Mad Catz to unveil Xbox Live Arcade Stick for Xbox 360

If you're one of the few hardcore folks that have been getting by with a hacked Street Fighter joystick on your Xbox 360, Mad Catz is (hopefully) coming to the rescue. All signs are currently pointing towards the impending release of a retro-styled Xbox Live Arcade Stick that not only adds an entirely new dimension to those immensely addicting HD Xbox Live arcade titles, but is rumored to actually include a few with the purchase of the 'stick. While things aren't set in stone quite yet, a few internet sleuths nabbed a screen cap (hit the read link for a peek) of the pre-order page -- which was quickly yanked, of course -- that shows an awkwardly high $69.99 price and an October ship date. Our friends over at Joystiq have claimed that the yankage occurred because Mad Catz still hasn't finalized which games it'll toss in, and for reasons beyond our understanding, have suggested that we'll see a $49.99 pricetag when the pre-order (really) officially starts. Whatever the holdup, we're glad to see someone stepping up and offering us retro gamers a controller that feels a bit more natural, and we'll consider this kit a much more worthwhile purchase should it actually drop for under 50 bucks.

[Via Joystiq]

[Anon @ Aug 19th 2006 12:08PM]

You lost me at Mad Catz

[Kaido @ Aug 19th 2006 12:42PM]

All I have to say is "X-Arcade":

http://www.x-arcade.com/solo.shtml

[n2 @ Aug 19th 2006 1:12PM]

There needs to be a joystick for the 360, but it also needs to have 8 buttons on top. Shoulder buttons on a joystick just won't be desirable.

[misieq @ Aug 19th 2006 1:37PM]

fortunatelly google has crawled through the site while it was still available: http://66.249.93.104/search?q=cache:WVrWvDwuCnIJ:www.ebgames.com/product.asp%3Fcookie_test%3D1%26product_id%3D802511+eb+games+arcade+stick&ct=clnk&cd=1&client=firefox-a

[Matt @ Aug 20th 2006 5:29AM]

OMG, that looks like the worst joystick ever. How are you suppose to hold it if it has a d-pad and analog stick at the bottom corners? I have small hands, but I think even I would have trouble not accidentally hitting the other inputs while holding this thing. I'll stick with the 360 controller. Maybe MSFT will make their own more useable stick in the future.

[CharlesJR @ Aug 20th 2006 12:06PM]

As to the X-Arcade Stick ... directly from their web site:

"We are receiving daily inquires regarding Xbox 360 adapter availability and if you weren't already aware of it, Microsoft™'s prohibitive policy for third-party controller support will drastically delay any releases from 3rd-party hardware makers like us.

We currently do not have a locked release date for an XBOX™ 360 adapter , but will keep you posted. Rest assured that any news of progress on one will be posted in our newsletter first. "

So this looks to be the only game in town right now.

CharlesJR