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.

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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:

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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!