Performance Designed Products wants to make the game playing experience sound better. The Sherman Oaks manufacturer and distributor of video game and mobile device accessories used E3 to debut its new line of Afterglow headsets. The futuristic looking headsets come in wired and wireless versions and use custom-made speakers tuned by a Hollywood audio post-production facility. Best of all, the headsets can be used with any type of device with a USB port. “We’re trying to make it as universal as possible,” said Candace Hinton, a community manager with Performance Designed Products (or PDP). Also on display at the company’s flashy exhibit was the new line of Rock Candy game controllers that come in blue, green, red and purple with white joysticks and buttons. PDP has licensing agreements with software developers (Electronic Arts, Konami and Activision) and entertainment companies such as The Walt Disney Co. and its Marvel Entertainment subsidiary to use their characters on accessories. During E3, PDP announced a licensing agreement with Nintendo for a line of mobile device accessories using such game characters as the Mario Bros., Zelda and Donkey Kong in the designs. “Some of our people are fans (of these brands),” Hinton said. “They go after licenses they think will do well.” Glenn Ige, a product manager, showed off for some show attendees a limited edition hand-painted phone charger featuring Sparky, the reanimated dog from the upcoming Tim Burton film, “Frankenweenie.” Making an accessory in a limited run is something new for PDP and a market the company wants to expand into, Ige said.
PERFORMANCE DESIGNED PRODUCTS SHERMAN OAKS
