Additionally, there is also the Logitech Wireless Drum Controller for Wii that will also ship in October for $229. This controller apparently uses hardware similar to that found in professional digital drum sets so the quality is just as high as the above mentioned guitar controller.

Either way, you’re still getting the same gameplay value from these controllers as you are from the controllers that ship with the game. But, if you have to have the best, these are up there.

via destructoid

As both Bungie and Epic games had been given then chance to play around with the features of Natal well before its announcement, the question has been posed as to whether or not Natal controls will feature into their future titles with both Halo: Reach and Gears of War III on the horizon. Epic’s Cliff Bleszinksi says that though they’re keeping an open mind, he thinks it’s unlikely: ”Y’know, we’ll take a look at Natal–no promises–but it’s likely that the classic control interface is what Epic will be working on in the foreseeable future.”

He did admit as many have that in some ways Natal could be used in conjunction with the existing controller: “ I think there’s ways that you could merge the two interfaces and supplement a classic game with Natal controls to make something compelling.” Thus far the camps seem divided along more or less predictable lines with casual game focused companies more interested in motion devices and the rest looking at them with either mild interest or utter disdain.

Sony has recently announced that they will be expanding their licensing program thus allowing more third party manufacturers the ability to produce pretty much anything they want for the PSP, PS2 or PS3.

Apparantly if a company decides to enter the licensing program they will have to comply with “qualifying SCE standards and requirements” after which they will be given the technical knowledge behind creating Playstation products. Of course they also get to slap the Official Licensed Product logo onto their products.

Read (Joystiq)

After being called a gimmick by both industry types and gamers alike, the Wii has shown that motion controls are the future- or at least one possible future. Both Sony and Microsoft have unveiled their own version and the latter’s Project Natal does away with controllers altogether, utilizing a camera and motion-recognition technology.

Though industry members aren’t saying it’s a doomed proposition, some are saying that controllers will always have their place. Miyamoto in his interview with Wired said that holding a tangible item in your hand which gives you some sort of physical feedback and sensation is essential to creating a truly interactive experience. Ubisoft’s Yves Guillemot points out that while the idea of a more physical game can be fun, gamers don’t always want to play something that’ll have them panting for breath after a few battles. While some could make a quick jump from this argument to the stereotype of overweight gamers chowing down on junk food while playing marathon gaming sessions on the couch, many gamers look to their hobby more for relaxation.

This essentially boils down to one of the big difference between casual and hardcore games. Most casual games are quite simple in their premise, being played for nothing more than their own sake. Hardcore games often feature a storyline which can go on for hours, meaning that if gamers only sat and played for ten minutes a day or so it’d take months or even years to complete some games. Throw in the grind factor on many games and you’ve got a recipe for long hours of playing. With all the more slow, strategic types of games on the market as well which won’t exactly benefit from motion controls and you’ve got a whole ton of reasons why the controller is here to stay.

The 3-in-1 Virtual Retro Adapter will plug into the Gamecube controller port and accept inputs from the original NES, Super Nintendo and N64 Controllers. It’s compatible with both 1st and 3rd party controllers and is set to launch June of this year, with an MSRP of $19.99. It’s manufactured and designed by Komodo and distributed by Innex

Despite a small number of displeased buyers, MadCatz’ Street Fighter IV branded FightSticks have managed to fly off the shelves. In fact, these controllers sold so fast a number of orders were left unfilled.

Well, Capcom has issued a statement saying the problem is being addressed and MadCatz will increase production to meet demand. In fact, Capcom expects existing orders to be filled when more of these controllers ship by the end of next month.

Let’s hope this means that these new units will be completely free of any problems. Although, the problem apparently wasn’t as big as everyone made it out to be.

Read (Capcom-Unity)

I don’t know about your experiences with MadCatz, but I’ve owned a few N64 Racing Wheels, countless controllers, and a PS2 DDR pad all manufactured by MadCatz, and I must say, they all sucked.

It looks like MadCatz is continuing their traditional of making garbage gaming peripherals as Joystiq readers are reporting that their StreetFighter IV FightSicks aren’t working like they should.

MadCatz, however, said to Joystiq that it’s normal a few (read: a lot) peripherals are defective. They are even urging owners of defective sticks to call MadCatz for repair.

At least you’re trying MadCatz, at least you’re trying.

Already announced is the Charge Station Quad, which allows you to charge all four of your wiimotes at once and it’s joined by two other chargers and a new controller. The Charge Station EX is the newest version of the classic wiimote charger. It allows you to charge two wiimotes at once, but it now features an LED battery level indicator on the front so you can tell just how charged the battery packs are. Next is the Kama Charge Kit. This allows you to charge both a wiimote and Nyko’s wireless nunchuck peripheral the Kama at the same time. It includes the charger station, a Kama controller and battery pack.

Lastly and most interestingly is the Wand, a controller replacement for the WIimote. The layout of the buttons is more or less the same, although following the Kama lawsuit Nyko was careful to ensure that the appearance is vastly different from the official wiimote. The biggest difference is that the Wand features ‘Trans-Port’ technology which allows for new sorts of accessories that the original Wiimote would be incapable of interacting with. Wiimote accessories can only allow mechanical manipulation of buttons, essentially any peripheral such as the zapper can only manipulate existing buttons by including some mechanism that physically presses them. The Wand will allow for controllers that interface electronically.

All three products are scheduled for an April 2009 release date, but only the Charge Station EX has been given a price, which is $34.99.

This MTV Multiplayer report takes a look at the issue. It notes that XS Games was forced to come up with a Wii Remote wrap-around controller instead of a full-blown plastic guitar just to get retail space for its game.

Music games aren’t the only culprit either, with Wii Fit packing the huge balance board peripheral. Heck, the next Tony Hawk game is expected to pack a skateboard of its own.