It does look good though. Though I will probably just take advantage of the lowered prices of the HRAP EX SE (Cherry modded Sanwa FTW)
On a side not, I’d much rather mod a V3/X rather than an FS3/EX2. It actually looks easier. Just unsolder the board, throw some QD’s on the wires connected to the main PCB, but those plastic mounting screws do suck. One game of Marvel and those are done.
$$$$$$
They want the collectors to buy another stick for the Seimitsu parts.
Clever bastards!
(Not really… more like greedy.)
Seriously, though, it’s not as if Hori makes a lot of SE-edition joysticks as it is! Hori definitely favors Sanwa.
MarkMan said very few HRAP 2 SE sticks were ever made (fewer than 300?) and it seems like even the HRAP 3 SE didn’t see a large production run, either. 3SA’s are still floating all over the place but I swear the last 3SE’s in the US sold out months ago.
There definitely should be an after-market for modkits to put Seimitsu joysticks in the new style V cabinet. I smell someone getting entrepreneurial and offering that in the Trading Outlet in the near future!
Getting back to the V SA, I take it that it DOES have to be opened from the bottom (metal baseplate removed) to access the QD’s and internal stick parts?
Faceplate removal is much more convenient than this!
I hope any redesign MadCatz does in the future doesn’t neglect ease of modding and general servicing. Sure, it seems like some of us have had problems with the PCB’s in the MC sticks but in general they’re fairly well-designed and well-made.
I just wish every manufacturer’s sticks were a bit cheaper in general! Even $20 less is much appreciated.
(That’s my magic maximum for buying a Round 2… IF I could afford it now!)
New pics courtesy of Yes Boss!
And for comparison’s sake:
^Nice. So it looks like the top panel IS screwed in to the plastic and then the art/sticker is put over it. Looks fairly spacious in there. Does it sound hollow like standard HRAPs? I always hated how your button-presses resonated in their cases.
I don’t hate the look of the new stick design but when you start hearing about some of the specifics like how hard it’s going to customize it with new art, replace buttons or sticks, and so on it kind of makes it seem less special.
(That aside, there’s not much on the interior that I didn’t like. The new QD’s kind of look nice. See, I said something positive about the stick!)
As old as the previous HRAP cabinet is getting, it has its own sexiness without taking away basic functionality and access for modders… or anybody just trying to fix the stick when something goes wrong.
The win has to go to Mad Catz for including all the basics you need without bolloxing or forgetting the essentials in the design.
I’ve gotta admit I sort of DO like the Start/Select Button placement on the previous Hori RAP’s better than the MC TE but at least MC doesn’t seem to have gone out of its way to favor one Japanese hardware manufacturer (Sanwa) over the other (Seimitsu) in general design.
There is a danger that IF hardware manufacturers feel they have to reinvent the wheel too often that they’re just going to overcomplicate the hardware and make it less user-friendly.
Yo MarkMan…how’d you get one?
are they on sale already?
yesasia has some left but they boosted the price(280). Most of the pre orders are gone. It was a limited run. Mine is on its way, but I collect them. I think everyone should hold off at least until they cool off as some of the first impressions arent so great.
Ok, pick mine up from FedEX a few hours ago and tested it with GGPO/Remix. (installed instantly on my Vista Laptop no problems).
Here are my first impressions compared to my TE.
1# and most important: Performance and response are EXCELLENT. Seems better than my TE. (PCB might be better? Hard to say why)
#2 The layout is very authentic to the Vewlix arcade as the 45deg hand rest is the correct distance from the stick/buttons. Infact if you are used to the TE this will take a few mins to adjust to. Not a bad thing.
#3 It is lighter than the TE but has a decent heft to it. If it was any lighter I might complain.
#4 Construction is good quality but TE seems better in that respect. Mine came with the cord door off for some reason but popped back in easily. I love the over hanging lips, makes it easier to pickup with having to grab the joystick. Well thought out construction.
#5 Aesthetics are very nice, not sure if I like them more than the TE but it looks and feels good.
So far, overall I think I like this better than my TE. I still can’t pinpoint why it seems to out perform my TE but the response seems tighter. Might just be a mental thing.
it is not bout the size it is about the design and the layout, the Madcatz design make your palm of hand more comfortable to put on top of the stick while playing.
and the Madcatz more easier to mode and more Beautiful in design.
Mad catz will anoounce a new Super Street Fighter IV for Xbox 360 and PS3 & Tatsunoko VS Capcom Fight Stick for Wii.
from the link
“Get hands on with the all new Tournament Editions and four new character FightPads.
”
http://myces.bdmetrics.com/CPL-6578920/Mad-Catz-Inc-/Product-Catalog.aspx
HRAP V3 SA is back in stock at **Play-Asia **(limited supply)…
$149 with about 46 shipping to US (San Diego, CA).
man
that shipping is KILLER.
I’m more than willing to pay $150 for the stick, but $50 is another set of parts, a game, food, etc
guess i’ll just hold out for that hori viewlix and new madcatz stuff.
Yea, for some reason the functionality of the stick feels perfect, better than my TE, the buttons and the stick just feel better for some reason. People seem to be complaining about the extended sides, but its purpose is so that you can actually lift the stick up with little effort. As for modding the TE wins.
I understand that is what they are there for, but are you suggesting that people had problems lifting up the old HRAPs?
The production model TE doesn’t really have the exact Vewlix button layout. The position of the buttons were ever so slightly modified from the official Vewlix alignment
Will the new MadCatz stuff at CES sport the Vewlix layout ala HRAP V?
Does this mean the Seimitsu LS-32-01 won’t fit even with the RE mountingplate?
I think it’s more about the ergonomics of design. Not that old hraps or te’s are hard to pickup, but i do find myself using the stick to lift them which can’t be good.
The shaft height would probably end up way too low.
Markman or anyone else in the know,
Is there any insider news of either the viewlix prototype making its way into production, or the xbox version of the v3-sa coming out in the near future? Does Hori ever make prototypes that they review to the public and end up scrapping?
I remember they made a prototype Virtual-On stick for 30000yen and eventually wound up mass producing it for sale, so there could be some hope for the Viewlix layout which has shown up in the official hori blog. Perhaps they’ll also run a survey for market interest before they decide the throw down the insane retail price for the Taito Viewlix and scare all but the wealthy and hardcore.
Thanks for any insight!
Also, I’m very grateful that Madcatz took it to Hori and made them wake up. I doubt the US release of the Hori RAP SA/SE and the quick launch of the new Viewlix series would have happened had Hori’s monopoly continued unchallenged by any rival company. With the success of the TE we consumers will benefit from the resurgent competition between the two companies.
Hori will make limited numbers of the Vewlix control panel. How limited? I don’t know.
I got mine on lock though. 
the shipping costs of the viewlix will be insane.
Here is the new blog (semi)-confirming Markman’s delicious info. :lovin:
I have a feeling they’ll be putting Sanwa RG buttons to go full out.