X-Arcade button & joystick bundle

[NoBonus]

I have been looking at ways to save $$ on my arcade controller and I found the X-Arcade 2 joystick + a slew of buttons for $19.95.  This offer leads me to two questions plus a bonus question:
1) are the X-Arcade parts any good, or are they of poor quality?
2) is this the most cost/effective route to go?
3) with a dedicated four way joystick, are the microswitches as bad as I hear meaning it is leaf-style or nothing?

Thanks,

NoBonus
Pest, Neophyte, Begger, and Planning Junkie

[Malachai]

I use the x-arcade parts and I'm pretty happy with them.  The switches are louder than cherries, but for 1/2 the price I can't complain.  

I should point out, if you are using a good number of buttons and want to use a pushbutton wrench for installation, you may want to look into getting some Happ buttons.  X-arcade buttons will not work with a pushbutton wrench.  Good thing the pushbutton wrench only costed $2.50.  

[Tiger-Heli]

I have been looking at ways to save $$ on my arcade controller and I found the X-Arcade 2 joystick + a slew of buttons for $19.95.  This offer leads me to two questions plus a bonus question:
1) are the X-Arcade parts any good, or are they of poor quality?
2) is this the most cost/effective route to go?
3) with a dedicated four way joystick, are the microswitches as bad as I hear meaning it is leaf-style or nothing?

Thanks,

NoBonus
Pest, Neophyte, Begger, and Planning Junkie

1)  I think Rampy uses them, been asked a lot before, basically there slightly lower quality clones of Happ Supers.
2)  Well, probably a reasonable way to go.
3)  Problem with 4-ways isn't so much the microswitch as the lack of a restrictor plate.  The X-arcades won't be a great dedicated 4-way.  You'll be better with the Seimitsu (E-bay) or the Omni-Stik (www.groovygamegear.com) or one of the www.ultimarc.com sticks for this.

[brained]

Hey I've just ordered those buttons on saturday, I'm expecting them tomorrow. I can tell you how well they seem, when they arrive.

Anyways I think it's an okay bundle for starters, the only bad thing is that they only come in black color, so that removes a bit of color from your cab.

Anyways i'll check them out and tell you about them. But hey for 26.95 (Bundle is 20 and shipping is 6.95) you get a whole bunch of buttons and 2 sticks!!!!!  

Well i'll tell ya tomorrow

[NoBonus]

Is the Omni-stick as cool as the website says? Has anyone tested these things out?  They look cool and I like the switching capability, but $35 for one stick? Ouch.

[Tiger-Heli]

Is the Omni-stick as cool as the website says? Has anyone tested these things out?  They look cool and I like the switching capability, but $35 for one stick? Ouch.

Omni-Stik Prodigy is $35 and includes the top-switching feature.  I've read good comments about them.

I was referring to the basic Omni-Stik which is like $14, but has to be switched from underneath the panel, but for a dedicated 4-way is much better than a Happ Super.

[Arcadiac]

Can you link us to this deal if its still available? Thanks!
ARCADIAC!

[Tiger-Heli]

Can you link us to this deal if its still available? Thanks!
ARCADIAC!

Here it is direct from them and separately (order either the pair of sticks, or the buttons, or both):

2 joysticks for $11 and 20 buttons for $10.

http://xgaming.net/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=XOS&Category_Code=exp

[brained]

My shipment arrived and they seem to be OK!!
I'll give them a try on this weekend.

[NoBonus]

Cool, I will be looking forward to your review.

[HagHore]

Nannuu had bought the X-Arcade 2 stick 20 button pkg.  When we started building the two minis we decided to use the X-A pkg in the miniGeekenstein cab.  We gave it a hearty playtest this last weekend and they work just fine.  The microswitches are a little noisy and the sticks have a bit too much throw for my personal taste (Nannuu expressed the same things) but they definitely feel sturdy and quite frankly, they play just fine.  For the money you really can't beat it.  If down the road you decide the switches are a little loud you can always just get cherry's from Bob Roberts to replace the ones the X-As come with.  I also think the X-As play fine for 4-way games as they have a definite force/feel to them that makes them easy to use, still won't be as good as something that uses a GOOD restrictor though.

As for the Prodigy's, Nannuu ordered up one of the cool Red Balltop Prodigy's last week for a cab he's making for his mom, when that gets here you can bet I'm going to bug the heck out of him to let me try it out.

[NoBonus]

So, brained, did you test out the X-Arcade stuff yet?

[brained]

Nope, I haven't been able to deal with the CP. My car's computer blew up this saturday and it screwed everything up for me. I'm not having much sleep thinking about this replacement, it's expensive and it's driving crazy, right now I'm only hoping a friend of mine will be able to repair it . OR ELSE  

Anyways the thing i've was testing the only thing bad about them was the clicks from the microswitches. I haven't tried the joystick yet but it seems sturdy enough for my taste. When I'm back to normal I'll see if I can finish my test control panel.

[NoBonus]

Man, that's messed up.  Nothing is worse than car troubles.  I hope everything turns your way.  By the way, my car's clutch shattered about two months ago and that is what soaked up all of my $$ for building an arcade console. So now I am bartering for parts and jury-rigging like a mad man.

NoBonus

[brained]

Cars sometimes suck bigtime!!, once I've got some extra cash, my car seems to smell it and it get it says HEY MAN I WANT SOME OF YOUR CASH TOO, AND IT SCREWS UP

that happens to me almost everytime I get some extra cash.  

[Yander]

Better then when you don't have extra cash although I can see your frustration.

[NoBonus]

Actually, I think your car waits until you have plans for the money that do not involve the car, then the car strikes back with broken clutches, cracked windshields, computer meltdowns, bald tires, and/or missing freeze plugs.

[Yander]

Thats when it really gets annoying. You start planning what you are going to do with the extra money and then it is all taken away by the car's problems and you have to start all over again.

[brained]

The huge problems is that I didn't have that much extra cash, If my friend doesn't fix it i'm gonna have to ask my mom to loan me about 500 bucks. that sucks . That

[NoBonus]

Ouch, a loan from mom, that does suck.