Mad Catz has renewed and expanded its multi-year contract with Microsoft. The company, which specializes in gaming peripherals and accessories, has renewed and expanded its Xbox 360- branded line which includes console-carrying backpacks and messenger bags, as well as sling bags for controllers and other game accessories.

“We are pleased to extend this agreement with Microsoft,” said Darren Richardson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mad Catz. “Powerful brands, such as Xbox 360, are an important part of our growing licensed accessories business, and we look forward to continuing our partnership with Microsoft to offer videogame fans stylish Xbox 360-branded carrying cases for their consoles and game accessories.”

Mad Catz has been very busy this year. It’s added new team branded peripherals to it line including items featuring Arsenal and Manchester Untied football clubs. Mad Catz also signed a deal with Harmonix and MTV to produce peripherals for Rock Band. It’s all the better for gamers.

via Business Wire

If you fall into the demographic of “people who want HDMI output from an HDMI port-less Xbox 360 that still works,” Mad Catz has got your back. They’ve released a conversion kit that allows you to get HDMI output from your 360 even if you don’t have the newer model 360 systems that sport an HDMI port.

HDMI port on your HDTV or receiver but not on your Xbox 360? Problem solved with the Mad Catz HDMI Conversion Kit. Now you can finally play your 360 games the way they were meant to be experienced: in true 1080p HD. Simply plug the adapter into the A/V port on the back of your 360 and run the included HDMI cable from the adapter to your HDTV and you’re ready to play. The optical audio port provides an alternative setup solution and everything you need to get full HD output from your Xbox 360 is right inside the box. Convenient, simplified HDMI connectivity makes the Mad Catz HDMI Conversion Kit the ideal choice for getting the most from what your console has to offer. Mad Catz promises innovative, quality products for all your gaming needs.

Now, I can’t speak to the quality of the converter or if this would inherently suffer from any sort of quality loss. (Readers, if you’re more tech savvy than me, please share in the comments.) But the ability to get HDMI output is a nice feature, especially when the package comes packed with HDMI and optical cables for your HD pleasures.

The asking price? $89.

That seems fairly steep, and early adopters who desperately want HDMI output are really getting shafted here. But, that’s one of the setbacks to being an early adopter; oftentimes you’re going to miss out on features that come along down the road. (See: PSP Phat owners being unable to use Skype.)

via Evil Avatar

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

In a $30 million dollar maneuver Mad Catz has taken Saitek and is set to dominate the PC peripheral market.

Mad Catz, producer a number of console videogame offerings, plans to add Saitek’s line of PC games accessories, PC input devices, multimedia audio products, chess and intelligent games to reinforce its retail distribution network, especially in Europe.

Commenting on the transaction, Darren Richardson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mad Catz, said, “PC games peripherals is a category closely adjacent to our core console business and we are thrilled to be adding one of the world’s leading providers to the Mad Catz family. Saitek significantly enhances Mad Catz’ position as one of the world’s leading games peripherals companies and provides us an entrée into the businesses of PC mice, keyboards and speakers and electronic chess and intelligent games.”

“We intend to identify opportunities to apply Saitek’s brands, intellectual property, products and skills in the console market as well as identify opportunities to apply Mad Catz’ brands, intellectual property, products and skills in the PC market.”

Saitek has 120 employees at offices in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, United Sates, Hong Kong and the Peoples Republic of China who are expected to join Mad Catz.

via Business Wire

Let the licensing begin! Mad Catz Interactive, Inc. announced today that it has signed a multi-year agreement with Microsoft. The agreement will allow Mad Catz to produce faceplates featuring characters from Halo 3. Darren Richardson, President and CEO of Mad Catz, said, “Microsoft has created an epic trilogy that has become the most successful software franchise in Xbox history and Mad Catz is pleased to be aligned with what promises to be another highly entertaining offering in this series.”

The faceplates are planned to be available prior to game launch, and can be expected to be found at just about any major game retailer.