Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum

Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: pmc on March 24, 2005, 01:31:21 pm

Title: Where's the cheapest price on Jakks / Namco handhelds?
Post by: pmc on March 24, 2005, 01:31:21 pm

I don't need 'em since I have a MAME cab, but I keep finding myself wanting them anyway. What's up with that?

Title: Re: Where's the cheapest price on Jakks / Namco handhelds?
Post by: Shape D. on March 24, 2005, 02:13:57 pm

the two pack you saw was a chrismas special for the pac and mrs pac $22.  you might be able to find them next christmas.  (if they come out with them again.  otherwise you have to buy them all seprately for $18 at Walmart.  (except for the two player atari paddle that ones $29)

Title: Re: Where's the cheapest price on Jakks / Namco handhelds?
Post by: missioncontrol on March 24, 2005, 09:44:52 pm

Wal-mart has the best prices on them.....

Quite a few people have hacked them for bartops here.....

I suggest if you plan on using them for a bartop hack or just to have them you better get them while they are around... I noticed they started selling the Ms. Pacman as a wireless setup lately and it won't be long before they do the same to the rest of them.....

Title: Re: Where's the cheapest price on Jakks / Namco handhelds?
Post by: vrf on March 24, 2005, 10:25:04 pm

do these things have microswitches in them to hack for use in a mini MAME cab? How's the quality of the stick?

Title: Re: Where's the cheapest price on Jakks / Namco handhelds?
Post by: DrewKaree on March 24, 2005, 10:33:44 pm

Wal-Mart in my town is selling them for $15 and some change.  Target by me seems to have the most in stock, but that's because they sell them singly for $20 and change.

They have the newer Ms Pac and the wireless.  25 and 30, respectively.

Title: Re: Where's the cheapest price on Jakks / Namco handhelds?
Post by: missioncontrol on March 24, 2005, 10:53:32 pm

Quote from: vrf on March 24, 2005, 10:25:04 pm

do these things have microswitches in them to hack for use in a mini MAME cab? How's the quality of the stick?

you are going to have to change out the stick with an actual arcade stick for the real effect, but it's an easy hack, if you plan on usinf it in a mini MAME cab........

Title: Re: Where's the cheapest price on Jakks / Namco handhelds?
Post by: Mario on March 24, 2005, 10:57:24 pm

Quote from: vrf on March 24, 2005, 10:25:04 pm

do these things have microswitches in them to hack for use in a mini MAME cab? How's the quality of the stick?

I opened the Spongebob game unit to hack. Internally they are the same as most console gamepads; they have rubber contacts which touch the exposed metal on the circuit board.

I ended up not hacking it since I wanted a Spongebob theme and the case fit the theme.

http://www.dalessio.ws/arcade/MiniSpongebob.jpg
http://www.dalessio.ws/arcade/AngeloPlayingMini.jpg

The stick quality feels cheap, definitely not arcade quality. It's actually like the old Atari 2600 sticks, maybe worse. Once my stick breaks, I'll hack in some real arcade controls (I actually have the CP already cut).

Mario

Title: Re: Where's the cheapest price on Jakks / Namco handhelds?
Post by: pmc on March 25, 2005, 10:00:18 pm

I'm not a Spongebob fan, but that cab looks really cool with his face sticking out like that.

Here's hoping that those puppies will drop below $10 at the big-box stores before Xmas season...  :D

Title: Re: Where's the cheapest price on Jakks / Namco handhelds?
Post by: LJ on March 26, 2005, 01:28:34 am

Picked one up at WalMart today for $11.97, just in case anyone is interested.

Title: Re: Where's the cheapest price on Jakks / Namco handhelds?
Post by: pmc on March 26, 2005, 08:28:11 am

Walmart's website shows the two Namco models for $14.77 and $15.77.

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?product_id=2696970

They show the Atari paddles as a close-out at $19.