Mad Catz goes retro with Xbox Live Arcade Stick [update 2]
by Ludwig Kietzmann 
{ Aug 17th 2006 at 3:05PM }
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
[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.]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Babylonian @ Aug 17th 2006 3:20PM
That actually looks pretty cool. It fits the iPod-white 360 aesthetic nicely.
EnderAl @ Aug 17th 2006 3:26PM
Um... do I see only 4 face buttons on this thing? Why not put the two shoulder buttons on the face and also make it fighting game friendly as well?
Thomas Crymes @ Aug 17th 2006 3:26PM
I'm having a hard time picturing how big it is, because judging from the picture, the buttons seems way to close to the stick.
Overall it looks clunky, but I look forward to actually holding it before passing judgment.
Also, if you hate the D-pad on the 360, just try using the left analog stick instead. You'll be surprised to find that it is actually much better than the D-pad.
PhantomVI @ Aug 17th 2006 3:28PM
$70? It's a cool idea and might be a quality product, but for that price I think I'll have to pass.
IslandLife @ Aug 17th 2006 3:30PM
Please do not refer to anything Microsoft as being Ipod-like or Apple-like. Microsoft only wished their products could look half as beautiful as Apple products.
Carry on.
dvnt @ Aug 17th 2006 3:31PM
Yuck, Mad Catz makes cheap-ass hardware. I'm waiting for X-Arcade to get permission to release an arcade setup for 360. That's quality stuff right there. Well worth the typical $100 their other controllers cost.
RocketPunch @ Aug 17th 2006 3:33PM
This is exactly why I never buy any of their stuff. Seriously, who designed this thing? Donald Trump??
Player1 @ Aug 17th 2006 3:40PM
IslandLife,
You're right, Microsoft products are nothing like Apple products. They are priced reasonably and don't go obsolete in one year. And this is coming from someone who's always owned Apple computers.
Robotic House Plant @ Aug 17th 2006 3:42PM
I think it's great there's FINALLY a joystick option for the 360, but I have to agree if there's only four buttons on top, that's gonna be a problem. I really don't want to have to hold the joystick with two hands just to use the shoulder buttons.
Hans @ Aug 17th 2006 3:43PM
I like the Hori DOA4 Arcade controller way better, this looks like crap... The Hori controller has the layout you need for fighting games and simple arcade games AND it looks beautifull.
Pc @ Aug 17th 2006 3:47PM
Too bad their isnt some kind of adapter that allowes you to connect a dualshock 2 into the 360 yet. The PS2 controller is perfect...especially for fighting games.....any of you guys remember how good soul calibur playes with the d-pad on PS2. WOW They had some kind of adapter for the original xbox where you could play with a PS2 controller instead.
molecule @ Aug 17th 2006 3:47PM
The d-pad present on the joystick looks different than the 360's normal pad. Or, in other words, hopefully BETTER.
diskoboy @ Aug 17th 2006 3:49PM
THANK YOU, GOD!!
(And Madcatz)
p-diddy @ Aug 17th 2006 3:52PM
>> You're right, Microsoft products are nothing like
>> Apple products. They are priced reasonably and don't
>> go obsolete in one year. And this is coming from
>> someone who's always owned Apple computers.
OK, I'll bite. How do Apple products become obsolete after a year? Do they stop working or do they just stop being cool? Is it because they keep releasing new products that Apple wants you to buy that runs their latest OS/software better that makes the old ones "obsolete?" I ask because there is no reason you could not still be using a G3 ibook with Jaguar to do 99% of what you probably do. Even if you are a graphic designer, Apple's stuff works for years and years and there is no reason to upgrade other than YOUR perception of what is obsolete.
</fanboy>
-p-
J.Goodwin @ Aug 17th 2006 3:56PM
I'm thinking that this is about the same size as an old Atari 800 controller. Small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, assuming you have adult sized hands. The old school way would have been to have the buttons on the top left corner, but I guess that the intervening 20 years have made left hand buttons obsolete.
Seventy bucks definitely seems to be overboard though. I'm still going to be modding an SF Anniversary stick this weekend.
J.Goodwin @ Aug 17th 2006 3:57PM
Apple is really big on the planned obsolescence thing. It puts video games to shame (and we all know that in four or five years we'll be buying a new console, or several).
Ed @ Aug 17th 2006 3:58PM
That $70 (retail, $55 elsewhere, probably) also gets you 100 ms points, 1 month live gold, and 3 free games.
I'm guessing galaga, pacman, and SF2.. or maybe Geometry Wars.
Part of the problem MadCatz has is that they have to keep within microsoft's design constraints. So, I'm pretty sure the four ABXY buttons have to be in that pattern with those same colors.
The bumpers and triggers are probably still there, too, even though I can't see anyone using them on this controller.
Raz 4 life @ Aug 17th 2006 3:58PM
With this stick, could you actually play pac-man? That be wonderful! Am I the only one who finds Pac-mac unplayable with either the control stick or d-pad? They should have had an option to use the ABXY buttons... so pac-man would, you know, move where you wanted him to go?
Ludwig Kietzmann @ Aug 17th 2006 4:03PM
Ed, I think you're right. The illustration to the right of the Live logo also seems to indicate that you can remove the stick entirely.
Player1 @ Aug 17th 2006 4:06PM
The reason I bought Apples is because when I was in design school it was known as the machine to work on. It was necessary for my career to know how to use them, and supposedly they were better. After graduating a couple of years later, all I used professionally was PCs that costed half as much. I say obsolete, because they release a new machine (that they advertise as being twice as fast) every six months. When I pay $2400 for a machine I expect it to run programs for a while, but after a year, it can't run the software I want, specifically music and game software. Where did this "cool" crap come from? Do you think I strap it to the hood of my car to pick up ladies or something?
I still like my Mac, but they are often form over fuction as far as the consumer is concerned (aside from the iPod).
Agent MOO @ Aug 17th 2006 4:18PM
Finally I should be able to pull off a dragon punch with some degree of accuracy. But can we get 6 buttons sega saturn style?
http://agentmoo.com
Derek @ Aug 17th 2006 4:23PM
You had me until I read that it would be $70. For that price Mad Katz can kiss my Mad Ass.
Justin @ Aug 17th 2006 4:32PM
EB link is now dead. it's under accessories but that link is also dead
p-diddy @ Aug 17th 2006 4:35PM
Sorry, but my G3 ibook from 2001 was fine for everything I wanted to do until it died 3 months ago. I wasn't doing graphic design on it, but it ran Tiger and all the software I needed to until the hard drive croaked.
I find it hard to believe that an Apple machine wouldn't run the software you wanted to after a year unless the software required you to switch to Intel. For that matter I have trouble believing any $2400, or to your point, any $1200 computer computer has trouble running software after only a year. Not to be a jerk, but if you feel you HAVE to have the latest version of Adobe Super Illustrator Effects Photoshop II Hyper Fighting, well isn't that your decision? You don't HAVE to upgrade.
*shrug*
-p-
Manu Narayan @ Aug 17th 2006 4:36PM
Onto the apple debate (as a powerbook using ipod owner). Even Jobs himself says he wants people buying new ipods every 12-18 months. Thats way too frequently for a 300-400 dollar piece of consumer electronics. Do I replace my digital camera that often? My smart phone? My computer?
Non replaceable batteries. Impossible to open imacs and mac minis. (or use a putty knife and voice your warranty). Proprietary cables. (what happened to mini usb?)
To the controller, great idea.
Ry @ Aug 17th 2006 4:40PM
$70 for a half-assed product made by a company who rip me off several times with their memory cards,controllers,etc? No thanks, Sad Catz. I'll look elsewhere....
thefinalruin @ Aug 17th 2006 4:46PM
"You're right, Microsoft products are nothing like Apple products. They are priced reasonably and don't go obsolete in one year. And this is coming from someone who's always owned Apple computers."
Player1,
Anything in the computer industry will become obsolete within 6-8 months after the release. Also, priced reasonably? What about Microsoft Office? $339. Windows XP? $299. Last time I checked the latest version of Mac OSX was $129.
Now, assuming you were talking about the price of Apple's hardware you get something else when you buy a Mac, hardware works flawlessly. Or as Apple puts it 'It just works.' As a longtime Windows user I know I have spent long hours searching for drivers (even with Microsoft products). I would also like to point out the recent comparison of the Mac Pro and the Dell Precision 690 1KW.
http://www.macworld.com/2006/08/features/macproprice/index.php?lsrc=mwtoprss
Guess who won? Ok, I'll give you a hint, it wasn't the Dell.
Player1 @ Aug 17th 2006 4:56PM
Last time I checked, Microsoft didn't charge for point releases and bring out a new one every year.
My Mac didn't "just work" when I went to update to Tiger. None of the install options worked. I had to wipe it clean and start over. That sure was fun.
This is not the appropriate place for this conversation, but what I don't think you guys understand is that Apple is the one that burned me. I am not just MS fanboy or something. It was by using and owning Apples and my experiences with them that shaped my opinion.
I still like apples, but like I said if you buy one, it will probably be expensive, and be prepared for a better and cheaper version to come out very soon. That goes for all apple products. That's all I'm saying.
localpirate @ Aug 17th 2006 5:16PM
$70??? OMG!
I think I'd buy a wireless controller and put a db15 port in it so I can use REAL joysticks. God that's a waste of money.
As you can see I don't own a 360 and don't plan to unless I can get Senko no Ronde over here.
SmittyX @ Aug 17th 2006 5:23PM
What we need is a first party stick from Microsoft. The quality of Mad Catz products is questionable(and so is that price point).
Nathan M @ Aug 17th 2006 5:27PM
"Anything in the computer industry will become obsolete within 6-8 months after the release. Also, priced reasonably? What about Microsoft Office? $339. Windows XP? $299. Last time I checked the latest version of Mac OSX was $129." Note, however, that they didn't have to do NEARLY as much work on OSX, considering that it's built off of UNIX.
"As a longtime Windows user I know I have spent long hours searching for drivers (even with Microsoft products)." Oddly enough, I rarely have to look for drivers. Just run through windows update and bam, it's there. Or install from the CD it came with, if any.
"I would also like to point out the recent comparison of the Mac Pro and the Dell Precision 690 1KW.
http://www.macworld.com/2006/08/features/macproprice/index.php?lsrc=mwtoprss
Guess who won? Ok, I'll give you a hint, it wasn't the Dell." Oh yeah, a Mac vs Dell comparison from a Mac site. That's not biased at all.[/sarcasm]
Anyway, this looks pretty cool. I don't currently have a 360, but this might be something to look at when I get one.
Bison @ Aug 17th 2006 6:07PM
I got Office for 5 dollars and windows XP PRO for 12. College baby
brandon_r87 @ Aug 17th 2006 6:36PM
I think it's going to be wired because if I remember correctly, only Microsoft can release wireless controllers and all third-party controllers will be tethered to the box.
On the flip side, wired probably means we'll be able to hook it up to the PC too, possibly using the existing Xbox 360 controller drivers. Emulation anyone? *Ahem* Of the legal variety, that is...
murc @ Aug 17th 2006 8:03PM
To the First Poster: Apple is a electronic company...not a color company. They did not create the color white.
Master X 24 @ Aug 17th 2006 8:51PM
Ill get it if its wireless or when it goes to about 40-50 bucks
p-diddy @ Aug 17th 2006 9:51PM
Yeah, OT, but back to the Apple discussion: Player1, I understand that Apple burned you. Sorry to hear that because I've always had a good experience with them. But to slam them and say MS' products are any better is hard to swallow. I'm not slamming MS, I think XP is actually decent, but _my_ experience is that Apple hardware is great, OS X is great, and that the hardware performs for years and years. I know Steve Jobs wants you to buy an iPod evry 18 months, but that doesn't mean an 18 month old iPod IS obsolete. Mine gen3 works great and I don't plan on upgrading. Sure it doesn't play videos and it isn't in color, but it isn't obsolete per se. It's just not the latest and greatest. I'm just saying obsolesence is in the eye of the beholder.
-p-
Player1 @ Aug 18th 2006 12:13AM
I bought my Mac new for $2400 in 2003. Halo came out for the Mac in 2003. It could barely play the game on the lowest resolution. It couldn't even touch Unreal 2004 when a $800 PC could do it no problem.
admangreendog @ Aug 18th 2006 3:39AM
The rabid badger comment is hilarious!
J.Goodwin @ Aug 18th 2006 7:09AM
localpirate,
I was just thinking that last night myself. If I'm going to go to the trouble of hacking together a good arcade stick from an SF anniversary stick and a cheapo wired controller, then I'll be damned if I don't just mod the controller to fit in a project box and give the sucker a DB15 connection. At least that way, I won't have to do it again when I decide that what I really wanted was a Saturn controller.
And those you can buy with DB15s already on.
GoPodular @ Aug 19th 2006 4:02PM
This stick wouldn't address the 4-way & 8-way joystick problem. I assume it's 8-way to provide diagonal movements for SF but... that's what you *don't* want for Pac-Man or frogger.
You *can* get the triggers to work on the 360, we did for our sticks.
FYI: localpirate & J.Goodwin: A db15 connector won't work for the 360. The 360 controllers use a ground matrix rather than the common ground typical of previous console pads.