We know what you're thinking: Gawd, another Wii Wheel? But this one actually does something, we promise. Now, why anyone would jump to purchase a $100 peripheral for a $250 console is the real question that needs answering. (Cough, cough.) But if you truly believe that force feedback is necessary to impress your non-gaming friends the next time they come over, then by all means, check out Logitech's "Speed Force Wireless" Wii wheel when it goes on sale in November. (Warning: Not guaranteed to protect against blue shells.)

In an effort to create more realistic fake instruments, Logitech is partnering with Activision on a line of "premium" peripherals for the latter's upcoming Guitar Hero World Tour. Multiple products are in development, although Logitech would not comment on exactly what they are, confirming only that the first of them will hit this year. Given that it already has the market cornered on USB microphones (nearly every music game's mic is made by Logitech) we're guessing all educated-like that guitars and drums are the core of the lineup. Also, while this news is obviously geared toward hyping World Tour, we're looking into potential Rock Band compatibility for the products.

The peripherals are being designed to work with every platform Guitar Hero World Tour is launching on, specifically PS3, 360, Wii, and PS2. Logitech gaming devices VP Bruce Lancaster likens this move to the one the company made with steering wheels for Gran Turismo, saying, "A few years ago, Logitech refined the consumer steering wheel market with high-end controllers that enhance racing games. Now we are looking forward to elevating the market for premium music-based video game controllers in a similar fashion." Here's hoping that one of the "premium" drumkit features is a steel kick pedal like the one used by our house band, the Blueberry Muffintops. What would you like to see?

Just moments after Logitech officially announced the new Driving Force GT for PS3, we rushed over to Sony and gave it a spin. An observer casually noted, "isn't it nice to have rumble on the PS3?" We'd have to agree with this sentiment -- but the Driving Force GT offers much more than just rumble.

The wheel feels incredibly sturdy, and offers a surprising amount of resistance when making turns, crashing into walls, and more. The force offered by the wheel rivals those found in arcade cabinets. The wheel makes Gran Turismo 5 feel like a completely different game. Playing in cockpit mode with the controller is incredibly immersive. With wheel in hand, this does feel like the "real driving simulator" that GT promises to be.

While the wheel is impressive, we were a bit underwhelmed by the pedals, which lack the heft that makes the wheel so impressive. The pedals need a bit more resistance to feel a bit more realistic, and need to be heavier, so they don't move forward so much. Regardless, we're impressed by this incredible effort of bringing home an arcade experience. Considering the asking price ($150), Logitech needed to make a high quality peripheral. We think they succeeded.

Want the perfect prologue to sim racing's most-distinguished brand? Tack another $150 onto that $40 download, as Logitech has unveiled the official, and pricey Driving Force GT racing wheel. Engineered specifically for Gran Turismo 5 Prologue (but compatible with GT4 and GT5 on PS2), the Driving Force features requisite force feedback, plus a new 24-position realtime adjustment dial (see -- it's red!), so you can fine-tune the brake bias, traction control and damper settings on-the-fly. Brake bias? Damper settings? Just point us to the boost button!

The Driving Force GT wheel is "expected" to ship in May.

Though there's not much evidence at the moment to back it up, Reuters is reporting on the rumor that Microsoft (you know, the Zune guys) is looking to buy peripheral maker Logitech, the shares of which have apparently gotten a boost from the speculation.

On the gaming controller front, we can't see much benefit. While Logitech's wireless controllers were some of the best last generation, the company seems to be a non-issue on the current platforms. On the other hand, maybe Microsoft just wants Jelly Jumper on the XBLA, in which case you can sign us up.

[Via Engadget]

IGN recently got some time with the Logitech Cordless Precision for PlayStation 3. The controller costs $10 less than the official $50 Sixaxis controller and is very similar to their famous PS2 wireless controllers, which worked quite well. This controller should also not be confused with the air-blowing PS3 wired controller Logitech previously released.

This new controller (pictured) is heavier than the Sixaxis and uses two AA batteries, giving 50 hours of play according to Logitech. The most bizarre thing going on with this controller is it doesn't have any motion control built into it, but it does come with rumble -- a feature that none of the PS3 games use. Of course, in time, the rumble will come back to Sony, but it is funny that Logitech placed rumble importance over getting the motion control feature license. For all we know at this point, Logitech made the right bet.

Arriving like an obituary for the thoroughly deceased E3 of yore, the exhibitor list for the E3 Media and Business Summit 2007 (or Min-E3, if you prefer) provides an interesting glimpse of the event's new format. The list, as unfurled by Chris Remo of Shacknews, represents the exact opposite of E3 in many ways. It's short, manageable and entirely devoid of scantily-clad ladies. And we just lost half the readers with that last link, didn't we?

For those that use tabbed browsing: Remo observes that the list has gone from bursting with over 400 exhibitors last year, to containing a mere 33 this year. Of those, two are independent developers (id Software and Foundation 9 Entertainment) and two are peripheral manufacturers (Nyko Technologies and Logitech). Despite the list being primarily filled with major publishers, the event will also host the IndieCade festival, an independent games showcase.

While July's Min-E3 represents a welcome departure from the lax entry requirements and inhibitive masses of E3, its reduction to a series of meetings with a focused group of publishers still seems tragically dull when compared to the glitz and clamor of previous spectacles. It's clear that smaller industry groups aren't well represented either, but then, there's only so much room in an aircraft hangar. The full list of exhibitors can be found in the second part of the post.

When it comes to online advertising games, our expectations are decidedly low. Basically, if it's better than whack the fly, we're impressed. Those low standards notwithstanding, Logitech's Jelly Jump is actually pretty good.

It seems incredibly simple at first -- just use the arrow keys to jump around an on-screen keyboard, hitting the green keys as quickly as possible. But a variety of hazard keys and some clever level design means the action gets tough pretty quickly. The game automatically saves your progress for a later play session, which is good, because getting the best scores on all 50 levels might take a while.

Sure, there's a coupon for Logitech keyboard if you get through the first ten levels, but we would play this game even without the promise of a good deal. And for an advertising game, that's saying something.

[Thanks stupidiot]

Logitech has released the perfect companion piece for that plastic bubble you just scored on eBay. It's a keyboard and mouse combo, dubbed the MX 3200 Laser, and it's coated with AgION, a compound used most commonly in hospitals to prohibit the growth of microorganisms.

Our guess it that the 3200 will cater primarily to mysophobes, but it might also be a worthwhile purchase for those paranoid of their runny-nosed tots or greasy-haired coworkers -- oh wait, that is a mysophobe. Anyways, Logitech's latest sure beats spraying Lysol all over the desktop.

Good news for those of you frustrated with clumsy gamepad browsing on your PS3: Logitech has announced the Cordless MediaBoard for the PlayStation 3. It's a wireless (Bluetooth or proprietary?) keyboard with a built-in trackpad and vertical scrollbar, expected to retail for $80. Yeah, that's it. Of course, if $80 is too rich for your blood, you can always get a wireless keyboard that uses a USB dongle or wait for an update enabling Bluetooth keyboards. According to CNET's PS3 review, "The system will eventually allow you to pair the PS3 with a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse ... It's unclear whether all Bluetooth keyboards, past and present, will be compatible, but Sony assures us that many will." We just wanna make sure you've considered all your options is all.

[Via Engadget]

Ubisoft's Dark Messiah of Might and Magic is now available, and the French publisher has launched a "Gear Up to Win" sweepstakes to promote its new FPS/role-playing adventure. The top prize is a $3,000 Vigor gaming rig outfitted with Logitech's G15 gaming keyboard, G5 mouse, and Z-5500 speakers. Best of all, the system's pimped out with Dark Messiah branding so that orc will be staring at you with his beady little eyes even when you're not playing the game. You have until November 30 to enter online.

Oh boy, where to start? Maybe it was just that their previous gamepads were selling wireless to a wired world, or perhaps the good folks at Logitech just felt weird about building a gamepad that felt so light; either way, they've decided to give their new ChillStream controller a little something extra to distinguish it from the me-toos in the third-party controller rat race.

Yup, they added fans into the controller, to keep your sweaty mitts cool. If this strikes you as an especially gimmicky move for one of the more reputable peripheral manufacturers, you're not alone dear reader. Maybe the extra weight and a potentially lower third-party cost will be enough to drive frugal gamers into the arms of the ChillStream ... or is that ChillStream into the arms of frugal gamers? The controller doesn't have rumble, it presumably has motion sensitivity, it doesn't appear to be wireless -- oh yeah, it has fans -- and it carries a suggested retail sticker price of $39.99. How much is that "affordable" first-party controller going to be?

[Via CrunchGear]

Intel, ATI, and Logitech will be sponsoring a Rise of Legends tournament that includes $100k in prize money. Qualifying events will be held between September and November, and the top eight combatants will be invited to the final round in January to determine the "ultimate champion". Visit the official site for details.

Professional gaming has been a frequent topic of discussion in recent months:

• Gaming at the Olympics? It could happen
• Pizza Hut to sponsor cyberathletes
• Guild Wars Factions Championship update

Inside Mac Games has reviewed Logitech's new V270 Bluetooth notebook mouse, and it looks like road warriors have a new option for gaming on the go. The reviewer tested the V270 on Call of Duty 2 and Quake 3 (yes, the Mac version of Quake 4 is out) with no noticeable delays, and it responds well on a variety of surfaces. Just make sure you're not synching your cell phone or using any other Bluetooth devices simultaneously with your laptop, as this may cause a slight performance drop.

The V270 sells for $40-50 online, and although it ships with a Windows-only installation CD, the reviewer had no trouble setting it up on a Powerbook using the Bluetooth Setup Wizard.

Now that you won't be finding a free bundled remote with new 360s, it's time to consider the alternatives. You can get either the $30 universal remote or splurge for the enhanced functionality, and looks, of the Logitech Harmony Advanced Universal Remote for Xbox 360.

For around $100 you get a fully programmable remote, with macro capabilities, an LCD screen, and 360 integration.

• AOL Games: "Even with a few minor infractions, the Harmony’s as close to perfection as any universal remote has ventured thus far... don’t let the $130 price tag keep you from buying what might be the greatest technological development of the 21st Century: a universal remote control that actually makes life easier."
• Krunker - "Life is absolutely chummy with the Logitech Harmony Advanced Unversal Remote for Xbox 360... this will be the only remote control that you’ll ever need - especially for Xbox 360 console owners."
  
• ExtremeTech - "It's pricey, but it's the perfect way to consolidate that coffee table full of remotes for the Xbox 360 fan that has way too much stuff hooked up in his home entertainment system."
  
• IGN - "Logitech's Harmony Advanced Universal Remote for Xbox 360 is a really positive supporting factor in the hope that this sort of convergence may really make it into the mainstream, and it goes well beyond Microsoft's first efforts in uniting so many disparate components."
• TeamXbox (8/10) - "While there is a Beginner section of the setup software, we still highly recommend that you are at least at 'geek-level' consumer electronics expertise before tackling the Harmony."
  
• CNet user rating (8.8/10) - "My wife, who for years has chastised me about all the remotes we have, absolutely loves how easy this remote seamlessly controls every unit within our entertainment setup."
• Amazon user rating (4.5/5) - "Granted, it does take time to program the remote. But once done, remote is programmed it work likes like charm."

The consensus is that you get a powerful, universal, all-in-one remote that can even control the Xbox 360; but be warned, it's expensive, and configuration is no simple task. If you're shopping for an LCD universal remote for your home theater and Xbox 360, something tells me you should be able to handle the configuration.

[Update: added a review from AOL Games. Any other notables we're missing on this list? Add them to the comments.]