The Aviator combines two controllers into one, placing the throttle controls traditionally placed on a separate unit for flight controllers right on the base of the stick, giving players relatively easy access to all the buttons, sliders, and toggles they need to succeed in games like Ace Combat 6, Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X., and the Blazing Angels series.

One of the first fruits of the union between Saitek and Mad Catz, does Saitek's console debut soar, or does Mad Catz keep it grounded?

Loved
Sturdy As She Goes: I've been purchasing Saitek peripherals for quite some time now, and have generally been impressed with their construction and overall feel of their products. The Aviator does not disappoint. The controller is deceptively light, but very sturdy, making it just as easy to play with it sitting in your lap as it is with the controller resting on a flat surface.

Smooth And Responsive: The aviator performed admirably in both Ace Combat 6 for the Xbox 360 and the PC version of Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X.. After a brief adjustment period I found myself flying more naturally than I ever had with an Xbox 360 controller, banking and rolling with a twist of the stick. Flying games just feel more natural with a stick, and the Aviator does the trick nicely. I should also note here that the installation on my Windows 7 PC was a breeze. I didn't have to install drivers or fiddle with settings; simply plugged the stick in and it reacted like as if the PC were an Xbox 360.

Hated
Two Thingsism: The Saitek Aviator is one thing trying to do the work of two things, and as well as it handles the basic functions of the games I played with it, it doesn't come close to the experience of having a separate joystick and throttle control at your disposal. Moving the stick around with one hand wrapped around the base of the joystick simply feels off, and you wind up throttling blind because your hand on the stick obscures your view. There's also a problem if you have to consistently push one of the face buttons during battle, as there is no way you can grip the stick, access the throttle, and press the buttons at the same time. It works well enough, but it could never replace a two-handed setup.

More than anything, whether or not you should pick up the Saitek Aviator depends on your experience with flight controllers. If you've never experienced the joy of a dual stick/throttle setup and are simply looking for a reasonably inexpensive way to add a little more realism to your arcade flight sim experience, then the Aviator could very well be the controller for you. On the other hand, if your flight sim tastes run more on the simulation side or you've gotten used to a controller like the Hori flight stick that shipped in the Ace Combat 6 premium bundle, you'll most likely find Saitek's single-stick offering fails to achieve liftoff.

The Saitek Aviator Flight Stick was manufactured and released by Saitek / Mad Catz in January 2009. Retails for $49.99 (MSRP, seen for as low as $29.99 online). Manufacturer provided an Xbox 360/PC unit for purposes of review. Played several hours of both Ace Combat 6 for the Xbox 360 and Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X. for the PC using the controller.

Here's what I can be sure of. The Street Fighter IV Round 2 Tournament Edition FightStick is a fight stick for Street Fighter IV, one that you might be able to play at tournaments. Also: It's the second wave — or shall we say "round"? — of Mad Catz SFIV sticks. The change for round two? Black on the sides instead of white. A new image on the controller surface.

I pondered the stick and this thought popped into my head: "Nothing brings the arcade experience closer to home than the Street Fighter IV 'Round 2' Arcade FightStick: Tournament Edition. Featuring the same authentic Vewlix arcade configuration, robust build and genuine Sanwa Denshi Japanese style ball-handled joystick and 30mm Action Buttons embraced by gamers worldwide in the original range, the ‘Round 2' Arcade Fightstick Tournament Edition houses these premium components in a sleek, piano-black housing, featuring all new monochrome artwork taken directly from the game. The collectible packaging reflects the understated appearance of the Stick with approved artwork provided by Capcom and certain to be appreciated by fans of the franchise."

That's what the press release said, actually. On to my judgments:

Loved
Clicking To A Better Fireball: The MYTH that I can't throw a fireball comes from the pathetic video shot of me earlier this year playing Street Fighter II against rapper Soulja Boy Tell 'Em. We both played horribly and neither of us is seen throwing a fireball. I did throw some, I think, but the truth is that I haven't been able to throw them reliably since I had SFII on my Super Nintendo. The skill to throw one at will was lost to me until I tried the FightStick I'm reviewing here. At last, I understand why people shell out money for these things. Quarter-circle turns are so much easier with an actual arcade stick, as opposed to an Xbox 360 control stick or PlayStation 3 d-pad. I'm terrible with those controllers. The clicking feedback of winding an arcade stick from the 6 o'clock position to the 3 o'clock position was exactly what I needed. At home, with this stick, away from the cameras, I was throwing fireballs at will. It was like I went from being a doubles hitter to a homerun hitter, with the aid of a legal and metaphorical Mad Catz steroid. I was even able to throw Ryu's Shoryuken. I nailed the zigzag move to do it every time. To go from ineptitude on a 360 controller to perfect input execution on this FightStick was quite exciting.

Not So Garish: Thrilled as I was to feel like I'd gained some instant Street Fighter skills by using the Round 2 FightStick, I was concerned that it didn't quite fit into my life. First of all, it probably doesn't fit because it is big, about the size of my fat housecat. I don't think a game controller of that size is compatible with my marriage, and, truth be told, I had to go buy a copy of SFIV to even review this stick (GameStop only had it used. Weird.) So maybe I'm not the ideal customer. But. If I decided I needed a stick, I'd get this one due to the fact that its yellow-orange Street Fighter logo is the only major splash of color on the mostly black shell. This thing is nice and subdued and doesn't quite look like I'm covering my lap in Street Fighter IV art when I use it — unless you look closely, in which cast that's exactly what I'm doing.

Hated
The Wire: I'm sure there's a good reason for this FightStick to need to be plugged into a game console rather than working wirelesses. Maybe it's cost or latency. Hey, there's probably a good reason why this arcade stick has a headphone jack and why my headphones plug doesn't fit into it. And who am I, the guy who couldn't beat Soulja Boy to complain? But in a world of wireless controllers, I want a wireless controller.

So let's say you're on the fence about whether to buy this Round 2 FightStick. I would ask you to consider how much space you have, how much money you have and how much throwing fireballs means to you. If you're answers were "a lot," "a lot" and "a lot," then you're a potential customer. Or, if you're like me and your answers are slightly different, at least bear in mind that if you ever need to have a Street Fighter showdown and you can name the equipment, request an arcade stick. Don't use a game controller. Oh, and play with your arms crossed. The skilled players do that, or so I've seen.

The Mad Catz Street Fighter IV Round 2 Arcade Fight Stick: Tournament Edition was manufactured by Mad Catz and was made available for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 in the fall of 2009. Retails for $149.99 USD. An Xbox 360 edition of the stick was given to us by Mad Catz for reviewing purposes. Used it in Street Fighter IV matches and training sessions.

Confused by our reviews? Read our review FAQ.

The Wireless Wooden Fender Stratocaster is a full-sized replica of Fender's famous guitar, with all of the necessary Rock Band bells and whistles thrown in. Instead of strings, pickups, and frets you get a strum bar and fret buttons, with the various dials and ports assigned to functions normally found in music games, like start and select. As an added plus, the wireless controller actually functions like one of Microsoft's own, requiring no additional dongle be hooked up in order to play. All of this, housed inside the body of one of the most iconic instruments in rock history.

It certainly sounds lovely, but is it $300 lovely?

Loved
How It Feels: This isn't a small wooden replica of a guitar. This is a real Fender Stratocaster body, crafted and assembled at a Fender manufacturing facility. It has all of the weight and beauty of a real Strat, with real metal bits and an authentic three-tone sunburst finish. It even comes with a real cloth guitar strap. It's a beautiful thing to behold, and even more satisfying to hold in your hands. It feels more like a real guitar than my real guitar does, though in all honesty my real guitar is a $99 piece of crap. The point here is that the Wooden Fender Stratocaster has the sort of look and feel that will ruin you for plastic guitar controllers for all time.

I should note that during my initial session with the guitar I dropped it, dislodging one of the fret buttons. It popped back on readily, however, and I noticed no degradation in the action. And no, it wasn't the orange one I never use anyway.

How It Plays: Along with having the satisfying weight on your shoulders and the feeling that you're holding an actual grown-up guitar, the action on the fret buttons of the wooden Stratocaster have a much smoother action than you generally find with its plastic counterparts. The strum bar has more of a click to it than I would like, but I found it extremely responsive, so I can't complain too much.

Hated
Everything Else Is Just Toys: Playing Rock Band with a full contingent now leaves me slightly embarrassed for the rest of my band. When you've got one guitarist with a full-sized wooden replica and the other on a tiny plastic piece of crap, not to mention a drummer playing what looks like My First Electronic Drum Kit, you begin to feel like one of the kids in those Sesame Street "One of these kids is not like the other" skits. It might not be an issue for everyone, but for me it tends to throw off the feeling of the endeavor somewhat.

The Rock Band Wireless Wooden Fender Stratocaster is hands-down the best guitar video game peripheral I've had the pleasure to play. Having said that, is this a controller I would go to the store and buy? Probably not. There are simply too many other things approaching that price point that I'd rather own, and up until I spent a good month playing with this wooden model, the plastic guitars worked just fine for me.

That's not to say you shouldn't pick one up. If the highlight of your week is getting together with your pals and burning through the latest Rock Band downloadable content, or you have a friend or relative that you never see without a plastic guitar controller in hand, then the Rock Band Wireless Wooden Fender Stratocaster might represent $300 well-spent. Just be warned - there ain't no going back.

The Rock Band Wireless Wooden Stratocaster was designed and manufactured by Mad Catz and Fender, and released in September for the Xbox 360. Retails for $299.99 USD, though retail prices may vary. A review unit of the controller was given to us by the manufacturer for reviewing purposes. Used the controller for two months in Rock Band, Lego Rock Band, Guitar Hero 5, and Band Hero.

Confused by our reviews? Read our review FAQ.

Earlier this month, Microsoft released a Wireless-N network adapter for the Xbox 360, bringing faster speeds to users who've up until now been stuck with 802.11g. Now Mad Catz is shipping its own adapter with a suggested retail price of $79.99 to Microsoft's $99.99. The Wireless-N Gaming Adapter connects directly to your console's ethernet port, allowing you to position it for the best possible. And since it uses an ethernet cable, it can be plugged into the PlayStation 3 as well, giving PS3-owners a bit of a speed boost as well.

Darren Richardson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mad Catz commented, "With more HD entertainment content and online gaming being delivered via Xbox Live® and PSN™, we anticipate the need for Wireless-N gaming adapters will increase. Our Wireless-N Adapter allows Xbox 360 users to access the network wirelessly and for PS3 users to upgrade their wireless technology to the faster N standard."

I actually have my apartment wired, as I cannot stand the slow speed of wireless when compared to a direct connection, but for those of you averse to tripping over cables, this seems a fine way to go. The adapter should be shipping to retailers in North America and key European territories as we speak.

Is it worth buying a piece of plastic to slap onto your controller? Let's see.

Loved
Fanboy Look: If you're a big fan of Modern Warfare 2 and want everyone to know it, this is a great wait to do that. The vinyl faceplate snaps tightly onto the controller leaving very little to tell it's an aftermarket add-on.

Feel: Once locked in place, the faceplate doesn't really change the feel of the controller at all. And that's a good thing. The only seam you'll notice lines up with where the controller halves are screwed together, so it even looks like your controller came splashed with Modern Warfare 2 art.

Hated
Flimsy Alone: If you plan on not leaving this faceplate on all of the time you'd better be careful where you store it. The thin vinyl feels like it could snap if bent, sat or stepped on.

I'm not a big fan of customizing my gaming equipment to advertise a particular title, but if I were this $15 faceplate seems like a pretty good option.

Modern Warfare 2 Combat Controller Camo Faceplate was developed and produced by Mad Catz for the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 on Nov. 10. Retails for $14.99 USD. A camo Playstation 3 faceplate was given to us by Mad Catz for reviewing purposes. Played several games for several hours with the faceplate snapped onto a controller.

Confused by our reviews? Read our review FAQ.

The wireless Playstation 3 controllers include assignable macro buttons, LED lighting and a digital camo design, but are they worth picking up?

Loved
Triggers: The controllers buttons feel like they push in a bit more and the d-pad feels much more responsive, but the biggest win for me on this controller are the thinner, slightly curved triggers. They feel like gun triggers and seem to be a touch more responsive. They also spring back much faster than the R2 and L2 triggers on the traditional PS3 controller. I love these things.

Macro and LED Buttons: Being able to assign the always-awkward thumbstick buttons to macro buttons located on the back of the controller is fantastic. If pushing in the thumbstick to do stuff isn't as annoying to you as it is to me, you can also choose to assign those tiny twin, back of controller buttons to by the X, Y, A or B buttons. And unlike the Xbox 360 controller, the PS3 controller lets you turn the LED lighting around the thumbsticks on and off. A nice little addition.

Wireless: As I said in the review of the Xbox 360 version of this controller, I'm not a big fan of wired controllers. I've never noticed any difference in lag and the annoyance of having something strung across my room, usually something not long enough to reach my couch, is a pretty big deal for me. Fortunately, the PS3 controller uses a tiny USB receiver that pops into one of the front ports on the console. It's slightly annoying that the controller doesn't use Bluetooth, but you forget about the dongle pretty quickly. Because the controller is wireless, it enters sleep mode after ten minutes of inactivity. There's also an on/off switch on it.

There are a lot of things to like about the USB chargeable Playstation 3 Modern Warfare 2 controllers. The grey on black camo design is a nice, subtle touch. The LED light thumbstick sockets add a bit of flair to the controllers, and the textured grips help it stay put in your hand. My only minor reservation is that the original Playstation 3 controller's grips are a bit thinner, making holding it that controller for long periods of time more pleasant.

If you're looking for a controller upgrade to go with your new gaming obsession, and don't mind the dongle, the Combat Controller is a nice option.

Modern Warfare 2 Combat Controller Camo was developed and produced by Mad Catz for the Playstation 3 on Nov. 10. Retails for $49.99 USD. A black controller was given to us by Mad Catz for reviewing purposes. Played several games for several hours with the controller.

Confused by our reviews? Read our review FAQ.

I spent yesterday and today taking the Playstation 3 Combat Wireless headset for a spin. It looks nice, and with few official Playstation headsets to choose from, there's certainly a gap to fill. But is this the one for your in-game chat needs?

Loved
Look: The diminutive Bluetooth headset is lightweight and features a subtle design that hints at Modern Warfare 2 support without screaming that you're all about the military shooter. I'd be OK using this headset out and about with my cell phone without worrying about people thinking that I was a bit too gaming-minded.

Hated
Pain in My Ear: After about 20 minutes of gameplay, the in-ear headset started feeling really uncomfortable. Admittedly, I'm not a huge fan of these sort of headsets, but I was surprised how quickly this particular one went from unnoticeable to down-right painful.

Clicks and Pops: Not sure what was going on, but during my time with the headset I kept hearing little clicks and pops. Nothing super loud and when people were talking it went away. But it was a little annoying to hear during the often-silent battles fought online in Uncharted 2.

The Bluetooth headset is quite nice looking and, according to those I chatted with, the 2.0 technology sounded pretty good too. But the combination of the occasional noises and the uncomfortable feel means I won't be using this headset for my nights of gaming.

What I came away with after hours spent using the headset is a much greater appreciation for the Throat Communicator that Mad Catz is selling for the Xbox 360. Comfortable and aesthetically pleasing, that's the sort of headset I'd love to make my peripheral of choice for the Playstation 3. I realize there are some issues in trying to come up with a working system for the Throat Communicator on the PS3, but I'd like to think Mad Catz can over come them. Until then, I'll be without a voice on this console.

Modern Warfare 2 Combat Wireless Headset was developed and produced by Mad Catz for the Playstation 3 on Nov. 10. Retails for $39.99 USD. A headset was given to us by Mad Catz for reviewing purposes. Played several games for several hours with the headset.

Confused by our reviews? Read our review FAQ.

The wired Xbox 360 controllers include assignable macro buttons, LED lighting and a digital camo design, but are they worth picking up?

Loved
Triggers: The controllers buttons are snappier and the d-pad feels a bit more responsive, but the biggest win for me on this controller are the thinner, slightly curved triggers. They feel like gun triggers and seem to be a touch more responsive. I love these things.

Macro Buttons: Being able to assign the always-awkward thumbstick buttons to macro buttons located on the back of the controller is fantastic. If pushing in the thumbstick to do stuff isn't as annoying to you as it is to me, you can also choose to assign those tiny twin, back of controller buttons to by the X, Y, A or B buttons.

Hated
Plugged In: There is no amount of cool, no design or art work that can make me accept the fact that in this day and age I need to have a cable stretched from my controller to my Xbox 360 while I play games. I don't care whose fault it is or why it was done. I'm having none of it.

There are a lot of things to like about the Xbox 360 Modern Warfare 2 controllers. The grey on white camo design is a nice, subtle touch. The LED light thumbstick sockets add a nice flare to the controllers, and the thinner design makes holding it for long periods of time more pleasant.

If you can get over needing to plug this controller into your Xbox 360, it's probably worth the upgrade.

Modern Warfare 2 Combat Controller Camo was developed and produced by Mad Catz for the Xbox 360 on Nov. 10. Retails for $49.99 USD. A white controller was given to us by Mad Catz for reviewing purposes. Played several games for several hours with the controller.

Confused by our reviews? Read our review FAQ.

Mad Catz has rolled out an entire line of third-party peripherals, including PC keyboards and mice, controllers, headsets and, most intriguing of all, a nifty Xbox 360 throat communicator.

Does Mad Catz deliver with the military-inspired microphone or is the Throat Communicator a waste of time and space?

Loved
Comfort: The lightweight throat communicator gently hugs your neck, making it easy to forget it's there within minutes of putting it on. The attached in-ear earpiece features soft rubber that fills your ear canal without any strain or pain. No more ear or scalp irritation for you.

Isolated: These aren't military quality, so to use the throat communicator you will have to speak at normal levels. That kills off my dream of whispering to team mates during late night gaming sessions. But the microphone, which presses up against your neck, does a great job of cutting down outside noise. That means less echoes and less noisy roommates and music. I even tested eating with it, though to Fahey's disgust, he could hear what he swears was the sound of my mastication and swallowing.

Hated
Muting and volume controls: With the fancy behind-the-neck design, it would have been nice if Mad Catz came up with a better system for earpiece volume control and muting. The dangling, rather small piece of plastic features a tiny switch to mute and a dial for volume which works just fine. But the extra plastic sort of kills the whole "I'm a cut-throat mercenary" feeling, leaning more towards the "I'm a douchey walk-and-talk businessman" vibe.

Overall, I'm pretty happy with the Throat Communicator. In my time spent using it, the communicator was very comfortable and did an admirable job of doing what it says it will do. The volume dongle is a little off-putting but not a deal breaker. When it comes to inexpensive microphone upgrades for Xbox 360 Live, this seems like one of the best deals around.

Mad Catz Throat Communicator for the Xbox 360 was developed by Mad Catz for the Xbox 360 and released on Nov. 10. Retails for $29.99 USD. A Throat Communicator was given to us by Mad Catz for reviewing purposes. Played several hours of Halo ODST and on Xbox Live with the communicator. Ate, cranked up the volume and had my son yell to test isolating effects.

Confused by our reviews? Read our review FAQ.

I'm in the middle of going through them all now for a review, but while you wait take a look at how these controllers, microphones and headsets look unboxed.

Included in the box were the throat mic, both Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 controllers, a wireless headset for the PS3 and a faceplate for a Playstation 3 controller.

Boxed
Throat Communicator
Throat Communicator
Throat Communicator
Playstation 3 controller
PS3 Controller uses a dongle to connect to PS3.
PS3 Controller
PS3 Controller
PS3 Controller
Not the extra assignable buttons
Xbox 360 Controller
Xbox 360 Controller
Nice cable
360 controller
360 controller
360 controller
Also has assignable buttons
PS3 Wireless headset
Pretty tiny
PS3 wireless headset
PS3 Controller faceplate
Just the faceplate
Just the faceplate
Snapped onto the controller


Smooth transition between faceplate and controller.

More than just an extremely pretty face, the Fender Telecaster 'Player's Edition' comes complete with fast-action ‘Shredderz' fret buttons, an exclusive addition to the model with a rapid action that the company says is perfect for difficult solos. The Telecaster also has four different methods for kicking Rock Band into overdrive - the optional Electro-Harmonix Overdrive Pedal, the back tuning button, the old-fashioned tilt mechanism, and a new touch sensitive pickup, conveniently located above the strum bar.

The Telecaster retails for $109.99 and is now shipping to stores across North America. It's a little on the pricey side, but it sure has a hell of a lot of character.

Round 2 of Mad Catz officially licensed Street Fighter IV controllers features the same Tournament Edition FightSticks and FightPads as the first batch, only this time around they look different! The FightStick has had a nice makeover and the pads now features designs based on your favorite fighters, including Bison, Cammy, Guile, Crimson Viper, Sagat, and Zangief.

"Capcom is pleased to continue working alongside Mad Catz to deliver a second wave of high quality FightSticks and FightPads to the Street Fighter community," said Christian Svensson, vice president business development & strategic planning at Capcom Entertainment, Inc. "Our fan base has responded enthusiastically to the first range of Street Fighter IV controllers and we are dedicated to continue surprising our loyal audience with products which do justice to this highly acclaimed title."

With all the redesigns and limited editions they released so far of the FightSticks, I'd say Mad Catz is starting to overdo it a bit, but hey - if they sell, sell em!

Here we get our first look at the Mad Catz Modern Warfare 2 lineup. First announced last month, it consists of custom controllers for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, that lovely Cyborg keyboard and a mouse for the PC, the obligatory decals, and a couple of communicators for the console versions.

Perhaps the most intriguing is the Xbox 360 throat communicator, modeled after the same ones the military uses to facilitate clear communication in combat situations. Now I'll be able to hear other Xbox Live users calling me a dickhead with a clarity I've never before experienced! I can't wait.

Sure, the Comic-Con stick was stylish and the PAX Femme Fatale controller was pretty, but neither were quite as sexy as the Marvel VS. Capcom 2 model Mad Catz is rolling out for Capcom later this fall. It's the same Tournament Edition stick that fighter fans have been fighting over and on since they were released with Street Fighter IV, festooned with never-before-seen Marvel VS. Capcom 2 artwork, making it the perfect accessory for both comic book fans as well.

"Capcom has demonstrated that by working in close collaboration with Mad Catz, we are able to produce fighting controllers which deliver the level of performance and authenticity that our fans demand," said Christian Svensson, vice president business development & strategic planning at Capcom Entertainment, Inc. "We're delighted to further our relationship and continue the evolution of this range to encapsulate the Marvel VS Capcom franchise and look forward to the fans reaction upon release."

I've been holding out on picking up a stick despite being present at both shows and watching people constantly walking away from the Capcom booth with giant bags filled with plastic fighting goodness. Perhaps I foresaw this. Perhaps I am simply a fortunate procrastinator. Either way, look for the Marvel VS. Capcom 2 sticks to hit GameStop stores and both Capcom and Mad Catz's online stores later this fall.

Yes, there will be console skins and branded controllers from Mad Catz, but that's just a small selection of the merchandise Mad Catz has up its sleeves. Hell, even the branded controllers are something special, with both the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions sporting two additional buttons on the rear, perfect for shifting melee and sprint away from the analog control sticks.

Both consoles are also getting unique communication options - a Bluetooth headset for the PS3 and a military design throat microphone for the 360, which sounds like an excellent solution for those gaming in high-noise environments.

On the PC side of things, Mad Catz is rolling out a game pad, a mouse, and two keyboards, one of which is built off of the Saitek Cyborg line of gaming keyboards, which is the one I currently use. $99 is a bit steep, but I've been extremely satisfied.

For a full listing of products and prices, simply scroll down. The full line is expected to release in conjunction with the game this November.

• Modern Warfare™ 2 Combat Controller – Xbox 360

Complete with a host of features designed to customize the in-game experience, the Modern Warfare 2 Combat Controller has Rubber Grips and a soft-touch finish for extended gaming sessions. Featuring two unique buttons located on the rear of the Controller, players can re-map Action Button or Thumbstick commands empowering players to shift melee or sprint to the rear buttons in order to maintain full motion control on the analog sticks. Immersive Analog ThumbStick Backlighting enhances the in-game atmosphere while Dual Vibration Feedback allows the user to experience every shot and explosion. Lastly, the fully braided connection cable provides a robust and latency free connection with the console.

MSRP: $49.99

• Modern Warfare™ 2 Throat Communicator – Xbox 360

Based on authentic military design, the Modern Warfare 2 Throat Communicator allows gamers to comfortably communicate with teammates and other Xbox LIVE® players. Fashioned in authentic graphics, the unique microphone design reduces background noise and allows gamers to clearly communicate with each other, bringing them closer to the field ops experience. The Throat Communicator is fully compatible with the official Microsoft® controller as well as the Mad Catz Modern Warfare 2 Combat Controller.

MSRP: $29.99

• Modern Warfare™ 2 Faceplate and Console Skinz – Xbox 360

Featuring custom Modern Warfare 2 artwork, both the highly collectible Controller Faceplate and Console Skinz allow gamers to customize their Xbox 360 and official controller. Depicting official in-game art, the Console Faceplate attaches simply and safely, transforming your console in seconds and the removable Console Skinz wrap around the sides of the Xbox 360, providing a fully immersive themed landscape.

MSRP: $29.99

• Modern Warfare™ 2 Wireless Combat Controller – PS3™

Modern Warfare 2 Wireless Combat Controller for PLAYSTATION 3 utilizes a secure 2.4 GHz wireless link to connect with the console for accurate wire-free action. Featuring two unique buttons located on the rear of the Controller, players can re-map Action Button or Thumbstick commands empowering players to shift melee or sprint to the rear buttons in order to maintain full motion control on the analog sticks. The Controller features Immersive Analog ThumbStick Backlighting and an internal Rechargeable Battery that allows for charging directly from the console's USB port and provides up to 60 hours of game play from a single charge.

MSRP: $49.99

• Modern Warfare™ 2 Wireless Headset with Bluetooth® Technology – PS3

Sophisticated, discrete and fashioned with Modern Warfare 2 graphics, the Headset for PLAYSTATION 3 allows for wire-free communication with teammates and PlayStation Network™ (PSN™) users. Featuring a high-quality, noise-reducing microphone, ideal for frantic game play, the Headset utilizes Bluetooth 2.0 wireless technology, and operates at a range of up to 30 feet from the console.

MSRP: $39.99

• Modern Warfare™ 2 Controller Faceplates – Xbox 360 & PLAYSTATION 3

Depicting official artwork from Modern Warfare 2, the highly collectible Controller Faceplate allows gamers to customize their official Xbox 360 and PLAYSTATION 3 controllers in style. Highly durable and featuring a high-gloss finish, the safe and removable Controller Faceplate attaches in seconds to the official controller and features authentic artwork to support the game (Xbox 360 and PLAYSTATION 3 Controller Faceplate sold separately).

MSRP: $14.99

• Modern Warfare™ 2 Combat GamePad – PC

For those who enjoy gaming on their PC but prefer the feel of a gamepad over a keyboard and mouse, the Modern Warfare 2 Combat GamePad provides a comfortable and highly ergonomic method of play. Featuring full analog control, the Combat GamePad is fashioned in authentic Modern Warfare 2 artwork and comes complete with a complement of four Action Buttons and four Trigger Buttons as well as a stable eight-way D-Pad delivering precision and accuracy where fast response is crucial to survival. Pre-programmed for Modern Warfare 2, the Combat GamePad ships with software that allows gamers to reprogram the four Action Buttons to suit their personal preferences or for use with other software titles. The Combat GamePad is compatible with Windows™ 7, Vista™ and XP™.

MSRP: $24.99

• Modern Warfare™ 2 Sniper Mouse – PC

Fine-tuned for razor-sharp assault, the Modern Warfare 2 Sniper Mouse allows for precision in-game control. Instantly adjustable DPI (‘Dot Per Inch') allows gamers to adjust the speed of the mouse cursor at any time, ideal for a multitude of missions and varying styles of play. A built-in weight cartridge allows gamers to add or subtract weights from the Mouse tailoring the feel for personal preference. Fashioned in fully authentic graphics, the Sniper Mouse is certain to be the weapon of choice for PC enthusiasts. Pre-programmed for Modern Warfare 2, the Mouse ships with software that allows gamers to reprogram the Mouse Buttons to suit their personal preference or for use with other software titles. The Sniper Mouse is compatible with Windows 7, Vista and XP.

MSRP: $49.99

• Modern Warfare™ 2 Combat Keyboard – PC

The Modern Warfare 2 Combat Keyboard features ‘Anti-Ghosting' in key action areas and a Windows Key Lock to prevent accidental disruption to game play. Easily accessible Media Keys provide instant access to volume control, play/pause and other essential media-related functions and a weighted base with strategically placed large rubber feet that prevent the keyboard from slipping off the desk. Pre-programmed for Modern Warfare 2, the Combat Keyboard ships with software that allows gamers to reprogram Function Buttons to suit their personal preference or for use with other software titles. The Combat Keyboard is compatible with Windows 7, Vista and XP.

MSRP: $49.99

• Modern Warfare™ 2 Elite Keyboard – PC

Built on the successful ‘Cyborg™' Keyboard platform, the Modern Warfare 2 Elite Keyboard is ideal for those who take their gaming seriously and will prove to be an essential ally in the field. Multi-Color backlighting, including adjustable brightness and ‘Tru-Vu™' illumination, provides gamers with the ability to set ambient lighting, ranging from red through to amber and green. Touch-Sensitive Back-Lit Dashboard controls provide access to keyboard lighting and media functions. Further aiding in the custom nature of the keyboard, the WASD, cursor, ‘Cyborg™' and NumPad keys can all be lit independently from the rest of the keyboard, allowing players to highlight keys commonly used in-game. One-touch ‘Cyborg' mode instantly disables the Windows™ keys and adjusts the keyboard illumination to desired settings for simple set-up and no fewer than twelve Cyborg keys can be programmed to replicate any sequence of keyboard presses in a single button. Durable Metal-Plated key caps provide reinforced strength on the most commonly used gaming keys and gold-plated connectors for USB and microphone inputs allow other accessories to be passed through the keyboard without accessing the PC. Pre-programmed for Modern Warfare 2, the Elite Keyboard ships with software that allows gamers to reprogram Keyboard Buttons to suit their personal preference or for use with other software titles. The Elite Keyboard is compatible with Windows 7, Vista and XP.

MSRP: $99.99

Mad Catz loves branding accessories, especially when it comes to big titles, and there most likely won't be a title bigger than Modern Warfare 2 this year, so they've got a full range of accessories being prepared across all major platforms. No specifics were given regarding what was coming when, but it's easy enough to imagine the sorts of things the company will come up with.

"We are excited to partner with Activision and Infinity Ward to create branded controllers and accessories based on what is one of the videogame industry's preeminent franchises," said Darren Richardson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mad Catz. "We look forward to offering unique and exciting accessories to fans of the newest release in the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare series, as we continue to grow and diversify what we believe to be the industry's leading portfolio of branded videogame accessories."

I've got my fingers crossed for night vision goggle skins. Look for more info on the new Mad Catz line as we get closer to the game's November release.

It sounds like the non-working Wii mock-up still needs final approval. Capcom says that they have it at their booth to see what gamers think of it. What do you think?

Tatsunoko VS. Capcom:UA - New MC Joystick at Comic-Con??!! [Capcom-Unity]

Visitors to the San-Diego Comic-Con this week will have a chance to pick up one of 500 of these exclusive Street Fighter IV accessories, with 250 each split between the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions of the controllers. According to Mad Catz Art Director Roentgen D. Reyes, Sagat and his nasty scar were the inspirations behind the design, which definitely has an angry orange-owie feel to it.

When we set out creating the Limited Edition artwork we knew that we had to create an impactful design that was radically different from the previous imagery and color schemes. With that in mind we chose not to concentrate on a group of characters but instead produce something targeted to the fan community. After working through a number of designs, we focused on one of the strongest ‘fan-favorite' characters in the game, Sagat. The character is renowned for his large scar which game legend tells us was caused by archrival Ryu. In my mind, playing Street Fighter® IV evokes the player's competitive nature, with rivalry a key element of the experience."

The hefty Tournament Edition sticks will be available exclusively through Capcom at Comic-Con for $179.99, while the pads will be available at the convention and on the Mad Catz Gameshark website for $49.99.

Mark over at Gizmodo has spent some quality time with three devices - the official Wii Remote, along with Nyko & Mad Catz's offerings - and after putting all three through their paces, shares his thoughts.

At the end of the day, the Wii Remote emerges as the device with the best performance. Not surprising. Yet it's worth considering that both competing devices are not only cheaper (Nyko's Wand is $35 while the Mad Catz Wireless Remote is $30), but aren't as shoddy as you'd expect, with only some IR issues on both remotes really holding them back.

Battlemodo: The Wiimote vs. The Cheap Knockoffs [Gizmodo]