SOCOM Confrontation's retail release will include a Bluetooth headset, Sony reconfirmed today -- this time with pictures. While similar to the Jabra headset packaged inside Warhawk's box (and later removed), SOCOM's offering actually appears to be well-designed and, in fact, PlayStation-branded. Features include a prominent Mute button, USB charging cradle, and extended battery life. Sony has neither finalized the design nor priced a standalone model, but the SOCOM bundle is rumored to fetch $80.

Sony has announced the release -- finally! -- of the PSP headset with remote control, ideal for your handheld Skype yammering. The headset is currently available at Amazon and GameStop for the MSRP of $30 and buy.com for $20. The headset was originally due out last month for $20; it launched in Japan mid-March.

For help on how to get the headset working with your PSP-2000 (sorry, early adopters, it doesn't work with older models), check out PSP Fanboy's official guide.

[Via PSP Fanboy]

Getting us all one step closer to our very own direct Codec link with the Colonel, comes this Metal Gear Solid 4-styled Bluetooth headset for, well ... ostensibly for the PS3 but – seeing as how this is a Bluetooth headset – you could use it with your regular old cellphone. You and Otacon can talk about love on the battlefield for up to eight hours from up to 30 feet away from your PS3.

This headset should be in stores just in time for the game's release on June 12 and – considering how similar it looks to Microsoft's Xbox 360 Wireless Headset – it should come as little surprise that it will carry the same $59.99 pricetag. To paraphrase the great Solid Snake, "we don't believe in coincidences."

[Via Engadget]

Microsoft is going all out with their Halo tie-ins for that big incoming finale. On top of the Mad Catz merchandise, there are some official Microsoft Halo 3 accessories incoming to finish the fight. GamingTalkHQ found images of two official Xbox controllers and a Halo 3 wireless headset for the Xbox 360 at Gamestop.com.

All three items are listed at $59.99 with a release of Sept. 4; however, Gamestop is notoriously bad with their prices and dates this far out. The controller art is done by Todd McFarlane (Spawn) and also comes with a Halo 3 figurine by McFarlane Toys. So, maybe, it will end up costing $60. We'll find out more closer to release and when these items become "official".

[Thanks Alex]

It's been awhile since the DS came out -- nearly 2-1/2 years -- and we're finally using the handheld's headset jack to its full potential. Due to arrive at the end off April at an estimated retail price of $15, the Nintendo DS Headset is being sold on its functionality with one game in particular ... or make that two games. Well, sorta one and a half: Pokemon Diamond and Pokemon Pearl.

The headset works with any game that uses the microphone (including the huff-and-puff games), but is being sold on the ability to chat more conveniently with your friends over the internet. The headset works as a monaural earphone as well as a microphone, so all DS audio is routed to the earpiece, not just the voice audio. Considering the less than optimal sound quality of the unit, this is an unfortunate design shortcoming. The unit is lighweight, fits pretty comfortably over your ear, and feels durable enough to survive being stuffed into a backpack repeatedly.

Pokemon Diamond and Pearl are scheduled to be released on April 22nd (Sunday?) along with the headset.

Spray paint the VR920 gold and you too can be the Geordi LaForge of gaming. Icuiti's VR920 was apparently the winner of the 2007 CES innovations award. The headset gives the feeling of watching a 62 inch screen from 9 feet away. It displays in 640x480, includes a built in microphone and head tracker. Whether you think it's cool or an absolute waste, it sure beats the heck out of the old-school VR sets that made you look like your grandparents returning from the eye doctor. The VR920 is not yet available.

[Via TheElectricSistahood]

An Ohio middle school student has been charged with 'inducing a public panic' after he told a California teen during an Xbox Live chat that he was going to bring a gun to his school. The California teen's father caught wind of the alleged plot and alerted the FBI. A search warrant was issued, and police hauled the boy off, along with his Xbox 360 and other "items of evidentiary value." He has since been released to his parents; but it's unclear if his Xbox was returned.

The event has seemingly triggered a similar threat at the local high school, where police have begun patrolling school grounds in an effort to thwart potential violence. "Our suspicion is that the [Xbox Live] incident trickled over to the high school," said Teays Valley Superintendent Jeff Sheets. No further arrests have been made.

[Thanks, Ian]

Ubisoft has released a list of some 36 gameplay issues that will be addressed in an upcoming Rainbow Six Vegas patch, including the now infamous voice chat bug. This latest development adds to the growing concern that console titles, particularly their online modes, are being governed by a 'ship now, fix later' mentality.

Who will protect us from such lax development standards?

[Via 1UP]

IGN gives a thumbs-up to the forthcoming Xbox 360 Wireless Receiver for Windows, enabling 360-compatible wireless devices for PC use. The dongle offers simultaneous synceration for up to four wireless controllers and four (wireless) headsets. The Wireless Racing Wheel is also supported, along with all future wireless Microsoft offerings.

Despite what the image might imply, the receiver is wired, connecting via USB. Retail units will ship later this month for $20 -- no surprise there.

Microsoft's been doing the talking, Sony is doing the walking. PlayStation 3 is the console for those that value choice. From a standard three-pronged power cord to a standard hard drive bay, Sony's hardware is compatible with a vast range of products, including additional operating systems (e.g., Linux).

Already own a USB headset? What about a web cam? As Microsoft forces us to buy into -- often inferior -- proprietary devices, Sony welcomes us to use those peripherals we might already have lying around. Bravo!

PS3 delights vs. PS3 annoyances
Wii delights vs. Wii annoyances
Xbox 360 delights vs. Xbox 360 annoyances

We picked up one of Microsoft's Xbox 360 Wireless Headsets and put it through the paces in a video review. It's been fantastic so far, especially when we've been fragging people in Gears of War. It's light enough that you hardly feel it (bringing you that much closer to the game! -- says Sony), and look ma, no wires! Seriously, we've tried to walk away to the phone, kitchen or bathroom with our old headset still connected more times than we can count. It's a little disconcerting when your controller goes skittering across the floor after you, tethered by the headset cord.

Anyhow, after a couple of days with this thing we still love it. A couple of minor complaints are that it uses a wall charger instead of a handy USB cable. With the Xbox 360 having so many ports, it would have been nice to have the option to charge it through the console. Also, the section of the headset that holds the earpiece on is slightly delicate. You have to be very careful when you change them out because there is some pushing and pulling involved. Other than that, it's a solid little sucker that you'll enjoy adding to your smacktalk arsenal.

It's a bit steep at $59.99, so stick it on a Christmas wishlist. Amazon has it for $49.99, which is the lowest price we've seen. It's worth trying to find a sale, even if it does make you look a little bit like Lando Calrissian's assistant dude.

Microsoft will follow up its limited-run Blue Dragon Xbox 360 bundle with an even more limited Lost Planet bundle. Teaming with Capcom, Microsoft will package the artic shooter with the premium version of its next-gen console, along with a Lost Planet-branded headset, 3 months of Xbox Live Gold, and voucher to download extra maps. To be released on December 21, the bundle will be limited to a run of 5,000, retailing for ¥44,800 (roughly $380).

Microsoft is making a statement this holiday, but can Japanese consumers hear it? (Ninty and Sony are also blowing their horns loudly this time of year.)

Datel's 3rd-party Xbox 360 Bluetooth headset has popped up on Amazon UK with a shipping date of the 30th of June and with a price tag of £59.99/$109. Originally the headset was said to ship on the 17th of March, but there's still no mention of it on the company's website, so it's possible that Amazon jumped the gun by placing it on their site. If it does ship when they say, it'll have the market for wireless Xbox 360 headsets to itself for quite a while; Microsoft hasn't said anything more about when their official headset will be released.

The device itself is a bundle of what appears to be a relatively generic Bluetooth headset--it looks strikingly similar to Motorola's HS820 headset--coupled with a dongle that attaches to the controller's standard headset port, packaged together in a standard Xbox-green and white box.

[Via Xbox 360 Fanboy]

Our friendly anonymous source at Microsoft has provided us with a few more details concerning the 360 accessories announced back at E3.

Perhaps the most important involves the bundling of the Xbox Live Vision camera with a wired headset, the popular Live Arcade title UNO, and a month of Live Gold service for $39.99 when it releases in the States on September 19, 2006.

Granted, this is still an unofficial report (based on a leak of "official" info), so understand that you're probably not gonna get much confirmation from MS until they're good and ready to give it. If you'd like information on what other peripherals are coming out "Holiday 2006" (so sometime in the 4th quarter) and at what price, read on for more.

Thanks to a reliable source from Microsoft, we've learned some important details about the new peripherals announced for the Xbox 360, including pricing and a few Halo faceplate (non)specifics. Check out the leaked info and prices below:

• 360 wireless gaming receiver (which enables wireless 360 controllers, headsets, and wheels on your PC): $20
• Wireless racing wheel: $130
• Wireless headset: $60
• Xbox Live Vision Camera (with headset, one month of Live Gold, and one arcade -- presumably Xbox Live Arcade -- game): $40
• New faceplates for Halo (with the Master Chief on 'em, but not Halo 3 specific) and Forza (no word on connections to the sequel): $20 each
• 256 MB portable memory unit (MU): no official price yet, but definitely not four times the cost of the older 64MB MU
  

Besides acknowledging that the PC is "the biggest gaming device of all," MS appears to be setting an agressive price for its most relevant new PC accessory, the wireless gaming receiver (at least in comparison to the outrageously priced 360 wireless networking adapter). Unfortunately, no price was revealed as of yet for the USB-based HD-DVD add-on.

We've speculated in our recent podcasts as to what would happen to the various 360 SKUs when price drops inevitably occur. An interesting theory bandied about by prolific Joystiq Contributor epobirs (on our earlier bump-to-256MB-MU post) was that a $20 price drop for the Core system, coupled with a $20 price drop on the 64MB MU, would finally allow folks to pick up a capable non-Premium bundle for the original $300 Core price point. (Not a bad way to undercut PS2 memory card prices, too.) We hope to get official confirmation on this info in the not-too-distant future.

[Update: Sorry, had the camera price wrong in the headline; it now matches the price of the bundle listed in the body of the text below.]

See also:

• 360's Mem Unit getting a bump to 256MB? (Comment from epobirs)
  
• Use 360 wireless peripherals with a PC
• Engadget & Joystiq's live coverage of Microsoft's Xbox 360 E3 event
• Joystiq / Engadget podcasts from Day One and Day Two of E3 2006