One turntable to rule them all: DJ Hero vs Scratch: The Ultimate DJ
by David Hinkle 
{ May 27th 2009 at 1:45PM } 
Click image to compare
With two high profile DJ-'em-up games coming out in DJ Hero and Scratch: The Ultimate DJ, many are likely scratching their heads at which turntable and promised experience is going to be superior. Well, we can't comment on the latter (until E3, anyway), but we can take a look at the two competing controllers. We stacked them side-by-side for your viewing pleasure and compared all the known details in our gallery below. Enjoy!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Cloaker @ May 27th 2009 1:52PM
Someone read the engadget article finally? C'mon joystiq--you guys need to quit getting beat by those over diversified OTHER blogs. You're the experts--kotaku and engadget keep getting ahead of you and I don't like that cause, well, I like you guys.
Captain Planet @ May 27th 2009 1:55PM
lol...someone doesn't know that Joystiq is Engadget and Engadget is Joystiq...SOOPER NOOBER!!
SourceJR @ May 27th 2009 2:00PM
yeah go to the top of the screen and look above the search button y'll see engadget and joystiq are all family.
David Hinkle @ May 27th 2009 2:06PM
Also, what are you talking about? There isn't any kind of comparison piece over at Engadget that I could find ...
NaeemTHM @ May 27th 2009 3:23PM
Hi welcome to the internet Cloaker.
By the way it's not about the speed at which the article is delivered, it's HOW it's delivered to us. Sure other sites might beat Joystiq to the punch once in a while, but I prefer to get my news here since it's usually far more insightful and filled with humor.
Captain Planet @ May 27th 2009 1:53PM
This whole turntable games screams of, "meh" for me. Bring on the Flute Hero!!!
charlie b. @ May 27th 2009 1:56PM
"Aqualung my friend, don't start away uneasy."
aristokrat @ May 27th 2009 3:02PM
Playing the flute part in Aqualung would be quite a boring endeavor.
Sly (The Cake in fact, is NOT a lie) [PSN SniperChameleon] @ May 27th 2009 3:09PM
keyboard hero needs to come out first. then cowbell hero. because we all need more cowbell.
Troy Powers (PSN: TroyPowers) @ May 27th 2009 3:33PM
I am being from India and find it very much racial that no one is making a sitar hero.
stormtrooper190 PSN= (im not telling you that) @ May 27th 2009 8:46PM
im hoping for banjo hero
Laser123454321 @ May 27th 2009 1:57PM
You know what, I know that theses games are comming out but if we're talking a turntable to rule them all, we need to consider the Beatmania IIDX controller for the ps2. Just the one that came with the game. Both of the controllers seem to have a better build quailty then the Beatmania IIDX controller but neither has as many buttons. If we started talking ASC (Arcade Style Controller) then both of these pale in comparison to the $200+ IIDX controller.
Jon D @ May 27th 2009 2:02PM
we have a winner, ladies and gentlemen.
Divine @ May 27th 2009 2:08PM
Build quality & precision is what's important with this peripheral. The object of this game is to scratch, & to achieve this all that is needed is a turntable and one switch (crossfader). Adding any extra buttons would only be a gimmick. I'm happy the Numark controller is as clean & clutter free as it is.
The fact it is reversable kinda shows the thought that's gone into the design too, reverse switches play a major part in scratch DJ culture.
Scratch: The Ultimate DJ FTW...
Laser123454321 @ May 27th 2009 2:19PM
Well i would say this. The controller was not a bad build. The turntable was hard to turn before modding but the buttons were just a few levels below the Sanwas used in the arcade machine. The Newmark controlelrs will probably have the best build quality. Also note that the CS Controller and AS Controller for IIDX are both reversable and for the time both were of top quality. Im just saying that if we compare a controller made for a ps2 game awhile ago to controllers out now, just know that the newer controllers will be built better.
I would love to have that ASC though, Sanwa buttons and then the same size turntable and optics used in the arcade...*drool*
Andrew @ May 27th 2009 5:39PM
>>Better build quality than Beatmania IIDX.
Haha. I've had my controller for about 4 years and still operates like new.
xeleion @ May 27th 2009 1:57PM
So how long before the FCC declares that both games have to be compatible with both turntables? I'll wait for that before I even think of buying one.
azuravian @ May 27th 2009 2:23PM
Has the FCC shown a history of doing this? For videogames? The FCC "shouldn't" have any jurisdiction here anyway.
aristokrat @ May 27th 2009 3:04PM
I think he, however incorrectly, meant FTC.
Phizzy @ May 27th 2009 1:58PM
Scratch looks better. Won't be getting either though.
Misfit Toy @ May 27th 2009 5:18PM
Agreed on both counts.
B3astofthe3ast @ May 27th 2009 2:01PM
Knowing Activision, they won't make the controllers cross compatible, unless forced to.
KeegdnaB @ May 27th 2009 2:04PM
Here's the "one to rule them all" that seems to be conveniently forgotten everytime Joystiq posts a Scratch/DJH article
http://image1.play-asia.com/170/PA.04445.001.jpg
Cheezeman3000 @ May 27th 2009 2:04PM
I already know which game is gonna "win" this DJ war... with Activision's massive marketing campaigns, DJ Hero will take the top spot in terms of sales. But I also know I'm going to prefer Scratch, mostly because it seems like it's being developed with both the Beatmania fans and actual DJ's in mind, instead of just the casual money-making audience.
I like how the Scratch turntable is representative of the more modern face of DJ-ing, in which everything is digital and the size of the turntable doesn't matter (heck, I have friends who use their laptop touch pads to scratch). That huge DJ Hero retro-table is decidedly old-school. Which I guess could be cool if you're into that kind of thing.
Gemini Ace @ May 27th 2009 2:16PM
I like the Ultimate DJ one better.
cuteSAVAGE @ May 27th 2009 2:16PM
I'll at least force myself to play whichever game has some World Class Wreckin' Cru. I've got my 1200cc's of Technique primed and ready.
ill trooper @ May 27th 2009 2:29PM
"Calling DR. DRE to SURGERY!"
chamelean75 @ May 27th 2009 2:18PM
wow, i'm already sick of the DJ franchise and it hasn't even been released yet.
Insight is the mustard of your doom @ May 27th 2009 2:21PM
Scratch looks like it has the better controller (and the better soundtrack) but the retards out there who're STILL supporting Activion despite their clear intent to fucking kill the rhythm genre by putting out as many games as possible every month till it's stagnated will make sure that DJ Hero wins out in the end.
baaaaaaaah
Insight is the mustard of your doom @ May 27th 2009 2:22PM
Did I seriously just say 'Activion'? I meant Craptivisi- oh, uh, Activision
helghast102 (Valkyria Chronicles and the anime OWN!) @ May 27th 2009 2:34PM
Craptivision is fine too.
Hashbrown Hunter @ May 27th 2009 3:25PM
I'm really digging the Scratch turntable.
Plus, the "____ Hero" game belongs to ActiBlizzard, so Scratch wins by default.
Hashbrown Hunter @ May 27th 2009 3:26PM
games*
BlaqueBeird @ May 27th 2009 3:46PM
I prefer LizzardVision to ActiBlizzard. I think it sounds cooler.
yyr @ May 27th 2009 7:27PM
I still prefer the horrible, very-politically-incorrect Blacktivision. =)
xeleion @ May 27th 2009 3:28PM
FTC*
Sorry for the typo. I was distracted while I was typing. ^__^
Graeme Q @ May 27th 2009 3:32PM
@first post - joystiq went down hill. look at the breaking news section of the xbox area, its months out of date. From a "developer" point of view, its poor show.
Anyway, back to the topic.
Surely for any dj game you'll need a cross fader? Whether scratching or beatmixing its a requirement. Scratch DJ therefore wins plus you can change the turntable to be left or right handed.
I suspect Activision will win the overall battle. Look how long its taken people to realise rock band is better than GH:series.
More Sales Better game
Zamzoph @ May 27th 2009 5:01PM
Erm.... DJ Hero has both crossfader and left/right-handed adjustability, too, remember?
http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/24/gametrailers-tv-promo-gives-a-look-at-dj-hero-peripheral/
Graeme Q @ May 27th 2009 5:10PM
Ah, hadn't seen that.
The pictures from this main article don't indicate as such but they're not great.
I therefore stand corrected :)
(Can we assume the dimensions aren't the same either as otherwise the DJ Hero one with cross fader will be massive)
Graeme Q @ May 27th 2009 3:34PM
bah, they won't let me put the universal "not equal to" symbol..
More Sales < > Better game
or
More Sales != better game.
(might work)
gs942002 @ May 27th 2009 4:11PM
i want the creators of these games to answer this question.
why?
Cloaker @ May 27th 2009 5:16PM
My point is that Joystiq should be getting the scoops posted here then before on engadget--one and the same, yes, but Video Game news needs to hit here first, you know what I mean? Just work it out with those guys that YOU guys get to post it first,, not be chasing the tail of the other blogs. The joystiq guys are more humorous, more engaging, I just like seeing them ahead of the curve cause I refer people to this website and they are always "blah blah blah kotaku blah blah blah engadget" etc etc.
JM @ May 28th 2009 10:21AM
As a owner of Numark's new NS7 I wouldn't be surprised if this is a solid build. The NS7 has truly impressed me on how well they put a quality product together.
The direct drive moving platters on the NS7 work like a charm almost as good as 1200's.
spinners @ Jun 1st 2009 1:42PM
a touch sensitive turntable is what djs really need for a game. this controller is pretty much reliable if you ask me
wowzers @ Jun 4th 2009 6:50PM
i like the set up where the table is and the buttons