All of the latest models of the Xbox 360 now sport an HDMI output, which may have left some Xbox 360 owners wishing they waited a bit longer before they bought the console. Time to stop moping about it: Mad Catz has released a new HDMI Conversion Kit that allows Xbox 360 consoles to connect directly to any standard HDMI input on their TV sets. More details and a picture of the converter in the full article.

Popular video game accessory manufacturer Mad Catz sent out a press release and announced that a deal has been sealed between it and MTV Games. Under the agreement, Mad Catz will produce music peripherals for Harmonix' Rock Band (PS3, Xbox 360). This would include microphones, guitars, drums and maybe more. Read more in the full article.

Do you feel as if there's just something lacking in your Xbox 360 arcade games? Fret not, now that fans of arcade games in the UK can now take advantage of the 50% discount offer on Mad Catz Arcade GameStick. Originally priced at GBP 49.99 (approximately US$ 102), Mad Catz now offers the Arcade GameStick at a more affordable price of GBP 24.99, or US$ 51.

The Arcade GameStick features a nice, full-sized Joystick as well as its unique 360° Spinner Control feature. Every purchase of the Arcade GameStick also includes three full Xbox Live Arcade games to ensure instant Arcade goodness, making it a good holiday gift to Xbox 360 gamers clamoring for more fun in their games.

 

If you want to get the recent number of NBA games that have come out this year, then you'll probably want to do it in the best style possible. Mad Catz Interactive, Inc. is giving you a chance to look the part while playing your favorite NBA team as they plan to release NBA-themed controllers and other related accessories.

Darren Richardson, president and chief executive officer of Mad Catz, explains the brief history of the San Diego based company's renewed acquisition of the license since last April:

Mad Catz initially launched its line of NBA video game controllers and accessories during the 2004-2005 NBA season and these products have proven to be an important part of our strategy to offer gamers the opportunity to personalize their video game accessories with the world's leading sports, video game and entertainment images and brands.

The extension of this agreement with the NBA ensures that this valuable sports franchise will remain with Mad Catz for the next several years. We look forward to continuing to provide gamers and NBA fans with high-quality controllers and accessories for all current and prior generation consoles that bring the NBA arena excitement into the living room.

Mad Catz is planning to produce game controllers and faceplates for all 30 NBA teams, all of which will be available through NBAstore.com, NBA arena stores, and online game retailers. These peripherals and accessories will be made available for the Microsoft Xbox, Xbox 360, Sony PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, and Nintendo Wii, DS.

 Take-Two Interactive has begun its plans to divest its non-core properties starting with the transfer of Joytech subsidiary assets to popular game accessory maker Mad Catz. The deal, will transfer ownership of hard assets as well as jurisdiction of employees under the firm.

Take-Two CEO Ben Feder says that the move is part of the company's 100 day plan to develop strategic alternatives to the assets that they will be dropping.

"We are particularly pleased that we accomplished this goal in a manner that will allow substantially all of our Joytech employees in the U.S. and U.K. to join Mad Catz, which is a highly respected provider of video game peripherals," he adds.

The deal is a routine operation move and should not affect corporate finances in a major way, according to the publisher.

First it was basketball, then football, and now baseball. Accessory manufacturer Mad Catz has just announced via press wire that they have renewed their license agreement with Major League Baseball (MLB) Properties.

This renewed license means that the company will be developing controllers, faceplates, and Console Skinz based on MLB's 30 teams, with each featuring these team's colors and logos. The new lineup is expected to be available for the PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox, Xbox 360, PSP, Nintendo DS Lite, and Nintendo Wii consoles. As MLB Properties' Senior VP of Licensing, Howard Smith, stated regarding this news:

Mad Catz has a strong track record for producing high-quality video game accessories and based on the demonstrated success of their prior line of MLB branded products we are proud to extend our license agreement. With the 2007 season already underway, fans can rally behind their favorite Major League team with stylish accessories that show their enthusiasm for the national pastime.

Mad Catz recently expanded its original 2004 license agreement with the National Football League Properties (NFL). The company is now authorized to expand the distribution of their licensed products to Canada, Mexico and the United Kingdom.

Originally, Mad Catz activities were limited to the U.S. They were responsible for distributing customized NFL team controllers and other accessories for the PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox, Xbox 360, PSP, DS Lite, and Wii.

According to Darren Richardson, President and CEO of Mad Catz,

The expansion of our NFL license is consistent with our overall strategy to offer both new and existing higher margin licensed products and accessories to gamers worldwide... With [NFL's] enormous and growing fan base, it's no wonder that our previously released NFL controllers and other accessories were solid sellers as football fans are also avid video game fans.

So, what's the tally like? Halo 3 gets Clix, toy guns, even more toy guns, special figurines, Mountain Dew, and a custom Xbox 360 casing, so why not style up some faceplates to go with that Xbox 360? (As well as the Clix, toy guns, even more toy guns, special figurines, and the Mountain Dew?)

Mad Catz recently announced a multi-year agreement with Microsoft to offer faceplates with Halo 3 characters on them. So far, just the faceplates. You'd think the company would try to milk it with more accessories than just faceplates - controllers could go well with it, too. Maybe Mad Catz could, in the future of that multi-year agreement, also take the option to extend the Halo 3-theming to other accessories.

But for now, just faceplates. This is the way the world ends you decorate the 360's front end.

Gamers familiar with Mad Catz's line of console accessories will be happy to know that in a recent announcement, the manufacturer has renewed its license with the National Basketball Association (NBA).

What this means on the gaming side is that Mad Catz will once again be developing game controllers, faceplates, and console skins featuring logos and colors based on the NBA's 30 teams. This new NBA line-up is targetted for the PlayStation 2 (PS2), PlayStation 3 (PS3), Xbox, Xbox 360, PSP, Nintendo DS, and Nintendo Wii consoles. It will be noted that the company had previously offered NBA-themed controllers back during the NBA 2004-2005 season.

As Mad Catz CEO Darren Richardson commented on the matter,

Basketball has proven to be an extremely popular genre for gamers and we are thrilled to announce the continuation of our license agreement with the NBA. Our new NBA line will offer fans more ways than ever to demonstrate their support for their favorite teams and we look forward to launching controllers and other quality accessories that enhance the gaming experience of our customers.

Keep posted in case we pick up more details on this renewed product line, which is expected to be available at NBA.com, NBA arena stores, and online retailers.

 

Third-party videogame accessory provider Mad Catz Interactive announced today that it has signed a deal with BioWare to release a new line of officially-licensed accessories to support the launch of BioWare's highly-anticipated Xbox 360 title, Mass Effect.

"The addition of the Mass Effect license further expands our portfolio of high-profile entertainment and sports licenses and is consistent with our goal to align ourselves with important, mass-appeal brands and interactive entertainment software launches," Darren Richardson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mad Catz.

"We recently demonstrated the success and value of this strategy with our well-received line of officially-licensed merchandise for Epic Games' Gears of War video game. We look forward to delivering stylish accessories to fans of this futuristic epic when it launches."

Mad Catz's Mass Effect-themed products will include a faceplate and Console Skinz combo pack for the Xbox 360 with an MSRP of US$ 29.99. For that price tag you get a faceplate and graphics to customize the sides of your console. The products will be available at major video game retailers throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe.