Instead of sharing images of its Modern Warfare 2 peripheral lineup with us yesterday, when they announced everything, Mad Catz has given IGN a "worldwide exclusive" video tour which (and maybe it's just us) isn't quite as effective at triggering our consumer gland as some good, ol' fashioned photos. Nevertheless, the highlight of the video lineup is, undoubtedly, the "Combat Controller" for both Xbox 360 and PS3. They each go for $50 (yeah, that's the approximate manufacturer's suggested price for the first-party controllers!) but that $50 doesn't quite get you a first-party experience.
As shown in the video, the Combat Controllers feature special finger buttons on the bottom of the gamepad and both mirror the general design of their first-party counterpart; however, the Xbox 360 version isn't wireless and the PS3 version lacks rumble. No, really. They also show some other accessories: the $30 "military inspired" Throat Communicator is perfect for snacking while gaming they tell us; the $25 Combat Gamepad for PCs is curiously not on par with the console counterparts; and the lineup of keyboards and mice seem like overkill to us.
But don't take our word for it, you'll find the video just after the break.
Reader Comments (124)
Posted: Aug 26th 2009 4:47PM JXCGunrunna said
Yea. I agree. My first reaction: Stop fucking with a good franchise with your shitty, half assed fake controllers. MW2 isnt a half assed game so maybe make something that SHOULD go with it
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Posted: Aug 26th 2009 5:19PM DeepFriedSushi said
i dunno they seemed to put a decent amount of effort on the 360 controllers imo.
-redesigned the d-pad
-added inner handle buttons so you dont have to take your thumb to press a face button
-wired has the benefit of being latency free as well
imo they should have deigned the ps3 controller like the xbox 360 controller im sure theres a market for ps3 players wanting a 360 control in form and function.
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-redesigned the d-pad
-added inner handle buttons so you dont have to take your thumb to press a face button
-wired has the benefit of being latency free as well
imo they should have deigned the ps3 controller like the xbox 360 controller im sure theres a market for ps3 players wanting a 360 control in form and function.
Posted: Aug 26th 2009 9:31PM Johnnynumber5 is powered by cell said
If you want a PS3 controller thats more like a 360 controller just get one one these:
http://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Wireless-Controller-Rumble-Playstation-3/dp/B001RNOQLS
That way you don't have to pay the shitty Mad Catz tax. I got the controller on clearance at Best Buy and it's decent. The only caveat is it doesn't have Six Axis but for games that don't use it ... it's fine. Has moved the analogue and the d-pad configuration to the same as the 360 one, rubberized grip on the controller, enhanced L2 & R2 triggers, built in rechargeable battery and dual rumble motors. The bad thing is it requires a USB dongle to communicate with the PS3 and it has a pretty crappy d-pad. It's a nice little $30 controller for playing certain games. I like it myself. Good quality.
I think all of these Mad Catz controllers look like cheap junk if you want to know the truth about it. Like they created them in 5 minutes. A wired controller? Seriously?
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http://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Wireless-Controller-Rumble-Playstation-3/dp/B001RNOQLS
That way you don't have to pay the shitty Mad Catz tax. I got the controller on clearance at Best Buy and it's decent. The only caveat is it doesn't have Six Axis but for games that don't use it ... it's fine. Has moved the analogue and the d-pad configuration to the same as the 360 one, rubberized grip on the controller, enhanced L2 & R2 triggers, built in rechargeable battery and dual rumble motors. The bad thing is it requires a USB dongle to communicate with the PS3 and it has a pretty crappy d-pad. It's a nice little $30 controller for playing certain games. I like it myself. Good quality.
I think all of these Mad Catz controllers look like cheap junk if you want to know the truth about it. Like they created them in 5 minutes. A wired controller? Seriously?
Posted: Oct 3rd 2009 11:29PM (Unverified) said
every Mad Catz headset I have owned has been very uncomfortable and just crap design. If this headset is worth the $$$ I will buy. I also would like to see the control wireless...
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Posted: Aug 26th 2009 2:18PM Ballistic H said
"Xbox 360 version isn't wireless and the PS3 version lacks rumble". Talk about cheap on both platforms.
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Posted: Aug 26th 2009 2:25PM TonyRockyHorror said
and that definitely drops the 360 version from "probably buy" to "definite NOT buy"
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Posted: Aug 26th 2009 2:43PM (Unverified) said
But they has the "combat grips" and "nightvision backlighting"!!! >_>
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Posted: Aug 26th 2009 2:43PM ViciousBastard said
yea this is a rip, i had low expectations and they still failed
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Posted: Aug 26th 2009 3:12PM Manifest37 said
Safe to assume that most will stick with 1st part accessories, save for the throat comm. Reviews will determine its quality.
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Posted: Aug 26th 2009 4:30PM (Unverified) said
The 360 controller has a cable to provide a latency free connection with the console.
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Posted: Aug 26th 2009 5:16PM simbadogg said
seriously, when i heard the ps3 version lacks rumble i was thinking, no rumble...no buy. same thing w/ the wired 360 controller. and the throat mic, that really isn't a throat mic. other than a 12 year old getting it for xmas, or someone with way too much money to blow, who here would buy this stuff?
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Posted: Aug 26th 2009 8:17PM (Unverified) said
not to mention the fact that you play as bad ass marines in the game, yet the controllers are army camo. what gives?!
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Posted: Aug 27th 2009 9:46PM ellocomotive said
The fact that they have army camo and not Marine, drives me nuts, as I'm a Marine myself. Besides the wire issues, the lack of MARPAT really turns me off to the whole thing.
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Posted: Aug 26th 2009 3:38PM jorojoserojas said
In fairness, the Street Fighter IV Tournament Edition joysticks are pretty much the best sticks I've ever used.
But I read a LOT of reviews before jumping on it. I associate Mad Catz with sub-par controls that will break within 6 months.
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But I read a LOT of reviews before jumping on it. I associate Mad Catz with sub-par controls that will break within 6 months.
Posted: Aug 26th 2009 5:51PM Istari Spartan said
The street fighter 4 fightpads are good.
Even is catz are overall crap, give credit where it's due.
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Even is catz are overall crap, give credit where it's due.
Posted: Aug 27th 2009 12:10AM BananaBoat said
Thirded. I've been consistently underwhelmed by everything I've ever purchased from them. Having said that, I used to have a Saitek keyboard and it was decent. If that keyboard lives up to those older models, then I wouldn't regret buying it (if my current keyboard were to break that is).
We shall see.
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We shall see.
Posted: Aug 26th 2009 2:20PM latin trident said
Scott Lowe is 1/3 the size of the mad catz PR manager. That guy is HUGE! he must have like 3 children in his pants for snacks later that day.
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Posted: Aug 26th 2009 2:29PM MystileArmor said
I'll trade ye a suitcase full of moneh for that babeh....
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Posted: Aug 26th 2009 2:34PM Ballistic H said
Man, shouldn't PR people supposed to be BEAUTIFUL?
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Posted: Aug 26th 2009 2:35PM Puertoricarious said
maybe. but i'm sure they're capable of writing correct sentences.
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Posted: Aug 26th 2009 2:44PM MystileArmor said
@ Ballistic H
Not when you're trying to sell your controllers with the abillity to be able to snack while playing, obviously it worked out for this guy, although he looks like he might have actually ate a controller or two.
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Not when you're trying to sell your controllers with the abillity to be able to snack while playing, obviously it worked out for this guy, although he looks like he might have actually ate a controller or two.
Posted: Aug 26th 2009 2:54PM arsohn said
funny that it's Scott Lowe showing off these cheap wares. If IGN every goes through layoffs, he'll be one of the first to go. Just listen to some of the tech fetish podcasts he's put out. The guy just comes across as a big ole' boob.
But to stay on point this controllers look like crap and I really don't see why anyone would need to buy them, unless you want to raise your "tool" ranking.
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But to stay on point this controllers look like crap and I really don't see why anyone would need to buy them, unless you want to raise your "tool" ranking.
Posted: Aug 26th 2009 2:22PM MystileArmor said
"snacking while gaming"
Even zough zee madcatz is komplete and utter (no pun intended! HAH!) krap, znacking while zee iz gaming iz a muzt buy for me!!
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Even zough zee madcatz is komplete and utter (no pun intended! HAH!) krap, znacking while zee iz gaming iz a muzt buy for me!!
Posted: Aug 26th 2009 2:46PM MystileArmor said
I am juzt a mizunderstood fat litzzle german boy, zat iz all.
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Posted: Aug 26th 2009 2:25PM (Unverified) said
Everytime when a 3rd party company makes a PS3 controller, they always have to use that sucky d-pad.
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Posted: Aug 26th 2009 2:25PM Jawmuncher said
You know using these or a first party controller would not change anything when it came to playing the damn game
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Posted: Aug 26th 2009 2:26PM Jawmuncher said
Don''t know why that got posted.
Meant to say that you would get a worse experience from these controllers than you would playing with first party controllers more than likely.
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Meant to say that you would get a worse experience from these controllers than you would playing with first party controllers more than likely.
Posted: Aug 26th 2009 5:48PM Sly C said
not really. for modern warfare 2, i'd imagine that the PS3 controller (only have a PS3 so can't honestly say anything about the 360 controller) would be better than first-party. it's damn near the same thing, just with the combat buttons which would make knifing much easier, and the L2/R2 buttons having that curve out that prevents your fingers from sliding off when grenading. that would be very useful IMO.
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Posted: Aug 26th 2009 2:25PM Picasotriggerfish said
The only Mad Catz product I've ever had was a free faceplate for my 360. The only problem was that it pressed on the disc tray and caused my games to get scratched.
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Posted: Aug 26th 2009 3:08PM (Unverified) said
So, they can't even get a faceplate right?I've only bought one product from madcatz and that was the bluetooth headset for PS3. It sucks. I just wish I would have waited for the official one to come out.
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Posted: Aug 26th 2009 2:27PM joelthecomic said
There's something very "Rick Gervais" about this guy trying to sell the less than feature-packed accessories and the IGN guy being nonplussed about the whole thing. This video is unintentionally hilarious!
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Posted: Aug 26th 2009 2:28PM TheFuzzFace said
I prefer the joystiq photoshop to the actual products
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Posted: Aug 26th 2009 2:28PM Johnnynumber5 is powered by cell said
HIS NAME IS ROBERT PAULSEN! SAY IT! SAY HIS NAME!
I bet you could make a lot of soap out of him ... heh ... he has bitch tits and all
Reply
I bet you could make a lot of soap out of him ... heh ... he has bitch tits and all
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