RetroBlast Arcade Controller Roundup

[KevSteele]

The Arcade Controller Roundup is now available on RetroBlast, comparing the Hot Rod, X-Arcade, and the SlikStik Classic arcade controllers.

http://retroblast.com/reviews.html

The review also includes a video preview:

http://retroblast.com/video.html

As always, let me know what you think (strapping on my asbestos suit )

Kevin

[dhansen]

What I think is you have a lot of time on your hands  

As usual, very well produced! Great job!

Doug

[ntjedi]

As usual, a well written review.  I think that this might help clear up some questions for alot of people!

[KevSteele]

Actually, I'm a stay at home dad with two small boys - these reviews are either a way for me to stay sane, or a desperate cry for help.  

Kevin

[Minwah]

Great work, I got a small plug in too  

[2600]

Great job Kevin, please keep them coming.  A questoin on something I should of asked when I saw the video review a couple days ago.  In the video you show shots of the hands messing with the controller and mashing some buttons.   To me it It shows how your hands and body will "interact" witht the Controller.  Now for the question, on the slikstik  how does your hand and body "interact" with the 4 way.  A video would be great and your height, but your a busy man and any view you could shed on the situation would be great.  Also, can your kids use the 4 way easily.

So you know where I am coming from, it always appeared to me that when the 4 way is mounted like that, that the user may have to lean or other parts of the controller may get in the way.  Especially a little one.  But this could easily be me not truly visuallizing it correctly or overestimating the size of the controller

Thanks

[KevSteele]

2600,

I find the 4-way on the SlikStik comfortable to use, and I think it isn't as far of a reach as it probably looks (about the only problem I have is my beer gut bumping the front of the panel! I gotta lose more weight )

I don't have any problems with bumping other controllers when using the 4-way or the spinner.

My kids have used the 4-way and the spinner, but they do lean in a bit on the control panel to do so.

I'll see what I can do about getting some pics or video of it.

Kevin

[Geekboy]

Great job!    Really enjoyed the review.  Keep up the excellent work!  

[KevSteele]

Okay, since 2600 asked here (and I've actually gotten quite a number of emails asking about the "reach" to the 4-way joystick on the SlikStik), here's a couple of snaps (both left-handed and right-handed, adult and child -- who says I'm not thorough?  ):

Note that the 4-way on my custom layout is actually where the spinner would be on a regular Classic, and the spinner where the 4-way is. (It actually doesn't make much of a difference, but I thought I'd point it out.)

I've never found reaching or using the 4-way joystick uncomfortable, and I hope these pics help put a visual "scale" on how far back the 4-way is on the panel.

Kevin

[2600]

Thanks Kevin, that actually does help put a perspective on it.

Keep up the great reviews.