Hi,
why the japenese version is cheaper then the us version? is there a difference? and can I use a Japanese version on a US console?
You can use, yes.
is there even a NA version? i was under the assumption venders just imported the japanese product and re-sold them. if so, that’s why they are more expensive in NA: shipping cost & limited availability.
There is North American version of HRAP 3 and HRAP EX.
(US HRAP EX even has different ABXY location compared to Japan HRAP EX.)
We get them from Hori(U.S.A.), other HRAP are Japan exclusive.
Edit for add.
We also get US version of:
Hori Soulcalibur IV Arcade Stick (both PS3 and Xbox 360)
Hori Dead or Alive 4 Stick
Hori Fighting Stick EX2
Hori Fighting Stick Wii
Hori Fighting Stick 3
thx guys I didnt want to pay more for the us version since the shipping is already high.
There’s no real difference in price between the US and Japanese HRAP 3’s. They’re both roughly $85-$90 MRSP.
The only difference is the label on the baseplate will say Hori (USA) versus Japan. I can verify this from personal experience – I’ve got an HRAP 3 USA and an Amazon-Japan HRAP 3 (White).
Both sticks are made in China on the same assembly lines and use the exact same components. FYI, it’s all metric.
The only reason for the price hike in the US was the limited availability of these sticks due to Street Fighter IV and high stick demand. I haven’t seen joysticks in this high demand in years and with arcades in decline (dead in the US and Europe for the most part) joysticks just aren’t being produced in large quantities to begin with. Hori usually doesn’t manufacture that many joysticks and was caught short-handed like everybody else was. That’s why there were so many mark-ups on sticks from every manufacturer even if at least half the sticks didn’t rate 1/4 the prices they were being sold at online. Hori Fighting Sticks and MadCatz SE’s are definitely NOT worth anything over $60, let alone $120!
Nice to see the prices are falling back to normal but there’s always going to be people taking advantage of situations to sell goods at inflated prices. The stuff that’s limited to the Japanese market and Amazon-Japan is always going to be marked up by domestic vendors regardless of the stick situation at the moment. Somebody’s always willing to pay for “limited editions” and “exclusives” even if the only difference is a change in base plastic coloring or button/ball handle colors.
Did you see all the people on TV selling T-Shirts at the Michael Jackson mourning camps around the world???
As much as I don’t like some of the vendor behavior I’d rather they be allowed to sell things at the prices they think they can sell them for and not have government intrude on such things and set “fair prices.” Better to let the market and consumers decide on these things.
Government intervention is a recipe for disaster…