| Price | BOOTH |
| Release | February 9, 2024 |
| Compatibility | NS2 / PC |
| Dimensions | 8.7″ x 4.9″ x 0.7″ |
| Weight | ~0.55 lbs |
Overview
Brew yourself a cup of blonde roast coffee, and ponder the possible connection between these three terms:
- Field
- Generation
- Thousand
A field of a thousand generations? You see, that’s the literal interpretation of Chiyoda—part of the CHIYODA Freaks brand name—and it’s common to use the word “freak” in the Japanese electronics industry to indicate passionate obsession, not insanity.
Chiyoda is also the name of a ward in Tokyo that is home to major financial districts—and even the Imperial Palace (formerly known as Chiyoda Castle).
What we derive from all of this is that CHIYODA Freaks, especially with the visual impact that the all caps CHIYODA has, is here to stun you with a strong nod to a legacy in precision—with plenty of quality and heaps of cultural depth.
Now that we’ve beaten around the bush enough, it’s time to dive into the CHIYODA Freaks controller, which is reminiscent of a Flatbox.
First, let’s get this tidbit out the way: the controller has four function buttons, but the 14 main buttons mean you can use this controller with modern fighting games like Street Fighter 6.
In fact, your left pinky and right thumb are put to use—instead of being idle. Not just that, the jump button is bigger than the rest in a way that allows you to press it with either thumb’s side easily, although it’s recommended to use your left thumb.
As for the switches, they’re the Kailh Choc V2 Red low profile switches that operate quicker than a ticker symbol on a CNBC broadcast of Jim Cramer. Such quick switches mean you can evade your opponent’s attacks super fast.
It’s time to talk about the controller’s hardware.
The controller is 3D printed from PETG, resulting in a light controller, which also happens to be slim and small enough to travel the world with—winning tournaments left & right.
It’s great that the controller uses the industry standard USB-C connection, and another great aspect is that the port comes out of a convenient location roughly in the center back.
Let’s add to that the controller’s utilization of the acclaimed GP2040-CE firmware that’s open source and pretty much has next to zero lag. We at The Arcade Stick are infatuated with this popular firmware.
But does this controller look good? Honestly, it does. By default, it has a translucently white shade to it—as well as transparent keycaps.
The white translucent housing has a surface processed in a way that exhibits sparkling reflections depending on:
- The angle at which you see the controller
- How much light there is in the room
And so on…
The controller’s surface also minimizes fingerprint smudges and the whole nine yards. That said, you can actually go for a dual color scheme with this controller, such as opaque white on top and black at the bottom (where you can see four screws). Even the keycaps can be ordered in black.
With that taken care of, it’s important to note that CHIYODA Freaks’ 3D printing might result in tiny scratches, burns, or unevenness that perfectionists may gasp at. Otherwise, it’s not a big deal—it even adds nuance to the controller.
At this point, reader, it’s time you added a mini controller to your arsenal of tools that you use for endeavors from ranking up online to scouring the globe in search of tournament trophies.
You’re one click away from visiting CHIYODA Freaks’ BOOTH store, which can ship your purchase to wherever you are in the world!