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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]
Mad Catz goes retro with Xbox Live Arcade Stick [update 2]
Peripheral manufacturer capitalizing on gaping market hole news now, as an EB Games listing reveals a Mad Catz product that's sure to raise more thumbs than eyebrows: a retro arcade stick for the Xbox 360. The sole available image reveals the face buttons, guide button and right analog stick to have been retained in the design, though the fate of the triggers is somewhat less clear. It's likely safe to assume that they're cowering somewhere behind the mighty joystick. Another safe assumption one can make is that the Arcade Stick will make a far more adequate (and authentic) tool for guiding our pellet-munching Pac-men through mazes and our amphibious allies across deadly divides. Then again, strapping a rabid badger to you lap and randomly shoving your fingers into its mouth is already a few steps up from playing XBLA games with the 360 controller's squeaky directional pad. The current retail listing has the Mad Catz stick releasing on the first day of October for an anti-retro, better-be-wireless $69.99 $49.99. We've contacted Mad Catz for further details (and a larger picture!). [Thanks Master X 24.][Update: We suspected EB Games might yank the page, so we made sure to save a copy. The post now links to a screenshot of the original page.][Update: It's been indicated that the price is actually $49.99 and that several Live Arcade titles will be included the stick. More details here.]
