Hori Real Arcade Pro Premium VLX Controller: Huge, Expensive, Desirable

Gamers who like their controllers to be big, beefy and unconcerned with how much of your space they monopolize should be eyeing up Hori's new Real Arcade Pro Premium VLX arcade stick.  Recognizing that many people secretly long for full-sized arcade cabinet hardware in their homes, Hori have slapped authentic Sanwa buttons and joystick into a board modelled on the Taito Vewlix layout.

What all that means is that the controls are heavy-duty enough to withstand regular bouts of battering, and fall to hand as if you've just haemorrhaged all your pocket money at the local arcade.  Unlike the arcade, however, the Hori controller allows you to easily open it up and play with the wiring, or even add in different buttons so as to create alternative layouts.

Both Xbox 360 and PS3 versions will be available, each coming with a huge non-slip mat so that you don't accidentally launch the controller off the table and skewer a family pet.  Don't expect all this to come cheap, however; in Japan the Hori Real Arcade Pro Premium VLX controllers will arrive at 30,000 yen ($330), so figure on a harsh mark-up from importers.

[via CrunchGear]