Tag Archives: mad catz
Mad Catz Launches New Gaming and Multimedia Controllers
Having realized that a lot of gamers nowadays also play on their mobile devices, besides their PCs and consoles, Mad Catz has added to its current product line a couple more controllers that work equally fine with smartphones and smart TVs.
Named S.U.R.F.R. and L.Y.N.X. 3 (Mad Catz seems to love placing dots between letters, even though the names are not actually acronyms), each of the two new controllers was made with different purposes in mind, even though gaming seems to be a common denominator of both.
S.U.R.F.R., as its name suggests, was made for browsing the Internet or for using social media apps on smart TVs. For that purpose, it features a keyboard in the middle and gaming/multimedia controls on the sides. Keep in mind that the S.U.R.F.R. multimedia controller could prove useful even if you don’t own a smart TV, just as long as the device you’ll pair it with features Bluetooth connectivity.
In that regard, S.U.R.F.R. might also prove great when using along an Android set top box, or even an Android mobile device. PCs aren’t a problem, either, but both surfing and gaming are done better with a proper keyboard and mouse. One thing that’s revolutionary about this controller is the unique A B X Y and d-pad configuration. It should be noted that the B, X and Y buttons also double as music playback controls when not used in a game.
L.Y.N.X. 3, on the other hand, was obviously designed with mobile gaming in mind. Using its stand, gamers can attach their Android smartphone to the controller and game away. This product relies on the same Bluetooth connectivity to pair to smartphones and tablets, and just in case gamers want to play on a larger display, L.Y.N.X. 3 can be converted to a more conventional gaming controller, despite its unusual design. Simply put, this device looks as if some mad cats ate parts of its body. Just as in S.U.R.F.R.’s case, L.Y.N.X. 3′s buttons can also be used for controlling media.
You can pre-order S.U.R.F.R. and L.Y.N.X. 3 from the Mad Catz website for $80 and $70, respectively. Assuming that you sign up now, you should receive your order in May, when the manufacturer estimates that these will be ready for shipping.
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Mad Catz S.U.R.F.R Android Gamepad & Keyboard: Full Stop on the Naming Scheme Guys
Now that Android is in everything from smartphones to cars, its users can enjoy their games and other apps in more places than ever before. But if Mad Catz is to be believed, you’ll only need one controller for all of your Android devices. It’s called the S.U.R.F.R. That’s right. Mad Catz just multiplied F with itself R times. So it’s either Sur or Surffff…f?
The Surfr – bite me, Mad Catz – is a Bluetooth 2.1 keyboard with two analog sticks, a d-pad, four face buttons and shoulder buttons. I don’t know if it has four or just two shoulder buttons though. It also has extendable rubber handles on either side.
The left stick can be used to control a mouse cursor if your app or device has one, while the face buttons double as media playback controls.
The Surfr’s most interesting aspect is the placement of the thumb sticks. The left analog stick is in the middle of the square-shaped d-pad, while the right analog stick is in the middle of the four face buttons. Mad Catz says they did that to make the buttons accessible, but I wonder if the cramped arrangement will lead to accidental button or stick inputs.
The Surfr will also come with a removable and adjustable smartphone clip. That seems considerate until you find out that the Surfr costs $80 (USD). You can pre-order it now on Mad Catz’ online shop. Let’s hope it turns out to be the best of both worlds and not two halves half-baked.
[via Gotham News]
Mad Catz Introduces Hybrid Game Controller L.Y.N.X. 9
Mad Catz’ latest gaming peripheral looks more Optimus Prime or Megatron than your typical third-party controller, but that is exactly its selling point.
Revealed at this month’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, the L.Y.N.X. 9 is a hybrid game controller for both PC and Android devices that can change its practical form, almost like the transforming robots of cartoon and film fame.
With a few simple arrangements, the L.Y.N.X. 9 can change from its compact, easy-to-travel-with form, to fit a wide range of situations.
Need a fully-sized gaming controller for your PC, with dual analog sticks, shoulder buttons, and the works? The L.Y.N.X. 9 can do that. How about an attachable controller for your tablet or smart phone that can give you the best of portability and control input? The L.Y.N.X. 9 can do that too, and with ease. So long pesky on-screen touch controls.
The L.Y.N.X. 9 promises to be a “no-compromise, full-size controller experience” that “will work with pretty much anything.” And from what is included with the L.Y.N.X. 9, Mad Catz means it. They’ve also built in a small track pad and an in-built mic to the controller, and for situations that call for texting, a keyboard module that snaps into the bottom.
Mad Catz plans on release the L.Y.N.X. 9 sometime in 2015, and at an interesting price. $299. Expensive, yes; much so than any current third-party controller out on the market. But if the L.Y.N.X. 9 is superb in function, it might attract the high-end gaming consumer that’s looking for something to bridge the gap in all their input needs, both on the couch and on-the-go.
Source: Mad Catz
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Mad Catz S.T.R.I.K.E. M Mobile Gaming Keyboard is T.I.N.Y.
Mad Catz recently announced the littlest member of its S.T.R.I.K.E. gaming keyboards. The S.T.R.I.K.E. M is a wireless keyboard designed to be used with mobile devices and the company’s M.O.J.O. Android micro-console. Mad Catz sure loves periods.
The keyboard connects to devices using either NFC or Bluetooth. It has a couple of features that should set it apart from other mobile keyboards. First is the ability to save multiple macro commands, and second is its Optical Finger Navigation (OFN) mouse sensor, i.e. a tiny trackpad. I’m not entirely sure, but I think the trackpad is that tiny patch on the upper right of the keyboard that’s flanked by left- and right-click buttons. Sorry lefties.
Mad Catz didn’t provide the dimensions of the keyboard, but Kotaku has a shot of the keyboard in someone’s hand. Not as helpful as actual measurements – it may have been a gnome holding it in the photo – but it’s better than nothing.
The keyboard also has controls for brightness, volume and media playback. It also has backlighting and a rechargeable internal battery, but no word on how long it will last per charge.
Another detail that Mad Catz failed to mention is the price of the S.T.R.I.K.E. M, although they did say it would be available this holiday season.
Are there really mobile gamers that need or want a keyboard? Mad Catz certainly thinks so. Besides, it could just be gearing up for its Android micro-console, which will eventually be able to stream games from a PC to the TV or monitor that it’s hooked up to. I think the most important question here is how cramped the keys are. The keyboard itself doesn’t seem to be that small, but its odd shape and the strange use of space on its perimeter are what forced the keys to be small. I’m also really interested in seeing how that tiny trackpad holds up in real world use.
Mad Catz F.R.E.Q. 4D headphones ears-on
In keeping with its propensity toward acronymed products, Mad Catz today showed off its F.R.E.Q. 4D headphones. The peripherals are notable for a couple of reasons: first is that the company dumped the line's mic arm for an internal version -- without, the company promises, sacrificing sound quality. Even more notable are the included ViviTouch actuators, which bring rumbling feedback directly to your ears, so you can feel those explosions where it really counts.
We tried the headphones on, and while they were pretty comfortable, we can't say that we were particularly impressed with the promised rumbling delivered via a bass test. Perhaps it was the sound being used -- or that the headphones are still in beta -- but ultimately we didn't feel all that much. We're sure Mad Catz will have that figured out for the final version -- if not, however, they may just serve as cool-looking head massagers.
Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment
Mad Catz Arcade Fightstick for Xbox One eyes-on (video)
The M.O.J.O. may be Mad Catz's star of this year's E3, but the peripheral-maker's pretty darn excited to show of its latest massive gamepad, if for no other reason than the fact that the controller made a rare appearance at Microsoft's press conference, the other day -- in fact, during our time in the company's booth, a Redmond rep popped by and gave it a thumbs up (and casually mentioned that Mad Catz happens to be the only company other than his own that happens to have the Xbox One it its booth).
The controller, as you can no doubt tell in the above image, is a bit of a beast -- you may well need both hands to onto it. Along the top, you find six buttons in two rows and a joystick, as well a mystery panel on the top -- something Mad Catz apparently isn't ready to talk about. The controller has a detachable cord on the back and will open up use a button on the front, making it easier to change artwork on the thing. Between the buttons and the sides, there's a lot glowing space on the FightStick. Check out a video of that and more, after the break.
Filed under: Peripherals, Microsoft
Mad Catz M.O.J.O. Android console, C.T.R.L. Wireless GamePad hands-on (video)
We shoved our way through the floor-opening scrum and made a bee-line to Mad Catz's booth at E3 this morning, after catching word of the peripheral maker's new M.O.J.O. Android gaming console, a box the company promises will be the most powerful in its class when it arrives this holiday season. The rep we spoke with wouldn't talk specific specs on the thing -- in fact, the company assures of that those are still in the works, and while it doesn't actually know itself, it promises to blow the competition (*cough* OUYA) out of the water. While everything's still in beta at the moment, things seem to be working all right. We played a quick round of Riptide, and things went swimmingly (well, save for the fact that we're not all that great at Riptide).
Also a bragging point is the relative openness of it all, eschewing the walled-garden approach to give users direct access to the Google Play and Amazon app stores, so you're good to go with the games you've already purchased, and while Mad Catz may not be working directly with most of the game makers, it's promising compatibility via open standards. As for the box itself, it's not a bad looking object. It's palm-sized and extremely light, with a bit of an angular, beveled appearance and the company's scratch-marked logo along the top in red (as well as a few accidental scuffs on it shiny surface).
Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals
Mad Catz confirms M.O.J.O. Android ‘micro console’
Mad Catz CEO Darren Richardson may have already let slip about the forthcoming Android M.O.J.O. console, but now it's been made official. The firm stopped short of giving us all the specifications, but we can tell you that it supports Bluetooth 4.0, and will ship with the company's GameSmart C.T.R.L.R. wireless GamePad. Thanks to the images, we also get a clue at some of the connectivity, which includes two regular USB ports, one micro-USB, an HDMI out, headphone connector and microSD slot. The wedge-like device is out there in the wild at E3, so we'll be sure to give it the full hands-on once it's spotted in its natural habitat.
Filed under: Gaming
Mad Catz CEO announces ‘Project M.O.J.O.’ Android gaming console coming at E3
So, what with E3 just over the horizon, we're expecting a bunch of gaming news. But a new contestant in the Android gaming market? From an established gaming hardware maker? Well, apparently so, according to Mad Catz CEO Darren Richardson who announced "Project M.O.J.O." in a recent earnings call. Calling it an Android "micro console," Richardson claims it's like a supercharged smartphone, without a display, that you plug into a flatscreen TV. Richardson was also keen to stress that it's all about hardware performance, and will be open platform (rather than selling content). There are no details about specification at this stage, but M.O.J.O. is likely to be the fruit of a recent NVIDIA partnership, and will be the centerpiece of Mad Catz's own GameSmart products, which ensures a slew of peripherals and controller options. This partnership also likely means Tegra Zone compatibility, and therefore games from launch. For now we'll have to sit and wait, but it looks like Android gaming is about to step up a gear.
Filed under: Gaming
Via: Things Micro