KontrolFreek Blog

A dispute over pay and working conditions resulted in about 300 workers climbing to the roof of one of the buildings at Foxconn Technology Park in China early last week. The incident began when employees asked their bosses for a raise but were denied. Employees were told either to quit with compensation or to keep their jobs with no additional payment. Many employees took the former, but the company decided to terminate the agreement anyway and not pay the promised compensation. The workers protested the action by threatening to jump to their deaths.

The standoff eventually came to an end when the mayor of Wuhan showed up and literally talked the former employees off the ledge.

These particular employees were responsible for manufacturing parts for Xbox 360 consoles and production had actually come to a halt for several hours during the protest.

Microsoft had this to say:

"Microsoft takes working conditions in the factories that manufacture its products very seriously, and we are currently investigating this issue," a spokesperson told the Huffington Post UK.

"We have a stringent Vendor Code of Conduct that spells out our expectations, and we monitor working conditions closely on an ongoing basis and address issues as they emerge.

"Microsoft is committed to the fair treatment and safety of workers employed by our vendors, and to ensuring conformance with Microsoft policy."

Foxconn factories in China were already under examination because of several suicides by employees in the past five years—actually forcing the company to install anti-suicide nets at some of their facilities. In addition to Xbox 360 components, Foxconn also manufactures products for Apple, Sony, Nintendo and many other Fortune 500 companies.

We often get questions about third-party controllers and their compatibility with our products. With a ton of these controllers on the market today, things can get confusing. Don't worry—we've got you covered. Our products were designed for OEM Xbox 360 and PS3 controllers but do fit many third-party versions. Here is a list of known controllers and their compatibility:

PS3 DualShock 3 OEM – YES

Xbox 360 OEM – YES

Xbox 360 (New D-Pad) -- YES

Razer Onza -- YES

Razer Onza TE -- YES

Power A Pro EX/Elite – YES

Evil Controllers Evil Sticks – YES

PDP AfterGlow PS3 – NO

PDP AfterGlow Xbox 360 – YES

Wii Nunchuk -- NO

PS2 DualShock OEM -- YES

Xbox Controller S – YES

MadCatz Call of Duty: Black Ops PrecisionAIM Controller – YES

Datel Turbo Fire 2 Xbox 360 – NO

OnLive Controller – YES

This list is by no means a comprehensive listing of controllers and their compatibility. We try to test all controllers that we get questions about but due to various things we can't test out everything that comes to market. If you know the compatibility of a controller and would like to share your knowledge with us and the community, please add it here.

KontrolFreek Celebrates Forty Years of Arcade Games by Unveiling America’s Favorite Title
Pac-Man Ranked Number One by 79 Percent of American’s Ages 18-70

ATLANTA – June 28, 2011 – Remember when an arcade was the only place you could go for the thrill of a game? Just forty years ago, before the Xbox 360, Sony PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Wii, teenagers across the country gathered up loose change and headed to pizza parlors, miniature golf courses and arcades to play their favorite video games.  An online research survey conducted by KontrolFreek and IBOPE Zogby found that Pac-Man, Donkey Kong and Space Invaders have stood the test of time and are America’s all-time favorite arcade games. 

The top 10 favorite arcade games in the KontrolFreek and IBOPE Zogby 2011 survey of active gamers are:

1. Pac-Man
2. Donkey Kong
3. Space Invaders
4. Asteroids
5. Frogger
6. Ms. Pac-Man
7. Centipede
8. Pong
9. Mortal Kombat
10. Galaga

The complete survey results can be found on the KontrolFreek website.

“While all of these games kept it simple, they were able to give game players a truly unique and memorable experience,” said KontrolFreek CEO Ashish Mistry.  “As the leader in creating performance gaming gear for the active gamer lifestyle, we created the innovative Rcade Freek to breathe new life into gaming classics by giving console players the feel of an arcade joystick in the palm of their hand.”

The Rcade Freek was developed based on extensive user research and provides gamers a classic feel by improving the ergonomics, comfort, and precision of their Xbox 360 or PS3 controller. To further celebrate this 40-year milestone, KontrolFreek is releasing two new color options, Retro Red and Groovy Green, for its newest gaming accessory. The new Rcade Freek colors are available now and are priced at $9.99.

Joining in the celebration, celebrity video game players weighed in on their favorite arcade games and memories:

Alison Haislip, NBC’s “The Voice” V Room and G4’s “Attack of the Show!” :
“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was my favorite. It was the game my brother and I played whenever our mother took us to Pizza Hut.”

James Kyson Lee, CBS’ “Hawaii 5-0” and NBC’s “Heroes”:

“Definitely Street Fighter II: Champion Edition and Super Street Fighter II Turbo were my favorite arcade games. During high school, we used to go to the burger joint that had it and have our own tournaments, lining up quarters on the machine to mark who was next. At the time, it had the most number of combination moves, characters, and story - and it was a challenge to finish the game.”

AJ LoCascio, Back to the Future: The Game:

“Easily the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles arcade game was my favorite. It was too perfect. I think my favorite memory of it was playing it recently at my friend Dennis's house; he has an arcade cabinet in his apartment and four of us played and beat the game on the spot.”

Fun Survey and Arcade Game Facts:

• 57.4 percent of republicans preferred blasting Asteroids versus 48.1 percent of democrats
• 7.1 percent of married people included Punch Out as their favorite game versus 20.9 percent of singles and 26.3 percent of divorced respondents
• In 1971, the first known coin-operated arcade video game, The Galaxy Game, made its debut on the campus of Stanford University
• Centipede was the first game that was designed by a woman
• According to Guinness World Records Williams’ Blaster cockpit is the most valuable arcade machine with an estimated worth of $12,000
• The fastest perfect Pac-Man score was achieved in 2009 by David Race who completed the game flawlessly in 3 hours, 41 minutes, and 22 seconds
• Pac-Man, Dragon's Lair, and Pong are all on permanent display at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C.
• According to Wikipedia, Pac-Man revenues equaled 10 billion quarters by the late 1990s
• Notable celebrities who are also turning 40 this year include Ewan McGregor, Snoop Dogg, Mark Wahlberg, Emmanuel Lewis, Mariah Carey, Luke Wilson, Jada Pinkett Smith and many others

About KontrolFreek
KontrolFreek is the leader in creating performance gaming gear for the active gamer lifestyle. Since 2007, the company’s range of highly acclaimed products for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 have combined the latest in ergonomics, engineering and materials technologies. KontrolFreek has cleverly merged the simplicity of design with performance boosting features to improve accuracy, maneuverability and comfort for gamers of all levels and gaming genres. For more information, visit KontrolFreek.com or join FreekNation on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube.

About IBOPE Zogby International
IBOPE Zogby International is a non-partisan, premier global public opinion polling and market research firm that offers timely, accurate results and in-depth analysis and insights. IBOPE Zogby International works with issue experts in a vast array of fields including healthcare, technology, finance, insurance, energy, agriculture, public affairs, and media who offer insightful data analysis and exceptional service to clients in countries throughout the world. IBOPE Zogby International experts analyze data and work with clients to develop and implement new strategies, and offer customized and attractive solutions to challenges our clients face. IBOPE Zogby International was formed in January 2010 following the acquisition of Zogby International by IBOPE Inteligencia of Brazil, a subsidiary of IBOPE Group. 

ATLANTA – May 31, 2011 – This summer KontrolFreek, makers of the popular FPS Freek™ and Speed Freek™, celebrates forty years of arcade games with the release of two new color options for their newest game accessory, Rcade Freek™. Available in new vibrant shades of Retro Red and Groovy Green along with classic VIPR black, Rcade Freek’s fashionable colors will help personalize your controllers and bring the fun of arcade games into your home, while assisting you to topple your best “Hi-Score.” The new Rcade Freek colors will be available from June 20^th 2011.

 Forty years after Galaxy Game, the earliest known coin-operated arcade video game, made its debut on college campuses, Rcade Freek breathes new life into nostalgic play. The accessory features a sleek, high-polished dome that attaches directly to the analog joystick on both the Xbox 360 and Sony PlayStation 3, giving the true feel of classic arcade games with added comfort and ease. 

 From game enthusiasts, college students to families, arcade games remain universally popular among a variety of audiences. Rcade Freek redefines how classic games (Ms. Pac-Man, Space Invaders,) casual games (LIMBO, PixelJunk Shooter) and fighter games (Mortal Kombat, Street Fighter 4) are played. As a recognized leader in the premium game accessory market, KontrolFreek’s introduction of new color options for Rcade Freek reflects the company’s dedication to giving their diverse customers game accessories they crave.

 “To celebrate the 40^th anniversary of arcade games, we want to bring the classic arcade experience back to gamers of all levels, and we’ve been thrilled with the response to the product,” said Ashish Mistry, KontrolFreek president and CEO. “Casual gamers who would not normally purchase premium game accessories are excited about playing with Rcade Freek, and our new color options will expand the appeal of game accessories to an even larger market.”

 Media have already given two-thumbs up to the original Rcade Freek:

***** “A worthy investment for any console arcade junkie” Game Informer

“Rcade Freek is a fun way to spice up retro favorites or remixes” Gaming Bits

“It really shines on games like Soulcaliber and Tekken” VG Revolution

 Rcade Freek, the newest accessory in KontrolFreek’s range of premium game products, replicates the control typical of arcade game play, while also allowing the versatility required for a variety of game genres including classics and fighter titles. The product was developed based on extensive user research and provides gamers a competitive edge by improving design ergonomics, comfort, performance and accuracy. The Rcade Freek is priced at $9.99 and will be on sale from June 20^th 2011 for purchase. 

About KontrolFreek
KontrolFreek is the leader in creating performance gaming gear for the active gamer lifestyle.  A rapidly growing company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, KontrolFreek makes premium accessories that give players at all levels the competitive edge. Since 2007, the company’s range of highly acclaimed products for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 have incorporated the latest in ergonomics, engineering and materials technologies. KontrolFreek has cleverly merged the simplicity of design with performance boosting features to improve accuracy, maneuverability and comfort for gamers of all levels and gaming genres. For more information, visit KontrolFreek.com or join FreekNation on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube.

Mike Prutchick—that's who! Homeboy really needs to get himself unpacked and back to gaming again. Seriously, we hope you're kidding about being married for a whole year and not unpacking your gaming gear... what's wrong with you? Well, we suppose it all worked out in the end as you will soon be receiving a full-sized arcade cabinet in the mail! Maybe it will even motivate you to reclaim your game room—and possibly even your manhood?

And Mike isn't the only winner. Oh no, we have seven more winners to announce! 2^Nd - 5^th place wins a NOX Audio Ultimate Gaming Bundle and 6^th - 8^th place wins a copy of Mortal Kombat for their system of choice! Are you a winner?

2^nd - 5^th Place winners

Sam Uehling
Talhah Rehman
Brett Russell
Rik Miller

6^th - 8^th Place winners

Mike Maser
Diego Amaury Lanza Betancourt
Robert Grigorian

There you go. If you were one of our winners we will be contacting you shortly. If you weren't a winner this time; don't worry. We'll probably have something else extremely awesome to give away soon! Also, everyone who participated will receive a 15% off discount for anything in our store (like the new Rcade Freek!) on Thursday.

Peace, <3 and headshots!

If you're someone who keeps up with all things KontrolFreek, you may have already noticed that we've decided to extend our “World's Worst Game Room” contest by a full week. We have been getting such a great response from our community and our partners that it seemed like a real no-brainer. In just over a week we have accumulated over 80 entries and over a thousand votes!

Since the start, we've not only had some good laughs from your pictures, we've had a blast reading some of your descriptions. Seriously, what is wrong with some of you?

We've also added some new partners (Destructoid and NOX Audio!) and even a few more prizes courtesy of NOX Audio. The 2^Nd - 5^th place winners will now receive a NOX Ultimate Gaming Bundle featuring a NOX Specialist headset and Negotiator adapter for use with your Xbox 360, PS3 and PC. That brings our total prize count up to meet 8 different winners. Things just got easy!

If you've already entered the contest or are planning to enter, remember: GET YOUR FRIENDS TO VOTE! You can vote ONCE PER HOUR and so can your friends—so you could easily come from behind and rack up the votes in just a day-or-two.

We'd also like to take this opportunity to thank some of our FreekNation sponsors: Kona's Korner, Trumpf, Zeitgeist Rewiew, vVv Gaming, Firerockerzstudios, R0kl0bster and TeemingTubbyEmu. Thanks for your support guys!

Go check out our updated contest page here.

Skip the details and get yourself entered here.

To celebrate our most recent addition to the KontrolFreek arsenal, the Rcade Freek, we've teamed up with HipHopGamer, Mahalo Video Games, Brutal Gamer, Classic Game Room and TheGamersHub to give one lucky person a real arcade machine worth about $2,000. We're awesome, we know.

This is your chance to level-up your lame gaming space and overall standing in the gaming community. Lets face it, chicks (or dudes) dig guys (or girls) with arcade machines. Beginning later tonight you can visit our Facebook page and upload a picture of your wimpy game room by clicking the tab on the left that says, “WIN AN ARCADE MACHINE!” Seriously, the awful-er your picture the better! Then, go tell all your friends and family to vote for your picture. The picture with the most votes when the contest ends on May 13^th wins the grand prize—a Freeking arcade cabinet! Also, FIVE runners-up will win a copy of the new Mortal Kombat game for Xbox 360 or PS3. And EVERY participant will win a coupon for 15% off KontrolFreek products.

If your game room is already perfect but you'd still like to win the arcade cabinet just go take a picture of one of your friends' game rooms (the poorer the better!)—they won't mind as long as you promise to let them play with your new arcade machine.

For more details click here.

To skip the details and enter, click here!

Good luck to all of you!