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GameSpot Video Games, PC, Wii, PlayStation 2, GameCube, PSP, DS, GBA, PS2, PS3, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3

Trio of M'Soft PC-gaming peripherals announced

Two new breeds of mice, a wireless version of the Xbox 360 controller designed for PC gamers coming to stores this fall.
By Tim Surette, GameSpot
Posted Aug 23, 2006 12:09 am PT

With so much attention focused on console gaming at the Games Convention in Leipzig, Germany, any PC-based announcements were happily accepted by gamers of the keyboard-and-mouse variety. Microsoft didn't keep PC gamers waiting until its scheduled press conference today, as three new peripherals aimed at that audience were announced this morning.

Microsoft's IntelliMouse Explorer 3.0 treats gamers with precision tracking and the same design as the original IntelliMouse Explorer. A "precision booster" can be switched on and off for those moments where every pixel counts and frequently used sequences can be programmed and performed with the push of a button. The new IntelliMouse will retail for $39.95 when it hits stores in October. The estimated retail price in the UK is £34.99.

Peripheral maker Razer also got in on action, teaming up with Microsoft to make the Habu, another gaming mouse. The Habu features a 2,000 DPI laser engine, a data path of 16 bits (up from eight bits), and can be set for tracking up to 45 inches per second and "20G acceleration." In other words, it thrives on responsiveness, accuracy, and customization. Habu will be available in October for $69.95 (likely to be £59.99 in the UK).

PCs can finally cut the cord with Xbox 360 controllers. Microsoft will be releasing a wireless version of its Xbox 360 controller for Windows this December. The peripheral works with both PCs and Xbox 360s and will cost $59.95. No UK pricing for the controller has yet been released.

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37 Comments

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_Sam_

sounds cool

Posted Aug 24, 2006 9:11 pm PT
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capthunt

Pff controllers on the PC

Posted Aug 24, 2006 6:00 am PT
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jakeboudville

sounds cool

Posted Aug 24, 2006 1:16 am PT
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comthitnuong

this will be interseting....

Posted Aug 23, 2006 2:22 pm PT
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zeroroach

Yeah, screw Madden. It can drink its own piss, for all I care.

Posted Aug 23, 2006 12:02 pm PT
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Shifty_Pete

gnbfd wrote:
$60 is as much as a 360 game.
So which would you want, Madden 07 or a controller.

If those are my only choices, I'll take the controller.

Posted Aug 23, 2006 11:45 am PT
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gnbfd

$60 is as much as a 360 game.
So which would you want, Madden 07 or a controller.

Posted Aug 23, 2006 11:22 am PT
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mumotuma_man

yeah, phazevariance, its actually impossible to play ur 360 games on a pc... the controller is for playing PC games on ur PC....

Posted Aug 23, 2006 9:01 am PT
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Maquis_UK

m$... not ignoring 360 users gaming needs or anything like that.

Posted Aug 23, 2006 8:15 am PT
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Phazevariance

I'm not so interested in a 360 controller for PC because i don't play 360 games on my PC and even if I did, most cases the mouse and keyboard combo would still beat it out for accuracy. Secondly, Logitech has always had better mice than MS. Now if MS came out with a mouse for the 360, that would be interesting...

Posted Aug 23, 2006 8:14 am PT
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killjoi

Is Precision Boosting just another way to say you can easily turn mouse acceleration on and off?

Posted Aug 23, 2006 7:51 am PT
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grayoldwolf

WTF? How come we Brits always get shafted on price. The Habu is $69.95 in the US, but 59.99 GBP? That's $110 US at today's exchange rate, about a 50% markup over the US price for the exact same thing. There are times I'm really glad I moved to LA.

Posted Aug 23, 2006 7:21 am PT
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latin3030

its about DAM TIME the PC market gets a great dual analog controller worth buying.

Posted Aug 23, 2006 7:07 am PT
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Berserker_2

Teamxbox lists the adapter for $19.99 that will allow you to use wireless accessories from the 360 to the PC. Only if you have USB 2.0 ports.

Posted Aug 23, 2006 6:59 am PT
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Spartan4001

Whatever happened to the adapter allowing all wireless 360 peripherals to be used on a pc?

Posted Aug 23, 2006 5:53 am PT
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Autolycus

wired one feels a little smaller in my hands, but its probably just my mind playing tricks on me. either one will work if you are starting to program for XNA! whoo ray

Posted Aug 23, 2006 5:52 am PT
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eandradams

I'll definitely be getting the wireless XBox360 Controller, but I wish I had known about this before buying the wired version. I already had an original Logitech Cordless Rumblepad (and will never give it up, it's bigger than the usual gamepad, and I have very big hands, so it fits perfectly), and could've waited to buy the 360 controller until the wireless came out. I love my Logitech gamepad, but I want to have consistency across my platforms. I will continue to use the Logitech for GTA III/VC/SA, as I have a perfect configuration saved. It's also a nice way to have extra controllers for the XBox360 when needed. I guess that's what my corded controller will become this December.

Posted Aug 23, 2006 5:48 am PT
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Shtinky

[This message was deleted at the request of the original poster]

Posted Aug 23, 2006 5:27 am PT
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samekila

I will be picking up the controller I love my 360 controller so it should be great for some PC games

Posted Aug 23, 2006 5:19 am PT
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AA7

Gotta love them mice.

Posted Aug 23, 2006 4:58 am PT
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dodgyd55

mmmmmmm new mice

Posted Aug 23, 2006 4:42 am PT
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littlefarny

Pictures etc... can be found here:
http://www.randomlyaccessed.com/bleedingedge/news.php?action=fullnews&showcomments=1&id=38

Posted Aug 23, 2006 2:55 am PT
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SLI-FI

sexy

Posted Aug 23, 2006 2:36 am PT
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titomag

wireless controller? wohohoho i like

Posted Aug 23, 2006 2:27 am PT
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never-named

Finally, the PC gets some of the limelight!

Posted Aug 23, 2006 2:17 am PT
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daqua_99  

Meh .. .could be good, but could be bad ... I'm not ery interested, though ...

Posted Aug 23, 2006 1:53 am PT
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Ronnzi

$60 seems kind of expensive - I mean, chances are if you're using a controller on your PC, except for living room use with a home theater, you're going to be sitting close to the PC anyways. Still a very cool option - I was just hoping I'd be able to use all the wireless controllers I already have for my 360 on my PC via a hub of some kind. It would be really nice to have support of 4 controllers wirelessly via a hub rather than having to buy new controllers entirely.

Posted Aug 23, 2006 1:50 am PT
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GFofgaming

Microsoft xpects people to buy another wireless controller so that they can play games on both PC and 360? What about many people who already got one with thier box? They will be left out? This sucks.

Posted Aug 23, 2006 1:40 am PT
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azizrulez

i 360 controller for my pc wow thats gonna be really cool

Posted Aug 23, 2006 1:36 am PT
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Miguel16

meh mouse in keyboard is good for me...and my logitech mouse is better than any microsoft one ive ever tried..

Posted Aug 23, 2006 1:17 am PT
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ExcAREentric

Wireless PC controller? Im in.

Posted Aug 23, 2006 1:08 am PT
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gliven

Sounds cool I like using the 360 controller for some pc games but it is really cumbersome with the wire so, a wireless controller will be great. I do wonder if it will cost the same as a wireless 360 controller. It would also be cool if it could use the wireless mouse receiver for a wireless Mircrosoft mouse.

Posted Aug 23, 2006 1:01 am PT
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123625

i would get a 360 controller for my pc

Posted Aug 23, 2006 12:58 am PT
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Pablo620

Nice cordless remote for the PC. If ever i feel the need for a gaming pad for my PC i know which one im getting. People are going to be like WTF why do you have a 360 remote and a PS3

Posted Aug 23, 2006 12:56 am PT
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amirkalloe

sweet, I hope I can get those wireless one in the future too

Posted Aug 23, 2006 12:56 am PT
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Agent_Clancy

Nice

Posted Aug 23, 2006 12:35 am PT
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jakeboudville

Sounds cool. Maybe i should get one of those wireless one in the future

Posted Aug 23, 2006 12:19 am PT
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