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October 28, 2008 7:36 AM PDT

Give your gaming a Kiss with Gene Simmons guitar controller

by Dong Ngo
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The Gene Simmons guitar controller for PlayStation lets you relive '70s rock glory. If that's what you're into.

(Credit: Kobian USA)

Personally, I'm more of a karaoke buff, but for those of you who aren't as secure about your voice as I am about mine, I got something you might want to check out.

It's a fully equipped, axe-shaped guitar controller for PlayStation Guitar Hero and Rock Band games. The controller is a three-quarter replica of Kiss bassist and vocalist Gene Simmons' signature bass guitar and is slightly larger than standard video game guitar controllers.

The Gene Simmons Axe controller is compatible with both PlayStation 2 and 3. It's customized with a replicated paint finish of the original Axe guitar. Both Simmons' autograph and famous Kiss face are painted onto the body of the controller.

The device offers wireless range up to 30 feet, and has five fret and narrow fret buttons with a fully functioning whammy bar and a durable strum bar. It is also USB-connect ready.

Distributed by Kobian USB, the new controller will be available at the end of the month, but you can preorder it now at Amazon.com. Face paint not included.

Dong Ngo is a CNET editor who covers networking and network storage, and writes about anything else he finds interesting. You can also listen to his podcast at insidecnetlabs.cnet.com. E-mail Dong.
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by DarkHawke October 28, 2008 9:53 AM PDT
What an odd world it is where the phrase "standard video game guitar controllers" actually makes sense....
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by gh2008 October 31, 2008 6:53 AM PDT
This guitar is great - some googling revealed this:

http://www.legacyengineer.com/portfolio-guitar.html

Looks like this company is the one who actually designed it for Gene Simmons - but the thing is - Gene stiffed them and never paid for the building of it. These people are artists too - they build electronic works of art. If Gene played a concert - he'd expect to get paid, well these people built what looks like a great product, real shame that didn't get paid.
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by S!egfried November 13, 2008 4:54 AM PST
They seem to have updated their site with more details....
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