Arcade style joysticks for MAME to replace full size cab?

Dr Zoidberg · **Joined:** 15th Oct, 2010 **Posts:** 5502

I have sat in my conservatory a full size MAME cab. It's all very nice (apart from the graphics card seems to have died after being baked in 60 degree heat and then suffering sub zero temperatures) but I'm going to be moving house in a few months and there isn't really anywhere other than the garage to put the bugger.

As a result, I'm tempted to sell the cab and by a decent arcade joystick arrangement and just use MAME on my desktop PC. Does anyone have any recommendations on what's good and bad, or indeed have any interest in buying my cabinet?

WTB · **Joined:** 27th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 14497

I use my Hori Arcade Stick for MAME. It's an Xbox 360 stick, but it works in Windows as well. USB wired, obviously!

Alarm · **Posted:** Sun Apr 17, 2011 16:50

X-Arcade?

http://www.xgaming.com

Dr Zoidberg · **Joined:** 15th Oct, 2010 **Posts:** 5502

Oooh, the x-arcade looks very nice indeed. I'd be more inclined to go for something like that rather than a smaller single player jobbie.

Thanks, both.

zaphod79 · **Joined:** 16th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 14527

I have the old style X-Arcade (so its a keyboard connection by default rather than USB which all the new ones are) and its great - Windows can see it as either the X-Arcade for things that use it or can see it as an extra keyboard so you can simply map keys to fit.

Only downsides are size (so its hard to find someplace to store) and weight (it can be a little heavy sitting on your lap).

They do a single player one which if its just you playing might be easier , or you could pick up any of the fighting sticks which have recently come out for the Xbox / PS3 which will almost certainly be USB connectable (although they do tend to be cheaper quality parts)

Dr Zoidberg · **Joined:** 15th Oct, 2010 **Posts:** 5502

The cost isn't that much of an issue, as I'll get the pc in the can fixed before selling it and it should be a pretty easy sale as it's a good looking machine. That will cover the cost of a nice control setup.

TheVision · **Posted:** Sun Apr 17, 2011 20:45

WTB wrote:

I use my Hori Arcade Stick for MAME. It's an Xbox 360 stick, but it works in Windows as well. USB wired, obviously!

How did you get it to work in Windows? I have one and whilst its ace for beat em UPS, it doesn't work when plugged into the pc.

WTB · **Joined:** 27th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 14497

Pretty sure it's just plug'n'play, although I may have downloaded drivers from somewhere. I'll double check when I get a minute to dig it out. What version of Windows are you on?

TheVision · **Posted:** Sun Apr 17, 2011 21:06

WTB wrote:

Pretty sure it's just plug'n'play, although I may have downloaded drivers from somewhere. I'll double check when I get a minute to dig it out. What version of Windows are you on?

Don't tell anyone.. but I'm on Vista. The 32 bit version.

Mr Russell · **Joined:** 6th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 12359

TheVision wrote:

WTB wrote:

Pretty sure it's just plug'n'play, although I may have downloaded drivers from somewhere. I'll double check when I get a minute to dig it out. What version of Windows are you on?

Don't tell anyone.. but I'm on Vista. The 32 bit version.

WTB · **Joined:** 27th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 14497

Urgh! Well, I went from XP to 7 64, and it has worked on both! Maybe it's Vista?

romanista · **Posted:** Mon Apr 18, 2011 20:56

i did have to do drivers for the hori stick to work on win 7 too...
(see the thread on shmupmame for links)

romanista · **Posted:** Mon Apr 18, 2011 20:58

or here
http://download.microsoft.com/download/ ... _32Eng.exe

zaphod79 · **Joined:** 16th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 14527

I got an email from X-Arcade today talking about their 10 year anniversary and announcing a discount on their normal stuff for the next 2 days

http://www.xgaming.com/store/arcade-joy ... dium=email

If your in the UK it works out at about $160 including international shipping for the basic X-Arcade (around £99 according to xe.com)

Quote:

To celebrate the 10th Anniversary Of Xgaming's first X-Arcade, we are launching the first of a few surprises, limited-time promotions. What could be a better way to commemorate a decade of X-Arcade Awesomeness than selling boatloads and boatloads to unsuspecting customers?

Check out our April 21st X-Arcade Dual Special, which expires at Midnight CST on April 21st. We guarantee this is the lowest price the X-Arcade Dual has ever been offered and we have no plans to lower the price again.

Take a look at the decade deal now and act fast to stock your friends and family up with an arsenal of X-Arcade Dual Joysticks. You can buy as many as you want, but the deal turns into a pumpkin at Midnight. Buy 2 or more and get free shipping anywhere in the contintental US.

Dr Zoidberg · **Joined:** 15th Oct, 2010 **Posts:** 5502

Ooh, that's tempting.

chinnyhill10 · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 15695

zaphod79 wrote:

I got an email from X-Arcade today talking about their 10 year anniversary and announcing a discount on their normal stuff for the next 2 days

They claim the joystick works with "any" computer or console system. Strange as there doesn't appear to be a standard Atari compatible option.

If it won't work with a Megadrive or C64 they can GTFF.

zaphod79 · **Joined:** 16th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 14527

chinnyhill10 wrote:

zaphod79 wrote:

I got an email from X-Arcade today talking about their 10 year anniversary and announcing a discount on their normal stuff for the next 2 days

They claim the joystick works with "any" computer or console system. Strange as there doesn't appear to be a standard Atari compatible option.

If it won't work with a Megadrive or C64 they can GTFF.

There is a 9 pin serial cable connection , however I'd say not compatable with any 'real' computer , they mean these new plastic like things Chinny.

BTW this is obviously from the main US area , the local UK distributor : http://www.gremlinsolutions.co.uk/xarcade.php is £120 plus VAT

I bought my X-arcade from TKMax about 5 years ago when they were selling them off , I think it was £50 :-) , I have since bought adapters for it from the US store and have connected it to a PC / Playstation 2 / and original Xbox without any issues , there are some solutions to connect it to the 360 but its a bit of a weird setup.

TheVision · **Posted:** Wed Apr 20, 2011 21:13

romanista wrote:

i did have to do drivers for the hori stick to work on win 7 too...
(see the thread on shmupmame for links)

But does it work with Vista? I'm not convinced I've seen anything that will make them work yet.

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Arcade style joysticks for MAME to replace full size cab?

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