Koller said, "It's not coming back, so let me put that on the table," before later adding "won't be returning" to Ars.

Then, to Kotaku, Koller flipped the whole table metaphor around (but said the same thing) with the assertion that "backwards compatibility is off the table."

Some eyewitnesses claimed that Koller then stood from his chair, squatted to the floor and teabagged the first generation of PS3s that included hardware backward compatibility. Then, with an equal amount of ceremony, he teabagged the second generation of PS3s the included software emulated backward compatibility.

Sony's stance is that PS2-compatibility is simply no longer a relevant draw to PS3 buyers. And while that's an easy enough point to scoff at, I will admit, I don't know the last time I loaded a PS2 disc into my PS3. [Ars and Kotaku]

Sure, maybe the game already took perfect advantage of the PlayStation 2's dual analog thumb sticks, but that didn't stop Esty product manager Do-it-yourself type Kellbot from churning out her own Katamari controller.

"It uses an optical mouse to track the ball." Kellbot explains. "I gathered up some cheap PS2 controllers, ripped out the potentiometers on the analog sticks, and replaced it with a digital potentiometer and an arduino. The arduino takes signals from a PS/2 mouse and adjusts the potentiometer accordingly. "

It's the first circuit she's ever designed, and Kellbot originally wanted to use a giant yoga ball "to really get the scape", but had to settle with a mirrored ball. According to Kellbot, those giant yoga balls "don't roll very well on ball bearings". DAMMIT!

More in her post below, including a video what through and a diagram of the circuit she created.

Life-Size Katamari Lives [Kellbot Thanks, Dan!]

Seriously. Why? [Casetation 2 at Flickr - Thanks (?), Akshay]

Diagramed to work with the PS2 (but probably just as applicable to the PS3), Sony recounts variably-colored LEDs that fit on your fingers. A regular camera (like the EyeToy) tracks these LEDs—a task that's easy even in dark environments.

My gut tells me that this patent is a dated, defensive maneuver—the once-solution to the fundamental flaw with Nike's Kinetic for PS2. The exercise game was fantastic, but it just couldn't track user movement all that well in any sub-optimal lighting conditions. Then again, newer PS3 games (like Trials of Topoq) are based upon the same motion-tracking premise and they, too, are hindered by low light.

So I guess the rings could still be useful. I'm just not sure that anyone would view them as innovative enough to be worth the marketing push. [Siliconera via Kotaku]

By November 1998, when the Dreamcast first arrived in Japanese shops, it had been ten long years since the popular Megadrive, a decade punctuated by a triple whammy of high-profile hardware mistakes...the Dreamcast simply came too late in SEGA's hardware decline to reverse a long-running downward trend. For all its technological innovations and excellent games, SEGA's misadventures during the 1990s had left both gamers and publishers wary of any new platform bearing its name...Even if it had shipped with a champagne fountain and a nozzle that fired a constant stream of chocolate and diamonds into the player's lap, it seems likely that many potential owners would still have adopted a "wait and see" attitude.

While we gave away the article's thesis, it's still worth heading over to the link and giving the entire cathartic piece a read (before polishing off a sixer in DC's name and loading up some Shenmue). [Eurogamer via Kotaku]

According to prosecutors, Nathan's father taught him the ways of spydom from jail over his cellphone UPDATE: from his cell (duh), coaching Nathan through meetings with Russian agents in Mexico, Peru and Cyprus. And then, there was the issue of how to handle the money.

...Nathan Nicholson, a former Army paratrooper, had returned from his visits with the Russians with at least $35,000 in cash, some of it in a PlayStation video game case. The money was intended in part to settle a “pension” that Harold Nicholson said was owed him from his days as a C.I.A. spy for the Russians before his arrest in 1996, the prosecutors said.

[NYTimes Thanks ibelli!]

The other interesting, though not necessarily surprising finding was that the gaming population spends more time playing the 360 than the Wii, despite the 360's lower install base. Microsoft can probably thank Call of Duty 4 for that win (along with similar online titles).

One point we're not sure about, however, is whether or not portable systems were included in this list. We're guessing not, as the DS would have probably popped up somewhere. [Kotaku]

A high school modder completed this impromptu project one night in lieu of something better to do (sadly, it appears the poor kid has not yet learned the joys of drug and alcohol abuse). From what we can tell, he pretty much just gutted his PS and fit the innards into a custom Lego case. And we're fans of simplicity...though a Ken Kutaragi minifig turning the gears might have been a nice touch. [MAKE]

The Jog attaches to your belt and connects between your Wii or PS2 and the controller—forcing you to jog in place in order to move your character (can you say "hot seller?"). I must say that I haven't encountered a fitness peripheral of this caliber since the Gamercize Pro-Sport and it's PC partner-in-crime (and that is not a good thing). Fortunately, only those in the UK will be able to get their hands on one in the foreseeable future. [Kotaku]

Peak Products Unleashes Starpex™, the First-Ever Full-Size, Wood, Playstation®2 and Playstation 3 Guitar Controller with the Authentic Look and Feel of a Real Guitar

For those about to rock…Peak salutes you!

Boston, MA– July 16th, 2008 - Peak Products, a gaming peripheral company dedicated to providing the best in instrument quality gaming controllers, announces Starpex, the first-ever full-size, wood, PS2™ / PS3™ Guitar controller with the look and feel of an actual guitar. Starpex boasts an instrument-quality, high-gloss lacquered finish with a hardwood body, neck, and headstock handcrafted by a leading guitar manufacturer giving the authentic guitar experience that Guitar Hero™ and Rock Band™ enthusiasts crave. Other unique features include…

* Full Guitar Hero and Rockband Functionality for PS2 and PS3 – Starpex is compatible with both PS2 and PS3, and allows users to experience the full list of game play features in both Guitar Hero and Rockband, including toggle effects switch and solo button functionality.

* Unique Speed Star Power / Overdrive Button provides the fastest and most accurate access to Star Power and Overdrive. Additionally, built in tilt sensor technology allows users to access Star Power and Overdrive in a more traditional way.

* Optimized Whammy Bar maximizes comfort, provides better feel, reduces fatigue and provides a higher level of durability.

* High Quality Ten Fret Button Design features optimal button travel for enhanced feel, reduced fatigue, and higher score potential. Ten fret buttons means that players have the option of using traditionally positioned fret buttons, or rock out with solo buttons high up on the neck which also provide critical soloing capabilities in Rockband.

* Enhanced Strum Bar gives the perfect balance of tactile and audible feedback to maximize enjoyment and scoring.

* Connectivity Options – Dual wired / wireless capabilities allow players to use a 15’ wired cable or a 2.4 Ghz wireless connection (both included).

* Forward - Thinking Compatibility – Starpex’s modular design allows users to easily separate the electronic components from the body of the guitar which will allow for further customization including new guitar bodies, pick guards, and more.

“With well over 11 million copies of Guitar Hero/Rock Band sold on the PlayStation consoles, we see a tremendous opportunity in bringing Starpex to market” says Jamie Leece, Vice President for Peak Products. “Never before have Guitar Hero/Rock Band enthusiasts been able to shred with a hardwood, handcrafted authentic guitar controller that’s built with the look and feel of a real guitar. This will change the way the games are played.”

The Starpex will be available in Circuit City and various retailers with an MSRP of $179.95 in late August. For more information on Peak Products, please visit www.Go-Peak.com coming on line in August

About Peak Products
Peak Products is a gaming peripheral company dedicated to providing gamers of the music genre with the very best in instrument quality gaming controllers. Evolving out of a passion for both music and gaming, Peak Products understands the level of precision and quality that both musicians and gamers demand from their equipment. By fusing together the style and craftsmanship of professional grade musical instruments with the comfort and performance of gaming controllers, Peak Products is able to provide the user with an enhanced musical gaming experience. Designed by leading engineers and tested by gamers, Peak Products delivers the look of authentic musical equipment, the feel expected out of any precision instrument, and the score demanded by any serious gamer. Peak Products: Look. Feel. Score.™

I remember an old SNES controller that was one-handed that was perfect for playing RPGs with if your other hand was busy with a burger. This would be just as good when Final Fantasy 13 is finally released in 2012. $129 gets you one, with a portion of the profits going towards children's hospitals and veteran's affairs medical centers. [eDimensional via Kotaku]

[Curious Inventor via MAKE]

The thing to remember here is that, as a kit, the $750 Lynxmotion BH3-R doesn't have all the polish of a retail product, but it leaves the platform open to robot enthusiasts.

Windows software allows you to customize movement over its basic programming that only supports multi-directional, multi-speed movement and 360-degree spins. Maybe you'd like your robot to do the robot, accomplishing feats of engineering that even Bender cannot fathom.

And after that, you can train it to hexa-fist beer and really subvert mankind's progress. [product via botjunkie]

They're wireless, which is nice, but PS2 only, which isn't nice, and run off 4 AA batteries, which really isn't nice. The price of kinda-sorta cheating? $25. [Best Buy via Joystiq]

Nintendo DS - 8,500,000
Wii - 6,290,000
Xbox 360 - 4,620,000
PlayStation 2 - 3,970,000
PSP - 3,820,000
PlayStation 3 - 2,560,000

PlayStation 2 - 41,120,000 Nintendo DS - 17,650,000 PSP - 10,470,000 Xbox 360 - 9,150,000 Wii - 7,380,000 PlayStation 3 - 3,250,000

The guitar body is fully customizable, so if that Pantera logo doesn't do it for you, just send them a JPEG of Milli Vanilli and be the envy of all your friends. This unit is designed for bars, and will make you wish you never said anything bad about karaoke when it's replaced by "Guitar Hero Night."

But seriously folks, it's nice to hold something heavier and more authentic in your hand than the standard controllers, and in a big group setting this could be a hit. For those about to rock on 360 or Wii, you'll have to wait. Sadly, it's only available for the Guitar Hero series on PS2 right now. There are plans to bring it to other games and systems soon, but no firm date yet. [Peavey Custom Shop]

The PS2 shall get Rock Band love on December 10th 2007 and will be priced $10 lower at $159.99, for the same package. Both Playstations will be free of wired guitar rocking restrictions, not so for the Xbox 360, which shall have a wireless guitar made available in the new year at an undisclosed cost. Nimble up your super star selves, it's about to get rockalicious! [MTV Multiplayer]

Probably not. The system is actually rather complicated, consisting of a PS2 to Xbox 360 adapter along with a custom microcontroller with hand coded firmware that emulates a PS2 controller in addition to a connected PC running a customized Wiimote driver. Each game also requires a specially-designed "profile" that tells the system how to use the new control method given native 360 bindings and features like aim assistance. What that all means is that unless you're a pretty serious gearhead, you'll have to wait for the entire rig to be simplified and released on the market before you'll have Master Chief jumping with nunchuk thrusts. If I were you, I wouldn't get my hopes up just yet. [Xbox 360 Gaming With A Wiimote]