Should I give up and get the X-arcade "Tankstick"?

[Doom bucket]

http://www.xgaming.com/tankstick-arcade-game.shtml

Three reasons for me even considering the thing:

1: Time
2: Cost
3: Effort

Originally I was going to go with a custom mameroom control panel, linked here
http://www.mameroom.com/uacontrolpanel_info2.asp

At first I was excited about that thing because, well total price is 100 bucks, and it is pretty much guaranteed to fit in my cabinet(which is an ultimate arcade II) But the only problem is, when I add up the cost of joysticks, the trackball, and buttons, it's ALOT more than that. :/

Plus, even after I got it I'd have to put the thing together with the encoders and wires and all that, and I'm really not that confident in myself!

Seriously, alot more than I have to spend.

Anyways, I've searched the internet and haven't seen that many reviews on the tankstick yet. Which makes sense since it pretty much JUST came out. That's why, I want to know if any of you guys can say whether or not you yourselves have been happy with X-arcade products in the past. Is X-arcade generally good or bad?

[severdhed]

people like to bash x-arcade stuff.  I personally have no problems with it.  I had a 2player x-arcade unit for a few years, it worked great..i eventually gutted it and built my own contol panel and used the parts from the x-arcade.  That new one looks pretty cool, with more space between the players, and a trackball, it seems like a good deal.  Hell, if they had that one when i bought mine, i probably wouldnt have built my own panel, i just would have made a mount for that unit to attach to my cabinet.

If you are used to using happ buttons and sticks, then maybe you wont like the x-arcade..people say they dont feel as good, but if you are like me, you will be perfectly happy with it.  It is great too becasue of the console connectivity.  It can easy go between pc, playstation, gamecube, dreamcast and xbox.  not many products can do all of those.

if you do end up getting one, please post a review

[RayB]

Is it really cheaper than building your own?

[Doom bucket]

I can't tell how many inches the trackball is, but the only other trackball that I know of that is USB compatible is the Happs one, and that one is 150 dollars. 50 bucks short of this entire thing.

[Doom bucket]

Then again, that is why I am making this topic. Because although I know it would be cheaper I am not sure of the quality.

[Ninten-doh]

The Happs USB trackball won't be $150 if you order from Divemaster or Ponyboy here on the site.

[Kevin Mullins]

I've read alot of X-Arcade bashing on here as well..... but I've had my dual stick unit since they first came out and have had myself and a gaggle of teenagers beating on it since day one and it's still in great shape, works fine, very responsive, etc, etc. All I've ever had to do is tighten up a few buttons once. (no different from any other buttons) Therefore I have never had any complaints about it. Programming on the fly with works well also. So in my opinion the Tankstick actually looks like a great deal with the intergrated trackball. (even if you decide to gut it and build your own panel with the parts)
I believe it works out cheaper than buying them seperately too. (?)

IMO

[torez]

There is an empty panel (CNC made) on Ebay.  If you get lucky bid, you could get it for around $100 plus shipping.  Much more options there plus space for 4-way joystick and/or spinner.  If you go this way, I think you will be proud of yourself when you are done and it will be more fun playing knowing that you did the wiring yourself

[destructor]

More comments you can read there:
http://www.shoryuken.com/forums/showthread.php?t=119851

[rlemmon]

I bought the two player x arcade unit three years ago. At first I thought it was great and was very happy with it.  When the time came to build a new cabinet I decided to try to build my own control panel using A ultimarc magstick plus and happ buttons along with an I pac.

 I couldn't believe the difference beetween the x arcade and the panel I made. My high scores nearly doubled. The ultimarc ( as well as happ) sticks and happ buttons made a huge difference.

 The buttons and sticks were much more responsive and I actually found myself playing more games due to the better controls.

My advise to you would be to do some research on cp building ( it's really not as hard as it first looks) and make your own. It will be money well spent because you will be able to use the best quality parts instead of x arcades cheap knock off parts.

 Chances are that as you learn more about this hobby down the road you will want to build your own anyway.

[Drugstore_Cowboy]

Is there anwhere in the UK you can buy pre-built empty control panels?

I was looking for something larger than my X-Arcade (sold) and as i'm lacking any woodwork skills or tools it's going to have to be a Tankstick.

[Stingray]

I can't believe that this thread made it this far without anyone pointing out that nothing looks stupider than an arcade cab with an xarcade panel hanging off the front of it.

Nothing looks stupider than an arcade cab with an xarcade panel hanging off the front of it.

-S

[pointdablame]

I have a feeling your main sticking point is price... and you're going by crazy Happ retail prices.

You can get a USB trackball on ebay for $60-70 or so, and probably a similar price from PonyBoy or Divemaster.  You could get a harness trackball for as little as $20 and then just get an encoder.

Joysticks are $8 each, and buttons are a buck or so... add that all up and you'll be under that crazy Happ price for the USB trackball

My feelings on Xarcade have been posted here before:  decent encoder, and the console support is nice... but the controls are subpar.  I can't speak for the trackball, but I'd want to replace the joysticks and buttons the second I got one.

I'd take a look in B/S/T and get some price ideas.  You can make a control panel for around the same price with (IMHO) better parts.


And I agree with -S... nothing looks worse than an Xarcade sticking out of a nice home-built arcade machine.

[leapinlew]

If you regretted not putting a fridgerator in your cabinet - you'll regret the x-arcade.

Spend the time to learn to do it yourself, or buy the x-arcade and use it till you can afford to put in a setup you prefer.

I started with the X-arcades BYO kit. I sent that back and then tried some magstiks. I sold the magstiks and bought some supers. I've been the most happy with the supers.

[RayB]

Everyone seems to forget that Ultimarc sells a perfectly good trackball for $40.

[Doom bucket]

Well I had no idea about these other track ball prices. I don't know, it's just that I don't have access to a router or any power tools anymore.

So there are USB trackballs that are cheaper? And joysticks that are cheaper? And buttons that are cheaper? Because if so I am interested, still. And I guess I'd be ok with a different pre-cut control panel if it was 100 dollars or cheaper. I'd be willing to pay more for quality.

It's just that, using Happ prices the total price was around 360-400 dollars. So if I can get the same stuff for cheaper, I'd gladly take that over X-arcade!

[torez]

There is one pre-cut control panel right now:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320029847135

Er, you have 26 minutes to bid and current price is $75.  If you can't get this one, just monitor this seller for future convenience (I'm not associated with the seller in any way).  I think I've seen some different layouts, so you could contact the guy and tell him what you want.  He could put it up on Ebay and you could snag it from there or you could come to some agreement on the price without Ebay.

[leapinlew]

Doombucket...

In the long run - it's cheaper to do it right the first time. You do what you think you got to do, but I found myself rebuilding my first cabinet after making some sacrifices.

[whynotpizza]

It really depends on how much personal satisfaction you get out of making something yourself. The home-build is a ton of work, there is no question about that! However, you will get a tremendous amount of satisfaction from the accomplishment factor in doing it yourself. In the end, I think you will find it wasn't that hard after all.

I say make your own and fill it with high quality controls (HAPP, Apache Controls, Ultimarc, etc)

Good luck with your decision.

 

  David

[butter5784]

I think it all depends on the situation.  I just bought my Tankstick and installed it on my cabinet.   I've read on here for the last 9 months about how bad the x-arcade products are and they may be by comparison.

I started building my cabinet over nine months ago, just after my son was born.  Every time I had the money to do it the right way and build a control panel I just couldn't justify the time and money that it would take form time with my family.  The last month I knew I was comming into some more money and I started looking again and I went with the Tankstick.  It's a good starting block in my oppinion.  I'll admit, the buttons aren't that great and the same is true with the joysticks, but it's better than the half built cabinet that was sitting in my basment the last several months.  I plan in slowly replacing the buttons and than eventually building a new pannel and eventually transfering everything into that slowly.  I wish I could justify $500 for a fancy control pannel or even $300 to build a really nice one.  It just depends.

If your situation is anything like mine you'll be fine with the tankstick for now.  It's not as bad as everyone is saying.

[alandrogers]

FWIW on this thread ... I'm not a purist, I don't really care. .. I think I"ve realized I could buy a whole loaded SlikStik panel for less than this is going to cost me -- yea, buying your own controls are cheaper, but then figure in the construction and wiring time involved.

to me, the point of this is that I'm doing it as a hobby, because I think its something fun to do, and just buying a control panel is kind of pointless.

if you just want a cp to jump in and play games, its certainly a lot faster and cheaper to just go get an x-arcade. go do it. save yourself money, time and headaches.

me, i like brain draining puzzles, building stuff and endless headaches.

[alandrogers]

oh yea, for me theres that whole "I built it myself" pride thing involved, too.

[hsstie]

Everyone seems to forget that Ultimarc sells a perfectly good trackball for $40.

Yea but you forgot to mention that its a 2 1/4 " trackball and most people want a 3" trackball. His 3" trackballs are over a hundred bucks too.

[CheffoJeffo]

Nothing looks stupider than an arcade cab with an xarcade panel hanging off the front of it.

 

[Arcades R Fun]

Based upon the feedback I have read over the years on the X-Arcade products there's no doubt that they give you an entry level pricepoint into the wonderful world of classic arcade gaming.
But, for me there's nothing more satisfying than building your own arcade game/panel. However, if price/spare time are really issues then the X-Arcade is a cheap way to start out, then...................

when you have the spare cash spend the $43 bucks and buy 16 replacement Happ buttons and 2 Happ joysticks from Divemaster or Ponyboy in the "Buy/Sell" section of this site and upgrade your X-Arcade panel. You will then have the best of "best worlds" so to speak.

[CheffoJeffo]

You will then have the best of "best worlds" so to speak.

Except he already has a cab and ...

Nothing looks stupider than an arcade cab with an xarcade panel hanging off the front of it.

What are we talking about ... a MiniPac, trackball, 2 8-ways and some buttons ?

Do some legwork and find the parts you need at a reasonable price.

If you start with a mini-pac you don't need to worry about USB trackballs, which saves some $$$. menace is selling Happ trackballs (used, but cleaned up ... and he is a good guy that I can vouch for) for $30.

8-ways can be had cheap, as can buttons.

Stop using Happ retail pricing as a guide.

This can be done right AND cheap.

Cheers.