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VOOT controller redesign adds bulk, doesn't cut cost
Remember the Virtual On: Oratorio Tangram controller for Xbox 360? That's old hat now, as the ridiculously-priced controller has received a redesign, Siliconera points out. All of that added bulk hasn't had any effect on its price, however, as this bad boy will still set you back a cool 30,000¥ ($315). As cool a controller as this is, we surely don't endorse spending all of that bread on it. There are cheaper, less visually appealing DIY solutions we think better fill the need for a specialized controller.%Gallery-46149%
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]
VOOT camp: Virtual On retrospective
Now that Virtual On Oratorio Tangram has been released to XBLA, we thought we'd point you toward a very interesting retrospective on the series at GameSetWatch. Written last month by Ollie Barder of doublesix, the studio behind Burn Zombie Burn, the article takes a look at the entire history of the Virtual On series, starting with the groundbreaking original and moving all the way to the disappointing Virtual On Marz.The article covers a lot of interesting facts. For example, did you know that the Twin Stick control method was actually devised to work around arcade hardware limitations? New players and old fans of the series should definitely give it a read.
Sega confirms Virtual On XBLA for April 29
Time is running out for you to make your own DIY Virtual On stick, as Sega has announced that Virtual On will be available for download on April 29. Sega's press release made no mention of price, so we sent out our Joystiq Attack Dogs™ to track down someone at Sega and extract the info. They came back and confirmed that the game will be priced the same in North America as in Japan: 1200 ($15). And for those of you who say that price is too great, know that these are high-tech machines you're paying for here. They aren't made of cardboard!%Gallery-46149%
Virtual On totally on for US XBLA release
click to giant robot size Sega America has confirmed a US release for Japan's previously announced XBLA remake of Virtual On Oratorio Tangram. The game is set to be available Stateside during a very broad "spring 2009" launch window.Like the upcoming OutRun Online Arcade, the one-on-one arena fighting game is getting a bump up to HD resolution, which suits its minimalistic -- dare we say "virtual reality" -- art style quite well (as can be seen in newly delivered screens). Achievements, in-match voice chat and challenge modes are also confirmed. We've contacted Sega to try and narrow the release date for this 15-"Virtuoid" throwdown.%Gallery-46149%
Virtual-On Oratorio Trailer
The website for Virtual-On Oratorio Tangram ver. 5.66 features new screens of the Xbox Live Arcade release of the classic arcade/Dreamcast robot fighter, as well as the trailer above. As expected, it looks pretty much like a Dreamcast game with smoother edges -- a look that, to our eyes, only amplifies the clean, simple look of Dreamcast 3D.The graphics kind of don't matter, however, because this XBLA version of VOOT includes online battles, and that is just plain awesome no matter how incremental the graphical upgrades are. Sure, it's pretty much expected for Xbox games to have online play, but we didn't dare get our hopes up for this one, just in case. Now we just need someone to build custom 360 Twin Sticks for us, and we are in business. Oh, and Sega needs to announce the game for somewhere other than Japan. But after that and the stick thing, we are in business.%Gallery-46149%[Via GamerBytes]
