Xbox 360 Joysticks: Assessing My Options

'Sup, VFDC:
I'm excited as hell that Virtua Fighter 5 is coming to the Xbox 360- finally, a good fighting game on the X360 that isn't on Live Arcade!- but there's one thing that's bugging me: joysticks. I'm probably going to end up getting one, since the 360's D-Pad is horrible for fighters (who knew that such a great controller would have it's flaws, too?), and I want optimal control for all my games. So, I assessed my options, and I have four of them: get the Mad Catz Arcade GameStick, get someone to make a custom stick, find a Hori DOA4 stick, or cross my fingers and hope that someone else makes a stick. My assessment is:

Mad Catz: It looks like something that can be used for Pac-Man and other XBLA games like it, and the 360 degree spinner would be useful with the upcoming XBLA version of Tempest, but the button placement, and the size of those buttons, probably won't lend itself well to a fighting game. It's probably a safe bet to pass on this one.

Custom stick: I'm leaning towards this option, as it would ensure that it's tailored to my specific tastes in regards to button placement, parts, design, etc., but I don't think that this will come cheap. This route will probably cost $150-200, at least, when all the parts, labor, and shipping costs are added up.

Hori DOA4 stick: There are two problems with this route. One, it's hard to find this one without going to eBay or some other auction site. Two, two of the face buttons are mapped to the shoulder bumpers, not the shoulder triggers. Why is this important? Well, the XBLA version of Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 maps the run and block buttons to the shoulder triggers, and the controls can't be remapped, making the Hori DOA4 stick useless unless I reach for two small buttons on the top during gameplay. Not good.

Wait: It would be nice if Sega and/or Hori released a new stick for the X360, but last I heard, the X360 version of VF5 isn't being sold in Japan, so I'm not holding my breath for one.

That's my assessment. Which route should I take for an Xbox 360 fighting stick?

 

Well I can say that I have the DOA4 Hori stick and its actually pretty good. Its a lot smaller than the HRAP or the VSHG, but its all quality parts. The stick has a nice "clicky" feel and the buttons are very responsive.

The downside is the size and weight. Because its so small, your hands may be closer than you are comfortable with. And because its so light, it may slide around in your lap while playing.

 

How much do those things go for anyways? Is there a place where I can find one for less than $100? I ask because that seems to be the going rate for those things at Amazon.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B000E0S0OO/ref=dp_olp_2/102-2847350-0051348

 

They're out of print now, but since its really the only good stick for the 360 the price has actually gone up. You might be able to find one for less than $100, they retailed for $60 brand new.

But the closer VF5 gets to its release, the more I'd expect the price of that stick to go up. I'm real glad I never sold mine.

 

There's an adapter for using keyboards and PS2 controllers for the 360 called the XFPS 360. According to someone whose tried it on Shoryuken.com, it works for PS2 arcade sticks but you have to have a wired 360 pad plugged in the other USB port at the same time. It's expensive but at least you can use a quality HRAP 1 stick that can work on nearly every console with adapters. Thats what I'm going to do.

If you can get a really good custom stick for a similar price though that would be the best option for use on just the 360.

 

Also, in the latest Official Xbox Magazine, they mentioned in the "Upcoming in 2007" feature that they expected some new arcade sticks this year. Of course, I wouldn't take their word for it. /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif

I'm either going the custom route or I will modify my Dreamcast Arcade stick with a wired Xbox 360 controller, unless they create a High Grade premium joystick for the 360.

Can anyone give me some good sites of custom makers who make them for the 360?