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Official Tatsunoko vs. Capcom FightStick is officially real
Though we've had very specific hints about such an item for a while, MadCatz never released details about an officially licensed Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars arcade stick until today. Now, the peripheral maker has announced that the stick is real and will be out sometime this month, to coincide with the game whose name and art it bears. It's so real that, as Kotaku reports, you can pre-order one from MadCatz's site! The stick connects to the Wiimote for a wireless-ish experience, a de facto upgrade over the wired connections used by the PS3 and Xbox 360 Street Fighter IV FightSticks. It'll retail for $79.99.
Hori Real Arcade Pro joysticks at a real acceptable price
Today's Amazon Deal of the Day offers would-be World Warriors, Kings of Fighters and, uh, people who play BlazBlue a reduced-price ticket to hardcore fighting game certification. The Hori Real Arcade Pro EX SE, a high-end arcade stick for Xbox 360, is discounted from its original $139.99 price to $89.99. Still expensive for a controller, true, but less expensive. Though it's not a one-day deal, Amazon is also currently selling the PS3 equivalent, the Real Arcade 23 Pro EX-SA , for the same price. Either stick would be a great gift option -- and the recipient would have a really hard time figuring out what that large, heavy box was all wrapped up.
TGS 2009: The next generation of Real Arcade Pro joysticks
Well, it's time to throw that Real Arcade Pro 3 joystick in the garbage, because it's obsolete and you should be ashamed to own it. At its booth in the Tokyo Game Show shopping area, accessories maker Hori handed out a pamphlet introducing its new Real Arcade Pro V and other joysticks. Few details are included in the pamphlet: we know it weighs 3 kilograms and features a Sanwa JLF joystick and Hori buttons, and that it should be in Japanese stores sometime this winter. The mock-up image even uses Roman numerals for the button labels instead of anything that would identify the platform. In addition, new mid-range sticks for PS3 and 360 are due out this winter for 5,500 and 6,980, respectively -- a price discrepancy that suggests that wireless technology is involved, based on the historical evidence of Rock Band guitars. See all three sticks after the break, along with some gigantic Taito-licensed stick that was on display at the Hori booth.
Take a timeout to ogle Hori's Tekken 6 arcade sticks
At $150 -- including a copy of Tekken 6, mind you -- Hori's upcoming arcade sticks for the fighter's sixth iteration look to be a pretty decent deal for those of you still interested in picking up a fighting stick. Coming straight out of Namco's conference at GamesCom, we were given an opportunity to check out the Tekken 6 arcade stick. Lucky you, we've also snapped a few pics and added them to the gallery you see below. Let the ogling begin!%Gallery-70479%
Play-Asia reveals new Mad Catz FightSticks [update]
[Update: Mad Catz let us know that these sticks are, as the Play-Asia reveal may suggest, being released in Asia, beyond the scope of the company's Street Fighter IV licensing deal.]The FightSticks released by Mad Catz alongside Street Fighter IV were surprising, to say the least, for Mad Catz products: despite some early technical issues, the Tournament Edition FightStick for Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 is by far the highest-quality arcade stick available in North America. The only problem, of course, is that they aren't always available. The sticks were produced in extremely limited numbers and initial shipments sold out quickly. We're very happy, then, to see new Tournament Edition FightSticks for PS3 and Xbox available for pre-order on import retailer Play-Asia. These sticks don't have any Street Fighter IV artwork, but otherwise they look identical -- and adding your own artwork isn't that complicated. According to Play-Asia, the sticks will be available Q4 for $149.90.[Thanks, John Doe!]
Mad Catz SFIV FightSticks in stock at Capcom Store
Heads up! The Capcom Store received a long-awaited shipment of Mad Catz's official Street Fighter IV FightSticks today. Both the standard ($69.95/$79.95) and rarer Tournament Edition ($149.95) models are on sale for PS3 and Xbox 360. (Note: The FightPads are still out of stock.)Still reading? You must not be interested. These bad boys go fast ... but are they built to last?%Gallery-40901%[Via Capcom Unity]
Finally, an official Virtual On Xbox controller -- for only 20 times the cost of the game
Hori is now accepting preorders (in Japan) for an official Twin Stick controller for the Xbox Live Arcade version of Virtual On Oratorio Tangram. The Twin Stick EX will be in stores this November, at a cost of ¥30,000. That's around $305. The game, of course, came out at a price of 1,200 Microsoft Points, or $15. We heard some complaints about the game's price being too high upon release, but this really puts it into perspective! In any case, if you like the game enough (and a lot of people do), it's worth a lot to have a good controller, even if the game was a bargain. And Hori tends to use high-quality arcade machine parts in its controllers. That said, it's going to be painful to pay shipping on top of that $300 when the import retailers pick this thing up.Looking a little plainer than the Dreamcast Twin Stick controller, and a lot plainer than the Saturn version, this model uses a Real Arcade Pro base as its body. The Xbox face buttons are located on the body, and the bumpers and triggers are moved to the joysticks, which map to the D-pad and right analog sticks.[Via Kotaku]
SNK fighting joysticks tempt PlayStation 3 importers
Got a bit of couch cushion change weighing you down? Need a little something to revitalize that PS3 love affair? You've come to the right place, friend. SNK has just unleashed a new duo of fighting sticks over in Japan, and both are downright drool-worthy. The new controllers are being launched alongside King of Fighters XII this July, with one featuring artwork from the title and the second boasting a Neo Geo throwback vibe (pictured after the jump) that should resonate quite well with gamers of yesteryear. The tandem is priced at ¥6,279 ($65) and ¥5,229 ($54), respectively, though we get the feeling it'll be import or bust for us Yanks.[Via Joystiq]
Fight like a king with these SNK fighting sticks
You'll need to wield a sturdy fighting stick if you ever plan on becoming a champ in the fighting genre. Everyone knows that; Capcom knows it, Namco Bandai knows it, and SNK Playmore knows it, too, which is why the latter will be releasing two, brand-new controllers alongside King of Fighters XII in July. The first is a King of Fighters XII USB Stick featuring character artwork of series favorites Iori, Athena and others plastered on the topside. The second fighting pad is the Neo Geo Stick 2, a throwback to the classic controller, which will finally be available for PS3 (It's already out for Wii). They retail for ¥6,279 ($65) and ¥5,229 ($54), respectively.Now, why are those prices in Japanese currency? Well, unlike the game itself, these sticks haven't been given a worldwide release date. They hit Japanese stores on July 16th and hopefully we'll get them in time for launch date, too.
Capcom: Marvel vs. Capcom 3 'not part of deal' to re-release MvC2
If you're thinking the pending digital release of Marvel vs. Capcom 2 is any indication that the path is clear for "Marvel vs. Capcom 3," think again. "The short answer is no, that's not any part of this deal," Capcom's Seth Killian lamented to Joystiq at a media event yesterday. "What we're hoping is that if people get really juiced about this title, and we can show Marvel that there's a lot of heat behind this, then they'll open up the door for us to do something with '3,' which is something we'd love to do." For now, licensing issues are preventing further developments.The same is true for a North American release of Tatsunoko vs. Capcom. "It's a lot of 'dance with the lawyers' on that one," explained Killian. "The rights holders for Tatsunoko in Japan are one company, but in the U.S. it's ... 13 companies -- and some are very attentive and some are not." So if you've been holding your breath for this one, you might want to consider coming up for air.Killian also told Joystiq that Capcom is considering releasing Marvel vs. Capcom 2-branded arcade sticks (à la the popular SFIV controllers). "It's a discussion ... we would love to make it happen. If you saw the 'leak' of those MadCatz sticks, that was actually B.S. That was a complete fabrication, but it's something we would love to do."%Gallery-51288%
Mad Catz struggles to meet demand for SFIV arcade stick
Speaking with Joystiq in response to an article on Eurogamer, Mad Catz PR lead, Alex Verrey, spoke candidly about the overwhelming demand and supply issue for the $150 Street Fighter IV FightStick. According to Verrey, Mad Catz originally limited the run of arcade controllers to 3,000 units but have received "many, many times that amount" in pre-orders, which caught the accessory developer off-guard.The sticks are currently going back into production but development could take some time, so those who recently pre-ordered it will probably not have a FightStick day-and-date with Street Fighter IV. Mad Catz wouldn't share region allocation numbers with Joystiq but did say the company has every intention to meet pre-order demand. As for the other controllers, you should be fine picking one up without much hassle. Gallery: Mad Catz Street Fighter IV controllers
Exar's arcade stick for the Wii is in the wild, looking good
This isn't the first arcade stick we've seen lying around for the Wii, but EXAR's new model is out now. Well, in Japan, at least -- for ¥5,299 (about $52) -- not too cheap for a controller that apparently isn't totally kosher in the functionality department. The EXARSTICK is light almost at the expense of stability, and the buttons aren't totally responsive, though it's really awesome looking. We don't have any details about if and when this will make its way to the States, but if you want to see a ton of photos of the controller being tested and handled, just go ahead now -- hit the read link and check them out.[Via Wii Fanboy]
The Exar arcade stick in exquisite detail
Dengeki has posted hands-on impressions of the EXARSTICK, the non-Tatsunoko themed version of the Tatsunoko vs. Capcom arcade stick. Overall, the tester is pleased with the stick's movement in both buttons and joystick (which uses an arcade-standard square gate). Possible problems included a relatively light weight, which has an adverse effect on stability, and buttons that have limited tactile feedback (they don't push down very far). Oh, and by the way, the article features lots of pictures, up close and from different angles. It turns out that the Virtual Console-style EXARSTICK and the Tatsunoko stick are different after all! The EXARSTICK has the Minus and Plus buttons mapped to the two oval-shaped buttons on the top row, to match the Select and Start buttons of the Super Nintendo controller (both sticks have Super Nintendo-friendly face button layouts), with the three circular buttons on the right corresponding to ZL, ZR, and Home. The Tatsunoko vs. Capcom stick uses those two oval buttons for ZL and ZR, with Minus, Plus, and Home on the circular buttons.
Wii Warm Up: A personal decision
Have a look at these two arcade sticks by Exar. As far as anyone knows, they are completely identical except for color scheme and artwork. Ignoring external factors like price, which one is the stick for you? The one with monochrome buttons and artwork that ties it in with Tatsunoko Vs. Capcom, or the plain stick with Super Famicom-colored buttons that identifies it as a Virtual Console controller? Consider it a personality test, except that what it reveals about your personality is limited mostly to arcade stick color scheme preference.%Gallery-32421%
The most unwieldy Wii arcade stick ever
Dream Arcades sells complete PC arcade cabinet kits meant for use with MAME and official arcade compilations; they also sell kits without PCs so you can use your own -- or the console of your choice. The company has announced that all of their kits, which start at $589 and top out at a heavy-in-quarters $4000 (for a system that includes a projector) will now include support for every current console, including, of course, the Wii -- via console-specific adapters sold separately.You're totally welcome to stand in front of an arcade cabinet (or sit down at one of the cocktail units) and waggle -- in fact, now that we think about it, both arcade cabinets and Wii motion controls lend themselves to standing. But the real attraction here is the ability to play Virtual Console games on a real arcade cabinet, with real arcade controls.Well, sort of real arcade controls. Instead of the high-quality Sanwa or Seimitsu buttons and joysticks that arcade stick nerds prefer, Dream Arcades uses cheaper knockoffs of Happ parts, which are already considered inferior. Most people won't care, but if you're dropping $1200+ on one of these, you might want to look into some replacement parts.[Via GoNintendo]
Talkin' bout Shaft
There isn't exactly many choices for those looking to have that arcade experience with their Wii in the living room, so while The Shaft might not be the most ideal solution, at least it is a solution other than "not having an arcade stick." They aren't out now, either, so it isn't like you can stroll down to your local game shop and try one out, so if you are interested, you'll have to wait until mid-December, when they ship. '[Thanks, Ryan!]
Mad Catz joystick clearance priced at Best Buy
XBLA buffs, if you're in the market for the old-school Mad Catz branded Retro Arcade Stick then make a stop at your local Best Buy (and possibly Future Shop) today.X3F reader Bryan sent us a tip telling us that the Mad Catz Retro Arcade Stick is being super clearance priced at Best Buy and picked his up for $9.99. We made a quick trip down to our BB to confirm the discount pricing and found the Arcade Stick clearanced to $14.99. Still not a bad deal seeing that the peripheral retails for $40 and it comes bundled with three XBLA games (Frogger, Timepilot and AstroPop). Your mileage may very, but if you've been somewhat interested in this peripheral or the Arcade games, then make your way to Best Buy and shop the clearance aisle. Saving cash, it's the fanboy way.[Thanks, Bryan Thumme]
Arcade-In-A-Box releases arcade stick for 360
If you have ever complained about the Xbox 360 controller's d-pad or have been bothered by the fact that you can't get that arcade controller "feel" on your 360, then Arcade-In-A-Box might have a solution for you. That is if your disposable income is rather plentiful.Arcade-In-A-Box's new Xbox 360 Arcade Stick just released yesterday and with the bare bones version commanding a $149 price tag, it's quite the investment. But don't let the hefty price tag scare you off completely, this piece of peripheral work is made to last, highly customizable and "should" give you an edge in any XBLA or fighting game. Convinced and feeling like you can spend more? Then we suggest going for the dual stick controller, so you and your friends can throw down arcade stick style. And at $299, why not? (We'll take two.) In all seriousness, this joystick peripheral from Arcade-In-A-Box looks very professional, well made and will make certain games a lot more enjoyable. You'll just have to weigh the pros and cons, because this is one big financial undertaking that may leave you sleeping on the couch for a few weeks.[Via Ninja Entertainment Network]
Hori brings non-wacky controller to the Wii
With almost every controller accessory and attachment for the Wii seeming more hare-brained than the last, it's a relief to come across a more traditional product. The only evidence to suggest any link between Hori's Fighting Stick and the Wii, besides its white and blue colors, are the three buttons on the top right labeled with the remote's home, plus, and minus symbols. Uh, and the parts where it says "Wii."Though it isn't completely clear yet what purpose the top left switches serve, they're probably meant for turbo/slow/hold functions. Like Hori's fighting sticks for other consoles, this one employs the Japanese design favored by the hardcore -- convex buttons, ball top stick (Sanwa, likely), arced button placement, and what we assume to be a square gate. It might take some time for you to adjust to the layout if you're used to western setups. Play-Asia's $52.90 import price might sound expensive, but it's indicative of Hori's reputation as a manufacturer of relatively high-quality arcade sticks. Hopefully, the Wii will actually have some fighting games that are compatible with the stick by the time its November release in Japan comes around. Check past the post break for a larger image.
DIY arcade stick utilizes wireless Xbox 360 components
It's one thing to conjure up your own controller, but to cut the cabling while you're at just makes the whole package that much sexier. Joining the growing array of wireless (and wired, too) DIY joysticks, DH020's all-white rendition does indeed mimic the Street Fighter edition we've already seen, but the plexi-glass top, white gloss paint job, and the "custom felt material base" just sets this one off. The project utilizes a bubbletop Sanwa stick, six 30-millimeter Sanwa buttons (and two of the 24-millimeter variety), a wireless Xbox 360 controller PCB, and to top it all off, a Play & Charge kit for USB recharging. Yeah, we too wish dearly that we could wrap our paws around this for a good week or two, but at least you can click on through and catch a video demonstration while you debate whether you're going to craft one of your own.[Via Xbox 360 Fanboy]
