Finally, an official Virtual On Xbox controller -- for only 20 times the cost of the game
by JC Fletcher 
{ Jun 15th 2009 at 6:15PM } 
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]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
F1: Basu Gasu Bakuhatsu @ Jun 15th 2009 6:24PM
Looks like the controls inside a gundam.
Charlie_Six @ Jun 15th 2009 8:58PM
If only Operation Troy (the 360 exclusive Gundam FPS game) supported the controller too. That'd be sweet.
Also, I wish they had put a coolie hat on top of the left joystick. That would be the D-pad. Then a thumb button to the right of that would be LB.
Meanwhile, all four of the face buttons would be on the right stick, accessible with a second thumb button there (A button), and three buttons beneath the fingers of the right stick. This way, I could use this twin stick controller as a standard controller for ALL my games. As it is configured now, this stick will only be OK for a handful of games.
aneurysmi @ Jun 16th 2009 3:24AM
No, no it really doesn't. Looks like crap, to say nothing of the price.
chrisnick @ Jun 15th 2009 6:25PM
$305??? does it come with a whore?....It effin better!
IannCannon (XBL&Steam: ianncannon. PSN: Iann Cannon) @ Jun 15th 2009 7:18PM
You and a friend can sit on each stiq!
Ethan @ Jun 15th 2009 7:46PM
'Let's play Poohsticks!'
Nigeria @ Jun 15th 2009 6:25PM
Ha, I remember reading about those twin sticks in the UK Saturn mag way back then. Maybe not those exact ones, but some sticks all the same. I was so excited, yet so peeved, knowing that they existed but I would probably never get a chance to use them.
But it didn't matter though because Virtual On got released, I bought it, and it was a bit...I didn't like it.
Richard Mitchell @ Jun 15th 2009 6:25PM
You know, I love Virtual On, but paying that much for a controller for a downloadable game that might not even be playable a few years from now ... that's crazy.
Kenneth @ Jun 15th 2009 6:30PM
Why yes, I would love to buy a controller worth more than my console. That makes perfect sense.
coffins outside the door @ Jun 15th 2009 6:44PM
But why?!
Slaziman @ Jun 15th 2009 7:06PM
What kind of magic technology is in that controller that makes it so expensive?!
Orion @ Jun 15th 2009 7:11PM
It's not the parts you're paying for.. everyone knows that. It's the Hori logo! ;)
pnutz @ Jun 15th 2009 9:02PM
I guess Sega saw a trend Capcom set this year with Street fighter 4 and its insanely priced 150 dollar fighter stick.
zero2dash @ Jun 15th 2009 7:17PM
Suddenly Steel Battalion doesn't look like such a rip-off after all.
j.howlett @ Jun 15th 2009 9:09PM
if i had the space i'd get Steel Battalion right now. then wake up the next day with regret.
ill trooper @ Jun 16th 2009 3:30AM
I'm looking at my Steel Battalion controller right now!
Nozzinja @ Jun 15th 2009 7:17PM
ok.....
Greggoo @ Jun 15th 2009 7:18PM
you could make on yourself for like $50!
Greggoo @ Jun 15th 2009 7:18PM
one*
WREturns @ Jun 15th 2009 11:47PM
Well, Greggoo, technically your original post is still accurate...
Glenn @ Jun 15th 2009 7:20PM
honestly, the controller looks like it costs $5 to make. Their profit margins will even put APPLE to shame!
Diskoboy7 @ Jun 15th 2009 7:35PM
Still got my Dreamcast Twin Sticks.
And I paid 2x the price of the game, back in 2000, for 'em, too - I guess some things never change.
Actually, I can't complain... The Twin Sticks actually made the DC version actually playable.
ryan @ Jun 15th 2009 7:41PM
If you guys don't like it, don't buy it! Just shut up already!
/sarcasm.
Covnam @ Jun 15th 2009 7:43PM
The top of the controller seems like an odd place to put the A, B, X, Y buttons. Even if you don't need them for the game, it looks out of place to have to reach in-between the two sticks to hit any of them; as opposed to placing them at the bottom.
Aero @ Jun 15th 2009 8:47PM
So wait. Are there actually people in the world that will spend enough money that could be used for a new console for a control pad to play a downloadable game a bit better?
RagingStormX @ Jun 15th 2009 9:15PM
I can so see a new Virtual On game with current gen graphics make this seem more justifiable (sp?)....but even so, at $300 MSRP....this can only be for the hardcore VO fans. Lord help them if its rare like the tournement edition SFIV arcade joysticks.....this thing will go for $500-$600 easy on ebay. Thats just nuts..
Naota @ Jun 15th 2009 9:17PM
I'd rather just make one by ripping apart a 360 controler
aneurysmi @ Jun 16th 2009 3:30AM
YES WREturns, yes! Bravo.
aneurysmi @ Jun 16th 2009 3:32AM
Well thats not right at all, Joystiq, fix yr f---ing sh--. I remember now why I never bother to comment.
captainprotonx @ Jun 16th 2009 10:18AM
No, I didn't like the game this much.
I'll stick to the DC version with my Saturn sticks.
rtdzign @ Jun 16th 2009 8:30PM
My custom hacked sticks cost me $70-100 to make.
Ghetto but my wallet hurts less.
http://forums.shoryuken.com/showthread.php?p=6894781#post6894781
wasimmaroofi @ Jul 24th 2009 6:21AM
Hehe, I saw something on play-asia today. Maybe you people interested!
It's a Lovely gaming stick for anyone. Weighs absolutely perfect; at 6lbs. Besides, on modding this stick can be a dream come true for the hardcore gamers. The joystick was born in one of the best stick manufacturers in Japan. Was out of stock a while ago, but recently got restocked! Yippee...I ordered one Hori Real Arcade Pro Ex a few mins ago from play-asia...woohoo!
I am so excited about it, I just can't wait for it to arrive.