X-Arcade Two Player Controller
We got a chance to try out the X-Arcade joystick, a quality Arcade-style controller for the PC. There are optional adapters available to hook it up to the Wii, PS3, PS2, Xbox, Apple Mac, Windows PC, Gamecube, and Dreamcast.
This thing is built to take a nuke.
For the PC, no installation software is needed. Your PC reads button pushes and joystick movement as keyboard inputs — basically it thinks you’re using your keyboard.
Therefore all games, even the ones without joystick support can be played with this controller. Many games, including Mame on the PC and Mac, have a built-in controller setting for this stick.
The X-Arcade 2-player controller showed up at my door (we really want to play Robotron and go head-to-head in Street Fighter II, so the two sticks are necessary) and unpacked it. Excellent construction, feels solid. Plugged it into my keyboard port, plugged the keyboard into that, and then fired up Mame and set my default controller to X-Arcade. That’s it, and it works perfectly. Robotron is now controllable. Donkey Kong feels like Donkey Kong. This kicks.
Then we read the manual. Very cool. Four “sets” of controller options, all stored inside the controller in flash memory. The first set is hardwired to Mame’s setup and unchangeable, but the other three are programmed so easily it’ll blow your mind. You can easily have a few sets for those games that have fixed keyboard controls. And, since it emulates a keyboard, it works with any OS. Brilliant.
We also received the Playstation 3 adapter and hooked it up to our Playstation 3. Again, it works flawlessly, so you can take your console fighting games to the next level. We are disappointed that we can’t get an Xbox 360 adapter, but apparently there is some kind of licensing issue with Microsoft at fault.
The controller isn’t cheap. The two-player version is $129, the one-player version is $99, and the over-the top Tankstick is $199.95, which is the two-player version with a crapload more buttons and an added trackball for good measure. We are hoping to review this one soon.
You can order the X-Arcade controllers direct from the XGaming website.
