X-Arcade Trackball for $70 + shipping = good deal?

[Dougmeister]

This has to be a topic of discussion here somewhere but I can't find the thread.

Is this a good deal?

http://www.xgaming.com/trackball.shtml

[lloydcom]

I don't really know about it being a good deal.  Depends on your point of view.

Yes the craftmanship and quality of build warrants the $70 alone.  The trackball and buttons are definately worth purchasing and it makes an ideal companion to the Xarcade Sticks.

The problem I see, and I'm sure many know this already, is purchasing this to just play a few classics, which a good mouse would suffice.  Also I use an Xarcade in my cab, and it would be a real  to swap it out just to play a session of centipede.  Storage is a problem too.

So you would have to look at it's usefulness on the long run.  I would only hope one day Xarcade will make a Stick/Trackball control panel or at least make an upgrade panel and package. 

Then it would rock.

[monkeybomb]

X-arcade uses cheap chinese knock off parts.  They are junk.  but I don't know of another unit like that one.  maybe someone else knows.

[Dreamwriter]

The X-Arcade trackball is in no way a "cheap Chinese knockoff".  It's a good high quality 3" trackball, feels and plays just like 3" trackballs in the arcade, and is completely solid.  And the rest of their stuff isn't "junk", it's all solid and built to last.  The joysticks may not be quite as accurate to the arcades as other ones you can get, but they are way better than any other non-arcade joystick out there, and mine has held up for 3 or 4 years of abuse and still work perfectly.  And for their buttons, I have both X-Arcade buttons and the buttons GGG sells, and they feel almost exactly the same.

[monkeybomb]

I have both X-Arcade buttons and the buttons GGG sells, and they feel almost exactly the same.

Then we simply disagree.  I have both as well and they are world apart to me.  And the parts are inexpensively made in china and resemble those designed elsewhere prior to their own design.  you can name that process.

[emerica]

 the parts are inexpensively made in china

I wouldnt be surprised if any of the happ line in manufactured in china. Most things these days are manufactured somewhere else for dirt cheap and then sold here (in the states) under a big named company. As for the feel and quality of x-arcade stuff, The joysticks never bothered me. I had them for a few years before I went with T-sticks. The buttons do have a different feel to them. The button seems to have more of a press than a happ button, if you can understand what I mean.

The trackball is probably fine you want something for your desktop but for an arcade solution you can get a betson trackball pretty cheap on ebay. I think I got my ps2 betson trackball for about 55 plus shipping. It all depends on how you are going to use this trackball.

[RandyT]

HAPP buttons (the buttons GGG currently offers) are made in the USA.  I even know the name of the injection molding company where the tooling lives. 

As for button quality, the HAPP parts are definitely more solid in construction.  The X-arcade buttons have a somewhat looser hold on the microswitch, thinner walls on the plastic parts (this is most evident in the plunger part), a finer thread pitch (more turns required on the nut) and are shorter.  But the fit and finish are fine and with a good Cherry microswitch installed, one would not be able to tell the difference from above the panel in actual appearance or operation.

Are they "Real arcade parts"?  I think that might be a little bit of a stretch, but if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck.....

As for the X-Arcade trackballs, they seem to be very similar in appearance to the Betson Imperial.  The photos I have seen look almost identical, with only the Imperial name missing.  The square frame was still in the same spot, but without the name in it (*edit* Apparently it was a pre-production unit as the units carry the X-arcade logo there now).   One would really need to dissect the unit and compare the internal components to know for sure how the quality compares.  I've seen some poorly made 3rd party replacement rollers for the Betson trackballs, so the rollers would be a good place to start the comparison.

I haven't actually used one of the trackballs, so I can't comment on the performance. 

RandyT

 

[ArcadEd]

The feel between an x-arcade trackball and a happ is a world of difference to me.  Which I prefer to use Happ trackball in my builds. 

With that said, the x-arcade trackball feels and looks a lot like a betson to me.  I have used them both, and I really couldn't find a difference.  Neither feels as good as a happ.  Just my opinion.

But you answer your question.  I think 70 bucks is a pretty good deal considering it's half the cost of a happ trackball alone.  If you go through happ.

[torez]

I got X-arcade trackball and it does not take much space to store.  Trackball feels pretty good and is comfortable to use.  The only complain I have is the positioning of the buttons.  It's worst when you play Missile Command where you have three bases and you use each button alot in a game.  Basically it looks to me that it was designed for a very fat user (pardon my expression) where your elbows are positioned at 45 or more degrees away from your body.  After a while of playing my wrist gets tired of the position and I don't feel like playing like I have two watermelons under my armpits  .
Besides that, the four mounting bolts of the trackball could be sunk in a little bit (3-4 mm).

Overall, it's not a bad trackball for the price and with ps2 and usb adapter included, it adds to the value.  I use to play it on my computer, so using full size control panel is sometimes not the best option for me.  One thing I can't understand is why they don't add a spinner to their line.  Wonder if adding one by myself is a way to go.  Could then just piggyback 2-3 buttons that are already there and away I go .  X-arcade, please change your silly button layout.  Yes, I know it would add to width of the board, so maybe left/right handed units would be a way to go?

[mark shaker]

This post may be a bit late for the sale, but if it goes on sale again you will be ready. Here is the RetroBlast review:

http://www.retroblast.com/reviews/XTrackball.html

   - Mark

[Xam]

I got X-arcade trackball and it does not take much space to store.  Trackball feels pretty good and is comfortable to use.  The only complain I have is the positioning of the buttons.  It's worst when you play Missile Command where you have three bases and you use each button alot in a game.  Basically it looks to me that it was designed for a very fat user (pardon my expression) where your elbows are positioned at 45 or more degrees away from your body.  After a while of playing my wrist gets tired of the position and I don't feel like playing like I have two watermelons under my armpits  .
Besides that, the four mounting bolts of the trackball could be sunk in a little bit (3-4 mm).

Overall, it's not a bad trackball for the price and with ps2 and usb adapter included, it adds to the value.  I use to play it on my computer, so using full size control panel is sometimes not the best option for me.  One thing I can't understand is why they don't add a spinner to their line.  Wonder if adding one by myself is a way to go.  Could then just piggyback 2-3 buttons that are already there and away I go .  X-arcade, please change your silly button layout.  Yes, I know it would add to width of the board, so maybe left/right handed units would be a way to go?

You and I think alike...I procurred an empty x arcade box, got a Happ super, a GP-Wiz, and am currently putting the finishing touches on my homemade spinner (so far I have only had to buy a $2.00 Belkin mouse for it) I plan on using it as a third controller til I can build my cab. Just got the funds for my wood , so hopefully cab is not too far away.

Regarding X- Arcade...you will be hard pressed to find favorable reviews on this board. I own one, and personally do not think it to be a bad controller. I will say this though, I recently replaced the original sticks with 2 Happ comps...the comps are definately better...especially on the diags. As far as the buttons go...the Happ comps I have in the 3rd joy seem to be a little more responsive...could just be a mental think though...I set my track and field records on the X-Arcade buttons...can't come close with the Happ's.

All would be well and good if I did not lose my hard drive recently...oh well!

Xam