Hori Real Arcade Pro 3 Review - for use with PS3 & PC!

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Today dated 2/15/2007 (Thursday), I finally got my Hori produced "Real Arcade Pro 3" joystick controller shipped to me by UPS Ground shipping method from National Console Support, Inc.
Here's a JPEG link of a top view of the HRAP-3 controller layout: http://ps3.qj.net/uploads/articles_modu ... viewth.jpg

This particular HRAP-3 controller weighs in at whopping 2,600 grams! It won't budge if set on a level table or desk for some serious arcade joystick playing sessions... ^_~

I'm glad that I ordered it before NCSX decided to raise the HRAP-3 by another ten dollars (original price listing was at $105.00 USD and it was increased to it's current price listing of $115.00 USD -- due to the extra shipping charges to ship from Japan to New York where the USA-based mail-order video game import business of NCSX is located at).

The retail price for a HRAP-3 in Japan is: 8,379 yen -- not a bad price considering the retail price for Hori's earlier all-metal encased "PC Fighting Stick" arcade stick controller for the PC Engine console platform was priced at 7,800 yen back in 1995-1996. ^_~

The inert packaging material really wasn't adequate and NCSX had put some bubble wrap to further protect the HRAP-3 from sliding around during shipping transit. Hori would've been wise to spend a mere ten cents more for better shipping materials to support it's current arcade joystick for the PS3 console during it's intial shipping from Japan to destinations worldwide.

The joystick that is installed in this new fangled Hori RAP-3 is the Sanwa "JLF-TP-8Y-SK" type if you want to know exactly which one is in place. ^_~

As for the arcade push buttons that make up the usual HRAP setup as with the new HRAP-3 setup, they are of the Hori-brand push buttons with "quick disconnects" type of setup -- one can easily replace them with either Sanwa or Seimitsu push buttons for that unmistakable 100% Japanese arcade setup & feel. (It would seem in the nearby future that Hori would release different HRAP-3 setups after the original HRAP-3 with Sanwa joystick and push buttons or with Seimitsu-branded joystick & push buttons -- similair to the Special Addition and Special Edition HRAP-2 joystick setups released in the past from Hori themselves.)

I do have both replacement Sanwa & Seimitsu push buttons for such a HRAP-3 button mod job in the nearby future. ^_~

The usual corded interface with a PS2 controller interface that has endowed the earlier iterations of the HRAP-1 and the 2nd generation HRAP-2 has now been replaced with a measured 3 meters long, USB 2.0 cable interface to hook up to a Playstation 3 console.

As a bonus, upon inserting a HRAP-3 into a PC with Windows XP OS running Mame, Mame32, etc., it'll be detected & work. If it doesn't register with your XP endowed PC, then pressing the "Home" button on the HRAP-3 for five seconds should clear up that issue. ^_~

Here's another forum thread talking about using a HRAP-3 with a PC running Win XP OS: http://strikebang.com/archive/index.php/t-106.html

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There is a toggle switch to select from three different controller setttings: "D", "L" or "R":

Select the "D" position -- allows one to emulate the D-Pad setting on a PS3 SixAxis controller setup with the HRAP-3.

Select the "L" position -- allows one to emulate the "Left" analog stick on a PS3 SixAxis controller with the HRAP-3.

Select the "R" position -- allows one to emulate the "Right" analog stick on a PS3 Sixaxis controller setup with the HRAP-3.

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The handy auto-fire switches that endow the original HRAP-1 and HRAP-2 joystick setups has been replaced with a different setup of buttons labelled -- "Turbo", "Home", "L3" & "R3":

"Turbo" button allows the selected chosen "action" button (whether it be Triangle, Square, X, Circle, R1, L1, L2, or R2 buttons respectively) to have auto-fire functionality as indicated by a handy 'LED' status indicator.

There are several methods of implementing auto-fire with this new HRAP-3 setup as listed on the back of the HRAP-3 factory box -- is listed entirely in Japanese though (an English translation would be nice for our English reading HRAP-3 users). Three different auto-fire rates are selectable: "Slow", "Normal" & "Fast" settings are user selectable with up to 20 shots per second firing rate.

"Home" button -- if depressed, will bring the same functionality as if using a PS3 SixAxis controller and pressing the center "PS" logo button to bring up the XMB (Cross Media Bar) menu setting.

The "L3" & "R3" buttons are present on the HRAP-3 for completness should a specific PS-based game (whether it's a PSX, PS2 or PS3 based game software) require it for game functionality purposes.

I haven't tried out the HRAP-3 yet with any PSX or PS2 digtial-joystick based games yet and will give it a shot -- and report my findings as to how durable this HRAP-3 setup really is..... ^_~

----- Updated 2/18/2007 -----

Analysis of using HRAP-3 with PSX & PS2 games on the PS3 console:

The verdict on this new HRAP-3 when booting up a PS2 dgital-based game such as USA PS2 version of "Castle Shikigami 2" -- the buttons & joystick will not register + the PS3 console asks the user to "press the 'PS' button" (meaning the "Home" button on the HRAP-3). A simple PS3 driver update (to recognize the HRAP-3 when playing such backwards compatible PSX & PS2 software) will be necessary to get the HRAP-3 to properly work with both PSX & PS2 games.

As of right now, the HRAP-3 will only work with PS3 games and PS3 d/l demos. It would have to be through SCEI, that the latest PS3 firmware update to rectifiy this little "problem"...

I've tried using a Hori PS Fighting Stick with a PSX to USB adapter hooked up to the PS3 -- it simply refuses to work...(unless the proper drivers are installed to get that setup to function properly).

The only other alternative is for a licensed 3rd-party Playstation accessory manufacturer (or 1st-party SCEI themselves) is to release such a true compatible "PSX/PS2 controller to PS3 USB" adapter with built-in support for 'Dual Shock' vibration functionality and the appropiate necessary software drivers to get it to work properly. ^_~

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[rockaroller]

Haven't you played anything with it yet? I'd like to know your opinions about the feel of the stick, the buttons and the autofire functionality.

Thanks in advance.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

The above review of the new Hori Real Arcade Pro 3 controller has been updated... ^_~

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[tekneekz]

im waiting for the company to bring out their new batch of the virtua high grade fighting stick. ppl have been having problems with theirs, but for the cheaper price and it comes with full sanwa parts, it should be a better buy than the hrap 3 hopefully if they get their product straighten out

[PC Engine Fan X!]

im waiting for the company to bring out their new batch of the virtua high grade fighting stick. ppl have been having problems with theirs, but for the cheaper price and it comes with full sanwa parts, it should be a better buy than the hrap 3 hopefully if they get their product straighten out

For tekneekz,

Y'know Sega will try to rectify the problem with their new Virtua High Grade Fighting Stick... ^_~

According to NCSX Inc., this 3rd-party Sega PS3-based arcade stick is even bigger than the behemoth that is the Hori RAP-3. The HRAP-3 is even bigger than the actual PS3 console it self -- which does boggle the mind. ^_~

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Updated on 2/18/2007 with my latest findings as to compatibility with PSX & PS2 games booted up on a PS3 and using a HRAP-3 setup..... ^_~

(FYI: It's at the bottom section of the first post of this thread.)

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[Ganelon]

The only other alternative is for a licensed 3rd-party Playstation accessory manufacturer (or 1st-party SCEI themselves) is to release such a true compatible "PSX/PS2 controller to PS3 USB" adapter with built-in support for 'Dual Shock' vibration functionality and the appropiate necessary software drivers to get it to work properly. ^_~

Just to let you know, Elecom converters already let you use your PS2 controllers (including the HRAP2) on the PS3. However, they only work for PS3 games, which severely cripples the use.

Nyko is currently developing a converter that's supposed to work on PS1&2 games as well. We'll have to see how that goes.

[Monk 0 Nuggets]

How does this compare to these ones? I'm new to sticks, but interested in buying one.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... &rd=1&rd=1

http://www.arcadeshock.com/items/access ... detail.htm

[AAA]

im waiting for the
According to NCSX Inc., this 3rd-party Sega PS3-based arcade stick is even bigger than the behemoth that is the Hori RAP-3. The HRAP-3 is even bigger than the actual PS3 console it self -- which does boggle the mind. ^_~

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

and the SEGA stick comes with Sanwa parts as stock... shame they had to be recalled recently as some weren't responding so well

[Ganelon]

But unfortunately, their button layout is totally wacky.

[spadgy]

Any word on a good short-throw stick that's easy to put into this? Seimitsu or T-stcik maybe?

Thank you!

[Necronopticous]

So, I've been considering making the HRAP-3 my first stick. I don't have a PlayStation 3, and I would be using this solely for MAME. The consensus seems to be that I can throw in some Seimitsu parts with no hassle of actually doing any crazy modding, which is good because I have no experience whatsoever.

To those of you who are more experienced, does this sound like a good idea? I have been wanting to get a reasonably priced stick that will provide me with an arcade feel and arcade precision for the shmups I play in MAME for quite awhile, but no production sticks have really jumped out at me until now.

Thanks in advance.

[Shion]

I'm also looking to get an arcade stick to hook up to my PC. For Melty Blood (fighting game) mainly, but might use to for shmups if I get too used to it
Would the HRAP-3 be good for fighters?