NFGworld! News

NFGworld! News http://nfgworld.com/mb/ Fri, 24 May 2013 03:39:31 GMT FeedCreator 1.8.0-dev (info@mypapit.net) Hori's new Fighting Edge Blade Joystick http://nfgworld.com/mb/thread/1131-Hori-s-new-Fighting-Edge-Blade-Joystick
Unlike most of their recent sticks the new Fighting Edge has stick and button mechanisms designed and built by Hori, instead of the arcade giants Sanwa and Seimitsu.

[Image: http://nfgworld.com/grafx/games/Hori-Hayabusa.png]

The stick features a lower-friction fulcrum (Hori claims 5-15% less) made of acetal plastic, which is especially hard and long-wearing.

[Image: http://nfgworld.com/grafx/games/Hori-Kuro.png]

The buttons are also a new design, featuring a smaller gap between button and housing to reduce rattle, and a hori-made switch which claims to reduce bounce.

It also features LED lights and a flap at the back to tuck your cords in when not being played. Hori has also covered the metal base with felt to keep it from chilling your legs, and to improve grip on your lap.

It should be released next month, for a mere ￥19,800.

PS3 version
Xbox 360 version ]]> no_email@example.com (NFGworld.com - NFG) Sun, 29 Apr 2012 23:33:57 GMT http://nfgworld.com/mb/1131 Get rid of your sticks! http://nfgworld.com/mb/thread/1094-Get-rid-of-your-sticks
Well, it probably is more accurate, but I've played Street Fighter with a keyboard before. Buttons are not my preferred input for throwing a fireball...

It sort of is kind of odd. (GameSetWatch) ]]> no_email@example.com (NFGworld.com - NFG) Mon, 12 Sep 2011 00:37:13 GMT http://nfgworld.com/mb/1094 Microsoft redesigns the 360 d-pad. http://nfgworld.com/mb/thread/926-Microsoft-redesigns-the-360-d-pad Gamasutra there's news from Major Nelson that Microsoft is revising their 360 pad with a new d-pad, a change that was sorely needed (NFGcontrols review). A real d-pad change too, not a half-assed maybe-not fix like last time.

Finally.

[Image: http://nfgcontrols.com/grafx/360-pad-redesign-animated.gif]

Here's a video where he explains the new, somewhat bizarre change you see above:

[toob]kz6aTTKE6hE[/toob]

I'm not entirely convinced this is the right solution to what has been a fairly pathetic failure on MS' part. I mean, when the original d-pad lets me down I don't think "If only it were taller". Let's hope it works. ]]> no_email@example.com (NFGworld.com - NFG) Tue, 31 Aug 2010 23:38:42 GMT http://nfgworld.com/mb/926 Ars reviews Nintendo's Classic Controller Pro http://nfgworld.com/mb/thread/864-Ars-reviews-Nintendo-s-Classic-Controller-Pro reviewed Nintendo's Pro controller for Wii. They didn't really like it, though they spent more time talking about its style than its performance.

It's shiny black, which shows a lot of fingerprints. It has narrow handles which they dislike, though they didn't mention the fact that the Virtual Boy and the GameCube had similar handles... Are they comparable?

I notice that the cord comes out the top now, instead of the Dreamcast-style bottom position the first Wii Classic pad had.

[Image: http://nfgcontrols.com/grafx/WiiClassic.png]

]]> no_email@example.com (NFGworld.com - NFG) Thu, 29 Apr 2010 01:35:53 GMT http://nfgworld.com/mb/864 Sony's MagicCon finally revealed! http://nfgworld.com/mb/thread/807-Sony-s-MagicCon-finally-revealed
Sony keeps trying to entice, but all I can see is how they're following the crowd, yet again.

Quote by Arstechnica:
The demos included archery, boxing, and golf, all of which are things we've seen on the Wii,

Quote by Gamasutra Commenter:
"We always wanted to provide something for everyone. That's why it's a very key target for the system development for PlayStation Move; we wanted to capture both core gamers and casual gamers," said Yoshida

^^^^ That wasn't what Sony was saying to the masses back in 2006.

No kidding. It's quite a turnaround from Sony's past we're so hardcore stance.

Quote by Fudzilla:
Greeted with big yawn

[Image: http://nfgcontrols.com/grafx/SonyMagicCon/Sony-Move.jpg]

Take a Wii controller, add a little Sony style, and this is what you get.

Sony's MagicCon patent info & discussion.

Links:
Fudzilla
Gamasutra
Arstechnica ]]> no_email@example.com (NFGworld.com - NFG) Fri, 12 Mar 2010 01:32:43 GMT http://nfgworld.com/mb/807 Sony's Next Magical Controller http://nfgworld.com/mb/thread/796-Sony-s-Next-Magical-Controller The MagicCon.

Well, they've just patented another all-singing and all-dancing device. GoRumors found the Sony patent and, basically, it's an LCD screen with configurable soft-keys.

I'm not impressed by touchscreen controls that pretend to be d-pads. Having now played a few iphone games, I can't help but believe it's a poor substitute for real controllers. Yeah, it works, but it's far from ideal.

I wonder what Sony plans to do with this patent. And, I wonder if the different iphone controls schemes count as prior art. ]]> no_email@example.com (NFGworld.com - NFG) Tue, 23 Feb 2010 02:16:15 GMT http://nfgworld.com/mb/796 Hori's 6-button Fighting Commander http://nfgworld.com/mb/thread/783-Hori-s-6-button-Fighting-Commander

[Image: http://nfgcontrols.com/grafx/Hori-PS3-FightingPad.jpg]

Looks pretty great to me. It's nice to see a real d-pad once in a while, and Hori seems to be the only non-Nintendo company getting away with 'em these days.

It's set for release March 18th, 2010. Amazon's taking preorders in Japan, but Hori doesn't mention it at all yet.

Found via karasuma_usb. ]]> no_email@example.com (NFGworld.com - NFG) Fri, 05 Feb 2010 03:15:18 GMT http://nfgworld.com/mb/783 Microsoft's Natal: Not looking as good... http://nfgworld.com/mb/thread/773-Microsoft-s-Natal-Not-looking-as-good why these other systems are successful. If a bunch of non-game-playing suits sat around a boardroom with a few hardware vendors and brainstormed about that cool shit the other companies are doing, this is exactly what I imagine they'd come up with: Sony's Eye Toy, marketed as something all-new and amazing.

It's a webcam, OK? I am not impressed that Peter Molyneux is making some revolutionary new game for it, it's a webcam.

It was originally supposed to have its own processor, so that it'd look at you, think about what it sees, and communicate with the console. Well, to keep the cost down, they removed the processor making it, in effect, a webcam.

And the upshot of this is that the Xbox 360 will now see a 15% performance hit when you use the thing. Fifteen percent ain't no small amount.

So, at the risk of sounding like a bitter old crank, I'm gonna go ahead and say I'm not impressed by a me-too peripheral that sucks the processor juice out of my console so I can abuse Molyneux's virtual child. ]]> no_email@example.com (NFGworld.com - NFG) Mon, 11 Jan 2010 04:31:06 GMT http://nfgworld.com/mb/773 Hori's new Real Arcade Pro V3 SA http://nfgworld.com/mb/thread/771-Hori-s-new-Real-Arcade-Pro-V3-SA

[Image: http://nfgcontrols.com/grafx/HoriRAPV3.jpg]

The Real Arcade Pro V3-SA is designed to feel like a chunk ripped from an arcade cabinet (much like the Mad Catz stick is cloned from a Taito cab). It's wider, shorter, shallower than the old RAP sticks. I think the choice to put the stick so close to the buttons is a bad one, I'd rather see some the stick shifted t'wards that vast expanse of empty black space on the left... Perhaps though it plays well. I imagine it must, Hori generally know what they're doing.

It's otherwise a standard stick, with the standard Sanwa parts (I prefer Seimitsu myself):

JLF-TP-8YT-SK Stick

OBSF-30 Buttons

There are three other interesting changes:

The cable can be tucked into a storage compartment from the back side (the storage cover has a notch so it can be closed with the cable hanging out)

The top hangs over the sides, so you can pick it up more easily.

It has dual-speed autofire: 10 & 20 shots per second. The old stick had only 20.

The stick is considerably lighter than the old RAP (2.2kg vs 2.6) which makes me suspect it doesn't have as many metal components (top and bottom plates) as the old stick. 400g is a lot of lost weight. Hori's page doesn't mention it.

The days of reasonably priced joysticks are long over, and this one is an unsurprisingly expensive ¥12,800 ($140 USD). ]]> no_email@example.com (NFGworld.com - NFG) Mon, 28 Dec 2009 03:24:59 GMT http://nfgworld.com/mb/771 Hori's Xbox 360 TwinSticks http://nfgworld.com/mb/thread/688-Hori-s-Xbox-360-TwinSticks
Let's take a quick tour through the twinstick history, shall we?

[Image: http://nfgcontrols.com/grafx/Twinsticks-1.jpg]

Sega Saturn (1996)

[Image: http://nfgcontrols.com/grafx/Twinsticks-2.jpg]

Sega Dreamcast (1999)

[Image: http://nfgcontrols.com/grafx/Twinsticks-3.jpg]

Microsoft Xbox (2002) (Image from toughkidcst)

[Image: http://nfgcontrols.com/grafx/Twinsticks-4.jpg]

Microsoft Xbox 360 (2009) (Image from Hori)

Seriously, Hori, what the fuck. What possible reason can there be for asking five times as much for the 360 stick as for the Saturn or Dreamcast? How can there be any justification for the 50% price premium over the Xbox controller, which had four times as many buttons!?

The cynic in me can't help but believe Hori's fleecing Virtual On fans, but I must also allow for the possibility that Microsoft is charging a lot for the license, spreading the fan fleece around just a little bit more.

Disgusting.

Still, I wouldn't refuse one if I found it on my doorstep - and I don't even like VO. =D ]]> no_email@example.com (NFGworld.com - NFG) Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:34:40 GMT http://nfgworld.com/mb/688 Microsoft's Natal: What's the big deal? http://nfgworld.com/mb/thread/673-Microsoft-s-Natal-What-s-the-big-deal Nintendo claims to have already dismissed camera tech but that's possibly just FUD. In a similar article, the Financial Times also points out that "one industry executive said Microsoft might struggle to make the device affordable, because of the large number of components."

The enthusiastic (My skeptic gland forces me to consider the possibility it was bought) response from Take Two and somewhat less-so statement from EA don't really make me anticipate it any more than I already do. Microsoft doesn't help much either. The most exciting thing they can say is that their industry partners (ie: developers) "are also excited from a business standpoint because it's going to be compatible with every Xbox 360 we're ever sold." Well good job making a controller that works with your system, guys.

Well, that doesn't help me believe that this Natal thing is any more than a simple gimmick, a happy me too! from Microsoft trying to catch up to Nintendo. It might be that I only play action games, and without anything as simple as a @#&^% button it's really not going to lend itself to anything I want to play. It might also be that the demos - a 'player' manipulating an onscreen boy pawing at water and creating ripples - is so uninteresting I fear I'll suddenly develop narcolepsy and fall into a deep slumber on the spot.

Nintendo and I both think it's surprising that Microsoft took so long to join the motion-sensing party. Like the hooks they needed to capture the casual-player market wasn't immediately obvious the wall the day anyone first saw the Wii? What were they doing all this time? I can't help belief though that there are good ways and very bad ways (Hi Sony!) to do motion-sensing.

And, somewhat hilariously, it turns out Natal doesn't work with black people. To be more precise, it doesn't work with some skin types: the types black people have. It just doesn't seem ready for release to me: according to Fudzilla nine of seventeen people had trouble using the sensor. ]]> no_email@example.com (NFGworld.com - NFG) Fri, 12 Jun 2009 00:55:17 GMT http://nfgworld.com/mb/673 Nintendo Announces Classic Controller Pro http://nfgworld.com/mb/thread/626-Nintendo-Announces-Classic-Controller-Pro Gamasutra Nintendo has announced a revised classic controller, imaginatively called the Classic Controller Pro. Basically, they put handles on the regular classic pad, and tweaked the shoulder buttons.

[Image: http://nfgcontrols.com/grafx/Nintendo_classic_pro.jpg]

I didn't think the original was in immediate need of revision, but I guess Nintendo knows best or something.

No price has yet been announced.

Nintendo's Wii controller page (Japanese) ]]> no_email@example.com (NFGworld.com - NFG) Fri, 27 Feb 2009 00:52:57 GMT http://nfgworld.com/mb/626 Man Takes Hostage - with Master System Phaser http://nfgworld.com/mb/thread/625-Man-Takes-Hostage-with-Master-System-Phaser globo.com a man recently started a 10-hour standoff with police, taking a hostage with what is shown (but not mentioned in the original article) to be a Master System Light Phaser.

Apparently he was disputing a $R42 bill ($17 USD).

[Image: http://nfgcontrols.com/grafx/MasterSystemHostage.jpg]

Thanks to Tomaitheo for the heads up. ]]> no_email@example.com (NFGworld.com - NFG) Fri, 27 Feb 2009 00:03:42 GMT http://nfgworld.com/mb/625 Mad Catz Street Fighter Stick Making Waves in Japan http://nfgworld.com/mb/thread/624-Mad-Catz-Street-Fighter-Stick-Making-Waves-in-Jap many Japanese sites the Mad Catz Street Fighter stick is making quite a splash in Japan. It's widely being compared to Hori's offerings, and very favourably indeed.

With all-Sanwa parts and a striking, Taito-inspired (ie: ripped-off) design the stick is now selling for up to and over $300 on ebay.

Now, someone just needs to tell MadCatz that fight has a T in it, every time:

[Image: http://nfgcontrols.com/grafx/lol/Fighstick.jpg]

----

Ebay link and Japanese commentary found on ITmedia (English version). ]]> no_email@example.com (NFGworld.com - NFG) Thu, 26 Feb 2009 12:32:22 GMT http://nfgworld.com/mb/624 Amazon Exclusive: Hori DeathSmiles stick for Xbox 360 http://nfgworld.com/mb/thread/615-Amazon-Exclusive-Hori-DeathSmiles-stick-for-Xbox DeathSmiles shooter from Cave. Check it out.

Limited edition stick, 1 per customer, released April 23rd. Cost is ￥14,800.

[Image: http://nfgcontrols.com/grafx/DeathSmiles.jpg]

Thanks to bloodf for the heads up. ]]> no_email@example.com (NFGworld.com - NFG) Tue, 17 Feb 2009 08:42:17 GMT http://nfgworld.com/mb/615 Mad Catz Inadvertently Releases Xbox Retro Pad http://nfgworld.com/mb/thread/597-Mad-Catz-Inadvertently-Releases-Xbox-Retro-Pad fantastic retro gamepad. Unfortunately you need to buy a whole drum kit (which may not work 100%) to get it, but it seems to be fantastic pad.

Thanks to manu (PKP) for the tip. ]]> no_email@example.com (NFGworld.com - NFG) Sun, 04 Jan 2009 10:10:50 GMT http://nfgworld.com/mb/597 Nyko & Nintendo Settle Lawsuit http://nfgworld.com/mb/thread/585-Nyko-Nintendo-Settle-Lawsuit
Nintendo of America's president says "We are pleased to have resolved this dispute,"

So are Nyko, I'll bet.

Found on Gamasutra. Also, over on Patent Arcade, there's some detail on the Nintendo Nunchuk patent.

Quote by Patent Arcade:
At issue in this case, I am sure, will be to what extent the shape of the controller is to make the controller contoured to fit comfortably in a user's hand, i.e., has function, versus what portion of the design is merely aesthetic.

Finally, some images stolen from CNet:

[Image: http://nfgcontrols.com/grafx/NykoKama.jpg]

]]> no_email@example.com (NFGworld.com - NFG) Thu, 18 Dec 2008 01:08:03 GMT http://nfgworld.com/mb/585 Custom Libble Rabble Twinstick from Japan http://nfgworld.com/mb/thread/576-Custom-Libble-Rabble-Twinstick-from-Japan

[Image: http://nfggames.com/grafx/robotronstick.jpg]

He has done three things that I think are odd:

He left the Saturn encoder and cable intact

He added a great Libble Rabble theme

He created a Libble Rabble stick for a system that does not have a release of that, or almost any other twin-stick compatible game. The auction states he uses it with his (much more desirable) PC Saturn pad interface.

[Image: http://nfgcontrols.com/files/LibbleRabblestick-1.jpg]

[Image: http://nfgcontrols.com/files/LibbleRabblestick-2.jpg]

I wonder how he made the graphics... ]]> no_email@example.com (NFGworld.com - NFG) Mon, 08 Dec 2008 10:26:47 GMT http://nfgworld.com/mb/576 Hori's Real Arcade Pro 3: Special Addition http://nfgworld.com/mb/thread/569-Hori-s-Real-Arcade-Pro-3-Special-Addition
It'll go on sale from December 18, 2008. If it sells anything like their other sticks, it'll be out of stock a few days after that. As is normal, it's not going to be available from anywhere but Hori's online shop, so preorder yours now.

[Image: http://nfgcontrols.com/grafx/HORI-RAP3SA.jpg]

The details are listed on the site:

Joystick: Sanwa JLF-TP-8YT
Buttons: Sanwa OBSF-30 ]]> no_email@example.com (NFGworld.com - NFG) Sat, 29 Nov 2008 08:57:07 GMT http://nfgworld.com/mb/569 Hori Real Arcade Pro 2:SA and Pro:EX Back in Stock http://nfgworld.com/mb/thread/568-Hori-Real-Arcade-Pro-2-SA-and-Pro-EX-Back-in-Stoc Real Arcade Pro 2: Special Addition and Real Arcade Pro: EX sticks for sale on their site. The former is for Playstation(10,000 円), the latter for Xbox 360 (12,000 円).

[Image: http://nfgcontrols.com/grafx/HORI-RAPEX.jpg]

[Image: http://nfgcontrols.com/grafx/HORI-RAP2SA.jpg]

]]> no_email@example.com (NFGworld.com - NFG) Sat, 29 Nov 2008 08:47:44 GMT http://nfgworld.com/mb/568 Sony's New Not-A-Wiimote Controller http://nfgworld.com/mb/thread/456-Sony-s-New-Not-A-Wiimote-Controller GamesIndustry.biz reports Sony has filed a patent for a magical new controller, which offers everything the Wiimote does, plus all kinds of extras. So many extras, in fact, that I think setup of the new controller will involve epic Power Glove-style setup and frustration.

[Image: http://nfgcontrols.com/grafx/SonyMagicCon/PS3-MC-7.png]

I can just imagine Sony's sell line:

Quote by Sony Ad:
Not enough wires in your living room? The new Sony MagicCon can help!

It has Wii-style LED sensing, Power Glove-style ultrasonic sound waves, Wii-style clip-on expandable controller features, removable faceplates, a wickedly complicated processing system, and if you own a stadium, the ability to live out your soccer dreams.

[Image: http://nfgcontrols.com/grafx/SonyMagicCon/PS3-MC-a.png]

I guarantee you this will never ever happen in real life. ]]> no_email@example.com (NFGworld.com - NFG) Sun, 02 Nov 2008 00:53:31 GMT http://nfgworld.com/mb/456 Crazy: Saturn pad for playstation sells for $70 http://nfgworld.com/mb/thread/399-Crazy-Saturn-pad-for-playstation-sells-for-70
And it was short-lived: the bundle was quickly sold out and Sega never made more of the pads. Once SegaDirect closed up there was no more hope for a replacement either, really.

So you might imagine the little purple pads have a bit of collector value, and you'd be right. One sold on Yahoo Auctions in Japan for 7,250 yen a couple of days ago.

Holy shit, I mean... It's a great controller, but wow. Buy a decent stick for half the price! =D

Here's the auction.

[Image: http://nfgcontrols.com/grafx/purplesaturnpad.jpg]

]]> no_email@example.com (NFGworld.com - NFG) Thu, 04 Sep 2008 13:26:30 GMT http://nfgworld.com/mb/399 Microsoft releases redesigned 360 d-pad http://nfgworld.com/mb/thread/392-Microsoft-releases-redesigned-360-d-pad According to ShackNews, Microsoft has finally deigned to redesign the execrable 360 d-pad with a new version specifically for d-pad-intensive games. Oddly, Eurogamer have lost their minds and are reporting "The controller, which looks exactly the same as the old one, will be able to register 32 directions through the directional pad, we were told."

[Image: http://nfgcontrols.com/grafx/360-pad-redesign.jpg]

How can it suck so much? How!?
[Image: http://nfgcontrols.com/grafx/360-pad-redesign-2.jpg]

In typically clueless Microsoft style, they're not releasing it in North America:

Quote by Microsoft Lackey:
"Basically, the controller will only be available for a limited time in Europe, Asia and Latin America, and has been optimized for certain games that are D-pad intensive," explained a Microsoft representative.

"There are no plans to make those changes to the existing wireless controllers at this time. However, the Xbox 360 wireless controller is one of the most popular controllers of all time and we're confident that it will continue to provide the complete gaming experience."

Yeah, the complete gaming experience. Microsoft knows best, kids! "It's not broken, but we fixed it, and you can't have any."

Dicks. Now I have to import one. =/ ]]> no_email@example.com (NFGworld.com - NFG) Tue, 02 Sep 2008 01:21:37 GMT http://nfgworld.com/mb/392 New Playstation 3 Keyboard http://nfgworld.com/mb/thread/391-New-Playstation-3-Keyboard keyboard attachment for the SixAxis pad. In typical Sony style it looks a lot like they're taking cues from their competitors: the Xbox 360 has had a clip-on pad for a while now.

[Image: http://nfgcontrols.com/grafx/PS3-SixAxisKB.jpg]

In fact, several manufacturers (Logitech, MadCatz) have already released keyboards for the PS3 pad... So Sony's not just chasing the competition, they're chasing products already available for their system. WTF. ]]> no_email@example.com (NFGworld.com - NFG) Tue, 02 Sep 2008 01:07:50 GMT http://nfgworld.com/mb/391