Mad Catz Tournament Edition Arcade FightStick priced at a grand [Update]

12:10 AM on 02.26.2009   |   Brad Nicholson

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Shortly after I brought home a copy of Capcom’s Street Fighter IV, I realized I made a huge mistake. The mistake wasn’t the game -- I think it’s the cat’s ass -- it was neglecting to pre-order Mad Catz’s lauded Tournament Edition Arcade FightStick. I assumed that my wicked controller skills would translate to success. They haven’t. I’ve discovered that I desperately need the edge that a good joystick provides.

It’s no secret that MadCatz’s TE FightStick shipped in an extremely limited quantity. However, it’s also no secret that Mad Catz are shipping more in April. Despite knowing that it won’t be available for a while, I still find myself checking every retailer where the joystick is listed just in case a shipment comes in early. One of the retailers I haunt is Amazon. They’ve yet to restock their supply, and authorized sellers have taken the opportunity to sell the stick at a greatly inflated price.

Over the last week I’ve watched four of Mad Catz’s plastic diamonds sell for over 420 dollars -- 270 dollars above the retail price.  Today, I noticed that another overpriced FightStick had appeared. This time, the seller wants an astounding 1,000 bucks for his Xbox 360 FightStick.

When I talked to Mad Catz global communications manager Alex Verrey about FightStick availability, he gave me a statement that advised potential consumers to avoid bloated eBay prices. At the time, the rate was roughly between 250-400 dollars. This new Amazon FightStick seller is asking for way more cash.

I happen to find this funny, but also sad. Do you guys think the one-grand FightStick will sell? I have a hunch that this puppy will be gone by the end of the week. I'm told that Ken's Shoryuken is much easier to pull off with a joystick.

[Update: Christ, that was fast. It has either been purchased or pulled.]