New x arcade setup please help!!

[joe barnes]

Hi

I've recently started to create a man cave in my garage am looking to buy a x arcade tankstick from the internet after wanting a arcade setup for my converted garage.

Am totally new to this and don't know where to start for the setup I've been all over YouTube and watched most threads on this system but unsure how to get all the games content? I have currently a PS3 / PS4 / and a PC do I go online and just do a simpledownload to the pc and use the tankstick to this or do I go through another system or PS3 ?

I believe I get a voucher code to get games content already once I've bought the tankstick? I was thinking to setup up with a tv screen on the wall and just build a table for the tankstick, am looking to order the stick next few weeks but just want the research done before I commit.
Your inputt would be really appreciate d and if possible explain to me in simple terms I am competent with pc's just don't do a lot of downloading of any kind.

Thank you in advance

Joe

[vwalbridge]

a man cave

EDIT: I had to read your post like 5 times to try and understand your thought process. I'm afraid that based on your scattered wording of PS3, PS4 and PC... I'm not totally confused. Then you throw in "downloading" and all bets are off.

(Not to mention you are approaching a no-no topic for "games content" anyway.

[BadMouth]

The tankstick comes with "greatest hits" discs that are PC versions of some arcade games.
That's not what most people in this hobby use.

Most people rely on a myriad of emulators, starting off with MAME.
Learn to set up and use the software before doing anything else.

None of this stuff is plug and play.  It's not commercial software.
You'll need to dedicate dozens of hours (if not more) to learning how to set up emulators and a front end.
You may decide it's something that's too much hassle to learn, depending on your current level of knowledge.

The official MAME build is a command line emulator.  It doesn't have a snazzy interface to select games and such.
They added an ugly interface after they got tired of people (who hadn't read the instructions) complaining that nothing happened when they clicked on the exe.

Most noobs start with a UI (user interface) version.
You can download the current version of MAMEUI here:
http://www.mameui.info/

It's against the forum rules to tell you where to get roms.

That will get you started anyway.  As you add more games and play with options, you'll see how complicated things can get.
Some games won't work because you'll be missing the separate sound board or bios roms.
Some games won't work because the roms you found are from an older revision of MAME.


People on here crack on the tankstick, but it's a good value IMO.
I used one for a few years until I built a cabinet from scratch.

[Phreakwars]

Yeah, I'm one of those who will crack on the tank stick for an actual arcade setup.

Although I will say it is fantastic if you just wanna sit at your desk and play some games. The HAPP type joystick is actually my preferred stick over the Japanese type. Love me some long throw joysticks.

On the other hand, the X-arcade sticks are kind of a joke if you are looking to build an arcade around them. There are companies like recroommasters.com that sell cabinets made for the X-arcade, and they work great, but myself personally. I'd rather build my own and have an iPac controller inside.

Like BadMouth said.. it would be wise to first learn about the emulators and then build a cabinet.

For PS2/PS3, your gonna need an adapter if you plan on plugging those consoles into it. Unless you are wanting to run the emulator.

mameworld.info will probably have the game resources you would want for the arcade end. Flyers,Cabinets, snaps, etc..

Building your own arcade is FUN!! Just know what you're getting into first.

[joe barnes]

Thanks all

Basically what am after is a plug and play arcade set up that I could just play simply, after seeing the x arcade tankstick setup through a normal tv screen I thought if I was to buy one I could do the same but wanted to see what this involved before I bought it as not all posts on internet shows how to set the arcade games up , my thought process then was how does this happen can you get the games setup through using a PS3 or PC via buying or downloading through the internet but if this means I need to know lots about programs then this isn't what am looking for as I just want an easy system to use without costing a fortune.

[the_gamer]

I just want an easy system to use without costing a fortune.

Doesn't exist. Choose 1

[Phreakwars]

Thanks all

Basically what am after is a plug and play arcade set up that I could just play simply, after seeing the x arcade tankstick setup through a normal tv screen I thought if I was to buy one I could do the same but wanted to see what this involved before I bought it as not all posts on internet shows how to set the arcade games up , my thought process then was how does this happen can you get the games setup through using a PS3 or PC via buying or downloading through the internet but if this means I need to know lots about programs then this isn't what am looking for as I just want an easy system to use without costing a fortune.

To use an X-arcade with just the PS3 is pretty straight forward.

You buy the X-Arcade and one of these adapters: http://shop.xgaming.com/collections/adapters

You simply plug the adapter into the end of the cable, plug that into your PS3, and your set.

You could ALWAYS just buy one and use it exclusively for the PS3 until you learn more about using one on a PC.

I have my own arcade cabinet, but still own an X-arcade (solo) stick that I have plugged into my big screen TV. That one however, is fed into an HTPC and not a console, but I do have the gamecube adapter for it and it works quite well with it.