Nintendo Facing Controller Ban Over Patent Lawsuit

Getting your hands on a Wavebird, Classic Controller, or Nintendo GameCube could shortly become very difficult as Nintendo faces a ban on all three devices, following a failed attempt to overturn the verdict in a $21-million dollar patent infringement suit brought on by Texas-based Anascape Ltd. U.S. District Judge Ron Clark plans on issuing the ban on these Nintendo products tomorrow, giving the company a chance to avoid the ban by posting bond or placing royalties in an Escrow account. According to Anascape lawyer Doug Cawley, the ban will be placed on hold while Nintendo appears on the Federal level.

"Nintendo was already planning to appeal this case to the Federal Circuit court,'' Nintendo spokesman Charlie Scibetta said in an e-mailed statement. ``The recent ruling by the trial court does not impact that decision.''

Note that the ban does not affect the Wii remote or nunchuck controllers - just the standard controllers that include analog sticks.

Nintendo Faces Ban on Some Wii, GameCube Controllers [Bloomberg - Thanks Shannon]

EA Developing Line Of Sports Controllers

Guitar Hero and Rock Band have shown us that video games using giant plastic peripherals can succeed in the marketplace, so why not plastic sports peripherals? At the Paris GDC, EA Sports exec producer and VP David McCarthy revealed that EA plans to release a line of sports-related specialty peripherals over the course of the next year. Next Generation contacted McCarthy for more details on the new products, which could very well debut at this year's E3.

"Anything we put out for sports would enhance the experience. I can tease you a little bit. One of the things we're doing is looking at just playing with the Wii remote in a different way, using a whole new peripheral that's out there, kind of thing. So, basically enabling control for the user in a much different way."

He teased some more: "We are prototyping stuff that really does allow us to play with the Wii remote differently."

So far it seems like the main focus here is the Wii, as no other consoles are mentioned in the story, though with both Microsoft and Sony rumored to be working on motion-controllers I certainly wouldn't rule them out.

I will be extremely disappointed if this doesn't result in a tether ball controller for the Wii.

EA Sports Peripherals May Debut at E3 [Next-Generation]

Ben Heck's One-Handed Controller Now On Sale

First announced back in October of last year, the Access Game Controller designed by technical wizard Ben Heckendorn for disabled gamers is finally ready for sale via eDimensional's website. The device, listed for use with the PlayStation 2, PS3, and PC, allows one-handed gamers modify the controller as they see fit via a series of circular modules containing face buttons, shoulder buttons, analog sticks and a d-pad.

The controller can be preordered right now for $129.95, with a shipping target of 8-10 weeks. A portion of all proceeds goes towards Children’s Hospital and Veterans Affairs Medical Centers.

New Access Controller Designed by Ben Heck [eDimensional's Product Page]

A More Sensible Wii Racing Wheel

Tired of putting your hands in the air and waving them like you care only about getting to the finishing line? Too lazy to craft your own stable Wii racing wheel out of everyday household items for us in Mario Kart Wii? Well then head over to Success-HK, where they have recently released the Blazepro Realistic Racing Wheel for the Wii. Using the magical power of suction cups, the Realistic Racing Wheel attaches to any smooth surface for that not-nearly-flailing-as-much feel, with the added benefit of giving your tired arms something to rest on. As a special added bonus, the wheel detaches from the base for air-driving action.

Of course it might not be the best quality product on the market, but you can't beat the price. The Realistic Racing Wheel can be yours now for only $5.87, plus shipping. Quick! Someone buy one and let us know how it is so we don't all make the same mistake!

Nintendo Wii Realistic Racing Wheel [Success-HK via Wii News - Thanks Wraggy!]

Which Controller Do You Brawl With?

The first thing that struck me as I started digging into Super Smash Bros. Brawl for my review, was the fact that this wasn't a game designed with the standard Wiimote controls in mind. The only time the motion sensing comes into play is when you shake the controller to activate your Smash Attack, and even then it's easier done with the control stick and a button. Me? I tried all the configurations, and finally settled with my trusty old GameCube controller. What's your weapon of choice?

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Harrison, Molyneux Agree - Controllers Are Too Complicated

""We don't use half the buttons on the 360 controller," admitted Molyneux, "simply because the whole dream I've got is that someone will sit down to play Fable 2 who has never played a game before and they can play with someone who's played games the whole of their lives.

"You hand somebody a game controller and it's like you've handed them a live gun or a hand grenade with the pin taken out"

There's really not much a third party company can do with the Nintendo Wiimote controller. Since so many peripherals (GH Controller, Zapper, Shark Gun) are designed specifically to accommodate the shape of the standard Wiimote, you can't except to see any wild variations as you might with a third party Xbox 360 or PS3 controller. This fact has kept many peripheral makers away from the Wii, but not Sunflex. The German controller company fiddled with the button shapes, slapped a shiny new coat of paint and a rubberized grip and voila! The Snakebyte Riimote. Get it? Riimote! Like remote, only spelled like Wii! HA! Ahem. The controller comes in two colors, Glossy Black and Lipstick Pink (for the girls - their words), and should be available February 8th across Europe for 39,99€. The company plans on complimenting the Riimote with the Snakebyte Nunchaku, wireless Nunchaku, and Retro Controller this spring, along with new colors of the Riimote itself.

Sunflex Product Gallery [Sunflex Europe]

Dragon Releases Cheap 3rd Party Dual Shock 3

Don't want to wait until next year or pay completely hideous import prices to get your PlayStation 3 rumble on? Well over at Success HK they've just put up Dragon Electronics' Duo Shock 4 controller for sale. It's a 3rd party Dual Shock controller that works with the PS3, PC, PS2, and the PSone, all thanks to a USB to PS2 port wireless adapter. Sure, you'll have a dongle hanging off the front of your PS3, but it will make your controller vibrate pleasantly, and isn't that all you really need? The biggest plus? It's only $16.77 to order one! The downside? How much controller can you actually get for only $16.77? I don't think I have to say buy at your own risk here, because I believe in you people.

Playstation 3 Wireless Controller (Dragon) DuoShock 3 [Success HK via PS3 Revolution]

On MGS: Portable Ops Driving Me Nuts