Twisted Pixel call it "unprecedented" and "groundbreaking."
The Splosion Man's latest announcement will, as the developer puts it itself, "break down barriers between gamers, puppeteers...and home renovation enthusiasts".
The company has joined with Home Depot, the US home furnishing and DIY retailer, to offer a special marionette controller for its upcoming Kinect title Gunstringer.
In fact, the announcement is so fantastically awesome, that we'll leave it to Twisted Pixel to explain it in full. The press release - WITH STUNNING PHOTOS OF THE UNION IN ACTION - follows.
"TWISTED PIXEL AND HOME DEPOT ANNOUNCE MARIONETTE CONTROLLER
Unprecedented partnership breaks down barriers between gamers, puppeteers, and home renovation enthusiasts.
Austin, TX - April 1st, 2011 - Twisted Pixel Games announced today, in partnership with Home Depot, a new marionette controller for the upcoming Kinect title The Gunstringer coming 2011 for the Xbox 360 and Kinect.
The new controller, previously codenamed "Project 144in. x 1-1/4in. Pine Round Dowel", brings the feel and texture of professional marionetting into your living room. Made of professional grade pine, The Gunstringer Marionette Handle Controller is built to withstand the hardest stresses that virtual marionetting can provide
"This groundbreaking partnership with Home Depot truly ushers in a new era of controller-free controller gaming" said Mike Wilford, CEO of Twisted Pixel Games and member of Home Depot's Home Improver Club. "When Barry from Home Depot's lumber section told me about the ‘rustic flair' and ‘attractive wood grain', I knew instantly that we had to get these rods into the hands of marionette aficionados everywhere".
While only announced mere paragraphs ago, The Gunstringer Marionette Handle Controller has already taken the Kinect controller market by storm. Official Marionette Monthly says "With The Gunstringer Marionette Handle Controller, I can finally experience the feeling of hard wood clenched in my hands without having to visit a seedy downtown performance venue".
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The Gunstringer Marionette Handle Controller is available today from all 2,244 Home Depot stores for $2.17 MSRP. Only authorized Gunstringer Marionette Handle Controllers work with The Gunstringer. Accept no substitutes. Some assembly and sawing required."
No news whether Twisted Pixel will do a similar deal with MFI over in the UK, but we're sure some enthusiasts can create their own custom controller using a piece of wood and liberal use of paint to capture the experience themselves. Well, doesn't that just get your April off to a stunning start?