Performance Designed Products’ Marvel Edition Versus Fighting Pad: 6 Face Button, Re-Designed Thumbstick

Last week saw a full-on Mad Catz arcade stick for the upcoming Marvel vs. Capcom 3, and this week we have something a little less conspicuous.(Not everyone wants to store a big arcade stick around the house.) It’s the Marvel Edition Versus Fighting Pad, from Performance Designed Products. If nothing else it looks pretty good, not some slapped-together thing designed to make a quick buck.

It’s a wired controller, it’s only available for the Xbox 360, and as you can see with your eyes it has six action buttons on the front. Nobody wants to play a fighting game with left and right triggers. And nobody usually wants to play a fighting game with the standard thumbstick, instead opting to use the D-Pad. But wait, there is no D-Pad here?! Yup, PDP says it’s designed the thumbstick has been “custom designed and constructed to feel like an arcade joystick but with the more comfortable and compact feel of a thumb pad.”

Strong words, but never having used the controller I can’t really comment either way.

The controller, which is available now, is only $40, so at the very least it won’t put you in the poor house.

One week and counting till the release of Marvel vs. Capcom 3. Any takers?