Ever since I obtained into arcade sticks due to the 8BitDo stick I purchased again in 2022, I’ve been taking a look at totally different controllers throughout worth factors, kinds, and extra. When taking a look at what individuals suggest and speaking to pals, it all the time felt like the highest finish of the spectrum in worth was Victrix’s premium lineup of the Professional FS and the Professional FS-12 controllers. A pal of mine has been utilizing the Professional FS for nearly a yr and loves it. Having spoken to Razer concerning the Kitsune, I’ve been desirous to additionally chat with PDP concerning the Victrix controllers and the Professional BFG. Following EVO 2024, I had an opportunity to speak with Trevor Lehr from PDP/Victrix/Turtle Seaside concerning the firm’s controllers, arcade sticks, premium worth factors, group suggestions, probably increasing to extra platforms, and far more.
TouchArcade (TA): Inform us a bit bit about your self and what you do at PDP.
Trevor Lehr (TL): I’m Trevor Lehr, Director of Product Administration at PDP/Victrix/Turtle Seaside. I’ve been with the corporate since 2015 and because the inception of the Victrix Model and its first product, the Professional AF ANC.
TA: How has it been for the group working underneath the Turtle Seaside umbrella?
TL: It’s been a easy transition to this point, with our shared expertise and experience within the gaming trade, we’re in a position to work and match collectively into the general Turtle Seaside imaginative and prescient.
TA: Having gotten into arcade controllers and sticks lately, it has been attention-grabbing seeing the Victrix Professional line talked about on-line for its premium really feel and worth. I wished to know the way it has been for the group seeing the response to the Victrix Professional FS and Victrix Professional FS-12 over the past yr?
TL: The group could be very pleased with our merchandise, and it’s all the time nice seeing the constructive response from clients and the group. Our merchandise are goal constructed, and the response from the group once they get their fingers on the Professional FS / Professional FS-12 for the primary time says all of it of their preliminary “wow” second.
TA: Alongside a golden age of preventing video games, we’re positively in a single for arcade controllers as effectively with so many choices obtainable throughout formally licensed ones, DIY controllers, and budget-friendly ones from the world over. What do you assume units the Victrix Professional FS line aside from the remaining?
TL: The Professional FS line was developed from the bottom as much as be the most effective battle stick for the professionals and aspiring execs. From the load of the Professional FS, the Sanwa Denshi components, the aluminum shell, the Victrix Engineered PCB and firmware – every thing is constructed to ship pace, sturdiness, and steady consolation for the lengthy hours of observe that go into preventing video games.
TA: I’ve not used the brand new Victrix Professional FS stick or leverless but, however what made the group determine to make use of a single piece of aluminum versus one thing lighter?
TL: There was not only one issue that led to the choice to make use of a single-piece of extruded aluminum, as an alternative there have been many causes and advantages for this resolution. Whilst you would possibly assume aluminum is metallic and subsequently should be heavy, aluminum is definitely one of many lightest metals whereas nonetheless offering excessive energy and rigidity. You need your battle persist with be planted in your lap with out transferring throughout a match, and also you don’t need it to flex or creak as you lean your palms into it. Aluminum additionally gives an unparalleled aesthetic and permits us to supply distinctive customized laser-engraving to our clients onsite at many FGC occasions.
Testaments to the energy and sturdiness of the Professional FS:
Shoutouts to @VictrixPro for setting up a battle stick so robust that it additionally doubles as a seat that may face up to my 255lb body as I await my subsequent ST match. pic.twitter.com/aGO5s5yLyV
— Alex Jebailey (@Jebailey) August 6, 2022
Buyer: How sturdy are your battle sticks? 🤔
Us: Sure. pic.twitter.com/5uJMkzCYU6
— Victrix by PDP (@VictrixPro) November 30, 2022
TA: The lineup additionally has current collaborations with Tekken 8 and The King of Fighters providing restricted version finishes and engraving. How has the response been to those and are there plans to do extra with different preventing video games?
TL: The chance to accomplice with the most effective preventing sport firms on the planet is simply one other instance of the validity of our Victrix line inside the group and we’re tremendous excited with the launch of our Restricted-Version Professional FS collaboration fashions! The response has been positively overwhelming, and we offered out of all Tekken and The King of Fighters stock we delivered to EVO, secure to say they’re fan favorites. The King of Fighters Restricted-Version Professional FS assortment is almost offered out and preorders for TEKKEN 8 is nearing promote out as effectively!
TA: Utilizing Sanwa Denshi components is smart given the recognition and reliability, however are there plans to supply fashions with Seimitsu’s Alutimo mechanical buttons or different mechanical buttons sooner or later?
TL: We use Sanwa Denshi components as our commonplace to make sure pace, high quality, and longevity. The Professional FS and Professional FS-12 are extraordinarily mod-friendly with the user-accessible again door to simply examine and swap in numerous buttons (just like the Seimitsu Alutimo), if the person chooses to take action.
TA: A pal of mine has the purple Victrix Professional FS and likes it so much except for the cable storage answer and the shortage of devoted L3 and R3 buttons. I do know you possibly can map it to at least one button on the highest, however has the group been taking a look at suggestions like this from gamers?
TL: The Professional FS and Professional FS-12 have inbuilt (and detachable) cable wraps on the highest of the aluminum that enables the cable to be wrapped up and clipped on when not in use for secure storing. The cable wraps additionally double as an attachment level to attach a shoulder strap for simpler transport between your matches. We’re all the time open to listening to our buyer suggestions and taking any ache factors or solutions into consideration for the longer term.
TA: Most sticks lately are black with just a few providing a white colour choice. The purple colour could be very hanging, and I’m glad to see it obtainable. Are there plans to do extra except for the restricted editions?
TL: Purple is a staple of the Victrix Model, and it solely felt proper providing that as an alternative choice to a extra impartial white. I can’t converse to any future plans, however I all the time discover it attention-grabbing listening to our followers’ “most desired” colours they inform us about at in-person FGC occasions all year long.
TA: We just lately have seen just a few new entrants into arcade controllers providing nice skinny leverless controllers at low costs. I don’t anticipate you to touch upon worth factors of different producers, however how do you and the group reply to individuals citing the lower cost of the competitors in comparison with the premium costs right here?
TL: The market will all the time have merchandise obtainable throughout a broad spectrum of worth factors. That is nice for the buyer and the trade to make sure everybody has entry to benefit from the FGC. The Professional FS and Professional FS-12 are (often) not somebody’s first battle stick simply entering into this house; we provide a premium product for the devoted FGC buyer who understands the standard and advantages we offer, which comes with the premium worth.
TA: Are you able to touch upon whether or not the Victrix Professional FS or the Victrix Professional FS-12 has been extra widespread total from what you’ve seen?
TL: Each the Professional FS and Professional FS-12 have been extraordinarily profitable and widespread, it simply comes right down to the type of play the shopper is searching for. The normal joystick Professional FS won’t ever go away, there’s an excessive amount of nostalgia and video games that are supposed to be loved with a joystick. However the brand new type of play with the Professional FS-12 Leverless is to not be missed, many execs use leverless now due to the pace and precision benefits of button presses for instructions as an alternative of precise wrist/hand actions required on a joystick.
TA: Clearly PS5 is a precedence for sticks and controllers lately, however I wish to know if there are any plans to work with Xbox or Nintendo on having official assist sooner or later for his or her platforms? I just lately purchased an 8BitDo for Xbox simply to have a stick for the console whereas most of my leverless controllers work on Swap out of the field.
TL: We provide fashions of the Professional BFG and the Gambit Prime controller for Xbox Sequence X|S, Xbox One, and PC however with our dedication to the group, we’re all the time listening to what they’re searching for subsequent and an Xbox battle stick could or will not be a future consideration.
TA: Earlier than discussing the BFG and controllers usually, I wished to ask concerning the detachable shaft. I just lately put in one alone Hori stick, but it surely’s nice to see it obtainable out of the field right here. What kind of work went into this behind the scenes?
TL: Numerous work, time, and testing went into perfecting our patented detachable shaft. Initially, it must act and really feel similar to a standard joystick when put in and through regular use. You want to have the ability to maintain it and use it as you usually would with out feeling any bumps or ridges to distract your gameplay, and it’s essential be assured that it’s safe and gained’t unintentionally come off throughout use. As soon as eliminated, you possibly can slide your Professional FS into the Victrix Match Backpack a lot simpler with out the joystick getting in the best way, and with out the concern of damaging the joystick’s microswitches if the lever had been to get jammed in a sure place whereas transporting it.
TA: Did the group seek the advice of with any outdoors gamers {and professional} rivals whereas designing the Professional FS and FS-12 along with ensuring it’s simple to mod?
Sure, skilled and aggressive efficiency is a part of the Victrix DNA, we labored with execs in the course of the early concepting and all through the event resulting in launch of the Professional FS and Professional FS-12.
TA: How has the response been for the controllers outdoors North America? Do you hear so much from gamers in Asia?
Victrix could be very effectively obtained in Asia, and we have now fairly a giant presence and following in Japan. We sponsored and had been onsite at EVO Japan earlier this yr, and most just lately sponsored and had been onsite at RAGE (a Road Fighter and Overwatch match) in Japan.
TA: My first style of Professional or Elite controllers was once I obtained the primary technology Xbox Elite Controller and cherished it. I just lately purchased a DualSense Edge and use it every day. What impressed me concerning the Victrix Professional BFG Wi-fi Controller, is the modular nature providing greater than what Sony and Microsoft provide on their professional controllers. Inform us a bit bit concerning the thought course of behind the precise modules and instruments included within the field.
TL: Our purpose with the Professional BFG was to develop a product for the professionals and for the more-than-casual gamer at residence who can admire the element, modularity, and efficiency provided. We wished the Professional BFG to be the go-to controller, whatever the style of sport being performed. We’re deeply ingrained within the FGC, so our 6-button microswitch fightpad module was a should. However we didn’t wish to miss the FPS and RPG followers from this product, which is the place the interchangeable proper module got here into play to supply a typical analog stick/motion button module as effectively. And if we’re going that far, then we wished to deal with these gamers preferring both an Xbox format with offset analog sticks, or a PlayStation format with side-by-side analog sticks and depart it as much as the person to determine their format, whatever the platform, with the 180º rotatable left module. Equally, we embrace many interchangeable attachments (all enclosed within the included carrying case) to make sure the person has the precise D-Pad type, analog stick peak, or analog stick gate (round or octagonal) to suit the sport they’re taking part in now, and match the totally different sport they could play tomorrow.
TA: I noticed the brand new Corridor Impact Module Pack for the PlayStation and Xbox branded controllers. I used to be truly going to ask about corridor impact sticks earlier than seeing this, however it’s good to see it obtainable for current house owners as an elective buy. Are there plans to make these the usual going ahead for brand new Victrix Professional BFG Wi-fi Controller fashions?
TL: We’re tremendous excited concerning the launch of our new Corridor Impact Module Pack! Whereas we are able to’t converse to future plans, this is among the advantages of the modularity of the Professional BFG controller, enabling clients to additional improve their controller with add-on modules after buy.
TA: Has there been something gamers have requested for through the years that you simply’ve not been in a position to work with for controllers but?
TL: We sometimes get very distinctive and specialised requests for one-off controllers/options from our followers. Whereas we admire the creativity and concepts, we have now to take a look at product improvement from a mass market perspective, which incorporates weighing tradeoffs to seek out the most effective total stability.
TA: The newest launch is the Victrix Professional BFG Wi-fi Controller Tekken 8 Rage Artwork-themed version. How has it been collaborating with the Tekken 8 group at Bandai Namco?
TL: We’ve got an excellent enterprise relationship with Bandai Namco, and it’s been a really enjoyable and collaborative course of working with them on all 8 of our Tekken 8 SKUs (6 Professional FS characters, the Rage Artwork BFG, and the Tekken Backpack). The Tekken Professional FS fashions and Rage Artwork Professional BFG mannequin had been all showcased and obtainable for play testing on the Bandai Namco sales space at EVO Las Vegas final month.
TA: Hypothetical state of affairs: When you might design a themed controller and a themed stick for any IP on the planet with none restrictions, what would you decide? This doesn’t must be restricted to gaming so go wild.
TL: That is powerful, realizing the chances are infinite. Stepping out of the gaming world, I’d most likely select a themed product primarily based on out of doors journey, offroading, and Jeep exploration.
TA: The Victrix Professional BFG Wi-fi Controller comes with a pleasant premium case, and I puzzled if there have been plans to do an identical exhausting case within the field for the Victrix Professional FS controllers?
TL: The Professional BFG comes with many small attachments that want a house for storage when not in use, or throughout journey. The Professional FS is self-sustaining and its detachable shaft, mud cap, and USB cable can all be saved immediately in/on the product itself. We additionally individually have our Victrix Match Backpack, which was designed particularly to suit and carry the Professional FS (together with room and options to hold many different objects on the similar time).
TA: What ought to we anticipate from Victrix and PDP in 2024 following EVO 2024?
TL: Continued assist and involvement locally.
Take a look at the TEKKEN 8 panel taking place on the Neighborhood Stage proper now!
See how @ChipotleTweets helps you in your journey to be the most effective, and preserve an eye fixed out for codes in the course of the present to win some free Chipotle. https://t.co/pRm0CRum2y | #Evo2024 pic.twitter.com/e73naIdSqc
— Evo (@Evo) July 19, 2024
TA: How do you want your espresso?
TL: I like my espresso scorching. I like my morning espresso (no less than 2 cups all through the morning) with some French vanilla cream. I favor my after-lunch espresso black with no cream or sugar to assist quiet down after a very good meal.
I’d wish to thank Trevor Lehr and Eric Nielsen for his or her time and assist right here.
You’ll be able to sustain with all our interviews right here together with our current ones with FuturLab right here, Shuhei Matsumoto from Capcom about Marvel Vs Capcom right here, Santa Ragione right here, Peter ‘Durante’ Thoman about PH3 and Falcom right here, M2 discussing shmups and extra right here, Digital Extremes for Warframe cell, Group NINJA, Sonic Dream Group, Hello-Fi Rush, Pentiment, and extra. As normal, thanks for studying.
Featured picture through Victrix Professional Twitter account.
