Mad Catz Joins Harmonix and MTV Games to Produce for Rock Band
By Shawn on Friday, January 4th, 2008 at 1:07 PM PST In Electronic Arts, Game Companies, Game Consoles, Game Platforms, Gamer Life, Games, Hardware, Microsoft, Sony
Mad Catz Interactive has announced that it’s entered into a multi-year agreement with Viacom’s MTV Network to produce peripherals for Harmonix’s hit video game Rock Band.
Mad Catz should be offering wired and wireless bass guitars, a drum percussion set bundled with professional quality wooden drum sticks, and a wired microphone within the first half of 2008.
“This agreement with MTV Games represents a natural opportunity for Mad Catz to combine our core competencies of producing and distributing high-quality accessories with the entertaining experience of Rock Band’s interactive controllers,” said Darren Richardson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mad Catz. “Mad Catz will produce premium instruments, allowing gamers and music fans to experience music in an entirely new light while taking on the personality of their favorite music idols.
Mad Catz has just about cornered the third party console peripheral market. With the acquisition of Saitek earlier this year, they have the PC peripherals covered as well. It seems like Mad Catz is poised to grab a share of the money making venture that is Rock Band as well. It can only be good news for gamers.
I personal like having third party peripherals as an option. The native hardware offered for the game has some pretty obvious flaws as far as structure such as a drum peddle prone to breakage, high replacement costs for equipment parts and problems with the availability of equipment to begin with. A little competition should spur all companies involved to produce better equipment. It’s a winning situation for gamers.
via Business Wire
its good for competition and have more peripherals, but quality i doubt. There will always be that cheap third party feel to them. most would rather the first party peripherals.
I have an extra ( i dont like you) Mad Catz controller and it works fine, but feels and looks cheap. It may lower the price of first party ones. Which i would rather buy. Mad Catz has had some great peripherals and some complete junk. Buyer beware and u get what you pay for.