300 Dollar Dual Joysticks Re-Designed

I'd _think_ about buying it if it was forward compatible.. meaning that when the next system comes out it'd work with it.
For $300 it should work with every system ever made.

I wish I could see the original....

I wonder how well this will work with a FPS? Not saying I'm gonna drop $300 on this, but if it does work with FPS, I think it will give it some more value. Also, all 360 controllers, 3rd party or not, double as PC controllers, so I would see this being used with plenty of PC flight simulator games.

Diyomaro

@freakout: I have said version of VO and let me tell you its impossible to play on the standard controller.

Rhonlore

Just what was it that makes this thing so expensive?

Tye-The-Czar

@Atheist Jew: Have you seen joystick prices lately though? $60 doesn't even buy you a EX2 for the 360. Unfortunately for the arcade quality stuff (that the fans demand) and with such a limited manufacturing run, I doubt we're ever going a sub-$100 dual stick. PS. I miss Steel Battalion.

negitoro

@Salen: I'd love to see a redesign of the SB controller and a new 360 version. Steel Battalion was probably my favorite game of that generation solely for its innovation and unique controls.

Raziel66

@Salen: Steel Battallion already costs an arm and a leg... if you can find it anyway.

I love these guys.I have a Hori EX2. I wanted the pro, but it was wayy too much on most sites. The thing is, even if it's an inferior model it works great. If you need arcade sticks, you get a Hori.

StinkyNelkin

Now it seems as if only star posters post! On Topic: Who has that kind of cash to waste for an xbl arcade game?

King_Krunk

How can they justify this thing costing more than some game consoles which are far more complex?

MaWeiTao

You know, I loved this game in the arcades. But a $300 controller for a $15 game is stupid. And I say this having bought Steel Batallion.

Hori's always had quality sticks. $300 is steep, but I'd be willing to bet that it's worth it.

@Witzbold: You don't really need to be technologically advanced to make an arcade stick. Seems like with these things, it's all about quality, which i'm not accusing SEGA for lacking. As for packaging, I was thinking more of the point-of-purchase kind of scenario. I don't know how much of what they do is outsourced. I just figure there are enough differences between an arcade cabinet and an arcade stick that to start producing accessories would require an investment that wouldn't be worth spending for a single joystick unless they were looking to do it part time. Then again, you could always hire a design firm like Astro to do everything.

i never played virtual on at the arcades. never even found a virtual on arcade even. would you say this gives you an advantage in gameplay, or is it just more fun?

300 bucks? Geez! It makes me wonder what a redesign of the old Steel Battalion controller would be like if Hori ever got to do it. Probably would cost an arm and a leg, and would probably as indestructable as the mecha robot you pilot.

Edit: Wait... when did I pick up this shiny star? That's... unexpected. Thanks Kotaku. And thanks again for the edit option.

@everybest: Its still hardware regardless and the most technologically advanced company in that regard is SEGA. Sides display packaging I dont see how you figure that into. The overall design of the machine though does fall into the display category though. So far they have been doing a damned good job of it, so Id say that SEGA is still very much into the hardware market more so than most other game companies, considering the various mediums that SEGA dabbles in, granted not as much as before but still more than most.

@Witzbold: Yeah, I thought of that, but with arcade systems, they produce a thousand cabinets of each game, maybe less? There's no display packaging needed, different regulations, etc. I don't know, maybe they'd be able to pull it off, they seem pretty similar, arcade machines and arcade sticks, but they're for a completely different market.

300 for just a control pad~?! *Shits brick* Wow, that was more painful than I thought it would be.. Anyways, I could see spending 100 dollars. But hell.. go 100 dollars more and you could have a PlayStation 3. (Weird logic I know)

--Core--

It's not going to be long now before the smart ones forego these overly-expensive joysticks altogether. Seriously. Someone buys one, sniffs the USB device ID, bam! You can program a microcontroller to be recognized by the 360 as that same USB device, and wire it to whatever buttons and sticks you want. Who's going to buy something like a Hori Street Fighter arcade stick when you can build your own for nearly a tenth the price? Granted, that's just my two yen and your mileage may vary; not everyone has circuit board manufacture and surface mount soldering facilities in their apartment.

I trust Hori 's quality, so this expensive controller must be very well made. But the hefty price tag vs the nbr of real hardcore fans, doesn't make much business to me.

jellyfish

Do you smash the buttons with your head?

Wish they'd release some kind of USB adapter, so people who own either the Saturn or Dreamcast Twin Sticks could use them

there is not chance i would ever get these considering I think 1200 points for the game is overpriced,

@everybest: Actually though if you consider arcade machines "hardware" Id say SEGA is still very much into the game still. Even more so with all of the high tech card games that they have released over the years.

Very cool, very cool indeed. A tad steep though, for a stick designed for one single game only.

Cthulhu4prez

I bet these things can stand to be dropped off a building just like the Real Arcade Pro EX-SE If wasnt so tight for cash currently Id seriously consdier throwing down for a pre-order.

blame inflation.

flanker22

@Atheist Jew: Hmm... I think i may be able to actualy do a good quality replacement for that stick, from the bones a X360 Joypad few arcade parts, two arcade full handle joysticks, or in alternative two used Logitech Attack 3 Joysticks (ambidextruous). Should cost around 100€ to make, not cheap but a lot cheaper than that Hori.

Resev

@Tyr4nt: Uhh... Sega licensed this, you know?

$300.00 is a little O.D. What am I saying? A little? I mean is straight up O.D. I know that the material and/or design cost for production of this peripheral do not demand such high price tag. This product is clearly aimed at those type of people who bought the Dreamcast counter parts.

@Atheist Jew: ah yes, steel batallion! always wanted to try that game out...

xone9

...Love the game, but will NEVER touch this thing w/o a price drop. Not with a ten foot poll.

Well unfortunately, until they reduce that price to say, oh, $60? I'm not buying the damn thing. To hell with you, Hori. Not even Stell Battalion cost that much, and it included the game and the massive, amazing controller which has other uses.

@Tyr4nt: None of their HRAPs are under $100. What are you talking about? The cheap clacky budget sticks?

The amount of discussion and excitement behind just one peripheral just goes to show the amazing quality of the games that were on Sega consoles, and the immense fan base that they still hold. It's a pity to think that SEGA won't be back making these great games for the masses anymore. The Dreamcast died way before it's time. RIP.

@Tyr4nt: Lets just stick to the basics with this one! $15 game - $300 controller! Screw software sales when you can 1up Nintendo with peripherals.

@GamerMx: Well I was going to attach an image of the Steel Battalion controller without text as a reply, but the image upload isn't working... so use your imagination... if you can imagine a controller that awesome.

Raziel

Ahhh...much better. ^_^

What kind of games need a controller like that? Anyway, it's too expensive. I love my Fighting Stick Pro 3, and it was only less than ¥8,000

@Tyr4nt: Neither companies seem to excel at hardware. Other than arcade cabinets, I doubt Sega's done much hardware production since the Dreamcast and Microsoft isn't much different. They have a few devices, but to go from concept to production seems to take them a few years at the very least.

@Tyr4nt: I like your idea for a free copy with a first party stick, but we'd have heard about it already if it were a possibility, methinks... sigh.

Raziel

@Raziel: And there it all goes again... except for the first post. I guess we can chalk it up to a bug in the commenting system.

Thank you, mystery commenting system bug, wherever you are! (stares into the distance once again)

Raziel

why would you pay 300 dollars to play a 15 dollar game on a 200 dollar console?

@Mit: lol. I guess so, but I thought it'd tell me under my comment. As my comments are just appearing as if I were cool, however, it appears you are correct.

Thank you, mystery promoter, wherever you are! (stares into the distance)

Raziel

@Raziel: Lulz

I believe editors can promote comments that they like so that they appear in the featured comments. It's not exclusive to just star commenters.

@Sir-Lucius has no pictchar!: If you've got $300 to spend on the joystick, might as well spend another $150 for a racing seat and set up a rig. At least that way it would look its value ^^

@UncleMark: I originally had used HTML tags, but then I deleted them, as I figure I'll never receive a star from anyone who can see my comment since it'll always look like it was already starred.

EDIT: As for why THIS comment is in black... I have NO idea whatsoever. WHAT HAVE I DONE?!?!?!

Raziel

It's pretty infuriating considering Sega had already fabricated the perfect foundation to follow. Not to mention Hori has plenty of experience manufacturing arcade sticks albeit of questionable build quality. That being said a Hori stick is not worth $300+. I'd have no problem plunking down their normal rate of $60 to $80 on this like their other peripherals. But at this price I would just assume look online and build myself a DIY twinstick. I'd actually like to See Sega release their own first party stick as competition and possibly even produce a new Virtual-On to justify the peripheral or include a download code voucher for VOOT with a first party twinstick. Perhaps they could also partner with Microsoft to make it happen?

Tyr4nt

I don't know about Virtual On, but this is just what i needed to take my Street Fighter IV to the next level.

@Raziel: I see what you did there. Coloring your text to make yourself seem special. BTW, how do you color text?

@Raziel: seriously, the steel batallion controller had 5 times as many buttons, and costed 100 dollars less than this. What the hell?

Armagetiton

@freakout: I was saying Boo-urns.

Raziel

That's some serious nerdage. Never mind the controller costs more than the system it's used on, they got the layout all wrong. Although I guess if you are gonna pony up that amount of money, you'd want it to be absolutely perfect.

Definitely a step in the right direction, but that price is pretty insane.

Oh well... it's Hori... so it'll be fantastic in almost every way, as is their norm (from my experience, anyways).

Raziel

The fucking nerve of some companies ... sheesh. Give 'em hell. Hell hath no fury like angered fanboys.

Dreamcast original? They've gotten it wrong again! Curse you, Hori! (shakes angry nerd fist)

EDIT: ....and only now do I realise there was a Dreamcast version of VO, post Saturn. Now I need to shake my fist at myself. (shakes)

For $300, I could get my joystick played with a hell of a lot more satisfaction.

Squirrelbot3000

I guess trying to rob people with something that shouldn't even cost $323 during a recession doesn't compute into their reality.