Crave

Finally, a decent deal on Wii controllers!

(Credit: Nintendo)

I didn't mind dropping $250 for the Nintendo Wii game system (well, OK, of course I did), but $60 for each additional controller and nunchuk? That, my friends, was painful. ("What do you mean you're going outside to play? Get back here and bowl with your family!")

If only Buy.com had had these deals back then: a refurbished Wii wireless controller for $22.99 shipped and a refurbished Wii nunchuk for $11.99 shipped. Grab 'em both and you're out the door for $34.98.

These are official Nintendo controllers, not third-party knock-offs. The only thing that gives me pause is the warranty: Buy.com's product pages don't indicate who covers it or for how long.

My guess, based on some quick research, is that the warranty expires after 30 days. That's pretty short, so you'll have to decide if it's worth an extra $25 to get new gear with a full one-year warranty.

Me, I'd snap these up in a heartbeat if I didn't already have four controllers. For which I paid full price. Oh, cruel fate! ("Hey, where do you think you're going, family? I paid for doubles tennis, and I'm going to play doubles tennis!")

SIDE DEAL: Newegg has Xbox 360 wireless controllers on sale for $29.99 shipped. These are new, Microsoft-branded units. It is rare to find them selling below the $39.99 list price.

Says the maker of the game controller soaps: "I found a high-quality source of soap base and have now combined two interests: a love of all things geeky and a love of being clean."

(Credit: Etsy.com)

These are coined as "personal cleansers" by Digitalsoaps at handmade-crafts site Etsy.com, though we believe they're nothing more than uniquely shaped hand soaps. The selection ranges from an old-school mobile phone (looks like a Nokia) to the PlayStation and Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) game controllers. These are also available in a wide variety of colors that include semi-translucent shades and a plain-vanilla matte finish.

Prices for these soapy contraptions go from $1.50 for a calculator up to $18 for a twin NES controllers gift set, and they do ship internationally. I wonder if they are really effective at removing the grime after a full day of sweat-drenched gaming or are just another decorative item. Anyone interested in giving it a go?

(Source: Crave Asia via Ubergizmo)

(Credit: Peak Products )

For those true-blue rockers who might frown on a (gasp!) plastic guitar controller, gaming peripheral maker Peak Products is out with the Starpex, which it says is the first-ever full-size wood guitar controller for the PS2/PS3.

The idea here is that a more authentic-feeling instrument can make you feel even more rock star-esque than you already do as you shred your way through the popular Guitar Hero and Rock Band titles. Peak Products says Starpex has an instrument-quality hardwood body, neck, and headstock handcrafted by a leading guitar manufacturer, which as of now, shall apparently remain unnamed.

A button on the controller provides fast access to Star Power and Overdrive modes in the games, and built-in tilt sensor technology lets users access those modes in a more Jimi Hendrix kind of way. The 10-fret button design means players can use traditionally positioned fret buttons, or rock out with solo buttons high up on the neck. The Starpex has wired and wireless capabilities, allowing players to go with a 15-foot cable or a 2.4GHz wireless connection. It can be customized with new guitar bodies, pick guards, and more.

The Starpex will be available at Circuit City and various other retailers in late August with an MSRP of $179.95. Hey, at least that's less than a Gibson.

Microsoft is reportedly working on its own version of Nintendo's Wiimote and plans to introduce it by the end of the year. The report comes from MTV News, which attributes the information to a developer "who has been brief on the project" but sought anonymity to preserve business relationships.

The source told MTV News that the project, supposedly in development since last August, is being designed by Rare, the U.K.-based game studio acquired by the software giant in 2002. Microsoft would not comment on the report.

Although its functions are similar to those of the Wiimote, according to the report, the device does not need a companion controller to be used with it. The device has "face buttons, an analog stick, and microphone," MTV News said. A purported sketch of a working prototype of the device can be seen here.

(Credit: Novint Technologies)

We initially thought the attraction to Novint's "Falcon" controller might be mostly superficial, piquing the interest of hard-core gamers with a bizarre design tha resembled a complicated outdoor lightbulb fixture. But it turned out to be the real deal as it lived up to its hype in hands-on testing by fellow Craver Jeff Bakalar.

That opinion is apparently shared by others in the marketplace, because Novint is introducing a new model in black and silver with an interchangeable grip for both standard and pistol versions, according to Coolest-Gadgets. The grip is particularly important for the Falcon because, as you may recall, the 3D controller is known for allowing players to virtually sense such things as motion, weight, texture, and dimension.

Novint's CEO says the black Falcoln is an "edgier aesthetic option," which isn't exactly going out on a limb considering that the original was white. But he probably focused on the color to downplay concerns about gunplay.

(Credit: Impress)

The dubiously named Genius brand occasionally hits upon a good idea like its Bluetooth headphones with touch-sensitive controls, but it always seems to lapse back into its penchant for uselessness with something like a hybrid speaker-camera. Its latest entry, unfortunately, comes closer to the latter category.

Evergreen is distributing the "Genius Navigator 365" mouse, which is really a clamshell that opens up to reveal a tiny game controller, according to Engadget. It almost looks as if Genius had a few spare VoIP phone-mouse cases lying around and didn't want them going to waste.

(Credit: ArtGuitar)

The guitar wars just got kicked up a notch. The craze fueled by Guitar Hero and Rock Band has led some big bands to lend their names to custom controllers made by ArtGuitar.

KISS, Ozzy Osbourne, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Pantera will have their images and logos emblazoned on the "AG RiffMaster Guitar Controller," which Slippery Brick describes as a full-size Peavy guitar that's been turned into a game controller. The limited editions are going for $399, so these aren't for the kids. For them, there are other, less dangerous alternatives.

Novint Falcon game controller.

(Credit: Novint Technologies)

NEW YORK--Novint Technologies' 3D virtual feeling game controller will be available at CompUSA stores this October, the company announced Thursday.

The Novint Falcon, which originally debuted at the Consumer Electronics Show in January, creates a more realistic and natural experience of movement when playing video games. It allows players to virtually feel things like texture, weight, dimension, 3D motion and force.

The Novint Falcon will be available in October 2007 at CompUSA as a limited edition bundle package for $239. The package will include 24 games and a sports pack that includes bowling, table tennis, basketball and baseball. Like the Wii, the Falcon is an obvious companion to sports-oriented video games.

As part of the deal, each CompUSA store will host a demonstration model of the Falcon for customers to play with.

The Wii Zapper will include Link's Crossbow Training as a pack-in.

(Credit: Nintendo)

When Nintendo announced the Wii Zapper back at July's E3 show, the company promised the $20 add-on would be bundled with a game (a "pack-in," in gamer parlance). And today the company made good on the pledge: The Zapper will include Link's Crossbow Training, a Zelda-themed target shooter. The game will progress from simple bull's-eyes to moving targets (including enemies from the Zelda series), and--while I wouldn't expect much more than a glorified "how to use the Zapper" tutorial--something tells me Crossbow Training could be as infectious as Wii Sports. Either way, it's nice to see Nintendo adding a bit of value to what's less a controller and more a big hunk of plastic. (The Zapper is simply a housing that places the Wii Remote and Nunchuk into a mounting that's vaguely reminiscent of a Tommy gun.)

In addition to the included crossbow title, three third-party titles will also be Zapper-compatible: EA's Medal of Honor Heroes 2, Capcom's Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles, and Sega's Ghost Squad. Each of those games are Wii exclusives, and all are due by the end of the year. The Zapper itself will be available in North America on Nov. 19.