PS3 Fanboy

Whether you are new to the franchise or you've been pumping quarters into the arcades since 1991, there's a great Street Fighter IV article over at Eventhubs everyone should check out. For beginners, there are some extremely helpful basic gameplay details. For more advanced players, they have a character tier ranking chart as well as a comprehensive guide for every single character in the game. Finally, for those of us who can't wait till February for the game to come out on the PS3, they even have an list of locations where an arcade machine could be found. Check all of that out here.

In other SFIV affairs, it was reported a while back that Mad Catz will be producing the official SFIV arcade sticks. They are finally here, albeit at quite a premium. The most expensive version, ostentatiously named the "official Street Fighter IV FightStick Tournament Edition controller," will run you $149.99. It features the "exact Sanwa joystick and 30mm buttons found in official Street Fighter IV arcade machines, along with realistic spacing and an eight-button layout." A more recession-friendly version that lacks the Sanwa joystick is priced at $69.99. Finally, those of you who are really strapped for cash can select the $39.99 wireless Fightpad that contains "a circular 8-way floating D-Pad and a classic six-button layout." It comes in 5 equally delicious flavors: Ryu, Ken, Chun-Li, Blanka and Akuma.

[Via Capcom-Unity and MaxConsole]

In addition to the costly wireless keypad, Sony is planning on introducing a new PS3 peripheral to market in December. The AC Adapter will be able to charge any two USB devices, from controllers to the Bluetooth headset to the wireless keypad. Heck, it can even charge the PSP-2000 and 3000. This will allow you to charge peripherals without having your PS3 turned on.

You can expect the peripheral on retail shelves in the second week of December for $25. However, remember -- you can save a bit of money by using your computer to charge your USB devices. You can plug a USB cable into your computer and charge a PS3 controller from there. Or, just remember to charge something while playing games on the PS3.

Sony's VP of Sales, Ian Jackson, confirmed to Joystiq that the PS3 keypad will make its way to retail in the beginning of December. The attachment connects to the top of the PS3 controller, giving users easy access to a very tiny keyboard. Unfortunately, amazon.com's listing of the device still shows a $50 price tag -- a price point which only 2% of you agreed with.

Whether you consider him a marketing genius or just a sellout, Gene Simmons has managed to slap the logo of his band KISS onto everything from lip balm to a singing toothbrush. Now he's after your money, music game fans. Mr. Simmons also appears to be specifically targeting Sony fans, as the Gene Simmons AXE Game Controller is available exclusively (for now -- the Wii version will be released next year while the Xbox 360 version's release date is TBA) for the PS2 or PS3. The wireless controller is a 3/4 size replica of the original Gene Simmons Axe Guitar and it will work with both Rock Band and Guitar Hero via an included dongle. Place you order here now for $79.99.

[Via Joystiq and Reuters]

Red Octane is having a sale on the Guitar Hero III Wireless Les Paul Bundle for only $39.99. Shipping will vary but it shouldn't be more than $10. The sale is today only and will end at 6PM PT / 9 PM ET. As Gamestooge noted, even if you just want an extra guitar, you can always just sell the game. You can find this limited-time offer here.

In other bargain hunting related news, Amazon has put up their stock of official DualShock 3 controllers on sale. Originally retailing for $54.99, these are now on sale for $40.96 with free shipping. Take advantage of the deal here.

Source -- Red Octane via Gamestooge
Source -- Amazon

[Thanks, Jonah F. and burandon!]

What happens if you're a gamer and you're struck with a medical condition which could take away that very activity you so dearly love? We know, it's a tough thought to think of it ever happening to you. But it has happened to someone -- it's happened to PSN and PS Forums user KitsuneNoYume. What's a gamer to do when he can barely move an inch, let alone walk over to the couch and fire up the latest title?

Not deterred by his ailment, the intelligent young lad found a way to overcome his situation. He modified his controller and assigned multiple switches to his fingers, his toes and even his tongue. "Each and every jack has a predetermined function and whichever one I plug into is what's [sic] the switch becomes," said KNY (his real name is not given). "So depending on the game I generally use the left analog joystick directions and the right analog joystick using my tongue."

"The main reason I put this on the PlayStation website was to show people that even the most limited person can still enjoy console gaming just as much [as] anyone else. The controller was pretty easy to make, except for converting the analog signals into digital signals for when I use the various switches. This took about two months to build and get working effectively." KNY wants to know if there are any others out there like him, so he could give them back the ability to game, too. We wish him the best and hope he's enjoying his games. See more pics of KNY's design here.

[Thanks Marcoco11!]

This is quite possibly the least surprising hardware review we've ever done. The Nyko Media Hub, available for about $20 at retailers, does exactly what it says it will do: provide additional USB ports on the PS3. This is perfect for those with recent PS3 configurations, which only feature 2 (as opposed to 4) USB ports. It may not be a big deal for many, but those that play games that require a lot of wireless peripherals, such as Rock Band or Guitar Hero may find themselves short on ports.

It shouldn't be surprising that the device works instantly. There's no indicator light to show that it's working: you just plug it in and voila. The included memory card reader is a nice plus.

The small design of the Media Hub makes it so that it doesn't stand out too much on your system. However, $20 for two additional USB ports does seem a bit pricey. This is certainly a limited appeal product, one you wouldn't be rushing out to buy. If you do decide to pick one up, at least you can be confident knowing it will work exactly as you think it will.

Those of you with only two USB ports can now rejoice -- Sony is releasing the above AC Adapter for the Japanese market on December 18th for 2,800 yen (about $28 USD). This peripheral will allow you to charge your DualShock 3/SIXAXIS controllers or any other accessories independent of your PS3, thereby freeing up those precious USB ports. The wireless keypad will also debut in Japan on the same day for 5,500 yen (about $55 USD). Keep in mind prices in Japan tend to be higher, so when these products debut in the US, they will likely retail for less.

[Via Engadget Japanese]

With the exception of LittleBigPlanet and The Eye of Judgment, there hasn't been much reason to dust off the Eye. Well, put it to work! Get the camera off its lazy butt and have it become a fully functional PC webcam. The NUI Group is offering detailed instructions on how to get the Eye camera to work on your PC, with easy to install drivers.

[Via N4G; Thanks, Jon K.!]

It appears that speculation has become truth: the official PS3 Bluetooth headset will be available in North America with a MSRP of $49.99. For only $10 more, players will be able to get the SOCOM Confrontation bundle, which includes the headset and a copy of the upcoming shooter on Blu-ray disc. Although PS3 is compatible with most Bluetooth headsets, a new firmware update will enhance the experience when using the official headset. A new High-Quality (HQ) mode will use "advanced wireless technologies and the Headset's dual-microphone design to enable clear and wide-band wireless voice communication with the PS3 system."

Sony is promising future titles will support HQ mode. For example, future games may have voice animation where the in-game character will mimic your speech. Proximity chat will offer voice playback in full surround sound, to match the sound effects featured in the game.

The $50 headset will also be compatible with most cell phones. In addition, it will also work as a desktop microphone when docked with the supplied charging cradle. However, note that HQ mode is only available on the PS3, for titles that support HQ mode.