After a long wait, Madcatz has released information regarding the MLG Pro controller. When MLG wanted to design their own controller, they wanted a fully customizable product built with the tournament-level quality and reliability players can expect from a high-grade item. For this task, MLG has chosen MadCatz, and I was reluctant to even look up the controller because of my past experiences with their products. However, MadCatz has stepped up their game with their line of tournament-level FightSticks, so I've decided to give them another chance. After looking up what the controller has become and what it can do, I think they did a pretty darn good job.

The MLG controller is fully customizable with both PS3 and Xbox 360 joysticks and D-pads. You can interchange them between 3 slots on the controller so essentially, you can create a combination that’s comfortable for you. You can also personalize your controller with custom faceplates and colored d-pads or joysticks that will be released later on. So if team jerseys and headsets weren’t enough some of you, you can get team controllers now.

The built quality on the item is excellent according to most people who have already purchased the item. It’s shipped without the dreaded “slow-turn” of doom found in most Xbox 360 controllers that competitive gamers have learned to hate. It even comes with a braided cord for added durability. Unfortunately, there is no wireless version of the controller as MLG-level tournaments only use wired ones for the reduced lag, no matter how miniscule it may be. Even though the product uses both PS3 and X360 parts, the controller has a separate version for each console, so you can’t use one controller for both systems, as cool as that would’ve been.

Of course, for all the added features you get, the controller will set you back $99.99 which is a heft price to pay for a controller that generally comes with your console. But like most other systems and their fancy keyboards and mice or cool fightsticks that give gamers of other genres a slight edge, console gamers now have something they can choose to spend extra cash on.