What do you get when you cross Mega Man and Beatmania IIDX besides one hard game? Why, an awesome custom controller from Desktop Arcade and Sarah Moulder, of course!

This controller was commissioned long ago and comes to us via the archives. It features a flipable key panel (so that you can play “right side” and “left side”, “Mega Man blue” paint under the plexiglass (along with an awesome, hand drawn Mega Man logo) and “that blue guy” hand painted on the controller shell striking that iconic pose of his from the Mega Man 1 title screen. Thankfully the customer wanted his game appearance and not that awful box art version of Mega Man, which as we all know is quite a horrid depiction.

And now, the pictures!

If you want to order a joystick, Pop’n Music, Beatmania IIDX, or other kind of controller, as always you can (email me) steve (at) desktoparcade (dot) com for a price quote!

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Here’s a style of controller I’m quite proud of, my IIDX arcade replicas (usually referred to as IIDASCs) featuring faux metal plexiglass underlays that’d make anyone do a double take as to whether or not it’s real aluminum or not, my closest approximation of the arcade deck color, and of course Sanwa buttons.

I was pretty happy with how it came out, so Sarah and I made a short, hour long journey with it to 8 on the Break in Dunellen NJ to take some pictures of it with their IIDX arcade machine. Below are 2 of those shots.

For the first time since I unveiled these tremendous-yet-time-consuming-to-produce controllers, I almost have all my old IIDASC orders finished and shipped. This summer I streamlined some of the production process, and I have several boxes, key panels, and other plexiglass pieces that can be used to complete IIDASCs laying around my shop. I will begin taking IIDASC orders again very soon, and if you want to secure a spot in the queue or inquire about ordering a joystick, Pop’n Music controller, IIDASC, or anything else please (email me.) steve (at) desktoparcade (dot) com

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This week’s CotW is one I rescued from a memory card I found in a drawer and had long forgotten about. Before I discovered the card and dumped the images, this was one of the few art controllers that I didn’t have a finished picture of. The controller features Milk from Pop’n Music on a larger Pop’n music controller box (dubbed the xL DASC) to allow for more room for the art work.

I’m happy the pictures of this controller turned up, because I was very bummed out to have completed pictures of this one missing!

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Who says I don’t innovate? A few years ago a nice gentleman in Germany requested a IIDX doubles deck with a sakura pedal pattern on it. It took me a while to get him a final price because he was in Germany, and I at the time had no idea how much shipping would end up costing, or if it would even be small enough to meet the US Postal Service’s size limit for international packages. (For the record, doubles decks end up being a comfortable amount under the size restriction and are surprisingly inexpensive to ship internationally.) After some email back and forth, things got figured out (and paid for) and I think the customer was happy with the results, I sure know I was.

(Click to Enlarge)

I think it’s safe to say that this is not only one of the most unique and gorgeous controllers I’ve ever made, but definitely one of the most eye-catching and gorgeous IIDX controllers in the world thanks to the amazing color choices and art from my artist Sarah. (Literally, I shipped this from my humble shop in New Jersey all the way to Germany!) Not only that, but it was a few years ahead of its time since I think the current AC IIDX was at most DistorteD, so the way-pink themed Empress was still several styles away from seeing release.

If you want to inquire about getting a unique controller of your own, as always, feel free to email me and let me know what you’re interested in so I can get you a time and price quote!

Until next week when I’ll have another controller for you all to check out, have a great week!

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My friend Carlson runs Mad-Gear and sellsnew and used import and domestic games. He asked me to make some classic gaming themed joysticks for classic consoles since most of the older systems did not have real joysticks made for them. The only joysticks that the older consoles got were those crappy plastic joysticks that companies of the 80s and 90s thought would pass for the “arcade experience” because instead of having a D-pad, they had something that resembled a joystick handle and some buttons that were bigger than usual. There were no authentic arcade parts, there was no “arcade feel”… If you wanted to play home versions of arcade games, you had to do it on the plastic lump-of-crap “joysticks”.

Maybe now I can do something to change that. I asked him what system I should start with and because of the lack of authentic sticks but abundance of great arcade titles for the system, Carlson suggested that I do a Sega Saturn stick. So, after I spoke with him I set out to make a Sega Saturn joystick that was not only authentic, but looked great. This is the result:

(Click to enlarge.)

This joystick is made with high quality pine wood which was treated and then stained with a nice, even red mahogany stain. It uses black Seimitsu buttons and a red Seimitsu bubbletop on top of a standard Sanwa joystick assembly. I’m very happy with how well this controller came out and I cannot wait to make some more classic console joysticks!

If you want to purchase a joystick like this for any system, with just about any configuration you could think, send me an email to steve (at) desktoparcade (dot) com and I’d be happy to build you the joystick of your dreams!

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This new feature to the site will present a controller; either one I’m currently working on, just shipped, or one from the archives accompanied by pictures and if necessary, a backstory.

This week, I am presenting one of my favorite pieces that our artist Sarah has ever done!

This controller was commissioned by a customer, completed, and then through an accident with emails, a misunderstanding took place which ultimately put me in possession of the controller. As much as I love the design (and Katamari!) I already have a personal Pop’n Music controller, so I do not want to keep it, especially if I can find someone who can give it a good home and appreciate it for what it is: a one-of-a-kind, beautiful Pop’n Music controller!

With all that said, here is a picture of it (Click to enlarge):

This bright, colorful, and beautifully detailed controller has been sitting in my workshop long enough, and because I want to find a good home for it ASAP, I am offering it at a very good price. (UPDATE: The controller is sold!)

If you are interested in purchasing a controller, please email me at Steve (at) desktoparcade (dot) com .

Until next week where I’ll feature another controller, thanks for checking out the site!

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(And a big “hello” to everybody else, too!)

So after 6 years of exclusively making Bemani controllers, I have finally decided to create beautiful, high quality joysticks in a very attractive and solidly-constructed form-factor.

Those of you who are finding this page from our flyer at AnimeNEXT probably tried one of the joysticks we have set up in AnimeNEXT’s video game ballroom, and if you are here, chances are you may be interested in buying one! To prevent long wait times for joysticks , I am shifting more to a commission based order queue system which will be focused on this contact form, and those who email me through more traditional methods to inquire about ordering. When enough orders come in for a time period, I will reply to order inquiries with details and price quotes, but I will only take a non-refundable down payment to purchase the materials for your joystick (and to begin constructing it).

Check out pictures from the weekend and my other work at my flickr page, right here!

Order inquiry form. Reserve your spot in the order queue today!

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I figured that I would give everyone who might be curious about the building process I go through, since I am sure some of you are curious as to how I make my Pop’n Music controllers. These controllers were done over a weekend during the summer, and many of them are still available for sale.

First we take the wood…. (two 8′X4′ pieces of 1/2″ birch plywood, cut up to 6 sizable pieces to fit in my car)

Then we cut 16 tops (Also pictured, my protective gear)

Then we cut 32 long side pieces (this part is a pain! Also pictured is my beverage.)

Then I take the 16 tops and 64 sides and lay them out stacked on top of each other, making sure each pair of short and long sides are the same length.

Then we glue!

And we glue some more! (And I need to clean this area, as you can see the clutter of spray paint and random scrap wood)

This is what’s left to glue. I give the current batch that’s glued 3 hours for the Gorilla Glue to cure, then I unclamp them and work on as many of these as I can do at one time.

The finished shells.

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I just created a page with some Pop’n Music controllers I have in stock and on hand. I worked on these along-side the 6 or so owed Pop’n Music controllers, which will begin shipping, which should make those of you currently waiting very happy. :) Here’s a link to the (currently barebones) in-stock controller page.

You’ll also notice on the Pop’n Music product page I added 10 common countries, and its shipping price, as a drop-down menu that can be added to your cart. This means that international customers can now order without waiting for a shipping quote from me!

Also, don’t forget to check out the Desktop Arcade Flickr page, where you can see the pile of Pop’n controllers I built a couple of months ago while I was waiting for my buttons to arrive from China. You can also browse a huge selection of past solid color controllers, and most past art controllers. (There also might be a secret project or two on there. Shhhh!)

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