Readers, I received this on Feb 2 from bodielobus:

Dear BuyReflex.com Pre-Order Purchasers,

A year has gone by since we launched our controller’s pre-order website, BuyReflex.com, and it comes with great displeasure that we are informing you that we have been unable to fulfill your order in the timeframe allowed.

Even though we are very close to finalizing a manufacturing and distribution deal for a full-USB version of the controller, we just couldn’t pull it off in time. As promised, we will begin refunding your orders in batches, starting immediately.

Please allow up to 4 weeks for your refund to appear in your Google Checkout Account.

So it appears that the future of this controller may in fact be stalled or even dead. I have had contact with the developers in the past, but nothing since this announcment. If I hear anything new I’ll post it here right away.

Bodielobus has just announced that their Paradox PlayStation 2 Controller will ship with a USB mode for PC’s, plus joystick emulation for games that don’t support mouse-style input. In the advance press release, Bodielobus also hints at “adapters for other consoles”, which could enhance “games like Resistance and Gears of War”.

I am particularly interested in the PC compatibility, since I’ve always thought that PC gaming could be improved if both hands weren’t chained to the desk mouse and keyboard. A trackball controller would seem to be a cure for that.

In addition, I see some advantages in the Paradox’s PC compatibility that might not be obvious. First of all, I presume that PC gamers will be more welcoming to an innovative design like the Paradox than their PlayStation-owning counterparts. Secondly, a hand-held trackball controller could be exactly what some PC owners need, given the current push towards “PCs as home media centers”. I’ll explain this point in a later post.

The Paradox controller is now available for pre-order, exclusively through bodieLobus’ promotional website BuyReflex.com.

I’ll leave you with these promotional images sent to Trackballer.com from Bodielobus:

This video has been posted on YouTube, and it shows the Paradox trackball controller in action. I think this is Unreal Tournament on the PS2, and it effectively demonstrates the “twitch” advantage offered by Reflex Control. Enjoy:

I was pleasantly surprised to get an update last week from Bodielobus, an innovative developer bringing trackballs to console game controllers. After months of relative silence, Bodielobus has made the major announcement that their Paradox Controller for Playstation 2 is available for Pre-order at Buyreflex.com. The Paradox is Bodielobus’ first controller incorporating Reflex Control, a trackball that replaces the usual right thumbstick.

Although I’m not a Playstation 2 owner, I’m excited to finally see the trackball concept approach reality. Hopefully, this will represent a proof of concept among gamers and reviewers that the trackball can dramatically improve gameplay, especially in FPS’s. Bodielobus has not made any official announcement regarding future compatabilty with other platforms.

At the time of writing, the Paradox controller can be pre-ordered for a surprisingly low $21.99 USD, plus shipping. According to the site, that number will go up by $1 each week, until itis $26.99. NOTE: By using the "trackballer" code at http://www.buyreflex.com/Order.aspx or by using this link, the price at checkout is only$19.99. I don’t know if that is intentional or not.

Unfortunately, Bodielobus does not have an official release date slated yet, and I expect they are waiting for a minimum number of orders before hitting the manufacturing stage. I would not complain if Bodielobus sent me a prototype for review (hint, hint).

Xbox 360 Gamers who are put-off by thumbstick control in their FPS games may soon find keyboard and mouse relief in the Magic XFPS.

The Magic XFPS is an adapter that plugs into the controller port on the Xbox 360 console. It accepts a keyboard and mouse (or trackball mouse, of course) through two USB or PS2 ports.

Developer Team Xtender has announced Dec 19th as the official release date for the XFPS 360, with a retail price of $80 USD .

You can learn more about the people behind the Xfps at their official site:

http://www.teamxtender.com/