First and foremost, apologies for the headline. If you can find it in your heart to forgive us, we're sure that the video above will tickle your fancy for gaming peripheral-themed furniture. We're not sure how much we'd pay for a custom-built, gigantic, functioning Nintendo Entertainment System controller (or a boxed copy of Super Mario Bros. 3, for that matter) that doubles for a coffee table with a removable glass overlay, but we could be convinced to skip a few months' rent should this epic furnitroller show up at our local Targét. Our landlord would certainly forgive us when we invite him over for an exhilarating round of comically oversized Bible Adventures.

We've all suffered an injury or two at the hands of a hermetically-sealed package containing a shiny new controller or other accessory, but did you know that 6,500 people visited the emergency room with a plastic packaging-related injury in 2004? That's not all -- these "clamshell" packages are often made of environmentally-unsound non-recycled plastics (which are increasingly expensive to produce due to rising petroleum costs), and are the largest contributer to various worldwide terrorist organizations?

Okay, that last part was a lie, but there are plenty of reasons to dislike this hand-lacerating form of consumer packaging -- luckily, a recent CNET article revealed that some experts in the packaging industry think that clamshell usage may be on its way out, for the reasons listed above. Retailers still prefer the shoplifter-deterring containers, but consumer frustration and cheaper alternatives may signal the end of the mollusk-inspired packages in the coming years. Our gnarled, decrepit hands are very relieved.

[Via Kotaku]

Nintendo has announced via its Japanese website that a Wii-white Gamecube controller is due for release this month ... in Japan. Looks like the old controller still has some manufacturing life left in it yet, too bad we can't get any more wireless Wavebird controllers.

We've contacted Nintendo of America to find out if the controllers are expected in North America. Call us what you will (which will probably be "lazy") but we simply wish that Nintendo would make a second generation Wavebird controller that's fully compatible with the Wii.

[Via GoNintendo]

Let's get ready to rumble! Sony's PlayStation Blog announced today that DualShock 3 controllers are currently shipping to North American stores and should be available next week. The controller originally had an April 15 release date attached to it, but can now be sold as soon as retailers receive them.

We've placed the full list of DualShock 3 compatible titles after the break; games with an asterisk require a patch (which will automatically download if you're connected online). Sony has also added a page to its official PlayStation site dedicated to listing titles with rumble. DualShock 3 compatible titles will have an icon on the box and the controller's suggested retail price is $55. For those who truly don't care about rumble, keep an eye out for falling Sixaxis prices.

Update: Edited piece after Sony let us know that the DualShock 3 compatibility page is live and confirmed the controllers can be sold as soon as retailers receive them.

Sony once called rumble a "last generation feature," but secretly, somewhere, someone was designing DualShock 3 (and waiting for legal matters to settle). The race was on! (And quietly won by Logitech last June.) Still, someone had yet to release the 'ultimate' PS3 gamepad, which would combine the awesome powers of six-degree motion and palm-numbing vibration. (Actually, Sony did that last November -- in Japan.) Yet still, US PS3 owners where without such wizardry until today, when Nyko's Zero Wireless Controller -- packing hex-directional gesturetech® and rumble -- hit retail for $60. Too bad this hard-featured controller has a mere 40 days before it becomes irrelevant.

A wide majority of gamers don't have to worry about the logistics of actually interacting with their video games of choice -- the simplicity of picking up a controller and playing a game is the main draw of home consoles. However, gamers who suffer from certain physical handicaps are often not in the minds of console and controller designers, often excluding them with peripherals they may find difficult to use. Luckily, the Earth's got people like Ryan Culy.

Culy designed the pictured Wii Remote/Nunchuk hybrid with one of his friends, who had lost most of his left arm, in mind. By moving the C and Z buttons from the 'Chuk to the Wiimote, and by detaching the joystick and motion sensor so that they could be controlled by an elbow, the two peripherals can now be used with one arm. It's a very kind gesture from Culy -- one we hope will inspire future console and peripheral designers to keep gamers of all shapes and sizes in mind when they create their products.

Gaming peripheral maker Nyko today announced an adapter that promises to cut the cord on your existing wired Wii Nunchuks (metaphorically, of course). Not to be confused with the standalone wireless Nunchuk Nyko announced last month, the new adapter will connect to an existing wired Nunchuk, allowing it to communicate with a Wii remote up to 15 feet away (handy for people with a 15-foot wingspan!).

Don't worry about the Nunchuk cord drooping limply across your leg either -- according to the release, the adapter comes with a "self-standing Nunchuk sleeve" that has "a convenient compact cord management system keeping the existing Nunchuk cord organized and out of site [sic]."

The adapter, including two required AAA batteries, will retail for $19.99, making it $10 less than Nyko's standalone wireless Nunchuk (though the whole package is $10 more when combined with a $20 wired Nunchuk). Wire-hating gamers who already own four Nunchuks might want to look for it in February.

If it were any other time the death of the sublime wireless Wavebird controller designed for Nintendo's Gamecube would have gone by with a tear and some good memories, but with Smash Bros. Brawl just around the corner it feels more like bad timing. A Nintendo customer service representative told GoNintendo that there aren't plans to restock Wavebird controllers in stores again; however, regular wired Gamecube controllers will continue to be available.

We've been advocating the use of the Wavebird for anyone that plans to use a Gamecube controller when Smash Bros. Brawl releases next month. Might be time to visit the local pawn shop and see if Wavebirds are available there, or just accept the use of the Wiimote, Classic Controller or the wired Gamecube controller – ewwww, wires!

After an erroneous rumor concerning an Xbox 360 motion-sensing controller prototype made the internet rounds yesterday (turns out it was a known Wiimote prototype), the folks at TeamXbox claim to know a little something something and – after said rumor made waves – felt compelled to share with us a little early. They said, "TeamXbox.com can confirm that Microsoft has been researching alternative input technologies for the last two years" including motion-sensing technology ala the Wiimote or Sixaxis.

They also note that Microsoft is specifically looking to improve the right-analog stick (request to MS: fix the D-pad while you're at it), and TeamXbox will "bring you a real list of next-generation Xbox controller prototypes soon." We skipped the previous rumor but since TeamXbox is putting their neck out on this one, we're inclined to give it a little more weight. We'll know if they're right soon enough.

Nyko is releasing a second version of its PS3 controller charge station and it's the bomb. Actually, it looks more like a bomb detonator. The company says the Charge Base 2 has a faster recharge rate and comes with two light-weight Mini USB adaptors that attach to the controller and "allow for easy drop and charge functionality."

The price of the unit is $30 and should be available now at retailers. So if you've got extra AC plugs about the place and just can't be bothered with plugging your Sixaxis into the PS3, here's another option.

Hello, I'm Zack, and I had never played Smash Bros. until today. I don't know if that should be a confession or proclamation. Let it be both. Let the flaming begin.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl felt frenetic. To me, it seemed like too much was happening on-screen to play with precision. But apparently people wring ever moment of control out of this fast-paced game. Just not the first time they play.

In my games, Brawl always had a lot going on. A power-up poured out 2D sprites lifted directly from Advance Wars. Another caused a Nintendog to briefly paw playfully at the screen, for no reason other than to annoy us. I just laughed at the puppy as I was knocked off the platform to my loss.

I like my fighting games with more of an immediate sense of cause-and-effect and without this power-up focus. But I could see the appeal of Brawl. It had so much happening that I was always entertained. And the sense of humor and strangeness -- Mario versus Sonic in a fighting game -- also hooked me.

They're here, they're pretty ugly, get used to it. The new colored Xbox 360 controllers are now available to purchase for $49.99. We really couldn't say it better than X3F when they pointed out these are the perfect "It's a Boy" or "It's a Girl" baby shower gift colors. Sadly, the powder blue controller we were hoping for and saw at E3 won't be in North America just yet, but you can always import it from Japan starting November 1. And just remember, if you hate all these colors, you can always make your own.

[Via X3F]

Readers with good memories probably remember our annoyance at having a dangling remote and wire sitting on our lap when using the Wii's classic controller. So you'd probably think we're psyched about Thrustmaster's recently-announced wireless classic controller. But we're not.

For one, Nyko's classic controller grip pretty already solves the problem elegantly for less than half the price of Thrustmaster's $18 controller.

Secondly, this thing is a monstrosity, with ugly aqua blue rubber on the grips and analog sticks and a bloated design that reminds us of the PS3's scrapped boomerang controller.

Finally, the thing is really just a wireless GameCube controller with a modified button layout. Besides meaning less-than-perfect compatibility, this also means the unit requires an ugly dongle that hangs down from one of the GameCube slots on your Wii. At that point you might as well just go with the better-designed WaveBird, or just make your own solution. In either case, you can probably just skip this cash-in accessory.

[Via WiiFanboy]

Website Inner Bits says they can "confirm" that prototypes of the new rumble Sixaxis are in the hands of "various Sony developers." They say that Sony could make the announcement about the new Sixaxis as early as Leipzig, or hold off until more games support the new features. Sony probably wouldn't want to make all those "rushed technology" stories pop up again.

Inner Bits also says that a new version of the Sixaxis is quietly replacing those currently on the market. Allegedly Sony improved "the fidelity of motion sensing" so now there isn't so much of a "dead zone." Of course this is all still currently rumor and speculation, but we are hoping that the Sixaxis will rumble this year.