Third-party peripherals can be a tough sell for the discriminating gamer. Uncomfortable grips, superfluous functions and misshapen buttons have long been the calling card of off-brand controllers — which is why I found Performance Designed Products’ E3 spread especially refreshing.
PDP’s distinction was immediately apparent. The company showcased an awesome Tron-inspired array of limited edition next-gen gamepads that — among rows of brightly colored accessories — made the sterile meeting room feel like Toys R Us. As I strolled alongside the products on display, a single word came to mind: creativity.
The folks at PDP really understand its market niche. If you’re going to compete with hardware manufacturers, you need to have the artistic edge. And PDP does. Its popular series of Afterglow controllers, for example, are built with transparent plastic, vibrantly illuminated from the inside. The Tron peripherals, which will be released alongside the Disney game later this year, also feature internal lighting along geometric highlights, which lends them the distinctive blue hue of the property’s sci-fi tech.
I was also floored to see a Nintendo DS carrying case that I would actually buy. The PDP team cleverly designed the system pouch to look like Mario’s denim overalls (also available in Luigi green), which clasp the console into place using his signature yellow buttons. As an added bonus, the set is accompanied by a stylus topped with the portly plumber himself.
And I was impressed by still more: an entire glass cabinet of iPhone skins adorned with everything from sports logos to Muppet faces, a headset for the Wii (which Nintendo has never offered) and perhaps best: PDP’s Epic Mickey peripherals.
Behind a glass showcase at the back of the room, overlooking the hectic expo show floor, was a foot-tall, beautifully rendered inky ghoul clutching a Wii-mote, with the battle-ready Mickey Mouse standing below him. It isn’t just a decorative stand: It’s a fully functioning controller charging dock. Sitting beside it, and equally well-realized, was a cute paintbrush casing for the Nunchuk attachment, perfectly cartoony with its plastic bristles having been dipped in a deep blue paint. Both will be in stores within Epic Mickey’s launch window.
My sneak-peak at PDP’s plans for the upcoming year was unquestionably one of E3’s most pleasant surprises. A “peripheral” look at its portfolio of inventive and attractive products reveals the prime reason that it can go toe-to-toe with the first-party hardware companies: creativity.
It began with a Colecovision and a string of second-hand Nintendo Entertainment Systems, and I haven’t looked back. I’m an avid gamer, but with a background in film and video production, I put particular importance on story and atmosphere in the videogames I play. As a result, I find myself gravitating to adventure or horror titles that give a convincing sense of place, and I am less interested in shooters and button mashers.
I also love unusual and experimental games (Zen Bound, Endless Ocean, Puzzle Quest) that you might scoff at hearing an explanation of. I treasure these new and creative gaming experiences far more than the rehearsed adrenaline of an average AAA blockbuster title.
Most of all, however, I’m open to anything unique and fun.
