Official Street Fighter IV FightSticks & FightPad Thread (More on the way!)

EndlessMike · January 21, 2009, 3:56am

CrashPrime:

Judging by what I’ve seen, the FSTE stick is worth $150 without a doubt. Fantastic price, I wish there were more out there. The only things missing are dual-platform support, and wireless.

That being said, I understand who this product is marketed to, and the limitations of licensing.

Wireless always has that possibility of dropping connection, and can become a nightmare in a tournament setting (The stick -DOES- says Tournament Edition right on it). I also know that the very hardcore believe a single frame of lag would be game breaking (I wish my skill level was to that point).

Finally, from what I understand, Microsoft doesn’t seem to allow wireless 3rd party controllers. Not sure if it’s true or not, but it would seem that way judging from the FightPads**(FP)**.

The FSSE is overpriced. Not by much, but its overpriced. The stick is obviously a quality step up from Hori’s similar offerings, but I am not confident that the internal differences justify the cost increase from a Hori EX2/FS3. That is the direct competition to these FSSE’s in my eyes, and I see maybe $10-20 too much tacked onto these. The quick disconnects and overall modability of the FSSE is a welcome feature, but I don’t feel like it’s much different to manufacture them in this manor. I could be proven wrong if the actual parts on the FSSE are closer to Sanwa in quality when compared to Hori’s.

My personal taste disagrees with white plastic as the housing, but just as many would say the same if they were black so I can’t fault anyone for that choice.

Truth be told, the gripes I have with the FSSE are basically linked directly to the fact that the FSTE is such a thoughtful product.

Little touches like labeling the wiring harness go a long way. Knowing enough to go with -FULL- sanwa, and not “settle” for MadCatz buttons like Hori does with some of their Real Arcade Pro’s shows that you KNOW what the market wants. Universal mounting bracket for Seimitsu support? Yes please.

You mentioned you were curious how we feel about the comparison to the Hori Real Arcade Pro and VirtuaStick High Grade. When put next to a HRAP:SA (full sanwa) or a VSHG there are few things that will put the FSTE above it in terms of “gameplay” improvements. With the HRAP:SA being such a good product ALREADY, the FSTE has little room for improvements, but it’s those small differences that make all the difference. The ability to get inside and change around the FSTE is a bit better, nothing major but better. Features like being able to lockout/turnoff the turbo/home buttons is smart design.

In terms of non-gameplay differences, the TE is beautiful in looks. The ability to change out the art, the Vewlix inspired themes, it’s the bee’s knees. I do have a spot in my heart for the Lindberg inspired VSHG, but the problems with the PCB when dealing with multiple button inputs scared me away from ever purchasing one. The FSTE has all those same advantages over the VSHG that I mentioned about the HRAP:SA.

I really can not wait to get my PS3 FSTE and feel it in my hands. I have high hopes I’ll be able to eventually get one for my 360. If not, the FSSE will hurt a little bit at $80 knowing for a mere $70 more I could’ve had the best stick on the market, but that is the nature of limited run products.

In terms of what I feel is missing … well, the cord is 4m. It would be nice if there was some sort of “roll up” cord management included. My vacuum cleaner for example has the power cord that can retract inside itself. It keeps it coiled up and prevents tangles/knots. (Yes, I just compared a video game arcade stick to a vacuum cleaner. Big whoop?) The -OPTION- for wireless (in addition to wired) would be very nice. I am sure I will find other nitpicks when I get the thing in my hands (nobody’s perfect right?). But I am confident this will stand shoulders above the other “high quality” sticks on the market. It better MarkMan!

You do know the Tournament Edition stick does have a place where you can store the cord, right?

Scampjohnson · January 21, 2009, 3:58am

I spoke to a GameStop associate yesterday that threw all my dates way off. He said that the game ships to them overnight on 2/17, so it won’t be available for in store pickup until 2/18. As far as the sticks go, he said that they’ll be shipped to individual Gamestop stores via UPS ground on 2/10, meaning that they’ll arrive for in store pick-up whenever UPS get’s them there (e.g. 2/16 or 2/17). WTF, why is nothing ever easy. Now I have to move my vacation day from 2/17 to 2/18 to celebrate National Street Fighter Day. :looney:

System_1 · January 21, 2009, 4:02am

Super awesome feature btw. Great design MarkMan!

Blah, I hate how GS does that. Well, I know Rotendo posted about it being the 11th, so I guess we’ll see in a few weeks. The wait for Street Fighter is so long…

System_1 · January 21, 2009, 4:07am

Good video. Why did they say the TE is 12 lbs? Specs say 6.5 lbs.

System_1 · January 21, 2009, 4:08am

I do realize that there is cord storage. An amazing step in the right direction, and a very much appreciated feature. I just think there are other elegant solutions for cord management that go beyond just a “flip up door”.

Like I said, this thing looks like the best damn stick on the market … doesn’t mean there isn’t little things that could’ve been included to make it a fraction of a percent better.

Either way I’m gonna love the hell out of mine.

Fatal_Error_XI · January 21, 2009, 4:15am

I’ve been playing STHD to help cope with the wait, but it makes me want SFIV even more.

DevilJin_01 · January 21, 2009, 4:36am

LOL. I like how apparently the guy I ordered the sticks from came in and said “well…I can understand if you think I’m gonna scam you but…”. This is gonna be fun. LOL. Honestly I trust the website enough if it has a 99 percent Ebay approval rating and I understand he doesn’t want to get into unnecessary drama by defending himself all day on the forums. Lets just hold hands and pray. I’ll probably get another one from my local Game Crazy if they have it available.

dav3yb · January 21, 2009, 4:38am

I too would like to hear if MarkMan knows of an official release date. With gamestop only holding things for 48 hours (they need to make an exception for expensive items like this), If people get mixed signals from places, it could cause a lot of problems. And if you dont pick up your item, the gamestop just keeps your money.

DevilJin_01 · January 21, 2009, 4:43am

^^^

Now that’s shady.

Jedison · January 21, 2009, 4:54am

They give you your money back. I went out of town for a gig, came back a week a later and they just refunded me, as they didn’t have any more copies. (I think it was for Civilization Revolutions or Far Cry 2…?)

craze · January 21, 2009, 4:58am

ithink Shin-RoTeNdO covered this…

i could be wrong

Shin-RoTeNdO:

Dear Concerned,

Worry not. You’ll be receiving a call from Ashley (the automated messaging) letting you know that you’re stick will be available for pick up the next day. As for the 48 hours, when it comes to collectors, limited, special edition skus, we tend to hold on tho those for quite a while since we only get in what was reserved based on allocation. Come the 48 hours, the store SHOULD attempt to call you to remind you of your arrived product in case you missed the original call. Every attempt is made to hold on to a limited/special/etc sku for ALL our customers and shouldn’t sell it to someone asking if we received any ‘extra’ in. That is the purpose of reserving it in the first place. They should have reserved it if they wanted one themselves.

Hell, I’m still sitting on a Rockband 2 Special Edition for the Wii in my backroom for one of my customers! And we got them in back on the 28th of December. How’s that for customer service? C’mon, that is 2 weeks!! Though we cannot keep it forever, if we have many people asking for it, the very least we would call the customer and notify them that if they wish to keep their reserve and cannot come in to pick up their product then that is fine and ask it is alright if we sell their original reserve because it is in high demand. Then when the next shipment comes we’ll hold on to a copy. (this usually applies to software that aren’t bundled with a lot of goodies, ie. WOTLK, GTAIV limited, Halo3, and etc)

If all else fails, we’ll refund the customers money they had on the reserve.

You should be good to go and may want to call your store and see what they can do for you in case you’re not able to make it in for 2+ days (the answer should be ‘Yes, we’ll still hold on to it for you’)

I hope this was helpful.

-Abby :lovin:

FMP_rooks · January 21, 2009, 4:59am

Hey guys, just a little heads up, likkuid, EndlessMike, those who ordered from alternativedvd. Talked to Mario, the guy running the place, found him to be an affable individual btw, asked him why my card was charged today on a preorder when the site clearly states that funds will be deducted when the item ships. He explained that the funds were not taken, but held, i believe as a means to verify that the credit card has sufficient funds to cover the item when shipped. Pending, would be a better way of explaining this. If I recall correctly, this is common practice, and probably not a breach of contract by the business. I’ve worked in the hotel business for a good number of years and did the same to the majority of guests to cover incidentals that may occur, per company policy. When the guest departed and everything check out, the pending amount was reimbursed to the account. You may not see our situation to be equivalent, but just giving you my experience.

As far as how confident they are that we will be receiving our sticks. Very confident. He contacted his distributor about his incoming shipment and they gave him the nod that everything looks to be on the up and up. He was aware of this prior to my telephone call and that gave me some confidence. He knew the shipping date (for them, Feb 22nd or later(!)) and that the item was selling out most everywhere online at the time of this writing. So at the very least he DOES know about the shortage situation. I asked him for a 100% guarantee that i would get my stick if he got my payment, he could not do this for me, which was the answer i was looking for, as a little test of his integrity.

Apologies for the wall o text, hope it helps some of you in whatever way. For those in the same boat, feel free to write my name down, so we can update each other with findings/confirmations/whatever. All I really want is for everyone looking for this stick to get one. Don’t care if it’s “limited” “collector’s,” I think we all just want the competition and even playing level. Make more, madcatz.

xxSupreme · January 21, 2009, 5:16am

Like i said, the type of shenanigans i want to avoid

Pimp_Willy · January 21, 2009, 5:21am

Yes, you get your money back. You also get a call 48 hours before your items hits stores (or is it 24 hours?)

dodgers2213 · January 21, 2009, 5:26am

i really hope i can pick up my sticks on the 11th :pleased:

md72582 · January 21, 2009, 5:29am

Dont worry dodgers2213, I can assure you will get it on the 11 of febuary. My friend is a dm for gs. If i was you call your local gs on the 10, some store will be getting it on the 10 of febuary. :lovin:

dav3yb · January 21, 2009, 5:31am

this makes me feel a little bit better… maybe if you fully pay off a game, they have to give you your money back, but i think they might keep small 5$ deposits on games. IDK, i know i’ve had people tell me that kinda thing, and the last thing i want to is loose 300 of my hard earned dollars

mkfighter · January 21, 2009, 5:40am

FMP_rooks:

Hey guys, just a little heads up, likkuid, EndlessMike, those who ordered from alternativedvd. Talked to Mario, the guy running the place, found him to be an affable individual btw, asked him why my card was charged today on a preorder when the site clearly states that funds will be deducted when the item ships. He explained that the funds were not taken, but held, i believe as a means to verify that the credit card has sufficient funds to cover the item when shipped. Pending, would be a better way of explaining this. If I recall correctly, this is common practice, and probably not a breach of contract by the business. I’ve worked in the hotel business for a good number of years and did the same to the majority of guests to cover incidentals that may occur, per company policy. When the guest departed and everything check out, the pending amount was reimbursed to the account. You may not see our situation to be equivalent, but just giving you my experience.

As far as how confident they are that we will be receiving our sticks. Very confident. He contacted his distributor about his incoming shipment and they gave him the nod that everything looks to be on the up and up. He was aware of this prior to my telephone call and that gave me some confidence. He knew the shipping date (for them, Feb 22nd or later(!)) and that the item was selling out most everywhere online at the time of this writing. So at the very least he DOES know about the shortage situation. I asked him for a 100% guarantee that i would get my stick if he got my payment, he could not do this for me, which was the answer i was looking for, as a little test of his integrity.

Apologies for the wall o text, hope it helps some of you in whatever way. For those in the same boat, feel free to write my name down, so we can update each other with findings/confirmations/whatever. All I really want is for everyone looking for this stick to get one. Don’t care if it’s “limited” “collector’s,” I think we all just want the competition and even playing level. Make more, madcatz.

That’s not the case at all. I used PayPal. It’s not “pending”, but “completed”. The money was withdrawn from my bank account. I emailed them twice asking they cancel my order and I’m hoping they really do cancel and refund everything. The only reason why I preordered from them was BECAUSE they said they wouldn’t withdraw cash until they shipped.

System_1 · January 21, 2009, 5:44am

AlternativeDVD.com said if you pre-ordered it, you got it. Just got the e-mail, here it is:

Hello, I have checked the EB games website yet they don?t seem to be selling the Tournament Stick, just the regular fighting stick. As far as we have been told by our distributor, the date haven?t changed (I asked if it would be shipping on the 11th like GS), in fact the last day to place our preorders was today, as you might see in our website, the Tournament stick is no longer available for sale since it is an allocated product.

If you was able to submit your preorder, your product have been ordered and will ship on the advertised date. We ordered extra Tournament sticks, yet we won?t put them for sale until we receive them, and more likely they won?t sell for less than retail price like the pre-orders.

As far as we are concerned, there is no first or second batch, there will be only one batch according to the distributors request and sales expectations for this item, that?s why we were requested to submit our estimated quantities today.

I hope I clarified your doubts, please let me know if you need more information.

Best regards.

Helpdesk Representative
Em: helpdesk@alternativedvd.com
Tel: 619-271-9415

caloge · January 21, 2009, 5:53am

just to give a heads up to Canadians, EB is now also preordering TE’s for 189 (bit of a mark up even with the exchange). and the apparent release date is Feb 18 but I wouldnt trust it. happy hunting