Mad Catz kicks off Round 2 of Street Fighter IV peripherals
by Griffin McElroy 
{ Sep 22nd 2009 at 6:59PM } 
At $149.99, you'd have to be a fighting game fanatic to shell out for the Tournament Edition FightStick -- though that black and white motif is strangely alluring. You're more likely to spring for the $39.99 FightPads, each of which feature a design based on one of the game's characters. We'd be remiss if we didn't point out that the placement of the Start and Select buttons on the Crimson Viper FightPad is, well ... unfortunate.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Solace @ Sep 22nd 2009 7:04PM
Don't forget that the controller looks like someone has jizzed on it
REIGN x 777 @ Sep 22nd 2009 7:06PM
One would think that the people who are prone to buy these would already have one by now. Since SFIV has been out for a good while.
Who knows.
Creating illogical sentences to irritate the Internet Grammar Teachers @ Sep 22nd 2009 7:09PM
*crosses fingers for DLC expansion*
jynxycat @ Sep 22nd 2009 7:35PM
It's true.
I doubt a $150 joystick would be an impulse buy at this point.
I got mine at launch, simply because it's the best joystick on the market, period.
Jimiisama @ Sep 22nd 2009 9:01PM
^ This is not true. These sticks use Sanwa knock-offs made by Sanwa; so they are technically Sanwa parts, but not THE Sanwa parts people are talking about when they make Sanwa parts. It's like you wanted an S2000, but you got a Civic instead; yeah it's a Honda, but it's not the same car.
M. Dizzy @ Sep 23rd 2009 10:23AM
I don't know...it could turn into an early christmas present for myself. I love fighting games...but hate playing them on the Xbox Joystick...there are enough fighting games in the 360 library to justify this as a purchase.
Spartan [Planeteer | Power of Sunshine & Lollipops] @ Sep 22nd 2009 7:14PM
Got my Ken fightpad and it does me fine.
Joe @ Sep 23rd 2009 2:14PM
Yes but can you do a crossup j.mk, c.lp, c.lp, fierce dp -> fadc -> ultra with that fight pad?
RKN @ Sep 22nd 2009 7:19PM
I can play just fine on a keyboard. ; P
I myself just cannot play on arcade controls, need a keyboard or gamepad, preferably Sony's.
Jawmuncher (PSN & XBL:Jawmuncher) @ Sep 22nd 2009 7:21PM
I like the Sagat Fightpad.
Might get one of those.
Ghen @ Sep 22nd 2009 7:21PM
I'd love a fightpad for $30 but I guess they're just too popular to come down in price.
Oh well. I just can't play SF4 with the xbox d-pad so I just don't play :(
arrness (PSN: chsowls) @ Sep 22nd 2009 7:28PM
http://www.amazon.com/Real-Arcade-Fighting-Stick-Playstation-3/dp/B0027FAR22/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1253662102&sr=8-10
i got this one not too long ago and it works great
jynxycat @ Sep 22nd 2009 7:36PM
and I drive a Kia, but a BMW sure would be nice.
under13warrior @ Sep 22nd 2009 7:39PM
I wish i had a fight stick.
Maybe I'll just saw off the one at the arcade in the theme park...
Spanky @ Sep 22nd 2009 7:46PM
correct link
http://www.capcom-unity.com/jgonzo/blog/2009/09/22/mad_catz_announces_round_2_of_street_fighter_iv_fightsticks_and_fightpads
It's catz with a C not K. How did that happen?
Jimiisama @ Sep 22nd 2009 9:04PM
These are $130 on Newegg. I would advice to hold out until the HRAP3 SA's ($120) for PS3 or the HRAP EX SE's ($130) for Xbox come out. MadKatz may have some decent Sanwa knock-off parts, but they're still MadKatz. Plus, these Hori sticks are guaranteed to have genuine Sanwa and Semitsu parts; the MadKatz sticks just have subpar parts Sanwa was contracted to make just to put the Sanwa name on the sticks.
Nael M. @ Sep 22nd 2009 10:57PM
Link to proof of this claim please. All the pics I've seen of the insides of the TE show Sanwa branding on the buttons and the joystick. It's on the $70/$80 standard stick that has knock-offs.
Jimiisama @ Sep 23rd 2009 12:44AM
The parts are made by Sanwa. Check the brands of the switches on the stick and buttons; check the brands of the switches on the stick and buttons from someone who's ordered their parts directly from Sanwa. Actual Sanwa buttons are lot more sensitive than the TE stick buttons. Plus, whether you believe me or not, the HRAP3 SA or the HRAP SE EX has Sanwa/Semitsu quality buttons for a lower price; not to mention, MadKatz has a long history of subpar craftmanship.
Haohmaru (PSN - DimmuBurgerKing XBL - A Real Puppet ) @ Sep 23rd 2009 8:23AM
Well, speaking from personal experience, I think the TE stick is superb and I haven't had any "sensitivity" issues with the buttons. Even a friend of mine who always orders Sanwa parts for modding purposes commented on how great the stick played when I brought it with me to Texas. They're also easy to mod with differently colored buttons, or if you're the type who has to have an octagonal gate instead of the default square.
I won't argue that the HRAP3 is a great stick and a better buy if you can't find a deal on the TE Fightstick (I got mine for $120) but to say that the TE is some kind of overpriced knockoff is both unfair and untrue. I've played countless hours of BlazBlue on it without modding a thing besides the artwork, and it keeps right on truckin'.
RagingStormX @ Sep 23rd 2009 2:37PM
The thing is that both Jimiisama and Haohmaru are correct to thier respective points. Haohmaru you are correct about the quality and feel of the sanwa parts of the TE sticks, but Jimiisama is also correct as far as the craftmanship of Madcatz in general, more so the PCB inside the stick. That is where the faults in the TE (or basically anything Madcatz) lies for me. I myself will be waiting for the HRAP3: SE (all semitsu parts) for my next arcade stick because Hori have proven themselves and continues to hold that high standard. I have a HRAP2 that has been (and still is) for years now. I have yet to own a Madcatz product that I can boast that is still workings in mint condition after a year. Madcatz new design and idea with the new fight pads and TE sticks are amaging and have that right feel to it....its such a pitty that their new found level of greatness is still marred by their below adverage quality and reliability.
PS - I have heard of sanwa having a branded line of parts that are not equal to their regular line of sanwa buttons (for license use), but I have yet to see anything officical to prove it as fact.
Cheesus Crust @ Sep 22nd 2009 9:59PM
I MIGHT get this..
Blueeyedpop79 @ Sep 23rd 2009 1:01AM
How are theese compared to the PS3 NeoGeo arcade stick? Which sells here in San Diego for $90 before taxes
Blueeyedpop79 @ Sep 23rd 2009 1:05AM
The NeoGeo stick is a Japanese import.
jordan @ Sep 23rd 2009 4:29AM
i got the white fight stick for £25 in game the other day never been used, the guy had to double check it was right. i dont think it was but he gave it to me anyway .
Haohmaru (PSN - DimmuBurgerKing XBL - A Real Puppet ) @ Sep 23rd 2009 8:42AM
Buyer beware: don't confuse the SE and the TE arcade sticks, people.
The TE (the larger, more expensive one; black and white base with red "Street Fighter IV" top panel) uses OBSF-30 buttons, six white and two black/gray. The joystick itself is a Sanwa JLF.
The SE (the less expensive stick; all white, with colored character artwork) is the one that uses Sanwa knockoff parts. It's not worth it unless you're a collector or want a stick for a second player to use occasionally.
The Round 2 pictured above is a TE.
Haohmaru (PSN - DimmuBurgerKing XBL - A Real Puppet ) @ Sep 23rd 2009 8:51AM
Here's the SE with lower quality "Sanwa" parts: http://shop.capcom.com/store/capcomus/en_US/DisplayProductDetailsPage/productID.111617500
And here's the TE, with a high quality Sanwa JLF stick and OBSF-30 buttons: http://shop.capcom.com/store/capcomus/en_US/DisplayProductDetailsPage/productID.111617600
M. Dizzy @ Sep 23rd 2009 10:32AM
Thanks for the heads up...I was wondering what the difference between the two was. I'll go with the TE.