Mad Catz to make Rock Band instruments [Joystiq]

[DP ServBot]

Filed under: Sony PlayStation 2 (http://www.joystiq.com/category/ps2/), Sony PlayStation 3 (http://www.joystiq.com/category/ps3/), Microsoft Xbox 360 (http://www.joystiq.com/category/xbox360/), Rhythm (http://www.joystiq.com/category/rhythm/)
http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/01/madcatzlogo.jpg (http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/home/index.jsp?epi-content=GENERIC&newsId=20080104005127&ndmHsc=v2*A1196859600000*B1199488075000*DgroupByDa te*J2*L1*N1000837*Zvideo+game&newsLang=en&beanID=202776713&viewID=news_view)With the absolute flood of third-party guitars (http://www.google.com/products?q=guitar+hero+controller&btnG=Search+Products&hl=en&show=dd) for the Guitar Hero series, it's not that surprising that accessory-makers are jumping on the Rock Band-wagon (http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/01/game-of-the-year-03-rock-band/), too. Well, at least one is. Mad Catz today announced (http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/home/index.jsp?epi-content=GENERIC&newsId=20080104005127&ndmHsc=v2*A1196859600000*B1199488075000*DgroupByDa te*J2*L1*N1000837*Zvideo+game&newsLang=en&beanID=202776713&viewID=news_view) a "multi-year licensing agreement" with MTV Games to produce "both wired and wireless bass guitars, a drum percussion set bundled with professional quality wooden drum sticks, and a wired microphone."

While having extra options for drum kits and microphones is nice, the addition of officially licensed, wireless, third-party guitars will be welcome news to PS3 owners tired of not being able to use their Guitar Hero III guitars with Rock Band (http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/12/harmonix-blame-activision-for-ps3-rock-band-guitar-issues/) and Xbox 360 owners tired of tripping over wires (http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/08/harmonix-ceo-confirms-rock-bands-xbox-360-bundle-guitar-is-wire/) -- not to mention general Rock Band owners tired of replacing (http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/28/ea-replacing-borked-rock-band-guitars/) their broken bundled guitars (http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/24/defective-rock-band-guitars-get-defective-patch/). The instruments will be available in the "first half of 2008," according to the release.

While the release specifically addresses Rock Band instruments, it also leaves the door open for other applicable "game accessories." We personally can't wait for the inevitable pyrotechnics launcher that goes off every time you nail a tough solo. Just, er, be careful with it (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Station_nightclub_fire), OK?

Read | Permalink (http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/04/mad-catz-to-make-rock-band-instruments/) | Email this (http://www.joystiq.com/forward/1077339/) | Comments (http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/04/mad-catz-to-make-rock-band-instruments/#comments)

http://imageads.googleadservices.com/pagead/ads?format=468x30_aff_img&client=ca-aol_weblogs_xml&channel=Joystiq_07_RSS&output=png&cuid=11-1077339&url=http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/04/mad-catz-to-make-rock-band-instruments/
http://feeds.joystiq.com/~f/weblogsinc/joystiq?i=vniw2qd</img> (http://feeds.joystiq.com/~f/weblogsinc/joystiq?a=vniw2qd) http://feeds.joystiq.com/~f/weblogsinc/joystiq?i=Sdqh7Td</img> (http://feeds.joystiq.com/~f/weblogsinc/joystiq?a=Sdqh7Td)
http://feeds.joystiq.com/~r/weblogsinc/joystiq/~4/211211698

More... (http://feeds.joystiq.com/~r/weblogsinc/joystiq/~3/211211698/)

[Nirvana]

The guitar better be sweet. I'm definitely going to buy one. Why does it say "both wired and wireless bass guitars" though?

[Joker T]

Mad Catz has only given me problems in the past, I dont see myself buying these.

[Slate]

I'll never buy them, Their products suck. End of story.

[roushimsx]

Oh man, and you thought Rock Band instruments had a high failure rate from poor quality control before.... !

The only hope for these to not suck balls is if their Saitek division is responsible for every aspect of their production.

[Rob2600]

So now the Rock Band instruments will break even faster.

[G-Boobie]

Yeah..... Mad Catz should probably not do this. Count me out.

[MrRoboto19XX]

I'm holding out for Pelican branded instruments

or maybe Performance.

[Nirvana]

Honestly, with the way the original Rock Band guitars are, I'm willing to give anything a chance. I've had bad experience with MadCatz in the past too, but hell, I'm willing to check out what they have in store for us.

I'll let you guys know how the guitar is when I get it :p

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

Honestly, with the way the original Rock Band guitars are, I'm willing to give anything a chance. I've had bad experience with MadCatz in the past too, but hell, I'm willing to check out what they have in store for us.

I'll let you guys know how the guitar is when I get it :p

Seconded.

And, if the Mad Catz brand instruments use Guitar Hero style strum bars and fret buttons, they're easily worth looking into.

They MIGHT wind up being crap ... but, seriously, the Harmonix Fender Strat is just an awful functioning (but pretty looking) bit of hardware.