Joystiq

Michael McDonald arcade stick, for takin' it to the Street Fighters

JC Fletcher — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 18:45:00 EST

You're not going to find a better custom PS2 arcade stick with a better picture of a better Doobie Brother.

Michael McDonald arcade stick, for takin' it to the Street Fighters originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 21 Feb 2012 18:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Qanba introduces line of ambidextrous arcade sticks

Jordan Mallory — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 15:00:00 EST

The raging battle between Southpaws and Righties wages ever onward, with each side continuing to produce products for their own kind in an attempt to eventually convert the global population to their way of doing things. Some companies, however, are trying to create peace between the warring factions by introducing products that either side can use.

Take Qanba, for instance: The Chinese arcade stick manufacturer has announced a new line of ambidextrous sticks that can be flipped and reversed with the flick of a switch. Launching sometime next month, the "Q2-PRO Battle of Wits" can be oriented with the stick on the left or on the right, depending on how you were raised, and will be available in PS3/PC, 360/PC and PS3/360/PC flavors. No pricing information is available as of yet, but can you really put a price on world peace?

Qanba introduces line of ambidextrous arcade sticks originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 05 Feb 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video review: Mad Catz Arcade FightStick Soul Edition

Jordan Mallory — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:30:00 EST

A few weeks ago, Mad Catz sent me one of its latest arcade sticks, the SoulCalibur 5 branded Soul Edition arcade fightstick. After daily testing on SC5, Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 and Mortal Kombat, the Soul Edition not only met my expectations, but exceeded them, as you can tell from the review video above.

The company's Tournament Edition sticks have always been excellent pieces of hardware, and the Soul Edition is no exception. It's solidly constructed from arcade-quality parts and is heavy enough to stay in place, regardless of whether you fight on a table-top or your lap. The stick's striking motif and subtle design elements set it apart from every other mass-produced arcade stick on the market; if you want to stand out at your local Ranking Battles without incurring the cost of a custom-made stick, you'd be hard pressed to find a piece of fighting tech that's this unique, right out of the box.

Video review: Mad Catz Arcade FightStick Soul Edition originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mad Catz unveils a suite of Street Fighter X Tekken sticks

JC Fletcher — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 23:59:00 EST

Mad Catz's Street Fighter X Tekken FightSticks have changed since we last saw them. Not only has the company abandoned the red-and-white colorway, there are now more sticks in the line.

The now-black FightStick Pro is the next evolution of the Tournament Edition stick, with Sanwa parts and internal cable storage. The Arcade FightStick VS. Edition seems to be similar in design, but two of them can be connected with an optional attachment to create a continuous arcade machine-style panel. And the new FightPad SD is 15% smaller than previous FightPads, "inspired by the gaming preferences of legendary Street Fighter producer Yoshinori Ono."

No prices were given for any of these new accessories, but Mad Catz did offer the expected release window: concurrent with the game's March 6 debut.

Gallery: Street Fighter X Tekken FightSticks (Xbox 360, PS3)

Mad Catz unveils a suite of Street Fighter X Tekken sticks originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 10 Jan 2012 23:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Joystiq Joystick, chapter 1: Parts

Jordan Mallory — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST

You see that video up there? That was taken at Arcade UFO in Austin, TX, during its 2011 fall Ranking Battle tournament series. The fight was between me and the arcade's owner, Ryan Harvey, and took place on a custom built Mortal Kombat arcade cabinet, one of the few in existence at the time. I'm the guy playing Kitana, and if you watch the whole thing, you'll see that I'm also the guy who loses.

That's all right though, because I should have lost that fight. Fubarduck (as Ryan is known in the fighting game community) is an exceptional fighting-game player, as his multiple Top-8 finishes at EVO will attest, and his combo execution was far more solid than what I was laying down with Kitana. Ryan had won, I had learned something about fighting Johnny Cage, and we all moved on. Right?

Well, in a perfect world yes, but unfortunately we live in a world where this fight is available on YouTube. By now I've watched it dozens of times, and at this point I can pinpoint every single mistake I made over the course of those matches. Most of them were strategic mistakes, granted, but there were also execution errors: Because the arcade parts Ryan uses in his cabinets are far superior to the parts in the $35 fight stick I practice with at home, I was at a disadvantage.

High quality joysticks and buttons are light, accurate and require very little manual force to move. Cheaply made parts, on the other hand, are stiff and less responsive, and as such require a lot more effort. My hands, being acclimated to a sub-standard stick, were expecting to work a lot harder than they needed to. I was forward-jumping instead of dashing, doing directional normals instead of neutral normals ... The whole fight was a mess, looking back.

It was a good fight, though, because it made me realize how important it is to own a proper fight stick once you get serious about competitive fighting games. After all, a craftsman's tools are as important as the skill he has acquired, as far as the final result is concerned. To that end, I'm going to build my own, custom fight stick, and you're coming along for the ride.

Continue reading The Joystiq Joystick, chapter 1: Parts

The Joystiq Joystick, chapter 1: Parts originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 10 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hori making Soulcalibur 5 branded fight sticks

Jordan Mallory — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 10:30:00 EST

Remember how Mad Catz is going to make those gorgeous, dynamically styled Soulcalibur 5 themed fight sticks? Well, if shiny bevelled edges and an LED-ready see-through plastic casing aren't your jam, accessories manufacturer Hori has a rather minimalistic alternative: The Soulcalibur 5 Joystick.

The stick's fancy name matches the rest of its aesthetic, and is slated for a January 2012 release, with versions being made for both the 360 and PS3. While Hori has yet to announce pricing or parts information, the size of the stick suggests that it will be similar to their Sanwa-packing $140 Real Arcade Pro. That's wild speculation on our part, of course, so while we're speculating let's go ahead and say that the stick is also filled with molasses. Gross, Hori!

Hori making Soulcalibur 5 branded fight sticks originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 13 Nov 2011 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Soulcalibur 5 fight stick coming courtesy of Mad Catz

Ben Gilbert — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 12:00:00 EST

You'll be able to 8-way-run in style next year, as Mad Catz is introducing a Soulcalibur 5-themed version of its Tournament Edition FightStick, shipping for Xbox 360 and PS3 to coincide with the launch of Namco's latest. Fittingly, it's called the "Soul Edition," though it thankfully doesn't claim to take the soul of its user in exchange.

Like the Soul Edge, however, SC5's fight stick is composed of mythical, unknown parts (Mad Catz isn't telling just yet). The "Soul Edition" fight stick will launch in January 2012 alongside Soulcalibur 5, though we've yet to receive an official price.

Gallery: Soulcalibur 5 "Soul Edition" Fight Stick

Continue reading Soulcalibur 5 fight stick coming courtesy of Mad Catz

Soulcalibur 5 fight stick coming courtesy of Mad Catz originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 27 Oct 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Online-exclusive Tekken Hybrid bundle adds exclusive FightStick

JC Fletcher — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 23:30:00 EST

Namco Bandai is relaunching its "ClubNamco" online store with an exclusive Tekken Hybrid bundle. The $249.99 set, limited to 1,000 units, contains the Tekken Hybrid limited edition, along with an exclusive Namco-branded Mad Catz Tournament Edition S FightStick, which might be the most understated arcade stick we've seen. Pre-orders open today in advance of the game's official release date is November 22.

While the real purpose of the stick is to play Tekken Tag Tournament HD and the Tekken Tag Tournament 2 Prologue included in Hybrid, the PS3-exclusive release also includes Tekken: Blood Vengeance, making that the first movie we can think of to have an official arcade stick.

Continue reading Online-exclusive Tekken Hybrid bundle adds exclusive FightStick

Online-exclusive Tekken Hybrid bundle adds exclusive FightStick originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 06 Oct 2011 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mad Catz making official MLG FightSticks and controllers

JC Fletcher — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 09:00:00 EST

If you're not good enough at fighting games to make a living in the MLG, but want to look like you are, Mad Catz has announced a line of MLG-branded accessories, starting with a Tournament Edition Arcade FightStick.

The stick is functionally identical to the Super Street Fighter IV FightSticks, with buttons and joystick by renowned parts maker Sanwa Denshi, a button lock for the turbo switches and home buttons, and a compartment in the back for cable storage. It just lacks, you know, Street Fighter imagery, because it's for professionals.

Mad Catz has other new MLG-themed controllers to show off, which it will do at the MLG Pro Circuit in Raleigh, NC this weekend.

Continue reading Mad Catz making official MLG FightSticks and controllers

Mad Catz making official MLG FightSticks and controllers originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 23 Aug 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Street Fighter X Tekken 'FightStick Pro' spotted

JC Fletcher — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 04:30:00 EST

Mad Catz is working on a new series of FightSticks, starting with a Street Fighter X Tekken model. Though we don't have details about the internals of the new "FightStick Pro," or the price or release date or really anything, we did see one, play Street Fighter X Tekken with it, and then take the above picture. A Capcom rep informed us that this was a prototype, so despite it looking super fresh, the final version might look different.

A quick inspection of the underside revealed a Comic-Con logo, suggesting that we'll learn more about this accessory at the July 21-24 event.

Street Fighter X Tekken 'FightStick Pro' spotted originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 08 Jun 2011 04:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Grab a Hori Xbox 360 Fight Stick with Tekken 6 for $30 at Best Buy

Griffin McElroy — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 10:45:00 EST

Need a sturdier form of input for your latest fighting game acquisition, Marvel vs. Capcom 3? Best Buy has what might just be the cheapest Fight Stick on the internet: The retailer has marked the Tekken 6 Limited Edition for 360 -- which includes a nice little Hori Fight Stick -- down to $29.99.

Continue reading Grab a Hori Xbox 360 Fight Stick with Tekken 6 for $30 at Best Buy

Grab a Hori Xbox 360 Fight Stick with Tekken 6 for $30 at Best Buy originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 21 Feb 2011 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mad Catz making replacement FightStick panel for Mortal Kombat

JC Fletcher — Sun, 06 Feb 2011 17:00:00 EST

The Mortal Kombat Tournament Edition arcade stick is great for Mortal Kombat, but isn't really usable for other games, due to the unique layout. During a Level|Up Live event, Mad Catz's Mark "MarkMan" Julio unveiled Mad Catz's novel Mortal Kombat solution: a replacement panel for current Tournament Edition FightSticks, allowing you to have arcade-perfect controls for multiple games with the same stick.

The Mortal Kombat "Kombat Fight Stick Ultimate Edition Panel" allows users to replace the button layout of the edition Tournament Edition FightStick with one that approximates the classic Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 arcade panel, which is also used in the new Mortal Kombat. The buttons are a little closer together in this version for the sake of ergonomics.

No price or release date was announced, but the panel will be available from Mad Catz's online store.

Continue reading Mad Catz making replacement FightStick panel for Mortal Kombat

Mad Catz making replacement FightStick panel for Mortal Kombat originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 06 Feb 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Marvel vs. Capcom 3 FightSticks shipping in time for the game

JC Fletcher — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 21:40:00 EST

Chances are, a lot of people will be looking to buy an arcade stick with Marvel vs. Capcom 3 next week. Mad Catz, anticipating this obvious interest, is producing one just for such an occasion.

The "Marvel vs. Capcom 3 Arcade FightStick Tournament Edition" keeps the hardware design and Sanwa Denshi brand arcade components from previous Street Fighter IV Tournament Edition FightSticks and adds new, surprisingly restrained Marvel vs. Capcom 3 artwork to the top panel of the stick. Like the most recent iterations of the FightStick, it also includes a locking mechanism to prevent accidental use of the turbo switches.

5,000 MvC3 FightSticks are being produced and will be available from Mad Catz's online store. No price has been named, but previous Tournament Edition sticks have retailed for around $150.

Gallery: Marvel vs. Capcom 3 Tournament Edition FightStick (Xbox 360/PS3)

Continue reading Marvel vs. Capcom 3 FightSticks shipping in time for the game

Marvel vs. Capcom 3 FightSticks shipping in time for the game originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 01 Feb 2011 21:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mad Catz's WWE All Stars 'BrawlStick' and 'BrawlPad' revealed

JC Fletcher — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 14:40:00 EST

We were baffled by the announcement that Mad Catz would make premium controllers for WWE All Stars. Mad Catz just sent us the first images of the new "BrawlStick" and "BrawlPad" accessories, and we don't know if it's just because we've had months to get used to the idea, but they aren't too shocking!

Okay, so these are Standard Edition FightSticks and FightPads with exaggerated cartoon pictures of The Rock and Triple H on them. For some reason, we expected to be a lot more weirded out by that sight. They'll be available on PS3 and Xbox 360 alongside the game, with the sticks priced at $79.99 and the pads at $39.99.

Gallery: Mad Catz WWE All Stars controllers

Continue reading Mad Catz's WWE All Stars 'BrawlStick' and 'BrawlPad' revealed

Mad Catz's WWE All Stars 'BrawlStick' and 'BrawlPad' revealed originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 20 Jan 2011 14:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PDP discusses American-style design of Mortal Kombat arcade stick

JC Fletcher — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 22:00:00 EST

According to Gerry Block, senior product manager for PDP, the differences between the arcade stick packaged with the $150 Tournament Edition of Mortal Kombat and the popular Street Fighter FightSticks produced by Mad Catz is culturally based.

"Mad Catz did some good work with the Tournament Edition (Street Fighter IV) sticks," Block told Kotaku, "but those are Japanese style sticks for a Japanese game. We thought it would be a lot of fun to respond with an American style stick for an American fighting franchise." That's why the MK stick has parts more traditionally associated with American arcade machines: a bat-top stick instead of a ball-top, concave buttons instead of convex, and parts made by Happ instead of Sanwa. That should make it the ideal stick for the American Mortal Kombat -- and only for Mortal Kombat, thanks to the wacky button layout that game uses.

Other design elements aren't so much America-focused as just nice. The internal components are encased in easily removable transparent plastic for modding, and the bottom of the stick has a memory foam pad for comfortable use on your lap.

PDP discusses American-style design of Mortal Kombat arcade stick originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 16 Dec 2010 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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FightSticks, lots of other accessories on sale at Amazon

JC Fletcher — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 12:30:00 EST

Today's Amazon Deal of the Day is actually deals -- discounts on a bunch of accessories. If you look through the pages of deals, you'll hit upon some highlights like the Mad Catz Xbox 360 Street Fighter IV Round 2 Tournament Edition FightStick for $105 andthe Hori PS3 Fighting Stick 3 for $30.

But our personal highlight is right there on the front page. Hori's wonderful Dragon Quest Slime Speaker Stand for DS, which is a DS stand with a speaker in it, that is shaped like a Slime from Dragon Quest, and is on sale for $30. All of these offers will be active through the end of the day or until stock runs out.

FightSticks, lots of other accessories on sale at Amazon originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 06 Dec 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pick up a FightStick and Street Fighter 4 for $29

JC Fletcher — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 13:02:00 EST

Well, this is most definitely the best deal on a Mad Catz FightStick we've ever seen -- we're tempted to predict it's the best deal we ever will see. Walmart.com is selling the standard edition FightStick, along with a copy of Street Fighter IV, for just $29.

Even if you already have an arcade stick, don't you need one for a second player? Or to experiment with modding? As for that Street Fighter IV, you probably already have it (or even Super SFIV) if you're shopping for arcade sticks, but who cares? Trade it in or give it away. The FightStick itself usually sells for much more than that -- even at Walmart.

[Thanks, Joe]

Pick up a FightStick and Street Fighter 4 for $29 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 17 Nov 2010 13:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mad Catz creating FightSticks and FightPads for WWE All Stars

JC Fletcher — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 15:40:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

Mad Catz has created FightPad and FightStick accessories for fighting games like Street Fighter IV and Marvel vs. Capcom 2. It has now announced a partnership with THQ to produce ... WWE-branded FightSticks and FightPads, for the upcoming WWE All Stars game. All Stars is supposed to be more arcade-like and feature "combination sequences" (according to its original announcement), so ... no, this just isn't going to make sense no matter how hard we try.

Mad Catz intends to produce the accessories for PS3, Xbox 360, and Wii, which means that if you missed out on the Tatsunoko vs. Capcom FightStick, you'll have another chance to get a Wii arcade stick, albeit one with pictures of wrasslers all over it. Mad Catz has declined to offer images or specific details for the devices, so we're just going to have to dream for now.

Mad Catz creating FightSticks and FightPads for WWE All Stars originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 18 Oct 2010 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Street Fighter 4 Tournament FightStick priced $99 on Amazon today

Alexander Sliwinski — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 12:45:00 EST

In case you missed out in February, the original Mad Catz Street Fighter IV Tournament FightSticks for Xbox 360 and PS3 are Amazon's deal of the day for $99 (regularly $150). The "standard" SF4 sticks are also 30 percent off on both consoles, priced around $50.

Gallery: Mad Catz Street Fighter IV controllers

Street Fighter 4 Tournament FightStick priced $99 on Amazon today originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 25 Jun 2010 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Interview: Marvel vs Capcom 3 producer Ryota Niitsuma

David Hinkle — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 10:04:00 EST

During E3, we bent the ear of Marvel vs Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds producer Ryota Niitsuma, who in turn gabbed about the new game and previous Vs titles, as well as the possibility of a new arcade stick partnership with Mad Catz. The full interview follows.

Joystiq: We've heard different stories about the origin of Marvel vs Capcom 3 -- both that development started as a result of strong sales of the HD re-release of Marvel vs Capcom 2 and that it was in development long before that. Which is it?

Ryota Niitsuma: Both games were being developed independently -- one didn't lead to the other, as it were. While we were getting the ball rolling on MvC3, the downloadable version of Marvel vs Capcom 2 was being repackaged and distributed. And then that was really successful, as you know, and because of that, it had kind of an impact on Marvel vs Capcom 3. We thought then that the game would be really big and people would be excited about it, so then we were more hopeful and expectant of what would happen with Marvel vs Capcom 3.

Gallery: Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds

Continue reading Interview: Marvel vs Capcom 3 producer Ryota Niitsuma

Interview: Marvel vs Capcom 3 producer Ryota Niitsuma originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 24 Jun 2010 10:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Save on Tatsunoko vs. Capcom FightSticks at Capcom's online store

JC Fletcher — Fri, 07 May 2010 18:19:00 EST

Buying a Wii arcade stick for a single game might be hard to justify, but Capcom is making it somewhat easier with its latest online Deal of the Week. This weekend, the Tatsunoko vs. Capcom FightStick is marked down 15%, to $67.95. If you buy it together with the game, the whole thing is $113.95, with the stick making up $64 of that.

We should also point out that the FightSticks are $68.56 on Amazon at the moment, so you have another potential avenue for savings. And it wouldn't necessarily just be for one game -- it would be really nice for retro fighting games and even shooters on the Virtual Console, as well.

Save on Tatsunoko vs. Capcom FightSticks at Capcom's online store originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 07 May 2010 18:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BlazBlue: Continuum Shift FightStick is blazing, blue

JC Fletcher — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 21:00:00 EST

click to enter our Tournament Edition Gallery
Do you want a Mad Catz Tournament Edition FightStick, but ... bluer? Mad Catz and Aksys have just announced a BlazBlue: Continuum Shift FightStick, featuring imagery from the upcoming BlazBlue sequel. Like the latest revision of the Super Street Fighter IV stick, this controller features genuine Sanwa parts and internal storage for the 13-foot cable.

Only 3,000 sticks will be produced: 1,500 each for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. The only place you'll be able to get one is through Aksys's online store. Pre-orders will ship in June for $199.99. With those limited quantities, if you want one, you should probably look into that soon. We're holding out for a BlayzBloo DS arcade stick.

Gallery: BlazBlue Continuum Shift FightSticks

BlazBlue: Continuum Shift FightStick is blazing, blue originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 30 Apr 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mad Catz reports growing profits, hints at new Super Street Fighter IV joystick

JC Fletcher — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 18:00:00 EST

Accessory company Mad Catz released its earnings report for the third quarter of its fiscal year (ending December 31, 2009), with numbers that suggest its wares are selling like mad. Net sales came to $48.8 million, which is "the second-best quarter of sales in the company's history." Profits increased 51 percent over the same period in the previous fiscal year, a change Mad Catz attributes to its movement out of low-price controllers and into higher-end specialty accessories. Hello $150 FiightStick!

In its announcement, Mad Catz also listed the controllers and accessories it plans to ship in the near future. In addition to the new Super Street Fighter IV "Tournament Edition S" FightSticks (pictured above), the release also reveals plans to sell a new Super Street Fighter IV edition of the standard FightStick. It's as of yet unconfirmed if the standard stick will be given a new layout and shell like the superified Tournament Edition stick, or merely new artwork.

Mad Catz reports growing profits, hints at new Super Street Fighter IV joystick originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 09 Feb 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Official Tatsunoko vs. Capcom FightStick is officially real

JC Fletcher — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 15:15:00 EST

Though we've had very specific hints about such an item for a while, MadCatz never released details about an officially licensed Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars arcade stick until today. Now, the peripheral maker has announced that the stick is real and will be out sometime this month, to coincide with the game whose name and art it bears. It's so real that, as Kotaku reports, you can pre-order one from MadCatz's site!

The stick connects to the Wiimote for a wireless-ish experience, a de facto upgrade over the wired connections used by the PS3 and Xbox 360 Street Fighter IV FightSticks. It'll retail for $79.99.

Official Tatsunoko vs. Capcom FightStick is officially real originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 05 Jan 2010 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: Tatsunoko vs. Capcom FightStick, game bundle on the way

JC Fletcher — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 12:27:00 EST

[Comic-Con mockup; see retail box on Flickr]

Tatsunoko vs. Capcom proves that the Wii is a perfectly capable platform for fighting games -- except that it doesn't have a high-quality arcade stick. If these box images found on MadCatz staffer Mark "MarkMan" Julio's Flickr stream are any indication, the company behind the Street Fighter IV FightSticks is going to take care of that. Julio posted two images of a retail box for a Tatsunoko vs. Capcom FightStick using the same shape and layout as the company's Standard Edition Street Fighter IV FightStick for PS3 and Xbox 360. It would seem that response to the Comic-Con mockup (seen above) was positive enough for the accessory manufacturer to go ahead with a retail release!

The stick may be included in a special bundle for the game, as well. One Shoryuken forum user claims to have found both a normal and arcade stick bundle SKU in the GameStop database. We've contacted Capcom and MadCatz to find out just how we'll be controlling a giant lighter in a fight against Mega Man.

[Via NeoGAF]

Rumor: Tatsunoko vs. Capcom FightStick, game bundle on the way originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 04 Dec 2009 12:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Net sales down for Mad Catz, Q2 earnings show rise in PS3, Xbox 360 biz

David Hinkle — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:32:00 EST

Plastic peripheral powerhouse Mad Catz has unleashed its fiscal 2010 Q2 earnings results (that's the three months ending September 30, 2009 for us normal folk) and, while the company is still making plenty of cash ($21.6 million this quarter, to be exact) it saw losses of 16 percent when compared to the same period last year, where Mad Catz' net sales earned it $25.8 million. Its biggest market, North America, also saw a dip in sales this year to the tune of 18 percent; US sales have fallen nearly 20 percent this quarter, while Canadian sales rose 55 percent.

When comparing its gross sales by platform, Mad Catz only managed to lose a small fraction of its PC platform business, while simultaneously building its PS3 and Xbox 360 revenue streams by ten and four percent, respectively, and growing its specialty controller business nearly 20 percent. The company did take a considerable hit in its Wii business -- sales dropped eight percent -- as well as in other platform markets, however.

Citing what its key products were during its fiscal Q2 2010, Mad Catz obviously had a lot of love for Capcom, as several of the fight sticks it offered for 2D fighters were top earners. Aside from that, it pointed to its new line of Rock Band accessories and some Wii items such as its Remote and z-Chuk as other successful ventures.

While this quarter may not have been the best for the company, all signs point to it being a successful fiscal Q3 2010 for Mad Catz. With its collaboration with the biggest game in the universe and its venture with Capcom to offer new fighting game stuff -- the company also confirmed that Marvel vs Capcom 2 stick is legit -- we have a feeling our next post on its earnings will probably have an image of Scrooge McDuck in it.

Net sales down for Mad Catz, Q2 earnings show rise in PS3, Xbox 360 biz originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Marvel vs. Capcom 2 FightStick, other new Mad Catz fighting peripherals spotted at GameStop conference

JC Fletcher — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 14:45:00 EST

Shoryuken forumite ohgee saw some new, unannounced Mad Catz FightSticks and FightPads at the ongoing GameStop Manager Conference, and snapped some pictures for the community. Perhaps most noteworthy is the confirmation of the rumored Marvel vs. Capcom 2 Tournament Edition FightStick, with yellow and white buttons and artwork from the recent MvC2 downloadable release. GameStop employees in the thread say it'll be out September 25 for $159.99, a $10 increase over the original TE FightStick.

Other new items found at the conference include a "Round 2" Street Fighter IV FightStick with new art, and several new FightPads.

[Thanks Ninjax!]

Marvel vs. Capcom 2 FightStick, other new Mad Catz fighting peripherals spotted at GameStop conference originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 02 Sep 2009 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Comic-Con 2009: Tatsunoko vs. Capcom arcade stick mockups from Mad Catz

JC Fletcher — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 14:15:00 EST

Don't get too excited: the lovely Mad Catz Tatsunoko vs. Capcom Standard Edition FightStick above isn't real. It's a "non-playable mockup" that Mad Catz is showing off at Comic-Con. Capcom-Unity reports that Mad Catz is soliciting feedback about the stick -- presumably not only about the design, but about the level of interest among Wii owners for a high-end arcade stick. Yes, please!

We were wondering if Mad Catz would step up to support Tatsunoko vs. Capcom. Currently, our only arcade stick option in the US is the Hori Fighting Stick Wii, and that's getting hard to find. We'd love to be able to, like, go to a store and buy a nice arcade stick.

Comic-Con 2009: Tatsunoko vs. Capcom arcade stick mockups from Mad Catz originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Limited edition Mad Catz SFIV controllers available at Comic-Con

JC Fletcher — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 16:45:00 EST

Do you want to be the envy of all your fighting game opponents without actually having to be any good at fighting games? Mad Catz has created a set of exclusive Street Fighter IV controllers, to be available only at the San Diego Comic-Con (July 23-26) in limited numbers (500 FightPads each for PlayStation 3 and Xbox, and 250 Tournament Edition FightSticks for each console).

Both controllers feature a color scheme and artwork inspired by Sagat -- the art appears to represent his trademark scar. The FightStick features new details like Hadouken arrow diagrams on the joystick dust cover. It'll sell for $179.99 at the show, and for significantly more later on eBay. The FightPads will be available for $49.99.

Gallery: Comic-Con Exclusive Street Fighter IV Controllers

Limited edition Mad Catz SFIV controllers available at Comic-Con originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 20 Jul 2009 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Play-Asia reveals new Mad Catz FightSticks [update]

JC Fletcher — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 14:35:00 EST

[Update: Mad Catz let us know that these sticks are, as the Play-Asia reveal may suggest, being released in Asia, beyond the scope of the company's Street Fighter IV licensing deal.]

The FightSticks released by Mad Catz alongside Street Fighter IV were surprising, to say the least, for Mad Catz products: despite some early technical issues, the Tournament Edition FightStick for Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 is by far the highest-quality arcade stick available in North America. The only problem, of course, is that they aren't always available. The sticks were produced in extremely limited numbers and initial shipments sold out quickly.

We're very happy, then, to see new Tournament Edition FightSticks for PS3 and Xbox available for pre-order on import retailer Play-Asia. These sticks don't have any Street Fighter IV artwork, but otherwise they look identical -- and adding your own artwork isn't that complicated. According to Play-Asia, the sticks will be available Q4 for $149.90.

[Thanks, John Doe!]

Play-Asia reveals new Mad Catz FightSticks [update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 15 Jul 2009 14:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mad Catz SFIV FightSticks in stock at Capcom Store

James Ransom-Wiley — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 14:45:00 EST

Heads up! The Capcom Store received a long-awaited shipment of Mad Catz's official Street Fighter IV FightSticks today. Both the standard ($69.95/$79.95) and rarer Tournament Edition ($149.95) models are on sale for PS3 and Xbox 360. (Note: The FightPads are still out of stock.)

Still reading? You must not be interested. These bad boys go fast ... but are they built to last?

Gallery: Mad Catz Street Fighter IV controllers

[Via Capcom Unity]

Mad Catz SFIV FightSticks in stock at Capcom Store originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 24 Jun 2009 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mad Catz: 'well under 50' complaints about FightSticks

JC Fletcher — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 14:10:00 EST

Mad Catz's Alex Verrey issued an official response to the reports of defects in its standard edition Street Fighter IV FightSticks, admitting that there is in fact an issue, though it "does NOT happen on each Arcade FightStick and has been reported on a small number of units." The statement confirms that the "sticky joystick" issue is related to a metal washer moving out of place. While Verrey says that the issue is simple to fix, he suggests contacting Mad Catz for repairs to avoid voiding the warranty.

Verrey told 1UP that the number of complaints received by Mad Catz numbered "well under 50," and that the issue has "blown out of proportion." When asked about the connection between the FightStick issue and a recent drop in Mad Catz's stock price, Verrey responded that "It is my personal belief that the notion that this issue (Which has only surfaced in the last 48 hours or so) has in any way affected our company's stock price is slightly fanciful to say the least." We also doubt that a tiny, angry contingent of the Street Fighter community somehow performed the Guile handcuffs on Mad Catz's stock.

Gallery: Mad Catz Street Fighter IV controllers

Mad Catz: 'well under 50' complaints about FightSticks originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 19 Feb 2009 14:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mad Catz talks supply, demand issues of SFIV FightStick

Alexander Sliwinski — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 16:57:00 EST

Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360, Peripherals

Speaking with Eurogamer earlier today, peripheral manufacturer Mad Catz revealed a struggle to meet UK demand for the Street Fighter IV FightStick: Tournament Edition (pictured). Considering the UK is "over there" and we're, well, over here, we wanted to see the situation report for North America.

We spoke with the company's PR head, Alex Verrey, who was surprisingly candid about the situation. The issue is that the initial production run of the $150 Tournament stick consisted of 3,000 units. The company's pre-order count is now "many, many, times that amount," which Verrey admits caught the manufacturer by surprise. The sticks are currently going back into production, but it will take a little time for turnaround. Naturally, more units were allotted for North America than Europe, but he couldn't get into numbers. Although many who order now may not get the stick day and date with SF IV's release, we were informed the company intends to make sure that pre-order demand is met.

As for the other official Street Fighter IV controllers, Verrey believes that there should be adequate supply. Another topic we discussed at length was the quality of Mad Catz products, and he asked that consumers don't think of this Mad Catz as the same one they remember. He emphasized the new Mad Catz has evolved and is focusing more on quality. He reiterated that its wares come with a two-year warranty and they are committed to better products. We've placed pricing details for the SF IV controllers after the break.

Gallery: Mad Catz Street Fighter IV controllers

Continue reading Mad Catz talks supply, demand issues of SFIV FightStick

Mad Catz talks supply, demand issues of SFIV FightStick originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 14 Jan 2009 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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