote Plus was tipped by a preorder page for FlingSmash, a game which will bundle the Wiimote when it’s released later in the year.  There’s currently no mention of the controller on Nintendo’s site, but we’ll keep an eye out for more details when they arise.

[via Joystiq]

That’s because they’re hoping to avoid using Apple’s dock connector – which presumably would require licensing on their part – and, we’re guessing, would also make it more flexible for use with other iOS-based devices such as the iPad.  According to team member Craig Rothwell, Apple’s recent litigation against HyperMac for using the iPod connector without permission was a key factor in their decision.  If you can help then head over to this thread (which also confirms the iControlPad will be compatible with Android smartphones using Bluetooth).

For instance, the whole thing is held together with just a few regular Phillips screws, and the illuminated ball simply lifts off after that.  Sony has used a heatsink with the LEDs, which should prolong their lifespan, and the battery is hooked up via a connector rather than soldered.  Unfortunately the same can’t be said for the vibration motor, which is fixed to the mainboard.  More on the PlayStation Move here.

The source tells them that the Redmond-based juggernaut company is currently working on releasing an updated Xbox 360 controller, with a slightly tweaked D-pad. The said part of the controller is supposedly going to be rotated 90-degrees, which will subsequently raise it by a quarter of an inch. With that increase in stature, it will get easier to utilize, and therefore it’s apparently specifically targeted at fighting game fans.

There’s no word on whether or not Microsoft will have this new controller be a replacement for the current version of the controller, or if it will be an accessory fighting game fans will want to pick up in their spare time. Considering the rumor suggests this new controller is targeting a specific gamer, we’re betting that it’ll just be an accessory. Unless of course everyone starts loving it; then we wouldn’t be surprised to find it slipping inside retail boxes eventually.

[Update] Well, fancy that. Not too long after posting this, Major Nelson of Xbox came forward and made the controller all official and what not. And yes, it’s an accessory in of itself, but it will be sold only with the new Play & Charge Kit that’s releasing on November 9th of this year. The total package will retail for $64.99, and it features a matte silver controller, with the revolutionary new D-pad that can switch on the fly, depending on the game you want to play. Nelson demos the controller on video, so check it out below and let us know what you think.

[via Joystiq; update via Major Nelson]

“Other game companies at the time assigned alphabet letters or colors to the buttons. We wanted something simple to remember, which is why we went with icons or symbols, and I came up with the triangle-circle-X-square combination immediately afterward. I gave each symbol a meaning and a color. The triangle refers to viewpoint; I had it represent one’s head or direction and made it green. Square refers to a piece of paper; I had it represent menus or documents and made it pink. The circle and X represent ‘yes’ or ‘no’ decision-making and I made them red and blue respectively. People thought those colors were mixed up, and I had to reinforce to management that that’s what I wanted.” Teiyu Goto, Sony

It turns out that Goto had plenty of challenges trying to get his hardware design and buttons through Sony management, but eventually he persuaded them and the rest – as they say in clichés – is history.

[via Kotaku; image credit Declan Jewell]

Update: More photos and availability information after the cut

Even better news is that the iControlPad should be iPhone 4 compatible, handy considering the fourth-gen Apple smartphone was released in the intervening period since we first saw the controller.

Last we heard, there would be two versions of the pad: one with just the basic gaming controls – a D-pad plus two analog joysticks, four control buttons and two function keys (Start and Select) – and another that squeezes in a battery for longer gameplay.  Still no word on pricing or specific release dates, but with the components seemingly on hand we can’t imagine it will be long now.

Update: Craig says the first batch of 3,000 units will be sold soon, the announcement made on his Twitter feed.  The control unit has a battery that doubles the runtime of the iPhone, and you’ll eventually be able to buy different grip sections and use the same controls with non-iPhone devices.

iControlPad for iPhone prototype demo:

In fact, the Block is a smaller sibling to Livid’s existing Ohm series of controllers, which are larger and more button/knob/controller-encrusted.  The company also does a range of custom controllers, where buyers can choose the various finishes of the hardware, and sells the individual parts so that real DIYers can make their own.

Block hooks up via USB and has bi-directional MIDI support so that the various lights and controls can react to whatever the software is doing.  The Livid Instruments Block is available now, priced at $399; meanwhile the Ohm64 is $599.

[via xlr8r]

Gioteck has announced its HF-1 controller for the PS3 and the company says that the controller is designed primarily for FPS players. The controller connects to the PS3 via Bluetooth and is designed to fit in the hand comfortably.

The controller uses an Xbox 360 layout, which I don’t like as much as the standard PS3 layout personally. The controller also features a programmable turbo button for rapid fire action in games. The control also has a Flipswitch button that changes the R1 and R2 functionality. Gioteck says the controller will be in stores before Christmas.

Video demo after the cut

“This is a real instrument and a real device,” senior designer Sylvain Dubrofsky told the paper, and will be accompanied by two new guitar controllers.  One will be a fully functional Fender guitar, and both will be used in the Pro mode.  Altogether, there will be a total of seven different musicians supported at any one time: drums, lead and bass guitar, keyboards, lead vocals and two harmony vocals.

Apparently Mad Catz is preparing a miniature Fender Mustang Pro guitar controller as well, while there’ll be a three-cymbal upgrade for the drum kit.  Rock Band 3 is expected to arrive in time for the holidays, for Xbox 360, PS3 and Wii.

[via Joystiq]

The hardware itself will apparently be made by Hori, so we can probably assume it’ll be sturdy and well made.  As well as the sword there are two sizeable arcade buttons, and then all the usual peripheral controls from a Wii Nunchuck controller.

The design isn’t finalised, but there’s still some time to go until it arrives in Summer 2010.  All well and good, but considering we’re told it’ll have a price tag of around $140 you’ll have to really, really love Dragon Quest.

[via Kotaku]

And, in proper Nintendo fashion, they’ve managed to make sure that you’ve got some options at your disposal. The Controller Pro comes in white or black shades, and it is available right now from Amazon. The Pro version of the controller features four shoulder buttons for easy access, and the controller is ergonomically designed for a better, more comfortable grip while playing.

Best of all though, the Controller Pro is compatible with more than 460 Wii, WiiWare, and Virtual Console titles, so this would definitely be a great addition to your Wii’s arsenal. You can also pick up the Controller Pro with a limited edition bundle of Monster Hunter Tri, if that’s your thing. The price of the bundle is $59.99 and it can only be found on Amazon as of now. The price for the Wii Classic Controller Pro by itself is $19.99.

[via I4U News]

EVE will block you if they think you’re using software macros to give yourself an unfair advantage, and it seems software multiboxing is also a bannable offence too.  What is allowed, however, is multiple PCs, each with their own controls, that the nimble-handed gamer can attempt to wrangle all at once.

We can’t help but think it looks like it would take some of the fun out of the game, but this is obviously how Kromtor enjoys his EVE and we bet he gets an almost equal pleasure out of setting up the complicated control systems and knowing he’s still skirting the rules.  Perhaps more useful to the rest of us is the rear shot of his multi-monitor setup, which uses bent conduit pipe rather than expensive mounts, and could be a useful tip for anyone wanting a budget way to suspend their LCDs.

[via technabob]

Other possibilities include systems where the docking accessory – which could have an adjustable recess into which the main device would slot – could communicate with other units for multiplayer gaming, or with a nearby TV or media system.  That would allow for local audio, visual or other information to be displayed, such as a game map or surround sound effects.  The controller could have a battery, too, as well as an authentication chip to make sure you were only using legitimate Apple devices with it.

It’s a premise similar to products we’ve already seen from third-parties like iControlPad, though they generally draw the line at adding controls (and perhaps a secondary battery) to the iPhone rather than anything more complex.  Fitting it around an iPad might make for an unwieldy handheld, but seeing as Apple have previously made it very clear that they want a slice of the portable gaming market, the iPhone and iPod touch seem obvious candidates.

[via IntoMobile]

In fact, you can tweak the F.L.Y. 9′s handle length, handle rake angle and head angle, and the base can be adapted for desk use or – with the feet removed – lap use depending on where you do your gaming.  Mad Catz reckon it’s one of the most personalizable flight stick controllers on the market, in fact.

Of course, you pay for the privilege.  When the Cyborg F.L.Y. 9 Wireless Flight Stick arrives in spring 2010 it’ll be priced at $99.99 (or £79.99/€89.99), twice what you’d pay for the company’s Cyborg X stick.

Press Release:

Mad Catz® Announces Cyborg® F.L.Y. 9 Wireless Flight Stick for Xbox 360®

First Licensed Wireless Flight Stick Introduces Authentic Flight Control to Console Audience

Mad CatzTM Interactive, Inc. (“Mad Catz” or “the Company”) (AMEX/TSX: MCZ), a leading third-party interactive entertainment accessory provider today announced the launch of the Cyborg F.L.Y. 9 Wireless Flight Stick, the first licensed wireless flight stick for the Xbox 360 video game console. The F.L.Y. 9 will be released under the Mad Catz’ Cyborg premium gaming brand.

An evolution of the successful line of Cyborg flight sticks for PC, the Cyborg F.L.Y. 9is compatible with flight simulation and flight combat games. In addition to its cutting- edge design and several enhanced features, the Cyborg F.L.Y. 9 is designed to deliver a wide range of adjustability, comfort and air-combat accuracy to the Xbox 360 audience.

Stored and located in the base of the Stick, the integrated adjustment tool allows gamers to customize and tweak several aspects of the Flight Stick anatomy. Gamers can adjust the handle length, handle rake angle and head angle, resulting in a truly personalized gaming experience.

Ideal for flight combat games such as Tom Clancy®: H.A.W.X., or more realistic flight titles such as IL-2 SturmovikTM: Birds of Prey, the Cyborg F.L.Y. 9 features Throttle and Twist Rudder controls for complete maneuverability and a unique base design featuring an integrated lap mount and removable feet allowing gamers the flexibility of playing at a desk or in front of the TV.

Utilizing the same secure wireless technology featured in the official wireless Microsoft® Xbox 360 controller, the Cyborg F.L.Y. 9 connects directly to the Xbox 360 with no need for an external dongle or adaptor.

Darren Richardson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mad Catz commented, “The Cyborg F.L.Y. 9 continues the expansion of our new premium gaming line of Cyborg-branded products which we recently re-launched with the Cyborg R.A.T. range of pro-gaming mice. Building on key features, design sensibilities and the ergonomic adjustability made so popular with our Saitek-branded flight simulation products, we are able to deliver a unique and highly-realistic flight stick for console owners. This is a continuation of our strategy of developing products that evoke a passionate consumer response and enhance the game-playing experience.””

The Mad Catz Cyborg F.L.Y. 9 Wireless Flight Stick for the Xbox 360 video game console is expected to be available worldwide in Spring 2010 for an expected MSRP of $99.99 / £79.99 / €89.99.

According to ThinkGeek’s faux description, the iCade cabinet would be used with the company’s own retro gaming app, expected to hit the App Store on April 3rd.  That would include a MAME emulator, though you’d have to find the game ROMs yourself.  Otherwise there’s a 10W PSU to keep things charged up, a 2.1 speaker system, and authentic arcade-quality controls.

If they really could deliver all that for $149.99 we reckon ThinkGeek could actually have a surprise hit on their hands; only the game ROM licensing issues might come back to haunt them.  Still, it wouldn’t be the first time a fake product from the company would end up getting manufactured: that happened to the Tauntaun sleeping bag, their Personal Soundtrack Shirt and 8-Bit Tie.

“The Reference Design generates realtime depth, color and audio data of the living room scene. It works in all room lighting conditions (whether in complete darkness or in a fully lit room). It does not require the user to wear or hold anything, does not require calibration and does not require computational resources from the host’s processor” PrimeSense

Inside Project Natal – and the PrimeSensor reference design – is PrimeSense’s PS1080 SoC, with an integrated USB 2.0 controller, and takes infrared input from the standard CMOS sensor, together with audio, and processes it on-chip rather than relying on the console’s CPU.  The image analysed is VGA 640 x 480 resolution at 60fps, and according to the technical specs will track people between 0.8m and 3.5m away.

Of course there’s no telling how much modification the Xbox team made, nor how long – if at all – Microsoft have any exclusive on the PrimeSense system.  There’s also still no specific release dates, beyond the existing “holiday 2010″ window and the promise that Natal will make its world premiere on June 13th at E3 2010.

Press Release:

PrimeSense Supplies 3-D-Sensing Technology to “Project Natal” for Xbox 360

Groundbreaking optical-sensing and recognition technologies to aid gesture control platform.

REDMOND, Wash., and TEL AVIV, Israel — March 31, 2010 — Microsoft Corp. and PrimeSense™, the leader in 3-D-sensing and recognition technologies, announced today that PrimeSense will be providing its leading-edge 3-D-sensing technology for use in “Project Natal” for Xbox 360.

“We’ve seen tremendous excitement and anticipation for the arrival of ‘Project Natal’ this holiday,” said Ilan Spillinger, vice president of Xbox 360 hardware. “PrimeSense has delivered an important component to the technology, helping us deliver revolutionary controller-free entertainment experiences in the living room.”

“PrimeSense’s technology enables a paradigm shift in the way people interact with consumer electronic devices. The engagement with Xbox 360 establishes PrimeSense’s position as a leading supplier of 3-D-sensing technology,” said Inon Beracha, chief executive officer, PrimeSense. “We are especially honored to have a partner like Microsoft that shares our vision for bringing innovative and engaging natural experiences to consumers.”

“Xbox 360 Hardware Engineering teams developed the ‘Project Natal’ sensor based on the PrimeSensor™ reference design to support the special requirements of ‘Project Natal,’” said Aviad Maizels, president and founder, PrimeSense.

Microsoft recently announced at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas that “Project Natal” will be available during holiday 2010.

About PrimeSense

PrimeSense is the leader in sensing and recognition technologies enabling consumer devices to “see” environments and allow users to control and interact naturally with those devices in a simple and intuitive way. PrimeSense offers affordable solutions for consumer markets including visual/home computing, interactive entertainment and consumer electronics. PrimeSense products include the PS1080 System on Chip and PrimeSensor reference design, plus cross-platform enabling software to make application development easy and intuitive.

Headquartered in Tel Aviv, Israel, with offices in North America, Japan and Taiwan, PrimeSense is a privately held company. For more information, please visit: www.primesense.com.

About Xbox 360

Xbox 360 is a premier video game and entertainment system. It is home to the best and broadest library of games, a streaming library of thousands of movies and TV shows in 1080p HD, and millions of songs connected to the television. The digital center of the living room, Xbox 360 blends unbeatable content with the largest online social network connected to the television in the 23 million members on Xbox LIVE to create a limitless entertainment experience that can be shared at home or across the globe. With the addition of currently code-named “Project Natal” for Xbox 360, Microsoft will forever transform social gaming and entertainment with a whole new way to play — no controller required. More information about “Project Natal” and Xbox 360 can be found online at http://www.xbox.com/projectnatal and http://www.xbox.com.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

The concept is straightforward.  Firstly, running an app that’s not console-intensive – such as a simple augmented reality demo, which basically just shows what the PlayStation Eye camera sees – pretty much takes the PS3′s own lag out of the equation.  Then, you measure how long it takes the on-screen representation to start moving after you go from stationary to suddenly active; similarly, you can measure how long what’s on-screen takes to go from moving to stationary.

Doing that, Eurogamer reckon the PlayStation Move latency to be around 133ms, give or take a frame, though that doesn’t take into account any lag in the display panel itself.  That’s probably fine for regular gaming, but may present reaction issues when you’re playing titles that depend on outright speed of response.  Sony have already limited the amount of simultaneous controller use – to below what the PS3 can actually handle in terms of concurrent Bluetooth connections – seemingly as an at-least partial sop to bandwidth considerations, so it’ll be interesting to see how intensive games hold up (and how Sony’s ongoing code-tweaking might improve things).  Check out the video here.

Sony have confirmed to Gizmodo that the PS3 will either support four Move controllers on their own, or a pair of them with sub-controllers.  That means that motion-only games will be suitable for up to four players, but anything requiring extra degrees of control that a sub-controller would bring will only be usable by two gamers at a time.

Four PlayStation Move controllers can connect to a PS3 at one time (or two PlayStation Move Controllers and 2 PlayStation Move sub-controllers).

It’s unclear to what extent this is a system limitation and what Sony themselves have coded in; apparently the PS3′s Bluetooth connectivity can only deal with up to seven connections at a time.  Still, Sony have done good work slimming down the Move system elsewhere; according to Joystiq it’ll only demand 1-2MB of system memory.

Video demo after the cut

The basic iControlPad will be a simple sleeve into which the iPhone slots.  It will have a D-pad plus two analog joysticks, four control buttons and two function keys (Start and Select).  As for the second model, that will also squeeze in a battery which can be used to recharge the iPhone/iPod touch rather than drain the device’s own power during gaming.

Still no word on pricing, nor exact release dates, but the iControlPad team are suggested people sign up to their newsletter for information.  Supplies of the initial batch will be limited, and we’re expecting this to sell like the proverbial hot-cakes.

[via Twitter]

What all that means is that the controls are heavy-duty enough to withstand regular bouts of battering, and fall to hand as if you’ve just haemorrhaged all your pocket money at the local arcade.  Unlike the arcade, however, the Hori controller allows you to easily open it up and play with the wiring, or even add in different buttons so as to create alternative layouts.

Both Xbox 360 and PS3 versions will be available, each coming with a huge non-slip mat so that you don’t accidentally launch the controller off the table and skewer a family pet.  Don’t expect all this to come cheap, however; in Japan the Hori Real Arcade Pro Premium VLX controllers will arrive at 30,000 yen ($330), so figure on a harsh mark-up from importers.

[via CrunchGear]

According to DigiTimes, Pegatron have been granted the manufacturing contract for the Project Natal controller that will eventually sit on store shelves.  They’ll apparently begin production later in 2010.

Project Natal uses an RGB camera, depth sensor, multi-array microphone and custom processor, which together can not only track gamer movement in 3D space but respond to verbal commands, too.  We’ve no specific release date at present, but Microsoft have confirmed that it will arrive in the holiday 2010 window.

[via Siliconera]

From the start, the Epoq is difficult to wear, with sixteen individual head-pads that each need to be separately moistened and slotted into place.  Unfortunately Rick found that then trying to don the headset generally popped a few of those pads off; you also have to factor in the removal process, retrieving each pad and carefully stowing it in its box.

Once you’re actually wearing the Epoq, it doesn’t get much better.  Learning how to use it is frustrating, given there’s no indication of what you’re actually doing wrong when it fails to work (or, conversely, what exactly you did right when it responds), and even the three basic games – including Emotipong, shown below – were difficult to control.  You can map the commands from Emotiv’s software to general keyboard and mouse shortcuts, but if you can’t even master the up/down movement of Pong then more advanced system navigation seems unduly ambitious.  The conclusion?  ”Seldom has the early adopter tax (one I’ve paid often) felt more onerous” says Rick.

Nintendo will also be pushing the controller – available in black and white – out as part of a bundle with Monster Hunter Tri.  That will cost $59.99 and include the black controller; the game alone will be $49.99.

Press Release:

The Perfect Bundle for Hunting Season: Monster Hunter® Tri and Wii Classic Controller Pro Come Together for the First Time in North America

Bundle Will Bring the Highly-Anticipated New Controller and Popular Franchise Together for the Ultimate Monster Hunting Experience on the Wii System

SAN MATEO, Calif. & REDMOND, Wash.—(BUSINESS WIRE)— Capcom® Entertainment, a leading worldwide developer and publisher of video games, and Nintendo of America today announced an exciting new bundle featuring one of the most highly anticipated titles for 2010, Monster Hunter® Tri, and combining it with the new Classic Controller Pro™ for the Wii™ system. The Classic Controller Pro’s more traditional control configuration will give gamers the ultimate Monster Hunting experience when the bundle becomes available in North America this April at a suggested retail price of $59.99.

“Monster Hunter Tri has made a huge splash in the Japanese market, and we’re confident the bundle with the Classic Controller Pro will give fans in North America plenty to get excited about,” said Steve Singer, Nintendo of America’s vice president of Licensing. “Gamers of all kinds enjoy playing games on Wii. Monster Hunter Tri delivers an incredible new experience on Wii, while the Classic Controller Pro gives players even more control options for their favorite Wii games.”

The new Classic Controller Pro includes a second row of shoulder buttons and ergonomically friendly grips. The Classic Controller Pro plugs directly into the Wii Remote™ controller, and until now, has been available only in the Japanese market.
The Classic Controller Pro will be compatible with more than 450 Wii, WiiWare™ and Virtual Console™ games. The Classic Controller Pro bundled with Monster Hunter Tri will be black, while both black and white versions of the controller will also be available separately at a suggested retail price of $19.99. The game will also be available without a controller at a suggested retail price of $49.99.

Making its North American debut on Wii this spring, Monster Hunter Tri is one of the most strikingly beautiful titles developed for Nintendo’s Wii system. Pushing the hardware to the limit, Monster Hunter Tri depicts a living, breathing ecosystem where humans co-exist with majestic monsters that roam both dry land and brand new sub-aqua environments – a first for the series. Offering the player varied control configurations to suit their style of play, players can choose between the Classic Controller Pro, Wii Remote™ and Nunchuck™, or Classic Controller™ to slay the monsters that inhabit the world.

The Monster Hunter series has sold over 11 million units worldwide and has become a social phenomenon in Japan giving rise to training camps, dedicated festivals and numerous licensed products. According to Media Create, Monster Hunter Tri sold 520,000 units in its first week of release in Japan and became the leading title sold across all platforms for the week of its release.

The peripheral uses a combination of optical tracking – with the PlayStation Eye webcam – and internal motion sensors – including a three-axes gyroscope and and a three-axes accelerometer – to follow the gamer’s movements.  The illuminated ball on top of the wand-like controller can change color according to gameplay, as well as be moved for more precise control.