While Matt Buchanan already reviewed Mad Catz' SFIV FightPad, the company's two arcade sticks for the Xbox 360, PS3 and PC, coinciding with the release of SFIV, have had more buzz than any gaming accessory in recent memory.

Street Fighter IV FightStick ($70)Mad Catz' SFIV FightStick was meant to "recreate" the arcade experience, but also offer programmable turbo along with two extra move-assignable buttons. It's essentially a joystick that's designed with the Street Fighter button layout and fancy artwork.

Street Fighter IV FightStick Tournament Edition ($150)
The Tournament Edition stick's claim to fame is simple. It uses the exact Sanwa joystick and 30mm buttons found in the SFIV arcade cabinet, not a "recreation" like we see in the standard FightStick. The experience is promised to be 1:1 between home and arcades—though it also includes the turbo and assignable button add-on.

So could I tell a difference between the two? In one word, yes.

Honestly, I'm not skilled enough at Street Fighter to argue that a controller is getting in my way of beating Matt Buchanan. But blindfolded, I could discern the difference between the two controllers...beyond the Tournament Edition's obvious heftier size.
The TE stick has an ever so slightly shorter range of motion than the SE stick (for pulling off quick maneuvers), but it's also far smoother. Being picky, I noticed more mechanical scraping in the SE stick that wasn't present in the TE, which rotated with with ease.

The SE's buttons, while superficially similar, felt far more like plastic, with a hollow, high clicking that wasn't as soft on the fingers. Whether or not you have ever heard of semi-legendary Sanwa components doesn't really matter. You'll feel the difference.

I can't say I played any better on the $80 more expensive TE stick, but I did find myself preferring it during testing and unconsciously choosing it for casual play. Then again, if I'd never tasted the caviar-esque Tournament stick, I'd probably be fine with the decent steak-esque standard FightStick. Either stick is immeasurably superior to trying to play with the Xbox 360 controller's gimpled D-pad.
But that doesn't mean I'm completely happy with either controller because they both share the same ridiculous flaw—they are both horrid for chatting.

In order to fit an Xbox 360 headset into the FightSticks, you need to utilize a little cord/adapter that's pretty identical to Rock Band's guitar chatting solution.
Now I'm pretty good with plugging things in—it's sort of a job requirement—but I had all sorts of chatting issues on both FightSticks with multiple 360 headsets and two different adapter cables. Sometimes people couldn't hear me and sometimes I couldn't hear them.

When we're talking about a $150 joystick—a peripheral that approaches the cost of a full Xbox 360—I want my headset to connect perfectly every time. Even if Madcatz' solution worked perfectly, which it doesn't, it lacks any level of elegance. And it's absurd considering that the FightStick TE is the size of a small child.

One other important caveat is that many FightStick SE ($70) buyers have complained of joysticks that stick and buttons that crack. I had no issues with my testing, but the problems are out there.

So what's the point of this review? Both FightSticks have already been a wild success for Mad Catz, and hats off to them for filling a niche that has generally been left to scrounging for Japanese imports.

I guess that it comes down to this: as a gamer and a Street Fighter fan, I'm pleased with both FightSticks. But as a guy who's seen what $150 can buy you in electronics today, I think we can do better. And wireless connectivity would be nice, too.

The $70 FightStick will satiate most players who want a simple 360/PS3 joystick

The $150 Tournament Edition really is a step up in feel and quality, just like an arcade

If you're interested, both cases can be opened to swap/upgrade components

Both of these sticks are huge, so it's a commitment

The poor headset connection option can be extremely annoying

At these prices, I really want something wireless

The original joystick case, now gutted, can then be turned into a kleenex box.

To learn how to make your own, check out SF Media Lab's tutorial. [joydick via fleshbot]

Sony Ericsson Takes Mobile Gaming to New Level With Launch of Zeemote(TM) JS1 Controller

BEDFORD, Massachusetts, August 4 /PRNewswire/ —

- Sony Ericsson First to Market

- Retail Promotion in Netherlands Gives New W760i Consumers Mobile
Gaming Edge

Zeemote(TM), Inc. (http://www.zeemote.com/), the makers of intelligent
wireless controllers for mobile devices and Sony Ericsson, today announced
a partnership to bring near-console game play to the W760i. In a world
first, Sony Ericsson is to launch the Zeemote(TM) JS1 Controller featuring
Bluetooth(TM) technology with an exclusive promotion throughout hundreds of
retail outlets across the Netherlands.

Across the Netherlands, from August 8th 2008 to October 31st 2008, the
Zeemote(TM) JS1 Controller will be offered free to purchasers of Sony
Ericsson's new 3G mobile handset, the W760i Walkman, via a mail-in voucher
promotion. The W760i will come with two embedded Zeemote Ready(TM) games
with a further fourteen additional games available through the Fun &
Downloads section on the http://www.sonyericsson.com/nl/

Additional to the Walkman capabilities, 3.2 megapixel camera and GPS
functions of the W760i the Zeemote(TM) JS1 Controller will bring a whole
new dimension in mobile game play to Sony Ericsson customers - enabling a
near-console experience on mobile phones. With a thumbstick and four
assignable trigger buttons, the JS1 offers real analogue control over
Bluetooth(TM) enabling users to truly engage with mobile games. Sitting
perfectly in the hand and ergonomically designed the JS1 weighs just
47g/1.7oz.

"Sony Ericsson prides itself on bringing intuitive technologies to its
customers. We recently announced the motion gaming F305 and we're delighted
to be giving our Netherlands customers the opportunity to be the first to
own an award winning Zeemote JS1 controller," said Max Van Den Berg,
General Manager at Sony Ericsson Benelux. "Adding a new dimension, such as
controllers for mobile gaming, gives us and our customers a competitive
edge!"

"Mobile gaming will never be the same as the Zeemote(TM) JS1 launches
through our first commercial relationship with Sony Ericsson". Said Jim
Adams, VP of Worldwide Sales at Zeemote. "We are delighted to partner with
Sony Ericsson and give users even more of a reason to buy the feature
packed W760i. This agreement is the first of a number of deals we intend to
announce over the coming months."

class="center"/>We'll be scoring a review unit soon, so check out our full impressions then.

Still, the device has plenty to offer, like rudder and throttle control, airbrake or rapid-fire triggers, a mapping button, easy configuration switching, a slew of programmable buttons and axis, and PC compatibility. It even comes pre-configured for Blazing Angels on the PS3 and Flight Simulator X on the PC. Available for $50. (Product Page via Register Hardware via Wired]

Atari joystick candle-holder [Boing Boing]

–Brian Lam

SplitFish's Freakish FragFX Controller [Kotaku]

This concept design looks to make phones a little more game-friendly. By popping the center button out into an analog joystick, it makes your phone much more capable at controlling games, if stopping substantially short of making it full-out game comfortable. Will we see this design on phones in the future? Who knows (it's tough to trust any design website with a .ru extension), but it certainly looks better than most phone's game controls out there now. –Adam Frucci

IndustrialDesign.ru [via Core 77]

The fingerprint algorithm can detect where you place your finger on the joypad, which finger you place, and even the angle you place it at. That means sliding around with your thumb could get you your contacts, whereas using your other thumb could scroll through menus. And the placement of your finger, of course, knows in which direction you want to scroll.

Just conjecture for now, but it seems a likely candidate for the optical joystick implementation. What's also cool is that it can gauge how healthy you are by the amount of boogers you smear on its sensor. – Jason Chen

Samsung SCH V960 Optical Joystick phone. How does it work? [UnwiredView]

Seriously, when what you are using to play a console could eat said console alive, you need to question where you're at in your gaming life...and maybe life in general. – Mark Wilson
Thanks qq!

Wii Joystick

The controller itself has a main stick, a smaller stick (corresponding with the right analog) and the same number of buttons as the 360. It'll work on any 360 game, and can even be plugged into your PC for Windows games. It'll retail for $49 in about a month. If you're looking for the authentic retro experience, this should fit the bill fairly nicely.

Hit the jump for package shot.

– Jason Chen

Product Page [GameStop (price is wrong)]