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What we're buying: An official third-party PS4 controller for Xbox converts
This week's hardware IRL keeps us indoors and out of the sun. UK Bureau Chief Mat Smith replaced his elderly in-box PS4 DualShock with Hori's Onyx, the first licensed third-party wireless controller to land, though it's no longer the only one. After 20 years of DualShock, how's he coping with the change?
Hori’s Onyx is a wireless alternative to the PS4 DualShock
We've had a slew of third-party, Sony-approved PS4 controllers over the years, including the pint-sized Mini Wired Gamepad and the pro-focused Razer Raiju. While welcome, they've all been missing a crucial feature — wireless connectivity. That changes this week with the Onyx controller from Japanese accessory maker Hori (best known for its usually superb fighting sticks). Unlike Sony's pad, it sports asymmetrical sticks — like the Xbox One controller — a rounder shape and longer, curved bumpers. The Share and Options buttons are also below the touch pad, making them easier to reach (and not accidentally press) than on the DualShock 4.
'Pokken Tournament' Wii U controller coming to US after all
When the Pokken Tournament Wii U controller from Hori surfaced earlier this month our excitement was quickly subdued when Japan seemed like the only place you'd be able to buy it when in launched in March. Well it's time to get excited again because it's going to available to a much wider audience at launch.
A PS4 mouse and keyboard, just in time for 'Black Ops 3'
If you're an FPS fan, this might be the perfect controller for you. Hori's Tactical Assault Commander 4 is a keyboard and mouse setup for PS4 that attempts to mimic a PC control system. The means the DualShock 4's left analog is mapped to a WASD-style configuration, while the right analog is controlled by a mouse. The rest of the DualShock's buttons and triggers are mapped to the appropriate spots, and there are a couple of additional functions like programmable buttons, a "snipe mode" that changes mouse sensitivity and a walk button for, we assume, walking rather than running.
Pikachu gets its own Hori Battle Pad for Wii U controller in Japan
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U fighters planning on leading their offense with Pikachu should take note of Hori's controller inspired by everyone's favorite electric rodent – the above version of the Battle Pad for Wii U has appeared on Amazon Japan for 3,434 (~$30 USD), with a release date of November 20. The packaging also depicts a matching Wiimote cover, presumably to help complete the effect. For those unable to order through Amazon Japan, there's always the Mario and Luigi-themed variants available in the North American store for $24.99 apiece. The turbo-enabled Battle Pad for Wii U connects to a Wiimote rather than the upcoming GameCube controller converter and can be used with games that support the Classic Controller or Classic Controller Pro. It won't work as a stand-in for the Pro Controller, however. [Image: Hori]
Hori's 3DS accessory gives one hand a second circle pad
One of the bigger issues with playing a Monster Hunter game on the 3DS is the hand cramping that accompanies the game's camera controls. As discussed in our Deja Review of Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate, the Circle Pad Pro add-on is essential for the 3DS version of the game, and now Hori is taking the concept for the accessory and tweaking it for Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate (4G in Japan) players. Dubbed the Extended Slide Pad, Hori's new accessory adds an extra shoulder button to the right half of the 3DS or 3DS XL and a second circle pad to the left half for players' nimble index fingers to take hold of. The controller add-on also adds a "ZL" shoulder button to the underside of the 3DS near its Monster Hunter 4G branding, turning compatible games into a workout for players' left hands. There are two versions of the Extended Slide Pad controller, one for 3DS and another for the 3DS XL, and each cost 2,980 yen ($29). The accessory will arrive in Japan on the same day Monster Hunter 4G launches, October 11. [Image: Hori]
Redesigned 3DS Circle Pad puts an analog stick under your index finger
Dual-analog controls are pretty standard these days -- two analog sticks on either end of a control pad designed to fall directly under the user's thumbs. Hori's new 3DS slide pad accessory throws this notion out the window: it installs a second control pad on the same side as the handhelds primary input, putting the slider directly behind the console's L button. The accessory is built specifically to accommodate Monster Hunter diehards, but it's not as odd as it sounds: Japanese gamers have made a habit of modifying Nintendo's analog accessory into obtuse and unexpected configurations. Hori's layout is designed to allow players to move their character and manipulate the camera with just one hand, freeing up their right thumb for attacks and in-game actions. The accessory (available in both 3DS and 3DS XL variants) is available in Japan only, for now, to the tune of 2,980 yen.
Hori's Dead or Alive 5 arcade stick is for fighters
If you watched EVO streams over the weekend, chances are you walked away with a sudden and intense desire to play King of Fighters XIII. Hori's newest arcade stick ... is themed after a totally different game, but would totally work for KOF or really any fighting game. It would work great, of course, for the game it actually represents.Hori is producing a Dead or Alive 5 stick using the same casing as its Soulcalibur 5 stick, due alongside the game in September. It's available for both PS3 and Xbox, and features the "I'm a Fighter" slogan, which should be helpful in case you glance down at the device and happen to forget what you're supposed to be doing.
Seen@E3: Atlus' custom Persona 4 Arena arcade stick
During E3, we met with Atlus to check out Persona 4 Arena, among other things, and upon sitting down at the small table in our private presentation room we were surprised to find a P4A arcade stick waiting for us. Immediately, our hearts were all a-flutter with the prospect of a nice limited edition arcade stick."There is an official HORI stick in Japan," Aram Jabbari told us, "but this is a Mad Catz that we've customized. There is no official North American stick at this time," and as quickly as they had arisen, our hopes were quickly dashed. Jabbari, who is Atlus' Manager of PR and Sales, said we could post about the stick so long as we promised not to insinuate that it was a real product, or that it was ever going to be released. So! Expect to see it on store shelves before the end of the month.(But seriously, there is no North American stick at this time.)
Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown PS3 sticks show up in the US this summer
For those of you in need of a professional-grade accessory for a low-cost downloadable game, Hori announced plans to release an official Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown arcade stick for PS3 in North America this summer.Based on Hori's Real Arcade Pro V3 SA model, the VF5 stick uses authentic Sanwa Denshi parts for the stick and buttons, and totally inauthentic optional turbo settings for all buttons. Pricing has not been announced, but the stick runs for 13,800 yen ($170) in Japan.
Metal Gear Solid 3D accessories increase your 3DS camo index
Your 3DS doesn't have to be naked while playing Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D. Accessory company Hori is releasing a suite of themed 3DS accessories, with which you can outfit your handheld to prepare it for the rigors of CQC. The Metal Gear Solid Snake Eater 3D Accessory Set includes an olive drab pouch for the system and games, a set of camo stickers for the interior of the system, a "Protect Cover" for the exterior featuring Yoji Shinkawa's character art, and a stylus on a lanyard. In Japan, the Accessory Set will retail for ¥2,981, out alongside the game on March 8. Hori accessories are often released stateside, to retailers like Amazon as well as Hori's own store, so it's quite likely you'll be able to do some on-site procurement of your own accessories.
Hori's Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3 fight stick hitting US on Dec. 8
In the market for a new fight stick? We know a guy -- well, okay, it's not so much a guy as a big, faceless corporation, but you get the point. Come December 8, you can snag Hori's custom Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3 rig for $149.99, Capcom-Unity has revealed. There will be three different versions: the one with the colored buttons above, another with white buttons and a super deluxe edition with built-in cup holder and FM radio. Okay, fine, we made that last one up, but how awesome would that be? So awesome.
Hori making Soulcalibur 5 branded fight sticks
Remember how Mad Catz is going to make those gorgeous, dynamically styled Soulcalibur 5 themed fight sticks? Well, if shiny bevelled edges and an LED-ready see-through plastic casing aren't your jam, accessories manufacturer Hori has a rather minimalistic alternative: The Soulcalibur 5 Joystick. The stick's fancy name matches the rest of its aesthetic, and is slated for a January 2012 release, with versions being made for both the 360 and PS3. While Hori has yet to announce pricing or parts information, the size of the stick suggests that it will be similar to their Sanwa-packing $140 Real Arcade Pro. That's wild speculation on our part, of course, so while we're speculating let's go ahead and say that the stick is also filled with molasses. Gross, Hori!
Hori reveals Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 arcade sticks
Mad Catz has some competition for Capcom fans' branded-controller budgets, in the form of two Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 arcade sticks from Hori's Real Arcade Pro V series. Announced at an event in Japan, the stick features splash artwork of a bunch of UMVC3 characters, and will be released in Japan on November 17. The PS3 version will sell for ¥13,800, with the Xbox version costing ¥2,000 more. Both the Hori RAP V series and the Mad Catz Tournament Edition S sticks feature genuine Sanwa internals, so the choice of whether to import one of these or a Mad Catz stick is basically personal. Do you want the lighter Hori stick, with a panel made to closely resemble a Vewlix arcade cabinet, or the more easily moddable FightStick? If that's too fiddly a distinction, of course there's always the distinction of "which stick looks nicer to you."
Mario Kart 7 Steering Wheel for Nintendo 3DS should help you drift past Toadie
It's no secret that Mario Kart 7 is due out in December, but it now appears that a certain 3DS-compatible steering wheel from Hori will be too. (Stoked?) According to Andriasang, Amazon's Japanese site listed the peripheral sans photos, pricing it at a cool ¥1,280 (about $17). Not long after that the blog snagged a few press shots of said unit, which looks like a odd blend of the iPhone-oriented Helix grip and Nintendo's own Wii Wheel. The attachment is said to feature tweaked shoulder triggers and Nintendo's Official Seal of Approval, but won't score you extra SlidePad functionality. You'll find a shot of the back past the break and more details at the links below.
Here's the Mario Kart 7 steering wheel for 3DS
Oh, you're still worried about the unfortunate form factor of the Nintendo 3DS slide pad peripheral? That's old hat -- Andriasang recently uncovered an attachment which further turns the once sleek handheld into an unpocketable monstrosity: The Hori Mario Kart 7 steering wheel. The attachment, which carries the official Nintendo seal and will cost ¥1,280 ($17), snaps onto the back of the handheld to give players who use the game's tilt-to-steer functionality a greater sense of ... realism? We guess? All we know is that it better come with a fanny pack to carry around its unwieldy frame, and then some sort of invisibility cloak to protect the wearer from being savagely beaten by everyone who sees them.
Hori Tactical Assault Commander 3 PS3 keyboard and mouse: for fans of butch peripherals
Peripheral makers often give their devices preposterous names -- remember when you asked your grandparents for that Thrustmaster? Hori has outdone itself with the Tactical Assault Commander 3, which won't allow you to command any sort of tactical assault outside of your PS3. Admittedly, when you settle down in front of the TV, you'll see it's got some pretty useful features. There's adjustable mouse sensitivity and a re-mappable keyboard that remembers your settings after the PS3 powers down. You also get a dedicated walk button to slow your movement, like the gentle tilt of an analog stick. It's available starting October 24th in black or the Best Buy exclusive digital camouflage edition you see above -- but it'll cost you the same $100 whatever style you go for.
New Hori PS3 controller has rotating D-pad, so many other options
Peripheral maker Hori put a countdown page on its site leading to the reveal of an exciting mystery product ... and it's a new PS3 controller! Maybe the Hori Pad 3 Pro isn't the dramatic reveal we expected, but it looks like a pretty nice device. The Hori Pad 3 Pro builds on previous Hori controller offerings with a d-pad that can be rotated to provide the most comfortable position, as well as customizable d-pad input range. We don't really understand how that last one works, though it seems to involve setting the range between two directions at which a diagonal input is registered. It also features customizable analog stick sensitivity, three levels of turbo fire with a quick activation button on the back of the controller ... and, unfortunately, a wire. The Horipad Pro will be released in Japan on July 21. Odds are pretty good you'll be able to get one soon after; Amazon stocks previous Hori Pad variants.
Xbox 360 Hori Real Arcade Pro EX joystick is $85 on Amazon today
In the time it takes you to pronounce the words "Xbox 360 Hori Real Arcade Pro EX joystick," you could order one from Amazon for $85. Considering it usually runs $130, fighting fans might consider picking one up. After all, the fate of two worlds -- and your wallet -- hangs in the balance.
Grab a Hori Xbox 360 Fight Stick with Tekken 6 for $30 at Best Buy
Need a sturdier form of input for your latest fighting game acquisition, Marvel vs. Capcom 3? Best Buy has what might just be the cheapest Fight Stick on the internet: The retailer has marked the Tekken 6 Limited Edition for 360 -- which includes a nice little Hori Fight Stick -- down to $29.99.
