If you are a typical geek like me (and I’m sure you are) then you love video games. Especially classic arcade games. I also know that many of you probably want to have your own arcade inside of your house. You can emulate games on your computer and use a keyboard or gamepad but I’m sure that you feel that you are missing the real arcade feel, which is why you need the X-Arcade Dual Joystick controller.
X-Arcade is a company that makes a real arcade controller which can be hooked to your computer and will interface perfectly with your PC and Mac. There are also adapters so that you can get to connect this awesome controller to your Dreamcast, Playstation, Playstation 2, Gamecube, and X-Box.
I know you’re thinking “Hey what’s the big deal? I can play all of those things with my keyboard or gamepad”, but let me show you why this is much better, the X-Arcade controller totally blows all of those away. The X-Arcade comes with all of the following below in the box.
- X-Arcade
- X-Arcade PC Keyboard Adapter
- X-Arcade 6 FT. Cable
- Manual
- Warranty Card
- Lifetime Warranty On Controls And Buttons
- 1 Year Warranty On Electronics
The X-ARCADE has an authentic arcade size which is 24.25 inches wide, 11.25 inches deep x 7 inches tall and it weighs 10 pounds. A cool thing about the X-Arcade is that you can use both the controller and keyboard at the same time while connected to your computer so if you need to type you can. Not only will the X-Arcade work with your PC or MAC it will also work with a laptop so you can take this cool controller with you on trips or use it if you only have a laptop. - Dual Joystick Control
The controllers are high end, authentic arcade joysticks. Relive the classic feeling with the truly original controllers, with the “clicky” sound for each direction you move, just like the real arcade. - Made From Arcade Wood
The X-Arcade feels like the exact same control panel taken from a true, stand-up Arcade Machine. Your friends will think you stole the arcade panel from your local arcade and had a handyman wire it to your PC or game console! - 2 Pinball and 2 Player Start ButtonsRelive the true arcade feeling with authentic arcade pinball buttons. The X-Arcade has side pinball buttons on each side, laid out exactly like a real pinball arcade machine! Play your favorite pinball games and feel like you are in the arcade!
- 20 Programmable Buttons
Fully programmable, so you can assign your favorite functions to any style or any game! No software required, use the exact same buttons that are in a real commercial grade arcade machine. If a button or controller fails, no worries, it’s warranted for life. All parts are very easy to replace, just like a real arcade. - Universal Game Console Support – Any System
Out of the box, the X-Arcade works with any Personal Computer by plugging into a keyboard port. Purchase adapters separately for any gaming console or get a game console or apple kit and instantly adapt the X-Arcade and play with any system. If you have an Playstation 2, Dreamcast, Apple, XBox, Playstation One, just buy the XGAMING Adapter for that system for only $29.95, and two players can play with X-Arcade on that console. Adapters will continue to be developed for future consoles, so your X-Arcade will last a lifetime! - Built In Emulator/Mame/Arcade Classic Support
For those who use emulation software to play arcade classics or replay game console games on your PC, the X-Arcade works with all emulation software and is the best priced, highest quality product for this market. If you are building an arcade cabinet, or home arcade machine, the X-Arcade is your solution. The Arcade Center has all the info you need to get started on playing classics. - Support 28 Buttons At One Time
The X-Arcade speed-matrix circuit functions as a powerful keyboard, and it independently samples each button so you can press all buttons/controls on the X-Arcade at the same time, and the game will recognize each command separately. - No Drivers Or Special Hardware Needed
Plug the X-Arcade into your PC and you’re ready to go. Your keyboard remains fully functional. There are no special drivers to load, no complicated manuals to read, just plug it in, and start playing. XGAMING has special arcade software you can download which instantly works with the X-Arcade. - Enhanced Control of Fighting, Sports and Arcade Games.
The X-Arcade offers superior fighting genre control unmatched by any other possible game controller. Imagine playing Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat, Virtua Fighter 4, Tekken 4 or Marvel Vs Capcom 2 with the real arcade, in your home. That’s what it’s like using an X-Arcade. - Fully ProgrammableAll 20 buttons on the X-Arcade and both controls are fully HARDWARE PROGRAMMABLE, meaning you have full control of how to layout your buttons!
The X-Arcade comes in an awesome box, when I first got the package I felt like a kid again and couldn’t wait to open it. There is a MAME logo on the front of the box because it fully supports MAME and other emulators and console systems.
The controller is packed with some styrofoam around the edges so that this awesome controller doesn’t get damaged because it would be a shame if it did. There is also some plastic around the edges so that it doesn’t get scratched at all.
Alright now that we have gotten by the packaging stuff lets see how this baby feels. I took the controller out of the box and it is solid as a rock. Because this controller is made out of really high quality parts it will be able to take all the aggression you can dish out, because we all know when we are playing games we tend to get a little crazy on the controllers and buttons especially when we lose. The edge of the controller has T-molding around it so that there are no sharp edges and it looks really professional and the entire surface is covered with Formica which makes it look really nice and professional. I am really impressed with the quality of this product, it’s really nice that they used the best parts possible to make this look really nice.
The joystick of the controller has a authentic feel and sound to it, and is very easy to maneuver. The biggest downfall to playing games on a computer and gamepad is the fact that it is usually hard to do the moves you want to when you need to. All of the buttons have a sound which is one of the coolest sounds, you know what I’m talking about.
When you push a button on the X-Arcade it doesn’t just go down it makes the cool arcade clicking sound. Each player has a controller and 8 buttons there are also a 1 and 2 start button to make it feel even more authentic. Each side of the X-Arcade has one button which can be used for playing pinball games or can also be used for whatever you want when you program it.
The X-Arcade was designed to be used with every emulator, console, and game which is really cool because it makes this product really flexible. When they developed this controller they wanted to keep everything as simple as possible.
Because they know just as well as you and I do that installing drivers and software can be a real pain and can cause problems they designed the X-Arcade to have no need for drivers or software. They designed a hardware chip into the unit which does everything for you also the hardware chip makes it possible to press more than one button on the X-Arcade at the same time and have them both work, which a keyboard could not do.
The X-Arcade has 4 memory slots for programming the controller but #1 can not be changed because it is factory set to the below settings. As you can see all of the buttons are bound to keys on the keyboard which is why programming and use is very easy.
The X-Arcade is really easy to program, on the back of the controller there is a 4 position switch, position #1 cannot be changed because it is burned into the ROM, but you can program all of the other 3 positions for whatever emulator or console you want. The PS/2 port is the keyboard pass through and the serial port is to connect to the adapter that you will be using.
Programming the controller is easy first choose the mode by sliding switch on back switch to mode 2, 3, or 4 then press the load button the back of X-Arcade. Select the button that you want on the X-Arcade and hold the button (keep held until next step is over) then select key on your keyboard that you want to use and hold the key on the keyboard down until the red LED on the top of the X-Arcade flashes. Do this for all buttons then press the load button on the back again when you are finished to save the settings.
The X-Arcade can be connected to your PC, and Mac, Dreamcast, Playstation, Playstation 2, Gamecube, and X-Box. Each different system will need a different adapter depending on what you are looking to use it for. The serial cable is a male to male pass through cable which connects to each adapter. The PC connector is a PS/2 cable which connects to the serial pass through cable and goes into the back of your computer. The Dreamcast adapter also connects to the serial pass through cable and then connects to your Dreamcast via the controller ports.
Installation is simple, the first thing you need to do is attach the serial pass through cable to the back of the X-Arcade. After you have the serial pass through cable installed all you need to do is attach the adapter that you want to use to the other end of it. For the installation for the PC you will need to attach a keyboard to the keyboard pass through port on the back of the X-Arcade. There is a red LED which is on the top of the X-Arcade that goes on when you are up and running and when you are programming it.
After you have your X-Arcade all setup you are ready to go, boot up your computer and load up whatever emulator you want and play your game. When the X-Arcade is plugged in you can still use your keyboard and when you press your X-Arcade buttons and move the joystick letters are typed out for you because of the fact that the buttons are bound to keyboard keys. To setup MAME to play some games you would load up MAME, pick a game and run it, then press tab and go into the “Input (General)” menu and you will have a menu which will let you setup the controls. To change the default setup just press enter on your keyboard and then press the button on the X-Arcade that you want to use and your set. This is how you will setup all your emulators to use the X-Arcade with it, of course each emulator will setup differently.
Testing the X-Arcade was the most fun I have ever had while testing a product for a review. To test this product both my girlfriend and myself played many different games with many different emulators. I must say that this thing is just about the coolest thing I have ever used, not only is it easy to install, very responsive, but it worked with everything we tried it with. For the testing we used many emulators including: MAME, NES, SNES, Genesis, Turbo Graphix, Gameboy, Atari and many more. Below are some screen shots from some of the games that we tested, most of these screen shots will probably bring back memories for many of you if not all of you.
Conclusion
This is the coolest thing that I have ever reviewed by far! I love old games so much and this controller makes it so much better, Playing games with a keyboard, mouse, gamepad or joystick just doesn’t compare to having a real arcade stick in your hand and real arcade buttons at your finger tips.
Because the X-Arcade doesn’t need any drivers or software it makes it so easy to setup that anyone can do it in about 5 minutes or less with no problems.
The entire X-Arcade is nothing but excellence at its best, I can find no flaws with this product at all and would highly recommend it to anyone who wants some real arcade action. Overall I am going to give this controller a 10/10 and award it the OCmodshop seal of approval because I cant find anything wrong with it and its such a great product. I would really like to thank X-Arcade for sending this over for review, you can pick one up from them for about $150 by clicking on the banner below you can also get all the adapters that you would need from them.
Because I love this controller so much I am in the process of making a really cool guide which you should all love. It should be posted within a few weeks, I am almost done with it and then I just have to write it. I don’t want to give away what exactly what I am doing but here are some pictures that should give you a clue.
Pros
- Looks and feels like a real arcade controller
- Very high quality
- Works with many different systems
- 8 buttons per player
- Easy to install
Cons
- None