While the game will officially be revealed to the world this Wednesday night, we got a first-look at the controller, as well as a chance to play a few tracks. More detailed hands-on impressions will be going up later this week, but Genius’ Mike Rubinelli was nice enough to chat it up with us about what you can expect when the game ships.

Hit the jump for the first look at Scratch, and at me looking like an idiot in the process.

Scratch did it first
You know that episode of Sienfeld where Kramer comes up with this great idea for a cologne that smells like the beach, and then Calvin Klein totally steals it? That’s pretty much what Activision has done here. Scratch: The Ultimate DJ has been in production since 2007, with 7 Studios developing and publisher Genius Products behind the title. However, after having acquired the developers at 7 Studios, Activision quickly announced its own music rhythm game in 2008 that is eerily similar to the one already in production by Genius. Genius has sued Activision and 7 Studios, alleging that the latter basically stole their idea. While the court case is unlikely to be settled in time to prevent either game’s release, we recommend settling this score the old fashioned way: with a DJ battle.

Facin’ a collaboration
Any music-rhythm game purporting to represent DJ culture is going to need a lot of street cred, and Scratch seems to Activision beat here as well. Genius Products has collaborated closely with Beastie Boy and scratch maestro Mix Master Mike on Ultimate DJ. We can’t think of anybody whose input would be as knowledgeable when it comes to the history of sampled music. Activision has tons of money to license music tracks for its game, so we have no doubt that their final setlist will be impressive in scope. However, the designers of Scratch have really done their homework and secured deals with artists who really define the DJ culture. It has been confirmed that the Scratch setlist will include music by DJ Shadow, the Gorillaz, and Run DMC, for starters.

The Controller
Every fan of Rock Band knows that the controller can make or break the game. That is why the design of the turntable for both of these DJ games was so important, and why each side has kept their design a secret until the very last minute. It’s hard to fault the choice made by Activision to put the finger buttons right on the turntable to emulate the feel of scratching a record, but the overall design looks uninspired. While the DJ Hero controller is certainly functional, the Numark-inspired deck included with Scratch: The Ultimate DJ is the bomb. The Numark deck features a free-spinning, touch sensitive turntable and a crossfader. Players can even record and upload their own samples using a compatible USB microphone. Word to your mom.

Scratch, bottom-right and DJ Hero, top-left. The turntable designed for Scratch: The Ultimate DJ features a crossfader and can be flipped for left-handed beatmakers... » Full Story on PS3 Informer

Lefty-Compatible

Both controllers will be able to fit left-handed players in its own way. DJ Hero’s turntable controller supports left-handed players through a detachable crossfader, uh, attachment, as we’ve only seen in this sneaky shot of the entire peripheral in action. It can attach to either side, allowing rightys and leftys to drop the block-rockin’ beats with ease.

Scratch: The Ultimate DJ also allows left-handed players to get into the action by simply turning the controller 180 degrees, as it was designed symmetrically.

Off to the side

There aren’t any good images of the DJ Hero turntable’s attachable crossfader (though a Spike promo did get us a grainy look at the entire thing here). The side attachment features a crossfader, as well as some other buttons, the use for which is unconfirmed right now. As for Scratch: The Ultimate DJ, its turntable controller features a fixed side area with 5 Akai Pro MPC-style drum pads and a crossfader.

The business of buttons

We briefly touched on the number of buttons (Hero’s 3 compared to Scratch’s 5), but we can go a bit more in depth. The buttons on the DJ Hero turntable are a lot longer and skinnier, forgoing the chunky, squared style of Scratch’s controller. Each turntable’s buttons are also color-codes, as is the norm, and stack side-by-side for easy tapping. It should be noted that Scratch’s peripheral actually maps controller buttons, whereas there clearly isn’t enough on the DJ Hero controller to do so. Looks like DJ Hero’s controller is for DJ Hero alone.

For the Casual, for the hardcore

Until we start to see track lists and prices, there isn’t going to be much else to compare these two games than with their respective controllers. At first glance, DJ Hero appears to be something aimed at casual players who enjoy the DJ experience, but aren’t moonlighting at da club on Saturday nights. Scratch: The Ultimate DJ’s turntable controller appears to be the opposite, inviting the hardcore DJ fans who DO moonlight on Saturday nights through its smaller, touch-sensitive turntable and traditional DJ layout. So, will you be the Ultimate DJ, or a DJ Hero?