It looks like Roccat Studios' marketing department has sought to bring up the topic of the future of PC gaming, something Razer did, before going on to launch a $2,800 gaming laptop. Alienware asked the same question, but in contrast to Razer, went on to launch a much more sensible product that actually seeks to do something about the ailing PC gaming industry (a nice, cheap gaming PC that woos the console crowd). Roccat is known neither for fancy overpriced laptops, or desktops, but is a sizable player in the gaming peripherals industry.

Roccat's latest marketing campaign revolves around the question "Isn't PC gaming dead?", a cleverly worded question that asks why PC gaming isn't dead already, instead of a more inquisitive "Is PC gaming dead?", or an exclamatory "PC gaming isn't dead!". Roccat is seeking answers to this burning question on a specially set-up microsite. Roccat's campaign isn't just market research, but also leading up to something, a product launch, perhaps. The question site goes on to state "soon we'll tell you what we think is the smartest way forward." By 'soon', they mean about 13 days from now. The shoutbox in the microsite is nested in a frame shaped like an iPhone. Could this mean something? A gamepad-dock for iPhone that enhances gaming? Time will tell if Roccat does a Razer or an Alienware.

Microsoft's next-generation Xbox game console, which has been unofficially referred to as "Xbox 720", has been reportedly given a codename by Microsoft so industry partners could use it, instead. It is now codenamed "Durango". The working-name "Xbox 720" has been received negatively by some quarters, that felt it implied 720p (1280 x 720) display resolution, which is not a big departure from the present-generation. 1080p (1920 x 1080) is expected of this console, as it's also reported to feature Blu-ray disc support. Durango will focus on improving human-interface, by creating a combination of Kinect and a newer gamepad with a touchscreen.

Shogun Bros. created two new Chameleon X1 mouse-gamepad combo device variants, inspired from the hit game Assassins Creed Revelations. Available in "Altair White" and "Ezio grey," these mice make use of leather and metal buttons on the mouse's two main buttons, complete with some classy engraving and seam. Apart from these, the Chameleon X-1 is the usual unusual combo of a 1600 dpi gaming mouse and gamepad that the original is. Shogun Bros. plans to show these new mice off at the upcoming CES event.

Shogun Bros released a new version of its Chameleon wireless gaming peripheral, a fusion between a gaming mouse and a gamepad. The new Chameleon X-1 has a completely rubberised body that improves grip, its internals are modified to make more power-efficient (to make its battery last longer). The new version is said to have even better tactile feedback on its buttons, and a more ergonomic button layout.

As a mouse, the Chameleon X-1 has a 1600 dpi optical sensor, which makes it qualifies it as a gaming mouse, has a right-handed orientation, and about 5 mouse buttons. A sliding switch on the side switches between its mouse and gamepad modes. In the gamepad mode, the optical sensor and mouse buttons are deactivated, except that some side buttons remain active and double up as triggers and bumpers. It has a typical gamepad layout with a D-pad, four face buttons, and two sticks. The mouse connects to the PC wirelessly, using a USB nano-receiver. The new Chameleon X-1 is priced at US $59.99, and is available from October 1.