Genius announced today a series of joysticks that are so real, they are scary. Mmm…kay. According to the release, the new “MetalStrike FF and Pro joysticks feature a force feedback function that lets the user feel the affects of simulation games by causing a vibration when the user bumps, crashes or shoots when playing air combat games that simulates real flight action“. So I guess they mean that they are scary realistic.

Further adding to the realism, the joystick features 13 programmable buttons, an eight-way “point of view” hat switch, and a turbo function for auto-repeat so the user can fly their aircraft just like a real plane. Each joystick has a four-axis design including the rudder, which is ideal for simulated flight games and provides Aileron, Elevator, Throttle, and Power controls. One feature I found pretty interesting was the “Air Control” function that gives you three levels of gentle cooling for your sweaty palms. They should incorporate something like this into mice made for World of Warcraft players.

You can check them out at New Egg.com, Amazon.com, Comp USA, Mac Mall, Tiger Direct, Buy.com or other retailers and distributors listed at http://www.geniusnetusa.com/buy.php. Pricing wise, the trio of new joysticks should hit at $26.99 for the MetalStrike 3D, $39.99 for the MetalStrike Pro (featuring different levels of vibration feedback), and $69.99 for the top end MetalStrike FF Joystick (featuring force feedback). More pictures after the jump…