The biggest 3rd party videogame peripheral maker, Mad Catz, is looking to expand their repertoire by linking up with one of the biggest games of the 2007 holiday season, Rock Band. The peripherals that Mad Catz plan to produce for Rock Band range from wired and wireless bass guitars, drum set equipped with top grade wooden drum sticks, and a wired microphone. These items are expected to drop during the first half of this year.

"This agreement with MTV Games represents a natural opportunity for Mad Catz to combine our core competencies of producing and distributing high-quality accessories with the entertaining experience of Rock Band's interactive controllers," said Darren Richardson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mad Catz.

"Mad Catz will produce premium instruments, allowing gamers and music fans to experience music in an entirely new light while taking on the personality of their favorite music idols.

"The addition of the Rock Band license is consistent with Mad Catz' stated goal to align ourselves with the most attractive brands and highly-anticipated software releases while seeking additional accessory opportunities to further diversify and grow our revenue base. With the ability to appeal to both hardcore and casual gamers alike, Rock Band is one of the most highly acclaimed releases of the 2007 holiday season and beyond."

Rock Band was released in North America last November where it recieved critical acclaim. Similar to the concept of Guitar Hero, Rock Band allows gamers to play along to their favorite rock songs by matching either simple or intricate points of a song by pressing the corresponding indicator using a peripheral. Unlike Guitar Hero where the lead guitar was the main focus, Rock Band allows users to take control of the vocals, bass guitar, and drums for the full rock experience.

Source: GI Biz