Payment to Game Controller Designers AXED?

Curt Vendel (holding guitar) and Legacy Engineering Group

Legacy Engineering, the team that say they designed the new Gene Simmons Axe controller for Guitar Hero, has made a statement claiming that over 5 (total) months spent working on the project have not been compensated for.

The Legacy Engineering Group claim they were contacted in Mid December 2007 by I2G and asked for a line of gaming products for Simmons. Legacy and chief designer Curt Vendel say they've "never been paid or compensated for the immense effort that went into the design and engineering of the product."

"It's a shame that our talents and abilities were used, and abused and taken advantage of - something that perhaps Gene Simmons personally should know."

While noticeably unhappy, Legacy promotes that they are extremely pleased with the end result of the product and even give insight to how the device was worked on.

Perhaps a more interesting story is that they also say they developed a controller based on Gene's Punisher guitar.

Gene Simmons Axe Guitar Releases Halloween

OK guys, this is your chance to rock out in style. Gene Simmons has apparently partnered up with the people over at Kobian USA to bring a trademark instrument to the Nintendo Wii, the Sony PlayStation 2, and PlayStation 3 gaming consoles.

(PlayStation)

The Gene Simmons Axe Guitar is compatible with both Rock Band and Guitar Hero. It features the bi-directional strum bar, analog whammy bar, and ultra responsive fret buttons that are sure to make you Hear and Obey.

So what more can you ask for?

The PS2 and PS3 compatible guitar releases Halloween day. The Wii version releases November 6th, just one week later.

(Wii)

It appears to be marked with Gene's signature, and no doubt has the mark of the Demon, from his forehead all the way down to the end of his tongue.

I've personally "missed out" on two chances to receive Guitar Hero as a gift, but I think this Christmas I need to rethink that and up the ante. Gene Simmons knows how to convert his buyers into heroes.