Sega Announces A USB Cyber Stick Controller For The Mega Drive Mini 2

Sometimes I feel like some of these major devs/publishers are disconnected from the gaming community and have know clue what gamers really want from them. I can’t see this being successful

I'm all for a bit of quirkiness, and I would class the release of a Mega Drive Mini 2 and an accompanying 'cyber stick' as quirky, so no complaints from me. Who cares how successful it is? I somehow doubt when they greenlit the re-release of the cyber stick' that anyone at Sega said "This'll put us back at the top of the gaming world".

But little niche things like this enhance Sega's reputation in my eyes.

I sorta want this.

Erm, that controller actually looks like it can deliver an authentic Afterburner experience! Damn, shame it's the Megadrive version

I don't see myself using this on a mega drive mini, but it looks like a pretty sweet controller for a PC mech game.

@Gofixmeaplate on the contrary - sometimes products as niche as this sell out in stupidly fast times. It depends what the production run will be, but there absolutely WILL be an audience for this.

Speaking personally - I have no interest in either the console or controller, but totally appreciate something as left field as this releasing. Quirky products are always fascinating in my eyes..

Don’t forget - at present, the console is only announced in Japan at present. For all we know, this controller could have cult status for the audience over there…

They could have used the 32X version of Afterburner
Maybe we will also get an Astro 2 with all of the Sprite Scalers

I've got most of the X68000 games but have never went for a Cyber Stick, but strangely have an urge to buy this one!

This looks cool but I don't really need the console. I wish it worked with my Switch!

That controller can't only be compatible with the Mega Drive Mini 2 can it?

This controller looks crazy why didn’t they release something that would be actually useful like the arcade power stick

Not gonna lie, I kinda want this just for Afterburner. I pretty much doubt we'll get this in the west though. Maybe the mini 2, but probably not the stick.

@GrailUK It might not be fully compatible, but because it's USB, you could use it for something like Ace Combat or other arcade-y flight sims on PC or other consoles

Granted, there are more dedicated HOTAS devices...

Rather than a Genesis/MD mini sequel, this should have been a Sega/MD CD console only. Whatever Gen/MD games they wanted to get out should have been on the first release. This should be a dedicated CD release with an attachment to the new mini that looks like the actual CD attachment

This thing will sell out fast. No more than 5 people will use it with the Mini. Thousands will use it with PC.

2022 and we're getting new Sega accessories. My 1995 self will be very happy to know that.

@Ryu_Niiyama Maybe we'll get lucky and they'll make it usable on the Switch..

This is good news. This will eventually lead up to Saturn & Dreamcast mini’s. I hope. Lol

Looks pretty cool. I’ll take it along with the Mini 2.

Totally overkill for the mega mini, but as it is USB, it will work with a lot of classic games on a PC emulation station.

I only want the Mega Drive Mini to be manufactured again.

Holy ***** i want one!!

@Gofixmeaplate

I REALLY WANT THIS lol

I read the Japanese. It says: "Controller shown to actual size." The tag line reads: "It's the Ultra Mini Cyber Stick for those with Ultra Mini Hands."

Super cool! Cyber stick is a great name.
Really hope this works on the Switch.

I want this to play Wing Commander, Freespace and Tachyon:The Fringe type games on PC. Being USB, it might just work...maybe.

This reminds me of the twin sticks controller for Virtual On on Sega Saturn... of which I owned TWO (I mean two sets, not two sticks total). And then I probably used them like... three times.

I just want this for GLOC and StarFox on Switch - I really hope it's compatible/not the Most expensive

Kind of a cool thing for anything else.

What on earth is this monstrosity for? Which mega drive games use it? Seems like a bit of an oversight to publish an article about this without providing any context whatsoever.

@thinkhector

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1861/2927/products/[email protected]?v=1656154308

@Wataru I was being sarcastic about it's size. I was just confused about this strategy. Why would a person interested in a mini-console ALSO be interested in a GIANT controller? Also, what connection does this controller have at all with SEGA, it was made by SHARP?? And this controller costs more than the system! Now people might be saying that this would be good for PC, but givien the price, there must be better options already on the market for flight sims.

Funny thing is I've been searching for the original Micomsoft XE-1AJ for years. I've only seen it listed/sold on eBay once. This controller is niche even in Japan. In addition to working with AferBurner II and Super Monaco II, it also works with 32x Space Harrier. You can swap the throttle and joystick on the original. There's also an adapter to make it work with the PC Engine.

I've purchased the X68000 Sharp Cyber Stick version once (vs. the Micomsoft) based on the information on the site linked on the article (gamesx.com), and tried it on the SEGA Genesis, but it does not work with the Genesis without some re-wiring (at least it didn't for me on either mode). I'm hoping that someone releases an USB to Genesis adapter for this. The Micomsoft XE-1AP is the other analog controller for the Genesis / Mega Drive but it's ugly/heavy as hell.