Mad Catz Street Fighter IV joysticks surface for PS3

We at Engadget will always have a special place in our hearts for Street Fighter, and if you can't help but agree, you might be unable to resist picking up one of these. Mad Catz has introduced a new pair of joysticks for Sony's PlayStation 3: the Street Fighter IV FightStick Tournament Edition and the Street Fighter IV FightStick. The first will only be available in "very limited quantities," and it'll pack the exact Sanwa joystick and 30-millimeter buttons found in the official Street Fighter IV arcade machine; the latter is a more commoditized version with a more vanilla 'stick and plain jane buttons. Both devices are scheduled to ship on February 20th of next year, with pricing set at $149.99 and $69.99, respectively.

[Via PS3 Fanboy]

Read - Street Fighter IV FightStick Tournament Edition
Read - Street Fighter IV FightStick

[Ghen @ Dec 4th 2008 7:32AM]

I don't get these little guys.. the cool part about arcade controls is they don't move because they're on the arcade. I would want to bolt this thing to a table just for stability.

[Jimiisama @ Dec 4th 2008 12:20PM]

It's better to play most fighters on arcade sticks in general; it doesn't have much to do with being stable or not.

[Ghen @ Dec 4th 2008 4:44PM]

Since I haven't tried it I'll take your word. :)

[Jimiisama @ Dec 5th 2008 12:13AM]

Most competitive players will probably tell you they have better execution on the stick; it's easier to pull off certain inputs and motions on the stick, but some competitive players are pretty good on pad. As an extra, it adds to whole arcade feel that's missing from console ports.

[Andre @ Dec 31st 2008 8:47AM]

You 100% right. It's all about stability. If I'm going to have a joystick that moving around when I'm trying to do combos, I might as well be using a six button controller. I'm trying to get a Joystick that is connected to some sort of small table, or buy a wireless one and do it myself. Moving joysticks are NO FUN!

Check out these Street Fighter 4 Videos on me and some other people playing the Japanese Version in NYC, China Town!

Thanks!

[Dave Chappelle @ Dec 4th 2008 7:40AM]

"We at Engadget will always have a special place in our hearts for Street Fighter,"
DEAL!

"devices are scheduled to ship on February 20th of next year, with pricing set at $69.99"
DEALER!

cannot wait for this game to come out... can anybody? is there anyone who actually does NOT like street fighter?

[booz-wah-zee @ Dec 4th 2008 7:54AM]

street fighter = best game ever made.

[absinthe party @ Dec 4th 2008 7:55AM]

haidouken!

[Yami @ Dec 6th 2008 12:17PM]

It's Hadouken!

[miko34 @ Dec 4th 2008 1:52PM]

If "shoryuken" is the other ... when is a character named "Sho" appearing?

[Psychomas @ Dec 4th 2008 7:58AM]

I've been waiting forever for SFIV to be released, now they've delayed it til Feb. So they can release along with the movie. @ Ghen I know exactly what you mean, It needs to be bolted on to something! I'm happy with the control pad. I remember the days of getting so many blisters using the SNES gamepad, Hadouken!!

[Madmax @ Dec 4th 2008 8:02AM]

street fighter 4 rocks.

its got many new characters also.

[Jason @ Dec 4th 2008 8:27AM]

These are pale imitators.

For real arcade sticks:

www.arcadeinabox.com

word

[Greg Cox @ Dec 4th 2008 9:52AM]

well they definitly dont look as cool but looks arent everything of course. Price is worse, whats good about these things ?~!

[telepheedian @ Dec 4th 2008 11:04AM]

The first will only be available in "very limited quantities," and it'll pack the exact Sanwa joystick and 30-millimeter buttons found in the official Street Fighter IV arcade machine

Your point?

[Dirtybacon @ Dec 4th 2008 8:42AM]

I wonder how this will compare to the Hori stick? I have the Soul Calibur edition for PS3, and something just seems lacking... though I could just be rusty.

If a step up, may upgrade to this.

[emagius @ Dec 4th 2008 9:39AM]

The TE is a huge step up from the Hori EX2/DoA4/SC4 stick (which, despite being the best stick you can buy at retail in the US, is pretty shoddy; buttons on mine died within a few months and it's a real PITA to mod). We'll see about the regular stick, but at least it's supposed to be easy to mod.

[Edward @ Dec 4th 2008 9:11AM]

Hmm.

Already Have Dreamcast and 2 Arcade Sticks.

But this might tempt me to away from my beloved.

[AMiSH PiRATE @ Dec 4th 2008 10:26AM]

Same here, chief. Those sega arcade sticks are SOLID. I only wish they'd somehow release SFIV for the DC.

[[a] @ Dec 4th 2008 9:42AM]

|\|\|\|\
| \/ |
|o o |D
|___|
\__/

sonic BOOM!

[TubeTop100.com @ Dec 4th 2008 5:18PM]

Looks like Terrance or Phillip

so I guess it's an

epic FAIL!

[Matthew @ Dec 4th 2008 12:15PM]

I wonder how the build quality is? Will the hardware be able to stand up to the crazed button mashing action, combined with the furious joysticking? How sturdy is it? How "solid" is it? Will it feel hollow and "cheap"?

I'm guess yes, to all counts.

[Jimiisama @ Dec 4th 2008 12:25PM]

Usually I shy away from Madcatz peripherals, but this uses Sanwa parts, so it's going to be decent quality. Arcade sticks don't always last forever; at some point you may have to replace buttons and joysticks. Honestly, I would only get this stick if you want the collectible; if you just want a stick Hori EX2 for Xbox 360 or Hori Real Arcade Pro 3 for PS3 are probably better deals.

[suntorytime @ Dec 4th 2008 9:55PM]

If you go for the limited edition one with sanwa parts even a monkey could replace the stick and buttons. The obsf buttons and jlf sticks are readily available on the net from arcade parts stores.

[jhilla @ Dec 4th 2008 12:33PM]

I saw the Hori Joystick yesterday @ Pacific Mall for $90 CDN, being that it is the Christmas season I didn't purchase it for myself. But I may reconsider waiting till SFIV comes out, simply because SSFIIFHDR is giving me a huge blister after playing for a mere hour the other night. The PS3 analog stick is very responsive to the game but it's almost impossible to keep up with the CPU when attempting a Hurricane Kick. Your thumb just doesn't wanna move down and backwards as fast as it does down and forward.

Engagdet let's see a comparison between this Mad Catz unit and the Hori one.

[DarkSamus @ Dec 4th 2008 12:34PM]

I like my Xarcade joystick better. More suited for games like these.

[jhilla @ Dec 4th 2008 12:41PM]

ohhh shit i forgot, the nintendo classic controller that i use for playing Street Fighter 2 Turbo doesn't give a blister as fast as the PS3 D-pad

[SlickD @ Dec 4th 2008 12:55PM]

Being a hardcore street fighter fan, I seriously don't like the character design in SF4. The new characters just don't seem like much thought were putting into them compare to the original cast. Still going to pick this up, just not at the first day.

[Matthew Hilario @ Dec 4th 2008 1:48PM]

These sticks are like the hadoken, DOWN RIGHT FIERCE.

but on a serious note, sanwa parts are good we all need a good japanese ball top joystick.
but if the american 8way competition stick is your thing then stick with that.
whatever buffers your special.

[miko34 @ Dec 4th 2008 1:50PM]

"You mean you have to use your hands? That's like a baby's toy."


Can't wait.

[MarkMan @ Dec 5th 2008 1:03PM]

No offense to any of the other arcade sticks out there... but these sticks will be the best at retail for a long time to come.

[Karen @ Dec 17th 2008 2:15PM]

I'm trying to decide between Xbox 360 Real Arcade Pro. EX and Xbox 360 Street Fighter IV FightStick Tournament Edition. Does anyone have any advice?

[Oculus-Orbis @ Dec 27th 2008 2:22AM]

If you want an proper arcade stick (with a lifetime warranty), Go to:
http://www.xgaming.com/two-player.shtml
You can use this stick with any console or PC, just let them know which adapters you need when you order

Best part is...you get two sticks for the price of one of these SFIV things

[Ravish261 @ Feb 5th 2009 6:23PM]

X-arcade sticks are very cheap. they even sent me refurbished sticks that were crap when i got Soul Calibur 4 for PS3. i wouldn't recommend

[cyclestev @ Jan 3rd 2009 5:16PM]

Here is all the info you need to know about Arcade sticks http://www.slagcoin.com/joystick/introduction.html. It explains the difference between Japan and American style sticks. From the looks of the madcatz stick, its Japanese and has a square joystick layout. I would just like to know if they use true Swana parts or not, because if the stick has knock off parts, its totally not worth the price. I agree with Jason about Arcade in A Box, they only make arcade sticks and nothing else. They are the way to go if your going to spend $100+ on a arcade stick.