Just wanted to a take a quick moment to say hello, and thank Mista Wizard for finally getting me regsitered here.
I’ve noticed the past some hits to my site coming from here, so I thought it appropriate to drop in and give a quick blurb about what Arcade-In-A-Box can offer this community.
First off, let me state that our PC based system do not run MAME. We are 100 percent legal and run only retail software. That seems to be the biggest thing I run into when randomly linked on forums.
With that out of the way, I do a lot of custom work, mostly American style, for various systems. Console and PC controllers to JAMMA related systems.
I’m sure a lot of you here don’t like the American style controllers much either, so I am always willing to try out new products, so if you have ideas or something you think would be worth prototyping, just let me know. I get most of my parts from HAPP, but I have a list of suppliers that can also get me Sanwa and Seimitsu parts if need be.
I’ve been in business for over 8 years building arcade systems and controllers, quality is my number one priority and I build each controller/system personally. From the design to the CNC cutting, to the wiring and testing. I encourage my customer to customize their systems how they want, I hate cookie cutting. Mamemarquees.com does all of my printing, and they do a fantastic job. I have access to over 400gigs of fully restored arcade artwork I would happy to use for your designs.
I think that’s all. Thanks for reading and I appreciate all feedback.
I’ve been looking over the site a bit the last few days and it seems that most of the stick builders follow the same design concept. MDF Box, sunk in plexiglass with an overlay underneath.
I’d be interested in hearing if there are other styles of sticks people would like to see. I have a CNC router, so doing curves and what not is no problem. Even carving a design in the wood itself might be an intersting approach.
It might be that the current sticks are the best design, and that’s ok. There are a lot of people making them, so I’m not going to try and duplicate work that is already done by so many.
PM, Email me or post here if you have ideas you think I can help with.
I know there is a faint interest in Korean sticks, but overall not that popular due to it being seen as more of a Tekken thing and availability of parts. The way they are mounted is very different from US and Japanese parts. Maybe that could be a little niche market on here.
There was a good amount of interest in an aluminum stick that someone on here made. I don’t know if that is something you can work with but sticks involving metal like the ones Finkle makes are nice.
Tucson! Heh, I just moved from there. Go eat some Viva Burrito or Ralibertos for me.
If you have a CNC router you should totally run away from this rectangular stuff. Off the top of my head, perhaps some cool engravings in lexan with LEDs to light it up or some video game inspired inlays in a fancy stained wood cabinet. That would be friggin’ sweet!
Wow, that does sound pretty sweet. Might have to look into that.
Where in Tucson did you live, I don’t recognize either of those resturaunts. Las Magaritas will always be my favorite mexican food joint. Has been for the last 20 years :).
The price might be dropping soon. They started at $250, just because of the pain to solder the 360 controllers. Now I can solder one up 15-30 minutes. You are still looking at about 70-80 dollars just in parts, that’s not incluing labor.
Xbox Gamepad
9 buttons
Joystick
Black Melamine wood
T-Molding
Add in CNC Time, box assembly and wiring/solding time. It adds up fast.
Maybe it is expensive based on what other people are charging. I sell enough of them that I think the price is at an ok point.
I appreciate the opinion though, even though I knew it would be mentioned at least once
Hey Ed, would you be available to do a little CNC work possibly? I need some small plastic housings that could be easily milled out of some cheap plastic about 1/2" thick (like cutting boards. Doesnt Tuscon have a Sam’s Club with the cheap white cutting boards?), just over 2"x2". I got it laid out in SolidWorks, but it’ll be quite a while before I can get around to learning how to use my cheapy CNC.
I’m reworking my pricing and I wanted to ask. How important is having a headset jack to you all? Currently I include one that works fine with the original xbox headset (not the 360 headset). But it might be one way to save on some labor and parts costs.
Well I made the headset jack optional, and added a few other options while dropping the price to $149 plus shipping.
The overlay is still optional because we get our printing done from a company that specializes in arcade restoration printing. The overlays we use are laminated with a Polycarbinate laminate that makes them very tough, and scratch resistant. We don’t mark up the cost on the overlay at all. It costs us 30 dollars to get one printed, so that is what we charge, regardless of the time it takes to install it, or help our customer design it.
It’s good that you provide the headset jack as an option, because part of the appeal for 360 fighters is talking (smack) with your opponents. I had another guy create my custom stick, and the only way he got the headset jack to work with the official 360 headset (or Headset adapter) was cutting one end of a 2.5mm extension cable so that it would fit the adapter. In your case, you can suggest on your website that players use an official 360 wireless headset for their headset needs (especially if the stick does not have a headset jack option).
