Madcatz Microcon controllers for Xbox: good online sources?

[Grasshopper]

Does anyone here know of any good online sources for this type of controller? I'm in the UK but I'm prepared to order from any reputable company that ships internationally.

I've always really liked the design of these controllers and promised myself that I'd pick up a couple if I ever bought an Xbox.

A year or so ago they were available at pretty much every local shop that sold console parts. However, supplies seem to have completely dried up, and now I've finally bought an Xbox I can't find any. Have I missed the boat? Occasionally they crop up on Ebay but they're invariably second hand and ideally I'd like to get hold of a couple of new ones.

My preferred colour would be dark translucent green (see attached picture for example).

Thanks in advance.

[ChadTower]

Those are the ones I use.  I picked up a bunch of them at Toys R Us recently for $6 each.  They were clearing them out because they are Star Wars themed.  These are smoked grey with red LEDs all over the inside and a tin stamped plate in the center with Darth Vader's head on them.  Kind of cheesy but you're right they're a great controller.

EDIT:  just took a closer look, mine aren't micros.

[Loki]

I don't like the button layout... then I mean the start/select and the black and white buttons.
I find it hard to reach the black and white ones. Yesterday I was playing on my xbox and hit the start button with my thumb a few times. Really annoying.

I have a Logitech cordless joypad with the same layout and the first microsoft version (the big one)
The MS one is really nice if you have fairly big hands.

[shmokes]

One of my favorite controllers of all time.  I have four of them.  All wireless. 

What's that, Shmokes?  Madcatz made a wireless Microcon for the Xbox? 

Yes . . . yes, they did.  And they are ---smurfing--- brilliant.  Never had a single problem with the signal and battery life is great (not that it would matter too much cos I use rechargeables anyway).  Other than the lack of a cord they are just like the corded version.

Amazon UK has it:  http://www.amazon.co.uk/Madcatz-MOV545860-MicroCon-Wireless-Controller/dp/B0000AI1KT

About $25 I guess (too lazy to look up exchange rate), so not especially inexpensive, but certainly reputable.

[DrumAnBass]

I have a pair of these Intec wireless "Mini" controllers - they BLOW...!!  Avoid at all cost:

[SithMaster]

I have the gamestop brand and they work well.  Online retailers hmmmmm...I'll search for some otherwise i'll check some local stores like where chad got his.

[Howard_Casto]

Now is the time for us to gobble these things up for hacking. 

You can get a xbox pad for under 10 bucks now and they have 6 analog axis, a d-pad, 10 digital/analog buttons and true force feedback motors.  (not to mention a built in usb hub)  With some simple cable hacking or an adaptor they work great on the pc, so you can basically interface any kind of arcade control via these pads. 

I think rat-shack has wireless xbox pads for around 15 bucks.  I don't have any clue how good they are though.

[ChadTower]

I'd be willing to snag one to find out.  I could use one for XBMC.  Now that I've mastered the controller for XBMC I can't imagine wanting to use a standard remote.  The controller gives you really fine control, especially with the analog sticks.

[Grasshopper]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I've been doing some more investigating and I've come across quite a good review for the Microcon (here).

With regards to the whole wired vs wireless thing, in terms of functionality, I don't really have a strong preference either way. There are pros and cons to both types of controller. However, so far I've tended to focus on the wired Microcons, partly because IMHO they look a lot nicer than the wireless ones, partly because they're generally slightly cheaper, but mainly because I only ever seem to come across the wireless ones in ---smurfy--- colours like lime green and pale yellow.

However, in light of Shmokes favourable comments, I've been looking at the wireless ones once again. What I'm finding is that they're far easier to obtain than the wired ones. Five minutes on Google threw up several sources. I'm getting the impression that MadCatz stopped manufacturing the wired Microcons some time ago, but that they're either still making the wireless ones, or have only recently ceased production.

But the colours are still a problem. It's not essential that the controllers are dark green, but ideally they should at least be a darkish colour of some sort. Maybe I'm being unreasonably picky about this, but aesthetics matter to me, and I don't think I could live with say a pale yellow controller.

To make matters worse some of the online retailers don't supply pictures, or say that the controllers will be supplied in a 'random' colour.

[shmokes]

Three of mine are all black, with standard colored buttons.  They're totally classy looking.  None of the translucent plastic with two-toned handles like most microcon controllers.  Actually, the black ones are like a series-two wireless.  They did away with the channel switches.  Apparently they can frequency hop to find the best frequency, without having to manually set the controllers to match the receiver like my original (translucent black plastic).  Also, the first wireless ones had a mushy grip that was great for the first couple of weeks until it got discusting (just like those rubberry things that you throw at the wall and they stick and then kind of crawl down the wall).  The "series two" versions went back to the original hard-rubber that is on the wired version, which is far superior.  I actually took my wired controller apart just so I could get at the grips to replace the crappy grips on my original wireless controller.  Now it's perfect.

[ChadTower]

FWIW, I just started to get into Xbox emulation, and the D pad on these things suuuuucks for old school gaming.  Way too stiff to be accurate or fast enough.

[Grasshopper]

Actually, the black ones are like a series-two wireless.  They did away with the channel switches.  Apparently they can frequency hop to find the best frequency, without having to manually set the controllers to match the receiver like my original (translucent black plastic).

Thanks Shmokes. So there are at least two different versions of the wireless microcon out there. That's worth knowing.

Do you know of any foolproof way to tell which type you're buying just by looking at it? Unfortunately, if I'm buying online I can't check to see what sort of rubber the grips are made of.

[shmokes]

Here are some pics illustrating the only real visual differences I see.  In the first pic you can see the exclusion of the wireless channel select switch on the black controller (newer version).  You can also see the exclusion of its counterpart switch on the receiver that plugs into the Xbox.

The only other cosmetic difference, aside from the color, is that the original wireless Microcon controller had sideways triangle symbols on the Back and Start buttons, with written lables printed in tiny labels on the controller casing itself.  The newer version ditches the labeling and prints "BACK" and "START" directly on the buttons.

I don't know if these details will actually be apparent in any photos available at online retailers, so good luck.  It's probably worth noting that I'm almost positive that the crappy handle grips that were included with the first wireless Microcons were prominently advertised on the product packaging.  It said something like, "New and Improved Gel Grips!!!"  Or something.  The Gel grips that came on mine have long been in a landfill, though, and what you see are the (slightly ill-fitting) grips pulled from a wired Microcon controller.

Lastly, I haven't bought an Xbox controller in at least a year, maybe more like two.  So, chances are, the controller you get WILL be a version 2.  Also, I don't think the version 1 was ever made in solid black, so if you find black ones you're probably golden.

[Grasshopper]

Thanks Shmokes, that's very helpful.