Your Weekly Street Fighter IV Update

I thought I'd take a break from getting completely destroyed in SFII HD Remix ranked matches to post some tantalizing tidbits on the next Street Fighter release (you know, Four). For starters, MadCatz has taken the wraps off the hard technical specs of its officially-sanctioned-by-Capcom official Street Fighter IV-branded fighting sticks (both of 'em) and regular gamepad. Kotaku summarized the pertinent details, so let's link to them.

The Street Fighter IV FightPad for the Xbox 360 and PLAYSTATION 3 includes an enlarged circular eight-way floating D-Pad and arcade style six-button configuration. An integrated D-Pad switch allows gamers to alternate between D-Pad and Analog Sticks. The Street Fighter IV Arcade FightStick for the Xbox 360 and PLAYSTATION 3 includes dual-speed Turbo functionality for each of the eight buttons complete with LED Indicators, and an integrated D-Pad switch. The start and select/back Buttons have been moved to the rear of the stick, which also includes a top panel that can hold character cards which show each character's special moves. The Street Fighter IV Arcade FightStick: Tournament Edition for the Xbox 360 and PLAYSTATION 3 uses the same Japanese style ball-handled joystick and 30mm Action Buttons found in the official Street Fighter IV Vewlix arcade cabinet. The stick also has the D-Pad control switch, dual Turbo functionality for each button, and exact button layout matching the Vewlix Street Fighter IV arcade panel.

Full press release is here. UPDATE: All the sticks! (And pads.)

You know, I'd like to think such finely crafted input devices will help increase my win record online. I'd like to think that. A previous Kotaku report puts these peripherals at $39.99, $69.99, and a whopping $139.99, respectively. Are you willing to pay 140 bones to get the true tournament-authentic control experience? To be fair, that kind of quality hardware doesn't come cheap, and nobody wants a flimsy joystick.

While we're on the subject, Capcom put out some new screenshots and artwork of Cammy as featured in SFIV. She is, of course, part of the generously large new roster being added to the home versions of the game. Look at those gams!