Real Arcade Controls for Xbox Live Posted by XanTium | October 5 23:09 EST

From retroblast.com: [QUOTE] You Xbox 360 folks that have been trying to relive classic arcade games on Xbox Live with the poor substitute of a gamepad might just be in luck. We just got word that Ed Farias of Arcade-in-a-Box has created a controller for that system with real arcade controls and a sourced and modified Xbox gamepad. Check out Ed's snappy handy work in the image above. The prototype you see pictured is a wired version based using a Mad Katz controller PCB. The unit can also be used on a PC using Windows XP. Here's the rub, Ed's not sure he want's to create these as there is a good deal of time involved soldering the connections properly. His current thought is to sell it as a kit for home users to finish. I think there's a load of demad out there so prove Ed wrong. If you would be interested in a kit or in a completed controller, drop Ed a line at Arcade-in-a-Box and let him know. [/QUOTE] The DIY tutorial (posted here long time ago already) is available on gamersreports.com and you can find another DIY build on arcadecontrols.com. News-Source: retroblast.com

that's great and all, but what I want is an adapter that goes from xbox controller to 360 controller.. at least on some level

Why ? So I can actually use my custom arcade cabinet with the 360 without having to re-do the whole soldering/gamepad wires/buttons crap again... and still be able to use it with what it works with now... xbox and ps2

just don't feel like ripping it all apart when a damn adapter would be so much simpler... hell, there has got to be a way to do it.. I been waiting but it looks like it is never gonna happen

If I am wrong and anyone has seen an adapter like that please post so I know where to get em

Thx...


Chris Williams
www.Abay.com

This is nice for the Street fighter arcade game on the xbox 360

really?

the "X-ARCADE" would be a better choice of arcade stick since i own one myself and there quality is great and they also have a "lifetime" warrenty so u KNOW your getting "quality" stuff... but as of now they dont make a adapter for the "x-arcade" for the xbox360 , but it does work on everyother system out there pretty much (pc/xbox/ps/ps2/gamecube/dreamcast) ... only bad thing is cost as it's 130 dollars for the basic unit and adapters are 19.99 each, but u can get one free with your purchase of the x-arcade stick... the x-arcade stick i have is 2 player ... but they make one player units but your better off just buying the 2 player unit since it aint much more in cost (130 vs 100) and the 2 player one comes with free shipping right now to... the single joystick is 10 dollar shipping.

but eventually they should have a adapter for the xbox360 and all will be good

p.s. it works great for old classic games like mortal kombat on the PC using MAME

Sorry guys but garbeezie.....


If you wanna see some real quality sticks check this thread here. Super customs... on all 3 pages!

This site here. High End!!!

Or also on these boards.

i agree, this is not news worthy.

if you want to check out some awesome sticks, then check out the byrdo page (archalien just posted it) and the srk forums . http://shoryuken.com. specifically the techtalk forums.

What about those doa4 arcade sticks? Do they suck or something? Why not just get those.

i checked that site archalien said to check... those stick "look" nice but there prices are roughly double what the x-arcade costs and they dont have a lifetime warrenty plus there only single sticks not double like the x-arcade is ... so if your conserned with bang for the buck (with great quality) u cant be the x-arcade sticks... but for those who only want "look" then going with that site archalien recommended cant be bad

also for those who are wondering about getting those "cheap" crap (50 dollars or so area) u can buy at your local store... dont bother they wont last! ... if your serious about getting a quality arcade stick im SURE u wont be disapointed getting a x-arcade stick.

X-arcade sticks are horrible. Why not spend the 15 bucks (plus a 360 controller) on the real parts, instead of paying a rediculous amount for it. Im not that great at soldering, but even I can do it lol

Make me a wireless version and I'm sold.

I had already made a post on these to see if people had an interest becuase I am going to build a few in both wireless and hardwired and I am sure ultimarc is working on a 360 adapter as we speak but in my opion my controller board/box is much sharper looking then that I use the chrome T-molding and 3/4" board with formica cut with a router trim bit and use happ control's same as hot rod but the hotrod or X-arcade joy's and button's are the cheapest happ make's and I tend to use there better quility one's.

I wanted to post something about the SRK sticks but it looks like someone already beat me to it. Not to knock on Ed, it looks like he put some quality craftsmanship into the stick and he must know what he's doing (or maybe he's just resourceful) to hack a pad, but the design far outdated to what's been being built for the past 2 years at least.

I just wanted to pop in and thank Xbox-Scene for posting the new story. I never actually expected it to get here once it was posted at Retroblast.

Anyway, I'm still unsure if we will continue to make these. I might do a run of 5 or 10 and see how well they sell. As I have mentioned to many in emails, the price is probably going to be in the 200 dollar range. I know it's steep, which is why I have be reluctant to offer them at all.

A lot of the cost is labor. As you might have seen, these controllers are not our main business. As the holidays pick up, our labor time gets more valuable as we build our Jamma and Arcade boxes for customers. I hope you don't mind my honesty, but that's just how it is .

I did the prototype to get a feel for the market, and I see that there is room for something like this. I encourage anyone that wants to do it themselves and sell them, to go for it. I think you can do pretty well. I'll mention a few of the short comings if you do attempt to make a business out of this.

1. There is a security chip on 360 controllers. Only Microsoft and select 3rd party manufacturers can make controllers for the 360 because of this. This is why we hack a gamepad. Don't expect anything from Ultimarc or X-Arcade anytime soon.

2. The official live headset that comes with the 360 is a pain in the butt. It will be very difficult to get it working on an arcade stick. The best option I have found is to use a non official headset.

3. Make sure you wire up a guide button so you can connect the controller to the 360. I don't believe the 360 auto detects a controller plugged it, but you need to hold down the guide button to get it connected (I could be wrong on this). But, it also means you can swap games and shutoff the console from the arcade stick, and it's a nice selling feature .

I'd be more than happy to answer any questions in here or via email.


Ed
http://www.arcadeinabox.com

and PacMan :-D

x-arcade sticks aint horrible... they have a "lifetime warrenty"... im sure they aint going to use crappy quality stuff while offering a lifetime warrenty.... iv used mine for a while now for mainly games like mortal kombat 3/ultimate mortal kombat 3 on the pc and it works great.

do u know of any arcade stick manufacturers that offer a "lifetime warrenty" ?

1) Its not select 3rd party manufacturer's, its licensed company's, to keep people (possibly like you) from building shoddy products. If you were a stand up company you would buy a license so u didnt have to HACK a controller (leave that to weekend warriors and try it legit). And at 200$ there are other custom companies building better products than yours THAT ARE LICENSED!!!

2) if you cant handle the headset its further proof you shouldnt be peddling this for sale.

Hello all, James here from RetroBlast. I just had to chime in here to remind you that the controller build by Ed is a prototype, trying to bring some options to the users of XBLA. The thought of trying to play classic and retro arcade games on a gamepad is enough to make me shudder and I have heard plenty of cries for something closer to the real thing.

In fact I was one that egged Ed on to build the prototype to show that it could be done for Xbox users considering the licensing MS has implemented.

I have seen and posted news items about Robert's controllers on RetroBlast before, and they do look very nice. He uses great components and obvioulsy knows his way around woodworking tools. I do also feel that you pay dearly for the routed edges and japanime graphics. They are impressive to be sure, but I think Archalien is a little blinded by the pretty colors and shiny edges if he thinks these equate to gaming quality above and beyond others creations. Pretty pictures don't always denote better controllers.

All controllers have one thing very much in common. The subjective opinion of the user. I know plenty of folks who love X-Arcade products, others who despise them. Same goes for any and every joystick, trackball, spinner, gamepad ever made.

I for one am partial to the style Ed chose for this prototype, with t-molding installed along the edges rather than a box with routed and stained edges. The t-molding is a throwback to the real arcade game cabinets which almost always sported this as the leading edge of the cabinets. Again, that's my opinion and taste, the asthetic design is as if not more subjective than the controllers themselves.

I would challenge Archalien to throw down and build a stick based on an x-box gamepad so we can all see how his woodworking and technical skills fare. It's pretty easy to knock something someone else has completed, but taking the step to try it for himself may give him some insight into the challenges Ed faced building this controller.

Be sure to make it PC compatible like Ed's too while your at it.

As for hacking and a controller from Mad Catz to get around MS liscencing, you can sit and wait for the first arcade controller company to secure a liscence (for approx. $150-$200k) to have the privilege of building a compatible comtroller, the rest of us will take matters into our own hands so we can get our game on sooner rather than later. It is a crap move by MS and I hope loads of people skirt it, complain, and it affects sales in some way for MS. It is a crummy move by them and it will negatively affect the choices you and everyone else has in controllers for the 360. The best controllers for consoles and computers nearly always come from third parties who do nothing but build superior controls.

James!

OK, let me rephrase then. Companies that can afford to pay a licensing fee to Microsoft. Which we can't considering making a 360 controller is no way near our main source of income. Is that better?

I do find it rather funny that you can, even in passing, call my products shoddy. Go out, search the net and find anyone that owns something we have built for them. I promise you, shoddy will be the last thing they say. We pride ourselves on quality of quantity. Always have, and always will. We've been in the home arcade business for over 6 years now, and will continue to do things that way. If you, for one second, don't think we are a stand up company, then you know absolutely nothing about our company. That statement cannot be further from the truth.

Please, let me know of a custom company that is 1. Licensed, and 2. Makes an arcade quality product for the 360. I don't mean a cheap knock off with plastic casing. I'm talking about a product that is built in the same fassion classic arcade cabinets were built, and with the same arcade parts.

As for your #2. What can I say. I never peddled anything, I built one and showed it to James at retroblast. He posted it. I had concerns about making them for several reasons I won't get into here. From there is spread across the net. I'm not asking for your money. I even jumped in here to give some advice of my finding while building one to share with all.

Besides that, if you don't like it, don't care about.

For all of you that have emailed me about more information and are waiting for an availability announcement, I'll be sending out more information tonight.

Mad Catz is coming out with one. Here's the link to the product.
Mad Catz Xbox Live Arcade Retro Stick

That aberration is in no way, shape, or form, an arcade stick!

LOL. Like someone said to me. It's like every bad console gamepad/joystick of the last 25 years thrown into one. I hope it has suction cups on the bottom.