In anticipation of strong sales for its upcoming range of next-generation joysticks, Saitek Industries has today announced that it's planning to increase its production capacity by as much as 60 percent. According to today's press release, the market for PC game controllers--including sticks, wheels, and pads--is expected to be worth in excess of US$250 million in the next 12 months, a figure that's made all the more attractive to Saitek by Microsoft's recent announcement that it is departing from the PC game controller market.

　　"Consumers are experiencing a level of reality never before achieved in video games," said Bill McMahon, president and CEO of Saitek Industries. "In order to keep the simulation alive, gamers expect their controls and hardware to be equally sophisticated and cutting-edge. Saitek will meet this demand with new products that enhance the gaming experience with a degree of reality that will satisfy even the most hard-core gamer."

　　Saitek's upcoming Cyborg Evo, ST290, and ST90 joysticks are currently scheduled for release in North America in the third quarter of this year.