Controller

Nintendo will show a playable model of the next-generation Wii gaming console at E3 Expo in June. The company confirmed the reveal date in a short statement earlier today and although there's still no official word on exactly what the successor to the Wii (codenamed “Project Cafe”) holds in store, the rumors are gaining momentum.  Read More

Those that think video game controllers are already complicated enough with their array of joysticks, direction pads, face buttons and triggers might balk at the sight of the N-Control Avenger but, despite its imposing appearance, the device is actually designed to make accessing a controller’s various buttons easier and faster. Not only that, the device allows users to customize hair triggers and reach all a controllers face buttons with the exception of the A button without taking their thumbs off the analogue sticks.  Read More

With the plethora of Wii-mote add-on attachments available it comes as no surprise to see Sony’s PlayStation Move controller is set to get the same treatment. It also comes as no surprise that one of the first add-ons for the device was the Move Shooting Attachment aimed at titles like Time Crisis: Razing Storm and The Shoot. Now the company has gone one better with its new PlayStation Move Sharp Shooter Attachment which will hit store shelves alongside the much anticipated Killzone 3 in February.  Read More

Smart TV has landed. Logitech has announced a full line of products to allow users to make the most of Google TV, including what used to be referred to as a set-top box with a specially designed keyboard controller, a high definition camera that fits on top of the HD television and a smartphone app that will turn an iPhone, iPad or any Android device into a system remote. Users will already need to have a HD television, a satellite or cable provider and a broadband line to benefit from the unit and accessories, but can then look forward to additional online content played through the TV and seamless search across all available programming.  Read More

Digital Audio Workstation software applications put the power of the recording and editing studio right in front of you on a computer screen. Tweaking the hundreds and hundreds of settings and parameters offered by such applications has been made easier with the addition of physical controls on a MIDI interface. But rather than be limited to a rigid set of pre-defined buttons, knobs and faders, students from the University of Applied Sciences Bremen have built a set of wireless, wooden devices with rotary dials called FlexiKnobs.  Read More

The controller is probably the gamers’ most important tool. The controller that was first released for the original PlayStation back in December 1994 has remained largely unchanged in design through the release of the PS2 and the current PS3 to become a classic and instantly recognizable to gamers the world over. Despite its iconic status, some PS3 gamers prefer the feel of the the Xbox controller in their hands and, while there are plenty of third-party controllers floating around, there are few that cater to this market as well as the Raven from Nyko.  Read More

Nintendo has done very well out of its innovative motion controllers but maintaining its spot at the top of the console sales charts was always going to be an uphill battle once rivals caught up (or overtook) with their own brand of fully-interactive gaming. Project Natal seemed a little ambitious when it was first demonstrated last year, but 12 months and a rebranding later, Kinect appears to be ready for pre-order and most importantly, we have a price.  Read More

Part of the reason for the drop in popularity of rhythm games in recent times may be because the appeal of the plastic, button-oriented peripherals is starting to wane, and indeed avid fans of the genre have been crying out for a way to play "real instruments" alongside a game. The solution could already be here in the form of You Rock Guitar, a multi-use peripheral that acts as a MIDI controller, can be plugged into an amplifier, headphones, or directly to a computer via USB for use with software like GarageBand and Cubase. Most interestingly it's compatible with Rock Band and Guitar Hero on all three platforms.  Read More

Redrock Microsystems, a manufacturer of cinema-quality camera accessories for digital filmmakers, has unveiled its new MicroRemote focus control system for use on DV and HD DSLR cameras. The wireless system includes an iPhone-compatible remote control unit, base station, motorized focus ring, and a sonar rangefinder.  Read More