Nyko’s Wii Action Pak and Core Pak in stores

Nyko Technologies released the Action Pak and Core Pak Wii accessories to North American retail. Each pack contains one Wand controller, Nyko’s Wii controller , and a Trans-Port enabled accessory for the Wand. The Action Pak contains the Pistol Grip attachment, a digitally activated gun peripheral for the Wii, and the Core Pak contains the wired Kama with rumble, a force feedback enabled analog-stick controller for the Wii.

The Action and Core Pak are available now at retailers nationwide for an MSRP of $44.99. Nyko is also announced a new, lower MSRP for the Wand at $29.99.

Find out more about both products by visiting www.nyko.com

The Beatles: Rock Band Peripherals Detailed

Harmonix and partner Electronic Arts announced today that replica Rickenbacker 325 and Gretsch Duo Jet guitars will be made available as standalone music peripheral controllers for The Beatles: Rock Band. In addition, The Beatles: Rock Band Pre-Order Club also goes live today in the U.S. and Canada giving fans exclusive news and access to exclusive game elements from the set for release worldwide on September 9.

The Rickenbacker 325 and Gretsch Duo Jet guitars are two of the signature instruments played by John Lennon and George Harrison throughout their careers. They will be made available for $99.99 in the U.S., €99.99 in continental Europe, and £89.99 in the UK. These wireless instrument controllers join the previously announced Höfner bass controller, a large-scale replica of the bass used by Paul McCartney, and the Ringo Starr inspired and Ludwig-branded Rock Band 2 drums. All controllers will be available for the Xbox 360, PS3, and Wii - and will be compatible with all Rock Band titles.

Read the rest of this entry »

The Beatles Rock Band LE European Pricing

For all our brothers and sisters across the pond comes this story about The Beatles: Rock Band pricing. Specifically pricing for The Beatles: Rock Band Limited Edition Premium Bundle. Consumers in continental Europe will have to shell out 199.00 euros, while the bundle will retail for 179.00 Pounds Sterling in the UK. the U.S. version will retail for $249.99. That’s pretty expensive right? So expensive that it should come with a shot of “talent” for people who continue to insist they “aren’t that bad” or “they must have a cold or something.” Yeah, tell your story walking, sir and/or madame (you know who you are).

So if it doesn’t come with talent injunctions, then what does the bundle contain that’s so damn pricey? Well it features The Beatles: Rock Band software, a Hofner Bass controller (a large scale replica of the Bass famously used by Sir Paul McCartney), a Beatles-inspired and Ludwig-branded Rock Band 2 drum set with classic pearl finish and vintage replica Beatles kick drum head, a microphone and stand, and additional special content.

North American and European fans who pre-order any version of the game will be eligible to join the The Beatles: Rock Band Pre-Order Club and receive breaking news and access to exclusive game elements including art and behind-the-scenes footage directly from MTV Games and Harmonix. New material will be released regularly starting in May and leading up to the game’s launch on Sept. 9.

image credit - http://www.iconocast.com

The Beatles: Rock Band Announced and Dated

Last year, when MTV Games, Harmonix, and Apple Corps announced that they had reached a licensing agreement for use of the library of music from The Beatles, fans everywhere started salivating over the possibility of hitting Rock Band’s virtual stage with John, Paul, George, and Ringo. That possibility was immediately shot down, with the involved parties specifically stating that the new game would NOT be an expansion to the Rock Band line. Fret not, rock game gods, it seems like SOMEONE was stretching the truth.

Read the rest of this entry »

Mad Catz Rocks Your World

Here’s a little disclosure for you - I used to work for Mad Catz, though thankfully not in their hardware / peripheral division. I’m glad of that, because Mad Catz controllers are synonymous with crap; these are the controllers you let guest use when they come over that you don’t like, or friends who you may want to punish for some unpardonable sin.
Whether that reputation is fair or not, the company has been trying to shake its bad image with gamers for years – to no avail. This is more important than ever given that the company is breaking ground with new licensed Rock Band and Rock Band 2 controllers today.

The company has begun shipping its range of premium licensed accessories designed for use with Rock Band and Rock Band 2 videogames for the Xbox 360. These new peripherals include the “first and only official” bass guitar available for Rock Band and Rock Band 2, the Fender Precision Bass Guitar; the Rock Band 2 Wireless Drum Kit the Portable Drum Kit; and the Rock Band Premium M.I.C. (Microphone with Integrated Controller).

Pricing, availability and more can be found at www.madcatz.com, though your best bet might be to stop by the GameShark Store to see if they are offering any specials with these peripherals - like free shipping (I honestly didn’t check, because I don’t care).

Rock Commandos Light Up Your Life

The Ant Commandos today revealed the Rock Commandos, a new set of drum stick peripherals for Rock Band and Guitar Hero World Tour that light up in flame red or electric blue when struck on any surface. The tip of these drum sticks is also coated with silicon to reduce annoying thumping noise when playing. The drum sticks come with 2 AAA batteries and come in flame red and electric blue.

The Rock Commandos are compatible with the PlayStation family of Rock Band games, as well as Activision’s upcoming Guitar Hero: World Tour. No word on whether or not The Ant Commando plans on supporting the Xbox 360 versions of these games.

Find out more here.

Logitech Working on Guitar Hero World Tour Hardware

Activision and Logitech are teaming up to bring some quality Guitar Hero World Tour compatible peripherals to market in time for the game’s release later this year. Logitech is working on “premium” instruments across all platforms, but what exactly those instruments will be was not revealed.

One would have to suspect that a new guitar peripheral is in the works as a new drum kit and a microphone. We’ll let you know when we have more details. Guitar Hero World Tour ships this fall for the Xbox 360, PS2, PS3 and Wii.