Soulcalibur IV Limited Edition Fighting Stick available for pre-order
by Alan Tsang 
{ Jun 22nd 2008 at 9:00AM }
We've reported on this before, but those of you who are impatiently waiting for Soulcalibur IV can curb your anticipation slightly by pre-ordering this official Soulcalibur Limited Edition Fighting Stick 3 by Hori. This limited edition peripheral will be released on June 24th and retails for $49.99, which is the same as the regular ol' Fighting Stick, so if you are a fan of Soul Calibur IV or fighting games in general, we'd say this is a must-have. Though you are going to have to play other fighting games with it for now, since Soulcalibur IV itself won't be released till a little over a month later, on July 29th.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jferry953 @ Jun 22nd 2008 9:36AM
Another piece of useless plastic. Ive already got a ps3 controller why would I want to fork out $50 for a different one...
Moe @ Jun 22nd 2008 1:53PM
I'd like to buy this but Im more of a Tekken fan and if Tekken 6 had a fighting stick too I wouldn't buy it since I have one already. So I think I'll pass on this one and wait for a Tekken 6 version
alex_dlc @ Jun 22nd 2008 10:29AM
why is this sites favicon a triangle??? it should be a PS button
GridloQ @ Jun 22nd 2008 11:02AM
Oh, great, a stick for a game that NOBODY will be playing on PS3, but rather on 360.
kevin @ Jun 22nd 2008 1:50PM
and whys that? 360s d-pad is SHIT
kevin @ Jun 22nd 2008 1:50PM
and whys that? 360s d=pad is SHIT
do i hear a hallellujah?
hasher @ Jun 22nd 2008 11:48AM
they should stick this together with the game too
Ptrack_Git @ Jun 22nd 2008 12:22PM
Yeah, I'd buy it bundled with the game, that would rock. I'd also buy a street fighter 4 bundle... make it somebody... also we need more people with head sets on PSN, somebody figure out a way to get the ball rolling on that too.
Jason Axelrod @ Jun 22nd 2008 1:58PM
The Hori FS3 (this stick) is the WORST stick Hori has ever made... avoid at all costs...
Get a custom stick instead...
http://www.crookedjester.com/sticks/past/stick22.jpg
Ptrack_Git @ Jun 22nd 2008 12:26PM
should have packager GTA4 with a head set so people would use free mode for something other than death match... which is dumb because there is already a deathmatch setting...
JaseH @ Jun 22nd 2008 12:45PM
I really don't need this. Considering the PS3 controller does it perfect, I'm all set.
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JaseH.
JaseH @ Jun 22nd 2008 12:46PM
Btw, who the hell is Alan Tsang?
Newbs everywhere!
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JaseH.
JaseH @ Jun 22nd 2008 12:48PM
Oh nevermind. I remember now.
Apologies for all the posts. *Bows*
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JaseH.
Kevin @ Jun 22nd 2008 1:55PM
the buttons are laid out in a downward fashion. not too good for big american hands.
Alex @ Jun 22nd 2008 2:28PM
for those contending that the standard pad does it best... i respectfully disagree. if you're serious about getting good at fighting games at a tournament level, then an arcade stick is the only way to go. once you start reaching a certain level of play, you'll soon realize how a standard pad hampers your play.
although i advocate an arcade stick to a pad, i dun advocate this Soul Calibur arcade stick if you plan to actually use it. unless you plan on cracking it open and swapping out the parts, you'd be better off building your own or buying the Hori Real Arcade Pro 3.
HamalSharatan @ Jun 22nd 2008 10:52PM
Serious question here, how do D-PADS hamper gameplay?? I have always used D-PADS and already gotten used to them. I can't imagine pulling a raging demon with akuma on a stick as easily as on a D-PAD because to me it's better and faster moving then actually moving the whole hand.
What's the big advantage of arcade sticks?? Because for a while I have thought people prefer sticks because they already got used to it from the days of the arcade.
HamalSharatan @ Jun 22nd 2008 10:53PM
Serious question here, how do D-PADS hamper gameplay?? I have always used D-PADS and already gotten used to them. I can't imagine pulling a raging demon with akuma on a stick as easily as on a D-PAD because to me it's better and faster moving then actually moving the whole hand.
What's the big advantage of arcade sticks?? Because for a while I have thought people prefer sticks because they already got used to it from the days of the arcade.
Alex @ Jun 22nd 2008 11:38PM
let me explain this carefully, so i dun get misunderstood.
you can still enjoy a fighting game using a standard pad. the use of a standard pad will not hamper the fun aspect of playing if that's what you are comfortable with. but if you plan on playing at the tournament level, the level where you can place at major tournies, you're gonna need a controller that gives precision and reliability. precision in that what you plan to enter is easily accessible and executable, and reliable in that what you input is exactly what you get. in these terms, i give the edge to the arcade stick.
it isn't specifically the d-pad that's the problem when playing a fighting game, it's the whole standard controller.
the first major problem is pressing multiple buttons at once. sure, you can map them to suite your needs, but you're gonna run into an awkward situation with them sooner or later. it's much easier if the buttons all lie in a single plane and allow you to use your whole hand to press them. no index finger in one plane, and a thumb in another business. that slows things down.
the next is the execution of combos. Tekken specifically is quite difficult to play at a tournament level on a controller. the combos require a smooth and fluid-like input and i have found executing these combos to be much simpler on an arcade stick because all the buttons are layed out in front of you and are not in different planes. i'm not saying that there aren't people who can pull intricate combos off on a standard controller. but from my own experience, less time needs to be wasted on an arcade stick. the way it is is set up allows for a faster execution of combos. like i said, everything you need is in one plane.
lastly is the d-pad itself, it differs from controller to controller, but d-pads can be tiring and finicky. strictly from a comfort standpoint, my d-pad days in Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike were some of the worst days of my thumb's live. but the d-pad only utilizes the movement of your thumb. and speaking for my own thumb, the inputs would be sluggish. on an arcade stick, you use your whole arm to get the stick to perform an input, and i actually find this way of input faster.
my main point here is speed. sure enough, there might be this CRAAAZY guy who can execute combos flawless and do exactly what he wishes on a regular controller. but i bet it took him awhile to get there... a REALLY long while. the arcade overall expedites the learning process. it makes the input of commands faster and simpler so that you dun have to fight the controller along with your opponent. the input device should do what you tell it and do it when you tell it to. i dun find that kind of characteristic in the standard controller. so... it makes life easier, to put it simply. but since it makes the playing aspect of fighting games simpler, it leaves your mind open for strategy, tactics, and mind-games.
i dun wish to change your opinion, and i dun think your opinion is wrong. but i personally just see arcade sticks as the better way to play. take a look at the Evolution Fighting Tournament... the Shoryuken.com community. the vast majority of them advocate and use arcade sticks for the many fighting games they host. ask them if you need further explanation. they know this debate inside and out. i've tried my best to put forth my own take.
HamalSharatan @ Jun 23rd 2008 8:06AM
Thanks for the explanation. I guess I'll see if I ever touch an arcade stick again, which I haven't since the days of MK3 and Killer Instinct. Back then the arcade sticks looked to me like it was easy to input a wrong command. I guess I'll see.
Shahryar @ Jun 23rd 2008 4:25PM
Back in March 2007, I had some Wal-mart Gift Cards to kill so I bought 2 Hori Fighting Stick PS3 for $49.82 a piece. I haven't really even had a chance to use them since the main fighting game I like is SF and it's not out yet. Once SF II HD is released I'm hoping to start using these.
HamalSharatan @ Jun 22nd 2008 10:54PM
Oh, didn't mean to double post, I thought I had an error. Can I delete my comments?
Carney @ Jun 23rd 2008 2:45PM
I'm still trying to find solid proof to the rumors I've seen online that this thing won't work on PS2 or PS1 games.
After all, Soulcalibur 2 and 3 were outstanding PS2 titles, and there are plenty of not only fighting games, but also arcade games (top down shooters etc) that would benefit from this peripheral.
I'd like to pick it up but I'm leery unless I get some authoritative word.