It's an indisputable fact that magical things can come in mullet-clad packages. The collected works of Billy Ray Cyrus, the 1994 hit Beastie Boys track "Mullet Head" -- and now, from yet another unlikely, mulleted source: The PC VR Game Gun. If you'd like to cast off the veil of time and peer into the unthinkable future of video gaming, the YouTube video posted after the break should serve as an adequate portal into the world of things yet to come.

By merging a toy gun, a PC gamepad, a LCD screen and a Gyration Air Mouse, the nameless modder created a pretty clever (and relatively inexpensive) head tracking system that's just perfect for first-person shooters -- especially F.E.A.R. on the highest difficulty setting. Sorry -- you can't play it on easy. The gun runs on extreme high octane action.

[Via Engadget]

At a press event last night, Bungie's Joseph Staten teased that the Halo 3: ODST controller's cryptic text should provide some clues into the mysteries of New Mombasa (if he did his job correctly, he said). Since our ability to decipher Bungie's clues has always left something to be desired (what's a Master Chief?), we thought we'd take some close-ups and ask The Internet to give it a shot.

So, The Internet, tell us: what secrets does this controller hold? We'll scrub through your comments and pluck out the best theories, so grab your magnifying glasses and deerstalker caps and get to work!

SplitFish Gameware, best known for its oddly-shaped controller peripheral and not its cruelty to aquatic life, will be showing off its "Frevoution X System" line of PS3 controllers at E3 next week. Both the "Dual SFX Evolution" and "Dual SFX Frag Pro" will be available for playtest at the expo.

Expect the Frag Pro to be an upgraded version of SF's older FragFX controller, which is excellent for shooters thanks to its PC mouse-like design. The Frag Pro features an all-new "dual wireless system," and left-grip "Six-Axis" control. Both frag-ing controllers should be available by this fall... when all the shooters come out.

We got our first look at the vinyl-spinning peripheral for Activision's mixmastering sim DJ Hero earlier this month but -- well, they weren't very good pictures, were they? Just look at that framing. Terrible. Obviously, someone's never heard of the rule of thirds. Man, we learned about that photographic law during our extensive Pokémon Snap sessions. It's not that hard, people.

Fortunately, a sneak peek for GameTrailers TV's E3 coverage gave us a much clearer shot of the turntable periph, seen in the image above. We get a pretty good look at the crossfader attachment, as well as a sense of the controller's size in comparison to a human lap. Hopefully, we'll get an even better (and more photographically sound) look at the peripheral when we check DJ Hero out at E3 next week.

[Via NeoGAF, thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

Apparently Microsoft's J Allard is back in the gaming business, according to a two-year-old patent filed by Microsoft and released publicly this past week. Now a CTO at the company, Allard (along with a couple other folks) is credited on the patent for a motion-based controller from way back in November of ... 2007.

Given Microsoft's recent purchase of Big Park and the vast array of motion-sensing camera rumors, we're betting this patent is old news. That being said, it would lend credence to the "Newton" rumors from last year surrounding the company -- a rumor we lent credibility to at the time based on the reputable source. All we can do now is hope that Microsoft isn't dead set on pulling a "Wii-too!"

[Via Engadget]

As expected, the new Tony Hawk game was revealed on GameTrailers TV with Geoff Keighley. Tony Hawk Ride will take advantage of a brand new skateboard peripheral (pictured above) and, according to the program, will be available on all current generation home consoles: Wii, PS3 and Xbox 360.

Skateboarder Tony Hawk said he has wanted to create a peripheral-based game for quite some time, but technology only recently allowed Ride to be possible. When grilled about his skill at the video game, Hawk said that he was quite good and added that skateboarders should find the transition easy. Multiple difficulty modes will allow players with even the most inadequate of balancing capabilities to play.

The official website teases another appearance at this year's E3. We promise you that you won't have to wait long to find out more about Tony Hawk Ride. (Probably because we already saw it, and we're still under embargo.)

Update: You can see GameTrailers footage after the cut.

Regardless of your feelings towards the mop-topped British rock sensation upon which the next Rock Band game is based, you have to admit -- The Beatles had them some lovely instruments. Two of these six-strings, Lennon and Harrison's Rickenbacker 325 and Gretsch Duo Jet, will be coming as $99 add-ons to The Beatles: Rock Band -- however, a third replica guitar will be coming in the game's Limited Edition Premium Bundle: Paul McCartney's Höfner bass guitar, pictured above.

According to a recent Harmonix press release, this wireless periph will work with all versions of Rock Band. It certainly looks gorgeous, but as our well-read colleagues at Engadget point out, this Höfner controller was designed for a right-handed player. McCartney, of course, was a Southpaw. Man, the game isn't even out yet, and already Harmonix is taking outrageous liberties with history. Unbelievable.

[Thanks, MarkHawk!]

Who needs a game case when you can wear a PSP? That's the idea behind the aptly named "Multi-shape Cobra Stand Bundle Kit." The "Multi-shape Cobra Stand" measures 92cm long and will connect a PSP to almost any part of your body. Maybe you can make a make-shift PSP utility belt, or wear it as a (very gaudy) necklace. With this peripheral, you can take comfort in knowing your PSP will never let go of its cold, firm grip on your body. Yay?

[Via Engadget]

Peripheral gaming is in. Exergaming is in. So, EA Sports Active really should rake in the bucks. It'll support (but won't require) the Wii Fit balance board and to make the package even more attractive, it'll include two peripherals in the box. The leg strap (after the cut) will allow you to attach the Wii Remote to your leg. The game will then keep track of your movement, allowing you to run and jump without feeling too tethered down by a physical object.

The resistance band (above) will allow you to do other exercises that work out the upper body -- a rarity in the Wii exercise genre. These two peripherals are small, and really do allow for some freeform movement. Will you be picking them up?

Ladies, how often have you taken a look at your poor little Wii Fit, and thought "If only there were some sort of peripheral to let the world know that I'm both concerned about my fitness aesthetics, and was emblazoned with pink"? Probably so often that you've lost count. As you know, pink is completely 100% the only color women are allowed to love and/or get accessories in. So the Lady Fitness Workout Kit has your name on it. Sorry, boys.

Though we'll leave the exact placement and nature of the controller for you to figure out, Activision is insistent that the item used to beat the Tony Hawk skateboarding franchise out of it stale stupor won't just be any ol' paddle. "You're not going to be playing this game with a controller in your hands," the company teased at a recent, in-game advertising summit.

We've heard mumblings of a new peripheral before (the new DS game already has a confirmed tilt function), but are no closer to understanding just what the device is and how it works. Our highly educated guess? A giant plastic skateboard. For a skateboarding game. Is that pushing it?

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.

There are a number of maladies one usually associates with long-term guitar playing -- bloodied, mangled fingers (otherwise known as Townshend syndrome), horrible "strap burn" on one side of the player's neck, and, of course, an insatiable addiction to heroin. While for the most part, faux-rocking Guitar Hero and Rock Band enthusiasts are safe from these perils, a recent recall announcement of a peripheral may concern ludological guitarists about the very real possibility of shredding-related pants corrosion.

The peripheral in question is the Rage Wireless Guitar for the Wii, which has been recalled due to a faulty circuit board which causes the AA batteries within to leak onto the user's Jordache's, and possibly, the tallowy skin beneath. One injury complaint has already been filed, spurring the recall, however, those present at the aforementioned time of injury were quoted as saying, "seeing Steve rock so hard that he burned a hole in his pants was the coolest thing any of us will ever see."

[Via 1UP]

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]

You make your way down the hallway in City 17, and push open the door into the bright sunlight reflected off of concrete. A Combine soldier stands before you, so you life your semiautomatic weapon, and as you pull the trigger and fire, the gun recoils in your hand. Another Combine stands across the viaduct, and when he fires at you, you feel the bullet strike you from the left, so you turn, and feel the gun jump in your hand again as you take him out.

That's the ideal experience with Novint's Falcon controller. The controller itself is about an eight inch orb that sits on your table, with a three-inch sphere sitting on the end of three arms coming off of it -- like a Soviet satellite sticking out of the globe. The idea is that you push the little sphere around to move your cursor, and the three arms provide resistance against whatever you bump up against. We got to use the controller at E3, and the verdict is that while it does provide a nice experience, the costs might be a little overwhelming for most players. More after the jump.