I bet it would be helpful if people would figure out EXACTLY what they need or ask questions BEFORE ordering a stick.
Just a thought…
Well,
Capcom has layed down a bit of a gauntlet on me. I just got a letter via certified mail stating I am currently violating the copyright law by using Capcom’s trademarks.
Now, I’m not sure if they have seen some of my past work, or if it’s the current artwork that is in question. I’m waiting to hear back from them for more information on that.
The specifically stated Devil May Cry and Street Fighter trademarks. I’m not really sure where the DMC comes in, except for maybe one piece of artwork that sort of looks like Dante, maybe when he was 14 or something.
Anyway, I’ll post more information if they decide to follow up with me. If they don’t, well I’ll cross that bridge when I need too.
That’s kind of dumb after all this time…maybe they are planning to release an arcade stick again with their artwork on it? Because I’m sure whatever it is won’t be anywhere near as good as your stuff Ed.
Thanks bud. Whenever stuff like this comes up it just turns my stomach in knots until I get a final solution. Midway did the same thing to me about a year ago because they didn’t bother to learn what I was doing. This was back when I made the Computer based system. I use retail Miday software and they thought I was using MAME. It tore me up for a few days, but once I finally got their lawyer on the phone, we figured it out.
I’m sure it’s a open threat because they are Capcom and have the money to do stuff like this, but you never know.
I guessed the email address of the one that wrote the letter (three tries using different firstname lastname combinattions). Only 2 of the 3 bounced back. I also faxed my letter to him asking him to call or email.
Well I’ve been putting a lot of thought into this today. Matter of fact, it’s all I’ve been able to think about today. I’m tired of living in the grey area of artwork, especially since I believe making a quality stick should be the number 1 priority.
I really need your help gang as I am really struggling with this right about now. I need to make a decision whether I am going to continue on this path of each part of each stick being custom, or move away from that slightly.
My questions to all of you are:
- Would it be suicide to just offer one generic canned overlay (like cringe x-arcade)?
- Is it better to have just one overlay and multple button layouts? (more than I currenty have.
- Even with one overlay, should I still give the options of buttons colors, t-molding colors, etc. Or just use the same colors for everything?
It really hurts me to even ask this because custom is what I have always been about. With the dollar how it is, I need to find other alternatives for purchasing sanwa parts. This means I would need to directly order from Sanwa, which also means I need to order buttons by the 100. Doing that for 7 difference colors can get costly fast.
Same goes for stocking 12 different color of t-molding, concave and convex buttons. Different joystick and ball top colors.
X-arcade seems to be very successful doing it this way, even though they use crap parts. I won’t sink that low, I will always use the same quality parts I do now.
My head is kind of racing right now so I really hope some of what I said makes sense. I’m just tired of looking over my shoulder wondering which big company is going to have a problem with me next. Capcom now, Midway might come knocking again because of the same artwork issues.
Anyway, thanks for reading my rant and please let me know any of your opinions.
BTW, here is the new logo. Color is not finalized, but the logo is.
Always bet on black. The standard plain black laminate is the way to go my man.
Thank Damdai. That’s actually what I was considering, only a printed black overlay with my logo (small, not like x-arcade). Maybe button labels as well. Just trying to come up with something that everyone will enjoy. I have a lot of customers that are not really into fighters, but buy the sticks for the classic games. These people almost always ask for the buttons to be labeled.
Something simple like the MAS overlays would be cool:
http://www.massystems.com/ProStick.html
I would say just come up with a couple simple designs to give customers a few choices but keep the option to upload their own artwork. At least if their artwork infringes on a copyright it won’t be posted on your site for anyone to see 
I mean this here is a straight rip-off of a Capcom control panel and they’ve been selling it for years:
Since it doesn’t depict any characters I wonder if you could make a design similar to that?
What I think would sell pretty well is if you had designs for the Japanese sticks modeled after candy cab control panels. I’m pretty sure no one from Japan is going to come after you :wgrin: Good examples:
http://www.gamoover.net/Forums/index.php?topic=12755.0
Especially the Astro City one :tup:
Well here is something really quick I whipped up.
Straight Layout, Slim Arcade
http://www.arcadeinabox.com/stuff/newoverlay.jpg
Some detail
man, i feel you on the part of making nice boxes versus the dollar. But if you got to “tighten up” overhead, i suggest do it. Plus by making AIAB (arcade in a box) with a few basic choices/popular ones, this should help keep things simple and the budget down and hopefully easier for you to make these boxes :bgrin:
now to answer your questions, again this is only my opinion but here it goes:
question1) about the overlays, having only one “nice standard, universal” overlay would work. i would like to see maybe like 2-3 basic ones to choose from if possible. Maybe these extra choices could just be different colors of the same design. If not the image you showed of the black mattel steel look, looks great though :tup:
question2) i think have a choice of 2-3 overlays with you multiple buttons layouts is best. also i don’t know how difficult it is to do the different buttons layouts, but if you can i would prolly toss the Mortal kombat layout. the standard 6 straight buttons and jap layout is prolly most common. But if making these custom button layout is pretty simple, then keep those options open dawg!
question3) this should really help cut down cost, i think options of buttons colors is really important for stick buyers/consumers. maybe just have the colors to a few basic colors like: black and red, again just a few color choices. Now about the t-molding i think your one of the only few that even offers such a “high class” choice for t-molding. this you could prolly just keep to universal black. most people/consumers prolly don’t make this such a high priority in stick shopping, again just have universal black and i’ll think you’ll be ok
i hope that helps, currently AIAB offers mad choices, but if the “dollar” is tight, then definitely cut back on all those options, just remeber it is always nice to have a few choices when it does come to grahpical layout, button layout, stick type, and buttons and colors (keeping to the popular choices). also maybe with the jap sticks and buttons, just keep an small basic inventory of basic choice colors like black and red (aka most common choices)
and about capcom hassling you about grahpics, what can they do if it is art from other people and your using it. fockin morons capcom. well once you go to that black overlay you shan’t have to worry about those bastards!
hope that helps bro!
oh yeah let me know on the status of my baby (stick)
As far the button and stick colors I think you should just stick with the most popular ones, ie. red, blue, black. Most casual players probably wouldn’t want pink or purple buttons. The ones that do are probably going to be hardcore players like people on SRK, in which case they already know about LizardLick and ponyboy and TRNG’s shop so they could provide or install it themselves.
Capcom gets a fal from me with this copyright BS.
Stupid, stupid, stupid.
AIAB >>>>>>>>>>>> Capcom 
Love the new logo and site Ed.
Multiple button layouts are a must, everything else is secondary. Are you worried about Jack-In-The-Box next? Is that why you changed the logo?
Wow, thanks for all of the awesome replies guys. I really appreciate all of it, and thank you for understanding.
Goldn- The MK sticks sell at least 3-4 a month, not a lot but it’s really not a big deal to cut them. In fact, it’s not a big deal to cut any button layouts. Onces it’s drawn and the CNC code is written, it’s just a matter of picking it and letting the CNC do it’s thing.
Mizkreant - I actually hadn’t thought about Jack-in-the-box. It’s a good point though :). I figured with the new direction of the company, it was time to nail down a new identity. I think that logo captures it perfectly and I thank the SRK member that did it for me.
All current orders will still go as planned. Hopefully the new artwork changes will go into effect this week. I’m still waiting to hear back from Capcom, hopefully they will call or email me back on Monday. Though I’m sure it’s just a scare tactic and I have a feeling they have an arcade stick coming out and this is how this started. Either that or they found me on Facebook. I just signed up and started advertising on it a few weeks ago. Stupid Facebook.
LOL. Well I guess if nothing else YAY, Capcom knows who I am :).
I’m going to continue to finalize the artwork based on the above layout. There will be a different version for Curved and MK layouts as well. Sticking to the same theme though. Then I will also do one in blue and red.
Sorry to hear it, hope you get things resolved.
Thanks David,
I actually just went through my Facebook photo album and realized I put in one of the photos of my earlier sticks with the Ryu/Ken “Shoryuken” artwork on it. My guess is they saw that and flipped out. Rightfully so. I just hope they take the time to hear me out on this.
Needless to say, I will be going with the set overlays now. I just want to clear my name with Capcom, regardless.
I hope all your copyright problems go away. I think you should have some generic x arcade style stuff. AND make the best japanese 360 joystick possible. ie astro city layout, plexi on top, sturdy, and ya leave it all black. or have options where people can pick colors, but that requires custom ordering and longer time.
Will.
Astro City - Check
Sturdy - Check
All black - pretty much check
Plexi - I will leave that to custom guys. However, I might make a black stick that has a larger rectangle inset cut in for you to put in your own plexi/lexan if you want. Probably make the area slightly smaller than a 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper so people can print out their own artwork to put under the plexi. That’s a little ways off though. Still working out the blank stick details ;).
word plexi feels sexy hahaha
This seems like the best choice, as though there are things that can’t be changed, giving them some decision over they want it to look would be better for everyone. Plus T-molding isn’t exactly something Anyone can do, But I’m pretty sure they can all go out and change the overlays themselves in the future if they wanted to, not hard to unscrew a couple things and put a new piece of artwork under it.