Mad Catz
Encyclopedia
Mad Catz Interactive, Inc. is a peripherals manufacturer for various video game console
s headquartered in San Diego, California
. It produces a wide range of accessories including control pads, memory cards, connection cables, headphones and other human interface device
s.
3.7 million. Mad Catz expects Joytech to add $10 million to its annual revenue.
In November 2007, Mad Catz further diversified into the video game accessory market by acquiring Europe
-based peripheral manufacturer Saitek
for US$ 30 million.
On June 1, 2010, Mad Catz acquired Tritton Technologies, a California-based gaming audio headset firm, for US$ 1 million at closing. Up to an additional US$ 9 million may be paid over the next five years depending on how well Tritton's products sell.
. Mad Catz later changed their plans of a limited number of buttons and continued production of turbo controllers to meet the overwhelming demand.
, confirmed that Mad Catz was developing products for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
. The product was a Modern Warfare 2 themed controller for Xbox 360
and PlayStation 3
, along with a special charging cable for the controller. They were released on November 10, 2009 alongside the game. Following that, Madcatz released an improved version of the controller for the new Call of Duty: Black Ops.
to make a wooden replica of the Fender Stratocaster
for Harmonix's Rock Band
series of games.
In 2010, MadCatz released the officially licensed instrument controllers for Rock Band 3
, including keyboards, guitar controllers (both the traditional 5 button and the 102-button "pro" guitar), microphones and drum kits.
The "Cyborg" line of products includes the modular R.A.T. series of gaming mice, along with gaming keyboards, mouse pads, and the F.L.Y. 9 joystick controller.
Video game console
A video game console is an interactive entertainment computer or customized computer system that produces a video display signal which can be used with a display device to display a video game...
s headquartered in San Diego, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. It produces a wide range of accessories including control pads, memory cards, connection cables, headphones and other human interface device
Human interface device
A human interface device or HID is a type of computer device that interacts directly with, and most often takes input from, humans and may deliver output to humans. The term "HID" most commonly refers to the USB-HID specification. The term was coined by Mike Van Flandern of Microsoft when he...
s.
History
The company was founded in 1989 as Patch Ventures. In 1994 it changed its name to Legacy Storage Systems International (TSX: LEG). The name was then changed to Tecmar Technologies International in 1996 and Xencet Investments in 1998. The company was renamed Games Trader and then GTR Group in 1999, and then finally to Mad Catz Interactive in 2001.Acquisitions
In September 2007, Mad Catz acquired Joytech for US$United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
3.7 million. Mad Catz expects Joytech to add $10 million to its annual revenue.
In November 2007, Mad Catz further diversified into the video game accessory market by acquiring Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
-based peripheral manufacturer Saitek
Saitek
Saitek is a designer and manufacturer of consumer electronics founded in 1979 by Swiss technologist Eric Winkler. They are best known for their PC gaming controllers, mice, keyboards especially the Eclipse series of back-lit keyboards, and their Flight Yoke System.- History :Saitek was founded in...
for US$ 30 million.
On June 1, 2010, Mad Catz acquired Tritton Technologies, a California-based gaming audio headset firm, for US$ 1 million at closing. Up to an additional US$ 9 million may be paid over the next five years depending on how well Tritton's products sell.
Recent products
In 2008 Mad Catz was commissioned by Capcom to produce Arcade Sticks and 6 button controllers, branded as FightSticks and FightPads, for Street Fighter IVStreet Fighter IV
is a fighting game produced by Capcom. It is the first numbered Street Fighter game released by Capcom since . The coin-operated arcade game was released in Japan on July 18, 2008, with North American arcades importing the machines by August...
. Mad Catz later changed their plans of a limited number of buttons and continued production of turbo controllers to meet the overwhelming demand.
Controllers
In August 2009, Robert Bowling, the Community Manager of Infinity WardInfinity Ward
Infinity Ward is an American video game developer. Infinity Ward is responsible for the development of the video game Call of Duty and four other installments in the Call of Duty franchise....
, confirmed that Mad Catz was developing products for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is a first-person shooter video game developed by Infinity Ward and published by Activision for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 video game consoles and the Microsoft Windows operating system. Officially announced on February 11, 2009, the game was released worldwide on...
. The product was a Modern Warfare 2 themed controller for Xbox 360
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
and PlayStation 3
PlayStation 3
The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
, along with a special charging cable for the controller. They were released on November 10, 2009 alongside the game. Following that, Madcatz released an improved version of the controller for the new Call of Duty: Black Ops.
Other
Mad Catz also teamed up with FenderFender
Fender Musical Instruments Corporation, commonly referred to as simply Fender, of Scottsdale, Arizona is a manufacturer of stringed instruments and amplifiers, such as solid-body electric guitars, including the Stratocaster and the Telecaster...
to make a wooden replica of the Fender Stratocaster
Fender Stratocaster
The Fender Stratocaster, often referred to as "Strat", is a model of electric guitar designed by Leo Fender, George Fullerton, and Freddie Tavares in 1954, and manufactured continuously by the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation to the present. It is a double-cutaway guitar, with an extended top...
for Harmonix's Rock Band
Rock Band
Rock Band is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems, published by MTV Games and Electronic Arts. It is the first title in the Rock Band series. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions were released in the United States on November 20, 2007, while the PlayStation 2 version was...
series of games.
In 2010, MadCatz released the officially licensed instrument controllers for Rock Band 3
Rock Band 3
Rock Band 3 is a music video game, developed by Harmonix Music Systems. The game was initially published and distributed by MTV Games and Electronic Arts, respectively, with Mad Catz taking over both roles a year later. It is the third main game in the Rock Band series...
, including keyboards, guitar controllers (both the traditional 5 button and the 102-button "pro" guitar), microphones and drum kits.
The "Cyborg" line of products includes the modular R.A.T. series of gaming mice, along with gaming keyboards, mouse pads, and the F.L.Y. 9 joystick controller.