Razer refreshes Onza 360 controller with new Tournament and Standard Editions

Is your Xbox 360’s bundled controller not loving you quite like it should? Razer’s ready to pick you up on the rebound with its updated Onza controller for Microsoft’s console. The Tournament Edition offers analog sticks with adjustable resistance, an improved D-pad, backlit action buttons, and a pair of added programmable keys. The Standard version eschews the backlight and analog customizability, but keeps the other improvements. Pre-orders for both begin on January 17th, with the Tournament costing $50 / €50 and the Standard asking for $40 / €40.

Continue reading Razer refreshes Onza 360 controller with new Tournament and Standard Editions

Razer refreshes Onza 360 controller with new Tournament and Standard Editions originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Jan 2011 13:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ThinkGeek Unveils the JOYSTICK-IT iPad Joystick Controller

Likely the result of an April Fool’s joke turned serious, the new JOYSTICK-IT iPad Controller from ThinkGeek addresses a problem that a number of iPad gamers have with their games: that virtual thumbsticks on the iPad screen aren’t that much fun to use. The JOYSTICK-IT controller looks and feels like a real arcade joystick, it just sticks to the iPad’s display right over where the virtual joystick is positioned, and you can play like normal. 
The JOYSTICK-IT isn’t the first iPad controller we’ve seen this week: yesterday TenOne Designs unveiled the Fling controller for iPad at the Consumer Electronics Show with a much different design. Alternatively, the JOYSTICK-IT actually looks and functions like a joystick, and is completely removable and replaceable depending on where the virtual controls in your game of choice are on-screen. 
While you can’t pre-order the JOYSTICK-IT, you can sign up to be notified when the JOYSTICK-IT is up for sale at ThinkGeek’s Web site. The company says it will be available in late January for $24.99 retail price.

Fling joystick lets you get physical with Super Megaworm on the iPad

You know, some people take gaming very seriously, and there’s no doubt that a good portion of them will be picking up this new peripheral from Ten One Design. For $24.95, the Fling tactile game controller promises to enhance some iPad games by overlaying their virtual D-pad with a physical mini joystick. And that’s not it — the funky spiral mechanism also provides resistance to simulate force feedback, meaning your thumb will always know its boundaries. Check out the video demo after the break.

Continue reading Fling joystick lets you get physical with Super Megaworm on the iPad

Fling joystick lets you get physical with Super Megaworm on the iPad originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 Jan 2011 13:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sonic the Hedgehog will charge your Wiimote inductively, but he won’t like it

Sonic the Hedgehog will charge your Wiimote inductively, but he won't like it

He may be flashing a peace sign, but you can tell from the look in his eyes that Sonic isn’t exactly thrilled to be doing anything to support Nintendo. This is the cat that made blast processing a reality, whose addiction for gold rings is legendary, and who hasn’t starred in a truly great game since, well, since Sega stopped making hardware, now reduced to this. Look at him, perched atop a mock floating platform, brown and tan checkerboard base with a green top where you can set your Wiimotes for charging without stripping them of their prophylactics. Though the press release makes no mention of this, we were led to believe that this is not actually powered by your AC outlet, instead by the spirits of fuzzy little squirrels and rabbits trapped within, making this $49.99 figurine from Mad Catz all the more nefarious.

Sonic the Hedgehog will charge your Wiimote inductively, but he won’t like it originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Dec 2010 13:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Xbox 360 gets a limited edition orange Tron controller, because wired gamers need love too

In most circumstances, we’d argue a self-illuminating controller crisscrossed by bright bands of orange is a couple of notches over the top, but when it’s Tron you’re talking about, it all makes sense. This latest peripheral for the 360 is up for pre-order now at $39.99 and comes prepackaged with the smugness of knowing that each one sold will be part of a very limited 250-unit production run. It’s officially licensed by Microsoft and arriving at snowy doorsteps some time later this month. A less exclusive blue brother should be joining it soon as well, in case the current hue’s not quite to your liking.

Xbox 360 gets a limited edition orange Tron controller, because wired gamers need love too originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Dec 2010 07:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Best Gifts for TRON Fans

tron-guy-remake.jpgTRON: Legacy is hitting theaters tonight at midnight. Whether you have a loved one who’s a die-hard fan of the original, or you know someone who’s a brand new TRON convert, there are tons of creative gift ideas to surprise them with this holiday season. Thanks to Disney’s slew of licensing deals to a variety of companies, you can now have your own TRON jewelry, TRON headphones, TRON leggings…really, the list goes on.

We chose a handful of our favorite TRON-inspired products perfect for any fan on your list. Check them out after the jump.

The Chameleon X-1 Pulls Double Duty as a Mouse and Gamepad

Chameleon X1

If you just looked at the top of the Chameleon X-1 Gaming Mouse you wouldn’t think there was anything odd about it. It’s red with chrome trim, sleek, features an adjustable 1600 dpi optical sensor and an RF USB receiver that you can plug in to virtually any computer and use without difficulty. 
Where it gets interesting is on the underside: if you flip the Chameleon X-1 over, you’ll find a full D-pad, four action buttons, two analog thumbsticks, and shoulder buttons, along with start and select buttons nestled around the optical sensor. 
Turn the mouse right-side up and it’s a wireless gaming mouse. Turn it upside down, and it’s a fully featured USB game controller. Ideally the Chameleon X-1 is for people who need a regular PC mouse most of the time, and then need a PC controller for specific games, like old arcade and console games run in emulators, for example. It’ll hit the market early next year, and be available for $55 list price.

Shogun Bros. Chameleon X-1 mouse flaunts its hidden gamepad (update)

No, your eyes aren’t deceiving you — not one little bit. You’re looking at a PC gamepad built into the bottom of a mouse, and not a drab one at that. It’s called the Shogun Bros. Chameleon X-1, and if you just fell in love, we’re afraid there’s no suggested price, shipping date or a way to buy it yet. What we do know are the promised specs, which include a 5-stage adjustable 1600dpi optical sensor with 125Hz polling rate — which admittedly sounds last gen — that connects to your Windows PC over a USB dongle sporting 2.4GHz wireless. There’s 14 buttons on the bottom, 7 on the top, and the company’s support page suggests the device has force feedback as well. We’re not terribly bullish on the “sophisticed Norway Nordic Chip System” the controller apparently has, but considering there are three very legitimate looking pictures of the device in our gallery below, we’re not going to write it off quite yet.

Update: Shogun Bros. tells us the Chameleon should be available in Q1 2011, for the suggested retail price of $55.

Shogun Bros. Chameleon X-1 mouse flaunts its hidden gamepad (update) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Dec 2010 21:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mad Catz ships Rock Band 3 MIDI Pro adapter, gives your keyboard and drum set new life

Talk about just in time. With merely weeks to go before Mr. Claus makes his wintry journey ’round the globe, Mad Catz has decided to finally ship a peripheral that was introduced way back in June. Without a doubt, the MIDI Pro adapter is one of the more intriguing music game accessories to hit the open market, enabling Rock Band 3 owners to use most MIDI keyboards and drum sets with the title. The box is shipping as we speak for Sony’s PS3 and Nintendo’s Wii, and the Xbox 360 variant should be headed to Best Buy in the coming hours. If you’ll recall, this guy’s also designed to work with the forthcoming Rock Band 3 Squier guitar / controller, and it even features a velocity sensitive adjustment for MIDI drums designed to reduce cross-talk during play. At $39.99, it’s a no-brainer for those who already own a MIDI instrument or two, but we just might be more excited about the hacking possibilities than anything else. DIYers, get at it!

Continue reading Mad Catz ships Rock Band 3 MIDI Pro adapter, gives your keyboard and drum set new life

Mad Catz ships Rock Band 3 MIDI Pro adapter, gives your keyboard and drum set new life originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 04 Dec 2010 03:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Fingerist turns your iPhone into an iKeytar, available now

Remember The Fingerist, the guitar headstock-themed speaker and case for your iPhone or iPod touch? You know, the one with the shoulder strap for public (and private) performances with all of your favorite music making apps? Well, it seems that it’s finally available in the states. Indeed, there has been so little fanfare behind this announcement that the company responsible, Evenno, hasn’t even acknowledged it on its site. But don’t worry: we found this bad boy for $150 on Amazon. And if that’s not enough, iLounge has done a series of hands-on photos (see the More Coverage link, below). Or, if you’re like us, you can skip the thing altogether and groove to Rick Wakeman after the break. We do have one more thing to say about the Fingerist, however: at least it’s not endorsed by this guy.

Continue reading The Fingerist turns your iPhone into an iKeytar, available now

The Fingerist turns your iPhone into an iKeytar, available now originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Nov 2010 14:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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